Monday, December 6, 2010

hopefully a BIG change

I am starting a new job today. One that is a 40 hour a week, not as much physical activity and no nights and only a little on the weekends. This is a HUGE change from where I have been working. I am excited and calm at the same time.

This will mean more time for Intermezzo, more time for my wife, more time for my life in general. What i hope this will mean will be more frequent issues of Intermezzo, which is difficult to do when you do it all yourself.

Issue 6 is still ready to scan and send to Ka-Blam, I hope to do so soon. I am working on the script for issue 7, and hope to begin that soon as well.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Denied!

I have finished issue 6 and the Fanaticon card, but I am having problems with my scanner. Well crap.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

#6 is almost finished!

I just finished inking the last page of issue #6 last night. I still have to color/paint the cover and the interior cover work, but it is very close. I am very excited about this issue, and I am anxious to finish it.



The NCComicon last weekend was lots of fun, i hope they do another soon.

Hopefully i will be posting soon that #6 is off to the printer. Right now the next project is finishing a trading card for Fanaticon.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Busy Busy

Been working away on Issue #6, as of tonight I have 3 1/2 pages left to ink and the cover to color. Been working away at work, as of tonight i have been busy for months with nowhere near as much time to work on Intermezzo as I would like.

NCComicon in Morrisville is next weekend; I am definitely looking forward to it. I haven't been to a show in a few months and I miss it. I hope to have issue 6 done before then, not that I could have it printed by then I just want to have it done. I also hope to have time to work on some artwork for the show; don't know if that will happen.

So here's the deal, if you read this and come up to me at the show and say the phrase "the funk of forty thousand years" you will get a free prize. If you name who said it and where I will give you 2 free prizes.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Stuff... just stuff

Not much is happening. dragoncon at the beginning of the month, that was cool. Makes me think about setting up there one year, maybe... one year.

NCComicon is coming up in Nov. looking forward to that one.

Been working on issue 6 as much as i can. Work has been brutal lately, my body is trying to shut down on me. Unfortunately my schedule doesn't have time to slow down and take it easy until I feel better. I've finished inking through page 9, not bad but no where near where i want to be. Same old story.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

dragoncon

I made it back from Dragoncon. Flying really made the trip a lot easier. Instead of spending 8 hours on the road, I spent 1 hour in the air. It cost more but was worth it.

While in Atlanta I met Stan Lee, got a couple of autographs (Avengers #4 and Avengers #63 (the second comic book story I ever read, this copy was signed by Roy Thomas- the writer, and Gene Colan- the artist). My best friend Jeff and i also got a picture made with Stan.

I took almost 400 pictures. I plan to post some of them on my Flickr page soon. I also plan on posting a lot of pictures on Facebook, so look for me there. This is my first weekend home in a month, so it will be nice to get some things done (but more importantly to spend some time with Wendy).

Back, tired, busy, and happy.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Baltimore Post game and Dragoncon is a comin.

So Baltimore is over... whew. It was quite a weekend. I am exhausted, yet back at work.

Saturday was... disappointing. Not because I wasn't making money (I'm used to that) but because I didn't get many takers to try Intermezzo. I would tell people about it, they would laugh, maybe say something about how funny it sounded and walk away. To me, the biggest obstacle has always felt like "how do I get people to look at Intermezzo" with the feeling being that people will give it a try if they hear about it and see how funny it is. But the question staring me in the face at the end of the day "What if intermezzo just isn't good enough?"

Bless Stacy for being the poor soul to talk me off the artistic ledge. She let me vent enough so that Sunday I wasn't the bitter, scary dude behind the table. So Sunday went well, one of the better days I've had. I almost made my table cost back (which would have meant i only would have lost my hotel room $, dare to dream). But anyone who goes into this for the money is either insane or just stepped out of a time machine from 1995.

I don't think my funk on Saturday night was an overreaction though. I really needed to rethink how I approach this. I had some ideas to try and minimize how much i am spending, where i need to focus my finances, and how i can accomplish some modest goals without spending all of our savings (mine and Wendy's together, because if it were just me I would have been bankrupt at least once by now. With Wendy in the picture, I have more to lose and too much at stake to throw it into this without considering the consequences.)

While i sat behind the table and the evil voices took over and ran my mind for the better part of a day I decided to sketch. It is considerably different than anything i have drawn in many years. It is a different part of me entirely, and not anyone you will see in Intermezzo. I am not able to post it (for reasons that are beyond me).

