A little more of the Dream

An image thumbnail-  partial- for the Dreams of Elysium graphic novel.

IN THE FUTURE- CRYPTICON 2014

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

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Well like the title says Crypticon is not that far away.  About a month away and things are beginning to move forward as with movement of prints and post cards made from the images of the scratchboard. 

My main man George Leon of Custom Comic Shop  and I will be sharing another table this year.  So I am planing on having at least one new Corpse Cop comic out and some prints.  May 23-  25th  at Seatac.  George and I had a blast there last year and I would hope that it would happen again this year and maybe even better.
Here is to the possibility of more commissions and selling of prints.

AND ON THAT FRONT :

Where's the next art show?

The show that was to have happened over two months ago at this place called" My Brother's Crawfish" has been pushed back again by the owners of Crawfish.  Their reasoning behind this move was a remodel of the business or better yet renovation.  

But of course I didn't find out about this a day before the show was to start.  

This is nothing new for the Kid as Artwork is an aesthetic not a necessity for a business to thrive.  As I found out recently with dealing with Know Lounge off of North East Alberta.  The reason why I hadn't been contacted by anyone from there after the One Man Show of last year (and at the urging of my friend Joey Maas) that the owners of that establishment had decided to was to much of a headache to coordinate with other artists and set up times and the like.   Also art work was stolen.  That doesn't belly well for any place.

At least they realized this but didn't bother to tell anybody about it - including my friend Joey.

 My only contact with the Crawfish people is through texting.  Hopefully there will more communication before the hanging time which still needs to be clarified who does what and what pieces they want there.  Still waiting on that.

But the artwork will go up.  And if I am lucky I'll be able to finish off a new piece that might work -like "The Last Kiss of Richard Parker".  That's the idea anyway

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 here.

CORPSE COP NEWS:

Well it looks like" Arctic Wolf" Will be the only new comic at the table this year round.   Inhuman Torch is pretty close But I think that I would be rushing the job. And I don't wanta do that.
Besides that I was having some issues with the computer and the start up scratch disk.
Now having resolved that issue things begin to move forward.

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

DREAMS OF ELYSIUM:

Now this has been on again off again project but there is always something moving forward with this story.
In this case a format change is being looked at in a panoramic setting while still focusing on a strong sense character at the center.  One of the biggest deals is that a lot of talented artists never really get the chance to show just how talented they are because their always under the gun with an editor and a company deadline.
After explaining my idea of the graphic novel to my girlfriend (who also happens to be a graphic designer) had suggested that as opposed to traditional page layouts (which I always been doing) swich the format. 
The book would have a much more panoramic look and view of not only the main characters but the surrounding area.  Much like a scope movie presentation.  

I loved the idea because it sets the book differently than traditional comics and graphic novels out there.  

Of course when I told her that I wanted to do it in scratchboard she thought I was crazy.  Of course this also makes the process very long but the over all look will be fantastic!

Perhaps I am, I really want this book to stand out from all the other work I have done over the years.

  

ALAN'S SOAP BOX THIS WEEK:

Now one thing I have noticed is that a lot of artists and creators at shows always seem to follow the same route, same theme.
What I mean by that is usually if something works for one of the creators others will follow suit.
This is not necessarily a bad thing But it does set a presidence for bad habits to happen.
In this case, prints.
Most if not all artists in either Artist's Alley or Where the Indipendants are, always end up trying to sell 11"x17" prints of their characters all the time.
Makes good sense right?  Your reinvesting your capital in one of your own properties.
The biggest issue that I have seen is that a lot (not all) vendors end up selling a lot prints with a backing board and all for the same cost- usually $10.00 bucks each.
I don't agree with this model. My biggest gripe really is the sizing issue for people who are looking to buy products.

Case in point; when I started making mini comics (kinda based upon the idea of the ashcan books I had seen years ago by Image) thought that this would be a great calling card for a introduction to the comic masses.   Artwork is the same.  I have made a moderate amount of money of the 5"x7" scratchboard originals but would like to be able to offer the the same size or just a little smaller as as a postcard.

The 11"x17" I have found to be to bulky and large for a potential customer to carry around comfortably.  So I am looking at shrinking down the size of the images for prints with the largest being 11"x14" and and a mainstay of 8 1/2"x11".

In this way the size and cost (I believe) will work better for the customer to purchase other items at the table and feel like they got a lot for their money) in this cast quantity of merch in a bag.
At least that's the idea anyway.

ODDITIES:

Fun stuff.  

More of this info can be found at here. 

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 to follow and Tumbler, The Other Scratchpad

   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

A Bit of a Breather

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

A NEW SHOW FOR THE END OF APRIL.

