INTERMEZZO ISSUE 14 IS FINISHED!!!

So, issue 14 is finished.  Sent it off to the printer (Ka-Blam, they are awesome) last night.  I will have copies for the Winston Salem Comic Con (Sept 2nd).  It is the conclusion of the BOOTOOTH SAGA which has been in full swing since issue 9.  Really pleased about that.

Here is the cover.  It is really cool.

The covers to almost the comics I have done so far.  Intermezzo 1-12. Dyslexic Cosmic 1 &2, The Journey of Brave Ulysses.

All available on Indyplanet.com

Oak City Comicon

I was in Raleigh for the Oak City Comicon yesterday with my good friend from Leather Mischief.  We both had really a good day, but never got much of a rest.  Big crowds, a lot of people looking at our stuff and a lot of people who liked it enough to make a purchase.  In a comicon, there is a lot of things for you to spend your money, so when people spend it on my art and comics I feel very grateful.

This was my best 1 day show yet.  In the past year I keep going to shows that set a new personal record.  I still have shows that I don't do well, but that is just part of the deal. 

Next week I have another show that set a new record last year, Winston Salem Comicon.  So time to try for a new personal best.

Issue 13 is at Ka-blam being printed.  I should get it back by the middle of May.

INTERMEZZO 12 on indyplanet

Intermezzo #12 is now available on indyplanet.com  Check it out and tell your friends (tell your enemies, I don't care).


http://www.indyplanet.com/front/?product=125815

Mixed

I have finally sent issue 12 to the printer (Ka-Blam, a great company that I have had great experiences with)!  I have been working at this for a long while.  I should definitely have it for Heroescon in Charlotte on June 19th.  I was looking forward to this for so long that I should be dancing.


But our dog passed away this morning.  We recently found out she had cancer, and things went bad quickly.  We had 2 weeks of relative normalcy with her after that, but today was the end.  She was 13 years old, and the smartest dog I have ever known.  So to be very honest, I have spent most of today with tears filling my eyes and rolling down my cheeks.


After all of that, I sent off issue 12.  Mixed.

NCComiccon

Been working to get some things ready for NC Comiccon, always one of the biggest shows I do.  It is in Durham, which is not far away from me.  I have several fun ideas for prints, as well as a couple of other unique paintings and crafts.


This show has consistently been good to me, so I want to bring the best of my work.  Unfortunately I have been putting off working on issue #12 because of that (and other shows).  I have the story written, and blocked out, and the first 11 pages penciled.  I have some vacation time coming soon.  I am looking forward to sitting and working on the other projects, but especially issue 12.

Wendy (of course)

Issue #11 is officially ordered.  Wendy loaded the files at the library.  She always comes up with solutions.  So it is going to be here (hopefully) in time for Heroescon (I say hopefully because I am a pessimist, Ka-Blam has always made their deadlines with me).


I am sure Wendy did that because she loved me, but there is a part of me who just thinks she couldn't put up with me freaking out about it anymore.  6 of one...




So soon Issue #11 will be available.  And I will stress over issue #12.

Breaking stereotypes

So I was wrapping up the last few pages of Intermezzo issue 11, in which I am using a lot of artwork I created for the story of Huh the Cosmic Polar Bear back in the 90's (I did the same in issues 9 &10, but with fewer pages).  I had taken a lot of these pages and rearranged panels in Photoshop to fit the page count and better layout design.  As I finished one of the last pages that I simply added a caption to an existing page, I realized something.  I forgot to include that page in the numbering of the book, so instead of a 24 page book it is 25.


So now my solutions are (a) shrink more pages so I can fit it in a 24 page book, or (b) un-shrink other pages and expand to a 28 page book (Printing makes it necessary to print in increments of four).


So just because I am a fat, nerdy guy with glasses doesn't mean that I am smart.  That is profiling, and profiling is wrong.

Issue 11 is extremely close to completion!

I have finished inking the last page of Issue 11 of iNTERMEZZO!  There is still some computer work, the inside covers, and the outside cover to finish, but it is very near!  It will not be nearly the time it took Issue 10 (But The Journey of Brave Ulysses came in the middle, and slowed that one down a lot).  I plan to have it by Heroescon, June 20th.

On the Road

The convention in Winston Salem yesterday was very fun.  Sold a lot of comics which makes me feel fantastic.  Talked with a lot of people, drew a sketch of a family as Superman, Supergirl, and Superboy; they were thrilled and it just makes you feel great to see people that excited to get a piece of artwork.  Their pictures are on the flickr page, so you can check them out there.


So next is Roanoke, VA on the 29th.  Always a good time there.
After that I have a show in my hometown of Lexington (NC), then Charlotte, and Richmond at the end of April.  A lot of places coming up, but Wendy is going to a couple with me.


I also sold quite a few issues of #10, that is a good feeling.

Winston Salem and ISSUE 10 OF INTERMEZZO!

