Last Post for the year 2011

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest: 

A Little Corpse Cop Christmas Action for 2011!

FIRSTLY I wanted to say Merry Christmas to. Everyone and a Happy New Year.  

I really believe that this next year will be awesome and better.  Of course spirits and merriment may already commenced by the time of this blog for the end of the year.

  So let's get down to business shall we? 

  

GALLERY SHOWS:

  Shows come and they go.  And work for the BIG 200 is beginning to wind down for the end of the year.  

  Now I am not sure if I / we will be participating in other shows than that which was already mentioned like the "Hanspiration" show or another entry like the Portland Love Show 2012 but I am waiting to hear  for the invite on that one.

(Place "?" here)

There are only three survivors left remaining from the Patron Onslaught from the 10th opening.  

Of these surviving pieces is "Blood & Roses" , "Why me?" and "World on Fire".

After looking at the work I realized now I've gotta change up my game for next year.  After the completion of the crossover time to start adding some color as a experiment to the scratchboards.  I've been contemplating adding water color to the board and letting the color channel along the etched out ink on the boards.

  But I'm also thinking about using more of my acrylic paints and then scrape away some of the color leaving the white.  

  We'll see where this goes.

  But 7 out of 10 sold.  I knew this would be a great show.  So Many artists from the East side of the river selling their work in a different part of town.  

  The proceeds of the sales are going to help support (The Oregon Food Bank). The location is the gallery is here

Please support this and our local artists as well.  Everybody will come out on top.

  I do have to say this is the first time for me using my cell phone video capture here so if ain't perfect, blame the camera operator.

THE CROSSOVER: 

(The photos of the crossover here.)

Transfers for all 49 pages are done and inking has started on the 33 pages.  I am looking at mid January to have theses pages done.

THE POSTIT ADVENTURES:

Where are we now with Johnny Vega and childhood exploits?  Starting with Page 1, issue 2 (pg. 25 for collections)

    Previously in Johnny Vega, Man. of the Future: Beat Down.  Johnny coming back from a regular scheduled workout is attack by a unknown assailant  and left  possibly for dead.  There is no doubt that he is looked upon as a target now.  But the questions now are why and who?  There is much speculation to the latter question. 

And now... 

Page 1 (25)

Page 2 (26)

Page 3 (27)

Page 4 (28)

One of the biggest realizations on the Postit Adventures is the Pagination of the stories.  There has been talk of actually serializing Johnny Vega into a continuous comic strip on line.  This in of itself is exciting to think about but again only  talked about.  So I plan on having to 

two page numbers listed on the bottom of the pages as we near the end of the first 24 page run on Vega.  So to clear up any confusion the first number will be page number as it would appear as a printed issue.  The number in parentheses ( ) will be for a collection in graphic novel or better yet a massive Johnny Vega Omnibus. 

  I do apologize now since most of the Postit Adventures have 

not been properly edited.  That will happen later.  

  But the story of Vega MUST BE TOLD.  There have been many a project that has come and gone just like the holidays but  to me, Johnny Vega has always been a central figure that I always come back to.  Even with the Weird Atomic Tales books Vega is featured there as well.

  I mean really, how many other crossovers have this character in their books?  Three.  The Character has appeal, folkes.

OTHER STUFF: 

The pricing list has been something that I as an artist have 

struggled with for years.  It has been a upward learning curve as well suggestions (and insistence of) other artist friends setting up a Etsy shop and looking as Wicks.com for a better provider for the Black Box Comix website.

  So more new things on the way!

OLD BBC BLOG

What a lot people I believe don't realize is "Tales from the Scratch Pad" are the new Black Box Comix Updates.  Check here if you want to see those old blogs.  That is of you want to read up on old stuff.

And so there you go.  A lot of things going on at Scratch Pad.

2011 has come and gone like.  And with it there have been shows and galleries a lot of new things and a few goodbyes to some good friends.  

