Obviously

I re-watched Sherlock and am now halfway through watching it with Jason.  I really enjoy the movies, but Benedict and Martin are just so much better than Robert and Jude.  Sorry, guys!

Thanks For Giving!

What a crazy month!

At the last minute I decided to try out for Maine Roller Derby, and I was successful.  Around the same time I was contacted about making a poster image for my favorite bout of the season, the charity bout!

This bout is so much fun.  You donate money (which we will then donate to Strive)  and you can change the game.  Literally!  You can pay to add points to the score, pay to put players in the penalty box, and before halftime is over, pay to have players switched to the opposing team!  It's interactive and ridiculously fun to watch.  If you're in the area on November 16th, come check it out!

We Love Libraries

Here's a sign I did for work that I never got to use for its intended purpose.  I meant to bring it to a library event where we had an exhibitor's table but I was sick that week and forgot it at home.  It may still find a place in the store.

Marvelous Miyazaki

I've been catching up on my animated films.  This weekend's watching consisted of My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service!

The Kohaku River

I finally watched Spirited Away, and it did not disappoint.

Dream Team

Pokemon!!

Reese and Cyrus

Yeah no seriously, I've been playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf way too much.

Dr. Orpheus

I've been watching a whole lot of Venture Brothers lately (:

Dorky Dogs Calendar!

It's finally begun! The Dorky Dogs Calendar project is now on Indiegogo!

This is a project featuring 6 Portland, Maine artists that share pride in their love for all things geek. We have created art for a 12 month 2014 Calendar of many different dog breeds as different characters.

All of the goal money for the Indiegogo project will be going towards funding our project. We will not be able to create the calendar without funding, so every penny counts! After the project is made, we will then be able to sell the calendars and donate all proceeds to the Animal Refuge League. Prints of any of the art will only be available through the rewards when you contribute!

Indiegogo is a site that still grants money earned, even if the goal is not reached.  This is why, just in case we don't reach our goal, we are not making the calendars available to purchase as a reward just yet.  We want to make sure all sales of the actual product go toward the ARL!

We hope you will help out if you can so we can make our small dream of helping our local animal shelter come true.

Indiegogo page (contribute here!):http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-year-of-dorky-dogs

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DorkyDogsProject

Animal Refuge League: http://www.arlgp.org/

Here are my contributions for the project!  My third piece is not yet finished, but it may turn out to be my favorite!

Pokemon X and Y

Who's excited for the new Pokemon game?  I know I am!  Everyone likes the new fire starter type because it's a fox.  BUT LOOK HOW CUTE CHESPIN IS

My Little Saga: Lying is Magic

Someone made the awesome commission request of Saga characters as ponies.  What a fantastic idea!

I recently bought Animal Crossing: New Leaf (finally, amirite?)!  This may have been a big mistake, as my productivity level has decreased ever since.  However, I made these sweet paragon and renegade fabric designs, so at the very least I'm still technically drawing, right?

Let me know if you want my friend code!

Yesterday I also finished my first 5k event with Color Me Rad in Brunswick, Maine!  It was a great experience, and I'm proud of myself for participating.  I duct taped my knee brace and hit that pavement in my crappy sneakers and still managed to cross the finish line faster than I've ever tried to cover a 5k distance before!  Now I am sore as all heck, since it was the first I've attempted to run in 2 months, but it was worth it.  What a great way to start the end of my summer.  Next week is a laser tag excursion with some roller derby buddies!

Bob's Burgers

I took a break from drawing while watching Netflix to doodle this.  The show is really absurd, but I can't help but love how realistic the lessons learned are.  Because sometimes life doesn't work out for you, but life goes on and that's okay.

Chun Li and Black Canary

Here's a commission I did recently for a friend's friend.  I love Chun Li, and loved the Green Arrow/Black Canary series (it introduced me to Cliff Chiang), so this was really fun.  Everyone asked why I chose to use the Blanka/Brasil stage from Street Fighter, and my answer is always: because it is the best.

Dorky Dogs, Clumsy Mummies

 I have so many things planned for the fall!  Please be sure to follow me on twitter and facebook for updates and announcements!

Mako Mori

If you haven't seen Pacific Rim yet, you REALLY need to get on it before it leaves theatres.  It's a lot of fun, and anyone that doesn't seriously enjoy giant monsters and robots punching the bejeezus out of eachother hates America.

Sweetest Tooth in the World

Yesterday was amazing!  Jeff Lemire came to our store for a signing.  He liked the Animal Man drawing I did for our window display.  He requested a commission from me, in exchange for an original page of his artwork!  He is extremely friendly and personable, and I'm so lucky to have had the opportunity to meet him.

