Slowly moving forward- 'bout time!

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest,
 It's been a while and while there are always good reasons for it I'm pretty sure that allergies -they can get pretty sever) and trips (far out of town) were not among my top five from keeping me posting here. But they have (both plus a couple others as well). 

 BUT it's safe to say that I am here working on the triptych finally and it is looking great so far but the work only seems to be able to get worked on the weekends. I am thinking that the art is so intensive that I really don't look up from the board to notice the weather or the fact that I might actually be hungry. And that's saying something.

HOWEVER LETS get on to the work!

Firstly lets look over the over all design. The commissioners wanted a space theme for the work and in a comic style. 

So the above image went right to comic book design but the most basic of story telling for me. 
How do you do that? 
I was thinking fast that a big story had had to have certain key elements to make it work.

In these scenarios are The Liftoff, Space Travel and Landing or Planting the Flag as I like to call it. After figuring out what the main three adjectives were for each part of the triptych how to condense each of these adjectives into telling a story without loosing something along the way. This is when I realized that I could tell this fictionalized story of Major Thom, Deep Space Explorer in just two panels to tell part of a story. 
Each panel of this major sci-fi space opus was the fact that you had to have a human element in each part of the triptych's separate panels from a movie goer's p.o.v.
I had researched a lot of sci-fi movies that I had seen as a kid but the there were new movies I had to buy and rewatch over and over again until I understood HOW something works logically. I even looked for blueprints of ships.

Ship design was the biggest part of the issue what kind of Explorer ship could I make that would look like something that NASA or ESA would send into space? I kept going back to 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY looking at the Discovery and then I looked at more modern movies like OBLIVION, THE MARTIAN & INTERSTELLAR. 
A good portion of the Explorer was made from these influences the last was from Space: 1999. There were SO many great ships that came out of this series I could not ignore it for the landing Probe.
 

 Once all of that was figured out then it was the submission to the commissioners of the triptych for the drawing. Once that was agreed upon I unleashed the scratchboard techniques. HAHA!

There was one thing that had been bothering me though and it had been something I had wanted to address but I was always on such a tight schedule that I couldn't do it a real close up of the work.
Up to this point I hadn't been able to convey to the public how much detailing and rendering goes into these works. Jpegs on Facebook, my website, Tumblr, Instagram and Twitter just couldn't do it.

It just kinda bugged me. 

One of the things that I really wanted to do was show a close up of the work. A lot of images that I have posted up over the years never really give the viewing public the amount of detail that goes into these things. 

I was hoping that the extreme close up of Major Thom would help really help illustrate how I do this work.

I think it does.

OTHERSTUFF
Well Corpse Cop is off at my friend and editor Paula Akins right now hopefully being fine tuned for printing for upcoming comic book themed shows. BUT I did find myself in a pickle that I couldn't bring the large Triptych pieces with me to work on while on break so I had to find something else to fill in my time. 

I did so I went back to where a lot of this new work started from - RICHARD PARKER.

  
 Now as you can see there is a small smattering here of the work that is being prepped for the book that I have been promising people. I have been just letting my imagination run with this work but I feel that when it is done, it will be awesome.

 
And as always there are places for you to check out as well.
Etsy

Big Cartel 

Storenvy

And of course I still have my comics that I have worked on here at Indyplanet.  I am still currently working on getting this link fix.

HOWEVER there are these books that I still need to add to the archive for Black Box Comix. And mind you there is website
and the facebook page 

The Website also has some new stuff added for the comic books featuring Corpse Cop.

 

 

 And that's it for the kid for now and I am outta of here.

posted from Bloggeroid

 

The Triptych Commission

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

The Triptych time. Even though there is no time limit on this project.
And for that I am grateful for since coming down with some version of a cold that has been plaguing me for the last three weeks. It has made it incredible hard to stay focused on said project. 

But now as the cold is leaving (look me ma, I ain't got the cold death in me anymore!) I can focus once again on the project. 

I had drawn up several versions of said astronaut images but each one just wasn't working for me for the final image. It wasn't until after I had sent out a a group of images to some of my artistic buddies for a quick critique that I realized that what I was doing was way off base with what was agreed upon in the contract that I had signed.

