New Tech on it's Way

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

Well hopefully as this month winds down with the ever looming tax issue to be dealt with, moving calming down and a old Apple tower crashing down as well as a old phone that was just not cutting it and making time for real life this has been a busy month.


BUT I can say STAY FOCUSED!

New (or at least new to me is more technical marvels that I have heard about but not yet had the chance to experience. A newer Apple Mac will be arriving to help replace the old and well used tower that I received from Dan DePaolo in helping me move forward with the digital side of things.
Beth Kerschen  had also been helping me out learning things about the postcards and prints side of selling artwork to the masses and getting the work out there to facilitate making money from the work rather having to "cold call" galleries to see if they would be interested in the work or better yet waiting in a bar for someone to come by and commission me to do some work for them.

Though that last one is still fun to do for me and socialize as well when I am out.

Richard Parker is more me than I thought -  in action and happenstance.  Literally diving into a new environment and confronting so many things fear of the unknown and whatnot to ultimately come out on top and the better for it.



A sense of worthiness.



Richard Parker for me now is like what my own story called "Avatar" was like when I was working out the stories for Pandora's Garage volumes 1-5.

,

The personal exploration of the internal and externalizing it in a package for others to see and experience.

After watching several youtube shows on H.P. Lovecraft and how his own imposed separation from society and the loss of both his father and mother to madness it's easy to see how you would write about what you know.

I will say that there are other writers who seem to have no issue writing something great without experiencing the subject that they are writing about.

Warren Ellis is one of those kind of people. But I wouldn't switch places with the gentleman for not being able to sleep.

BUT BESIDES THAT....

I'm getting off topic. There are a number of different things that I have to do this year that I think will benefit me in the long run for this business. Richard Parker is what I think will get me going this year as an artist. Though I had much hope for Corpse Cop the idea of "Izombie" has pretty much stopped that book that from happening.

 But I think that is as much as I can deliver on anything.

Check out these other sites as well.

 Etsy

Big Cartel 

Storenvy

And of course I still have my comics that I have worked on.  

Indyplanet.

And mind you there is website
and the facebook page

 And with that this kid is outta of here I got work to do.

Richard Parker is getting READY.

Well sports fans Al here with the latest:


As you can see Richard Parker is just about ready to take the plunge here and he doesn't exactly look happy about it either.
So begins the Watery Adventure of Richard Parker.

The Latest from the Box

Hey there sports fans Al here with the latest:

Well at least now the dust has begun to settle now after a move but this doesn't stop the creative process from happening and this is more true than when getting ready for a show or updating tech for these show. Namely a new smart phone.

The droid maxx. Water Proof and long life. These were and are two of the major reasons I decided to go with this guy because of the factors of living here in the Northwest. Rain and making sales. Since over the years the square apt has been at least 1/3rd to ½ of my sales I needed something that can keep up with me.

I've have heard of other vendors saying to each other “Hey man, do you have a charger I can barrow?”

Like so many other people in the field of sell work at shows (along with commissions as well) using tech now has become part of the landscape of making a living for selling artwork.

One of the biggest challenges is the constant updates that need to be addressed is the issue of new apts being uploaded and behaving differently on the new device than what you were already used to.

I am hoping by the time the Crypticon rolls around this year in Federal Way/ Seattle I will have managed to master the machine.

Other than that tech also plagues me as with my main apple computer tower that I have been using to format Corpse Cop with photoshop has gone down along along with with stuff I was working on was is still on desk top so now it's on to see if I can still pull that material from onto one my hard drives. Luckily for me I have been able to save a massive amount of information . Now after years of working and having it's learning a new open source art program GIMP. And though it is pretty damn close to photoshop there are tools that I am having to relearn. So I might still be able to get Corpse Cop off the ground with this new laptop I am currently working on so here is to keeping my fingers crossed.

WHAT'S UP WITH RICHARD PARKER AND THE ADVENTURE?

The script is under re-development currently. And I am retooling the script to fit Richard Parker better to coincide with the images that I have been working on. Of course the art show in September at N.W.I.P.A. is the main focus of art the story and placing all of these images into a booklet along with other images that didn't make into the story for one reason or another to round out the purchase is looking good to me.

NOW ON TOP OF THAT.....

