Saturday, December 31, 2011

If PRINT IS DEAD and COMICS ARE DEAD... then what is the ZOMBIE TRANSMISSIONS SKETCHBOOK?!!

That goofy creepy weirdo from Zombie Island Zero is back, and he's got 2 words for ya...

Friday, December 23, 2011

IDIOT ENGINE ep 49:DEATH in Storytelling!



Join me and self-publisher Javier Hernandez as we talk about how Death is used in storytelling. Now, it may sound like a down beat subject, but take my word for it we're absolutely animated! As a matter of fact, I'd say we were Alive about Death! Take a listen... if you DARE!
*note, I couldn't remember the name of a film I referenced that starred Eliot Gould. Well, thanks to the internet I have it, it's called LITTLE MURDERS (1971).

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Holiday Craft Fair 2011, Always a pleasure!


I just wrapped another Holiday Craft Fair, and it was fun for all. I had good sales (for me that means I made table costs with enough extra to buy dinner!(Mongolian BBQ, Oh Yeah!) and I did a load of Supermonster sketches for alot of appreciative kids.

I like making something special for every craft fair, and for this one I made a set of SUPERMONSTER Holiday cards. They came out pretty cool, and I think I'll be making more every holiday season.


I'd have to say doing a Craft Fair isn't the best arena to sell comics and graphic novels. But if you're like me and have other types of merchandise like coloring books (a big hit this season) or greeting cards or prints or t-shirts, I think your local craft fair is worth a look!

Monday, November 21, 2011

New to the WEBSTORE! GIANTS RISING...

GIANTS RISING is a 96 page graphic novel I did a few years back that I'm very proud of. It combined my childhood fascination of the "kid and his giant robot" genre with a modern, more cynical world view. I've posted it on the webstore, so check it out if you can!


Here's a cool writeup I received at the time!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Guys and now Dolls!

One more kit bashed creation for my ArtSketchbook. The Robot Woman... LADY RED!
onLady Red!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

There's room for "Apples AND Oranges" when you make a book!

One of the projects I'm working on is a full color Artist's Sketchbook covering art used in the DEATH'S HEAD TRANSMISSION graphic story I've got in the works. I'll be including portraits of some kitbashed 12 inch figures I put together for stop motion videos and other project reference. I've always loved toys ever since I was a kid. I think my first foray into storytelling was playing and creating adventures for my GI Joes or Shogun Warriors, or Micronauts, so this is a real treat for me to share another passion of mine in a book. Yeah, I play with dolls, wanna make somethin' of it? Hah!

And in case you missed it, here's ZOMBIE NOMAD ZERO the loner superhero stopmotion music vid!

Zombie Nomad Zero,
the loner Superhero!

He's got no Friends
and he's got no foes

He's got bottled Lightning
coursing through his toes!

So take my advice
and give him space

Zombie Nomad Zero
may win the Human Race!

Monday, November 7, 2011

IDIOT ENGINE ep 48: To Begin the Beginning!


A big big "Thank You" to self-publisher Javier Hernandez for co-hosting this latest ENGINE! We discuss how to begin a story, citing movies like Pulp Fiction, Star Wars, as well as comics and TV shows. While we both spend a bit of time hawkin' our latest comics at the beginning heck, they're pretty cool books AND for those of the listeners on a strict time schedule, you can FF to the 10 min mark anyways!
Also, those inclined can play the "You Know" game and take a shot every time I say "You Know"... I guarantee no one out there will make it to the end of this ep! (Yikes!)

Take a listen if you get a chance!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

COMIC ASSEMBLE!!!

I'm hard at "Fun" working on my next project, this one's going to be roughly 90 pages with comic as well as painted pages. Though it's more pricy, I'm planning on having a color centerpage spread to treat everyone's eyeballs. Playboy it aint, but heck, this one you don't have to pretend to read it just for the articles!

Normally I'd go digital, but this time I used a china marker to add a mid tone to the art. Looks good, though it's a little riskier since it's applied to the original art.
I was planning on going b/w with the whole book, but felt having a color centerfold added the right impact to this particular part of the story.

This is probably one of my favorite parts of making a book, the editing and assembly.
"Comic Assemble!!!"

Saturday, October 8, 2011

EARN A SUPERMONSTERAMA TODAY!


I finally set up a page to sell my work! It feels good to have taken this step finally. I've done shows and will continue to do so, but now that I've actually built a storefront (it ain't much, more like a hotdog stand!) I have more reason to create work, express my art, and entertain. So... if any of you are so inclined, take a look at my "Hotdog cart" and if you like, I'll serve you up one with mustard!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Comic Book Workshop Comic Jam!