 The three of images of the triptych have been completed as a partial illustration to accommodate for changes if commissioners want me to add change anything.

I have already changed a few things with some help from a couple of other artists and their perspective working and selling art.

But I couldn't wait to ink some of it to kinda flush out the idea I had for working on these images.

 Now I know that for a fact that my scratchboard work stands out far in advance of my typical illustrations which is just fine for me as I like my drawing concepts.

If I really like what I drawing I sure the hell know that my scratchboard version is gonna ROCK!

When I got done with the Corpse Cop illustrations for "Corpsecille" I knew that the story would carry over even better when I converted it to scratchboard. I didn't think that it would take so damn long to do but I didn't think that there was anybody else doing what I was doing.

  And I was just fine with that.

 But as said earlier I was infected with a cold/cough death bug that had me both delirious and vacant  minded for a period of about 3 weeks.

But I am back upon top of my game and working hard to get this project wrapped up in the next couple of months and when that is completed to really focus on getting Richard Parker book completed.

After buying Lynd Ward's wordless woodcut novels I am now sure that I am on the right track.

Will I make a tone of cash off this project?

I don't know honestly, but I do know that a wordless novel like this offered worldwide greatly increases my chances to finally make it as a illustrator.


OTHER SHOWS!
Now strange as it may sound and all the bitching that I have had about going to shows over the last couple of years (particularly comic book themed ones) that now I find myself eatting my own words for going to them. And with new artwork -COMICS- in hand!
WHA???
That's right I will be back in the comic game again (You were right about that Adam Watson) making and selling comic books!
Specifically Corpse Cop #3 Inhuman Torch Corrax the Seeker #2.

Corrax the Seeker #2

New and Improved Cover Corpse Cop#3

and
Both of these books had been put on hold for different reasons but IF I was going to back to a comic book show I should have some other product that people could get behind. And I know that each of these characters had a certain appeal.
 
I have been going over my old digital files some of which are not accessible to me at this time because of the computer meltdowns I have had over the years and not really a good time or the cayish to get a drive system to transfer the info. One comic doesn't warrant a $60 dollar drive. Sorry guys it just doesn't.

Old Page #2 Corpse Cop

New Page #2 Corpse Cop

NOW lets talk about the shows themselves.
The first on the list won't happen till late 2016 for the Rose City Comic Show. I haven't been showing at this event for the last couple of years since I shared a table to Jason Z. Pott of NEoTrash Comix.  I will interesting to see what the response will be like to the comic books and the artwork.
The second show will back down in Eugene my old home town based upon how well I did this last year down there. That should be a fun time.

AND AGAIN PORTLAND ART SHOWS.
There is a couple of regular art shows that I am going to be in this year. The first one you all know about "Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Art Show". This will be taking place here in the next couple weeks and should be a great jump for me to get my work back over to the Westside of town! APR 7!
Sweet!

The next show that I am looking at being a part of is again on the Westside of town at the People's Art of Portland Gallery callled "Oregonology" show at People's art.

I haven't been part of this show before but I do have a piece that hasn't gotten the proper showing as of yet, the "Gentle Giant".

And that is it so I can work on getting Richard Parker Story completed by then end of the year and other.

And as always there are places for you to check out as well.
Etsy

Big Cartel 

Storenvy

And of course I still have my comics that I have worked on here at Indyplanet.  I am still currently working on getting this link fix.

HOWEVER there are these books that I still need to add to the archive for Black Box Comix. And mind you there is website
and the facebook page 

The Website also has some new stuff added for the comic books featuring Corpse Cop.

 

 

 And that's it for the kid for now and I am outta of here.

posted from Bloggeroid

 

Big THINGS on the horizon

Well hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

Boo, sorry to see you go man.

Since the show, SCRATCHING THE SURFACE for the Slingshot Lounge is now done and officially I have no art shows to plan for really maybe except 2 that are a ways away one dealing with the Brothers Grimm and the always BIG 500 at the end of the year.