The drawback is I have no name for it yet but I will make a poster for it.
Well as it turns out the art revolving show that has been my fortune to have created has been getting better and better regardless of size of the venue that I have been asked to participate in. 
With the contacts that I have been fostering this is a big deal for me.  If it works out well, I may have more shows to come.
So after talking to the curator Vicki of restaurant/ lounge My Brother's Crawfish it looks as if the show would go up April with for about 1 month before coming down.
This of course is just as I get ready to head down (or more likely up to)  Seattle for the Crypticon.
If I can get the last of Corpse Cop" Inhuman Torch" edited by Paula, I could have two new books out as well as prints and postcards for that show.
That's a lot of merch for a show.

OTHER NEWS: 

As Black Box Visual Arts begins to move forward so does the investment of new tools for the trade.  One of the first is a wand scanner. 
This little guy will now allow bigger works such as the 16"x20" scratchboards to be scanned in and saved onto a thumbdrive to transport digital imagery to print shops and have actual prints made of the work rather than always relying on original work to sell. 
This is, in one way, way that a lot of artist I believe make money off the inexpensive prints rather than selling original artwork.
Both large size at art shows and smaller prints of the large work at small scale like 9"x12"  at trade shows. 
I'm already beginning to compose a list of large scale images to be made and figure out the cost for the small scale images.
As an example if a 11"x17" sell for $10.00 then a 9"x12" should go for about 8 bucks cheep.
Of course everything is dependant on the quantity of what is ordered from the print shop. 
That always goes the same way when you are ordering a quantity of comics being made to and not using a traditional printer.
I will in the next week be checking out what needs to be done with the printer and the thumbdrive.  

 

DREAMS OF ELYSIUM NEWS:

A needed break between Corpse Cop books is this little gem.  Now like I have said this is kinda my swan song with comics.  Corpse Cop will always have a place for me as work on New stories (just like Vega and Corrax) but the need to crank out the work won't be as prevalent as it has in the past. 
There are at least four other Corpse Cop stories I want to do personally then release a completation and then onto The one and only graphic novel for international consumption.
There are several different versions of the book I want to do.  Both and a couple in English. 
The thumbnails for the story look nearly as good as any of the Corpse Cop stories that has come up so far and this doesn't include the mother of all cross overs in the Vega Universe- the Vega Initiative.
The good news is that this work is laying all the ground work for the scratchboard that is come.

88 STRONG SHOW:

Well here I thought that I was gonna get a breather here but I guess not with the shows.  I decided to go ahead and enter into this show and crank out 8 new pieces of work - and all painted.  Man, it's been a bitch to do so but I will make it happen.

ALAN'S SOAP BOX: 

I guess my biggest beef right now is the change in the way people collect and buy comics these days.  So mind you this is just an observation of a medium I have loved since I was a kid.
The digital downloads like comixology or comicsdrivethru.com or any of the other type of digital downloading seems to be taken over by professionals from the big companies with a great editor and so on. 
So where does the little guy fit into all this?
Out in the Circle K parking lot with Bill and Ted is where.
And that really bugs me.
I always thought that this kinda on line community was to help us little guys?  I guess I was wrong way wrong about that.  Big companies exploiting another way of getting work out there and squeezing the rest of us out.
Makes me crazy thinking that the only way to make books happen is if I seriously invest myself to a group of people that I might as well shoot myself in the head.
But I ain't gonna do that.  Well we'll see how the projects I got going on are gonna turn out.

Oh well.

The kids outta of here.

THE SHOW DEAD DONE.

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:


 

The show has come down and it was a slightly sad sight as the walls looked blank for the next artist to come in.

I have no idea what quality of work they will bring to the table But I can only imagine that it will be good.  Jackson, Dan and Zoe usually pick good artwork to go up.

It had a good run and I was overly happy at the turn out for the show.  And again I can't say enough about you guys who came to show your support of this artist.  Thank you again!

 I had a wonderful time and it looked like everyone who did show up did as well.
I look forward to another hopefully next year - with new pieces to show off.

AND ON THAT FRONT :

As per usual which is always fine by me is the fact the show (or at least parts of it) will be moving to a new location with a week and half after the Hop comes down.

The show will move to a smaller place called "My Brother's Crawfish" - a Cajun style restaurant not to far from home.  So this is a different kind of venue for me but I think it will be fun.
It's good to have friends with connections.  Its always kinda of nerve racking when you begin to deal with a new venue it which to show your work and with people you have never met before.  Your only contact is through texting.

