Joel's Art, the Universe and Everything Else Blog

Food Packaging

2011-11-11T13:05:00.001-08:00

Did some food packaging design work for Crazy Dick's Cajun Foods recently. It's a great local company that does organic cajun spice. I worked closely with owners Rich and Lori Curole and I think we came up with some good images.

I'm especially fond of the alligator, he's pretty disney-esque. It's fun to be at the beginning of something like this so I feel pretty lucky they choose me to be a part of it-Thanks Rich and Lori!

"The Hunter" prowls NYCC

2011-10-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

Peek at the cover for Frank Reynoso's story that I illustrated. It stars p. i. Dan Sabine, as I stated in a previous post many moons ago, a character I created and Frank decided to weave into his own original story set in, where else, Maine! Frank plans to have it for sale at his table at the New York Comic Con. It felt good to draw comics again after 8 months of storyboarding. Hopefully people will enjoy it. Just in time for Halloween, folks!

You Ugly Mug

2011-05-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

Went to MCAF. Saw some great art, talked to some cool folks from all over. Drew this when I got home.

New, Old Stuff

2011-04-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

My surprise to find my old, first run comics on Amazon.com. What struck me is the price, and where, who, what? NINE BUCKS?! I guess they ARE collector's items. I only found out about this when a coworker asked where they could get my comics and I said the quickest way was Amazon, since comic stores have long since moved on. Anyway, more power to them.

Painting is ALMOST complete on Ben Asselin's awesome re-imagining of Geeples hero Tanjo Glider, my childhood friend, Taj's alter-ego.

Dan the Man in the Woods

2011-03-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Concept studies for a story by Frank Reynoso featuring my character from years back, Detective Dan Sabine. Dan was actually a character in the first Zow story. Zow, the story of an Ori Pata ( which means "man-killer" in I think ancient Scythian-so basically an amazon warrior) was my first ever finished comic series. I submitted the first issue to the Xeric Foundation but didn't get the grant, and Dan was left on the cutting room floor. He didn't make it into Along The Canadian, either, although he'd fit. So he's been around for 12 years or so in one form or another. I even tried to get him into the Geeples storyline Who knows? Maybe I still will. I was already planning a new, gritty series with him when Frank asked to write a story with him in it. What could I say? I met frank at SPX a few years ago, and had already seen what he could do both art-wise, and read several of his scripts. An artist who KNOWS how to write great comics stories, and he wants to write a story with one of MY characters? Where do I sign? I was floored when I read the script. Frank really ran with this, his story is a very original take on a local Maine legend, I'll let you guess which one. He actually did 2 completely different treatments.

Artwise, I'm also working with a nib and new ink that doesn't spider so much on bristol board, so the look is a bit different than even the rapidograph I was using for the initial Necromancer art a while back. This is a real treat for me, and I'm aiming for a real departure from both my past work like Lester and Along The Canadian and obviously the more cartoony look of Geeples. I still get to draw monsters, though, so Frank's looking out for me there.

Different versions of the monster, I'm liking #1. I designed that one from the skeleton up.

Hopefully that satisfies you for a while as I work on storyboards. Look for it this fall. And thanks again to Frank for breathing life into this and bringing your own unique vision to the table!

-Joel

New(ish) Geeples Art and Storyboard Sabbatical

2011-03-29T08:06:00.001-07:00

Some art from the upcoming Geeples monster romp in Part II of the Snow Chief story that's stalled, I'm afraid. I've been busy with what I can only say is an opportunity of a lifetime doing storyboards for a hypercool animation project my buddy is involved in, so I'm afraid personal projects are gettin' a bit dusty. I'm not sure when the project I'm working on will see daylight, but it could be quiet a while, but when I get the green light to do so I will announce it here.

I did the below art maybe Dec, early January? I was also beginning to lay out a really awesome comic written by my friend Frank Reynoso based on my character, Dan Sabine, but that is also on hold for a while. I may post some concept art for that soon. What can I say, they call them "once in a lifetime opportunities" for a reason. Talk to you all soon!

-Joel

EARTHQUAKE!

2011-01-27T04:31:00.000-08:00

My friend, Judith Hunt, has a new kids science book out about earthquakes. She was kind enough to wrangle a little work in it for me so I now have a few scientific diagrams to my credit, but the real stars of the show are Judith's amazing paintings:

Her son Ben did the lion's share of the diagrams, many incredibly intricate and detailed:

The book, EARTHQUAKE, is available on the Treasure Bay website and on Amazon.com. Thanks, Judith for the opportunity. April the 18th happens to be my birthday, not to mention the focus of the story half of this "Half and Half" book is San Francisco, my home town. Worked out well. Here are some of my diagrams, a bit boring, I know:

Tanjo's Kingdom Come

2010-11-16T03:54:00.001-08:00

Here it is! Ben Asselin's sculpture of my Geeples character, Tanjo. Actually, Tanjo was created by my life-long friend Taj Riffia when we were mere pups. Ben's a Hell of a nice guy, a fellow traveler in the realm of art and was introduced to me by our mutual friend, another Ben (Bishop, a towering talent in his own right). Ben-Asselin (so many Bens)- approached me some months back, when things were considerably warmer in Maine, about doing one of the Geeples characters as a sculpture. I had already seen what Ben was capable of and was kind of stunned and humbled that he'd pick my aquadoodles to base one of his incredible pieces on. As you can see of Ben's work, he's an Old Master trapped in the present day. It's a painstaking process, modeling and then creating the mold and then casting that I don't truly understand in it's entirety-being a 2-D guy almost exclusively-I can't guess how many hours goes into something like this. Ben made it look like a bronze in a city square. This comes with a sculpted cloak, and once I paint one I'll post the figure with his full ensemble. Amazing work! Thanks, Ben! Now I must work the rest of my life to prove worthy...

It's Sharky's Day. It's Sharky's day... today.

2010-10-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

More mindless carnage. I'm getting a lot of ideas from songs. The last 2 posts, including this one I listened to "Mr. Jones" from Talking Heads, and this one I was thinking about Sharky's Day, an old song by Laurie Anderson. God, she's awesome. For those LOTR nerds, "Sharkey" was a pseudonym for Sarumon, the turncoat Wizard, after he losses most of his powers. This piece, the second or third page of a short I'm working on, is part of a larger outline of stories I'm calling "Necromancer", another Tolkien reference. Mr. Jones is an old character of mine, the first real villain of Along The Canadian. I killed him off, but here he is, like a cockroach. Now I got to explain his resurrection in contemporary times... hm.

This one's optimistic...

2010-10-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

A friend suggested I should try doing music-themed illustration, or maybe fashion. I'm not sure how qualified a fashion illustrator I am-ask ANYONE- but I DO listen to a LOT of music. Also a good friend of mine, Ryan Lamunyon, has done some great rock-inspired art and that helped to inspired me, too. I was never a huge Radiohead fan, really, but was my wife is and she bought a "best of" album of theirs. I loved it. It was twangy and angry and smart in a way not much pop is (one could argue that they are "alternative", and I'm sure that's how they are categorized by musicologists-sorry any band that's famous kinda becomes "pop" in my head).