I was a guest speaker for Self-publisher/teacher Javier Hernandez's comic book workshop class in Pico Rivera recently and I had a great time! I asked Javier prior to class if I could work with his students on a comicbook jam rather than giving a demonstration or lecture and he gave me a green light, so that's just what we did. I must admit I wasn't sure how it would turn out, having never tried this with a class before, but it turned out great! Man, Jav's students really did an outstanding job! A big "Thank You" to Javier for inviting me to speak to his class, and to all his students for reminding me how special comics and art can be to the young and young at heart!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Sketch Painting to unwind after a busy day!


Here's a sketch painting I did tonight, done with acrylic on 5" by 7" canvas board. I had a busy day, and unwinding with some loose paint and firm canvas really hit the spot!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Going OLD SCHOOL in a digital age...

Here's the way I work when I'm not on the computer . I use a fairly large, not too thick, hardback book(This Popeye book is great!). I can keep projects saved between the pages.


Right now, I've got three projects in the book:

My latest SUPERMONSTERMOTION Flashanimation storyboards


A comic book story I'm illustrating for a fellow self-publisher


And my DEATH'S HEAD TRANSMISSION graphic novel project

I'm not gonna let the lack of tech hold me back... I hope you don't either!

One does not live on Art Alone!




One does not live on Art alone. Translation: My friggin' computer is still down so I can't scan or make stuff yet! So, here I am enjoying the STAN SAKAI exhibit in Little Tokyo over in Los Angeles at the JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM. It was a really cool exhibit, showcasing one of the premier comic creators of our time! If you can, go check it out! He's got an amazing body of work on display! Oh, and don't forget to check out the Mitsuru Cafe across the street! That cafe has been around since I can remember, and when it comes to food, I remember, I REMEMBER! Good old fashioned Japanese American food at really inexpensive prices! Don't believe me? Check out the pic!

Now THAT'S a lunch plate!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Making headway on DEATH'S HEAD TRANSMISSION project!

Like most of us Artists/self-publishers I've got more than a couple projects going. Until I figure out how to draw with my feet(Man, my legs just hang there off the chair while my arms do all the work!) I've got to budget my time so I don't neglect any one of them.
So far, today, 5 pgs and counting of my DEATH'S HEAD TRANSMISSION graphic story! Here's a couple of pages just to show you I ain't blowin' smoke up your chimney!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

IDIOT ENGINE ep48: Finding Style in your Art!

This episode of the ENGINE I'm joined by self-publisher/illustrator/character designer Mary Bellamy as we discuss finding style in one's art. It's a solid, informative and enlightening episode, and if you don't believe me, take a listen for yourself! (See how I'm gettin' you to listen to the episode? But seriously, it's a good one, and just at the hour mark too, so you'll still have time to catch that episode of that show you always like to watch aferwards!)

Monday, August 15, 2011

IDIOT ENGINE ep 47 Chasing that Great White Whale!

Join me and Artist/self-publisher/teacher/podcaster Javier Hernandez as we discuss chasing that One elusive art project... You know the one, the GREAT WHITE WHALE, Ishmael!!!(Man, I've gotta read Moby Dick... dangerous making reference to a story you haven't read yet!)

Friday, August 12, 2011

Who can stop...ZOMBIE MONSTER ZERO?!?!!



Who can stop ZOMBIE MONSTER ZERO?!! is my latest SUPER MONSTER MOTION animated short and breath a sigh of relief because there's NO "Robot Rap" included in this one!
I incorporated live action, stopmotion, and some specific effects in this piece that I think work okay. While every short I do shows me how much I have yet to learn, I don't let that discourage me, Why? Because every short I do, shows me what I can do with what I DO know! I say, Celebrate what you "Can" do rather than lament what you "Can't" do.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Leftover paint? No Such Thing!!!

So, what do you do if you have leftover yellow paint after you finish your wrap-around t-shirt face mask you're gonna use for your next stopmotion silliness? You go back in to that painting with the giant robots blasting the city... Here's a snapshot of my work desk circa Tonight...
I'm fightin' a cold, but I'm hopin' a prescription of creativity will cure me quicker than you can say, "Take two and call me in the morning!"


Saturday, August 6, 2011

ZOMBIE BADGE ZERO the Enforcer Superhero!





Zombie Badge Zero
The Enforcer Superhero

He Slips out of the Shadows
and Into the night

Protecting the innocent
with all of his might!

He can dodge silver bullets
and stakes to the heart

He can eat a can of beans
with nary a fart!

