Pages for CTS

"STIKE THE POSE" 11"X14" scratchboard
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

Hey there sports fans Al here with the latest: 

CORRAX NEWS: 

CTS #1, page 7

As of this posting I should have page 7 completed.  Colors and everything.  So the release of CTS #1 should be on target for Rose City show this year.  At least that is the goal.

OF COURSE this book still has to be edited and proofed.  Like all good books. And to me this is one of the better books I have worked on since Pandora's Garage volumes 1-5 on "Avatar".   I will say that a lot of the time I have been complemented on my story and set up by my peers but initial story that I have written is occasionally mired down by my own dialogue and narration .   The ideas are great but sometimes the execution doesn't always match up with the concept. 

I think that this is true for a lot of really talented artists out there. They have a fantastic idea but are SO focused on the illustrative end of things that the idea of writing almost becomes tedious once the piece of art is actually done.  This is the reason when you look at a lot of independent creators and companies at shows out there that they take a really long time to work on a protect.  Its one of the reasons I haven't cranked out another Corpse Cop story in scratchboard because of the length of time it would take to make.  Its not that I don't want to but scratchboard really  takes a lot of time.

So another Corpse Cop project will be in the wings waiting for a bit.

This is the reason why CTS was designed as only 12 pages and in full color than what I had done with the Vega books. 

Quicker turn around time for you the buying audience.  If my personal time wasn't taken up by two regular 9 to 5 hour jobs, I might be able to turn out 8 12 page full color cliffhanger books for CTS. This is still a feasible deal based upon sales of CTS.

I keep my fingers crossed on this.

If I win a lottery that might happen but not real realistic since I don't play the lottery.  

SCRATCHBOARD NEWS:

4 of the 6 5"x7" Prototypes for scratchboard

6 new pieces of work are on deck for illustration.  Now based upon recommendations from both Devon Devereaux and Dan DePaolo during this years show at Emerald City ComiCon I plan on doing a few of the Universal Monsters.   The Boris Karloff Frankenstein did real well for me so I plan on expanding on that concept. But of course there are the original pieces that I will have as well.

If the indication of scratchboard in sales is any indication (based upon recent sales by my friend Rosy) the 5"x7"s are selling very, very well.

So I have to crank out these little works.  Of course I don't believe that these are gonna be coffee shop worthy but Portland is a weird place and they might do very, very well.

BBVA UPDATE 6/ 17/12

Hey there sports fans Al here with the latest: 

CORRAX THE SEEKER NEWS 

Johnny Vega #4, Page 5 2010
copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

As of this posting I am hoping to have gotten to the half way point in the digital coloring .   Now mind you I still have the editorial needs on the book but i am excited about the look of it.

,

Johnny Vega #4 cover 2010 copyright
Alan Bennett and BBVA

When I completed the fourth installment for Johnny Vega "The Rock Apes of Xandar- The conclusion"  I realized that I had reached a plateau artistically (comic book speaking.).  I had made my version of a Marvel Comic that I would have bought and collected as a kid.

But as much as I love that character I still need to move forward and CTS does that for me.

Corrax the Seeker #1, Page 4 2012 copyright

Alan Bennett and BBVA

Work doodles for potential scratchboard show pieces.

Not to say that I have written Vega off just put him on the back burner.  He still appears in flashbacks for Corrax and good rich background history to literally draw from.

The scratchboard work that I am looking at for the next couple shows should be pretty cool.  If work continues the way it has been for the last couple weeks I should have 25 pieces in all.  That's not including the original 11"x14" work that I have gotten into working on either.

"GODZILLA" Toby Person Collection 2012

COMMISSIONS:

GODZILLA IS DONE!  Yes, the King of the Monster is finally done.  With so many things going on in personal life and other the work is done and now onto framing and delivery.

The end of this year should be pretty interesting.

Creative Process

Hey there sports fans Al here with the latest: 

You remember how I was saying that the production of work was going to slow down and the focus on presentation was the new thing to get into?

Well I lied.

