Varying Degrees

 Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

PRODUCTS:

Still working on these but as the art for the one man show begins to dwindle down, these items will begin to show up soon.  And it is happening very soon.  Currently workiing on the second to last image for the One Man Show.  When the last piece is completed I need to organize and get the post cards done and buttons.  And I think I will be hitting up a GoFundMe account to help defer the cost of both and hopefully help the cost of framing these awesome pieces.

A large version of MAJOR TOM is being worked on.

"MAJOR TOM"  Day 1  16"x20" scratchboard for the One Man Show
copyright 2013 Alan Bennett and BBVA

N.W.I.P.A. 2013 COMMISSION
copyright 2013 N.W.I.P.A.

COMMISSIONS:

The N.W.I.P.A. limited addition t-shirt for an october release is done and paid in full!  Good news for the kid and clears the plate which brings me to this...

ON TOP OF THAT..

As one piece of art is completed another there is to take it's place and the commissions are like that.  Not less than about an hours of receiving payment in full for the N.W.I.P.A. October limited t-shirt, I was hit up for another image for a CD cover at the bar.

Pretty cool!

Like I said this is where I make my money at and now this would also bring up my total to four different musicians and groups.  I am hoping to hear more from Mike later this week.  But I still have one outstanding commission to work on which is a birthday card piece.  That one should be fun.

ODDITIES:

DedEx logo
 copyright 2013 The Velvet Coffin

ALSO in the very shrinking spare time that this kid has, I have been devoting a little of my spare time to working on a small video production with ( you guested it ) - zombies!  

Initially only brought on the production for doing quick story boards became something much more than I had anticipated but because an old friend wanted my help with it I said sure.  

Well now I am an actor -of sorts. Groaning my way to the top if I can shamble my way there.  

More of this info can be found at  www.thevelvetcoffin.co.   

How long I may be attached to this production I am not sure of as yet. All depends on the One Man Show really.

"Rose's Embrace"
sketch 2013

"Under the sea"  color doodle 2013

THE WATERY ADVENTURE OF RICHARD PARKER.

Funny how one thing can totally spark a flood of ideas for a story and characters.  When I started I thought I would just have one piece of art that would reflect my liking to old deep sea diving gear.  Well I was certianly wrong about that idea.  Not only did one image come out of it but an entire story and couple illustrations and scratchboards to be etched out it.  Richard Parker it seams to have a life of his own.

Much fun figuring out how to conjoin the intro and end of the story that has already been written down.

OTHER NOTE WORTHY THINGS :

If your wanting to look at some of the older blog for Black Box Comix you can check them out here. Black Box Comix Blog.

There is also Twitter https://twitter.com/blackbox13 to follow and Tumbler The Other Scratchpad

blackbox13.tumblr.com/   as well 

Or if you're interested in purchasing something that catches your eye  check out here on the Big Cartel web site.  Big Cartel.

And of course is always the backlog of comics here at Indyplanet.

And the kid is out of here!

Art Progression

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

"The Watery Adventure of Richard Parker"  11"x14" scratchboard
copyright 2013 Alan Bennett and BBVA

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION:

Truth to be said but sometimes as an artist if you wanta be noticed you got to get out and troll the places where people are going.  And that is a bar or pub.  People will notice you and inquire on what you are working on. After working so many comic shows when there is a lull in the show almost all artists I know will bust out their drawing pads or sketchbooks and start drawing something.  The bars cene is one of the places I have found that works out great for me.
Now I know that probably sounds really hooky (like the way people refer to the bar scene as a "Meatmarket" when looking to hook up with the opposite sex) but I have drummed up more work by working on something like that than anywhere else except maybe a coffee shop in the morning.  I will say that morning people are not as willing to approach you as they would after downing a few pints of their favorite beer but it pretty close.
Almost all of my commission work has come from working this angle.  

PRODUCTS:

Still working on these but as the art for the one man show begins to dwindle down, these items will begin to show up soon.