Anyway, I love the song "Optimistic" because it's so visual. The images were strong and basically create a little movie in your head-or MY head anyway. I finally succeeded in getting some of that on paper this morning. I combined that with a not so accurate portrait of the band, or at least frontman Thom Yorke.

Mr. Jones, put a wiggle in your stride.

2010-10-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

Some art from a silent, stream of consciousness story I'm working on.

Stuff

2010-09-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

Been in flux, but have been drawing. The color sketch is after I watched and re-read some of Edgar Rice Burrough's "At the Earth's Core". Cheesy movie, but Peter Cushing gives a rare comedic performance.

Back to Geeples

2010-08-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

After a bit of a break, doing some more Geeples art. I have some really cool announcements coming up but all I can say for now is get ready to be rocked in 3-D, people.

Getting Political

2010-07-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Some quick political illustrations that just came to me. These are basically sketches, but the oil-spill one I doctored in Photoshop. I did these after a few weeks of feverishly working on my own website in between doing WORK work. I didn't do much drawing, and then I did these. Interesting.

New Website is up!

2010-07-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

I've been killing myself to launch my new, re-designed and hopefully better SITE. Any advice, comments or corrections are appreciated.

- Joel

Coast City Comics

2010-06-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

Hey, all. I'll be at Coast City Comics tomorrow, as Portland's newest comic shop turns a year old. It should be fun with notable comic creators, lots of deals on books and a friendly staff and tenacious owners Tony and Gerald. I'll be peddling my Geeples books and maybe bring some original art for folks to look at. Local comic creators Ben Bishop, Ryan Lamunyon, Hugh Tims, Elizabeth Heller, Sarah Winifred Searle and, I think, Alex Irvine - yes THE Alex Irvine who writes novels for Marvel comics and teaches college here in Portland - are rumoured to be showing up at one time or another. Should be a.....

...humanzee-powered blast.

See you there!

Of Steampunks and Podcasts

2010-05-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

Not quiet done, but a peak at my Steampunk piece for the Maine Illustrator Collective's upcoming show at The Greenhand bookstore next month. Gerald Von Stoddard of Coast City Comics interviewed me via podcast yesterday. We talked comics, digital vs. print and the end of humanity as we know it (not really). We actually had some technical problems the first time around, so what you can hear is the second take, which is a good thing because even though my famous coffee-fueled motor-mouth is in full force, I actually answer Gerald's questions instead of pausing and saying "Ummm" a lot.

Free Comic Book Day & Maine Comics Art Festival-UPDATE

2010-04-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

(Note: I incorrectly said that MECAF is 2 days, it is not. Exhibitors will be at the Ocean Gateway for only 1 day, Sunday the 23rd. Saturday the 22nd will be a day of free panels at the Portland Public Library, read the last paragraph).

On the eve of Free Comic Book Day, I thought I should highlight all things comics in the area. Firstly go support your local comic shop for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 1st. Shops will be having events and free comics for the kiddos. Local artists will be in attendance At Coast City Comics, including yours truly, and Casablanca Comics will be welcoming what looks to be some Star Wars characters.

Later in May on the 23 to be exact, sees the return of Maine Comics Arts Festival, brianchild of local comics retailer and comic literacy crusader, Rick Lowell. Rick and his wife Laura O'Meara along with their crew of store employees and an army of volunteers will transform the Ocean Gateway into a portal to Comicdom. MEIC members like Christina Siravo and myself will be exhibiting along with 100+ local and national comic creators. Leading the list of headliners is comics writer Brian Wood and Canadian artist and writer Jeff Lemire. Local notables include Michael Conner, proprietor of Strange Maine, and talented illustrator in his own right, has told me he will be premiering a collection of his long-running mini-comic "Coelacanthus". David Naybor, long-time Casablanca Comics employee has been working for years on his book "Walking in Christendom." Both are profiled HERE by Maine resident and Comics Journal Blogger Rich Kreiner. Sarah Searle and Elizabeth Heller are two more young, talented local comic artists that are active in the comics scene here in Maine.

There will be an art show for the participants at the newly re-opened Portland Public Library. The whole thing should be a blast, and kids under 12 are free. Who doesn't like that? The library will also be the location for a series of panels for anyone interested in learning more about or how to make comics. The schedule is here.

Obion Comics on Panelfly!

2010-04-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

You can now download both Geeples #1 and BHIB on Panelfly if you have an iPhone or iPad:

Comic Sketches

2010-04-27T04:33:00.000-07:00

Stuff with a 1940 flare:

Monsters

2010-04-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

I love drawing monsters. What can I say? By the time this page is done in the comic, no one will remember this post, so, hopefully I'm not giving much away.

Finally Done!

2010-04-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

Finally finished the painting I was working on.

I'm not 100% happy with it. Maybe I was working too small. I'm also lazy, I'm used to doing stuff in Painter and Photoshop and being able to "undo".

Getting Deep Down

2010-03-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

My dinosaurs need some TLC, so I've been studying skeletons, coming across a nice Diplodocus juvenile on Wikipedia

I added muscles, looking at what other artists did. I had to patch together information from several sources on related dinosaurs, which was a better exercise anyway. This is my first study, I think I've read that some young sauropods could run on their back legs, a hint that their ancestors were two-legged. I added that here, along with the big, puppy-dog eyes that are huge when compared to the adult (whose foot you can spot in the Wikipedia linked photo) as well. He still looks wobbly, and reminds me of new-born baby wildebeests.

Oh, Canada

2010-03-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

I've been busy! I've got some exciting announcements coming up, but for now I thought I'd post another-surprise!-dinosaur piece I'm working on. This one is NOT digital but pencil, graphite dust, watercolor crayons and acrylic.... It's Albertosaurus, (T. Rex's snow-loving cousin) vs. the ceratopsian Styracosaurus.
It's taking me forever, but to be fair, I've spent little time this week on it.

Ardipithicus, New England Comic Group Blog, etc. etc.

2010-03-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

A detail of a very ambitious and probably never-to-be-completed paleontology piece I'm doing in Painter. This is just a detail and definitely unfinished. Ardipithicus was an almost 6 million-year-old great granddaddy to, well very likely, us. Less sharp-toothed but no more intelligent than a chimp, they were bipeds with grasping feet (a truly strange combination).

On the comics front, Sarah Searle is starting a group blog for New England cartoonists and comic creators and has invited me to contribute. Thanks, Sarah! It's called "The Collective". So that's 3 things I'm involved with that have that monicker, the Maine Illustrator's Collective, The Collective, a comic project started by Ben Bishop that I provided a chapter for, and now this blog group. Collectively speaking, they are quiet a collection.

