How Time Flies

New Year and even Chinese New Year has past since my last posting, sorry all. Still trying to muddle through the inks on a special independent project then hopefully some new work. Getting distracted by the new Star Trek Online game can be blamed, but at least a bit of the excessive playing has made my Space Bar Thumb sore enough that I'm laying off it right now. :P I would say that even though I enjoy flying around in an Original TOS Enterprise, there really isn't much the way for Multiplayer action in STO. I've been labeling it a Massively Instanced Single Player Online Game (or MISPOG).

So Convention Season is quickly approaching and I've got a couple lined up for shore: San Diego is always a must and Crazy trying to get hotel rooms, and Planet Comic-Con in Kansas City. I'm still trying to get in touch with the Anime Central crew to be a Guest again, always a good time; but the people who run Fallcon in Minneapolis has changed their schedule around so their 2-day show which is normally in Sept/Oct, is now on the same weekend as Acen. If Acen falls through I guess it would be Fallcon in May. Both shows have treated us great in the past and it's unfortunate when con dates conflict. :(

Other con stuff that's happening is C2E2 which is the New York Comic-Con's big debut in Chicago at McCormick Place. Hope it has a good turnout and will give Wizard some competition. :P Anyhoo, the con needed some artist info and artwork for their site and Artist Alley Placeholders, so I did some original art for an idea that I have for a banner (if I ever get around to doing and paying for one. :P) Enjoy! :)

Peeking Before X-Mas!

Here's a little sneak peek at the X-Mas Card I'm getting around to doing this year. I really only do them if I have an idea that I like, so they're few and far between (this being the 2nd :P). Again, it's the PPG, darn them, they keep dragging me back... XD I suppose next year I could just do a sexy babe in a Santa suit... :/

The full size of the original art is 11x17, heh almost like doing covers again. My monitor for Photoshop is not calibrated correctly so the reds and some of the other colors aren't coming out as vibrant as when I'm looking at it in PS. Not sure how to correct that or if I'll have problems when it comes to printing them. The inside of the card will be quite wordy and I'm not sure I'll have enough gumption to have a little beaten up Mojo in there... We'll See...

[edit] Weird, now that I look at it online, the colors are closer to what they are in PS... darnit.

Decompressing from Anime Central 2009

Yo! Finally getting around to putting up the pics and sketches from Acen in Rosemont this last weekend. Had a blast, got alot of multiple character/color commissions which can take alot of time. That means I can't get to as many ppl who would want one. Fortunately (or unfortunately for me) I didn't have to turn away too many ppl since my list was filled by early Saturday. I still have a couple to finish up at home, but it worked out well. I was planning on getting them done Saturday night in the Guest Green Room, but I got distracted by Rock Band. Yes, yes, woe is me. :P So here we got a couple of CoH characters (always fun to do), a swimwear ad featuring Christy, Etna, and Matoko, lastly a PPG sketch featuring MojoBubbles from Los Dos Mojos (might make a good print...hmm). I did do some other sketches, but they're NSFW.

Speaking of PPG, I was amazed at seeing not one set of PPG cosplayers but at least 4 different groups! And one of them a Him (always creepy ;P ). Maybe it's because PPG is back on Boomerang, CN's premium cartoon channel. Also suprising is that I sold more PPG prints and comics at this show than I have in a long time. Perhaps it's because ppl who used to watch the show now have some disposible income of their own and have a bit of nostalgia tugging at the pursestrings, it's welcome nevertheless. Guess I gotta make some new PPG prints. :p

Of course there were some other nice costumes, Elektra and Jessica Rabbit were some, along with a very sexy Haruhi Bunny, and alot of Gurren Lagaan cosplayers (these 3 just happened to be friends with cousin Stephanie attending her first con, ah start the corruption now. :P) Ryan Zanfei of her very own Tasty Peach Studios showed off her loli side and made a killing in Artist Alley selling all sorts of extremely cute prints and stickers. Nice design sense, she'll go far.

