LET THE SCANNING BEGIN!

CTS#3, Page 2

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest;

CORRAX THE SEEKER

CTS #3, Page 1

Scanning has started for issues 3 and 4 for CTS.  What does this mean?  Well for starters it means that editing can take place much earlier in the creative process.  Also means that when coloring is done then it's to formating for the printer. And done.

Being obsessive about a comic books like Corrax or Vega (remember that guy?) has always had pit falls and finishing a project and seeing a story that you worked on completed is awesome!  But like I said it holds back the books from being completed on deadline.  Damn being a perfectionist.
There is at least one more Corrax book that I want to work on and collect all of them into one volume.  Both presentations are much different than each other.  A.I. Wars has a much grittier and noir kind of feel with a touch of revenge. The Cosmic confrontation story being worked right now, which is much more a horror theme than sci-fi.
And of course there are a few other stories that deal with Corrax and the Cosmic Ax.  That story is gonna be a interesting one.    I think that with a collection of Corrax there will be a fair amount  of Vega added in as well.   We gotta see where he came from physically as mentally too.

A.I. Wars

ALSO ON CTS here is a bit of more info about the reason for seeking.  With as much background that I have had with Johnny Vega and writing the Man of the Future and several conversations with friends on this characters creative process there has been many addendums to his origin and taking that templet I have applied it to Corrax as well.  Here is a preview of some of the A.I. Wars that has been mentioned and the future CTS. 

GALLERY WORK:

Tis true that gallery cannot run on simple creative thought they need artists as much as artist need them (or maybe not as much) but the fact is I have been asked to participate in a new show called "MONSTER MOSH".  Now to me that is right up my alley with all the work I have been doing with the scratchboard.  And the Creature will be on show as well

COMMISSIONS:

As of a few days ago a friend of mine had received one the "Scratch Pad" booklet of my previous work.  Her sister had been looking over the work and had found a piece to her liking "Natural VS. Supernatural".  Now that original piece had sold a year and half ago so the only thing I had to go off was the image that I had scanned in.  But the thing to keep in mind is that though the subject matter is the same the application is different.  So in fact that the work being produced is brand new.  I think that is cool.

DIGITAL DOMINATION:

Now this is something I have always hedged around even though I know that the only way to get my work really out to the world is to use the internet and all that it has to offer.  With being said and some of the newly found resources from the latest E.C.C.C in Seattle, I have slowly working on getting both the comics submitted to comiXology.com and getting the previous comics that I have made offered digitally though indyplanet.com from all the Pandora' Garage volumes 3 and 5, Corpse Cop, Johnny Vega and Corrax the Seeker.

Big Ass Cup of Coffee!

Now on the strictly art side of things there is the online shop of Big Cartel.com.  Like my friend Dan DePaolo who has and Esty shop on line and is connected to his blogger site Big Cartel. So I am pushing to get the work out for both and still produce new stuff.

This kid is busy.  And I am outta here with a Big Ass cup of Coffee in hand!

HOW'S CTS SHAPING UP?

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest; 

Well now that E.C.C.C. 2013 is over for another year and the question of where's is Corrax the Seeker #2?  

Right of this moment CTS #2 is in the capable hands of Jason Z. Pott or Jpo as some of us like to call him.  Mr. Pott has already gone through the first issue of CTS with massive red pen and torn down the extra stuff that didn't need to be there and trimmed the story to make it some that people could get through without tripping over themselves while going through the book.

And the goal now is to have the second issue of CTS ready by the time Stumptown Comics Festival rolls around here in Portland.  

Currently, issues 3 and 4 are being inked and be ready for scanning by the time I post this blog.  I might hold off the real coloring job for the finished book so Jason has an idea and to curb my obsession with doing a  finished piece of work which is why I think that the second issue took so long to get done but I seem to remember that were other things going on at the time I was getting this book put together.  

Here are a few samples of the work in progress:

ALSO ON CTS here is a bit of more info about the reason for seeking.  With as much background that I have had with Johnny Vega and writing the Man of the Future and several conversations with friends on this characters creative process there has been many addendum to his origin and taking that templet I have applied it to Corrax as well.  Here is a preview of some of the A.I. Wars that has been mentioned and the future CTS Story.  

