Attack at Don!

Jenna part 79

2012-02-01T06:30:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 78

2012-01-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 77

2012-01-25T18:30:00.000-08:00

Storytelling Shorthand

2012-01-24T15:25:00.000-08:00

Let's say you are trying to sell a kitchen appliance or something like that and you want to show that it's safe or family-friendly?
Add a little girl in the kitchen, preferably a girl with pig tails. Who are we selling to? Moms?
Ovens and mixers can be so mundane, why not add a warm family aspect to it.

Jenna part 76

2012-01-19T08:23:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 75

2012-01-18T05:01:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 74

2012-01-17T05:10:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 73

2012-01-15T05:27:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 72

2012-01-14T17:02:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 71

2012-01-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 70

2012-01-12T05:08:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 69

2012-01-11T19:33:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 68

2012-01-11T04:26:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 67

2012-01-09T07:12:00.001-08:00

London Rundown!

2012-01-07T01:37:00.000-08:00

So here is a quick recap of my first trip to London, England.
After a ten hour trip, wife and I were picked up at the airport by a friend. We walked around the city a lot and used the public transportation. I was impressed! The tube seems really well run! Visited the National Gallery to look at the Roman ruins, and The British Museum to see the Di Vinci paintings. Di Vinci was sold out of tickets, but the impressionist art they have more than made up for it!

We saw the changing of the guard at buckingham palace (with an orchestra soundtrack blared on a loudspeaker). Walked through Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Carnaby Street, Regent Street, saw Big Ben the Tower of London and stopped into maybe a half dozen Pubs. And It rained some more.
We took a train to Bath to see The Roman Baths and walked around The Bath Abbey next door to it. I recommend it to everyone! To our surprise, it rained that day, all day. We spent New Years Eve with friends at their London flat. Dick Clark was not on TV.

Took a five hour train to York to see the Roman ruins there. My wife and I were delayed by winds knocking down the signals or some such thing. We ate at the 'Most Haunted Pub' in York, The Golden Fleece (Okay food, much better atmosphere) and walked thru the ancient streets to the York Museum. That could have been better. And yes, it rained on the trip back to London.

We did more walking and more tube riding and visiting with friends. On our last day we had a drink at the Icebar London! A bar carved out of solid ice, serving vodka cocktails. Don't ask for water because it would only freeze. It was a great trip, but now it's back to the US where we are met by 85 degree, sunny weather. And I was just getting used to the rain.

Back From England

2012-01-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

I have not posted any new work because I have been on holiday in London! It rained everyday that I was there and it was really windy as well. I don't know how the English can stand it! Anyhoo, I will get back to blogging in this new year and thank you all for your support.

Jenna part 66

2011-12-27T14:33:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas 1987

2011-12-24T07:33:00.001-08:00

This is an old XMas card sent by Marvel Comics in 1987. Drawn by J. Romita Sr. Have a Happy Holiday everyone.

Jenna part 65

2011-12-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 64

2011-12-23T07:29:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 63

2011-12-18T05:23:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 62

2011-12-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

Advertising Art

2011-12-13T02:03:00.000-08:00

This is an old frame from an advertising board I did long ago. I can't remember what they were trying to sell, but I do remember the comment from the creative director; "It looks like there's some kind of attack going on!"
I guess he couldn't realize it from his own thumbnail.

Jenna part 61

2011-12-09T16:59:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 60

2011-12-09T16:58:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 59

2011-12-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 58

2011-12-04T03:19:00.001-08:00

Jersey Boys In Sydney!

2011-12-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

My friend Marie is currently travelling around the world. She spent a few days in beautiful Sydney, Australia and came across some posters advertising the Jersey Boys Musical. The AD features some of the art I did for the show! I think it's great that the show I worked on from the very beginning has become a worldwide sensation!To check out more art and earlier blog posts about my Jersey Boys experience, check the label below!

Jenna part 57

2011-12-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

Jenna part 56

2011-12-01T11:11:00.001-08:00

Welcome to December and more Jenna of the Jungle!

Jenna part 55

2011-11-11T13:07:00.001-08:00

Jenna part 54

2011-11-10T09:36:00.000-08:00

Art by John Watkiss

2011-11-09T05:57:00.001-08:00

I think that this is some video game concept by John Watkiss! I like his strong style and these drawings look like they were done with brush and Prismacolor pencil. You can see more Watkiss art at the Lines and Colors BLOG.
To see more art done by people I admire, click the label below!

Jenna part 53

2011-11-04T09:12:00.001-07:00

West Hollywood Halloween!

2011-11-01T05:16:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to see the sights at the West Hollywood halloween Carnival. That's what they are calling it anyway. I love the effort that people put into their outfits, but I look for the superhero suits. I saw a great looking Hawkman costume and I really dig this Sunfire suit. I wore my old faithful Samurai outfit. Maybe I should step up my game for next year.