So breath a sigh of relief
when you're lying in bed

'Cause Zombie Badge Zero
is out flashing Red!

Monday, July 25, 2011

What the F@#* am I doing with my time?

Okay, even I'm getting kinda skeptical with how I'm spending my limited free time now... Kitbashing (making my own model out of parts from other pre-existing model kits) a spaceship for my latest Super Monstermotion stopmotion video actually does kinda feel like I'm wasting my time... NOT!
Hey, you gotta have faith in your creative side, your "Muse" so to speak. Why follow your Muse? It can't be any worse than following anybody else, that's for sure! I promise you one thing, there's a kind of integrity you nurture when you do. So, I say give your creative Muse a chance, you might find wasting time never felt so satisfying!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

ZOMBIE NOMAD ZERO the Loner Superhero! Stopmotion video with ... gasp...a beat?!?!?!



Here's my latest experiment with stopmotion. I'm having a blast and am now ready to make a slightly more ambitious short, step by step it'll get done! But for now here's

Zombie Nomad Zero,
the loner Superhero!

He's got no Friends
and he's got no foes

He's got bottled Lightning
coursing through his toes!

So take my advice
and give him space

Zombie Nomad Zero
may win the Human Race!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Squeezed out another Stopmotion exercise!

I'm really busy with stuff, but managed to squeeze out a quick little stopmotion exercise. Sometimes life is so crazy all one can do is just keep moving, and this is just me "Keeping moving". You've heard of Dynamotion and Stopmotion? Well this is... SUPER MONSTERMOTION!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

My Incredible HULK one sheet fan doodle!


Everybody knows what it's like waiting... for the DMV, at the dentist's office, getting your car fixed... Well, to pass the time I cracked open my trusty notepad, and here's the result!(I used photoshop to color it)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

SUPER MONSTERAMA Comic Art Book Trailer #3!

Zombiemask Zero "The Homemade Superhero" can't take it in this third SUPER MONSTERAMA trailer, check it out!

Friday, May 27, 2011

ZOMBIEMAN ZERO MINI!

In case some of you haven't seen it yet, here's the first ever Bronze Age version of ZOMBIEMAN ZERO "The Man Made SuperHero" in his very own full color minicomic!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

IDIOT ENGINE ep 45:Short and oh Sooo Sweet!




Join Me and premier indie animator/podcaster JIM LUJAN as we talk about the short format and it's challenges, advantages and disadvantages in storytelling. Jim really knows this format well, as is evident in his "Short" body of work! (His body of work isn't "Short" its actually long... It's his working in the "Short" format that I'm talking.... well you get it!) Take a listen when you get a chance and you won't be sorry!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

IDIOT ENGINE ep 44 Adrift in a Sea of Content

In this episode of the IDIOT ENGINE, artist/self-publisher/teacher/podcaster Javier Hernandez and I discuss the challenges we face being creators in a world of ever increasing content. With more Movies, tv shows, internet shows, podcasts, video games, animations, comics, mini-comics, magazines, blogs, etc. than ever before, how do we as creators compete and survive and get our content to our audience? I'm not saying me and Jav answer this question, but I am saying that we have fun trying! Take a listen if you get a chance!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Don't let go until it's over!


Yup, I said I was done like 6 hours ago, but you know what? It was still a little "Raw" in the middle. I rendered the kneeling figure more and I think it helps the piece. One thing I've learned over the years of making my own comics and stories and personal art is never be afraid of going back in when you know you could make your work better. That's one of the few advantages of doing your own personal work, YOU have the time to go all the way with it.
That being said, I can't honestly say I went ALL THE WAY with this piece, but I know I at least got to third base!

Final version of Final Battle

Here's the final version of the final battle for my current project, THE DEATH'S HEAD TRANSMISSION. I had a tough time before figuring out how to render the energy of the battle, trying a couple approaches before finding just the right one, but I found it. It's always satisfying finding that round hole for that round peg, or using another analogy, finding that last piece of the puzzle that brings the whole picture together! Man, I dig analogies.:)

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Prelim painting for my latest series...


Here's the preliminary painting for another piece in my latest series THE DEATH'S HEAD TRANSMISSION. Man, I dig having a painting I can wake up to. It's like having cold pizza in the fridge or having the last few chapters in a favorite book to finish. Sometimes, "Getting" there IS where the fun is really at!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Spring Craft Fair 2011

I just got back from the Spring Craft Fair where I had a fun time talking with some delightful vendors and public. It was a rather small turnout this time around, but I managed to make a few sales and make a few "smiles" with some free sketches. Afterwards, I stopped by a local store and sold a few more books which made my sales for the day tip JUST over my table costs, which is always a good feeling. There are a few watermarks one tries to meet when tabling at a show...