GALLERY SHOWS: 'Tis true that gallery cannot run on simple creative thought alone they need artists as much as artists need them (or maybe not as much) but the fact is I have been asked to participate in a new show called "MONSTER MASH".  OF course it is a one night kinda show so anything can happen as far as I know. Now to me that is right up my alley with all the work I have been doing with the scratchboard.  

E.C.C.C 2013 -THE AFTERMATH

Hey there sportsfans, Al here with the latest:

Let me talk about the the latest version of the Emerald City ComiCon 2013.  Really in all senses it was a mixed bag rangeing from all sorts of things like the trip up, to set up, to people I wanted to and hang out with and too people getting in the way to get away from my table, to laughing histericly after the show folded up to the way home.
The show was huge!   This is not an understatement.  And it still sold out. The mad rush of fans was crazy espesially the guys who were running to where ever they felt that they needed to get in line first and almost running over each other.  I actually yelled at them for knocking our table, "SLOW DOWN!  NO RUNNING!"  Bizzarre!

Now again like last year I played the Pros and Cons of the show and a show like this needs that kind of input so here we go;

The CONS OF E.C.C.C. 2013

1). No anouncement of the early entery into the show.  This surrpirsied a lot of us and my friend Jason barely made it back to the table before the run of the geeks came rushing forth.  This happen all three days- sunday was the worst.

2). The people who snag volumes of  business cards.  Now of course this is a personal peev of mine BUT when a guy comes by and tells you that he is looking at designs for his own that really bugs me.  But again, this is a personal thing.

3). Cosplay.  Lately over the last year the influx of people dressing up in costume at the shows has incressed along with the size of the show.  I have no issue dressing up like your favorite character not even close I am the last person because if I could do and pay for it I would BUT being on the other side of the table that you dropped hard money on realistate for three days and crowds are stopped in front of your table and no one is getting the chance to even glance at your work- arrrgh!

4). Cramped space.  Even though the show was expanded to two sides of the convention center I still feel like I was very cramped behind the table in artist's alley.  Of course this was elviated by pushing the table out a couple of inches so that wasn't as big a deal.

5). Square Apt.  This is actually more for my bud Jason than me but the reception for sending visa card info via Square just was not working in the building at all.  Makes making a sale hard.

6).  "I spent all my money getting into the show."  This was a pretty common statement I think all of the creators I know have heard.  My take on this is, if that statement is really true, why would you come and torture yourself by things you can't afford?  This isn't the Street of Dreams guys.  Again it's being on the other side of the table.

7). Separate the booths from Artist Alley.  In years past there has been separation of vendors from that of artist alley but that line was blurred with them only taking up a wall side no difference in what I could see.  

8). The load out.  These old bastards who work for the convention center not the con minions were being punks and debating people on validation of parking tickets.  That is the last thing you want to deal with after a long weekend just trying to get home.

Now THE PROS OF E.C.C.C. 2013

1). THE SIZE  OF SHOW!  Whoa!  I haven't see that many people since I went to San Diego.  I am hoping that this show won't turn into a Hollywood Northwest.

2). My booth partners.  They were awesome!  I can't say enough about these guys and I am glad that I have been running with this Wolf Pack for the last couple of years.

3). The people who did stop by and either looked and asked a lot of questions about the scratchboard or actually bought them, all I can say about that is "thank you" for taking the time out of a very busy and moderately chaotic con. 

4). Our Minion.  She was great!   There was never a time when we didn't have some water at our table.  She also helped make sure that lines weren't forming in front our table for our fabled neighbors of Richard and Wendy Pini of Elfquest.  

5). The people.  Most if not all the people were pretty friendly and generally nice.  Only twice did I every see something that was unpleasant like the kid who nearly ran over a fellow creator talking to Jason and Dan just standing at our table.  Or the young couple who were trying to figure out where the rest of their party was.  Apparently these people never played DnD before, you "Don't split up the party!"

