Jenna part 1

Jersey Boys Movie!

I think it's neat that the Hollywood will turn the play I worked on into a feature film!

Drawing of the Day

Bad Printer

My old printer has screwed my over. Getting a new printer has delayed my work and made me unhappy. The old printer must be punished!

Inking Denys Cowan

I inked over a pencil scan of some D. Cowan pencils! It's from the third issue of the recent Captain America/Black Panther mini-series. I don't like inking on a lightbox, but I like how it turned out.

Backyard Drama

I have a mature avocado tree in my back yard and an open lot behind that where the fruit sometimes falls. The lot has been there for maybe 4 years, but the overgrown weeds were recently removed. The now open yard has revealed natures drama between tabby cat and squirrel! I can clearly see the avocado fruit on the ground untouched and I was lucky enough to be there when the neighborhood cat chased the frightened squirrel! The squirrel almost never comes down from the trees. It would be exciting to see the cat win one for once.

More Art

Some more advertising work involving lawns, neighbors and Smartphones! The holiday season is fast approaching!

Marvel Picnic

I rediscovered this T-shirt recently. I was there at the first Marvel Picnic held under a tree in Central Park. I brought roast chicken from a local deli and a lot of other people bought food! It was small with employees and local freelancers showing up. Subsequent picnics would be held at a larger place in New Jersey, with different t-shirts, but this is my favorite.

Somebody Swiped Me!

I got an Email from a fellow in Sweden. He came across a drawing I posted in my blog maybe three years ago. He wanted to use some cat drawings I did for the 'Warriors' Book way back when. I have no problem with it, the scans are really low res and he asked permission. Take a look at his siteHERE.

Sparky The Mascot!

My Fiance and I had a date night at a LA Sparks basketball game. They honored their former player Lisa Leslie at half time and the Sparks wore Pink uniforms! While watching the game, we spotted a stray dog.

Coffee in the Morning

I've had problems sleeping, so I am trying to get some work done. I hope that drinking coffee this early in the morning won't screw me up the rest of the day.

More Art

If I had more time in San Diego, I would have carried a portfolio full of artwork samples to show around. Including these pages!
I got a hold of a Deadpool story and drew the first three pages.

Brand X Loves Comics!

'Brand X' is a free paper owned by the Los Angeles Times. It reads like there were a lot of pop culture stories that may have been written for the daily paper, but didn't make it.
It's a slim weekly paper, but at least they cover the comic book beat. I have noticed 3 cover stories featuring comic subjects so far and the LA Times sponsored a Comic-Con event in San Diego this year!

Storyboard

This is a page from a recent storyboard job!

San Diego This Year!

I do not have a book to push this year, so it was not necessary for me to attend, but I had to! I wanted to see the booths and meet some friends. I drove out to San Diego this morning with a purpose: Be a part of the spectacle, say hi to some friends and try to get a hotel room for next years' convention. I achieved the first two objectives, but the room situation still sucks. One of the changes at the CON was that the big movie booths were spread out more. The Warner booth was located away from the center of the floor, but I don't think it helped very much. The crowds were still huge!

Quick sketch

I'm thinking about a story that takes place in a european village. It's strange I know, but I have started sketching! This is the sketch of the day.

Shawna's Blog!

My favorite writer, Shawna James has resumed her blog with a neat new format! You will find her thoughts in addition to her films. Go there NOW!

Shooting Boards

I posted a frame from a shooting board that I did a week ago, and I am posting more frames! This time with color done by Steve!Can you imagine the beautiful girls dancing and enticing you to buy cable TV?

Drink and Draw

This is one of the sketches I did at last nights Drink and Draw shindig. The theme was draw a new costume for Wonder Woman because every one thought that the J. Lee redesign was lame. I started this sketch but did not finish. Maybe costume design is not my strong suit.

Music Video Drawing

I drew this recently for a video shooting board. An alluring asian singer in a dark room? Why not? A friend of mine is doing the color and I look forward to seeing it!

Selling Coffee

Why do you buy Coffee? Because of the taste or how it makes you feel? Maybe both? I drew this AD recently and I feel good about it.

More Art

More recent advertising art!

