Short and Sweet

As they say, big things come in small packages. Today's super*MARKET comics extravaganza at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood was just that. It was fun hanging out with some old convention friends, other self-publishers and colleagues in animation. There where even some faces I hadn't seen in a while.

I've mentioned in the past how I love small venues like this. (I am a big fan of the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco) It really gives everyone a chance to talk and feel comfortable without feeling like visitors in a zoo. I try and spend time and chat with everyone so smaller gigs like this are ideal. And of course, seeing amazing work by talented artists really gets my blood pumping. Now I feel energized and inspired ready to draw and complete my latest projects. Just what I need headed to Comic-Con 2008.

Many thanks to Jessica Gao and Gaston D.L. for the invite and to all who stopped by to purchase books and art. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Here's a rundown of the fine folk who stopped by my little corner today:

Animation historian/ Cartoon Brew master Jerry Beck
Artist/Director David "Mucci" Fassett
Designer extraordinaire Sean "Cheeks" Galloway
El Muerto creator/artist Javier Hernandez
El Gato Crime Mangler creator/artist Michael Aushenker
Crying Macho Man creator/artist Jose Cabrera
Fuzz and Pluck creator/artist Ted Stearn
Storyboarder Sherm Cohen
Bookseller Stuart Ng
Mighty co-creator Erik Weise
Writer Jessica Chaffin
Storyboarder Rudi Berden
Artists John and Leigh Fountain
Robot Publishing head honcho Rob Goodin
Hot Mexican Love Comics' Ira Sherak
Hot Mexican Love Comics' Larry Reynosa
Ni Hao Kai Lan creator Karen Chau

I did a less than stellar job with the picture taking today but it was a short gig so time was a factor.

Animation Historian and Cartoon Brew's Jerry Beck (Left) and talented artist David "Mucci" Fassett (Right)

two-thirds of the brain-thrust of Hot Mexican Love Comics: (R-L) Ira Sherak, Larry Reynosa and Ira's girlfriend Janice

"Yes Rob, it's time to go..." Robot Publishing's Rob Goodin wondering why the day had to end.

These are two of my most favorite people in the biz. "The Jessicas" are reunited fresh off their stint writing for the anticipated new Nicktoon "The Mighty B!" Jessica Chaffin (Left) and super*MARKET's Jessica Gao (Right)

That's bookseller Stuart Ng (Left) chattting it up with storyboard artist
Sherm Cohen (right)

.. That's one of Los Angeles' comic book meccas, Meltdown Comics.
An end to a fun event and another gorgeous day in Southern California...

More pics HERE on the Crying Macho Man Blog and HERE on Cartoon Snap.

SUPERMARKET this Sunday! (updated)

It's short notice but if you're not tied up cleaning your gutters or shaving your back, come down to Meltdown Comics this Sunday, March 30th for the one-day, independent jam of comics and publishing called super*MARKET L.A.

From noon to 6pm, a bunch of indie comic guys (who work in animation) are doing a little mini convention right inside the hallowed halls of "The Melt"! So if you wanna see my ugly mug while perusing work from talented people, come on down and hang with us. Signed copies of RANDOM ANOMALIES, WAYWARD TRAVELLER and STEEL NOODLES: A Slice of Heaven will be on hand as well. You really don't have to buy anything. My kids just won't go to college that's all... Even our good friend and bookseller extraordinaire Stuart Ng will be there and has promised to bring a small batch of French titles, some procured during his recent visit to Angouleme, France for the International Book Fair.

Check out SuperMarket LA's straightforward mission statement:

super*MARKET is a quarterly independent comics event based in Los Angeles. We aim to provide a regular salon for comic makers, lovers, and haters alike so that the gap between creators and readers shrinks down to an uncomfortable closeness. Though it's focused locally on Los Angeles, everyone is welcome (listen, we're not going to kick an out-of-stater out of bed, we're just sayin'). By determining a focus or theme for each event, we are able to cover varied genres within indie comics from goth to cry-baby.

Now if that doesn't get you pumped then you're pretty much dead. Here are the particulars once again:

super*MARKET: The Animator Special Sunday
a comics salon for every nerd

March 30, 2008
12noon - 6pm
Meltdown Comics and Collectibles
5722 West Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood, California 90046

EXHIBITORS:

Javier Hernandez
Ted Seko
Michael Aushenker
Jose Cabrera
Jerrell Conner
Tom Neely
Levon Jihanian
Sherm Cohen
Stuart Ng Books
Louie Del Carmen
Dan Goodsell
Paul Harmon
Pete Von Scholly
Robert Goodin
Bernyce Talley
Sketch Theatre (featuring Mari Inukai, Jim Wirt, and TBA)
Dangerkatt Creative Studio
And more!

Big thanks to Meltdown head honcho Gaston D.L. and writer Jessica "Chairman" Gao for the gracious invite.

Click HERE for super*MARKET on MySpace

Gesture Class 2

Here are some sketches from Gesture Drawing class today. I think the poses I drew in the previous class where a bit stronger and had more character. Overall I still need to work on pushing my sketches even more. A dash of caricature would help as well.

I added the tones later for clarity and emphasis.

Moving Pictures: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter & Spring

Released in 2003, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring is a film that combines evocative imagery, simplicity in storytelling and profoundness in meaning. As the title may suggest, it is a about the parallel between one's life and the changing of the seasons.

The structure you see in these frames (along with the surrounding area) constitutes the one and only setting in the movie, a floating monastery in a secluded lake where a wise and elderly monk mentors a young boy. Interestingly, the film uses the changing of the seasons as sort of five act structure. I admire the framing and composition in this movie as well as the patience it took to keep a project focused while production literally waited for the seasons to change.

It's a film about choice and consequence, atonement and redemption. Things that we as people might experience from time to time as we slog through life.





















Copyright 2003 Sony Pictures Classics/Korea Pictures. Running time: 102 minutes. Director/Writer: Kim Ki-Duk. Cinematographer: Baek Dong-Hyun. Rated: R

Gesture Class

I had the privilege of attending a costumed gesture class at work today, taught by the talented artist and story supervisor Dave Pimentel. This gave me a chance to test my Modbook in a "drawing class" environment and I am happy to report that it was a huge success.

For this session I chose to use Autodesk's Sketchbook Pro mainly for it's simplicity and functionality. For the quick 1 - 3 minute poses I used a graphite pencil at about HB to 2B hardness and a chisel-tipped pen set to the minimum point size of 2.0 I tilted the Modbook upright (or Portrait mode) occasionally to gain more drawing space for standing poses.

I did grab a wad of sketch paper and a drawing clipboard in case this experiment went south but sketching digitally was a cinch.

Putting technology aside, it's been quite a while since I've done any king of drawing class so getting some much needed pencil (or stylus) time was a welcome experience. Capturing these quick gestures is a great exercise in laying down attitude and action without heavy pencil mileage. This is especially helpful during the rough stage of boarding or during the hectic hustle of re-staging sequences for reels.

I definitely plan to attend many more drawing classes as schedule permits, and post the resulting sketches here.

For additional technical details and images, click HERE for my companion post on Modbook Junction.

Headgear Girl Redux

Here's a new, all digital spin on an old subject. Chances are you've already seen this futuristic maiden before either here on this blog, my website gallery or on my 2006 book The Wayward Traveller. If not then here's the original illustration:

The newbie was sketched on Adobe Photoshop with a modified brush and painted with faux watercolor. The original sketch was done traditionally with an ink pen, scanned and filled-in with grayscale via Photoshop. I'm still not quite sure what that contraption on her head does....perhaps she can read my thoughts?