An example of one of the Halloween postcards.

There are some newer images that I am having to think about for postcards. These particular card are a two fold kinda thing. One set I am thinking of doing about 4 different cards for Halloween and then maybe a set of six cards for just general sales for the rest of the year.
 The Halloween cards consist of skulls and dancing skeletons, crows peached on skulls a haunted house and a black cat with some witchy stuff on it.
 I know a lot of my friends would say "well that's already been tried." And that's true, they have. BUT all of these images mentioned have not been done before but not in scratchboard. that's what makes them unique. At least in the searches on the inter webs.

The other cards I am thinking about really focus on the Northwest rather than the Horror stuff I have been working on. Broadening my horizons as they say. One of the biggest issues is still finding that niche that I can really carve out for myself and make a living as a artist. Of course the subject that I am looking to apply to the Northwest cards might not much of a stretch for me.

Sasquatch is going to be a big part for me over the this year. Doing various Northwest kinda of things.

Check out these other sites as well.

 Etsy

Big Cartel 

Storenvy

And of course I still have my comics that I have worked on.  

Indyplanet.

And mind you there is website
and the facebook page

 And with that this kid is outta of here I got work to do.

Move in LOCATION

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

Hey there sports fans Al here (finally) with the latest;

Life is full of turbulence and chaos and we are oftentimes required to make big changes in life and moving can be a big burden for some. And for me and the box this is even more so.

Artists I found are the biggest collectors of private histories and like any well versed historian the art work that we drag with us is at times almost like the deepest sunken anchor in the ocean. It takes Herculean strength to move. And that has been exactly what has happened for me in the last couple months planning and prepping.

But of course when you are dealing with decades of now almost worthless collections that only your mother would hold onto - what do you do?

PURGE! (and not like the movie either)

But all is not lost though. With the 21st Century there is technology that was available to the average Joe out there. Now though I am still waiting to my jet pack MY older artwork is being scanned in before jettisoning this extra baggage.

The ONLY thing that this move does do for the current work LIKE RICHARD PARKER and Corpse Cop is put things on hold.
But not to worry though things are still in motion with these projects.

Currently on Corpse Cop Inhuman Torch is being edited by Paula Akin.  Paula had been asked to come on board for a second outing for CC. There are about three more information bundles that she has to get through but by then CC will be ready for press.

RICHARD PARKER is undergoing some serious changes to story not so much the art. R.P. is looking at refocusing on the MAN not the advent of what he has been thrust into.
As a sign to me, the newest Hobbit movie staring Martin Freeman has one major issue with me the movie is called the Hobbit-  shouldn't the movie focus on that main character? Not Thoran Oakensheild or the ever growing evil threat of Sauron upon Middle Earth but the main character that the movie is named after Billbo Baggins?
This was one of the main issues I was confronted with Richard Parker.  There was to much of a jump between the reality of Richard Parker and the fantasy that I was throwing him into.

Focus on the character.

I am currently happy with the look and feel of this and ultimately this will lead into the grand illustrated epic Dreams of Elysium. So this will be a big deal.  This also means a lot of planning and capital to put for the best story I can and the cost of the scratchboard is not cheap.

I can only if art is to support art then the commission's and the gallery work would me move along until that niche is found to be self supporting.

AND SPEAKING OF GALLERY WORK...

As it turns surfing the wave of moving a piece of art will be going into a smallish gallery featuring artwork on the local Northwest Legends of Sasquatch.  The Gentle Giant will be a part of this show.

And that is it for the kid.

So Begins the next year

Hey there

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

SO there is this thing called a new year and we are only into for the fourth day in a row (as write this) and now the question is what kind things are lining up for Black Box Visual Art and Black Box Comix?

Well to answer that question we have to look both comic book shows and art shows.

As the list evolves it will look like that I have at least two comic book shows coming up.

The first will be in March on the 1st. It is a group show that I am going to be a part of called "Sasquatch"a Bigfoot themed group show. (link). I think "Gentle Giant" will do well in this show.

The second show will in April. The 18th and 19th for the Linework N.W. (link)

The third is the Crypticon 2015 the following month. (link)

NOTE: Now there is a lot of questions of why I would go back to a show that I had such a bad time dealing with last year after "the Human Wall of Shame"  and all that (See last years comments here). 