But the artwork will go up.  And if I am lucky I'll be able to finish off a new piece that might work -like "The Last Kiss of Richard Parker".  That's the idea anyway.

COMMISSIONS:

They come  in all shapes and sizes but one of the more interesting ones is doing a commission that is only 5"x7" .  Last week I was contracted to start working on a piece that featured a friend's  son as a medieval nomadic warrior.  This harkens back to the days when I was playing DnD and illustrating images for my friends at the table of their characters.  The first of the three thumbnails I have done and should have the other two done soon.

The Best part about this was the fact that I was paid up front about this so there is no question whether or not it will get done.

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

CORPSE COP NEWS:

Without Color it looks a little funny,
I think he'll be in color- for the cover.

I am within striking distance of finishing off the "Inhuman Torch" story line.  This makes me very happy as I have yet to letter and then hand off to my friend Paula (whom had edited the Arctic Wolf story) is back for editing.  

There are a few artistic changes that need to be made before anything else of course until I'm happy with what I see on screen.  

There are a few more panels to complete and then it's off to the races!

DREAMS OF ELYSIUM:

Now I haven't chimed in on this for a while because gallery shows and Corpse Cop had taken center stage for the last year and this always seems to be on again off again project.  I would like to finish this project and leave this as my crowning comic project and say "adios" so I can fully pay attention to the commissions and gallery work and prints.

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

ALAN'S SOAP BOX THIS WEEK:

Nothing as yet irked me yet... but you never know.

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.

There have been many changes and developments and tweeks since I started working on this project but have put my best foot forward to make it happen.  The direction of the of project has changed from a straight parody of shows that were influencing such as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Mystery Science Theater 3000, The old Bob Wilkins Creature Features. 

But as with all small productions things are a chagin'.  With what was a simple parody has changed to a much darker and brooding show.  For me that was actually a HUGE relief.  A carbon copy (which I don't even think that make anymore come to think about it) of these other shows just showed a lack of originality within the production and now with a large chance in direction of the shows premise I could actually flex my artistic creative muscels of what I know suspense (from watching old black and white tv shows), lighting and mood setting to both the script and set tech.

Fun stuff.  

More of this info can be found at here.

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  to follow and Tumbler The Other Scratchpad 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

LAST HOP OF THE WEEK

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

LIVE FROM DUBLIN!

Well my friends this being one my favorite shows that I have put up though The One Man Show of last year still takes first place because let's face it was first.
But this week it comes down. 
It had a good run and I was overly happy at the turn out for the show.  And again I can't say enough about you guys who came to show your support of this artist.  Thank you again!

AND ON THAT FRONT :

As per usual which is always fine by me is the fact the show (or at least parts of it) will be moving to a new location with a week and half after the Hop comes down.

The show will move to a smaller place called "My Brother's Crawfish" - a Cajun style restaurant not to far from home.  So this is a different kind of venue for me but I think it will be fun.
It's good to have friends with connections.  Its always kinda of nerve racking when you begin to deal with a new venue it which to show your work and with people you have never met before.  Your only contact is thru texting.

COMMISSIONS:

They come  in all shapes and sizes but one of the more interesting ones is doing a commission that is only 5"x7" .  Last week I was contracted to start working on a piece that featured a friend's  son as a medieval nomadic warrior.  This harkens back to the days when I was playing DnD and illustrating images for my friends at the table of their characters.  The first of the three thumbnails I have done and should have the other two done soon.
The Best part about this was the fact that I was paid up front about this so there is no question whether or not it will get done.

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

CORPSE COP NEWS:

I am within striking distance of finishing off the "Inhuman Torch" story line.  This makes me very happy as I have yet to letter and then hand off to my friend Paula for editing.
There are a few more panels to complete and then it's off to the races!
But if you wanta play catch up check out this link for the one CC's first adventures at indyplanet.com http://indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4799

ALAN'S SOAP BOX THIS WEEK:

Nothing as yet irked me yet... but you never know.

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

Two Weeks in and a COP

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

THE HOP THRU THE HEART show
is entering it's third week right now and every time I go in for a pint or two there is always so many people looking at the art work I am pretty sure I am blushing (on the inside of course.  Wouldn't want to tip my hat toooo much).  
   With other events taking place at NWIPA such as the NWIPA TRIPLE IPA FEST gave even more people the chance to take a look.  The poster which I had been commissioned for in scratchboard was now showcasing the windows for the beer event.  Of course now the original now graces Jackson's wall.
Thank you Jackson.
  While I was imbibing and working on Corpse Cop "Inhuman Torch" I was asked to sign the poster I had designed for event  by one gentleman last night.  That was kinda cool.   
There was definately a lot people coming and going for beer and of course the stark nature of black and white catches people attention pretty quickly when a conversation suddenly disappears.

