Old work...young Avengers

I've been going through some of my old files and doing some more posting on the Drawingboard web-site and I thought I'd post some of them here as well.


These were 'tryout' pieces that I did several years ago when I was in play for the job of Charcater Designer for a Marvel direct-to-DVD title called "Next Avengers" (or something). After many, mnay drawings (way too many for a 'tryout') I ultimately didn't get the job and I never saw the DVD so I have no idea if they used any of my designs or not. Though I still like many of them and feel that they make good portfolio pieces.

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And DO NOT forget to sign up now for tickets and go to the CTN Expo starting on Nov 20th if you are at all interested in animation! Click on the link to the right or above to learn more about it. The more I hear about this the more excited I get. Remember to use my code: 34X09 to get a discount on your tickets.

Breathing room...

Well, the plate spinning has finally relaxed a little.

There are still plenty of plates up and spinning, but I finally have a little breathing room where the deadlines aren't coming one on top of the other. It also gives me time to work on commissions, pitches and some fun projects of my own (that will hopefully lead to something more substantial).
Heck, I might even blog more often -- anything is possible.

Here's a series of posters I created for Marvel and Nickelodeon to promote season 1 of Wolverine and the X-Men. My son painted these and I'm very happy with how they turned out.

Plate spinning...

I know it would be hard to sumise form this blog that I'm making headway and moving forward, but I am. I'm busy at my day job (storyboarding), busy with my freelance (more HarperCollins books), a few misc projects (character design and presentations) and I've actually caught up with all the 'in process' commissions. Now all I have to do is start on some new commissions (please be patient - you know who you are), finish work on a comic for my friend, Francesco Francavilla as well as keep my eyes out for the next job.

The plates seem to be spinning pretty decently so far...though there is always a plate that tries to stop spinning...

Yesterday, in the middle of scanning, my 4 year old scanner crapped out on me. Of course, I needed it to finish some work so I imediately ran out to buy a replacement. I soon found out that it's just about impossible to buy a flatbed scanner by itself these days - at least in a store. The only options at Best Buy were the combos (which , at this point I was willing to do even though my printer is still going strong), but only one of these combos had a scan surface bigger than letter size and it sure didn't seem like an upgrade. Even with my old scanner I already had to do a lot of cutting and pasting in Photoshop for bigger pieces (and almost everything is a bigger piece) so this wasn't going to do it. I took a deep breath and thought I'd look around and see what else was available before I settled, so I wandered over to Office Max (next door) and found an 11x17 scanner and printer made by Brother. Even if this wasn't the best scanner on the market (and the reviews seem pretty good) I was immediately upgraded to a much bigger scanning surface as well as the ability to print 11x17 - something I haven't been able to do for a long time. So, besides being able to now scan full size comic pages (assuming I ever do any more comic work) all you commissioners will also now profit from my scanner crapping out...

And speaking of which, here's the latest finished G rated commission...

Join me...

November 20 -22 there's going to be a very special event happening in beautiful downtown Burbank. The Creative Talent Network's first Animation Expo! Anyone who's at all interested in learning more about animation, breaking into the industry or meeting some of the industry pros should consider going. There'll be panels, recruiting and exhibitions. If you go to the web-site you'll find out a lot more info then I could possibly tell you here.


And since you're friends and/or fans of mine, oy, I've got such a deal for you. Just click on the link or got to http://www.ctnanimationexpo.com/ and use this code when you register: 34X09 . This code gives you 10% off any 3-day or 1-day pass.

Back in the saddle again...

First I want to say thank you to all of those who stopped by and said "hi" at the Con...a little late I know, but better late then...

It was fun meeting all of you and the Con was, as usual, quite an experience. If you've never been to the San Diego Comic Con then I highly recommend it. No where else will you see all that you can see there in one place. Even though its 'crazy' and crowded (though this year it didn't seem as crowded) my family and I look forward to it each year and wouldn't miss it.

Anyway just a quick update...things are starting to get busy again and are looking pretty promising for the future. I'm currently storyboarding on a small indy feature as well as continuing my work for HarperCollins on some children's super hero books. I also working on some independent projects. I'm drawing a 6 page comic for a friend who is putting together a cool little book with mulitple stories as well as working on a pitch for a children's book that my wife and I wrote together.

There's also some projects happening in the near future (I hope) and I'll let youk now as soon as those firm up more.

And in between all this I'm still working on some commissions (thank you all for your patience)!

Speaking of which here are some unused roughs for a commission I'm working on...

San Diego...

Just in case you've been living under a rock, there's a little event coming up in Southern California called the San Diego Comic-Con International on July 23 through July 26. This is THE comic (and media) event of the year and if you've never been there it is something to behold...in many, many ways.





The reason why I mention it (they definitely don't need my little blog advertising for it especially since all the tickets are all sold out) is that on Friday the 24th at the Marvel booth (#2429) there's going to be a Wolverine and the X-Men poster signing. Many of those involved in the show will be there - including me. So if you happen to find yourself at the Con on a Friday afternoon feel free to come by and say "hi" and I'll sign a poster for you. Assuming I can find somewhere to park...

Back to 100%...