6). The after show get togethers.  The drink and draw that we went to the first night was a blast.  We even encouraged people to come over to our table and be part of the spectacle of artwork.   The dinner and sushi we had was awesome.  Loved it.

7).  Contacts!  Now after doing the circuit of shows over the last 10 years or you get pretty inundated by people dropping by and giving you business cards and listing to the pitch.  But in this case after Jason got done talking to Bob Larkin of Global PSD about bound additions of artwork and stories I got my chance to talk to him.  As it turns out I might be able to foster the large scale digital prints for the scratchboards.  For me that would freakin' awesome!

8). Playing the gentleman.  A female friend of mine and that I had met had been trying to get together and just hang out but schedules before had made it difficult for either of us to connect.  But now was the chance to do so in the City where I lived for a couple years.   Unfortunately she had already imbibed a bit more than should have and I came down to see her.  Around her and several women in this bar were a lot of geeky guys in polo shirts and slick looking suits and the like.  Now it looked to me like 7 guys to every one women there.  Not great odds unless you happening to be looking for that and your woman.  Well when I walked in it looked like three of the geeks were swooping in on my friend till I popped in with my beat up leather biker jacket and black stocking cap and said in a kind of changing voice "Hey, what's up?"

Their reaction was priceless and hers was "Oh, gotta go."  She went outside had a smoke I gave her my arm and I walked her back to her hotel room said goodnight and made sure she got in ok.  

So in the end was it worth it?

Yeah, I guess you say that.  There were things that could have been better of course sales for any of the independents could have been better but you could say that about any show  But I did learn one thing about it and I am surprised that I hadn't ever realized it- it's a mainstream show!  People want those mainstream characters that they love not some crazy anthropomorphic bird guy.  So after talking to Dan and George about it I think that when I head to E.C.C.C. next year that will be the deciding factor AND incorporating about a 1/3 of mainstream characters that could really benefit from the scratchboard like say Ghost Rider.

And that is it for the kid.

Emerald City bound!

Hey there sports fans Al here with the latest:

Emerald City ComiCon 2013!

ECCC floor layout 2013 and our
location.

  I can't believe that it is here already and of course as with anything I  am excited about going.  I wish I had the money to have a huge amount of stuff to sell at the show but this year was not the case with the comics as I would have liked to have had happen.  CTS #2 is still in the editorial phase and issues 3 and 4 have still to be inked and I know why.

SCRATCHBOARD.  With every show that comes up I like to have new pieces of original artwork to sell and this year I do and beyond what I did last year.  All of these pieces are awesome and varnished and priced.  But because of the time with them and the gallery shows that I have been pursuing, I have had almost not time to really finish off the story line that I started off about one year ago to the day.

Again this year there are grand hopes for a scratchboard graphic novel but that is still in the works but I want to get this latest Corrax book off the ground first.

At times I feel as if I am addicted to creativity. Just to many ideas bubbling out of my head.

Anyway that being said there are new things being invented for CTS.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that my phone doesn't run out of juice before I can use my square app for the weekend.

CORRAX THE SEEKER NEWS:
Well friends Corrax is in the final phases of finally being done then off to Jason to edit.  There will always be a few twiks here and there but the second issue is coming around nicely.
Yea!

Corrax the Seeker #3 Cover

NEW ART!
THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON now adorns the Black Box Comix Table.  I thought that I was done with scratchboard but such is not the case.  In the other conversations with Devon and Dan and George from the small Illustration Club that I attended two weeks ago, Devon is convinced that the scratchboard of the classic movie monsters would be the way to go to get people interested in the work.
I have also started compiling work that includes the Martian Manhunter and Sio & Kuma from Afro Samurai.  I don't usually draw or illustrate comic superheroes or Manga style characters but this year I wanted to show that I could step out my normal illustrative style.  Hellboy would be the next one I would do.
I still have the Bride of Frankenstein, the Invisible Man (which has been a lot of jokes in the artists collective) and the Mummy.
Other comicbook characters I would love to do are Killraven and the Manwolf.

"The Morning After"

DREAMS OF ELYSIUM:
The collection of boards continues on as each pay day rolls around.  Soon (I hope) I will have all the boards ready to go and scratch like hell to get the book done.

