Collaboration

Among the many wonderful things that happened at Stumptown this year, was meeting Liz Rusch. Liz is a local children's book author who approached me with the idea of collaborating on a pitch to a publisher. Now that the summer is settling down a bit I've been drawing away on the project and am having a lot of fun with it. I won't say anything about the story, since its Liz's baby, so I'm not sure how much sense you will be able to make of it.



Anyhoo, here is a pencil rough of page 4. This is what I draw in my sketch book before blowing it up 125% and rendering it in charcoal.


The final charcoal version is done, so once I scan it into my computer I'll post it up so you can see some process.

Capitalism HO!

Comixpress, the fine folks who print my comics for me, just added my book to their online store! That means you can pay me your hard earned cash from the comfort of your own home!

The link directly to my comic is:

http://store.comixpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1451

I also added a link to the right for your clicking pleasure.

Comixpress prints to order I believe, so I'm not sure how long it takes from ordering it to getting it shipped....if anybody does this please let me know what the time frame is.

DHP

Well, of course Myspace chooses my semi-pro debut to have massive financial trouble! Until further notice I guess Dark Horse Presents is going to be hosted on Dark Horse's own website. Upon seeing online I have to admit I was a little disappointed, some of the colors don't look the same as they did on my monitor (a mistake I will learn from you!), so next time I will be checking my work on other monitors....or letting Dark Horse hire a pro colorist for me.....Anyhoo, enough apologizing for my work, which one should never do (unless you draw a mean picture of somebodies mom and they didn't deserve it).

http://www.darkhorse.com/Features/eComics/1087/Dark-Horse-Presents-No-24

In other work news, I am currently working on a collaborative pitch with a local children's book author (look out Random House! Prepare to be floored! You might as well whip out your checkbook now just to save yourself the trouble! you have been warned). Once I clear it with her I'll start posting some process shots that are pretty fun.

Oh, and I recently found a blog called "terrible yellow eyes" that is a tribute the great Maurice Sendak (a huge influence on my artistic development), the submissions are invite only, but I think I'm going to try so slip in under their radar.

Minor fame, here I come!

I never thought seeing my name on a website would give me a thrill.

Only weeks away before my comic goes live on DARK HORSE!!

For those of you not in the know, I'm the only non-famous/respected guy in the bunch! I envision myself as one of those birds that perch on rhinos in order to eat the bugs that land on them...except instead of a Rhino its Joss Whedon...and instead of bugs its little bits of fame that drip from his ravenous jaws! Luckily Joss (I can call him that now) will never read this post and never know that I compared him to a rhino of fame.

Beginnings

Notice the official DARK HORSE PAPER!!!!

And the official (semi) PRO COMIC BOOK ARTIST SMIRK OF CONFIDENCE!!!

And (most importantly) the OFFICIAL CONTRACT!! I can't tell you what's in it because it told me not to....well, I shouldn't have told you that.

I haven't posted anything in a bit, but for good reason. I've been up to my ears working on my short story for Dark Horse Presents and don't feel like posting progress shots on a comic that is going to be online anyway in about a month. SO, I'll just post some pics of me beginning to work on it instead. I just turned my pencils in, so now its time to letter and ink (as long as the editor gives me the thumbs up)

Character Doodles

Well, my script was just approved for Dark Horse Presents and I just received my fancy official Dark Horse Comic Paper! Here are my initial character designs for my main characters, I'm sure they'll change 40 times this weekend once I get down to drawing out the story. I'll be sure to post a link to the story once it goes live! My very first PAID comic job...oh validation, you taste so sweet.

Stumptown, I shall miss you

Well, Stumptown wrapped up on Sunday night and it couldn't have gone any better (well, maybe a little better, since I didn't find a winning lotto ticket while flying a jet pack or anything). I had a complete blast, met a ton of awesome people who were excited about my work, sold out all of my comics, and had a great turnout of friends and family. Thank you all who were able to attend and stop by my table.

Here is a link to some photos from the event, with Ash acting as a puppeteer forcing me to draw draw draw.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanyamaha/3455049036/in/pool-stumptowncomicsfest2009/

Also, I just got the final back on the Roller Derby poster I did for the Rose City Rollers! I did the illustration and the Art Director (Nami, aka "Draggin") did the text layout. I think it looks pretty dang good, the font reminds me of boogie nights with a splash of vidal sassoon.