  But it has been a blast artisticly and I don't think it's gonna stop either

Christmas Grows Closer

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest: 

GALLERY SHOWS:

"Why Me?"  8"x8" Scratchboard
2011 copyright Alan Bennett

By this time the BIG 200 will have been one week old.  Its unfortunate that I could not be in attendance but again as they say (and really who are these "they" people anyway?) A picture is worth a thousand words well looking at the postings of images by the shows organizers, there's a freakin' novel of Herculean portions to be had!  

(Place images of the gallery here) 

  The proceeds of the sales are going to help support (The Oregon Food Bank). The location is the gallery is here

Please support this and our local artists as well.  Everybody will come out on top.

There is more to talk about gallery work.  I wasn't sure about other gallery show coming up and  I did have my mind focused on other aspects going on over the weekend of the 10th.

  I thought there should be a art show that showed Hans's influence on others around him.  And low and behold my friend Jesse handed me a flyer for exactly what I was thinking, a celebration of my friend Hans Fuson life.

For the show  I am going to attempt to do two pieces work themed with him in it.

"Hanspiration" is the title of this show.  Featuring the art of Hans Fuson.   It is a celebration of his life and his influence upon other artist around him.  The Show is slated Feb. 24 though the 26th in Eugene OR.

I think it would be a great personal tribute to my friend if I could contribute

  Link to facebook Memorial Page.

THE CROSSOVER: 

(The photos of the crossover here.)

By this time another 4 or 5 pages should have been completed and transferred to Bristol and ready to be inked and scanned!  But add this- this over the top 70'S style comic book smack down will be colored.

  I had told Jason my plan was keep this story in the continuity of the Vega time line.  This also applies to “the Ghost Assassin/ Johnny Vega crossover” story by Adam Watson. But some of the art work will be updated to seem seamless with the rest of the Vega books out currently.

  I have already have the wrap around cover done and one  panel colored as a example.  

"Ghost Assassin/ Johnny Vega"
2010 Copyright Adam Watson and Alan Bennett

  I think this could be cool. 

"Tale of Two Jo(h)nnys"
2011 Copyright  Jason Z. Pott and Alan Bennett

Official ECCC Banner for 2012

A proto banner to hang

behind the table 

 EMRALD CITY COMICON 2012;

The show awaits us and we it as we begin to push hard to finish our books and ready them for the printer.  It is never as easy when it comes to printing.

COMMISSIONS: 

The Joker Commission

There is one last commission on deck and probably the most ambitious project I have had to come up with - a rendition of the Joker Pencil Trick . Full color as well.  

  This kinda scares me but I am going to give it my best shot.

THE POSTIT ADVENTURES:

Page 21

Page 22

Page 23

Page 24

Where are we now with Johnny Vega and childhood exploits?  Starting with Page 20

    Previously in Johnny Vega, Man. of the Future: Arrival On Proxima Prime.  After the dust up with the Wedjet known as Karnas Vega is introduced to other cadets along the way namely Jd'rel Meower.  Tempers fly as there are continuing skirmishes between Johnny and Karnas on campus.

And now... 

One of the biggest realizations on the Postit Adventures is the Pagination of the stories.  There has been talk of actually serializing Johnny Vega into a continuous comic strip on line.  This in of itself is exciting to think about but again only  talked about.  So I plan on having to two page numbers listed on the bottom of the pages as we near the end of the first 24 page run on Vega.  So to clear up any confusion the first number will be page number as it would appear as a printed issue.  The number in parentheses ( ) will be for a collection in graphic novel or better yet a massive Johnny Vega Omnibus. 

  I do apologize now since most of the Postit Adventures have not been properly edited.  That will happen later.  

OTHER STUFF: 

The pricing list has been something that I as an artist have struggled with for years.  It has been a upward learning curve as well suggestions (and insistence of) other artist friends setting up a Etsy shop and looking as Wicks.com for a better provider for the Black Box Comix website.