Remember how I was also talking about the addiction to creating?  I guess I succumbed to the creative process like most artists I know. 

"STRIKE THE POSE" and a quick sketch from work.
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

"HUNTING PARTY 2" 11"x14" scratchboard
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

Uhnk 5"x7" clayboard

"DAWN OF MAN"  5"x7" scratchboard
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

My reason why is the need to have at least 20 different pieces of scratchboard ready for the Rose City ComiCon this year and Jet City Comic Show in Seattle.

Theses of course are the 5"x7" s that I take with me every year and every show.

So thats where I stand right now with the artwork.  

OF COURSE this doesn't stop the creative process at all.  The latest piece of work was writing a story called "Superior Erectus".  

For me this kinda of story is a real messed up one and one origin of mankind with a twist of Poe and other such as Nigel Kneale.  All in glorious scratchboard as well.  

This would be sold in brown paper bag addition like NEOtrash Comix "P.F.B."  If you haven't seen or read that book you have no idea what to expect then.

But now it's onto the coloring of CTS #1 .

BBVA Update for 5/3/12

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:
Now work continues on CTS #1 with the coloring and CTS #2 with transfer for finished pencils.
With all that you wonder is there anytime for anything else?

Well to answer that question is yes.
Always.
In the last week I have managed to transfer two images to a larger version of scratchboard (11"x14" to be exact) of last weeks smaller version of "Hunting Party 2" and the edition of War Ram "Decimation" 

"DECIMATION" 11"X14" Scratchboard
copyright 2012 Alan Bennett and BBVA

These I believe will be the last of the large scale scratchboards after a fairly interesting conversation I had with another professional artist and the realization that I said what I needed to hear. 
Limit production.
Now mind you I said production not creativity.  That will always be going on no matter whether or not you want to stop it.  To paraphrase the interaction i had with a professional painter at an art store I work at I said "as an artist its part of your job to know how to present your work.  This means learning  the art of selling yourself.".  Its not an easy task to pick up.  Most creators (regardless of how enthusiastic they are of their projects) never want to take the time sell.
EITHER its because of:

1). fear of success because now they have to produce work of the same quality on a regular basis.

2).  The artist in question is too humble in their opinion of their work and constantly undercut themselves in pricing of the work.

3). Feel as if they stop creating work it will never come back.

4). They are addicted to the creative process like a sex addict and can't stop themselves.

5). All of the above- to one degree or another.

I have in my time personally known artists that are much more talented than I but they constantly find ways of  sabotaging themselves by constantly correcting flaws in their work.  And they are no closer to getting the work out there because of this.
Truth is it will never be perfect.  You could work on a piece till the cows come home and it still wouldn't be done.
That is a crying shame.

So learning the process making cold calls to galleries around the area, the introduction of yourself, learning what their specs are and how and who to get a hold of.

But knowing it and doing it are two different things- I know.

The other thing that I wanted to talk about goes to presentation and the idea of scarcity.
One friend of mine says that scarcity of a image is the key to success.  I understand that idea but I don't agree with it. 
Artists seem not to really want to embrace the new technology that exists here in the 21 century.  Its a foreign language to most and they hope that someone will come along to help them.
Ain't gonna happen.
So to take matters into my own hands were the following I to came up with to promote the scratchboard:

1). Have a show of originals.  Run for a month.

2). Offer after show prints of same work but cheaper than original.

3). Offer another option of digital print a gleece for the cheapest value.

4). Digital download onto printer or desktop Kendal or Nook. 

And like print on demand on for comics everything is offered really really cheap. 

And to illustrate this concept lets say you have one original for $10,000.00
Then you offer 200 prints at $500.00 that = $ 10,000.00

OR you could offer to say
That I  have a website that is offering digital print called a giclee for $100.00.  That is potentially a million dollars or more.

So scarcity in today's ever changing collectors market is not  counted in decades or even a single year, its marked in days by hits online. 

So there you have it for BBVA. 

