O.M.S. (OCTOBER 17!) and BIG 400

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

THE ONE MAN SHOW:
Well now we have passed into the month of October which means in a short period of time O.M.S will be happening. 

O.M.S. NEWSFLASH!

THE SHOW WILL BE GOING UP OCTOBER THURSDAY THE 17th.

It will be held at one of this kid's favorite watering hole the Slingshot Lounge here in Portland OR.

If you have never been to P-town and you are looking to wet your whistle, this would be the place to go.  Good beer, good spirits, good food and great people.

 That's great news for the kid here because it has been the biggest headache for me.   Meaning that I have never had to prep so much now in such a short period of time with the limited budget that I have been able to acquire.
But be assured that this show will go up and in it's entirety.
All 17 pieces.  17 you say?  How'd that happen?

Numbers ain't my thang.  Somehow, I over shot my goal by one image after the realization on my birthday back in August that I was shy 3 pieces of work to show.  Again, I think I may have had my head in production mode so much that I haven't been able to really focus on anything else.

THE ONLY DRAW BACK of the show is that I do not have copies for prints let alone gilcees.  So when these pieces take off, that's it! One of a kind.  I can hand make reproductions of these but please don't ask me too.  This was a killer. 

OTHER SHOWS:
Of course there is the second item of business for the kid, The BIG 400 later this year in December.  It seems that about every two months there is a show that I will participate in around town.  I do not know however if I will be doing the Portland Love Show (a.k.a. Love in a Cloud show ).
There has always been a problem with flooding a market with to much of imagery or related products to a form of entertainment.  Galley shows are no different.
There was a time as an artist that you would have to sign a contract for showing your work.   An exclusive contract and not show your work anywhere else.  But I have seen of recent times that this is not the the case anymore.  And with the internet and and personal websites galleries are loosing ground to hold on to that market share.
So personally I think having artwork up on line at the same you have a physical show going on- no issue.  Especially if you are showing different pieces.

NEXT YEAR IN FEBRUARY @ N.W.I.P.A. I will have another show in hand.  Those fine gentleman of that bottle shop have asked me to put up art work there. 

CORPSE COP NEWS:

"Inhuman Torch"  final script has been completed.   BUT unfortunately I do have to make another page to fill out my page count for printing.   So hopefully by the time of this posting I will be able to start thumbnails for this story.  I would like to have this book ready by the time that Nov 2 rolls around for Jet City Comic Show this year.

AND ON THAT FRONT :

Another story is being developed for CC right now amiss all the busy work for the O.M.S. and the BIG 400.  The working title for that story is -CORPSE COP "VIRUS TECHNOLIS".  

I think that this will set up a idea why CC shows up in place and any setting.

But if you wanta play catch up check out this link for the one CC's first adventures here. 

COMMISSIONS:

The Re-Scrubs third and final thumbnail has been sent off to Shaun to see which one they want to go with.  But it has been sounding like the second thumbnail I sent off might be the one to modify.   

I should mention that I do commissions. It usually depends size, complexity of the piece, varnished and framed.  I.E. Gilrandree Commission 11"x14" varnished, one subject, no frame- $175.00  Usually half down and half on completion of project.  Easiest way for payments is through Paypal  using my email address blackboxcomix@yahoo.com.

If you are curious about it please email me at blackboxcomix@yahoo.com

ALAN'S SOAP BOX THIS WEEK:

Lets talk about planning in advance.

In the last couple of months I have been either stopped by life changes or some kind of mishap of either my own making or that of swirling amount of chaos that people call life dealing with others.

When the control that surrounds a project that you have been working on leaves your hands you are at the mercy of Fate.  And sometimes fate does things you weren't expecting.  

Because of all that life out there (even though we all put on our blinders and blast shields) there is nothing like planning that helps out getting things done long before they are needed.  I had a show that was taking place in Washington State that I had books completed for but the timing of getting the printed work was within days of the actual show.  Bad Idea.  The day of the show I had to leave without my new product.  The show was ok but I was bummed that I didn't have the book with me that I had promised friends of mine that I was going to have for the show.

