Another Re-Draw

Hey there friends! As you may know, I am drawing the sequel to my Western book. I try my best on every panel, but sometimes I drop the ball. This is a panel that I realize that a mistake has been made.

Apple computer AD

I found this old ad for an Apple Computer! It was advertised at the end of 1979 and it looks like an electric typewriter with a little monitor. I didn't own a computer until 1998 so I don't know how about the ancient days of the Apple Computer. Could you get internet access back then? What games could you play? Could it really help with everyday tasks? Is there anyone who could tell me?

Work in progress

I am working on my new western book and I thought I would show some art. It's going well, but I'm never satisfied with my work. I've done a quick critique of one of my panels.

Back Issue Magazine

A few months ago I sent a few art scans to the Editor of Back Issue Magazine. They were Garcia-Lopez photocopies of art I own. I had almost forgotten about them until the latest copy of Back Issue arrived. I was happy to contribute and I got a groovy mention on page 13! The magazine has an interview with Garcia-Lopez, Mike Ploog and Don Perlin.

Mike Ploog brings up an interesting point in his interview. Back when he did Werewolf by Night for Marvel, an artist had to be fast in order to get the job. You needed to draw maybe 21 pages of art with maybe 6 panels a page in a week and a half! I remember that the guy who screwed up a deadline would get a really bad rep. It was only after all of the deadline disasters of the Image books in the early 90s that the priorities changed.

I happen to like the way things are now. A creator can publish one book a year or a short series without worrying that fans will forget. I should mention that I am working on a sequel to my western book, Gunpowder Girl and The Outlaw Squaw, and I am taking my own sweet time.

Fun with Markers!

I think I bought my first marker in high school. I went to The HS of Art and Design in Manhattan and they came in a variety of colors! The quality of those old markers pales in comparison to the Copic markers of today. Now, they come with supple brush nibs and they blend together easily. If I do a convention sketch, I'll try to use my grey tone markers. Take a look.

Coming soon to San Diego!

Thank goodness someone is addressing the hotel shortage in San Diego. This is a computer illustration of the new Hard Rock hotel planned for the Gaslamp District! If I know my Gaslamp geography, it's replacing the old spaghetti factory restaurant and an old Mexican cantina. It's great that it's being built! I look forward to all the comicbook fans in Wolverine costumes in the lobby.

Fun with a brush!

That metal bra is a real crowd-pleaser. I am a big fan of the Marvel editions of Red Sonja and I miss the old school covers. I know that Dynamite comics put out a cool book, I just wish that they would get a little more campy! More Evil wizards! More freaky monsters!

old photo

Hey! Here is the old photo again. You can blame my sad photoshop skills for the last one!

New York Con

I read the various comicbook Blogs like so many of you out there and I have enjoyed the reports on the NYC convention at The Jacob Javits Center. My biggest question is where did all those people come from? A sold out convention? Refunds to those who could not enter? This was a show that was in a New York winter and competing with a more established Florida Con. I love NYC, but who can afford a hotel room?

My guess is that if you invite big names the fans will show up. Joe Quesada, Jim Lee, The DC Editorial staff and a lot of East Coast professionals chose the closer convention. I took a look at who had space at the Artists alley section and it was impressive for a first-time show. I hope next years show will have the kinks ironed out!

Convention Photo

This is a snapshot from The Mid-Ohio Con! Thanksgiving of Last year. It was such a good show with cool people. This shot was taken by a reporter for CBG and it's taken a while for him to forward this photo. I hope to go back to Ohio this year!

Hey Kids! Let's draw!

I am drawing a sequel to my Western book! So, I have been having fun with costumes and characters lately. Working with markers are a lot like watercolors. A lot of layers to create the form.

Fun with hotels

Good news! I found a hotel in San Diego! I have been hearing so much about problems with accommodations for this bloated event, It's a shame. There is a piece on 'The Beat" website that lists the number of hotels and amount of rooms. Can you believe that there is about 7000 rooms in downtown for an event that draws 100,000 people? I know that there are places to stay a few miles away from the action, like old town San Diego or La Jolla to the north. I bet those places are charging an arm and a leg.

A postcard!

I returned from work to find a postcard from Kuwait in my mailbox from Marie Javins! I enjoy postcards from my friends as they set foot on new lands. I ask for postcards and I send cards as well. Marie always travels the farthest and sends me the most interesting cards! This card is from Kuwait City and I have gotten mail from Uganda, Cambodia and Namibia. Thank you Marie.

San Diego Hotels

So what is going on!?! I tried making a reservation for the San Diego Con this morning and I had to keep redialing for 15Minutes to get someone to pick up! When I got a salesperson I found out that The Omni and The Gaslamp Hilton was sold out. Already! What happened to my con? The big money has screwed me out of a hotel room and I can't stand it.

Halloween Party

Who is that guy in the Joker costume? What is going on? This is a polaroid from a Marvel Comics Halloween party!. I think it might have been around 1993. I don't know what goes on in the Marvel bullpen these days, but back then you didn't need much of an excuse to throw a party. I was a freelance inker in New York at that time and this photo has some great memories attached to it!

I was dressed head to toe as the Joker and I was entered in the costume contest. There were other contests, like the Candy Corn, Mouth stuffing contest shown here. The contestant who could stuff his mouth with candy corn without barfing would win!
I had the biggest mouth so I won. Assisting me in my victory was my friend Laurie. It was all great fun. I wonder...Is the Marvel Bullpen this much fun today?

An all-new Review!

Gunpowder Girl and The Outlaw Squaw was given a good review recently! Bill Baker from bookslut.com had some excellent things to say about my Graphic Novel and I think that's cool. I hope that all of you will visit this link and read it! There may be a test.

www.bookslut.com/gutterslut/2006_02_007796.php

Betting on the Big Game

Every once in awhile I make a sports bet with my friend Dave. He follows Football and Basketball and he's on a few fantasy Leagues as well. He seems to follow all the NFL teams and he knows all the important players. I don't follow the teams as closely as I could, but I know enough to make the occasional bet!

So the Super Bowl was yesterday and as I'm sitting at the drawing table I get a call from Dave. He wants to bet the game and we make a $50.00 wager. This gets me invested in the big game! So guess what... I bet the Seahawks and I lose. Darn it! It's not such a big deal to lose, but the penalties and screwy calls against my team really pissed me off! Oh well.

Groundhog Day

I went the entire day without knowing that it was Groundhog Day! What a non-event!

East Coast friends!

I have just returned from a successful trip from New York City. I should tell you that the weather there is just like in Los Angeles and I was a little disappointed. I brought my heavy coat for nothing, but did see a few short skirts! A highlight of the trip was dinner at a most excellent barbecue restaurant in Brooklyn. Learn more at http://www.BrooklynbarBQ.com

There was a group of us having dinner there for the first time and the food was delicious!

The guy is familiar...

I came across this photo at WireImage and I could hardly believe what I saw there! This is Comic Book Writer and Novelist Chris Claremont at The 71st annual New York Film Critics Circle Awards. Is he a member of The Circle? Does he have a film out? If anyone has any info, please let me know!