(1) Make table cost
(2)Make expenses cost-motel/hotel/gas/meal
(3)Make production costs-gross sales are not Net sales, it costs money to print the stuff-
(4)Make labor cost-paying ourselves for our time and labor making our merchandise-
(5)Make "Build a gigantic robot statue" cost, wherein you make enough money to build that gigantic robot statue in that public park you just know EVERYBODY wants someone to build.

One of these days that friggin' robot statue is gonna be made and all will rejoice... Who's going to be the one to get it made? Maybe... YOU! So keep the faith and keep convention-ing!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Painting for fun!


So, this one's called "Torture Tech" It's a piece that started out to be part of my ZOMBIEMAN ZERO story but just didn't work. I finally decided to let it run and it became a piece that anyone with a PC can relate to... Friggin' Trojans, viruses... dang popups! Anyway, the lesson here is, if the painting doesn't want to be something, chances are it's supposed to be something else!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

IDIOT ENGINE Ep 43: Working for a Publisher VS Self-Publishing... And the winner is?

A big "Thank You" goes out to Artist/Podcaster Peter Palmiotti for cohosting the latest ENGINE! We discuss the blessings and curses of working for a publisher as well as the challenges of self-publishing. It's a good one folks, take a listen!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

IDIOT ENGINE ep 42: Violence and how it's used in storytelling

Join Me, Journalist/self-publisher Michael Aushenker, and Teacher/self-publisher Javier Hernandez as we tackle the topic of "Violence and how it's used in storytelling!" We discuss violence and how it's used in works from the Godfather to the Three Stooges in this one folks. I'm not going to lie to you, it's a big one, just shy of 2 hours, but it's also a Good one, so give it a listen if you get a chance!



ZOMBIEMAN-MONSTER ATTACKS! Finished piece


Here's the finished ZOMBIEMAN-MONSTER Attacks painting. I kept much of the original loose rendering on the tanks and background to help focus attention on the figure who is the center of interest for the piece.
It's interesting to compare the rough and final... I lost some gesture and energy of brushstroke, but gained detail and definition. Walking the line between gesture and detail can be precarious indeed.


Saturday, March 19, 2011

ZombieManMonster Attack Painting: Preliminary pass...

Here's the first pass for my latest ZombieMan-Monster painting. It's very loose and rough and fluid, which is what I look to establish in this early phase.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Another character painting from ZOMBIEMAN ZERO Super ManMonster!

Here's another character painting from my latest project, ZOMBIEMAN ZERO Super ManMonster! (title subject to change) I arrived at this design after customizing an old action figure I had, so by combining two of my favorite "Tastes" ( action figures and painting) I got something that I think "Tastes great together"! Man, I want a peanut butter cup right about now!


Saturday, March 5, 2011

PWG TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT 2011!

I went to the PWG tag team tournament last night, and had a blast. I got to see wrestlers from the east coast, Japan, Canada and all around. The crowd was great, the wrestlers were great and everybody was very cool.

The coolest moment for me was when a wrestler accidentally spit on a guy in the audience when he was yelling at his opponent in the corner. During the match he went over and sincerely apologized to the guy. I dig wrestling because of its contradictions. Guys are fighting, but actually they are working together making each other look good. It's fighting and violence, but nobody gets hurt.

I understand that sometimes in life we have to fight, and make a stand. I understand we have to defend ourselves and our loved ones and what we believe in with violence sometimes. But I don't feel the "Glory" of true battle. It has to be done, and blood has to be spilled, but it's not glorious.

WRESTLING can be glorious in it's violence, because it's pretend. It's Play and Drama and everything you loved as a kid chasing Cops and Robbers and Cowboys and Indians. I get plenty of "Reality" from real life, and I prefer to enjoy and relish my violence and hate and anger when it's pretend.

To pass the time waiting for tickets I made a comic you can check out here!








Monday, February 28, 2011

THUMB BANANA PRIVATE EYEBALL part 5: Low there cometh the ending!

THUMB BANANA PRIVATE EYEBALL finally solves the case of POTATO HEADER PUBLIC ENEMY #1!




This was a silly project, but it was really fun for me to do something a little different! Hope you guys got a chuckle out of it!



Sunday, February 27, 2011

THUMB BANANA PRIVATE EYEBALL part 4

Private Eyeball, THUMB BANANA learns that you can never escape from your past!