When I was at the show during one of the slower parts of day, I texted my girlfriend at the time to see if the books had or hadn't arrived.  To my surprise, they were there.  ONE DAY DIFFERENCE!  Man, I was pissed.  But it did teach me a lesson in preparation.

And that preparation has translated into the art shows as well.  Not only having the ideas drawn up for the specific shows that come each year but ALSO being able to jump on the wagon and say "Yeah, I can do that show no problem."  It works well for me, and I suggest it for anybody else out there.  It might mean a lot of stress but it will pay off in the long run.  

ON TOP OF THAT..

ODDITIES:

Actual film work being done for webcast show called the Velvet Coffin.  Initally I had been brought into the production as story board artist but as continued my association with production I began to wear many different hats.- as story boardist, screenwriter, producer,  props, assassiant director, assassiant camra man and a zombie extra, second unit camera man, assistant director, producer guy.

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

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 Waiting...

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest-

 

THE ONE MAN SHOW :

"The Watery Adventure of Richard Parker"
11"X14" scratchboard 2013 copyrighted by
Alan Bennett and BBVA

As the physical work is completed for the ONE MAN SHOW (or OMS to keep it short) I am now at the mercy of the waiting game and my framer.  As with any expecting artist who has a up coming show, you are  going to get nervous.  It's a feeling that I had when I first started making comics and making them ready for deadline because of  shows up here in  the Portland area when I was still in Eugene.  I hated it then and I hate it now.  But I should be more relaxed than I was back then.  But because  this is a different venue than I have ever done before by myself doubt always seems to get the better of me.  I know I shouldn't be worried but it's a hard factor to think about when you can't control everything.

When you are working on a comic book there is always in the back of your mind (or at least in the back of mine anyway) that "Yeah, it's only a comic book that you worked on.  Nobody going to care whether or not you sold it or not.  And if it doesn't  your okay. No harm, no foul."  

The fear of success thing rears it's head.

HOWEVER if it does well at the Slingshot Lounge this upcoming mid October 20 -21 then this kid stand relieved and stress free because then I have a bunch of other pieces I can show at other places.  And as it turns out I will be having  another show coming up in February at my of my other  favorite watering holes N.W.I.PA.

OTHER SHOWS THIS YEAR:

THE BIG 400!

Yep that's right gallery shows keep a popping up and this one has done really well for me in the past both financially and boosting the ego that my work isn't crap.  So I jumped right into the work.  I have one piece already done -The Savage Poodlemoth Man.   One out 10 cool. 

CORPSE COP NEWS:

Issue #2 of the traditional size comic of Corpse Cop is almost ready to be sent off to the printer.  So even with ever looming OMS coming up this is still a book I would love to have ready to go by the time JET CITY COMIC SHOW rolls around.

IN ADDITION: to the second issue of Corpse Cop the 3rd installment is being scripted and finished off and almost ready to be handed off to my editor Paula.  The nice thing about these books is that they are stand alone pieces as opposed to continuing story arcs like what I had going on with either Johnny Vega or Corrax the Seeker.  The Stand Alone books work better I think.  In indies you never know what is going to catch a persons attention at the show -let alone on-line.  And for the buyer it isn't a huge investment either so they are not worried about being roped into a potential story line that in their eyes sucks.

This story that I am currently re-writing is not part of the monster set up that I talked about before in Corpsecile. So be looking for new things from our favorite zombie hunter.

ALAN'S SOAP BOX:

Waiting.  it's like waiting for that phone call from your girlfriend so you can just talk and hear her voice.  This again drives me nuts but I throw myself into my work so I don't have to think about it.  However there are a lot of cool things that come out the drive to fill in the time while I wait, new story ideas and new ways of making an old concept work better for you.  And I am going to keep doing that.  In the time after the OMS and the BIG 400 shows I am going to be looking around the area of Portland and start taking pictures that I can later render.  These will be more traditional images to look at buildings visited areas things like that.  But all done in scratchboard rather then painting.  

