Category Archives: Conventions

C2E2 2012 – Post Show Report

Wow. That was about twice the size of last year’s convention and Saturday in particular felt like New York Comic Con. There were very few lulls in foot traffic and the fans and attendees were so wonderful! So many awesome people stopped by, bought prints, got sketches and sketchbooks and generally just chit-chatted. It was great seeing folks just interested in what I was working on and asking when they could read whatever I had coming out. Nearly everyone who saw the dragon work – mostly Temeraire-based illustrations and Tolkien/Smaug, asked what comic this was for/about, in which case I pointed them to the first book, and Naomi Novik’s site, and where to find her fantastic novels (everywhere really). For those asking about the big Dragon print – I have to check on some things first, but check back here and I’ll share when I can.

I did about 10 commissions over the weekend and a couple of personal pieces such as this one:

I also picked up a ton of originals from friends and a few artists I really admire; Primarily of two themes I adore – Kitty Pryde & Lockheed and Dragons. Here are a couple of gems I picked up:

Mallory Harrelson

Paul Azeceta

John Bivens

Eric Canete

Aside from all of this the night life was great, the restaraunts were awesome, and heck, even Shia Lebouef made a comic and had a table in artist alley (you can do it as well!). I met a ton of people and had an awesome time with great friends, and now have a ridiculous ammount of work to do to finish up various projects. I will be at Boston Comic Con next weekend and only have 1 pre commission slot left before the weekend. Send a note to contact up top if interested and see you at the convention!

C2E2, Boston Comic Con, & Heroes

 Three upcoming conventions I will be at in the coming months – two over the next two weekends – Chicago’s C2E2 (April 13-15th – Artist Alley Table L13), and the Boston Comic Con (April 21-22nd where I wil be a guest), and the ever popular Heroes Convention in Charlotte North Carolina (June 22-24th). As usual I will have select prints, sketchbooks, bookmarks, originals, and will be doing a limited number of sketches. If you are looking to pick one up at any of these shows, please send me a contact note to get on the list or set up a pre-con commission pick-up, (I spend longer on these pieces). Other Conventions that are further off that I will be attending this year: New York Comic Con, Baltimore Comic Con, and if possible Dragon Con in Atlanta again.

Projects update: I’m wrapping up pages for a fun short story for pal Mike Walton’s False Positive, and working on a number of illustrations and concept pieces for video games and novel covers. I’ve been working on two other comic projects as well that are nearing fruition and will be getting exposure soon. I’ll mention and point to things as soon as I can. In other words – I’ve been very busy lately.

In other news, a bunch of new pieces have been added to the comics and illustration sections. A smattering is below, but scroll the gallery for about 10 more. Enjoy and hope to see some of you at a future convention!

Also, I’m nearing the 1,000 “likes” on my Facebook fan page. When it hit’s 1,000, I will pick a person at random from the list and will do a free commission for him or her, so if you haven’t “liked” the page yet – please do to enter yourself in the drawing

Interview, New Orleans, Temeraire

First, I’ve completed the big Termeraire piece some of you have been following progress on via twitter, tumblr, and Facebook. I’ve posted it below, and if you click there are detail shots as well.

Copic, maker of the ink pens and markers I use, has posted an artist interview with me, where you can see the large Temeraire piece being created and where I talk process. Also, that piece has been posted on the front page of Temeraire.org! Thanks guys (Can’t wait for the new book!)

Lastly, I leave tomorrow for New Orleans Comic Con. If you have a commission you would like, to pick up at the con, I am opening a small number of pre-con commissions. Shoot me a note via contact above and let me know if you’ll be there! I’ll be set up at artist alley table 2063.

New work, projects, conventions.

With 2011 out the door I did a tally of all the illustration work I did last year. 293 images in total. A nice big number. I want to do about a quarter more this year as I didn’t really get on a roll until mid summer. While I was truly proud of the vast majority of the work I did I was only able to scan and post about a third of the total. I uploaded a lot of new work to the comics directory, and will add still more to the illustration, tolkien, and sketches sections later this week, so keep an eye out. I’ve linked to some of my favorites below, and click over to the comics section for a whole lot more. Additionally, there is something else I worked on a little while back that folks will be able to see this Friday.