Last Week of May

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest: 

CTS Part 2, Page 2 Panel 4 "The Crash"
2012 Copyright Alan Bennett & BBVA

Corrax the Seeker is moving into a coloring phase right as the finished inks are now completed.  It's a good thing to as I have begun penciling the next installment for CTS #2.  So what's this all mean?

Production my friends.

  Its unfortunate that I have to think like that but this is how you make any kind of living by putting out that popular character.  It was bit more than I could chew when I thought about doing Corpse Cop as project series in scratchboard.  Just a long prep time and editing. 

Pen and ink is a bit easier to do.

BUT there is one thing I haven't really talked about, it's Corrax's back ground.  

Guilded Edges #3
1999 copyright Alan Bennett

Pictured here for the first time in 12 years Corrax's first appearance from Guilded Edges #4 circa 1998.  Corrax was originally set as a galactic  information broker.  Selling and dealing with all assorted types around the galaxy.  

The Original Outer Limits Episode "Joy Ride"
Simon Oakland as the Empyrian 1963 copyright MGM

Based upon an Old Outer Limits episode called "Second Chance AKA Joy Ride" with actor Simon Oakland playing an Empyian who needed help to avoid a huge cosmic catastrophe on his home planet Empyira and Earth AND the simple fact that I was dealing with crows around Eugene at the time attacking me.

So knowing that and their link in world mythology, I decided to name him after the animal classification for ravens.  I thought that was a pretty slick maneuver.  To quote the Original Highlander movie character Nash/MacCloud "I'm from lots of different places."

So when Johnny Vega came about for Guilded Edges I needed a sidekick to be his foil.  Corrax fit the bill but with just a little twiking.  

Now look at him what was once a shadowy figure with questionable motives now to ranger and leader.

Cool I say.

But something that my friend George said to me "Bennett, you're a monster."  I thought about this coupled with something Adam said to me you seem more of comfortible drawing and illustrating aliens and monsters than people.  He's right and so was George.  It's easier for me to draw about the fantastic creatures emanating from my brain than drawing about the real monsters that I see everyday.  People.  There's a lot of good they can do but it always gets over shadowed periodically by the cruelty that we do to eachother.  I just manifest that stuff through my drawings.

But enough introspection.  On to work.

"HUNTING PARTY 2"  5"X7" scratchboard
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

I am going to try to bring the Postit Adventures back and finish up what I started for Vega.  Anything that is mentioned in the postits is the basis for CTS.  Theres a rich history for me to mine for CTS.

And with that being said I am outta here. 

The Latest ON CTS

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest: 

CORRAX THE SEEKER NEWS:

CTS#1 Page 2, Panel 1 - still a few revisions to do
copyright 2012 Alan Bennett and BBVA

So begins the task of getting comparative price quotes from a few different printers here in town and elsewhere in the states.  As CTS #1 enters it 's last part of the the creative phase of inking and starting of scanning and coloring, I have to start thinking about the whole package deal of CTS.

  There are no worries about writting the character or illustrating him either it's the final product that I have to relearn.  It seems to me that when a new book comes to completion the specs of printing suddenly changes.  In particular in the case of online sales.  A year ago I was only aware of one company that was offering digital downloads for comics but now online nearly everyone is doing it.  I know that I usually have my head down glued to the bristol creating universes and the like but damn I'm gonna have to spend an entire day setting up online shops to get the work out there.  It 's unfortunate that our society isn't about the collecting scarcity anymore it's about what I can rip from the internet.  

  Gotta change with the times.  So with that being said I hope to have CTS offered online in several e stores by the end of the year.  So look to Nook and Kindel as well as myEbook and comicsdrivethru.  I will probably be bending my friend Adam's ear at Darkslinger since he has his fingers locked into that much more than I.   This may also include a kickstarter account as well.  We'll see where this goes.

"PERCHED"  A ball point sketch
copyright 2012 Alan Bennett and BBVA

"YA WANT SOME?  Hi Res Scan of Corrax
copyright 2012 Alan Bennett and BBVA

BUT Before anything else goes down with issue #5 of CTS I have to readapt the original story idea to favor Corrax.  Unfortunately when your main character is focal point of the book you're working on ya kinda have to focus on them.  So the equal billing for the original crossover had to be retooled not only the focus on CTS taking but also redesigning what once was Ben Perkin's Heavy Horse to Herne the Hunter.