Carving out that niche that all artists look forward to one day.  

COMMISSIONS:

 THE RE-SCRUBS

I am now just waiting on Shaun of the Re-Scrubs to get back to me on the CD cover of their choice so I can start working that commission and clear my plate for BIGFOOT.

ODDITIES:

Actual film work being done- as a zombie.

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

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!

ROSE CITY COMICON 2- THE AFTERMATH!

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest-

The Rose City Comicon 2013 show of  this last weekend was blast for several reasons.

1) The layout and the size of the show.  I think that there was so much room that vendors and exhibitors could safely showcase their work without the occasional cosplayers  stopping lines from getting to your tables.  That was cool. 

2) Next door neighbors, Brian Schirmer of "Ultrasylania", were super chill at the show not like the crazy freakin' jazz jam band that my friend (I will call him Maverick) wanted to crush their musical instruments at ECCC a couple of years ago.

3) Minions -or in this case Henchmen.  They were very cool about  making sure that we, the guests were taking care of.  Thank you so much.

4) Lack of swag mongers!  Yea!  I think you already know how I feel about these parasites. 

5) The Fans.  A big THANK YOU for showing your support in a medium were the little guys are still plugging away at making comics fun and entertaining.  Great dialogues with people who couldn't just walk pass the table without a chuckle and engage the creators behind the tables.  Some were a little bit odd others were awesome.  And no BIG JIM to pester me about copyright infringements.  Without you folkes we geeks would just be sitting in corners waiting to get into the insane asylum at Arkham.  

HOWEVER THERE ALWAYS THE CONS of any show.  And this show, ROSE CITY COMICON #2, 2013 is not without it's problems.  They are as follows:

1) Announcements over the P.A.  There was a problem letting everybody know when the show was under way and  when it was shutting it down for that day.
Or the panels that were taking place. Most of this was taken care of by the second day though.  Thank you organizers for that.

2) Temperature.  One of the things that we had a another small issue was it getting cold in that big ass room.  I not so bad when some of the more scantly clad cosplayers were walking by and being able to show off their new super power by being able to cut glass with the use of their protruding nipples.  But hey that's what sweatshirts are for anyway right?  Thanks guys, good game.

3)  Dropped service of the use of Square App.  Since these little devices have come into play for vendors like a massive ground swelling storm a lot of people were having their signals dropped.  Last year I did about 1/3 of my business with this thing and it was awesome to be able to close a sale but my friend Jason had some serious issues with being able to connect with his service.  I think for this show most of my sales were through the Square like 80% of my business.  No need for a huge cash box.  
Hopefully this issue can be dealt with

4) Size of the show.  Unlike the cramped table space of last year at the Doubletree Hotel the size of this show was huge and that like this year's ECCC show in Seattle was overloaded.  Here is just a thought, instead of having artist's alley so far in the back bring them a little closer to the front and disperse the bigger vendors like TFAW and Dark Horse (one in the same really) ONI Press separate from each other.  Now I know I may be barking up the wrong tree about that because I know that they are paying good amount of cash for those booths but man it does make it frustrating for the small  press people to make any kind of impression.  BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER!  I think the show because of the team up with the promoters of ECCC made a too big a jump with Rose City.  But I guess when you have Wizard World rolling into town and swing their dicks around you might as well play it up.
LAST IMPRESSION :
I still think that the venue is a good one if it stays the size it is for next couple years.  I 'll still go.  Just hopefully I'll have my own table again.
Speaking of a one man table...

THE ONE MAN SHOW:

A LOT OF PEOPLE have been asking me when the ONE MAN SHOW is going to happen.  Well what I can tell you is this after talking to Joey Maas about it he said that he would be back in town until the 15th for hanging the work around the Saturday the 19th of October or the 20th for the opening.   So there is now a date and I will be putting together a fan page on facebook for it.