The Brother's Grimm art show (a.k.a. Grimm's Fairy Tales) here in PDX will be a different kinda group show for the kid. In years past I've had a tendency to only deal with one group of art organizers and though there is nothing wrong with them, it occurred to me that it might be time to look at dealing with other people. From what has been told to me this would be a great way for me to be seen in other venues showing that I can work on more than just Richard Parker or Robot Monster. 
I know I'm a great illustrator its just other people don't know it yet!

Seven Ravens

But what to fill in the gaps in between?

COMMISSIONS!
 
Big things are on the horizon and that means big art work. I actually mean physically BIG like 18" x24"! And a triptych to boot!

The crazy thing is that it won't be a Richard Parker piece. However Richard Parker had started it.
Let me give you some background information on this rise to fame.
Picture if you will a middle aged artist sitting a bar hunched on his stool with a beer nearby. In hands under a hanging dimmed halogen light trying to etch a illustration for a group show. 
During my show and previous at the Sling as I had mentioned that I had sold a Richard Parker piece about 3 years ago and had sold a current piece to the same buyer, This is great to have a returning buyer as well. 

So after the purchase piece was bought they hit me up for a commission piece - a large triptych and a spaced themed one too! 

Very cool!  

So I have making a game plan to make. The most interesting thing about working on this triptych is that it is broken into a comic book form. That tells a small story.
Each18" x24" piece of board is separated into two distinct images when linked to each other tells a story. 

Spaceship designs for my triptych commission. 

I had been going through a ton of old video Sic-fi shows to look at similar space vehicles to NASA desings being used currently. Space:1999 was the big winner in this department. Kudos to Gerry Anderson and 21 Centry

igns 

AND NOW FINALLY THE COMICS!
As time would have it I have mangaed to get the problem resolved for the comic books with the online publisher KaBlam Publishsing.  
Please checkout the comix here from Black Box Comix and Black Box Visual Arts. There will be two more enteries soon. 
 
I was reminded by Facebook that Corrax

has been up for sometime but hasn't been printed up national distribution like all the rest of the Johnny Vega and Corpse Cop books. 
Speaking of Corpse Cop currently the third book is being held up because after taking some time to look at it and read it I realized that there were some parts of the story that need to be over hauled to make it easier to read. This means that a few more pages and panels need to be added to make the transition from page to page should be smoother and give the reader a lot more to look at for the cost of the book. 

And I think that is about it for the kid.

New Year, New Show.

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest news:

As of this posting the "SCRATCHING the SURFACE" art show will be underway. I'm kinda a little scared really because I feel that I'm not hitting this show with everything I could to make it successful (tee shirts, books, prints) because there is no easy way to control and sell that work. 
But over the last year which was only a couple of days ago btw, things have continued to surprise me about how well my work is received. I have so many great friends supporting me I'm always amazed.
I guess really I shouldn't be surprised by this but a lot of my shows have been in non kid friendly spots. Of course I would love to have my friends with children be able to attend but its adult that I'm glad to see not necessarily their child. 
Sorry guys just being honest about that and being a bit selfish because the show is really about me and my art.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1198445836849369/
One of the drawbacks for the show were out fitting a framed mat with a new great image of Sasquatch. "Down by the Creek" is a great piece and resonates with people here in the Northwest.  
 And I had a pre cut mat and frame that I had. I was thinking that I could pull the older image out AND replace it with Bigfoot.
But in the process in pulling the mat out of the frame I broke the pane of glass doing it. I was a little bummed by the this but the biggest thing is Richard Parker will be in attendance to represent. So I think that there is a potential BIG FOOT series in the works.

"Major Tom" is still holding out for someone to love. 
After looking at some other scratchboard illustrators on Etsy I found that a lot of them are copying directly from photos and then doing the transfer to scratchboard. The issue that I have with this is they all are seemly to "cutesey" for their own good. 

It 's almost like they are saying to the general public "Look at me, aren't I cute."  And these illustrators get into big shows whereas Major Tom says "Look at me, I'm on fuckin' fire!"
 
Forgive me, I digress.

https://www.facebook.com/help/396404120401278/list
This guy is gone! "Walking with Richard Parker" is now going to a new home with Eric Iverson. 