I have not added any new sequential work as last year was a strange one. I pitched a number of projects that either were rejected, put on hold in another case, were scrapped shortly in, or are still in the pitch process. I also did an insane number of commissions last year. As to new projects, I have what I am going to just call project “X”, (clever, I know), that is about 20 pages in. I may start showing specific people some of it at the begining of this year after I finish the first arc. I hope to be able to share that with everyone just after February but time and legalities must run their course. Another project I started and backburnered due to work conflicts will oddly be viewable to people around the same time. I can say it’s a departure from my usual work and should raise some eyebrows. Another project I have been working on is a pitch that I’ll certainly post here whether it’s accepted or not. It’s a bit of a dream project that I figure I can try and do now or be disappointed in myself that I never tried. Lastly, I am illustrating a short story by Mike Walton that’s a lot of fun and will be going up on his False Positive comic site. If you haven’t checked it out – you MUST. It is creepy, evil, fun.

Commissions: I am currently closed for commissions for a while due to various projects I have ongoing. I took on a zillion commissions just before the holidays in order to have free time to devote to some of these personal and non-personal sequential efforts. Should you want a commission, please use the contact link above and I will give you an ETA on when I might free up. I generally open commissions just prior to a convention for people who might want to put one in for pick up at the show. Which leads me to…

Conventions: I will be at Wizard World New Orleans January 28th and 29th. If anyone wants one for that show send me a note above and please note that it is for a New Orleans commission. Other shows I will be attending this year: C2E2, Boston Comic Con, NYCC, Heroes, and Baltimore Comic Con. What will I have at said shows? Prints, sketchbooks, originals, and I will be doing a limited number of commissions.

I think that’s about it. Have any questions? Shoot me a note here. I’ll have another post come Friday Happy New Year everyone!

Heroes 2011, PR, & Stuff

Heroes was a blast and easily placed itself among my favorite cons. I didn’t expect the overwhelming number of commissions and folks buying originals. Drawing day and night was crazy but fun, and according to fellow artists, par for the course at Heroes. Don’t get me wrong – no artist will ever complain about having too much to draw:). There were so many kind people who stopped by my table and struck up conversation, and I got the opportunity to meet and hang out with artists I’ve admired for years. I got to have lunch with one commissioner, and the Drink and Draw was a lot of fun. I was able to get a few of my favorite commissions taken care of at the pizza shop over beers and laughs. At the Live Auction my donated Kitty and Lockheed piece went for $350, and I had the opportunity on the final day of the  con to sketch and draw with Dean Trippe of Project Rooftop, and Chris Moreno – both a lot of fun to work alongside over breakfast.

Also, coming out of Heroes; I am now with representation. Lastly – My redesigns of the New Mutants are now up on PR. Check out set 1 here and click back soon for set 2.

New work:

Heroes Con!

I will be joining the masses of artists at Heroes Con in Charlotte, North Carolina this weekend at artist alley tables 118,119. This will be my first time at this Con and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Stop by the table, chat, say hi – I’ll be doing commission sketches with pal Matthew Petz of War of the Woods, and fellow Comic Social Club artists Bobby Timony, Kevin Colden, and selling sketchbooks and prints. My 2010 sketchbook is sold out, and the 2011-A sketchbook is in very limited supply. I expect to sell out at Heroes. My 2011-B sketchbook and the the Tolkien sketchbook (I know – a long time coming), will be available in time for the Baltimore and New York Comic Con’s and will be for sale online sometime in late July.

Friday night I plan to be at the Drink & Draw at Fuel Pizza starting at 7:30pm, so if you’d like ot buy me a beer and chat/draw – come on down! I also plan to check out two awesome panels (and you should as well – Friday at 1 PM – Room 206 – the Comic Twart panel, and at 3PM – Room 203B – Project Rooftop: Superhero Fashion. Hope to see many of you at the show

Upcoming Cons, Commissions, & Projects Update

So much has happened since my last update, I scarcely know where to start. I’ve already been to two very busy and fun cons this year – Chicago’s C2E2 and one of the four Virginia Comic Cons. Here is my nearly postive Con schedule for the rest of the year:

• Boston Comic Con
• Virginia Comic Con (x2)
• Heroes (Charlotte)
• Baltimore Comic Con (BCC)
• Dragon Con (Atlanta)
• New York Comic Con (NYCC

I will be selling my sketchbooks while supplies last and hope to have my new Tolkien-oriented ThereAndBackAgain sketchbook ready for this coming Boston Comic Con where I will be doing commissions with Bobby Timony (Night Owls) and Ian Struckhoff (Black Label Comics). I will also have a few prints and bookmarks to sell as well. If you would like a commission at the con, I am opening the pre-con sketches now for Boston. Send me a note here for pricing.