I Have reserved a table at the Maine Comics Art Fest, so look for me there in May. I'm going to have a full table, so I will bring original art along with Geeples books and other goodies. Hopefully iAllosaur 2.0 (for the iPhone and, hopefully, iPad) will be out by then. Here's a sneak at the art for that:

More Dinosaurs

2010-02-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

More experimenting with Painter. I'd love to do REAL paintings, but can't handle the fumes and have no room, at the moment. This one, supposedly Protoceratops, Triceratops g. granddad, fighting some nasty, secondarilary flightless birds known as Velociraptor Mongoliensis, themselves g. grandchildren of Archaeopteryx (the first bird). I didn't use much reference on this one, so I apologize if any of the anatomy is off, I was going for a sense of movement. Next time I promise to crack open a Gregory S. Paul book.

The Comics Journal reviews The Collective

2010-02-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

Rich Kreiner, who originally reviewed my first comic ever, Along The Canadian #1, in the pages of The Comics Journal waaay back in '04 just reviewed The Collective, a collaborative comic project, one still ongoing, that Ben Bishop, Jason Gorcoff and Ryan Lamunyon (who's portion is unpublished-but awesome) all did together. Ben deserves the lion's share of the credit. He did the pre-press, came up with the original idea and prodded and poked us to do our parts. Rich also reviews "Oh My Black Eye", a coming-of-age short comic Ben wrote and drew around the same time. Check out the full review HERE.

Thanks, Rich for stopping by our table at last year's Maine Comics Art Festival!

Cool.

Titan

2010-02-05T07:32:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by Sachi to do some planetary art after we rediscovered Carl Sagan's classic series, Cosmos. I forgot how awesome that show was. I would stay up late when it was on in '80, it was the beginning of my serious preoccupation with science in all it's forms. What still strikes me is the humanity and concern for our future in Sagan's worldview. It is not that cold, logical mind many associate with scientists. He was most concerned that we are likely to destroy ourselves and our world if we cannot bridge the divides that plague our young species. Very relevant today. I did this image entirely in Photoshop and Painter. Titan is a moon of Saturn, one of the few moons with an atmosphere and the potential for human colonists and, more importantly, life.

Sachi as an astronaut done in Painter and Photoshop.

Maine Illustrator Collective Website is NEW!

2010-02-03T15:11:00.000-08:00

New MEIC site is up! Koodos to Ben Dixon of Redbot Design, and the website committee.

Sneak Peak-Beware of Dog!

2010-02-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

A scene from Geeples #2!

SZet N'MinAAtth

2009-12-31T04:16:00.000-08:00

Yuuud da rrugah! Ragoo Ragoo! That's Chutulian for Happy New Year (and get my sacrifices ready, humans).

Step by Step in Painter X

2009-12-18T13:56:00.001-08:00

I had a free day, after scouring job boards and cleaning the house a bit, so I got busy with

some portfolio pieces. I want to do some real oil painting, but don't have a studio proper, so Painter X, Corel's crazt program that does allow some awesome effects (even if it stalls out and acts weird a lot of the time). Here is step by step doing a "painting".

Bigfoot

2009-12-18T06:57:00.001-08:00

Trying my hand at just Photoshop for this rendering. Kinda realistic.

What happens when you let go.

2009-12-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

For those of you who remember Along The Canadian, an old friend appeared as I was stream of consciousness writing a few pages for my crime novel/ode to San Francisco, the Lord's Hotel.

Funny what happens when you let go. I'm going back and re-working the other pages in watercolor now, so the site should have some new content before March. Just kidding.

G96

2009-12-04T04:26:00.000-08:00

Art idea for a story written by my friend, Taj.

Geeples Character design

2009-11-12T08:21:00.000-08:00

Some concept art for Geeples.

Geeples.com

2009-11-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

Finally got WordPress working. Took a week and a half, but I've got the new Geeples site close to how I think I want it. I'm colorizing the first issue, so look for that. The site is interactive, so hopefully folks'll spread the word and leave comments.

Empty The Frig & Coast City First Friday & The Classics Reimagined Show in Freeport

2009-11-04T04:06:00.000-08:00

If you all are up in around Portland Friday, stop by The Art House for "Empty The Frig" show, where I have a small painting for sale. The Art House is at 61 Pleasant Street. Opening reception is 5-9.

I will ALSO miraculously be at Coast City Comics on Congress street, for a showcase of my work around the same time. How can he be in two places at once? Come by and find out!

Finally, the next day I will be at the Freeport library for the opening of the The Classics Reimagined show put on my the Maine Illustrator Collective, to which I belong (in case you don't know). I will have a painting there, too, and am in some pretty awesome company for this and the Empty The Frig show.

Be seeing you.

Under The Sea

2009-10-27T08:40:00.001-07:00

I finished a small painting for the Empty The Frig show, sponsored by the Drawing Room. A return to some of the magical ladies I painted back in the 90's. I'm getting back into acrylic, and would like to do a bigger, more elaborate series. Need the time, though. The small details are done with Cretacolor AquaStic water-soluble oil Pastels over the acrylic.

Spooky Art Show is up

2009-10-03T11:54:00.001-07:00

The Maine Illustrator Collective Spooky Art Show is now up at Kennebooks in Kennebunk. The opening was last night and I was too sick with the cold I caught in Maryland to go. It's got some great local talent represented. I (just) finished my painting for it... a moment from Bram Stoker's Dracula novel I don't think I've ever seen in a painting.

iAllosaur is in iTunes!

2009-09-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

Finally! Get iAllosaur for your iPhone, and find out what I've been doing most of the year.

After SPX

2009-09-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

Got back from SPX yesterday. It wasn't too bad a trip, coming and going. I don't know the next time we'll do a convention again, but Sachi and I have the routine down. too early to tell if anything will grow from the seeds sown. Met some pretty cool people, and of course we tabled with the soon-to-be-famous Ben Bishop and the ultra-talented Meagan Anderson , who were nice enough to drive down our crap from Maine.

We were across from a monster-obsessed duo, half of which, Peter Lazarski, I talked to and traded books with toward the end. Nifty design work and a good eye. Susanne Baumann was to our right with her old-timy minis, and I got to talk to David Allan Duncan, and picked up the first issue (he had at least 3 there) of his "The Moonshine Murders" chronicling the still unsolved murder of three teenage friends in Alabama in the '50s. Talked with Jason Turner, of True Loves fame, one of my favorite reads, and talked to Frank Reynoso, creator of some really fun, offbeat humor comics.

The hotel, the Legacy, was nice-ish. The bed was comfortable and the water-pressure good, which is abut all you can ask. We did not stay where the convention was for economical reasons, but we were not too far away. Inside the convention hall it was an ICE-BOX, though... I looked over at Ben the second day, and his lips had turned blue. That was about the time Sachi and Meagan escaped to the Chevy Chase Mall to escape the smell of the nerd herd that surrounded the place. Whew! No more of that for a while!