   I've been pretty happy with the turn out so far with this show and the reaction from people.  I also had touched base with the couple that had purchased "Throne of Doom" and how best to frame the piece and the cost.  

But now onto today's agenda
CORPSE COP "INHUMAN TORCH"

The story has been done for  bit but the artwork has had to catch up.  With the detail I have been working on it's like every frame is a individual piece of artwork pushed together in a mosaic that forms a comic book page.  Not exactly the way I would have originally wanted the book to be put together but this comes from an old conversation I had many years ago   "Every panel should be a piece art that could stand on it's own."

That sentiment has stayed with me ever since  

  So with that in mind I have going over the images that I have quickly made and reworked panels to make every single panel look great.  Sometimes that means I have to rework an entire page.

Page 16 here to your right is one such page that has under gone several revisions since I started working on the story again.  

Of the marker comics I have found that I am literally painting the page with white and black and getting a greyscale in the process.  This is a huge improvement and change when I first started CORPSE COP again. Looking at the way I was producing comics and wanting to do it in  scratchboard just hasn't been feasible.  At least not right now.

Compared to "Arctic Wolf" this story is much more complex in just the look which I am exceedingly happy with.

If your wanting to look at some of the older blogs for Black Box Comix check out here.

And that is it for the Kid and I am outta of here.

A week after

Hey there sports fans All here with the latest:

So it is already a week into the show and it only feels like yesterday that the show was underway at N.W.I.P.A.  for the Hop Thru the Heart show started.  It has been a strange run so far with lots if ups and downs.  A few days after the show began I had felt a certain disconnection with anything artistic.  This was hard for really I hadn't anything to really stress out about.  I mean the night before had been successful sale and a big one as well for the Kid. 

  Pehapes is was seperation anxiety of an artist and their creation?  Just an idea.

"Down with the Weirdness"  - Sold!

And a potential for more custom work down the road and as far back east as Brooklyn New York.  To me that is EXTREMELY awesome.  In New York there are a number of movers and shakers that coukd see this west coast artist with a very unique art style.  It high time to get things going with the.   contract to be written down.
Of course this also adds another possibility to having the work seen by people in the European community.  
This is a Cool situation for the kid.  I know that the flavor of work that I'm doing would sell well there particularly around the Baltic States, Gemany, Sweden. Denmark.

IN OTHER NEWS...
It kinda cool when you have sales that you don't have to even push.  The t-shirts are like that right now for me.  And with a second batch in the works based upon The Down with the Weirdness piece I know I could be selling well.   The other avenue of sales are the prints being made off of the large originals.
A number of friends have been after me to think about prints based upon the work but for some reason I haven't followed up with this.   In last 4 to 5 years Is since I moved to P-town interest and style have matured into something really special.  I know that my friends think that they are talking to a brick wall because I don't respond right away and that I am being obtuse but I AM weighing the posiblies of what to sell.  It was a confidence issue with what to put out there.
But now with the chance to push forward other devices are now coming in to the company to help with selling the large scale work.  A wand scanner.
What this little guy will be able to do is allow me to scan my 16"x20" scratchboards (or larger)  at home and make personal adjustments without having to pack up all the from home and traverse distances with original art work that could get damaged easily.
Again the tools of the 21st Century.

By yhe end of this uear I should have prints abd postcards availible to the public.    Sweet!

SHOWS AND POTENTIAL.

IT SEEMS that the name building game is going well for me and continues.  A week after the show I was working at the art store and was told by my friend Robert that he had put in a good word for me for another venue for me to show at.  I thought this would be great to get into some other place other than bar lounge.
Then about three days later I was contacted by Vicky and saying that she and her boss would be interested in taking a look at the work as it was hanging already.
But let face facts the work runs a little on the dark side.   And might not be to everybody's liking.  That's a fact and one that I am willing to cop to.

CORPSE COP:
WELL Inhuman Torch is still moving along but a bit slowly but every time I have started working on him again it looks awesome.  I am hoping to have him done soon.


LAST MONSTER ON EARTH!:
What the Hell you say?  Another comic?
Yes sir another one but one that is just for a fun and is aimed at making a mini comeback that made stand out at the comic shows early on when i first started the show circuit.

This was in response to the Robot Monster piece that I had sold at the HOP show.  I liked it so much and the response I was getting made me just start working on something.  And of course when I started working on it I felt like I was channeling (and still am) Jack Kirby!
Lots of fun and can't wait to see how it turns out!
And I am out of here!