CORPSE COP NEWS:

Still trying to figure out to finish a story that works and tickles that funny bone all a the same time.  But the character is still going strong.

COMMISSIONS:

LET THE T-SHIRT DESIGNS BEGIN!
The quest for that one great design for a tee is beginning now.  The one thing that is different about this commission is that it is a group of owners that I am working with as opposed to dealing with one person.  SO to cope with a group I have decided to offer them five choices for a design rather than three. 
In this way I can offer several choices to people and let them fight it out which design they like better.

ON TOP OF THAT..

I did a follow up by going in and talking to them and a choice and it is BOOOM!  But with this there will be a few modifications done to the original one and there will soon be a t-shirt.

The grand decision of which was I should run with the t-shirt has been talked about with Dan, Jackson and Zoe on which way I should render the t-shirt for N.W.I.P.A.  Markers it is!

COMMISSION NEWSFLASH:

Ratpriest (it is actually one word as I have learned) has the work in hand and I am excited to see how it turns out.

ODDITIES:

The SAVAGE POODLEMOTH MAN:

"RUN!" 

Although work on the actual mini has stopped not the the work on Poodlemoth Man.  I have been going going over and viewing several images and flicks of old fifties sci-fi.  All have a great static scenes.  A large (by my standards) version etched on a 16"x20" scratchboard has been made to generate I hope interest in the character and story.

OTHER NOTE WORTHY THINGS :

If your wanting to look at some of the older blog for Black Box Comix you can check them out here. Black Box Comix Blog.

There is also Twitter https://twitter.com/blackbox13 to follow and Tumbler The Other Scratchpad

blackbox13.tumblr.com/   as well 

Or if you're interested in purchasing something that catches your eye  check out here on the Big Cartel web site.  Big Cartel.

And of course is always the backlog of comics here at Indyplanet.

And the kid is out of here!

The ONE MAN SHOW - ON THE RISE.

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

PRODUCTS:
After the Latest Rat Priest commission was dropped off I started talking to my friends Jason and Jen of both Ash Music and Devil's Toolbox Graphic Design http://www.ashmusicpdx.com/ and http://www.devils-toolbox.com/ retrospectively.  Good people and Jen and I hit off the first time we met totally geeking out about art supplies and the like.  That was about three years ago when I come to think about and after a major move here in town,

At the time I wasn't aware that either was an artist or a owner of a company, just a couple of cool people to have a beer with.  In my time of meeting people and networking through the bar scene I have made some real good contacts as well as making some good commissions.  

With the Rat Priest work that bumps my total up to three groups here in town.  And definitely a diverse group of people and their music.  A challenge to any artist to interpret a group.

So I am hoping to hear more from them both as I look at redesigning the Black Box web site with Jen's help and figure out more about the postcards and t-shirts to sell at the shows down the road. 

CORPSE COP NEWS:

One story is in the works and one just has to be transfered to scratchboard for work. The scratchboard this time around I beleive won't take me as long to work on as the technique has refined since the first work hit the press over three years ago.  The biggest question I have is with the Markers making a HUGE IMPRESSION on the work recently the question about putting text to the story makes me wonder.  Just visually telling a story like I want to with the up coming "Dreams of Elysium" graphic novel.  Or is just a spill over?  That's what I think about so I will be talking to my editor about this.

COMMISSIONS:

Rat Priest is in the bag! 
Paid and delivered.  But now comes the question of actually listening to them.  Yes it's an odd thing to think about but at the time when the carrot is being dangled in front of you that's when you just go for it.
My friend Jason and I as well as other friends Adam, Dan, George and Dax have talked about this at one time or another. 
Everybody has slight difference of opinion on this.
My personal opinion is that you shouldn't ever do that strictly for the money.  To me it has to be a bit of a challenge and you enjoy working on projects.  If that ever happens then I will walk away and not look back.
I might eat my words for saying that but here I am currently.

ON TOP OF THAT..

