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.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2013

Free Comic Book Day is on Saturday, May 4th!  Visit your local shop and get some freeee coooomiiiiics!