Monday, August 26, 2013

State of the Artist 8/26/2013

View halloo, all!

Sorry about not having a State of the Artist update last week on the 19th, but I spent most of my Monday driving back from Tampa in some pretty epic rain. What should have been a 4-hour drive was, in actuality, a 7-hour drive due to the horrendous weather. Oi!

But, it's a new Monday, and so it's time for a State of the Artist update!



Weekly Words

I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.

- Golda Meir, 1898 - 1978



Current Project

Well, not so much current, as a week overdue, but... last weekend I attended AFO in Orlando, FL where I had an Artist Alley table. I always enjoy that convention. It's a smaller convention where I usually end up being commissioned by repeat customers and get to see some great, fun artists I only see at AFO.

That said, this year's convention was extremely slow and disappointing. The convention changed venues this year due to the previous venue being under renovation and reconstruction. Perfectly understandable, and while the new location was a nice hotel (Renaissance Sea World) it had a few distinct downsides... mostly being the $20 parking fee for non-hotel guests. NOT, as generally understood, $20-a-day, either, but $20 Every Single Time you came and went. Ouch. Most attendees at AFO are locals, and the exorbitant parking fee kept many away.

So, it was a slow convention, but I did end up taking a few commissions (unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the two pencil sketch commissions I took!)

* * *
LEFT: A grayscale commission of Uruha from the Japanese Visual Kei band Gazette
RIGHT: A full-color commission of a human paladin in full armor from World of Warcraft

While both of these were fun, World of Warcraft armor is FUSSY! Wow... also, difficult to work from 2x3" 72dpi printed reference photos, but I'm glad I had them, as this would have been impossible to do without references!



For giggles, I ended up drawing this cartoony octopus Sharpie tattoo on artist friend Dana Corrigan's friend Daniel on Saturday. On Sunday, I put him back (after he'd rubbed off) complete with top hat, monocle, and handlebar mustache.

I think the highlight of the weekend, however, goes to having dark chocolate fondue and alcoholic coffee with MCA Hogarth on Sunday night in Tampa after the convention was over. Her coffee, a Nutty Irishman, was the winner.)





Shop Silvertales

Zazzle is having a site-wide sale on back-to-school merchandise!

60% off notebooks & notepads, 50% off mugs, magnets, and mousepads, 40% off cases, sleeves, and skins, 30% off clothing and bags!

Use code BACK2URSTYLE at checkout (through August 28th 11:59pm Pacific) to take advantage of the sales across the entirety of the Zazzle website.

Today is also the last day to take advantage of the 20% off ALL ORDERS site-wide by using 20ZAZZLEDEAL at checkout. (Zazzle offers cannot be combined, so choose wisely!)

Shop Silvertales



Near Future

I'm currently at work on the series of Art Nouveau-inspired DC comic heroes I posted the poll for a few weeks ago, and I'll start posting WIP pics if anyone is interested. Please let me know in the comments if you'd like to see those!

(I'm also taking suggestions for more to add to the series [I've got Batman, Superman, Nightwing, and Wonder Woman so far from DC, and I'm planning to add Gambit, Wolverine, and Storm from Marvel... please don't suggest Rogue. I don't like Rogue, I haven't liked her since before the trial in Antarctica if you follow comics, and I've never liked movie!Rogue])

I'm hoping to start posting WIP pics of a series of painted book covers done for MCA Hogarth's epic Jokka trilogy. Those would be the series of abstract acrylics I mentioned on and off over the last few weeks. I've had a number of people express interest in the process of my abstract acrylics (all TWO of my previous paintings! :D,) so, if you're interested, they'll start showing up once I've spoken to the author about releasing the cover images.

I've got PalmCon coming up on September 21st. It's a one-day convention West Palm Beach, FL, so if you'll be in town, stop by and say hi!

After that comes Necronomicon in Tampa, FL (October 18-20) where I'll be sharing a table with MCA Hogarth for the weekend!