The Spooky Art Show News Release

2009-09-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

September 14, 2009

Contact: Maine Illustrator Collective

For Community Calendar, Book Notes, or Galleries & Exhibits as Appropriate.

An art exhibition titled “The MEIC's Spooky Art Show” organized by The Maine Illustrators Collective will be on display at Kennebooks, a new bookstore located in Kennebunk's Lower Village from 5pm October 2^nd through Oct 31^st. The Maine Illustrators' Collective (MEIC) is a four year old non-profit collective of professional illustrators and designers meeting in Portland once a month to brain storm, critique new work, give support, share ideas, and offer advice on promoting each other's work. They also organize events, talks and shows.

The Spooky Art Show will feature paintings and original art based on classic horror novels, scary short stories and poems, and even local folklore. All participating MEIC artists are published or printed illustrators with several of the participating book illustrators having award-winning books.

Kennebooks and The MEIC will be hosting an open “Halloween” costume reception with “scary food” on Friday, Oct 2nd from 5 p.m. to 7:00 pm; the public is invited to attend. Costumes are encouraged with prizes to be given to the scariest and the most creative! Pumpkin carving demonstrations will be held on the bookstore's outdoor patio weather permitting.

Come see this frightful display, meet the dreadfully creative talent, and partake of spooky food while being serenaded by haunting melodies.

Art and prints will be available for purchase through the individual artists.

Exhibiting Artists:

Joel Zain Rivers- www.obioncomics.com

Nicole Fazio- www.nicolefazioillustration.com

Nancy Cooper Funk - www.nancycooperfunk.com

Judith Hunt - www.huntjudith.com

Leticia Plate - www.leticiaplate.com

Michael Boardman - www.coyotees.com/illustration

Helen Stevens - www.helenstephens.com

Wade Zahares - www.zahares.com

Benjamin Dixon - www.00120bc.blogspot.com

Mike Gorman -www.mikegorman.com

Steve Russell - http://mainearts.maine.gov/directory/listing.asp?ID=2675&name=Steve%20Russell

Ed Zelinsky

Robin Swennes - www.designchoc.com

Don Punchatz – a MEIC guest artist and award-winning Time magazine and bookcover illustrator

For further information contact the show coordinators or go to:

MEICwebsite: http://www.maineillustratorscollective.org

Blog: http://mecollective.blogspot.com/

Kennebooks is a brand new, year round, full service store designed to serve residents and tourists alike who are living and traveling in this area of Maine. Located on Port Road in Kennebunk’s Lower Village, it’s a quick stroll from downtown Kennebunkport, on the way to all the beaches, and provides plenty of parking. With more than 11,000 books, Kennebooks also carries a variety of unique gifts for young and old — gifts that can be paired perfectly with a book, or stand alone.

********************

Joel here, I am working on my peice for the show, an acrylic painting showing a key momemt in Bram Stoker's "Dracula," titled "Shut The Door!"

This is it in progress.

iAllosaur Screenshots

2009-09-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

Got some still-frames from the program to get an idea of what iAllosaur will look like. Thanks, Glenn!

Home Page

Stegosaurus in the background, flocks of pterosaurs.

Allosaurus with volcano.

Allosaurus asleep with some Apatosaurs in the background.

Of course, there is sound and movement, but hopefully you can get the idea. The application is interactive, but we figured since these are wild animals they choose if they are going to notice you or not. Perhaps it would be best NOT to tap the glass.

iAllosaur and GEEPLES

2009-09-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

Well, Issue 1 is off to the printers. I should have the proof by early next week. Hopefully it will look somewhat like I expect it to. Again, "Geeples" is my All-Ages story, and it's first issue is debuting at Small Press Expo this year. I will be tabling with my good friend Ben Bishop, who's got a lot of comic goodness to offer (more than me, anyway!)

I was away for a week in California on a family emergency, but I'm back to the grind, for now. Thanks to all the folks that rolled out the red carpet for me and all the support. Especially Colin, who gave me a place to crash.

I also am happy to announce that the iPhone application that I worked on, iAllosaur has been submitted to Apple yesterday, so barring any problems, it should be in the Apps Store by week after next at the very latest. It's an educational/entertainment "virtual pet" type dealy. You can interact with the Allosaurus as he/she walks through the Jurassic landscape. He has some other dinosaur friends to eat-play with. Okay... Eat. But we don't show that. I think version 1.1 will have a more action and some more dinos. It was fun to work on, and I learned a lot, animation not being my first talent. I do love drawing dinosaurs, but drawing them over and over is well, time consuming, let's just say that. There is also some general data on each species. I do feel good about promoting science and encouraging kids to maybe hit the museum, and if a iPhone app can do that, great.

That's all for now, true believers.

Peace.

Page 21

2009-07-31T18:44:00.001-07:00

Sneak Peak, Soon to the printers. Then SPX:

09 Working Artists Show-Joel Zain Rivers

2009-07-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

The Working Artists Show at the Kennebunk Library is up until August 1st, so if you haven't stopped by, why don't 'cha? Judith has posted a blurb about me on the MEIC blog. Blush. Got some projects working toward fruition, and my latest comic project is part of a anthology debuting at the Comic Con this weekend in San Diego. Stop by the Haven Distributors table (#1901) and ask for the new Students of the Unusual, I illustrated the story titled "Worm Cheese".

WORKING ARTISTS SHOW

2009-06-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

I'm part of the upcoming "Working Artists Show" in Kennebunk July 2-31st. This show was spear-headed by Judith Hunt illustrator extraordinaire and coordinated with the Maine Illustrator's Collective. It's pretty darn exciting! These folks are the cream of the crop of New England Illustrators, I'm lucky to be included, that's for sure. To Quote our own MEIC Blog:

"The upcoming WORKING ARTISTS SHOW, organized by some of the artists in the MEIC, it is being held in a gallery space, at the Kennebunk Free Library in Kennebunk, ME.

Show runs July 2nd-July 31st

Artist's Reception is in Hank's Room, Kennebunk Free Library
July 8th 4:30-7:30pm The public is welcome.

This show, featuring many well-known published illustrators and designers, was conceived to promote public awareness of an art form usually seen for only a few fleeting moments in print or film. Most consumers are unaware of the background behind producing commercial art: the time, thought, and skill. Advertising art, design, and illustration, once considered less than fine art, have gathered followings, become collectible in reprint form, with some illustration and advertising art becoming part of museum collections.

These " invisible artists" rarely, if ever, show their imaginative illustrations or beautiful design work to the public. With the limitations of reproduction the many tiny pen, pencil, and pastel strokes, brushwork, beautiful color blends on acid-free papers and boards are usually “hidden” away in flat files right after being scanned and printed.

