Monday, June 30, 2008

A scribble a scrabble...a doodle by any other name!

So the first is simply a doodle I did testing a new pencil and a some lessons I snagged on eyes. I liked it so much I inked it and then used Adobe to clean it and finish it.
The second is Hellboy from a previous post. I liked it so much that I asked my wife to give it a shot of inking it. I then cleaned it and finished it in Adobe. Hope you enjoy them both...
Cheers and be good gang!

Michael Turner 1971-2008

Going to miss his art. Cancer really sucks and I should know being a survivor of it.

http://www.aspencomics.com/

A article on him explains him best:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080628-Turner.html

Here is a good one I always liked...
Be good guys!





Friday, June 27, 2008

Fleeting Thoughts...

An interesting topic is happening on Science Friday Today on NPR...I never would have thought I'd hear something like this but they are talking about smells. And they just said (seconds ago...) that women's farts are smellier than men's. However...men have more gas than women and so therefore it's a draw. I'm actually waiting to hear the story about the brain scientist who had a stroke and researched the whole thing while going through the stages of it. I've heard a good portion on Fresh Air (also NPR) but this should be more involved since it is a actually science show.
The summer air is nice and in the 90's, making runs tough but we'll get through.
If you haven't read any of Scott Bodien's Blog http://publius.bodien.org/ go and check it out. Verbose he is and very good at getting you to imagine everything going on. His one post http://publius.bodien.org/2008/06/stop-laughing-at-me.html is really worth reading about half way down where he explains some fund raising information. Really makes you wonder on how much a person gets paid to help raise money for special causes. Making it even more important that you give any money to local fund raisers and not the big named ones.
And the stroke topic is now starting so I bid you a good day...oh and enjoy the practice sketch of my attempts of the face.


The Hellboy one is my attempt of trying it for the first time after seeing Tim Townsend's one http://timtownsend.deviantart.com/art/Hellboy-sketch-68743886 so give him credit for the idea and give me an atta'boy for the attempt.

Monday, June 23, 2008

The Comic Convention in Charlotte Rocks!

Greetings readers! So now that the weekend has pasted on by here is the best way to describe the comic convention held in Charlotte this year...First off here is the site of the group that handled it:

http://www.heroesonline.com/

Donna and I helped on Thursday and Sunday picking up artists and taking them to and from the Airport / Hotel. There were so many that I couldn't tell you all of them, but every single one was very cool and a pleasure to meet and chat with as we transported them.

Here are some that I got to meet over the weekend that get a cheer from this comic fan:
Frank Cho: http://www.libertymeadows.com/
Paolo Rivera: http://www.paolorivera.com/
Danielle Corsetto: http://www.daniellecorsetto.com/gws.html
Andie Tong: http://www.deemonproductions.com/
Dave Crosland: http://www.hiredmeat.com/

On Saturday night we met a great bunch of guys when we met up with Barry Kitson for a meal and some pool playing. I was schooled in the English rules for pool and let me tell ya they add to the game. The best and easy way to explain them is if you make a mistake (scratch, etc...) the other person gets a free shot. This makes it tough since now you have something to lose instead of just passing the next shot to the guy. I won only one game out of numerous amounts only due a mistake made by the opponent.

So there you have it...the update short and sweet...I also purchased a new sketch book and a new lead holder which I have been looking for. I bought some leads for it and now trying to get used to using it. Cheers guys!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

To Bike Or Not To Bike...and Comics Ahoy!

What is up my readers! Hope you're all living it up as best as you can...

Just a quick update on the bike into work this past weekend...the ride in was awesome. Took me 24:57 to bike in and I did go through the park. It was a nice ride into it with very few people and lots of just peace and quiet. Made it worth it to get that moment of peace before work. Most of it was downhill which leads me to the ride back.

The ride back was done in about 43 minutes. About 50% of it was uphill since I took a different route back then what I did to come into work. If I simply reversed the route it might have been about 85% uphill.

The sun was beating down on me and I forgot to bring a waterbottle. So lessons were learned.

This weekend is the Charlotte Comic Convention! Very exciting time to be had. My friend Barry is coming over from across the pond and both my wife and I are looking forward to hanging out with him on Thursday night.

Donna and I are also planning on helping out the convention crew on Thursday by assisting picking up and dropping off the artists from the airport to the hotel. Always fun getting to meet these guys. They are the professionals that I've followed for some time and scold you if you call them sir and such.

I'll update after this weekend for sure! Have fun and stay cool!

Friday, June 13, 2008

And I tell you it's hotter than the goddess Athena!

So last week it finally happened at that one point you depend on it. Charlotte has been getting slammed, earlier than normal, with some rather hot temperatures. We're talking high 90's. So what happens? The AC goes out! The unit was 19 years old and of course dies when needed the most. So for about 5 days we suffered in a house with 91 degrees the average. The dogs and cats kept to themselves with the dogs looking at me with that look "Why? What did we do? Where is the cool temperatures Alpha?".

So now it's fixed...fixed as in the entire AC unit upstairs and outside being replaced. My desire to draw this past weekend was shot since just sitting in one location, one would have sweat pouring from them in every location sweat could pour from.

But now...it's quieter...saves energy and everyone is back to normal. I also started something today that I have wanted to try out for some time now. I started biking into work (7 miles) and will try to keep this up once a week throughout the summer. Maybe even up it to 2 -3 times a week just to, yes I have to say it, save a little bit of money on gas. I figure it takes about 1 gallon of gas per trip to and from work. So that's 4 dollars a day and two days will be 8. Over time it adds up and I will try to keep this up until end of Summer. Once the light of the sun begins to not help out lighting my way as much, I will have no desire to bike through this one park which offers peace and quiet during the moment or two I am in there.

Do you best to conserve. It's not going to get easier for a while and finding new sources of energy will take just as long if not longer.

That being said...I am working on a very nice piece for a friend. I will share once I can get a drawing I am I satisfied with. Cheers!