  So more new things on the way!
These are NOT full size comix!
  These are part of the mini comix i have worked on for the last 6 years.  A friend of mine had also done something which I thought was awesome- put them into frames!
The minis are a special group of comix that take just about the same amount of time to create and print up as the regular sized ones.  I have tried to make one every year for shows as a calling card but this year with the amount of work I piled upon myself the mini I had done just never made it to the shows.  Weird Atomic Tales came out of this idea and there may be another in the works as we speak!  Keep watching for more details.
  If your curious to get one there are a few of the "Corpse Cop" mini still availible.  Start your collection now!

The Toby Person Collection

"Happy Holidays"  11"x14" Scratchboard
2011 Copyright Alan Bennett

ALSO OTHER STUFF:

The Benefit Flyer

One of the things that I have forgotten to do one thing is this a price list for all the scratchboard projects.

McCARGAR/CHARLES BENEFIT SHOW:  

  On the eve of Saturday night 12/17/2011.  A cancer benefit show was being held at not one but three. local Portland Bars for a friend of mine named Jen.

  It is unfortunate that the reason several people are coming out is that my friend has been chosen to be one of those hit by cancer.

  Already have had to deal with this despicable foe with my friend Ty I was gonna do what I could to show my support for her and husband Jason.  They both are very cool and engaging people.  

  They like so many forty somethings like myself haven't been able  to afford health insurance.  This will be one of my few stances on political topics that plague our nation today.

  But this is also a double reason for supporting my friend Aron and his band The FALLMEN.

  If you dear readers remember Aron was the first person to offer me a chance to really promote my scratchboard talents for something other than comic book illustration.

  So there ya go some cool stuff for a cool bunch of friends.  

Price List 2011

The Gallery of Mini Covers

WEIRD ATOMIC TALES: 

  Now I find it a bit funny after the last issue of Pandora's Garage Volume 5 would be the last anthology book I would ever work on.  Boy was I wrong about that.  As the first collaborate book between NEOtrash Comix and Black Box Comix  sees it's first big push with the crossover of "Tale of Two Jo(h)nny's" other books are seeing print in the form of a mini.

  OF course it deals with my favorite barbarian - Johnny Vega!

  Johnny Vega!  What the deuce?!  It's the unfortunate situation of science fiction- alternate parallels!  An anthology gives me a chance to play around with several different ideas.

  And all of them are in the form of a mini.  Short and sweet little stories of only 12 pages!  

  A traditional Vega story was that way.  DFA -Death From Above  was like that way and very first Corpse Cop story I came up with was that way.  War Ram is that way.  So it's kinda of a tradition to use the mini for these stories and characters.

  It also allows these stories to be prInted on there own that wouldn't get the same kinda press or weight.  A good four page horror story will just get over looked in a anthology five or six stories.  

  Like with the Postit Adventures the proto pages will be posted.  It just kinda there to whet your appetite.

OLD BBC BLOG

What a lot people I believe don't realize is "Tales from the Scratch Pad" are the new Black Box Comix Updates.  Check here if you want to see those old blogs.  That is of you want to read up on old stuff.

And so there you go.  A lot of things going on at Scratch Pad.

A Cold Week in December

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest: 

GALLERY SHOWS:

"With this I Could..." 8"x8" Scratchboard
copyright 2011 Alan Bennett

By the time of this posting all ten pieces of scratchboard will have been dropped off at the People's Art of Portland Gallery and ready for the following weeks opening on December 10th at 2 PM till 10 PM. 

People's Art of Portland at Pioneer Square Mall 

700 SW 5th, Suite 4005 
Portland, OR 

open Thurs-Sun 12-6pm
Peoples on Facebook

upcoming art events

Art Delivery!

Gallery Entry

Outside the Gallery downstairs

On the way up to the 3rd Floor

( maps here for Gallery location)

Please support this and our local artists as well.  Everybody will come out on top.