So what have I been up to? I have been pitching various projects and am hard at work on a personal project I am considering turning into a web series. I promise more on this after I return from Boston, and with luck I’ll have more info about the pitches to share.

Dwarven Map! A project I worked on at the begining of the year has been printed and is available for a donation to a wonderful community, The Middle-earth network. Click here to learn more!

Lastly – Newish work – Below are a smattering of new pieces – commissions mostly, prints, and various bits over the last few months. I will do my best to post more frequently here when I update work on the various other networks, and will add these to the linked pages in the various galleries.

C2E2

I’ll be at C2E2 again in Chicago with the Comic Social Club (table E-1), sketching, chatting and commissioning. Keep an eye on my TwitPic feed as I’ll be constantly updating the feed with sketches and happening from the convention.

The Sketchbook:

I’ll be selling my 2011 series 1 sketchbook, and I’ve made a small number available via my Etsy shop while supplies last: LINK It features 32 pages of sketches done between September 2010 and February 2011 - 8 in color, 26 in Black & White. My 2010 sketchbook sold out, (I was able to hold onto 10 I might release later), so if interested, I urge you to pick up the 2011 SB at the show or online soon, as it’s another small run.

Commissions:

If you’re interested in a commission, I’m opening up 10 slots for the convention. I mail commissions if you are not attending when I return. If you are attending – let me know in advance. Please send me a note HERE about rates if interested.

New Art:

So much new art to post! I’ll be updating the gallery tonight and tomorrow night before I leave for Chicago. If you’re interested in seeing some of the new stuff prior to then, please check out my Deviant Art Page. LINK

Lastly – a huge thank you to everyone who has sent me emails, notes, tweets, and “liked” my work over the last year. A huge thanks to all who have commissioned me for illustrations and sketches at cons and via my site, and to those who follow me on twitter, facebook, deviant Art and here. I am constantly humbled by all of your support and am honored by each of you. I hope to see many of you in coming days :)

UPDATE: I now have 8 slots left for commissions.

VA Comic Con Post-Game Report

VA Comic Con is going down as one of my favorite cons of this year, if not the favorite. Not only did the Comic Social Club have a great showing, I think some of the best con art I’ve ever done was there, and I met some of the best con-goers of any convention. Only taking a 10 minute break on Sunday from drawing and chatting with fans, Peter & Bobby Timony and myself were constantly selling prints and sketchbooks while gossiping with convention folk. I got to meet and draw beside art-legend Joe Jusko, and watch him work one some really amazing sketch pieces. What a great guy. I also had a ton of fans chat me up about AZURE and ask about when the next issues were hitting.

The print was a big hit and sketchbooks and prints alike nearly sold out. Look for that piece to be in a calendar due from me very soon.

Here are some of the con commissions done at the show, some pics of me and the guys working, and the print I had at the show:

Projects Update & VA Comic Con

Live in Virginia? Like Comics? Come on down to the Virgina Comic Con on November 20th and 21st where I’ll be doing sketches, selling sketchbooks and prints (while supplies last), and milling about with fellow Comic Social Clubbers Mike Zagari and Bobby Timony. I will have 10 commission slots open for the con – prices are listed on this Commissions Page.

**EDIT** – I now have just 7 slots open for the Virginia Comic Con Commissions.

Projects – I am working on two swquential pitches right now and have just taken on a rather cool Middle-earth-oriented project I can’t discuss just yet. More to come on that soon. As to the comic pitches – Both are with others handling the writing chores while I help with plot and direction along with the art side of things. What about Azure? Write HERE and tell them you want more, more, more, more…

What on earth is 30 Characters and why am I blasting out original characters each day? It’s a challenge I took on at the urging of fellow creator Tyler James, to create 30 characters in 30 days, one for each day of November. It sounded simple until one actually starts putting them together and realizes to do justice to a character you have to put some love into them. It was a fun challenge last year, and this years is a lot of fun also, but perhaps more stressful, (I had to up the ante a bit). As an awesome bonus, many of my creator friends joined in the fun as we keep pushing one another to do one better each day.

Many more to come, but here is where I stand after two weeks worth of character making: