Tentacle Monsters

A cleaner scan of the drawing I did at Lucy Bellwood's Drawing Night a few weeks ago.

Lissy Loves Kitties

Here is a painting I did for my roommate, Lissy. 

Humanism Means Equality

I have always been a big fan of Bertrand Russell since I first read "Why I am not a Christian."

Saying "Has been opposed by the organized churches of the world" does not mean ALL the organized churches of the world. People tend to turn these statements into all encompassing, broad generalizations. There are churches that help communities, but as a whole, I agree that religion has kept our society stunted for way too long now.

As more and more people turn away from the church, more and more Fundamentalist Christians are trying even harder to push their beliefs into the government that was designed to keep oppressive religion out of the law.

But I believe that as more people start to see that good exists outside of religion and the equality of the human race becomes more important than holding onto ancient myths, global society as a whole will continue to improve and all of humanity will prosper in the process.

Building Bonds

It's been about a week and a half since I got back from my vacation to Oklahoma. Despite getting somewhat sick while I was there it was a great time and I am happy I got to go home after being away for so long. It had been about a year and a half. I got to hang out with my family and see my mom, sisters and little niblings which always makes me happy. I am lucky to have a family that I get along with. I hear so many horror stories of people who dread spending time with family or haven't spoken to family in years. I love my family. Even though we are quite different we always get along and have a great time. (As long as no one brings up religion.)

I also got hang out with all my friends I made back home over the years, having art shows, going to college, seeing friends' bands play. I love my friends. I always feels so comfortable being around them. Which is understandable. These are bonds that have been nurtured over decades. I have yet, in the six years I have lived in Portland, created these types of friendships. This is something I am going to work on.

I believe the biggest factor in creating the friendships I had back home were the various parties I held throughout the year. I am constantly working on various projects and haven't ever been the social butterfly, having breakfast or coffee or drinks with people throughout the week, but I did have two or three huge parties where I got to hang out and see all the people I admired and loved. And there are quite a few amazing people that I have met here that I would love to see more often. So expect to see more parties here at Gravenstein Keep. And hopefully I can make it out to more gatherings myself.

If You Build It They Will Come

I've been super busy these past couple weeks getting all my various zines and comics ready to put up on Etsy and to take back home to Oklahoma with me for a show on Apr 5th. I now have enough to warrant a table at a convention. I'm pretty excited about finally getting my work out there. This is what I have so far:

Have At Thee! #1-3 My main zine with reflections on life and humanity in general. The first one I wrote after seeing some people making comics in a coffee shop and thinking, "Why am I not making a comic Right Now!!" The second is concerned with frustrating people and how our DNA affects our personalities. The third is titled, "Happiness Is NOT Material" which I wrote after seeing so many people trying to buy happiness.

I Was Just Thinking I'd Rather Be Drinking #1 & #2 A perzine with my reflections on drinking and the adventures or misadventures that ensue.

How To Draw... The Body The first in a series of How To Draw books focusing on different aspects of drawing that will hopefully help anyone wanting to draw

The Man In The Fedora My first 24-hour zine and involves a time traveler that takes a family through different aspects of their lives. It revolves around events in my own life.

Ocean Trip Written by my buddies, Jon, Molly, Jay Are and myself after we took a trip to Cannon Beach where they filmed part of The Goonies.

Thirty Minute Stories Stories written by Jon Hallman with a thirty minute time limit and illustrations by myself also drawn within a thirty minute time limit.

Stark St. An 8 page mini-comic written by Scott Heikkinen and illustrated by me. The story of a girl and her father that takes place in Portland.


I am also starting up Like A Potato, a webcomic by Jon Hallman and myself. That should be going up before the show. Then working on more sample pages for Marvel. And maybe taking a nap or two in there somewhere. 

Panels From Stark St.

Working on an 8 page mini-comic that takes place here in Portland with my buddy, Scott Heikkinen. I drew it and lettered it about 3 years ago. Put aside to pursue other projects. Just finished inking it. Just need to put some finishing touches on it and create the cover, inside and out, and it'll be done.

Here are a few panels.