This will be the second piece that he and his wife have purchased from me over the last couple of years.  There were pretty cool about about this and I am so glad that they bought it. Not because of the monetary value of the work but because they have another Richard Parker piece from my One Man Show from late 2013. 

The work has improved a lot since I started down this path back then. They have watched the progression from watching me sit bar at the Slingshot working on the small 8"x8" images for the BIG 100 and onward over a beer or 2.

They had told me that they appreciated the diligence and hard work I was putting into my work.  

There will be also non Richard Parker pieces as well but work has changed a lot and I think it might be time to look at doing larger detailed pieces to make a visual impact on people. 

OTHER NEWS:
As I have been working on ways to figure out how and especially where to show my work I was told that I should look for artists with a sim a similar style and follow their trends.
I hadn't really thought about that because I was so focused on getting my artwork out there for people to see. 
I realized that I had done something like this before years ago when I was living in Eugene.

At the time I was working with my friend Chad trying to secure a art grant from the City of Eugene to help cover the printing cost of our meager comic book.
After spending some time going through applicants you were successful in their pitch I pulled the best ideas from each of them and wrote out my submission. And sure enough we got the grant.
Flash forward to today of actually finding a website that deals specifically scratchboard and specificly a similar . Now I'm looking at these other scratchboarders and where they have shown so I might make my own template for submitting work.

So begins the looking of other scratchboard illustrators and their websites.

With as many things going on there are s also commissions going on. I have been contracted to work on a triptych for Eric Iverson and his company Rose City Sound. On the 23rd of this month I will be meeting up with him and looking at the space where these framed pieces with be at. The theme however will be much different than Richard Parker, Deep Sea Diver.
The theme this time - Astronauts.

So with that I am looking forward to a different kind of adventurer to render. These are images are from inktober of last year. A lot of the images that I had posted from that time frame had been really well received on instagram. Now mind you these were quick down and dirty image that were completed in a days time.

So these give you an idea of what might go up for the commission that I had been asked about so we'll see what's up.

COLOR STUFF:
As you know I had stepped away from a lot of color work from the comics I had worked on but every once in a while I will sit down when there hasn't been any creative illustration going on to colorize one of the scratchboard pieces.

I had resisted the need for color in my work as I felt (and still do to this day) that if the black and white is solid it doesn't need any color. But there is that strange population that really won't look at any black and white because it is in black and white.
 But the response has been very positive to the work which surprises me. But now there are people asking about prints in color and I really was only messing around with HI res jeps to see I could do it.
It might be time to look into cranking out color prints.

MORE RICHARD PARKER:
As this year had begun I had really wanted to focus on getting a Richard Parker book put together but it has been a long way going because I had explored different avenues in which to write the story but every time I tried to write the story just got very convoluted by the end of it and the story got bogged down in it's own self deception.  So I held onto those ideas and kept them for later and just focused on the adventure at hand for Richard Parker.

His story keeps growing with two major points of interest with a undersea battle with a octopus a other battle with the mermaid. Of Course these have always been part of the over all story of Richard Parker. I can't wait to see how this all comes together. And it is coming together. 

OTHER THINGS: 

I am hoping to see how well I did at the BIG 500 from last year. This would really help me figure out how well I did with my work. It will be a gauge for me because with the way I am thinking, its a very good possibility that I might be able to start cutting back on my hours at my regular 9-5 job in order to make more art work and show.

CURRENTLY I am looking at others and their web sites to see where they are selling and for how much. This has been a very useful for me. But part of this you already know.

AND OTHER OTHER THINGS:

So after last year with we'll see how things come out.

And as always there are places for you to check out as well.
Etsy

Big Cartel 

Storenvy

And of course I still have my comics that I have worked on here at Indyplanet.  I am still currently working on getting this link fix.

HOWEVER there are these books that I still need to add to the archive for Black Box Comix. And mind you there is website
and the facebook page 

The Website also has some new stuff added for the comic books featuring Corpse Cop.

 

 

 And that's it for the kid for now and I am outta of here.

posted from Bloggeroid