Aloha

My folks, gracious people that they are, invited me for a visit for a few days at their time-share on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The gentle trade wind breese provided a confortable environment to sketch from the Lanai.  The view over looks a golf course, some trees and a lava rock field.  

Ancient Hawaiians carved petroglyphs on some of the rocks.



Small Format Comic Proposal

It's Tuesday. Did I share this page from my W.I.P. ode to Black Flag? From a book proposal for the 33.3 book series. They've never done a comic graphic novel before, but here's hoping.

p.s. lots of stuff needs messaging--esp'ly the lettering. I was going for a sort of late Kirby script on the title. Trying to find a sweet spot between Milt Caniff, Daniel Clowes and Raymond Pettibon...(good luck on that)

Even better the 3rd time.

Went and saw Avengers today for the 3rd time. (Used AMC passes I've been saving). Just as fun as the first time. Unlike MIB3 which was a VERY tired mess compared to the last 2 films, which is disappointing. It had little moments but everybody just seemed like they were phoning it in. It had no POP like the previous films, which I watched back to back the night before. I really hoped with the time travel back to the late 60's thing would be cool. They just dropped the ball on lots of lost moments to make this really funny. Unfortunately Avengers didn't have the staying power as it got kicked to the curb by MIB3 at the box office. No sequel should be filmed 10 years apart from each other and in MIB3 it shows. Wait for Redbox release on this one.

We're Holding Ron Hostage...

...and forcing him to do drawings for your pleasure.

The view from his prison (a.k.a. our living room).

note: can you see the JELD-WEN sign in the distance? That's the stadium where our local MLS soccer team The Portland Timbers play. In a gesture to maintain prisoner morale, we took Thompson to a game last night. And in true Portlandia fashion, evening began is sunshine, most fans wearing tee's and flip-flops--and by halftime ferocious lightning filled the sky, and we were besieged by torrential rains. AWESOME.

Champion!

Hola.  Here's the cover to the 1st issue of my long-overdue graphic novel Michael Midas - Champion that will be released in 6 parts starting in July.

Check out the link to the official press release as well:

http://stumptowntradereview.com/2012/05/boom-announces-a-champion/

I GOT NUTHIN

Well I've somewhat wrapped up that art for that kids game thingie I've been working on and off the last 3 months. Got my last check today, so it will be back to EBay and the other odd jobs I have. I might have some other work next month if this deal I've been waiting on pans out. The Game thing was a first stage deal, it gets delivered in August so hopefully they will follow up on the second stage in the fall. Still NOT enough money by any means but it gets me from point A to B. I would post some of the recent stuff but to tell the truth, I was rather disappointed in the last batch. More of a GET it done deal....and I hate shit like that. As for drawing, I've not had much time to focus on it outside of doodles so in the interim, heres a few shots of my Destroy All Monsters lineup on my bookshelf. Enjoy.

Gorham-Bait (Avengers edition)

Interesting article on how to (and how NOT to) reprint a comic book. I bought the Marvel Masterworks edition of "The Avengers" 1-10 years ago, and I always thought the art looked fishy....

This article says (and I think I'm the last to learn this), that those terrible Marvel people REDREW the original art (Kirby, Heck, Ditko, et al). Is that true? (Jimmy will set us right on this....)

I think the biggest problem with the reprints comes from the garish coloring (paging Marie Severin!). Here's a link to an original page from Avengers no. 5. It looks like a lot of the wonkiness is from the inking (so claims the Kirby site, and as a fan, I will agree with them--although really, can inking explain the way that Hulk looks at the end of his transform??).

But hey, even bad re-drawing can't hide the impact and originality of a panel like The Evil Avengers!

I'm still on the Boards- DONE - Check out the "PDF" Version

"PDF" VERSION

 

Latest

The Latest Latest 

Should finish up tomorrow. Today actually.

 

I'm done with the boards. Sadly, I just got warmed up and got a good handle at the halfway point. I'll have to revisit half of them eventually for my own sake so I can make a good sample I'm proud of.

Godzilla

"Along the Great Divide" (1951)

I mislabeled the flick. Kirk Douglas, Virginia Mayo, Walter Brennan. Not as thoroughly satisfying a western as one would expect from the golden age. I rented it via Apple TV.

I know caricatures of Kirk are a cliche, but I like John Agar's expression behind our leading man. I finally got a good drawing of Brennan on the film's penultimate scene--priceless expression as he's just escaped hangin'.

The B&W movies are the best--especially outdoorsy ones shot with a red/yellow filter. Very dramatic!

Remind you of anyone Tagsters?

  

 Let's not be L7

I like a good practical joke. Off my Tumblr

EYEBALLS!

My dear friend Carlo is co-creating an art/CG educational site, CG Circuit. He's had to stoop pretty low to find an instructor for the anatomy section: namely, ME. These are some sketches for our "Drawing the Eyeball" splash page. 