Anyway, Dragoncon is this weekend. I am not set up at a table because i have seen many bigger names than I (and who isn't?) sitting with no one coming up to them, looking bored, and set up in a basement somewhere. It is not a good choice for me to spend the money to do that.

But at Dragoncon this year will be STAN LEE. So I am going, I am going to get a picture, and an autograph and probably say something stupid to the man. But this is my one chance to do that, and any comic geek worth his geek would jump at the chance to do the same. Anyone who tells you different is lying through their teeth. This man is crucial is creating some of the biggest characters in comic book history. those characters are still around today because they speak to people on a deep level.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

BALTIMORE

WOw, It is time. It seems this summer has flown by.

So Baltimore, here I come (ready or not). If you read this and find me at Baltimore Comic Con if you say the phrase "The Eagle Flies at Midnight" you'll get a free gift.

Hope to see lots of people there and get some new readers for Intermezzo. One new reader found me on Facebook, that was cool. Look for Brian Wingrove if you wanna.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Time Flies

It is hard to believe that Baltimore Comicon is one week away. And Dragoncon is only 2 weeks away. Where has this summer gone?

Saturday, August 14, 2010

update- whats coming up, what Im doing

Less than three weeks to Dragoncon! Woohoo!
Less than two weeks to Baltimore Comicon. Also Woohoo! Haven't been there before, Stacey went last year and had a good show. My schedule allowed it this year, so i am looking forward to it.

I am working away on issue 6. Pencils are done. I am inking the cover right now, i think it is my favorite. I still have the painting to do, but I think it is really fun.

I am almost finished reading Deaththreats, a book about Drew Hayes. If you don't know his work, you should. He was a self publisher who signed with Sirius in the 90s who wrote and drew a book called Poison Elves. One of the things that really made him stand out was his opening comments and letters page (called Deaththreats) where he opened himself to his very core for his readers. Historical Perspective: this was before every yahoo with a blog was doing the same thing. He exposed his depression, relationships, fear of intimacy, everything uncensored. I often think of what he did, relating to readers in the same way, but these days its commonplace. Its a shame.

Friday, August 13, 2010

more pictures




more pictures from the Improbables project. More on what it is when it gets close enough that I can tell it is going to happen.
Thanks to the help of 10 friends last weekend i am closer to that being a reality. Thank you all, and i am glad you had so much fun.

Indyplanet

I got a email from a reader this morning who tried to follow the link on the website to buy more issues of Intermezzo (always a good thing) but couldn't because of a problem. If you are having the same problem (and I'm sure millions of you are) go to

www.indyplanet.com then use their quick search option type in Intermezzo and all five issues pop up. Hopefully the link will be fixed soon and the mad rush can continue unabatted.

Also look me up on Facebook, where i am one of the last seven people on the planet to get a facebook page (just in time for everyone to decide its not cool anymore and stop using it). Just look for Brian Wingrove (duh)

Sunday, August 1, 2010

A little discouraged

I went to the Charlotte Comicon today. I've been to that show three or four times now. Nice people run it, and it's a good show. Toaday went about like they all have, good crowds for a lot of the show and a little sparce here and there. But for reasons i don't know, this show was... in the terms of... ok, fine, here it is.

I don't usually discuss the specifics or money (I find it in bad taste), but I sold almost nothing at this show. There, i said it. It's a very discouraging feeling to sit at a table for that long and to get so few takers. And its not about the money, its about finding new readers. And after a day like today, I wonder if I will ever find them.

I also usually try to stay positive on this blog, but in the interest of being honest i decided to write what i was feeling today. I'm not planning on dwelling on it, but there it is.

I hope to move on to things that will raise my spirits. Baltimore Comicon is coming up at the end of August. At least this way, I don't have my hopes up too high. Does that count as a positive?

Saturday, July 31, 2010

ISSUE #6




I have tried to stay on schedule for number 6. As always other things come up, but overall I have not been doing badly with it. i now have the pencils complete and am working on the cover.






I've been doing some drawings for another Intermezzo related project, here are a couple of examples. I thought they turned out pretty cool.




Charlotte Comicon

I am getting ready to take off for another Charlotte Comicon. I have done a few of these shows in the past year, it's a nice time. I've been meeting some interesting people and hopefully getting some readers for Intermezzo.

If you read this and see me at the show, walk up to my table and say
"The eagle lands at sunrise" and get a prize.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Heroescon Pics!