The WORKING ARTISTS SHOW is pleased to present work by:

Andy J Smith www.andyjsmithillustration.com
Gabe McPhail www.workshop31.com
Joel Zain Rivers www.obioncomics.com
Nicole Fazio www.nicolefazioillustration.com
Nancy Cooper Funk www.nancycooperfunk.com
Jamie Hogan www.hoganbraun.com
Jessica Lynn Clark http://jessicalynnclark.blogspot.com
Judith Hunt www.huntjudith.com
Patricia Sharp SHARP DESIGN’S STUDIO Milbridge, ME
Pat Wooldridge www.wooldridgeequineart.com
Leticia Plate www.leticiaplate.com
Christia Siravo www.csiravo.com
Katie Diamond www.katiediamond.com
Michael Boardman www.coyotees.com/illustration
Helen Stevens www.helenstevensgallery.com
Roz Davis www.rozdavis.com
Wade Zahares www.zahares.com

Come see a truly unique art show! Original art and prints will be for sale."

I won't be able to make it for the reception, as we're out of the state then, but check it out! There will be lots of wonderful art and those who make it at hand.

Toodles.

Working Artist

2009-06-23T04:54:00.000-07:00

The longest day of the year was actaully very nice, even though overcast here in P-Town. Got 2 pieces in a show in Kennebunk starting July 2nd:MEIC COLLECTIVE.

Also got a 7-page story in the Horror anthology Students of the Unusual, written by Pat Martin and Terry Cronin, to debut in San Diego next month's Comic Con. Stop by the Three Boys Productions/Students of the Unusual table and say hi to Terry and the gang.

On Camera

2009-06-05T11:23:00.001-07:00

Here's my in front of the camera debut (at least in the last 20 years)... Thanks to Shea for the video and Rick Lowell for the Convention!

Processes

2009-06-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

Along the Canadian is now on Amazon.Com. Please try to find it at your local comics store, but those of you out in the frozen tundra, or Congo, might try ordering through them.

Here are some process pictures:

Penciled art.

My first serious digital inking....

Close up.

Next, color and letters.

American Pulp

2009-05-26T03:38:00.000-07:00

I was reminded recently of my fondness for all things "plup". On one hand it may mean the "cheap" entertainment for the common man, I don't know, coined back in the 30's? 40's? I haven't 'wikied" it, but things utterly Americana like dime western novels, comic books and crime novels, even early Science Fiction come to my mind. I seem to be surrounded by it these days, not just when last weekend I found myself talking to comics writer Christopher Mills, and his wife Brandi as we all waited to take the Peaks Island Ferry to the Maine Comics Art Festival pre-party. Christopher has been writing and getting his writing published for a long time, so it was a real pleasure to talk to someone in depth who really knows what he's talking about. His partner in crime, Joe Staton (yes, of E-Man fame!), an artist who's Eisneresque noir style meshes perfectly with the world that Mr. Mills has written, is an O.G.. I spoke briefly to him regarding Will Eisner and Carl Barks two of the most important American comic artists to me, anyway. I also got to talk at length with writer and artist Mark Ricketts. Yes, Maine has a lot of true comic stars living in it's borders! Another local comic artist is Judith Hunt, who worked on the Sci-Fi comic Evangline that I remember from the 80s. All these folks are very supportive and open to the next wave of artists, and have nothing but encouragement to offer those of us still looking for some small spot in the sun. Artists have a complex relationship with each other. I mean a lot of business types wouldn't chew the fat with potential "compitition" but art is about passion first. And people of passion need to talk with other dedicated people to keep the fires stoked. Artists NEED other artists. The compitition may lay below the surface or it may not, it just depends on the level of confidence shared between the community. Not everyone is lovey-dovey, and nor should they be, but Maine's illustrators and cartoonists, by and large, seem to know that there more to gain by sharing then to loose. I guess people in the "business" world would think we are all crazy.

It begs the question, what the Hell happened? I mean, where is the modern-day "Casablanca" and were are the new Dashiell Hammetts? I dread that the answer might be all too simple and in front of us: "reality" shows.

These shows ARE plotted and written, but Americans seem to be so obsessed with "what other people got" that they can't sustain interest in anything but a virtual "keeping up with the Jones.'" But reality shows have the greed and violence, low-life cretins and hapless underachievers that the hard-boiled detective novels and old western stories have, just without any of the archetypal sub-strata that would give them some sort of long-standing dramatic redeeming quality. They are forever trapped as disposable: no one watches re-runs of "The Anna Nicole Show" for obvious reasons. When your "star" is a real person, and the action "real" then, eventually, it has consequences that will no longer meet the audiences' need for escapism.

So, This all hit me as I re-read "The Mexican Tree Duck" by one of the greatest crime novelists of all time: James Crumley. Never made it big, but writers of all stripes know him as one of the greats. His books sold better overseas than here. It seems even then Americans were loosing the capasity for thinking outside of their own circumstances.... Pity.

FuturePast

2009-05-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

So, last weekend was spent at the Maine Comics Art Fest. We had a great time. I have to say that the shear size of the comics scene here in Maine is a little overwhelming. Not only did I see some really great home-spun sequential art, but I got to talk to folks who are fine artists that count comics among the fine arts disciplines. Is this the first hint of a rising tide? I hope so. I was disappointed that I had nothing new to show, and nothing "kid-friendly" but local comics legend Mark Ricketts, Ben Bishop and I will be making a trek to Brewer to present at a high school creative writing class on the 5th, so maybe the I can show the high schoolers Along The Canadian. Rick Lowell of the deeply rooted Maine comic shop chain, Casablanca Comics, a real supporter of local comic artists, and his tireless band of crew-members were awesome at the Fest, and I actually MADE a little $$! Wow. Alex Irvine, another comics pro at the event, and writer on Daredevil Noir, wrote this little article about the day.

I completely forgot to write about Sachi and I going to Windhams' Manchester school last month! I've been incredibly busy since then, and actually have a paying comics gig, so between the demands of my day-job and trying to be a good supportive husband to my wonderful wife on our 7th wedding anniversary (technically spent at a comic con, hunh! This means we're going to Paris next year, doesn't it, ladies?). So, I presented to the WHOLE 5th grade in 3 different hour-long blocks. Wow, was I tired, I don't know how Jaime, our awesome friend who teaches there and set the whole thing up, does it day in and day out. Teachers are so freak'n undervalued it is a crime. The next weekend we viewed the whole Windham district's art show, what an amazing treat. It was so inspiring to see that the arts are valued, even during these times of cuts and lay-offs.

So I have 2 projects due to be done in mid-June, one for an unnamable project for a software programmer, more about that in the coming weeks, and a illustrating a 7-page story for my good friend, Students of the Unusual publisher and writer, Terry Cronin. A sneak peak here.

Busy Busy.

Got a group show at the Kennebunk Library with the Maine Illustrator Collective, thanks to Illustration and comics veteran, Judith Hunt.