  Herne was inspired by Heavy but with a much different origin.

And who knows , Herne could take off too for all I know.

ALSO BY THE END OF THE YEAR..

  I would like (if the world doesn't come to an end by then) to also have specs on a few galleries here in town for a solo show.  I think one of the things that has been hurting me financially is shear visibly of my art by itself.  The work has gathered a lot of looks over the year. In Seattle at E.C.C.C. the scratchboard was getting a lot of looks but compared to the digital color books it was being passed over.  Like the novelty of a black and white amongst color, very old school in the presentation. This is what I  noticed at the last couple of shows.  But if there wasn't anything else to pull your eye away from the work you might see something new.

  Something cool.

WAR RAM NEWS: 

  Now with work on CTS taking place it won't be long before the origin of the War Ram is revealed.  And the thing is if and when Jason Z. completes his story it might be in the same vein as Corpse Cop- scratchboard style!  How cool would that be?

So there you have it.

The Latest from CTS

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:


FIRSTLY I WANTA SAY IS THIS: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!  
So on behaf of all kids and adult children out there thank you for putting up with all our craziness and silly things over the years.  In a lot of cases we know we are not perfect in our hearts but we love you just the same and the fact that you love us and make us feel like we are perfect in your eyes.  And though I know that that there is some cases where bad blood runs between some children and their parents still say thank you for the gift of life because without them I wouldn't know you as good friends that you are right now.  mothers - thank you ever so much!


AND NOW RETURNING TO OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED PROGRAMING:

"Seething..."  5"X 7" Scratchboard
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

WAR RAM!


War Ram the unstoppable engine of cosmic destruction is coming to a planet near you and it ain't gonna be pretty!  His first introduction was in print in the MONO crossover "Weird Atomic Tales" but his actual creation started over two years ago when the possibility of yet another crossover was in the works for Black Box Comix with Corrax. 
  This time I would be working with Ben Perkin's HEAVY HORSE.  Though that cross over didn't take the idea and story were not gonna get scrapped- I like the idea of a character that has really one purpose and one only destruction!  It appeals to the kid in me!
  It also appeals to my friend Jason Pott who is currently penning a script with this character in mind and your truly doing the art.  He will be making a appearance in Corrax the Seeker.  
  Be watching for more as time goes on.

Corrax The Seeker LOGO
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

CORRAX: The SEEKER!


What's not to love about this guy?  Other than he might have a phobia about scarecrows but I think after the first four issues he might say anything with tentacles.  And like a old Star Trek episode "Space Seed" -"I wonder what will grow from what you planted here."

CTS #1 Page 1
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and
BBVA

    Hopefully something that people like and yet different enough from the typical fanfare that so many space heroes.   Even when I realized that Vega needed something more than just being human to push the reader to keep going with the fantasy but that began to feel like a patch to keep a struggling character going.
  So instead of fighting that loosing battle I went back to the artistic creative cabinet and began to write and draw about the sidekick.  As I had said previously  he had already predated Vega by a couple issues in Guilded Edges and seemed to have a following which to me seemed to be how Spock seemed to grow into a popular character of the series.  Personally I'm a Kirk fan but that's me.
  But the one thing that a screen writer friend of mine from Eugene told me - don't throw away anything you can always recycle ideas.  Taking that to heart that is what I am doing now with the old Vega stories and plots but told from Corrax's pov.
  It also gives me a springboard to use to explore some other previous ideas to breath life into.  Humor being one of the ideas as well as throwing some ideas into comics world concerning genetic mental  abilities.
And of course that old thing.... adventure and action!
  So as it stands CTS has a bit of life to it -fun.  
  I hope I can deliver the goods like the "One Man Juggernaut" I know I am. 

And I think that is about it for the kid.