All in all, had alot of fun. Bought more than I should have, guess I'll have to hold off on that dining room table I wanna get. But at least I have another couple figures to decorate my studio and collect tons of dust, and I've increased my book collection by a little bit more. :) I did see Star Trek on Monday, I'll have to blog/gripe about that in another post, I'll just say for now that it isn't my Star Trek.

Queue "Doomsday Machine" Music

Yes, Doomsday is approaching. That pesky lil' con called SDCC, and I continue to get stuff ready for it. I put a batch of last year's Sketchbook (The Good, The Bod, and the Undies) together; just have to cut the ends off. I'll probably do another batch tomorrow.

I did finally get around to the last take-home sketch from last SDCC. Bubbles racing the Roadrunner. Sometimes I get annoyed that I just don't have the right shade of color I'm looking for, so I have to wing it and try out different things to kinda make it work. But it's done and I can get on to other things.

I'm definitely not going to get anything new done for the con. I currently have 2 stories on my desk to do: 1) a Samurai Jack 4 pager, and 2) a Legion of Super Heroes (cartoon version) issue to pencil. Yes! That's right doin' some LSH. :p Since I haven't really watched the show, it'll be interesting to see if I can turn it around in the time Harvey wants. I'm expecting some comics and reference this afternoon. All of this is due in mid-August. O_O

Shameless Plug #3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Okay, it's also been a while since I've updated what's been published. I helped out with inking duties on World of Warcraft #5 (5 pages), and #7 (9 pages) over penciller Ludo Lullabi. Nice stuff, tight, but a little sparse, 'cept when he does backgrounds, then there's some gorgeous scenery to work on. Hopefully you won't be able to tell the difference between my work and what Sandra Hope did. :P I am actually credited for inks in WoW #6 but I didn't do anything in that issue. My apologies to the other inker.

More on the kiddie book side, Super Friends #3 is finally out with full issue inks. CN Block Party #45 has a PPG 4 pager (pencils and inks) that was supposed to have another 4 pager following that, but I was way late on the second story (sorry Rachel). Still both stories turned out well, and it's always nice to go back to the Girls once in a while.

An even more recent release (Last Week!! 0_0) is #1 of Myth-Told Tales. It's based on the book series by Robert Aspirin and inspired by the comics drawn by Phil Foglio. The artwork tends to be a bit looser than what I normally do, I was in the mood to break away from my french curves, ruler, and circle templates and do some freehand work. My friend Scott Beaderstadt (Trollords) helped me with page layout chores of which I say, "Thanks!"

Fallcon Sketch Cards

Long Time no See! Yes, yes, I've been laxative in my duties updating even a simple blog, but here goes. I've been working on some semi secret projects of late, one of which I hope I can start posting on. Other than that, playing around too much with those pesky MMORPGs.

First up is a set of Sketch Cards done for the Midwest Comic Book Association to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. The MCBA runs the fabulous Fallcon up in Minneapolis, MN. They treat their guests well and I'm happy to do the little bit of extra work for them with these cards.

Colors came out of the scanner fine, except with some weird redish tint coming from the black Copic marker I used. The other exception is Blossom's orange hair and pink tones that got muddled. They're pretty much done now, though I don't know if I want to run out and grab a Glitter Pen to add a little Sparkle (heh, a pun :P).

Moar PPG!

I'm back to do another couple 4 pagers for DC. One is called Repeating Robots and has sort of a visual puzzle mixed into it. Thumbnails above. The finished artwork will be much cleaner, natch. ;p

New Year, New Blog!

Okay, time to try this blog thing. Since I haven't updated my Official site in ages, being I had to type all the HTML by hand, I figure this would be quicker and easier, many kudos to my brother Jeff who showed me how to use it.

And though it's kinda late, I wish everyone a Happy Holiday and an even Better New Year! More stuff to come, hopefully ;P