The Coast City Comics grand opening is coming up in June 13th, and Gerald has invited me to table and be there for the grand opening of his "comix lounge" and art gallery. Some people may be thinking: can Portland have 2 comics stores? My answer is a strong "YES". As a comics creator struggling to make it into the big leagues, more venues to introduce the American public to the richness of comics is good for EVERYONE in the comics industry, in my opinion. Call me crazy, but I want to draw comics, and I will support anyone who is supportive of me and the art-form I love. There should be a half-dozen comics stores here. Why not? Not enough people? Maybe, but we have as much restaurants per capita as New York City or San Francisco, so why not comics shops, eh? I'm a San Franciscan, and we got like 40 shops spread through the City, and dorks like me go to ALL OF THEM. It just depends on what you're in the mood for. I think hipster Coast City and the more family-focused Casablanca can create the perfect storm of comic fandom here in lobsterland.

FLUKE!

2009-04-01T04:02:00.000-07:00

If previews of this years Fluke Anthology are any indication, then not only will it be an incredible read (I doooo have 6 pages within, too!) but the Mini Comics Fest that it will debut at in Athens, Georgia, looks to be a real home-spun grassroots affair. The attention to detail and the cover are pretty high-end. I am honored to be among them, and only wish in this day of watching every penny, I could be there in person.

True Loves!

2009-03-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

I just re-discovered this comic by Jason Turner. We sat next to each other at SPX a few years back... a sweet and well done story called True Loves.

Con-iverse

2009-03-20T03:56:00.000-07:00

Well, going to Another comic con, Small Press Expo, in September 26-27, in Bethesda, Maryland. Adding that up with the Maine Comics Art Fest and the New York Con, that'll be 3 this year. I don't think I've ever done 3 of these things in a year, more like 3 every 4 years. What am I, turning into some kind of comics guy?

Back to the Source

2009-03-19T04:20:00.001-07:00

Got a last-minute e-mail from Alex Rheault, the Chair of the Illustration Department at MECA. She had some cancelations for outside critiquers for her Illustration seniors. It was me, Henry Wolyniec, Jaime Hogan, and Rob Sullivan. All well-known, accomplished Portland-area Artists. I felt a bit out-of place, but very grateful to Alex for thinking of me. The students work was quite a jolt for me. It was the first I got to see Illustration majors in their college environment, since I was a Fine Arts major. These students were a talented lot. Really pushing into new ground into unexpected directions, at least for me.

I made me remember how shut-out I felt in San Francisco, Art-World and otherwise, versus Portland, which has always been inviting and the Artists always willing to talk to you, even if you do similar work (something that almost NEVER happens in S.F). The West Coast is so, "Stay away, you young punk!" type-vibe. It sucks being FROM a place famous for Artists and free-thinking and have that experience over and over again. And then people find out where you're from, and they say, "I love San Francisco, its such a beautiful city!" I suppose. Back then, I'm sure my shyness didn't help, people tend to read that as snottiness. Maybe I'm finally growing out of that.

I'm LIKING Portland, just not the COLD. Thank God winter is almost over!

Going back to the source, working on comics (you'll see some, once I copyright the first 24 or so pages) and drawing dinos. The above is an Allosaurus. I've been drawing dinosaurs for almost 40 years now!!

Whaaat!? He's in the ring again after an awful pounding!

2009-03-12T04:01:00.000-07:00

That's right, got books in stores, after just a few scores of months of absence. You can now find the Along The Canadian graphic novel & Brokenhearted in Bakersfield #1 at the following stores: Jim Hanley's Universe, New Yoik Cit-ay! Cosmic Monkey Comics, Portland, OR, Comic Relief in Berkeley, and of course our own Casablanca Comics in Portland, ME!

A little reminder, too, that May 17th is the Maine Comics Art Festival, attracting well over 100 local and national comics creators. This the first MCAF, so get here for this historic event.

and April 4th the Fluke Con in Athens, GA, where my piece in the Fluke Anthology will debut.

Next in Line

2009-03-09T05:29:00.000-07:00

Saw the Watchmen movie, mostly because if I don't, people won't leave me alone about it. I wasn't bad. Alan Moore is a purist, a bit like the character Rorschach, who doesn't believe in compromise, even to the level that he views comics as an end (imagine THAT), not as a convenient, pre-made, storyboard for a movie. Speaking of Rorschach, the actor that plays him, Jackie Earle Haley, easily steals the show. As good as Heath Ledger's Joker... that's right.

A 6-page story I did will appear in the 2009 Fluke anthology, premiering at the Fluke Comic Con in Athens, GA, April 4th. I'm looking forward to being among the 80 talented other artists-it's a thick, mini-comic-style book. Thanks guys for including me!

Also, and not leastly, I've a "table at the Facebook Comic Con, the brainchild of long-time comics artist Michael Netzer. I joined it because I saw some notable local folks joining, Like Christopher Mills and Jay Piscopo, and am glad I did. It's a timely in this economy, too, since attending a comics convention is usually a money loosing proposition for me.

Fallout Boy

2009-02-18T05:44:00.000-08:00

Some more fallout from the Great Khan. I did a poster of Hector Rodriguez' Demonic Wolfman from his self-published comic, Hellsblood, that I mentioned before. Can you tell I like it.

Also, we got a plug on Comics Related, an online comics paper. Russell Burlingame's article

Whew!

2009-02-10T03:11:00.000-08:00

Well. THAT was crazy. We had a hotel on East 14th street, the Union Square Inn. One step up from a hostel really, but we got our own bathroom, which after 11 hours at the Jarvit's Center is more then necessary for showering off the 35-year-old-virgin-dressed-a-his-favorite-comic-book-character smell off of us and go have a drink and some food.

Met some cool folks, networked with some potential distributors and publishers and even sold a few books. I'm attaching some sketches here (more on that). It's a visual raping, an event like this. By the time the almost 80,000 dazed and confused "True Believers" get to us in Artist Ghetto, they've been f$#ked in their eyes, ears and (by the over-priced and possibly poisonous hoagies) stomaches. Many are dressed up in some home-made outfit. Just about every imaginable monster, villain, hero and vampish vixen that has ever graced the printed page or video game screen makes an often overweight and just not that attractive appearance. It would be like if I put on a jock strap, green tights painted with question marks and started running around saying,"Riddle me this, riddle me that..." Not a pretty picture.

Met about a dozen folks from the far flung C.A.G. (Comics Artist Guild). One of the artists, Hector Rodriguez, created the wonderfully violent and fun HELLS BLOOD.

It combines what I ignorantly suppose is Santa Maria symbolism and superheros... from Hell. The art has that wonderfully hard-boiled look of many tattoos and S. Clay Wilson's art from ZAP comics (which of course I love).