Jenna part 52

2011-10-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

Reality Renovation

2011-10-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

I live in an area with a lot of homes going through renovation. Recently, there was a camera crew across the street from my home and a work crew fixing up a neighbors back yard for a TV show. You probably know the type of program. A celebrity handyman renovates your garage or backyard and a camera crew tapes it for a cable show!

Jenna part 51

2011-10-26T05:58:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 50

2011-10-25T09:07:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 49

2011-10-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

How's The Coffee?

2011-10-17T03:17:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 48

2011-10-17T02:00:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 47

2011-10-15T02:50:00.000-07:00

jenna part 46

2011-10-12T04:00:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 45

2011-10-11T05:32:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 44

2011-10-10T05:45:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 43

2011-10-09T14:51:00.001-07:00

Attack At Don's Greatest Hits!

2011-09-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

It occurred to me that many of the groovy people following this Blog have joined up over the past year or so. Since I have been writing it since 2005, I think maybe some background is needed!
If you were to look thru the archives, you'd see a lot of my art. I'm a professional artist with experience in Advertising, Comic Books, Illustration, and Animation. I'd like to think that my best work is ahead of me and I always work on getting better. I write this blog as a creative outlet and I think you would enjoy the stuff I've posted in last few years. I'm adding some links so you can take a look.

I had a question about a page of art drawn by Kevin Nowlan. I posted the page, and asked him about. Look at the page and read his response Here!

One day, at my old apartment, a neighbor went bananas and had to be taken away. I got my camera and tookVideo of it.

I did some storyboards for a Boost Mobile commercial and they followed my direction pretty closely! Take a look!

I love Conan and I love original art! It's a pleasure to own the best Conan cover EVER! See for yourself!

I was lucky to apprentice under John Romita Sr. I was not the only one and John made a list of most of them. See where I land on it!Check it!

Thanks again for following my Blog! I enjoy blogging!

Jenna part 42

2011-09-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 41

2011-09-29T08:07:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 40

2011-09-27T02:03:00.000-07:00

Fun With Storyboards!

2011-09-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

I will take a little break from my 'Jenna' serial to share some recent storyboard work. Sometimes paying work gets in the way of the blogging.

Jenna part 39

2011-09-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 38

2011-09-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 37

2011-09-15T20:01:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 36

2011-09-13T05:15:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 35

2011-09-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 34

2011-09-10T20:46:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 33

2011-09-08T04:22:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 32

2011-09-06T07:19:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 31

2011-09-05T06:23:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 30

2011-09-04T15:23:00.001-07:00

More Recent Artwork!

2011-08-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

This is another illustration for Marvel Superheroes Magazine. I'm only showing one figure, The Human Torch, in the pencil, ink and color stages. The colorist is Steve Buccellato! I'm usually looser when I Ink myself, but there were so many people who have to sign off on the work, I had to pencil everything tight!

Gonna share some recent work!

2011-08-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

This is a double page spread from Marvel Superheroes magazine. Published by Disney Worldwide Publishing! I think the idea was to show different Marvel characters in their natural setting and give some info about them. The mag can be found overseas only and it's translated into many different languages. The color and the effects were done by Steve Buccellato!

How do you say Sanctum Sanctorium in German?

Breaking News!

2011-08-02T15:03:00.001-07:00

My wife and I were approached for an opinion! If you want to see the video,CLICK HERE

It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas!

2011-08-01T05:39:00.001-07:00

One thing about advertising is that companies plan ahead! If you want a commercial on in November or December, then get your ideas together in August. This is some AD art that I drew recently. Someone else did the color and it looks great.

Action Comics #903

2011-07-30T03:58:00.000-07:00

I recently inked a variant cover to Action Comics issue 903. It was penciled by Denys Cowan and colored by Paul Mounts.

Jenna part 29

2011-07-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

Comic Con Dancers

2011-07-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

This was taken at this years convention in San Diego!

My Impressions From Comic-Con

2011-07-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

San Diego has sold itself to the convention. The hotels have already been bought out by the convention. Now, individual businesses are putting corporate logos over their names. Nearby parking lots are turning away cars and instead sell the space to media companies. Take a look at the photo below to see South Park experience in a lot across the street from the convention center.
Inside the convention, the crowds were managed well! There seems to be a practice where you wait in line for a ticket in the morning, which would allow you to wait in another line later that afternoon. That was my experience at the 'Pan-Am' booth.
They had some excellent swag that I had to get my mitts on!The best place to visit was the AMC 'Walking Dead' booth! You could pose on a rooftop set with the guy who cut his hand off. You would be put in cuffs and pretend to saw you own hand off! That was awesome!The crowds were manageable until Saturday and I took off early Sunday. I did a lot of walking but had a good time enjoying the city. There was a time a while ago where the Mayor of San Diego put down the convention and the fans that attended it. Not anymore! It looks like the city has not only sold out to the big convention and it's sponsors, it's bought in as well.