  After months of never hearing anything from the organizers of this show they finally got back in touch with me to make things right

Then there are the art shows that will be coming up in September at N.W.I.P.A.(link). and then later in the year again is BIG 500 (at least that is what I have heard there were going to call this year). (link) 

SO I have to plan like a mother to get these things made and printed and all that goes along with that work.

BUT I AM ALSO keeping an eye on what I am doing and how far I can stretch myself and still keep turning out the best work that I can.

NOW the only issue that I have with the Linework N.W. Show is that I have to wait to find out if my books, website, product fits their criteria for a juried show.

This is the only issue that I have and if they accept you then you better have the money readily available for the table via paypal for the one day that you'll be part of the show.

But being a interdependent makes it hard unless you are so flushed with cash you don't have to worry about that. But with the amount of money that BBVA has earned from the BIG 500 from last year I should be able not to work about that stuff. I should also mention that the last day of the BIG 500 is next Sunday. So if you had your mind set on a piece of work go get it!

SWEET!

SO WHAT KIND OF WORK AM I TALKING ABOUT....

That means Richard Parker has moved back into the Limelight for his Adventure book, "The Watery Adventure of Richard Parker".

 I am excited for the work to be edited by Paula Akin who has been so kind to help me not to trip over myself while writing these crazy ass stories of Underwater Adventure (watch out Sub Mariner and Aquaman).

So with that this comic illustration book will for all intense purposes the templet for the “Dreams of Elysium”. I have been split on several different fronts that have really effected my turn out of the work but I will not be deterred from making my dream a reality.

That also means the Corpse Cop will get printed as well. Even though posting

comic books through a Ka-blam's associated on-line comic store Indyplanet.com http://www.indyplanet.com/front/ has been a selling hell for me printing still goes on and one comic “Arctic Wolf” has been in a holding pattern for nearly a year and “Inhuman Torch” is just around the corner once Paula (again I can't thank her enough for helping me with these).

Aside from that there is also the other websites for the selling giclees and t-shirts.

 Etsy

Big Cartel 

Storenvy

And of course I still have my comics that I have worked on.  

Indyplanet.

And mind you there is website
and the facebook page

 And with that this kid is outta of here I got work to do.

A Year in review for 2014

Hey there sports fans Al here with the latest from the BBVA:

Well it comes time again in the year to take a look at what has happened this year and how it will effect the next as we close in on the next year. I have been looking hard and long on what need to be done for moving forward but lets take a look back at the calendar for the high points.

The year of 2014 started off with the end of the BIG 400 show coming to an end as a hold over for the next year and what could be looked upon as a spring board for other artistic endeavors well I was in for a surprise when I went into the show to pick up what was left for me. 6 outta 10 pieces sold and now looking back the pieces I submitted I think I know why. It just wasn't my strongest work. In fact some of the pieces were just down right bad. I was just looking to get done and fulfill my obligation to crank out 10 pieces no matter if they were good or not. But some of the pieces surprised me but not so much.

But looking at what was left I think I know how better to approach my audience with new work.

The next item on the list was Had I bitten off more than I could chew? The production of the 5”x7” s had been a stable for me as a vendor but these little pieces weren't letting me really expand to showing off new and bigger original pieces of work. I think this is why when I have a shared a table with my buddies I am not getting the kudos from people I think I should. Thats not saying I don't want to hang out with my buds but financially we all had to bite the the proverbial bullet just to be seen. The other is not based upon ego either. Selling the work constantly proves that to me. Case in point was the Cyrpticon show of 2014 being stuck behind the human wall of shame.

EVENT SHOWS: CRYPTICON 2014, ROSE CITY 2014

I won't go into deal here on this but refer you to this link for the Crypticon 

and as to Rose City a whole different kind of vibe and crowd. The Right Side of the Force to the Dark Side of the Force. Look here for the positive moments.

.

THE ONE MAN SHOWS:

This is a major HIGH POINT for the kid! I love doing these shows because the work gets the chance to really shine on like it needs to. The first was THE HOP THUR THE HEART show at N.W.I.P.A. February 15th just a couple days after Valentine's Day. Such a fun show lots of people and dark stout beer for Opposite Day. Two pieces sold during the shows run and I knew one of them was gonna be good “Down with the Weirdness”. I had finally gotten the genuine response to work from a complete stranger like I had always wanted to hear. And the fact that it was going back east to Brooklyn New York at a brewery was even better than I had hoped.