It's a really cool idea and site, and Carlo and co. are looking for people who want to add content, a.k.a., create their own lessons. You can set the price for your class, and the money you make goes to you.

I've already made $20 bucks!

Seriously, I think everyone here has so much to offer the world in the way of art instruction, it is almost criminal if we aren't sharing. And the nice thing about this site is the potential to make a little cash. I have a head drawing class up already, HEAD DRAWING FOR THE OCD.

Oh Yeah. I Owned It Once.

Auction Item

More Creeple stuff!

I've been working on more and more Creeple drawings.  Go to the Creeple blog to see more!
Click here to see drawerings 

Doing some Boards

Boards

Digging the work. It's a horror script. Director got to me through Ed Schofield. He's done some award winning stuff. I'll get a nice fat juicy credit as storyboard artist. And a little money. Maybe almost minimum wage when all is said and done. Of course, I have to finish this before I get back to WAIT. But this supercharges me with ideas for how I want to do the comic book. It's too late now, but I'm going with more of a Darwyn Cooke minimalism going forward.

Carolla and Bok

Ben Ten Creators interviewed by Carolla
Carolla goes off on pitching to Disney and ending up with a 3 figure offer.

Hannes Bok was it? A month ago. Here's his version of the classic scifi tale we all know and love. Try to read it some time though. Little woody on the characterization.

Is the Ruffalo HULK closest to the Marie Severin HULK?

Think they'll make a Resin Kit that size?

It would be a heavy bastard

JMG added...NO resin kits at this point but Hot Toys has posted this teaser of the size comparison of it in their 1/6 scale series. It's going to be huge. fully articulated,The Iron man stands 12 inches so the Hulk will be 15 to 17 inches.

Brushedly Bristling

I kinda slacked and failed to get a post up yesterday, but here's a link to Brush Pen Breakfast where I put up a series of posts on that most elusive of creatures, "technique."

Cintiq plus LCD Desk Mount

What I was sketching. Kinda ruins my missionary zeal doesn't it?

Plus a little WIP

How to paint like Frank Frazetta

NOT! Link takes you to the 50 minute FX magazine video. I could write a lengthy essay on the non resemblance to Frazetta captured by Jean-Sebastien. But you know what. Everyone he does, with the goal that he wants to paint like Frank, the closer he'll get.

At it back, I am

Prometheus is the only movie I might go to the theatre to see. Even for that enthusiasm, I'll have to wait till the crowds clear off a bit. And go at a weird, early bird show. Assholes have ruined the movie theatres. I'm still waiting for Thor to show up on Netflix Instant.

THE AVENGERS ARE A WINNER!!!!

 

Went to the 9am showing today at the AMC 20 in Mission Valley. Hours later and I'm still geeking out.

The trailers do it NO justice, I could be nit picky but I've already convinced myself this is as CLOSE as they will get at this point, so no use in complaining on little details. This was the ultimate popcorn flick. Worth the wait. The clown who directed the Fantastic Four movies needs to be duct taped to a chair, have his eyelids pinned back and FORCED to watch this film 7/24 for a month to see how a MARVEL TEAM flick should be made. Oh keep yer butts in the chair for the CREDITS too. Nuff Said.

Good as a Wacom - 50 bucks

50 bucks gets you a nice tablet. I thought it was going to be dinky. It has a nice big work area. About the same as my little cintiq. Seemed to work a lot better at keeping up with the tools in photoshop. Maybe because the pen has a little battery in it. Who knows. I'm using old Mac X os. A very old mini mac. Works great. Don't go by the drawing. I just need to make sure I have better ergonomics . I was working in my lap and it was bad for the back.

Another sketchiness happening with the new tablet. Hard to bench test how your system would work. This is ram challenged old mini mac. 100dpi. Handled smear really well, keeping up on the tablet. Sign of a good driver.

Massaged it more because the ergonomics gota big improvement. I hate to say it. I enjoy it more than the cintiq.

Working on some comic-type stuff. I gave Robo Jim Rockford's Cali license plates. I'm going for the "handmade" look...see how wonky that sign is on that brick wall?

C'mon people--who else is up for a TAG comic?!?

Jack Kirby - Hand Of Fire

Jack Kirby - Hand Of Fire

The link takes you to a discussion of the book. The Capt America art is from the book that Amazon previews.

Jack Kirby BadAss Article

San Diego Comic Fest: Oct 2012

Saw this on my brother's (Peter's) blog today ...

http://www.sdcomicfest.org/

He says the organizers are actively trying to contact local TAGsters for ARTIST ALLEY participation, guide book artwork, and more.

Peter went to the 2nd meeting of volunteers a couple of days ago, and posted about it on his own blog ...

http://www.pacsworlds.com/blogs/2012/04/29/humble-beginnings-of-comic-fest

He's also posting more info to the TAG page on Facebook.