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Monday, March 28, 2011

WonderCon 2011


Maybe I’ll see you there.

Lost Wages

Light blue Col-Erase pencil and black India Ink on Bristol Board
27.94 cm  x  43.18 (11.00 inches  x  17.00 inches)

Following that manga style Tuff-Girl piece I made for MomoCon, I decide that I should create new pieces of art to commemorate every convention at which I plan to exhibit. Smart marketing or mis-guided errand?

Here Tuff-Girl and man-lizard baddie Rip Tyler are in the midst of another sparring session in front of a modified version of the famous “Las Vegas” sign. It seemed like a good idea - what with my writing partner Merrill Hagan using the city as the epicenter for Tuff-Girl adventure for the first couple of stories. However as an advertising image, it seems disconnected when I placed the WonderCon information on it, which will be in San Francisco. Oh well, that leaves it wide and clear to do something more connected next time.

If you’re following along with the development of the Tuff-Girl character, you may have picked up that I keep re-designing her costume. It’s not so much re-designing her costume as much as envisioning that in her different bases of operations or places where she can crash, she has closets full of different costume pieces and accessories. Beside, as you see here, she probably has them torn up pretty frequently.

From concept to final digital color, I estimate I totaled over ten hours on this piece. Up and through the inking, I has it in my mind that the image was in day light; so some of the black shadows are incongruous with the night time coloring I ultimately gave it.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Mo and Mo

Atlanta, GA, Mar. 12 & 13, 2011 - Momocon. The two day comic convention, had a major Anime and Manga component judging by the what one could find in the dealers’ booths and the offerings along artist’s alley. Still it wasn’t exclusively so as evidenced by my table in the dealers’ room, across from a large display of tee-shirts.

I actually sold a modest number of books and often received the sincere comment, “you’re good,” which was sometimes mixed with a hint of surprise. The convention commission sketching business wasn’t so brisk, so most of what I spent my time doodling, I took home.

Here’s a sampling:
Blue She-Hulk.  This is was you get because I only bring red and blue pencils, and black pens.
Wonder Girl. The name was added in part because there was space, and in part because I felt like doing it this time when I usually don’t.
Ariel, the little mermaid.
Alice from Walt Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland.” There’s something about Alice and her adventures that appeals to girls. I don’t quite know what it may be. Curious.
Spider-Man. Time to give the Marvel characters their due. There’s something genius about Spidey’s costume design.
Dr. Doom. I don’t think I’ve drawn the ruler of Latveria since high school. And again I make due with red and blue pencils while lacking a green.
Tuff-Girl. It’s my booth, and I can drawn what I want.
Supergirl. I guess I’ve got to draw at least one Supergirl for every con I’m at.


Monday, March 7, 2011

TAGS April 20 & 21, 1994

04/20: Rain dears.

04/21:The “un” in “fun”.

April 20: Tanya (otter, 3rd appearance) hates the rain while Polly (penguin, 18) likes it, although to judge them by their species, they both should enjoy the water. Eh - it serves the story. Gerry (a.k.a. Geri, beaver) returns in only her 2nd appearance since about the first dozen strips. Because her role is main that of middle-management, she doesn’t get involved in the funner stuff.

April 21: Monster doesn’t dole out trust very easily, as Hans (fox, 4) gets all he can the joy from early release.

What happens in a theme park when it rains? A lot of people leave - the annual pass-holders and multi-day admission ticket guests - but not all of the people. So nearly all the attractions keep running and all of the stores get packed full of people where character imprinted vinyl ponchos and nylon umbrellas magically appear on shelves. Some restaurants are strategically closed to guide guest to others that have some indoor seating, makeshift as it may be.

A warm summer rain in the evening grants you short or non-existent lines, puddles on cobblestone walk ways that reflect twinkling multi-colored lights from the carrousel, and a sloshy, bathtub on wheels roller coaster ride in and out of a 147-feet tall concrete mountain. Squich, squich, squich your toes wriggle inside your squeekers.