POOR CHOICE OF WORDS:
When I was writing an entry on my Facebook page stating that I was "Feeding the four legged beasts that watch over the house AND having some coffee planning my big change from comics to art work."
Of course this is written early morning before going to work at one of the two 9 to 5 jobs that I have.  On this point John Orlando who is the curator of the New  Underground Comix Publishers, Artist and Writers Alliance chimed in and asked "And comics aren't art?"
OF COURSE IT IS, Duh!

What I should have said was  "a change of venue."   Of course I was still waking up and hadn't finished my coffee but that really no excuse like accepting a alcoholic that they are a alcoholic but not their actions.
BUT it did bring up a good point- how to market your work.  Do you still make physical copies of your work or do you go full digital for the 21st century?
I've had this conversation before with Adam of Darkslinger Comics and several others to a lesser degree.
In order for comics to be a successful and profitable commodity, you can still do both but lessen your cost on the product and spread your net out as far as you can.  Places like Marvel (in my opinion) kinda shot themselves in the foot when they bought their own printer in Canada before the big buy out by Disney.
When Disney came in they found that the big event books were doing really well for Marvel so when Marvel said that were done doing big event crossovers- they lied.  Anyway I've gotten off topic here, sorry.
But I am  surprised that no one in the indy field has put together a comprehensive listing for comics creators to go and sell their work on the web with pros and cons of each of the companies out there.
Comic shows and festivals should not cost you a ton of money worrying about how much product you have to push at a show.  It's supposed be fun.

GALLERY SHOWS:
I still have two art shows going on currently but will be taking down the Hawthorne Hideaway work down this month and still have Love of Portland show going on currenlty.  Good times.

COMMISSIONS:

I do commissions depending size, complexity of the piece, varnished and framed.  Usually half down half on completion of project.  Easiest way for payments is through Paypal  using my email address blackboxcomix@yahoo.com.

AND...

Old blog for Black Box Comix entries can be found here at http://blackboxcomix.blogspot.com/

And this kid is outta here.

Corrax on the Rise

HERE THERE SPORT FAN, AL HERE WITHT THE LATEST:

CORRAX THE SEEKER NEWS:

CTS #2 Page 10, Panel 2

 The issue # 2 is nearing completion but it has not been an easy one to say.  Everything in creative process was already done nearly a year ago at ECCC in-between book signing and selling of work.  That was never an issue and I would have thought in a perfect world that books 2 and 3 would have been completed and done and ready to show and sell with issue 4 not long behind to be printed but this is not the world I was able to make.

But what I wanted to say is that CTS is taking longer for me to work on than I had hoped for.

Does this mean that there won't be an issue coming out?

HELL NO!  

That big bird man takes up way to much of my time not to be seen.  He's just too much fun a character to stop working on.  I sometime wish that Vega had been more like that but without Vega and the history Corvis Corrax wouldn't be around. 

GALLERY WORK:

"CHROME STAG" 14"X11" scratchboard 2013 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

Now either I am one of the hardest working guys out there or I meet deadlines right on the head - probably both.  Framed and ready to hang for the "LOVE OF PORTLAND SHOW" -"CHROME STAG"

That 14"X11" Scratchboard is ready to sell.   But after looking at it I think I might take a stab at making a hoodie out of it.  The Design is just really cool.  I have seen a couple of other artist who are invited to the show and their take is cool.

And of course there are the small 5"x7" pieces that I have knocked out  that are pretty intense for the size and in color.  I still have a month to go before heading up there to Seattle so there may be even more to go.

COMIC SHOW:

NOW THERE IS one show that I haven't been to for a while and I haven't heard of any other my friends talk about- The OLYMPIA COMIC FESTIVAL.  I would like to think that this show is still going on but it hard to tell if they are still doing it.  It is a vert grass roots, fly by the seat of your pants set up which I don't have an issue with but I hope that it continues to keep getting out there.

"MASQUED FURY" 5"X7" scratchboard
2013 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

DREAMS OF ELYSIUM:

Now some people will wonder if this book will ever get off the ground, I am confident that I can make this graphic novel fly.  Even a couple of the smaller 5"x7" scratchboard pieces I have worked on are still focusing on that story.