Fellow Portlander and comics writer, Alex Irvine was there to sign his enormous new tome,

The Vertigo Encyclopedia. Alex is also a champion of Maine comics, and just wrote another article about our little indie scene here, starring yours truly and Ben Bishop as well as my wife, Sachi (who bravely helped me at ANOTHER one of these things!) her little godson, Donnie Shea: Alex's Article.

What I found most telling as I sat there on Saturday (which was sold out, amazing for a space like the Jarvits, which is like a blimp hanger) that the people walking around trying to be Spiderman or Willy Wonka-looking Anime characters, it that THEY are the characters. The attendees were vastly more entertaining then any of the most talented writers and artists could dream up. I attempted to sketch a few, but my doodles fall short.

Until next time, True Believers. (Apologies to Stan Lee).

Actually, until the Maine Comics Art Festival in MAY!!!! AAAAAAHHHHH!

The Daring Mr. Magic

2009-02-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm doing it. I'm tabling at a mainstream comic geekfest. It was an epiphany that I've only done APE and SPX, which are great for established alternative comics types, but a wannabe like me gets nowhere in a cliquish environment like that. It's fear of failure, I'm sure. I've held back because deep down, I don't think I'm good enough. But my friend Ben Bishop was instrumental in talking me into this, and I have a good feeling about it.

So, I'm tabling at the New York Comic Con, February 6, 7 & 8, Artist Alley, section L, Table 9, right across from all the DC people!

I've been holding back in my art, too. I need to push the envelope, at the same time go back to the source... all this as I turn 40! I have a new All-Ages project I'm working on. It's not ready yet, and I need to produce a full 24 pages or so (old habits die hard) then I'll know.

I also want to go back to painting, perhaps kid stuff and serious "fine art" will cross-pollenate in my brain and something cool will happen. I'm attaching a piece I did for the "Gathering" show at the Jameson Gallery here in Portland last December. I don't have a better picture and it sold, so I'm out of luck. It's only 6" X 9" and is called "Winter Roost".

See you all soon.

Young and Irritated

2009-01-08T05:44:00.000-08:00

An article on a project I'm involved in is now online at the Portland Phoenix HERE.

And yes, you can buy my collected graphic novel version on LULU now, too, just go to the Along The Canadian webpage. Looking forward to the New York Comic Con.

Over and Out.

New York's a Go-Go, and everybody know-know.

2008-12-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

That's RIGHT! I'll be attending the New York Comic Con. I found out definitively Friday, but have been a little busy digging out the car from 2 blizzards. My friend Ben Bishop also has a table on Artist Alley, and we are feverously putting together a collaborative book, maybe 25 pages or so. It's gonna be a challenge to get the books printed in time, not to mention I haven't done much more then a few character designs... so, this week I'm plenty busy.

I'm also launching my on-line store, at least selling one comic: I've re-tooled Along The Canadian as a 144-page Graphic Novel. I'll also have the new version, with luck, at the Con. So, if you haven't read it and want to, AND want to help me pay for my trip to the big city, now's the time, Rock Stars.

I'm going to have original art, some old ATC issues, hopefully some Brokenhearted in Bakersfield gear, Tees, and a 52-page, FULL-COLOR Lester Severe pilot issue, collecting all the first 2 on-line issues. I'm surrounded by, like, REAL established people, I think I'll be the only one there that works a "day-job" in a real estate office. I've been telling people that the only reason I got a table (I was on the waiting list so long, I forgot about it) that the economy is so bad, enough people canceled for me to squeak in. Hopefully no one will notice until it's too late.

Nations vs. Tribes

2008-12-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

Well, the last time we talked I had told you about the DVD that contains the 2 "video audio books" I worked on earlier this year, has hit the virtual shelves. I watched them, and besides being ever critical of my work, they we're pretty cool. The last half of Cask of Amontillado was my favorite, because my art is more consistent, and the music, editing and vocal work actual make an emotional end for the well-known story. I still would love to do a traditional comic based on Poe or some other classic or myth, and my sketchbooks have always be filled with studies of such things especially the latter.

I have been sending stuff to various comic book publishers, as I do every year, at least the ones that except e-mailed submissions (there are a few that do, strangely enough, it must cut back on clutter). But I've so far got a "maybe" from one, a "no thanks" from another, and a "..." from the third. I've got some commissioned holiday pieces going on, so I'm concentrating on that.

I sold a piece at the "Gathering" Show, which was a 2-day event last weekend. That was cool. The Illustrator show reception the next morning was good, but after all the socializing me and Sachi are sporting a cold for our troubles.

I'm constantly distracted from my work lately, either art seems flat and boring, or the office work is maddeningly under-challenging, I need to do art 24/7 but HOW?HOW ?HOW? That sounded like "Ho! Ho! Ho!" maybe that's my Christ-Mass present.

The world is going from Hell to handbasket quick. Barack Obama might not get a chance to do a damn thing. The whole Afghanistan/Pakistan thing brings me to a book I'm reading about the Apache in Southern Arizona (where my mother lives). The reason the US couldn't understand the Apache or defeat them on their own ground (they only did that after the leaders turned themselves in, believing that the US officers they'd met told the truth: their people could keep their homeland and live in peace) was because they weren't thinking as a Tribe does. Nations can't negotiate/understand or get Tribes to trust them if they continue to view them as lawless barbarians who need to "get with it". The Kasmiri and Pashtuns that have the foreign terrorists living with them must trust us, and we need to tell the truth to bring peace to that region. The countries there just want these people to disappear so they can drill for oil and lay pipelines and roads. Sound familiar? The terrorists, who simply want every thing unstable so that the young people of the region will fall in with them, know that if they want to destabilize things they don't need to blow up much; they just make sure that those chiefs distrust the West and their own governments. It's a perfect circle. Oh, and then WE bomb the Hell out of some village and kill whole families, which I'm sure the US would have done to the Apache if we had airplanes back then.

O.K., done ranting.

Godlings

2008-12-05T04:24:00.000-08:00

I've decided to re-name my Blog, slightly, in reference to Douglas Adams, of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" books. As you've probably noticed, I have some far flung interests, so the new name hints at that.

It's December "Friday Art Walk" in Portland tonight, so I'm off to promote my art "career" (for the first time in year or so) this weekend starting tonight, when I attend the "Gathering" show "happening" at Jameson Gallery in Portland, on Commercial. Later I'm going to stop by Casablanca Comics to see how my friend Ben Bishop is doing promoting his 300-page graphic novel "Nathan the Caveman" and newer works, as part of the "Comics in Portland" event. Tomorrow is the opening reception at the Freeport library for the Maine Illustrator's Collective group show, where I also have a piece on display.

