Con Season Prints!!

I really liked "Life of Pi."
I love "Game of Thrones."

'Nuff Said.

W.O.W DAY, 2012 Style!!

So I was so busy getting ready for NYCC that I'd forgotten that the Women of Wonder Day Charity Auction was almost upon me once again!  I was able to throw down a couple of pieces, and get them off to Andy Mangels just in the nick of time.

Inspired yet again by my fellow art hooligan DJ Jackson's ridiculously awesome drawing of Cheetara (of Thundercats fame) in my sketchbook, I decided to show a little love to the other two Thunder-chicas, Pumyra and Wilykit.

Started off with a couple of roughs:



                                                    

 

From there, I fleshed the ideas out to semi-tight blueline pencils:

                                                       

 

And from there to tight, clean pencil lines:

                                          

At this point, I started with colors.  (I'm still on training wheels as far as non-digital coloring goes, so every new piece is a sort of experiment for me.  I used Prismacolor Pencil on the skin, and Prismacolor marker on everything else):

                                                            

 

A couple different hues for depth, lightbox-doodle the TC logo in the background, and Voila!!!

                                               

I'm never able to follow the live auctions, so I always wonder how well the pieces do.  Not that it matters, because it's all for a good cause!

SDCC Re-cap! (Braaaaiinssss...)

I had a BLAST at Comic-Con this year!!  Reminisced with my old friends, met with some new ones (shout-out to Jeracl C. and Lee Davis... welcome to the fold!)  Talked shop with some industry folk, picked up a knicknack or two (free markers from the Sakura folks!)  And tried my damndest to wrangle a job (Thanks for the praise, Cartoon Network.  If you guys were hiring, I'd be in Heaven right now!)

I even hung out with the Walking Dead...!

 (See that expression on my face? The chick with the sword just told me she's into necrophilia.  SHAZAM!)

All jokes aside, It was one of the better Cons for me and my mob out of the 13-odd years we've been going.  It gave us a bit more energy to carry on into this Fall, and 2013 beyond.  Next stop: NYCC shenanigans with Tom Kelly!!

GRAMPS Model Sheet

This is part of the latest set of model sheets that I've done.  (It's actually one of my older characters, one I've been using in storyboard samples for years.  I've just never done an actual model sheet of good ol' Gramps until now!)

I think I'll delve a little further into Gramps' universe.  Maybe another set of Model sheets, and a new set of boards.  Hell, even an animatic if I can swing it!

Next Stop: SDCC 2012...!!!!

Okay, sports fans.  In two days I'll be headed yet again to San Diego for the Comic-Con, where I'll no doubt spend countless hours sitting Portfolio Review, and countless braincells drinking at the Marriott Bar later that night!!! 

Think I'll do a new business card this year.

HEADS UP!!

Hey Y'all...!!!

I'll be hanging out at HEROES CON in Charlotte, NC next weekend, Jun 22nd-24th!  If any of you guys make it out, I'll be in the "INDIE ISLAND" section of Artists' Alley, helping my good friend JAY POTTS at the WORLD OF HURT table, section AA-539. 

(Who knows? I may be doing a sketch or seven!!)

Drop by and say Hi! Or even better...BUY SOMETHING!!!!

NOMO.

Ten days ago, we lost a family member. Our akita Nomo (who I always thought of as "My Little Brother") came to us as a pup 11 years ago, and grew into a brawling 150-lb. ball of Man's Best Friend.

The great comedian George Carlin once said that because you know you're going to outlive your pet, buying a dog was like "purchasing a small tragedy."  After a week's reflection, I prefer to think of it differently.  Buying a dog is like purchasing a brief pocket of unconditional love and loyalty.  That was Nomo. We adults spoiled him like he was one of our children, and in return he protected the children in our family as if they were his own cubs.  (Woe to the person who knocked on the front door when any of my nieces or nephews were playing in the house; Nomo's roar-like warning bark could be heard from outside.  But if you were a friend or family member, he'd be happily waiting to knock you off of your feet as soon as you opened the door!)

They say that our pets don't have souls, and thus don't go to heaven.  I can't and won't believe that. If there's indeed a paradise waiting for the good and just when we leave this existence, then Nomo is there waiting for me, the newest addition to the honored pack that has served as the beloved protectors of the Howard Family. Thanks for everything, Little Brother.