Tales from the Scratch Pad: October 2014

Monday, October 20, 2014

GUESS WHAT, SIZE DOES MATTER

HEY THERE SPORTS FANS, AL HERE WITH THE LATEST:

Funny as that may sound for some nothing is more true or accurate than that when it comes to producing original artwork.
How did I come to this grand realization?
Over that last few months as I have been going over and talking about making postcards and prints for sale on Etsy and Big Cartel. I started cranking out a bunch of 5"x7" scratchboards like I always had in the past thinking that no problem man. I'll crank these little bastard out fast and I'll be rolling in it!
Well as it turns out I was rolling in it - a lot of scratching poo!

In the comparison "Graveyard" I noticed something that really bothered me- where was the detail that makes my scratchboard rock?

Nowhere.

This is a problem for me as a part of what makes my scratchboard illustration stand out from other scratchboard illustrators is the variations in tone (grays) AND the sharp details for a price. The 5"x7" weren't allowing me to do that. And the amount of time being placed highly detailed 5"x7" just isn't worth it these days. At least not to me these days.
So in observation before final product goes out Make the Original BIGGER!
For me this means 9"x12" scratchboards from pretty here on out.
Keep your fingers crossed for new stuff out on Etsy and Big Cartel.

DREAMS OF ELYSIUM NEWS:

Still moving forward pretty good with all the stuff that has been going on.
But building a masterpiece takes time. And story moves finally from the drawing plans and marker comps of action of fighting beasts on the beach to a softer more "romantic" scene. Of course this the love scene I need to place in the book to show the ever growing affection and passion between characters. Not an easy task but it will get done And I am sure someone will have an issue with it because it will depict nudity and sex. That's part of the game plan anyway.

THE OTHER BOOK(s)
that are needing to be made are Corpse Cop. "Inhuman Torch" is still needing to be edited. Though the artwork is completed it is taking the time to get around to work on it. Life as I have said before has a way of throwing curve balls that you would never have seen coming.

GALLERY SHOWS:

Of course there are shows coming up and this is no different. I have one gallery show for the BIG 500. Again this is a show that I have been part of for the last four/ five years. I has been pretty cool being part of this show as it has given me the chance to really learn to value the work and price it though I believe that I think now by being part of the show I am de-vauling the work a little bit but public has never been quick to embrace what the artist wants to sell work for.
But on the other hand I have been asked back subsequently every year to participate in the shows and have always really been up to the task to show what I can do this time around.

Again 10 pieces will be entered this year and they will all be pretty cool when I am done BUT with on exception I hope to make prints of these images and postcards as well.
At least that's the idea I am thinking.

COMMISSIONS:

Now one major commission is done for NWIPA for their Halloween Tap Takeover by Evil Twin Brewery.
This is a big baby too. 2'x3'. I love it! I don't think any of my artwork is close to being this size.
Another is in the wings for a 5”x7” of Spider-man for a Christmas Present. As I have said already I am trying to get away from working on these small pieces and work on larger -like the Richard Parker pieces @ a 9”x12” size. We will see how that works out.

Well I got to get back to it. I've been busy for the last several Sundays but work has been and is being produced at a high rate.

ODDITIES:

Not at the moment- unless I look in a mirror.

LAST MINUTE THING:
I had received an email from the Crypticon Show people now after several months actually letting the dust and distaste evopreate from my mouth actually doing the right thing by offering a table free of charge for next years show.
To me this is a great chance to make it a better show than this last year and potentially kick total ass on sales with a huge amount of new product. Things are working out now. We (meaning my table bud George Leon of Custom Comics Shop) will have a table #27.
Check out the floor layout.

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 last but not least is checking out the website for other artwork that isn't featured here on the blog @ www.blackboxvisualarts.com

And the kid is out of here!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

ROSE CITY 3 THE AFTERMATH

HEY THERE SPORTS FANS, AL HERE WITH THE LATEST:
Well the Show has come and gone and now it's time to take a look at what I learned from the experience and what could be done to make it better.
BUT FIRSTLY I WOULD LIKE to thank my friend Jason Z. Pott of NEö Trash Comix for having me table with him and allowing me to show and sell some my work there. No conflicts and always great banter and humor and laughter.
Thanks again dude, you rock.
NOW ON TO THE SHOW
PROS
In all the show was and seemed bigger to me in its scale and scope. But the cool part was it didn't seemed cramped to me. Even with the large groups of cos players walking around and many photo ops there never seemed to be an issue with the flow of traffic cursing and perusing the table for that golden nugget of something cool.
The air conditioning. Now this may seem like a no brained but times past the heating/cooling has been up and down at the Convention Center but no so this time. Of course it was kinda funny to watch some of the cos players sweating in their costumes saying "Man, its hot in here. I wish they would turn on the air conditioning."
Maybe if you weren't walking around all day in a 40 pound costume of latex rubber and fake fur you might find it comfortable.
THE PA System was in great working order and not over the top like some other events I've been to. The announcements were clear and concise. Which was needed for a big event like this.
The guests were great. And by that I mean that comic book guests. I got to meet some of the guys who worked Sabertooth Swordsman. Very cool bunch.
The CONS
Y'know there's really nothing I can say bad about this show like I have in the past. No drama, no hassle, no problem.
Sales were not the greatest this year but that is okay but then I didn't have a table for myself either so it it's still a win win situation for me.

FURTHER ADVENTURES Along with the Dreams of Elysium.

It has been a while since I have busted out the black sketchbook to work on any of the pages. But it felt right to do so yesterday and after a small conversation with my friend Jason when we talking about Corpse Cop he said something that stuck with me about the work I had done on the scratchboard 16 page story. To paraphrase he said that I had sweated over that book and should get everything out of it that I put into it.
And following my passion and the aforementioned scratchboard I want to get this book done and had started thinking about how to render the broken/fragility of dealing with something that is outside of your control. In that regard I think about my dealing with the Clackamas Town center Shooting being there witnessing the mass fear that overtook so many people and having to make tough choices.
It might be time to exercise some of those personal feelings about that.

All NEW SHOW ADDENDUMS
As I had already said I was going to go to a friends art show I have to forgo doing a show with my friends this Thursday. Oh well I can do it again down the road. October. It's season of change. And this month is no different.
I this case I have been tasked to create a new image ever day for the next month and post it. To me that sounded way to easy but how could I not take it?

SO here is the first one and a second should be on it's way.

COMMISSION WORK:
Not much has been mentioned about this other than a few people who have inquired about the possibility of work - no money has changed hands. "Money talks, Bullshit walks." is that old attage though crass as it is it is also true. I know a lot of other artist who have been in the business don't work on speculation. There's no money (seriously) in it. Anybody who tells you that has swamp land to sell to you in Arizona.

Now I am getting closer to finishing the piece for NWIPA for the Halloween Poster design and I touched base with my friend Aron former front man of the Fallmen. It was some issues dealing with the choices of names for his new music project but he assured me that he wants me involved with the project. No worries on my end.

But now everything is on for cranking out work so this blog has to come to an end this evening – for now.

ODDITIES:

Not at the moment- unless I look in a mirror.

More of this info can be found at and at Ratchet Raven Productions.