Self Portrait debt, with romantic interest.

Muahahah! So I was talking to a friend about "things™". She mentioned that it's been "proven" by relationship councilors that if you draw a picture of your self as a part of a couple, your romantic situation will improve. Of course, I had to try it out. The skinny kid on the left is me. My facial hair comes in like that, yes. I don't own a portfolio like that, no. I do own that pair of shoes, I just don't wear them because they rub against my ankles in a surprisingly painful way.

So, perhaps.. seasonally this is a couple of months early. It's still not feeling quite like Christmas to me.. just yet. That being said, Valentines day also happens to be something I"m never in the mood for either. But unlike Christmas, which requires snow and ice for me to really make the connection. Couples counseling and self affirmations are truly pan seasonal.

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas time.

Ah, here's a couple of sketches that I'm working on.

Here's the 'favored' thumbnail for the horse pic, the color is still rough, and I might fiddle with the back ground some more here, but I really liked the energy in the horse and where it was going n' all. The other sketch is proof you can do water color on anything, just be prepared for a few wrinkles. Still, even in it's wrinkly state: I like it a lot. Maybe I'll make it a back ground layer and digital it all out. Still... love the expression on this one.
Enjoy you guys.

So, what's on my easel?

This is on my easel. No digital anything, pure acrylic baby. This has been a displacement activity for me of sorts. Work's been slow, and I'm polishing up the portfolio. I like to think I'm in a good place. If one were to ask what I do in my spare time, I can say I paint, draw, do comic books. And the artwork I do I like. Now, I'm always seeking to improve. I'm in no danger of having my head not fit through tight door frames. But it's big enough that I'm actually going through doors. Or will be after a couple more of these. I think I'm going to paint a horse in my next piece. But, I don't wanna give too much away. I mean, what would be the fun in that?

I've got it! it's scanned. Beware!

Seriously, I'm so excited about this thing. I almost didn't attend the 24 hour comic book day. I had work that morning, and was seriously intimidated by all the cool work that was up when I wheeled in at about 7pm (9 whole hours after it all started!) So, I stuck to what I was good at, what I loved. And I wrote for myself, who not only is my favorite audience, and biggest fan: But is also the critic I love most. My evil plan (Muhahaha!) is to get this thing onto drunkduck.com and release it page a day style. So, to read it.. You're going to have to wait, or corner me. I'll let you read it then. As far as a title? Meh, it'll come to me sooner or later.

Enough Verbage, let me show you what you came here for.

Well, the comic is getting close to being back in my hands. To celebrate this fact. I'm going to be painting a cover for it.

Here's the sketch:

Ah, a photoshop painting.
Check,
My favorite subject matter.
Check,
Lot's of smoke and a couple of stylistic affections that I like to effect.
Check, and Check.

Done?

For now.

AAU 24 hour comic book challenge!

Ahh, this was a lot of fun. Here's some pics stripped from the photo site that Dan Cooney has posted on the web. http://24hrcomic-academyart.blogspot.com/ if you're looking for something fun to click on. I've got a couple of photo's and in them there are a few pages that I did that you can see. I'll be posting the comic up in it's entirety on a wonderful web based comic book site. Probably Drunk Duck or something like it. In the mean time, enjoy some photo's of me hard at work on my 24 hour comic. And yes, it did get done.. with a half hour to spare, no less.