OTHER SHOWS:

NEXT YEAR IN FEBRUARY @ N.W.I.P.A. I will have another show in hand.  Those fine gentleman of that bottle shop have asked me to put up art work there. 

CORPSE COP NEWS:

"Inhuman Torch"  

And you thought that was al there was to it.  And you would be so dead wrong!

The title does imply that there will be some misgivings about what is to happen but not the way you think.  This will all come out in issue #3 later this year.  

The other is more a stand alone story for CC but I haven't come up with a title for it yet.  This will be in more of a comic strip format than anything else. That particular story was started up at Stumptown this years as I sat with my good buddy Jason.  But as I found, Corpse Cop is a time jumper (all due to one mad, evil scientist- Doktor Plutarius).  

Plutarius is one of those kind guys you just can't kill.  Unless Jason and I decide to do away with him.  He is a nexus for a lot bad shit.

AND ON THAT FRONT : The next Corpse Cop outing will cover a much different terrain as far as  dealing with any outbreaks that he has to deal with.  We might find him dimensionally shifting so that opens a lot too but that is all down the road right now.

But if you wanta play catch up check out this link for the one CC's first adventures at indyplanet.com 

Version #1

COMMISSIONS:

Version #3

Version #2

The Re-Scrubs third and final thumbnail has been sent off to Shaun to see which one they want to go with.  But it has been sounding like the second thumbnail I sent off might be the one to modify.   

I should mention that I do commissions. It usually depends size, complexity of the piece, varnished and framed.  I.E. Gilrandree Commission 11"x14" varnished, one subject, no frame- $175.00  Usually half down and half on completion of project.  Easiest way for payments is through Paypal  using my email address blackboxcomix@yahoo.com.

If you are curious about it please email me at blackboxcomix@yahoo.com

ALAN'S SOAP BOX THIS WEEK:

Nothing to report that has me pulling what little hair I have out of my head.

ON TOP OF THAT..

ODDITIES:

Actual film work being done for webcast show called the Velvet Coffin.  Initally I had been brought into the production as story board artist but as continued my association with production I began to wear many different hats.- as story boardist, screenwriter, producer,  props, assassiant director, assassiant camra man and a zombie extra, second unit camera man, assistant director, producer guy.

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

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!

Time is a Thief

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest-

THE ONE MAN SHOW:
Time is fluid.  Time is fleeting.  Time is a lyric.  Time is an Avenger.  Time is a thief.
Remember how I was talking about the two major foes I had to fight?  Well it seems this one is working against me strongly.  As we enter the month of September I have to really step up my work.  That would mean I have to finish up Aquanaut in the next couple days and bust out Another Richard Parker.   I may have to burn some midnight oil to make this happen on time for framing.

O.M.S. 2013 UPDATE:
BY THIS TIME I should have the last of the 16 pieces of artwork completed and curing for framing this last Sunday.  Everything is done and most of it is at the framer's.  But now comes the hard part of paying for it.  Art is a luxery that people have and just because you have talent doesn't mean you automaticly have a sale.  Presentation is the key to any sale.  A friend of mine yesterday said to me that as an artist you send as much time if not more so on the promotion of the work.  

He was right about that.  The postcards that I want to do are just not working for the kid which is a bummer because cost more than anything else.  

The BIG 400-  as if you didn't know.

OTHER SHOWS:
AS of today Monday the 9th, I received a invite to the BIG 400 group show in December. 
As you might remember this show has done well for me in years past.   Selling at least 8 out of ten pieces.  It has always done well for me so well see what I can come up with this year.
You can always find out more here at the People's Art of Portland Gallery.

ROSE CITY COMICON 2,  2013
GOOD LORD!  IT'S ALMOST HERE!
In works next week is 2nd annual Rose City Show.  Last year as I was partnered up with NEOtrash Comix that show was good.  It had the distinct advantage of Stumptown that it cut out a lot of people that look for free swag.