So, see you around, hopefully. I'm musing over how important humans think of themselves. I've been feeling sorry for myself, getting older, not famous, etc, etc. I work with affluent people, so it's difficult to go home to my tiny apartment and draw cartoons and think it "will all work itself out". But I'm healthy, have a wonderful wife, supportive friends. My family seems to be doing well, and I have good relationships with some of them, better then before anyway. There's always the pressure, the doubts, the nihilisms that get in your head. But then you go to the beach, like I had a chance to do when I was visiting New Jersey last month. I wish I brought my camera! It was in the 60's, sunny, out of the wind. My wife was getting her toes painted so I walked along the beach. How small I felt watching the terns and gulls and listening to the surf. Economic misery, war, hatred-we are lichen on the surface of a tiny rock in space! "Get it together people, or else!" Seems to be the Universe's message.

hope we do.

The Death of Field and Marsh

2008-12-01T04:59:00.000-08:00

When I was younger, I would more often dream of the end of the world, or at least of something very nearly apocalyptic. One started with two people in an art gallery or museum discussing a painting, called "The Death of Field and Marsh" the rest of the dream was a flashback which resolved the title (most of my dreams, like most peoples make less sense) basically Field and Marsh were two lovers who try to escape their subterranean world under a nameless city after a some global catastrophe, only to die as a result. The implications of the names of the two characters, "Field" and "Marsh" were what stuck with me: that these concepts of sun-lit environments as something that you'd name your children, but that were legendary or no longer in existence, was fascinating.

So, yes I did create a painting called, "The Death of Field and Marsh", with the hope that such a scene never comes to pass.

Storytime

2008-11-18T05:46:00.000-08:00

Tale Tube has unveiled a DVD collecting the 2 Poe stories I illustrated: HERE. I'm putting the final touches on 2 pieces for a coupla of local shows, the Maine Illustrator Collective show at the Freeport Library, which opens December 6th (stop by that evening, I'll be there), and the night before I'm going to the "Gathering" show at the Drawing Room in portland.

A New Dawn Or Something Like That

2008-11-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

Obama, baby! Holding hands, singing "We Shall Overcome" as a little guy in public school in the Fillmore, I doubted that we would. Even then I was skeptical of the "Powers That Be". I wasn't as hard-core as my brother, who called police "pigs" even as a little kid. Well, now the "Powers" are "Us". What's that bit about power and responsibility? It'll come to me...

Well, if what they say about New York City is true, "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere", then my friend Reuben has "made it." Not that he's content. Reuben and I both went to S.O.T.A. (School Of The Arts) in San Francisco, I don't believe he'd want to say how long ago that was, so let's just say it's been some time. Reuben was a "triple threat" back then, acting, singing and playing the piano, as well as a talented visual artist (that's how we met). He's self-produced two great albums, the newest, Golden Boy, is showcase of his virtuosity and includes a rang of dream-like songs, my favorite is Northern California. It actually made me homesick.

Anyway, he has built his own website (of course!) and has lots of info and music on it. It was heartening to see a someone who's stayed true to his core.

Been working on some pieces for 2 upcoming shows, one illustration, one mix-media, and am working on collecting all the Along The Canadian issues in one single Graphic Novel which will go on Lulu-thanks to Ben Bishop on that advice. So I got to revisit the ATC crowd in the cover image to left.

Desolation Joe

2008-10-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have often felt I am one the last of some paradiam or type of person; a feeling reinforced lately by a more reflective phase in my life. A lot of the most important people in my life, my "mentors" for lack of a better term, are no longer around. Some were teachers, others just momentary advisors, some were just somebody I talked to once on a Grayhound bus. As a basically fatherless male, I'm a little like the character of Bill in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill", who collects father figures. The reality though, is that I've never been lucky or talented enough for some older person to drop what they are doing for and extended apprenticeship, and I am not alone: the world is filled with orphaned Xers who are now no longer cute. I was reminded this when I got an answer to an e-mail I had recently sent to an artist I have never met but always admired. I left me feeling empty, after the initial high wore off.

And I have been kinda lucky, I've never been in jail, I'm not bat-shit crazy like some of my peers. I went to college. I have not abandoned my children, perhaps only because as of this writing, I have none, as some others I grew up have done. This Generation X phenomenon is traceable directly to our Baby-Boom fathers' mistaking freedom from responsibility with freedom from the constraints of the 50's; of their parents' hypocrisy. Unfortunately, this hypocrisy has a life of its own, it has become their own. It has become OURS.

Without a defining moment as of yet to light a true fire under our asses, Generation X has wallowed in self-indulgence and childhood fantasies. As a cartoonist myself, I am painfully aware of this and struggle to infuse pathos and reality into my stories. Whether I'm ever successful is for others to decide, but the world is largely silent to the struggle of 30 and 40-somethings, obsessed as we are with youth, and yet still largely controlled by the unresolved issues of the Baby Boomer.

Colbert reflected on one of these issues recently on his show during "The Word"; it was the most concise explanation of this undying obsession of the 1960's and 70's I have read or heard. He was basically saying that the even though the world has largely moved past the actual issues that defined the 60's and 70's, things have gotten subtler and the global world smaller, these issues have been injected into the presidential race, specifically the Vietnam War and Senator Obama's "relationship" with Bill Ayers, not to mention race. This is the work largely of the Boomers, people nearing retirement and even older, who only see the world through these 40 year-old lenses.

Now, I'm not saying ALL Boomers do this, and one could argue that it is because these experiences were so profound that they will never leave us. It just underlines for me that the generations afterwards have sadly yet to find there own own narrative. It also, in light of Obama verses McCain, makes the real issues fade behind an unresolved divide within the aging Baby Boomers: the "Straights" and the those that "tuned in and dropped out." Never mind that both groups now run just about everything. This hogging of the issues is a dangerous disservice to the younger folks, even Obama himself, who have to couch their rhetoric in terms of events that happened almost half a century ago instead of addressing things that could mean the extinction of us all. All this while overgrown teenagers (us, again) play video games and ware ironic t-shirts and try to out nihilize each other. Is this all traced back to the abandonment of sons and daughters? That our parents' generation can't give up the limelight and extend a mentorish hand? I don't know, but I do know that none of us are blameless.

Next time I'll take about art, I guess.

Illustrator X

2008-10-23T16:28:00.001-07:00

I feel like I should start an Artistic manifesto, not just for me but for all creative folks who's voices should be heard. But then again, I'm tired.

Went to the Maine Illustrator's Collective last night. Met some cold established folks. I was among 4 newcomers, and although we had trouble finding the right corner of O'Naturals, we figured it out. I found out about the quarterly meeting at 3:30pm, and had to beg my wife to drive by with my portfolio. We talked about artist advocacy, and the Orphaned Works bill threatening to make copyrights and royalties obsolete.

I still haven't found a long term gig after Tale Tube, but have been adding colors to my older Lester Severe pages, even though there's new content in the "2.0" Issue that I recently uploaded.

I may get it together to show some work at some upcoming shows, the first time in a looong time that'll happen. My friend from Junior High, Lara, e-mailed me an old drawing I did for her about 28 years ago...