A finished submission piece finally...inspired by a really cool comic creator

After discovering and reviewing www.tabloia.com I realized that I had found my favorite online source for great comic material. Chris Wisnia, artist and creator of such characters as Dick Hammer and Doris Danger, has this great style that just blows me away. The great imagery in his work and the fantastic characters makes reading his stuff a blast!

I recently put an order in at his site to get copies of his Dr. DeBunko comics (check this out, too, with the link provided above). Mr. Wisnia was kind enough to send me a personal thank you, which also blows me away, because it's always great to have an opportunity to chat with the person who creates works you really appreciate and to know that they're greatful you care about their work. I say that he's a great guy and any reader here would be missing something awesome if they didn't visit his site.

While on his site, though, I found a link to his "Fans of Giant Monsters!" page where several comics professionals have submitted sketches of their giant monsters. I asked him about submitting something and he gave me the go ahead. This post's following illustration is the child of my imagination working its nutso stuff on the concept of monsters. I know it's the "Giant Monster" page but I felt compelled to think over what the term "Monster" could represent. As you can see, I took what's probably a less conventional path. I hope it's enjoyable, though. Till next time, dear readers.

Eisner/Miller...a great discussion for the aspiring comic illustrator

I have been pouring over the well documented discussion between legendary comic artist Will Eisner and experimental artist Frank Miller, and I must say it has been a great help in viewing the all important "How do they do it?" feeling my insecurity as an artist asks.

Inspired by the book, published by Darkhorse, and feeling sketchy while at work, I managed to sketch this image of Will Eisner. I hope it's acceptable. Thanks for reading, again.

Working kills the spirit....creativity is the victim

Having a job to survive in modern, scratch for every penny, America is what makes life a sheer nightmare at times. The full-time, day by day, five wasted days a week schedule takes away from so much potential creative time. I complain endlessly about this, but my inherent procrastination justifies the fact that I never have any actual "Creative Time," and maybe the fact that I don't deserve any.

Well, every free moment I can pan from the murky river of the day is like a fortune regardless of how tiny the take. I sketch all over work documents, not necessarily as a statement, though it works well to illustrate (no pun intended) the voice screaming for release through the endless call center phone calls of ignorant, misguided, and generally inconsiderate customers. I fill my breaks and lunches up with sketchbook time and study, whether it be through anatomy texts or Will Eisner's tomes on graphic storytelling.

Eventually, through all the wading, enduring, and persevering I will squeeze out something to hopefully be worth a damn to someone. It will take much more time and struggle and true work, but in the end the offspring of my labor and imagination will be that much more greatly adored by myself.

Here, at the end of that emotional declaration for freedom, I give you the newest sketches. No fear, soon I shall have an actual finished piece to display. Thanks for reading.

The new and the familiar...

I've always enjoyed fantasy, in all of its forms. This is not to say I have an interest in everything fantasy, and will partake of items without discrimination, but instead it is to say I enjoy the fanciful, the unusual, the magical.

I have, since I was very little, had an interest in the odd fictions that deviated so greatly from the norm. I eagerly listened, read, watched, and acted out great epics and whimsical tales. I sought out the places, people, and things behind the veil of imagination, hoping that this intangible thing would collapse for me and reveal wonders unknown and feverishly desired.

I have drawn odd bits of illustration, moseying around the unreal. I find that I thoroughly enjoy creating these things in image, as I see them through my mind's eye.

Here are a few items I've sketched, as well as a new sketch for a different logo for Arrow-Eye. Enjoy!

Keeping the train a'goin'...

Well, ideas are still in short supply, but I'm persistent and have drive, so hopefully I'll spill something fun out one of these days. I'm assembling a Graphic Novel Initiative for Grand Rapids, MI to showcase and credit the local comic book (and general) artists. We'll see where that goes, and who will care enough to participate.

Once again, a few items to show that I'm doing/did/will do something. Enjoy!

Wein/Wrightson/Moore - The Greats of Swamp Thing

A great series, since Bernie Wrightson, who I had the pleasure of meeting, and Len Wein birthed this creature of the muck. If you haven't had the chance to check it out, do so right away! While you're at it, also look into Alan Moore's reinvention. Brilliant! The new hardcover is the best printing of any graphic novel I've ever owned. The cover itself, minus the dust jacket, is beautiful.