Girls

When I saw CB at ECCC he said he wanted to see me work on some pages with girls and teams. So I have been doing quick sketches of girls, warming up for the new scripts. I've been working on realistic girls with sweaters and skirts. As soon as I finish a couple projects I will be working on full blown illustrations with various Marvel girls. Then it's on to teams.

 

ECCC 2013

Another ECCC (Emerald City Comic Con) has come and gone. This one was the biggest one yet. I believe there was an estimated 75,000 people there over the weekend. It was so full of amazing and WOW that I can't even process it all. 

Some of the highlights included my portfolio review with CB from Marvel, meeting some of my favorite creators, all the amazing panels and the tons of really well made cosplay. Geez Louise!! (You can see some of my pics on my Instagram)  

I would go into more detail, but it is kind of like seeing the ocean for the first time. You can see beautiful pictures of the ocean, watch movies that show life on or around the ocean, but NOTHING compares to seeing it all first hand. THAT is Emerald City Comic Con.

My portfolio review did go well, though. CB remembered me from before. He even remembered the copy of ZFW, the zombie comic I gave him last year. He said that my work was better than what he had seen previously. He liked my pacing and how I led the viewers eyes across the page. He said I did a good job with anatomy and musculature. He liked some of the inverted panels with Daredevil's radar sense. He said a few things caught his eye, such as DD's legs being spread a bit more wide that seemed possible and the lil girl's eyes being spread a bit wide which made her look like a very small adult. Weird!! All great advice, of course. I suggest any artist to show their work to as many professionals as possible. Every bit of criticism helps you grow.

He asked me where I wanted to go from here and I told him that I was devoting my time to getting in Marvel. I have a few projects I am working on, but I plan on sending in sample pages as often as I can, once a month or so. He said he would contact me later this week and send me some new sample scripts, including pages with teams and girls, which I didn't get to show him with my DD pages. Can't wait to see what I get to draw next.

I am now reworking some covers for my zines, finishing up inking an 8 page story I started a year ago, getting a few more pages done for Like a Potato, the webcomic I am doing with Jon Hallman, before we start posting them on online. I am also getting some prints made up of a few paintings. I should have about 10 or more things up on my Etsy shop soon. 

Since I now have quite a few things to show I am planning on getting tables at a few different conventions throughout the year. Rose City here in Portland being one of them. And the Portland Zine Symposium, of course. I am hoping to get out of the state and show some of my work across the country. I've never been to the North East.

I am also going to be showing my work at an art show put on by the KND, the art collective I've been a part of for YEARS, in Oklahoma this April when I visit. Can't wait to see all my Oklahoma friends again.

This is going to be a FUN year!!
 

My Latest Marvel Submissions

Here are my latest submissions for Marvel. This time around it's a Daredevil story from the Daredevil #1. He is saving a lil girl from being kidnapped by Spot at a mafia wedding. You can click on the images to zoom in.

I inverted the panels where Daredevil is using his radar sense, thinking they could be printed in red to help give it a different feel similar to how Alex Maleev did it, but with concentric circles as well.

I included the original pages with my original drawings before being inverted, which is what I would assume the inker would want. This would be something I would have to discuss with the editor, of course. I was also wondering if I should include the bride's father since most brides are walked down the isle by their father, who would be the leader of the family, but this is something else I would have to discuss with the editor.

Hope you like them. 8)

And here are the original pencils before being inverted.

Setting up Shop

I have been adding some of my zines to my Etsy shop. I have five up now and should have a few more up in the next couple days. It's nice looking back at the various things I have created over the past few years. I can see various techniques I have held on to and continue to use. I can also see all the things I want to change which helps promote creative growth. Looking forward to experimenting with even more crazy ideas!! I feel like I am just scratching the surface on creating zines. 

Next up I am going to do a few drawings for my shop, contact and about pages. I am glad to finally be getting around to this. Working on my Marvel submissions has taken up so much of my time. That and the dreaded day job. I love my day job, but I would love to have that time to work on my own projects.

Seeing how much I have done over the years I realize I finally have enough work to warrant a table at a convention or festival. Speaking of, the LA Zine Fest is going on right now. I met a few of the organizers last year at PZS and they were super nice and super fun. If anyone is in the area you should check it out. Hoping to table there next year. 8)