Faux Cover  for Corpse Cop #3
"Inhuman Torch"

That has always been a major bitch for me over the years people just picking up business cards 'cause happen to be on the table.
That stuff for a individual ain't cheap to print either.

CORPSE COP NEWS:

The story that is and the story that will be.  Currently there is a story about a suburb that has been over ran by the plague of the undead and of course Corpse Cop is the only one who can stop it.  That particular story was started up at Stumptown this years as I sat with my good buddy Jason.  But as I found, Corpse Cop is a time jumper (all due to one mad, evil scientist- Doktor Plutarius).  

Plutarius is one of those kind guys you just can't kill.  Unless Jason and I decide to do away with him.  He is a nexus for a lot bad shit.

AND ON THAT FRONT : The next Corpse Cop outing will cover a much different terrain as far as  dealing with any outbreaks that he has to deal with. 

COMMISSIONS:

The N.W.I.P.A. HALLOWEEN TEE SHIRT design is done and printed and up for sale!  $15.00 bucks cheap!  I saw one last night (Tuesday evening) and it looked awesome.  The Marker design that I had come up with translated very, very well to the printing process.  Can't wait to get mine.

COMMISSION UPDATE:  As of Wednesday I received an email from Michael the gentleman, who had commissioned me at Cypticon earlier this year.

"I meant to email you a few months ago, but the busy summer came up, and it slipped my mind.

Just wanted to say thanks again for the commission from Crypticon.  Got the final piece in good shape and it looks really nice.  I'm very happy with is, especially since I'm always especially happy to see "physical" pieces rather than digital art.  There's something special about physical media, still.

So, take this as a very belated thanks again.

The Hops Zombie shamblin' pround!

Mike"

To me, that was a huge boost to the ego as I have been feeling a little tuckered out by the drive to finish the One Man Art Show for Next Month .  Hopefully I can have others respond like that.

I should mention that I do commissions. It usually depends size, complexity of the piece, varnished and framed.  I.E. Gilrandree Commission 11"x14" varnished, one subject, no frame- $175.00  Usually half down and half on completion of project.  Easiest way for payments is through Paypal  using my email address blackboxcomix@yahoo.com.

If you are curious about it please email me at blackboxcomix@yahoo.com

ALAN'S SOAP BOX THIS WEEK:

Do not procrastinate!  And don't let other's take advantage of you either.

I have had that happen before for years and I have seen the triggers that make it happen but I am not one for doing it again to myself.  That is called wisdom to some, being played for a sucker is another. 

I just don't want to have to deal with the repercussions of doing more than I can.  Listen to friends when they say "Hey man, your sounding a bit tired.  Are you okay?"  This simple question  is the sure way of knowing that you have reached you saturation point of personal stress.

Time to sit back -quietly and think about what you are going to do next.

Listen to your friends because you are to  close to the situation.

ON TOP OF THAT..

THE WATERY ADVENTURE OF RICHARD PARKER:

In talking to one my old buddies over some beer at a local watering hole, began talking about the old Johnny Vega comic and the other characters I had created over the years.  Dax and I had come up with over the years some pretty funny and very irreverent characters and story line ideas.  Just to people out a little saying "Knock it off with your political correctness".

In this, another character was created and using the Steampunk motif to help it along, Johan Veganado was born.
A man's man and world wide explorer.
And with that and deep sea exploration Richard Parker joined the crew.  Absolutely hilarious and fun.  So be watching for something with him in it.

ODDITIES:

Actual film work being done for webcast show called the Velvet Coffin.  Initally I had been brought into the production as story board artist but as continued my association with production I began to wear many different hats.- as story boardist, screenwriter, producer,  props, assassiant director, assassiant camra man and a zombie extra, second unit camera man, assistant director, producer guy.

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

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!