I HAVE ISSUE 10 IN HAND!  (Well not in hand right now, because I am typing).  Available for the first time tomorrow at JayandEddies comic book show!

The Longest week of the year

Wendy is back in the country and I pick her up late tonight.  Even though she does this trip every year, I can't get over how long the week feels.  I tried to keep myself busy (as always).


I managed to pencil and letter 4 pages of Intermezzo issue 11.  I worked on some older art on the Huh story from the 90's.  I've included older pages in issue 9 and issue 10 (which is at the printer now) and this has even more.


I am also getting ready for next weekend's show in Winston Salem and the week after in Roanoke.

Off to the printer

Last night, after a couple of days of my computer not allowing me to load the files to Ka-Blam, issue 10 has been ordered. Now comes the part where I wait for the mistakes they find (I try to be an optimist, but it really isn't in my nature).


If all goes well I will have Intermezzo #10 available for Jay and Eddie's comic book convention on Mar 15th.


With that issue, The Bootooth Saga gets underway. 

Rassa frassa frassa

I had planned on my newest entry to (finally) announce that issue 10 has gone to Ka-Blam for printing.  Unfortunately that is not the case ($#&!+%!!!).  I temporarily defeated Dr. Scanner (that is what I call my scanner now because it sounds so much better than just "I am having problems with my scanner").
So after I scanned and prepared everything for printing... I cannot get the file to load to Ka-Blam.  I have been fighting with this for 3 days.  Sometimes I just can't win.
Then the scanner went out again... oops, I mean Dr. Scanner has escaped.
I really hoped to have issue 10 for my next show in Winston Salem on Mar 15th, where I am going back for Jay and Eddie's next show.  We'll see.

ISSUE 10!

I have completed the inks and the cover of issue 10 of iNTERMEZZO!  I have completed one inside cover, one more to go.  Then I must confront my arch enemy... Dr. Scanner! 


I have decided to call my scanner Dr. Scanner so it sounds more impressive. 
"I am having problems with my scanner... again."
or
"My plans have been thwarted by Dr. Scanner!  NOOOO!"

Post Christmas update

I had a fairly relaxing holiday with Wendy. We started the day helping to feed the needy at a church lunch. Her sister and brother in law were in town to help with that, but left right after.  And then we did... nothing.  Oh boy, nothing.  This is the first Christmas since we have been married (19 years) that we didn't spend traveling to and from somebody else's house.  We missed not seeing some people but it was just nice with the both of us.

Over the weekend we went to see my mother in Lexington, NC and got to spend more time with her, so that was nice.
On a comic book related note, Lexington has its first comic book store in over a decade. Top Hat Comics is on Main St about a block from the square.  Nice guy, I hope he does well.  I of course, dropped off a few copies of iNTERMEZZO and he said he was passing them around.

I also picked up some art supplies on the way home to keep going on issue 10. I put in reorders for 5 books that I was running low of issues.

Next stop Wilkesboro Jan 18th.

Dec update

So I have finished a new art piece as a tribute to the Great Pumpkin. I will have prints available by the next show, which is Sunday Dec 15th in Charlotte.  I have done many Charlotte Mini Cons, I hope I do as well as I have the last few.

Also trying to make progress on the 10th issue of iNTERMEZZO and my eternal battle with the scanner.  I will add more on that as it happens. I try not to be someone who posts every page or panel he finishes anyway, so I don't put up a lot from issues until they are complete.

I do miss scanning my daily sketches and posting them, that was fun.  Maybe I will get back to that someday.

So I got a few responses when I asked for people to tell me their favorite character from iNTERMEZZO. A couple of posts here, facebook and email.  Cheapshot was the character most mentioned.

Upcoming shows and progress on issue 10

Saturday Nov 2nd I will be appearing at the Roanoke Valley Comicon.  I have been there several times before, and had some very good shows there.  I am using the trip as an opportunity to stop by and see my mother this weekend as well.  So I will be on the road this weekend, and loving it.  I have not been to many shows this year, but my new work schedule has opened up a lot of new chances.  By the end of the year I will be doing four more shows, which is as many as I have gotten to do for the first 10 months this year.

I have a lot of new stuff to take with me, and more I hope to finish before NCComicon on Nov 9th and 10th.

Moving forward with issue 10, almost half inked. When I put down the 12th page (out of 24) to begin inking I thought to myself "HUMP PAGE!" and snickered.  It was late, so to me that was funny.

The Journey of Brave Ulysses

http://www.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=8504

 

 

So here is the link for The Journey of Brave Ulysses, available on indyplanet.  Be sure to follow the link, because their search feature won't find it.

Update

Started my new job yesterday; I have that "In over my head" feeling, but I think I always have that these days.

Still no scanner.  Still no daily sketches to post (I have dozens of them, just can't post them).  I am making progress on issue 10 (currently inking).

I have shows I am hoping to attend, the next solid date I have is NCComicon.  That has been a great show in the past and it is really expanding.