But in talking to my friends Devon and Dan  and George over a Mini Illustration Club a couple of things were brought up such as Devon's Kickstarter project called "Tales of Hot Rod Horror 2"  as well as Dan bringing up both ETSY and Big Cartel to help fund and get these projects out there.

I like  Devon's idea of having that completed project already done and then focus on the incentives and being reimbursed for a project that you were going to fund anyway by yourself.  The thing is the books done and just focuses on the marketing of project.  I think Dev liked my idea of the no word balloons or narration and therefor being able to go international with the work.   

COMMISSIONS:

I do commissions depending size, complexity of the piece, varnished and framed.  Usually half down half on completion of project.  Easiest way for payments is through Paypal  using my email address blackboxcomix@yahoo.com.

AND...

Old blog for Black Box Comix entries can be found here at http://blackboxcomix.blogspot.com/

And this kid is outta here.

But now this kid is gotta get going and finish Corrax!

Looking Lively

Hey there sports fans Al here with the latest:

"Perception is the fog of humanity. Be the light seen, not the sound heard." - B. Marrs.

UPCOMING SHOWS FOR THIS YEAR:
On this years docket we have the following Northwest Shows 

Feb 28- March 1-3 For Big Comic Book show the Emerald City ComiCon - Seattle WA.

April 27 and 28, for comic book show here in town Stumptown Comics Fest- Portland OR.

May 24-26 for the Crypticon Show in Seattle WA.

September 21-22 for the Rose City Comic Con -Portland OR.

November 2  for the Jet City Show - Taccoma WA. -

That's basically a show at the end of every month for the next 3 months till September.  The only wild card in the bunch is the Crypticon.  Having never been to that show I am still working out the details currently with my art buddies. 

CORRAX THE SEEKER NEWS:

CTS #2 Page 9, Panels 1 &2 2013 Copyright
Alan Bennett and BBVA

Still working on issue #2.  Page 9 is taking up a lot of my time currently.  With Gallery work stepping up the comics always seem to take a back step all the time.  But have no fear there, Corrax's story arc is already done as the writing goes but it takes time to color these books and coordinate with Jason and his busy schedule for him to edit the issue.   

DREAMS OF ELYSIUM:
Two things are happening with this mono epic, collecting the raw materials which is about 1/5th done at this time and retooling the the transitional images in the place of the narration.  
   When I have mentioned this project to the uninitiated who have only seen a couple of the scratchboard pieces and they seem interested.  And to those who have seen my work already (both working artists and interested parties) look at me like "Are you crazy?"
Yes, I am.  I know the quality of my work.  I am not the greatest story teller out there but I am sure the hell going to give it my best damn shot. 
I'm gonna do the book that I would want to collect and have in my collection.

GALLERY SHOWS:
The show I have at the Hawthorne Hideaway will be up till March from what I understood from Rita the curator there.

"D WITCH" 8"X8" scratchboard 2012 copyright
Alan Bennett and BBVA

This is cool for me because if I come up with some more work I would be a place for me to put things up.  Most of work and themes seems better suited for pubs and bars rather than actual galleries. This stems more from the subject matter that I am drawing from.
As to the BIG 300 show of last month and year, 8 of 10 pieces sold.  
80 solid percent outta of 100!  That's pretty cool in my book.  I may not have sold all in that first night like my friend Rosy but I am still refining my technique as I work every new piece.
And this funnels down to the 5"x7" scratchboards too along with the new color being added.  I am going to need to add a new light cool grey color to my marker pallet to make this new work pop.  I have always when working with color start off with mono chromatic works to get the feel how much I can push the color on a medium that I already have a good understanding off like scratchboard.
Should be a good show.  Nearly the one man show that I have been wanting to do towards the end of last year.  I am liking this more and more.   What was a old piece for a old show is new again.
Now for the month of February with Valentine's Day just around the corner is the "For the Love of Portland show"  This show is different from the Ben Pink show "Portland Love Show" of the last two years.  The biggest difference is the fact there will be a physical piece up instead of the on line gallery.
I am still not really convinced as a creator that showcasing art work like that on line  even works though I know that runs counter to selling the comics on line.