I just got a new photo gallery added with pictures of heroescon. Go to my flickr page and check them out. Here are a few of the people I met.
That show marked one year of me doing conventions. It really seems like a lot longer sometimes and just like yesterday other times.


You know, even though its not easy to self publish and put my work out there like that, I am very glad I did. Intermezzo is finally free from my imagination and through issue #5. Being in Charlotte again really made me appreciate being able to fulfil a lifelong dream. The biggest part of that is meeting people who have read Intermezzo and came back to pick up the newer issues.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Updates

The ever gracious Sarlyn at Redvyproductions has made some updates to the site. I cannot express my gratitude for the work she does.

I have also begun joining webrings to get bear Butt Comics a little more exposure. If that is how you found me, please drop me a line and let me know its working.

As always i am trying to come up with ways to get Bear Butt Comics and Intermezzo in front of people and give them a chace to see if they like it or not. That is really the biggest challenge of this self publishing thing is just getting it out there. Cause that whole "build it and they will come" shtick is a load of %#@$!

Heroescon is out of the way. I will be in Charlotte on Aug 1st and The Baltimore comicon on Aug 28th and 29th.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Plugging away...

I am currently working on
a)issue #6,
b)stories for my next project "Dyslexic Cosmic" as well as finding artists,
and c) yet another so far unnamed project (I don't want to get ahead of myself and i will wait to make an actual announcement later- suffice it to say that it makes my little geek heart flutter).

I have a few conventions planned; I'll be back in Charlotte for the next Charlotte Comicon on Aug 1st, then I will be going to Baltimore Comicon on Aug 28th and 29th.

I really need to take the time and come up with ways to advertise. I've met a lot of people doing cons, but I need to broaden my horizons. I will try to find ways to draw attention to myself and my comics that does not involve getting arrested (or me wearing spandex, no one needs to see that)

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

New Pictures!



I've just added some pictures to my Flickr page on Fanaticon. Asheville was a great trip and Fanaticon was a great convention.
One of the best things about our trip to Asheville was the fact that my wife Wendy went with me. It was the first con we went to together and it was wonderful. While I was at the table all day, she went around taking pictures. But, you may be able to see her artistic difference if you look closely.

Monday, June 7, 2010

HereoesCon

Went to Heroescon this weekend. Had a great time, sold some stuff, met some nice people, the usual. Had several people who remembered me from last year, which was really cool.

I am working on a side project to add to the Bear Butt Line. I am looking for some artists to help out with that. I hope that someone who is looking for a chance to get in print and expand their portfolio will like to get involved with this project. If you fit the bill, drop me an e-mail and we'll go into the details. Talked to a couple people about it in Charlotte, some possibilities.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Issue #5


Issue #5 is now available on IndyPlanet and Comics Monkey! I hope they will be here (they should be)for Heroescon in a couple of weeks.






Check them out. The stories are really starting to move, and starting to get somewhere.

Post Fanaticon

Fanaticon was an amazing show. When I said it looks like they ran a tight ship I had no idea how right that was. This was Asheville's first comic book convention and they had over 3000 people in the door. walking around downtown every single business had a poster in the window or postcards about the convention. There were articles and cover stories in several local newspapers. A lot of work went into that show and it really paid off. If they have another show in Asheville, I am going to be there, without a doubt.

Friday, May 14, 2010

issue #5

Issue five is at Ka-blam. I am awaiting the digital proof to come and give the final go ahead. As always i had a problem with some computer things (big surprise), but they should be here for Heroescon in June.

I managed to stick to a pretty good schedule this time. I need to get ready for the next couple of conventions, but after that I will put myself back on it. Repeat after me...
SHUT UP AND DO IT.

Fanaticon

I am packing for Fanaticon at this very minute. It's my first time doing a show in Asheville and I am looking forward to it. From the website and communications with Chance it looks like these guys run a well planned show.

I will be set up with my friend Stacy of Leather Mischief who will be selling her leather masks (superhero and artistic designs), so i should be easy to spot.

And for anyone who is checking out my website because you will be at Fanaticon, I appreciate you checking out my website and admire your thourough attitude. To show that appreciation...

If you read this and come up to my table and say "the rooster crows at sundown" you will win a free prize.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Moving Right Along


Issue 5 is almost complete. I am only slightly behind schedule. Once I finish the inks on the last page (hopefully tonight) then I have the cover to do, the inside covers (one of which will spell out my next project), all the computer work (that I always manage to mess up), and then send it off to Ka-Blam for printing.