Here's my attempt at a monstrous legend.

Some Work to Show...

Well, it's been a while and I've much neglected this awesome page.

In recent news I'm taking it upon myself to actively organize a collected works for the talented artists of Grand Rapids, MI. I am setting up the "Grand Rapids Graphic Novel Initiative." This project is intended to promote the graphic storytelling, short prose, poetry, and photography, of the folks of Grand Rapids. It's open submission and selected artists will be featured. All credit for the works will go to the appropriate artists and any proceeds will be doled out accordingly to the contributors. This is FIRST AND FOREMOST a chance to promote talent, not rake in profit. Hopefully we'll get a lot of submissions and be able to successfully launch this book, and hopefully, keep an issue coming out in regular succession continuously.

Until I get further with that project, here are some things I've doodled recently. Some original, some tribute.

Influences...the work of actual talent!

Well, I figured this time, instead of posting another sketch or something, I'd let you all in on some of the works of folk who I've come to admire and who have inspired me in my artistic aspirations.

First and foremost, a man who has been an inspiration in the comic book industry, a pioneer of weird in the paneled worlds of news pulp and ink through the late '70's to the current, and an artist and writer who has thoroughly influenced me by embodying the pure, distilled essence of what makes comics fun. His name is Bob Burden. This man is responsible for an off the wall hero by the name of Flaming Carrot as well as the blue collar hero team, The Mysterymen. He's managed to capture the spirit of comics, especially the black and white ones I read as a kid while a lot of people were just content with Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man. I had the pleasure of meeting him, though I regret to say that I have more to talk about and ask of him now then I had in those few brief moments when he was gracious enough to sketch me Flaming Carrot and sign my Mysteryment graphic novel. This guy's a class act, in a class many aspire to inhabit and many ignore the point of.

Next there is the creator of one of my favorite comics titled Madman, Mike Allred. Influenced by pop art, glam rock, classic comics Allred spins out works of stunning beauty, with talented wife and colorist Laura Allred. Together they've provided me with an incredible reservoir of entertainment and inspiration. Not to mention, they are incredibly nice people, based on what I've heard, seen, and experienced, as well as from the little indirect communication I've had with Mr. Allred himself. I'd recommend checking them out, if you're new to comics, or not, and you're wanting to get in on THE good stuff.

Also, in that same comic vein, there is the master of horror imagery, himself, Bernie Wrightson. Not only is he the co-creator of Swamp Thing and a masterful illustrator, he is also a very nice gentleman. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI in 2008, and he was very kind in signing an issue of Swamp Thing I had brought, even though I was too nervous to say anything to him (sheesh). Great artist!


Then there is Adam Phillips, animator extraordinaire and creator of the fantastic Brackenwood series, a Flash animation masterpiece. I stumbled upon in thanks to Dungeons and Dragons actually. Mr. Phillips did some of the promo animation for the release of the games new 4th Edition. Here's a shot of his character Bitey of Brackenwood.

 There is also fantasy artist Justin Sweet, whose dreamy, gorgeous compositions throw my imagination into overdrive and are so incredible to behold I almost want to cry (sad how much I take good artwork to heart, no?).

While there are many who inspire me, in actuality, I'll conclude with the last of the great inspirations, Bill Watterson. This is the man who made my childhood with his work on one of the most incredible newspaper comic strips ever, Calvin and Hobbes. I defined much of my early perceptions of comics, art, writing, thought, and humor on this strip. It means a lot.

In the new year, a post to keep momentum...

There was a time when I could walk through a forest of my imagination, amongst the trees of my ideas. I could sit against one, embraced by its enchantment and cooled by its shade. I could tend to all my trees.

Now I find myself forgetting many parts of that forest, for they have grown unkempt and wild, unfamiliar to their tender. I have lost connection with a great many ideas I once fondly groomed. I have abandoned the growth.

My hopes for this new year are that a renewed dedication to my forsaken crafts and dreams will connect me once again, with familiarity, to that forest of mine. I'll walk the paths and address those that I've left. I'll have ideas again!