World Cup

I have been waking up far too early to watch the South African World Cup. I think that I enjoy watching the games while everyone else is asleep. I try to get work done in the mornings, but this is getting to be too much. Up at 4:00 am to watch New Zealand verses Slovakia? Oh boy. Well, I have to go to sleep! Peru is playing Honduras at 4:15!

Author Fair Aftermath

The Author Fair in El Segundo went well! My Pal Steve Buccellato and I entertained and enlightened with an impromptu art demonstration in the children's section of the Library. We collaborated on a simple story about a bear drawn on a large pad, but I don't have any photos. I did take a few drawings with me.

After the demonstration, Steve left for his table upstairs and I spoke with a local film crew from El Segundo TV! You can find the footage soon on Youtube.A group of us went out for beer afterwards and the event was a fun time! Steve has a version of the day on hisblog!

Anatomy Verses Photoshop!

When I saw this AD for Camp Vegas, I could not believe my eyes. The woman's abs were altered to remove any kind of realism! I've included an example of what her stomach is supposed to look like.
My guess is the client saw the unpublished AD and said, "Why is there a bulge at her stomach? Get rid of it!". I also think that the models hair is covering a screwy arm.

Quick sketch with Quick color!

Another quick sketch panel with color. A crowd of screaming fans for a popular entertainer!

An Appearance in El Segundo!

Will you be in El Segundo this upcoming Sunday, June 6th? If you are, then I invite you to the El Segundo Author Fair, where I will one of many talented artists and writers participating! It's at The El Segundo Public Library, 111 West Mariposa Avenue, El Segundo, CA 90245.
I will share space with Steve Buccellato and we are scheduled for an art demonstration starting at 1:30. This is a family friendly event so bring your family! For the library websiteClick Here!

Hey Kids! Let's Sketch!

This is a sketch from last Thursday's Drink and Draw session! Today has been such a bear with work, I wanted to post a drawing that I did for fun.

More Layouts!

I do most of my layouts and in pen and ink. It looks better on a monitor than pencil!

Housewarming Gift!

I painted this watercolor of a dog! It was a housewarming gift for a young couple and I presented it in a black frame. I hope they keep it out of the sunlight.

Drink and Draw

I attended the weekly Drink and Draw Social Club downtown last night! I met Steve at Casey's bar and we did some sketches. There were maybe 25 people with sketchbooks sitting at a long table. I noticed some beautiful drawings but nothing too elaborate for me, it was all about being social.

Crime Story Idea

I have an idea about doing some crime stories based in Chinatown. It seems like every city has a Chinatown with narrow streets and colorful nights. I did this drawing and added some quick color.

Before, then After!

I am posting a drawing penciled by Rod Ramos around 1989 and inked by me that same year! We were both on staff in the Marvel Bullpen trying to get to the next level. Rod did a lot of pencilling while I focused on inking. Psi-Force was one of the new Universe books and there were opportunities to get some work. This was never a cover or even published, but you have to get your stuff out there. My inks are kinda soft on this piece, I was using a brush and not in command of it at that time.

They Are Watching!

The amateur car bomb attempt in New York City shocked me, as it did many others. The authorities started the investigation and went to the video tape. I knew that there were dozens of security cameras in Times Square, but I could not have known how clear the images were! They weren't fuzzy convenient store quality either! I was really impressed.
UPDATE! The NYTimes has a new article on this!Click Here!

Mister X Poster!

I am soon to move into a new phase in my life and I find myself getting rid of stuff. I discovered this poster and I had to think about it for a little bit. This is a Mister X poster from 1983. I was a big fan of the book back then, when I was in High School. I put this on my bedroom wall and kept it ever since.
I won't toss it out, but it makes me nostalgic for my youth.
By the way, the book was very good for the first 2 issues, then it started sucking.

Laker Playoff Game!

A friend had 3 extra Laker Playoff tickets and I got a ticket! These seats were supreme and the home team won!

Check Me Out!

If you want to sell a healthy food product, don't focus on the taste, focus on the results!

Death at a Funeral Premiere

I spent most of yesterday at the 'Death at a Funeral' premiere event! An entire day to celebrate the new comedy that will open in theaters across the nation on Wednesday! I am close with one of the producers so it was a fun time looking at famous people. I shook hands with Zoé Saldaña (she is really skinny) and got a picture with Danny Glover( he's taller than I thought).