Just waiting for that little thing to happen.

COMMISSION NEWSFLASH:

Nothing yet but that can always change.

ODDITIES: The SAVAGE POODMOTH MAN:

Still writing dialogue that sounds fifties-ish.  As well as writting the visual notes on what is to be seen on the page.  But that traditional comic is in the works.  But so fun to make my own monster movie.

OTHER NOTE WORTHY THINGS :

If your wanting to look at some of the older blog for Black Box Comix you can check them out here. Black Box Comix Blog.

There is also Twitter https://twitter.com/blackbox13 to follow and Tumbler The Other Scratchpad

blackbox13.tumblr.com/   as well 

Or if you're interested in purchasing something that catches your eye  check out here on the Big Cartel web site.  Big Cartel.

And of course is always the backlog of comics here at Indyplanet.

And the kid is out of here!

MARKERS ON THE RISE!

 Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

"NEVER FINDING NEMO"
copyright 2013 Alan Bennett and BBVA

MARKERS!

Thats saying a lot but the truth of the matter I have come to really enjoying working on these marker comps for up coming projects that are projected to become scratchboard pieces down the road.  And this goes right to the matter that they are quick and fast (mostly) and it is applicable to the individual work that i have been doing but the comics as well.
Well the title says the pricing for commissions has to go up for the work but without scaring too many people in the process.   So I am currently evaluating my price list to reflect the change. I SHOULD have something that's not to outrageous at least that's my hope anyway.

PRODUCTS:
As the one man show slowly begins to take shape other small products also do ass well.  Now newer button versions are going to be made as well as postcards.  Some of my other creator friends have these little babies out with their other merch.  Well its about time that I start doing that as well.
T shirts are another product I want to look into.  I think the marker version would translate better than the scratchboard work.

CORPSE COP NEWS:

As soon as the rendering is completed for the one man show I plan on working on Corpse Cop again.  Corrax the Seeker just didn't take but the undead seem to have staying power.
So if I can just be able turn out another book either scratchboard or marker both would be awesome to have out on a table.

Rat Priest

COMMISSIONS:
Rat Priest is moving into high gear and should be nearly complete by the end of this week then it's onto the groups logo.  They both have be created separately for the use that might be for t-shirts and other merch for them during the dates that they would be out playing gigs around town.

Of course if I can get one of those t-shirts that would be cool too.  :)

ON TOP OF THAT....

It looks like the T-shirt commission is now moving into place for N.W.I.P.A.  Now if you remember right around Christmas of last year I was hired to a do a top of the tree ornament for the front of their business.  Well as I beginning to work on the Gilrandree commission piece while having a beer Dan (one of the owners at the bottle shop) hit me up for doing a t-shirt for them.  The last commission piece from them was more a typical black and white illustration of classic old school angel with a pony keg and a six pack.  Y'know bringing  the New Year with Holiday Cheer?

Anyway that piece went over well and now I have another one in the works for these guys.   Cool.  

COMMISSION NEWSFLASH:

Nothing yet but that can always change.

ODDITIES:   The SAVAGE POODMOTH MAN:

Still plodding on with this because there is always something that needs to be added like more cheesy lines of dialogue and set up for what will happen to other characters in the story.

EVEN MORE ODDITIES: 

"Dreams of Elysium" graphic novel seems to be moving again but this time the rendition is in markers rather completed scratchbaord.  This gives me the time and my editior to choose the best and strongest images I can to have the greatest impact with people.  

OTHER NOTE WORTHY THINGS :

If your wanting to look at some of the older blog for Black Box Comix you can check them out here. Black Box Comix Blog.

There is also Twitter https://twitter.com/blackbox13 to follow and Tumbler The Other Scratchpad

blackbox13.tumblr.com/   as well 

Or if you're interested in purchasing something that catches your eye  check out here on the Big Cartel web site.  Big Cartel.

And of course is always the backlog of comics here at Indyplanet.

And the kid is out of here!