Well, I think that's all for this week's State of the Artist update here on Planet Kit.

I thank you for joining me again this week! Feedback is the food which fuels the creative discussion between Artist and Audience, please, feel free to comment or leave suggestions for new projects!


If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!





Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

Monday, August 12, 2013

State of the Artist 8/12/2013

View halloo, all!

It's finally a SUNNY Monday here on Planet Kit, yay! We have quite an extensive rainy season here, but this year's has just been ridiculous, so I'm very glad to have the sun out for a while. But, it's Monday, so it's time for another State of the Artist update!



Weekly Words

Myths and creeds are heroic struggles to comprehend the truth in the world.
- Ansel Adams, 1902 - 1984



Current Project

I've been spending most of my time this past week working on this painting commission project, and after a panic-inducing moment of "Ack, what did I just DO?!" I am back on track, happier with the paintings now, and set to finish them before leaving for this weekend's convention in Orlando.

Yay!

That said, I've got a couple of doodles that I've sketched out while waiting for paint to dry. :)

*

LEFT: Random head shot with a floating antler-crown-thing? No, really, I have no idea....
RIGHT: Vaguely inspired by the Tibetan pika, mostly the ears... have you seen these things? They are so ridiculously cute...



Shop Silvertales

Zazzle is having a 15% off ALL orders, site-wide, today only!

To take advantage of the sale, enter code: 15MONDAYDEAL at check-out!

Shop the Silvertales store!



Near Future

This coming weekend sees me manning an Artist Alley table at Orlando's AFO! If you'll be at the convention, or in the area, come stop by and say hi!

Still waiting for news about a table at New York Comic Con, but I will definitely post if and when I hear news. It would be a new con for me, and I'm excited about the possibilities! (And the guests! My current favorite comic artist/writer team will be in attendance: Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, the team on the current Batman run, along with Gareth David Lloyd and John Barrowman of "Torchwood")



Well, I think that's all for this week's State of the Artist update here on Planet Kit.

I thank you for joining me again this week! Feedback is the food which fuels the creative discussion between Artist and Audience, please, feel free to comment or leave suggestions for new projects!


If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!





Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

Monday, August 5, 2013

State of the Artist 8/5/2013

View halloo, all!

It's another soggy Monday here on Planet Kit, but it's time for another State of the Artist update, so let's get started! :)


Weekly Words

Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.

- Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 1834 - 1892



Current Project

I'm working on a series of three abstract acrylic paintings for an upcoming project that has me so ridiculously excited, it's kind of crazy. But, I've got a good momentum going and I'm making pretty good progress. My client has plans for this project, so there will be no WIP photos of the paintings until I get the release from them, but I thought I'd post my preliminary palettes.

I'm at the canvas "staining" stage right now, laying down color to get the preliminary tones in, if not the values.

One plate for each canvas (my tools are very high-tech, you know.):



But, I have been doodling a bit while waiting for paint to dry (which, like the saying goes, is NOT much fun to watch... go figure,) so I thought I'd include them here!



They're not related to any project or plan, just random doodles concepts.



Shop Silvertales

Zazzle is having a site-wide sale on bags and t-shirts now through Wednesday, August 7th!

If you'd like to have my art on bags or t-shirts, be sure to check out the store and use the coupon code BOGOSHIRTBAG during checkout!

Check out the store!



Near Future

The weekend of August 16-18th, I will be manning an AA table at AFO in Orlando, FL. If you'll be attending, come stop by and say hi!

Still waiting for news about an AA table at NYCC, but I will definitely post here if and when I hear, for anyone who might be attending!

Today is the last day to vote in the DC comics poll from last week's State of the Artist post. If you haven't cast your vote, I'd appreciate a moment of your time:

Please vote here!


Well, I think that's all for this week's State of the Artist update here on Planet Kit.

I thank you for joining me again this week! Feedback is the food which fuels the creative discussion between Artist and Audience, please, feel free to comment or leave suggestions for new projects!


If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!





Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!