 All of these could be yours my son for only $40 bucks a pop!  The proceeds of the sales are going to help support (The Oregon Food Bank). The location is the gallery is here

   I completely forgot that this week IS THE OPENING for the BIG 200!  Silly me.  With all the art projects going on around me, I had forgotten to really look at the calendar.  Dan DePaolo will also be there as well. 

  I can only hope and keep my fingers crossed that this show will be Great!

Please support this and our local artists as well.  Everybody will come out on top.

40 Pages Worth!

THE CROSSOVER: 

The cross over for Weird Atomic Tales featuring "A Tale of Two Jo(h)nny's" continues to keep moving forward.  As of the time of this blog page 40 out of 49 should have been successfully transferred to Bristol and read to be inked.  

This project will be super sweet with an additional guest star.  But I'm not gonna tell ya who it is.  You just have to pick up the book to find out.

EMERALD CITY COMICON 2012: 

We are still waiting to hear where are placement on the floor of the Convention Center but I'm pretty sure we will get a good spot on the floor.  Designs for hanging banners along side the NEOtrash Comix "Brain Ladle"  icon painted by phenomenal Ben Perkins.  Along with Ben's work features the Steamwork designs of Dan DePaolo.  

Things are looking up as we convene another meeting of the time of this posting.

For more on this ever growing Northwest show check out this link here for more details.    

These are regular meetings that  do much more than the talk, eat pizza and drink beer.    They are the stuff of legend.

COMMISSIONS: 

"It's the Boom Tap Tap"
The Fallmen

  This has been something missing from a lot of the blogs of late but here we are with another one for the Fallmen.  Now too say I have a special relationship with this group would be a understatement and of course when I come into  the bar with a totally unrelated piece of art.  Wow do I get hit with a lot of new stuff that could relate back to the group.

For more info on the Fallmen check out here.




THE POSTIT ADVENTURES:

Where are we now with Johnny Vega and childhood exploits?  Starting with Page 17.

    Previously in Johnny Vega, Man. of the Future: Departure.  15 years have passed on the Planet Vega since the occupation of the Cainarious Raiders.  In that time young Johnny has grown up and followed his dream of becoming a Ranger modeled after Danny Quasar and the Airmen.  He readies himself for the service in the Galactic Rangers and is confronted with his real adversary ...another ranger cadet!

And now... 

Page 17

Page 18

Page 19 

Page 20

 I do apologize now since most of the Postit Adventures have not been properly edited.  That will happen later.  

MEMORANDUM: HANS FUSON

  It is a unfortunate thing to loose friends.   And I am no stranger to loss as earlier this year comics lost a hero, my friend Ty Wakefield.  But more currently a loss of another personal hero on mine Hans Fusion.

  While most of my current Portland peeps didn't get to know Hans he had made an impression on me.  I only say this about a few friends of mine that are personal heroes of mine.  And if they are reading this, you already know who you are.

  Most of my  interaction with him was while I was still living in Eugene introduced my then roommates of Jesse and Amber.  Lots of social get togethers and games of poker at another friends house, frisbee golf around town.  My first impression of Hans was a organizer and instigator.  He was always willing to help a friend.

  Most would recognize this tall guy with a engaging personality and a. big friendly smile almost always accompanied with a near hug.

  He was especially talented man of great artistic vision, intelligence and mirth.  I might even say, a modern renaissance man.  His presence will be missed by many and I am a lesser person for him being gone.  I will think of him fondly and will work hard to try to catch up with work ethic.
  For anyone else  please feel free to check out this link to read more about him from his sister's point of view about her brother.

OLD BBC BLOG

What a lot people I believe don't realize is "Tales from the Scratch Pad" are the new Black Box Comix Updates.  Check here if you want to see those old blogs.  That is of you want to read up on old stuff.

And so there you go.  A lot of things going on at Scratch Pad.