Mort Drucker

I bought a hamburger at Burger King in 1990 and I admired the paper bag it came in! The awesome artist Mort Drucker drew this wraparound illustration of people enjoying BK fast food. It looks like all the characters are on the go, eating while talking on phones, working people and young people too. I'm glad I didn't throw the bag away. Thanks to Stephen Silver, check this Drucker website!

Quick sketch with Quick color!

Sometimes you get a job that has to be drawn in an hour or two. This drawing was from one of those jobs. I did not do the color and I might have made different choices.

Quick sketch with quick color!

Here is another quick sketch with a 10 minute color treatment!

Dog Stuff

This was part of the dog treat AD I did earlier this month. I keep trying to think of funny things to put on the sign the dog is holding. Nothing comes to mind.

Bubble Swing Chair

I have noticed that the Bubble swing chair is showing up in a few magazines, in both editorial and advertising, with a pretty girl swinging inside it. Is this chair the next big thing or do Art Directors just like the look of a model inside them?Three different examples and the same pose for all the ladies.

Mom and Child Art

I wanted to post some more advertising art. Let's put the baby to bed!

Jersey Boys E-Card!

I did the storyboards for the Jersey Boys Broadway show long ago. It seems like my art is still a part of the AD campaign! Click HERE to see the E-card video!

Walking the Streets of NYC

I brought my camera with me on a recent trip to New York City. In addition to spending time with friends, enjoying great meals and walking around the city with my fiance, I took some snapshots. This is the Hearst Building in a photo I took in 1985 with my old fashioned Olympus SLR and the recent photo taken in February. I took a lot of reference photos in the 1980s.
It looks like there has been a renovation in the 25 years between photos!

Dog Work

I did some work recently for a dog treat AD. I guess that dogs know what the owner is thinking! I've never been responsible for a dog so why not?

Nostalgic

I find myself looking for Soundgarden beanies and listening to the old songs. What am I feeling?

A Beer AD!

This is a recent job! I really like the color they added. Looks really rich and vibrant!

More Art

This is some layout art that I am working on! The pencils soon to follow!

Painter Sketch

I am posting my first sketch attempt in Corel Painter. I have to work on my brush strokes and this attempt looks clumsy. I guess I should keep trying.

Question Issue 37

I'm posting a page from a recent issue of The Question! Issue 37, page 11. Pencilled by Denys Cowan and inked by Bill Sienkiewicz. The pencils are so dynamic and Bill brings a powerful inking style. Take a look at the before and after inks! I am told that this issue has sold out, and with good reason. It's a great issue!

To the Moon

This is a drawing I did recently of an astronaut and a satellite. I did not do the color and I noticed that the colorist made the mirrors black, reflecting outer space. A lighter color might have been better.

San Diego Photo!

This is photo that was posted on facebook! It is yours truly at the Active images booth in 2006 with Tim Sale and JG Roshell. It was a good time and I was able to promote the Graphic Novel I did with Active Images; 'Gunpowder girl and The Outlaw Squaw!'

Photoshop Disasters

I would like to mention a great new website! It's called Photoshop Disasters and it spotlights really screwed up advertisements and products with screwed up Photoshop adjustments. Bad design, mistakes and distorted anatomy can be found HERE!

More from Brooklyn!

We stopped at Grand Army Plaza to pay our respects.

Brooklyn Museum Visit!

My Girlfriend and I took a trip to Brooklyn last week! We took the 3 train to Grand Army Plaza and walked a couple of blocks past the Library to the Museum. They have an excellent Egyptian exhibit and I brought my sketch pad!

These are all two-minute sketches that I did at different places in the museum. I think they look a little too sketchy.

Empire Hotel NYC

We did a lot of walking during our trip to NYC. It was good to take a rest at the Hotel lobby!

My Trip to NYC

I have returned from a week long stay in NYC!
I went with my GF and stayed with some friends in New Jersey. Just a happy Vacation and to hang out. I did however make a video or two and some quick sketches. More to come!

Ink Sketches

I did some B+W layout sketches for a job recently. It featured a girl talking to another and it involved girly type expressions. I think I got the emotions across, but the art director changed the camera angle on me. Oh well. I put some color onto the first drawing just because.