If I get that done quickly enough then i will have issue 5 for Heroescon in June.

Why Cartoonists Don't Go Out In Public Much

Friday, April 2, 2010

Roanoke Valley Comicon

Saturday April 3rd I will be attending my second show in Roanoke. Last time it was a good show, so I am looking forward to this one.

Anybody who walks up to me and says "The Eagle Lands at Midnight" will get a prize. (I really want to see if anyone reads these things)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

shut up and do it

This is a phrase I have used a lot since i decided to stop "going to do a comic book one day" and actually make a comic book now.

I had been preparing to make Intermezzo for years (a lot of them) but eventually the preparation has to stop and the doing has to begin. It seems the excuses I had were either "I don't have the money" or "I don't have the time" to do it.

Well now, I don't have an abundance of either. This wasn't the best time to self publish. Money is tighter than ever, and the job I have takes more of my time than any other i've ever had. What I realized was, if I wait for the ideal time, it will never happen. There is always a reason not to do it, but the answer I have come up with to counter those reasons is...

JUST SHUT UP AND DO IT.
That's it. No explaining it all away, no more planning, not the perfect time but now. When I get home exhausted and I just don't wanna draw any tonight I will repeat it as a mantra in my head. Then I will stop making excuses and just get up and draw.

And if the perfect time comes along then I will already be in progress and further along.

I met a few aspiring artists at the Charlotte Comicon on Sunday. I passed this along to them. Maybe it will keep them from waiting a lot of years that they regret later.

Charlotte Comicon

I did the Charlotte Comicon on Sunday. It was, as always, a good show. For this show it has the distinction that I sold more comics than at any show since Heroescon last year. That makes me feel good and a little energized.

Maybe if someone is actually reading this then they are one of those new readers. If so, I hope Intermezzo captivates you into sticking around for more issues (available on Indyplanet).

Issue 5 is still moving according to schedule. I have eleven pages inked as of last night.

One of the best things about the Charlotte Comicons are the people. The artists are always friendly and we spend the day talking away about all sorts of stuff. It was nice talking to Al, Alan, Budd, Louis, and Allegra, and from what I heard they had a good show too.

I will definitely be back for their next one on August 1st. But I will be back in Charlotte for Heroescon before then (June 4th-6th).

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Convention Time again

I am getting ready to leave for the Charlotte Comiccon. I have been to three of their shows before, its always a nice show. I have issue 4 with me and that is a good feeling to have something new to show people who may have 1-3.

I am planning out the shows i will be attending this year, trying to branch out more. I hope it will help get Intermezzo out there.

I will post future shows when I have time. I am also strongly considering a facebook page as a more effective promotion route...
Oh well.

100 geek points to the first person to mention reading this.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

the latest

I am in the midst of one of the busiest times at work and my wife is leaving for a mission trip to Honduras in just a couple of days. Despite everything else going on I have manages to finish pencilling issue 5 and last night I finished lettering. I have kept myself on schedule for the past several weeks. If I continue the pace then I will finish issue 5 in time to get it for heroescon.

With wendy gone for over a week one of two things will happen... I will either do nothing but draw, or I will be so bummed out i get nothing done.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

yea!


Issue Four is now on sale on both IndyPlanet and ComicsMonkey. Tell your friends (tell your enemies, I don't care).

Sunday, January 24, 2010

issue #5

It feels odd writing about issue #5 and not number #4. I have tried to put myself on a schedule to finish #5 so it doesn't take as long as #4 did. If all goes well then maybe i can have #4 and 5 for heroescon in Charlotte.

I have been a lot quicker and doing some good pencils so far. As of tonight I have the first 13 pages pencilled. Number 4 is ordered and despite my usual computer ineptness shouldn't be too much longer.

By the time I start doing shows again this year, I will have #4 for sale. I plan on going to shows in Charlotte, Salem, Asheville, and maybe hickory and Baltimore. It looks to be a busy year.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

back to the swing of things


New York was wonderful. Wendy and I had a blast. I don't know if I ever need to be in New York on New Year's Eve ever again, but it was one of those things we always wanted to try.


So now we are home, back to work, doing all the things that piled up while we were away on vacation. Just the way it goes.
Here's a picture of everyone taking pictures of the fireworks. The stuff i find funny.