It's Manic Monday! The sun's out today but it's been raining a lot this month. It must be fall (what can I say, it's San Diego; we measure the seasons like that) and the pile of work on my desk is beckoning. Let's make this return a good but fast one!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Holy crap, it's been awhile! I've had a LOT going on lately (all of it good, so no complaining there) and the blog kinda slipped through. But I'm back in full effect. (Famous last words right?)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
How's the DC 52 launch been working out for you? Retailers, readers, casual observers? The two comic stores that I frequent have have had most stuff in stock, but it's all been moving briskly. I still don't have a Justice League! Forth printing anyone?
One of the stores is charging pretty inflated prices for scarce issues and I'm not sold on the idea. I understand supply/demand (I'm an artist, but there's some non-art smarts bumping around up there. Somewhere) but for a line of comics designed to be a massive jumping-on point it seems short-sighted to make a quick five extra bucks now but maybe lose a loyal reader of that book who would be spending that extra three a month.
Is it just me?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last week was a lot of thumbnailing, which is not that much fun to see, and a studio renovation, which I guess isn't really that much fun to see either... Productive though! I'll start rolling out the pencils for you to see as I get 'em done. Get 'Em Done!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just recently saw the 1984 re-release of Fritz Lang's classic silent film Metropolis. Metropolis is generally thought of as the first sci-fi movie. It was released in 1927, but in a heavily-edited version that left out a lot of back story, elaboration and cool stuff. Over the years, snippets are found here and there, in random warehouses and film lots and they're re-added and re-released in theaters. The 1984 edition of Metropolis is WAY more than just that (though it does have footage not in the original release). The '84 release had a musical score, sound effects and limited colorization all overseen by disco impresario
Giorgio Moroder. In addition, songs for the film were done by Bonnie Tyler, Pat Benatar, Adam Ant and Freddie Mercury.
Holy. Shit. It was amazing! Your mileage may vary, and vary WILDLY, but I thought it was a brave, exciting, and well-executed modern take on the classic film. Like Picasso riffing on Goya, it's a bold statement of inspiration and indebtedness. Amazing. I saw it at a local art film theater, but it's available now on Netflix Instant Streaming. Check it out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of my more exciting projects recently was a caricature piece unlike any I've done. I was contacted to do a caricature of a guy and his girlfriend where he "hires me" (quotes will make sense very soon) to draw them together in the park as a cool thing to do. I meet with them, draw the two of them, and then turn the drawing around....
...and it's actually a drawing of him down on one knee proposing to her.
It was an awesome idea (why didn't I think of that?!? Haha) and I had a blast doing it. The day was beautiful, she was genuinely surprised and everything went as planned.
And yes, she said yes!
Here's my initial sketches for it
He liked 'B' a bit more (I'd agree) and I drew that up with their features roughed in.
I then did a finished drawing of them, and left the background for the day of, so I'd have something to do while I pretended to draw them! I gotta say, it's not easy pretending to draw. "I'm an artist, not an actor Jim!" Anyways, enough yapping. Here's the finished piece! (And congrats again to the happy couple!)
See you tomorrow everybody!