August's First Friday Art Walk

 Last weekend, Casablanca Comics had its first art show for the First Friday Art Walk!  The show featured sketch covers from plenty of local artists, including your truly.

 

 You can still check them out, on sale through our website!

Tomorrow we will also be having a signing with Jeff Lemire, creator of the new series Trillium, as well as Sweet Tooth.  I also got to see Sean Murphy while he was in town buying a house last Monday, making this week quite delightful.

 

 

Commissions, fanart, and mini comics

I will admit that this year was not my favorite year of PortCon Maine.  It's mostly because I was gimpy and on crutches, but I'm pleased that my costume this year (Lady Rainicorn) actually got recognized by strangers!  Last year's Art House Rarity went over well with friends but I don't think other people got it.  I also had to spoil the surprise outfit for Jason a little early, but he didn't seem to mind.

d'awww

Here are a few commissions I've done the past few months:

this cute couple has a lot of pets!
watercolor and ink

jay is teaching his one year old how to fly!
crayon and ink

This was a birthday gift for Laura, one of the owners of Casablanca Comics!  She loves Starman and Art Baltazar.

watercolor and ink

A customer requested I draw on their blank Walking Dead variant, I couldn't say no!

probably the best zombie i have or will ever draw
brush pen

And heeere's some fanart, because that's what I like to do.

dipper and mabel from gravity falls.  i may re-do this one, i'm not so confident about the line work here
brush pen

isabelle from animal crossing!  i haven't even played it yet but boy am i looking forward to it
brush pen and crayon

wee little mike wazowski!
brush pen and crayon on watercolor paper

Here are some signs I made for work!

all collections must be modok-approved
brush pen and crayon

it's a us!
brush pen and crayon

the fantastic four...in 3d!
brush pen and crayon

Here are some mini comics and doodles to top it all off.

life without treats is ruff
brush pen and crayola marker

toby encourages slacking off
sharpie

mordin solus, living the life and running tests on seashells
micron

toby hates zabu!
pencil

  

I wish I knew more creative ways to present these instead of "this is a, this is b" but I'm all business it seems.

Now that I've spent too much time sitting, I must escape to ease my back pain because my body is falling apart.
Enjoy the summer while it lasts!

Annual Reflections

At some point this blog reached 16k+ views.  That's insane!

Lately I've been really reflecting on the past year.  I went to PortCon Maine a few weeks ago as a staffer and there are always a good number of people I see only once a year, at the con.  There were a few people I spoke to about my big surgery, and of course these conversations were had while I stood uncomfortably holding my crutches.  Once again, almost exactly a year later, I sprained my knee...except this time it was the OTHER knee.  (I also sprained my thumb and right after the con pulled my back.)  

Last week I received the good news that the recent scare I had with some biopsy test results came back negative.   I'm relieved and excited to be free from the doctor another 6 months.  But that's just it -- having a 9.5lb tumor removed from your abdomen means an appointment every 6 months, probably for the rest of my life.  It's a small price to pay for my health of course!   But I have been trying so hard to get healthy with exercise and activity while watching some of my friends lounge around with what seems like no worries at all.  It's impossible not to feel envious at times.

I think one of the most important things I'm beginning to learn is how you can't expect life to hand you everything.  I admit I was pretty spoiled growing up, where I had people I could go to whenever I hit even the tiniest bump in the road.  Now I feel like my life has been threatened, and I want to fight to avoid it happening again.  You always hear "anything worth having in life is worth fighting for" and I'm finally at a point where I understand it.

This has been a CRAZY year of injury, recovery, stress, depression, rejection, and relief.  I wouldn't label it as bad -- I am SO lucky for the things I have!  It's been a wacky ride.

I absolutely am determined to get working on my comic finally.  I've been plotting and writing and designing it for at least two years now.  My plan is to do a few unrelated mini comics (I have so many ideas for stuff) to test my rhythm and figure out a refined schedule.  Then it will finally be time to unleash some monster kid comic fun!  I have yet to decide whether to make a monthly, a full graphic novel, or a webcomic.  We shall see!

Killarney Love

Here's a commission I did for some friends.  Five years together is a pretty awesome accomplishment, and they are soooo cuuuuute!

 

Remember when I updated more than once a month?

Barely!

Happy May-almost-June!
Here is an art dump in case you have any interest.
Please don't steal art because it isn't cool and that's not how you make friends.