It was sign off I was looking for because I had been debating about whether or not to keep working on the comics full time or switch gears to something else that I know makes me money.

SCRATCH AND BURN show at SeeSee's Motor Coffee was another one man event that was fun and a much different kind of feel. Only sold a few prints this show but had great new pieces to show case and I did. Summer was a hard sell though. But I would totally do it again.

GROUP SHOWS:

88 STRONG show was another group show but instead of doing the scratchboard work I have become known for I painted. Admittedly not the best work I have done but better than I have done in years past. Only one of 8 sold but still fun to work on.

ICON show. Now this was a fun one because I took a fictional character that has always had a influence on me and really turn out a wonderful single piece of work Captain James T. Kirk! Loved working on this one and it was hard to do but it still rocked!

AND COURSE THE BIG 500!

New tech was brought in to help with larger pieces and was realized that it was not as helpful as I would have liked or hoped. HOWEVER there was a lot of new product that was made and brought out this year like the Gentle Giant T-shirts, the prints and postcards. As bad as Crypticon was I did sell a little a bit of everything there at this show and that was cool.

COMMISSIONS:

Not so many this year as there has been in the past but N.W.I.P.A. Always seems to have something for me coming up so well see what is next.

AND PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING TO TAKE PLACE the WEBSITE!

So what did I learn about this year?

Website is always nice to have.

Always have business cards on you.

Bigger is better.

Always have something that can be sold in any price range. Plan in advance, and when things go woefully wrong make sure somebody hears about it!

 

So now the kid needs to get ready for next year. Till then.

BIG 500 this weekend and other stuff

HEY THERE SPORTS FANS, AL HERE WITH THE LATEST:

THE BIG 500 is almost here and all ten pieces are completed and turned in on time for the show.  I am very proud of the work this round and hope that all the pieces find a home. But never fear collectors of scritchy scratch art there are high end prints available for you for the low price of about 20 bucks.
BUT SHOULD YOU FEEL THE NEED there will be original art up at the show.  Now this year unlike years past when I have had to rush downtown PDX right after work with a shit ton of other artwork with to drag around. Not this time.
So think of this as a art investment as well as supporting the local economy.Here is a link for a video about the show this next weekend here.  The BIG 500.

NOW TRUE I haven't posted a lot of blogs recently But this is not to say that I have been lazy by any means. If anything that I have been more busy than anything else. I have been running into an issue if cranking out amounts of artwork for Corpse Cop and on top of that of structuring New stories for Richard Parker
and a book ties in with the images and post cards done in scratchboard.
On top of that is finishing Corpse Cop Inhuman Torch
 Today in the mail I received a package from printninja.com to see if they could come up with a reasonable printing deal for me for both the comics and other. 
And with the on set of identity theft independent printing has been on hold till the IRS deals me a bone with a new SS card.
The biggest issue with all these items that have been worked on is raw cash.  It has always been an issue for me that the production had been hobbled by just money not the lack of creativity.

This is where the real world (fuck it!) and the imaginary world's of the freakin' Vega Universe  collide! So I'm looking at restructuring my living situation to reflect the every changing events of my personal life.  Scraping by when I was single and in my early 30's but now I have to think of other ways of generating revenue to support the art beast!

Wish me luck 'casue a lot of this stuff will come back with a Vengence weapon!(visually of course).
I apologize for the lack of cohesiveness in this blog but the kid has a had a lot on his mind these last couple of months. Stick with me, It will get better.

Etsy and Storenvy have been growing pretty good but it is still pushing the envelope to make sakes and this has been a slow season for commissions and the like.

Etsy

Big Cartel 

Storenvy

And of course I still have my comics that I have worked on.  

Indyplanet.

Oh well.
  In my opinion it is a strong story visually compared to "Arctic Wolf" story line. We'll will see how things evolve as time goes on.  I would personally love to see Corpse Cop do a few more stories before I'm done with him but we'll see how that goes down.

Anyway the kid's outta here for a short time.