A couple of weeks ago I had the dire misfortune of having a kidney stone.Ugh, such a pain I've never known before! I assumed this was what women experience during childbirth, but I have it on good authority (from a few women who've experienced both) that this is worse. As if that wasn't enough the painkillers they gave me, Norco, put my intestines to sleep- later I found out that I should have been taking Phillip's Milk of Magnesia pills at the same time to avoid this problem. Two trips to the emergency room, two nights in the hospital, a nose tube (NEVER AGAIN!!!) and a liquid diet for the better part of a week and I'm back and running...in a manner of speaking.

Anyway, I worked as much as I could during all of that (except for the time in the hospital, obviously), but now I'm busy trying to catch up as best I can and I am doing pretty good overall. Unfortunately what is suffering are my commissions. Don't worry, those of you with commissions, I am working on them as my schedule permits. They will all get done. Just bear with me and be patient - and accept my apolgies for the delay.

In the meantime please feel free to enjoy these images that you have probably never seen before. Many are roughs for commissions that went another direction or designs that were never used (as far as I know, at least) and some are sketches that were drawn in sketchbooks.

Listen to me...

...if you can. I'm finally getting used to the sound of my own voice (sort of) so I'll probably listen and cross my fingers that I don't embarrass myself. It was conducted by a couple of nice guys over at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Just go to: http://seqalab.com/ and take a listen and then take a listen to some of the other podcasts there. (I also understand you can get these via iTunes as well)

This is how they describe what they're doing:

The SEQALAB podcast is a production of the students, faculty, and alumni of the sequential art department at the Savannah College of Art and Design. This twice-weekly podcast is for comics enthusiasts and hopeful creators who want to learn about comics and their production, gain industry insights, and celebrate the significance of the medium. Through education, practice, and expert instruction it is the goal of SEQALAB to aid listeners in becoming successful self-publishers or industry freelancers

Sounds pretty good to me and I'm flattered they consider me worth talking to.

And as a special bonus (special?) I came across some old art that I drew when I was just an innocent 15 year old Burroughs fan. Should be good for a few laughs, eh? AND to prove we all have to start somewhere.

Gearing up...

I know it's been awhile, but I've been working on a series of short term projects that all had tight deadlines. Including a series of posters for Nickelodeon, starting a new children's book for HarperCollins, several character designs for some new projects, attitudes and expressions as well as putting together a couple of feature pitches.

And I'm still crossing my fingers that the secret project I've mentioned before manages to get all it's funding in place.

As if that's not enough I'm also toying with an idea for a new sketchbook. This time it won't be art from other projects I've worked on or even commissions. I don't want to give too much away, but it should prove to be pretty interesting if i can ever get the free time together necessary to work on it.

So, because you come here to see art and not listen to me whine about how little free time I have I thought I'd post some stuff that you've probably never seen before. These are in no particular order. Some are pretty old and some are really unfinished (especially the two Mars piecees) and some are for projects that never got too far or that I got hired for. I'll try to do this again before too long.

Still a Rogue...

Here's the finished commission of the adult Rogue and Logan getting ready for some smooching. I'm not sure what the results of that would be, but I assume Logan would heal fast enough - maybe it'd be worth it, eh?





I'm still busy working towards season 2 of Wolverine and the X-Men as well as some miscellaneous freelance gigs so the commissions are slow cominmg, but I'm trying to do what I can to not disappoint anyone.
I might have some cool news coming up soon on the secret project if all goes well. We'll see - in this business (and this economy) you can't count on anything until the check clears. I'll settle for it getting close enough to get my lawyer involved.

What a Rogue...

Busy, busy, busy. Between working on model turns, attitudes & expressions for Wolverine and the X-Men season 2 and some storyboard work on a couple of various projects it's hard to find time to work on commissions. But I did find some time this weekend to do just that.

Here's a commission I started awhile ago and just recently finished.

Another commission requested a similiar type of drawing except with one notable alteration. I guess Rogue is a pretty indecisive young lady, eh?

Later this week I'm going to try and finsih this one as well.

Catching up...

I know it's been awhile (again) since the last time I blogged. Since then a lot of changes have occurred work-wise. Both somewhat long term jobs ended almost simultaneously and I found myself looking (scrambling) for the next gig(s). Thankfully a couple of things came up and I was able to maintain all the important things like mortgage, food on the table, internet access and TiVo.

I did a few storyboards for a CG children's show, presentation work for a project that needs to remain nameless for now, storyboards for a direct-to-DVD project (which also needs to remain nameless), and character turns, expressions, poses, etc. for the second season of Wolverine and the X-Men. Which, in case you haven't heard has premiered on Nick and apparently has done phenomenally well.

I've also been working on a couple of pitches with friends, One for a TV show and a couple of feature ideas. All great ideas that just need more time spent on them before we actually go pitch.

The other big thing that's been taking up my time during the last week is trouble with my e-mail. Out of the blue suddenly people trying to e-mail me are getting their e-mail bounced and when I investigated the host couldn't really figure it out so I ended up (after hours and days on the phone) moving my e-mail to a different host. They were able to quickly help me and give me the answers I was looking for....so within a short period of time all my e-mail problems should be a thing of the past. I hope.

Here's the finished Kitty commission that was sent off awhile ago. I've got a few more to work on and I'll post them as soon as I can.

Happy Holidays

I know I've been absent for some time now and I will try to correct that and make more timely posts after the holidays. I'll bring you all up to date with all that I've been up to soon.

In the meanwhile I wanted to wish those of you who do still check in here from time to time a Happy Chanukkah and a Merry Christmas.

And here's a commission that I'm currently working on...