"CHROME STAG"  11"X14" scratchboard 2013
copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

The piece I call "Chrome Stag" is already done.  11"x14" Scratchboard varnished and framed.  Pretty cool considering I have another 3 weeks to have it in by.  This somehow freaks out some of my art buddies by being able to turn out this volume of work.  To me, it's just the creative process.

COMMISSIONS:
I do commissions depending size, complexity of the piece, varnished and framed.  Usually half down half on completion of project.  Easiest way for payments is through Paypal  using my email address blackboxcomix@yahoo.com.
AND...
Old blog for Black Box Comix entries can be found here at http://blackboxcomix.blogspot.com/
And this kid is outta here.

New Gallery Show for the First of the Year

Hey there sports fans Al here with the latest:

UPCOMING SHOWS FOR THIS YEAR:

NOW that beginning of the year has started up more gallery work is going on as is small scratchboard pieces for comic shows.  To keep within my 25 5"x7" scratchboard I have already started out sketching out 7 new pieces before E.C.C.C. comes around.   I think that these new pieces will catch peoples attention as they also will be colored as well.
The stark black and white contrast won't as as scary to look at.  It also increases the cost a little bit as well for sales.

CORRAX THE SEEKER NEWS:

Corrax the Seeker #2 Page 9, panel 1  Copyright 2013 Alan Bennett and BBVA

Still working on issue #2.  Page 9 is taking up a lot of my time currently.  But I should have this second issue done by next week for editing.  That rocks but there is no rest for this wicked kid.  As soon it's done it's onto the next issue.  That story arc should be done before the end of the year. 

DREAMS OF ELYSIUM:
I have been going over slowly the script and looking where I need to add images to fill in out for where narration would be. It has been interesting revisiting this story again.  I having to interpret my orginal script has shown me flaws in my eariler storytelling.   This has been a real eye opener for me, its like having an old friend look over a peice of artwork and making sujestions on what should be changed
That's what I am dealing with right now.

GALLERY SHOWS:

As of today I have a show beginning at the Hawthorne Hideaway .
But there has been a bit of change up as to the amount of art pieces up.  And additional two more peices are going up.  "Pygmallion Modern" and the peice called "Trust me".
This should be a good show.  Nearly the one man show that I have been wanting to do towards the end of last year.  I am liking this more and more.   What was a old piece for a old show is new again.
RECENT NEWS- AS OF TODAY (1/10/13) I received am email for another open invite for a Febuary show called  For The Love of Portland 2  

9pm.

@Peoples Art of Portland Gallery and Mark Woolley Gallery.  I am currently sketching out a new idea for this show now.  I know that this will allow me to get work back over on the West side of town which is always a good thing for me.  So this will be a nice new addition to gallery show and my show resume.  Besides that, I know that these shows put on by Peoples Art of Portland Gallery February 16^th-March 10^th    Reception: February 16^th, 5-

has always draw a different crowd that what I will be selling to here on the East side.

HOWEVER- this does bring up a point that a friend of mine brought up over a few beers.  Am I saturating the market with my style of art work?  And the case for was because I have had a one show right after the other since October starting with the Fanfare Show.  This was a good point but I believe that since I am putting out new work all the time and it has such a limited visual exposure here in town and I don't believe I will run into that kind of situation like any of those artists of the last 20 years like Bev Doolittle or Thomas Kinkade.  With towels, prints, coffee mugs or other art related material merchandising.  I think that a poster or t-shirt works for the kind of art I produce.   

On to February and Valentine's Day.

COMMISSIONS:

I still have one outstanding piece of work to do but it is taking time for me to get this done but it will get done.

I do commissions depending size, complexity of the piece, varnished and framed.  Usually half down half on completion of project.  Easiest way for payments is through Paypal  using my email address blackboxcomix@yahoo.com.

AND...

Old blog for Black Box Comix entries can be found here at http://blackboxcomix.blogspot.com/

And this kid is outta here.http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/