Scalped page

2011-07-20T08:36:00.001-07:00

I am posting a page that I've inked recently, pencilled by Denys Cowan. The page is from Scalped #50 by Vertigo. I adjusted the image by removing the middle finger from the raised hand.

Photos of Sydney!

2011-07-19T05:36:00.001-07:00

I have recently returned from a wonderful honeymoon in Australia! It's winter there now, but there was no snow on the ground. My wife and I walked all over Sydney and I carried my camera with me. Here are some snapshots (and maybe some reference photos) for everyone.

My Storm Trooper Comic-Con Video!

2011-07-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

For those who enjoy convention videos, check out my video from 2007 at San Diego!
Click Here!

More Attack!

2011-07-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have not posted anything for a few weeks because of personal stuff and I think it's high time to get back to it! As you may know, the annual trip to San Diego is ahead and I always have something to write about.

Jenna part 28

2011-07-15T23:01:00.001-07:00

Strange Adventures Page!

2011-06-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

I inked a page of art penciled by Denys Cowan a few months ago, just as a sample page. I got a copy of the pencils and light boxed them. It was part of a story featured in 'Strange Adventures' issue 1 and John Lloyd inked the printed version. The book is on the stands now and I'm able to compare my work with Lloyds'.

You Know It's Noir If...

2011-06-06T03:43:00.000-07:00

This is another example of storytelling shorthand, and this clipping has been very useful! If you were going to write a crime story, I bet you would include a bunch of the elements in this article:
A guy drinks whisky (straight) in the day. That's great for establishing your world-weary character! A woman smokes, drinks and sings, all at the same time. Now you know who the femme fatale is! A body lies face down in a pool of blood. What's a crime story without the crime? Got it? Now start writing!

Jenna part 27

2011-06-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 26

2011-06-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 25

2011-05-10T04:14:00.001-07:00

Storyboard Stuff

2011-05-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

I am posting some recent storyboard art!

Jenna part 24

2011-05-04T07:28:00.001-07:00

Madison Square Park

2011-05-01T07:23:00.001-07:00

I would always pass through this park on my way from the Subway to the old Marvel offices. The top snapshot is from around '94 or so and the bottom is from early 2010.

I Won!

2011-04-28T06:28:00.001-07:00

I got this scratch off ticket from a close friend as a gift and I won 10 bucks!

Jenna part 23

2011-04-26T10:35:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 22

2011-04-22T04:08:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 21

2011-04-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 20

2011-04-19T06:49:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 19

2011-04-18T06:59:00.001-07:00

Jenna part 18

2011-04-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

Storytelling Shorthand

2011-04-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

James McAvoy is a great young actor! I first saw him in the first Narnia movie and he's been doing a lot since then. I've noticed a little something about the roles he's been playing recently. He's seems to play the attractive and intelligent nerd type and he does so with or without a love interest. I've seen two examples where he shows his smarts and likability, posted below. He plays a game of chess with someone.

The first image is from a movie released 5 or so years ago called 'Penelope', and the second is from the new X-men film, due out this summer.
Coincidence? Maybe. Who knows if the directors or the screenwriters were thinking alike about McAvoy or if this is kind of shorthand used for all kinds of actors. I will keep my eyes open!

Jim Shooter has a Blog

2011-04-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

I am proud to be the 200th follower of the Jim Shooter BLOG!I knew Jim briefly at Marvel when I was a Romita Raider and I got to know him a bit better when I worked on staff at Valiant. It's been great reading about his life at DC in the 60s and how he became EIC at Marvel. The comic book business is running out of old school pros, so I'm happy to read what Jim is writing.

Jenna part 17

2011-04-12T05:44:00.000-07:00

Photo of the day

2011-04-11T09:03:00.001-07:00

I attended a wedding this weekend and I had a wonderful time! The happy couple exchanged rings at this bright, warm country club/ golf course.

Jenna part 16

2011-04-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

Jenna part 15

2011-04-04T03:54:00.001-07:00

Wedding on a Ship!

2011-04-02T03:06:00.000-07:00

I have never spent any time on a modern cruise ship! I did go to a party on the old, haunted Queen Mary, but this was a different experience. My fiance and I attended a wedding on a cruise liner yesterday and It was a lot of fun. Here's what stuck with me. The brides dress was beautiful, the ceremony and reception was short and to the point because all the guests who did not pay for the actual cruise had to get off the ship. And most importantly, there was tons of food! I wish the happy couple all the luck in he world.

Jenna part 14

2011-03-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

Western Evening

2011-03-27T08:20:00.001-07:00

Another attempt at color! My schedule has recently opened up, so I am back to drawing my own book.

Jenna part 13

2011-03-25T09:23:00.001-07:00