Photo'd

Couple new frames on the flickr. I haven't shot film in a while because I had this lingering pile of undeveloped film. The beauty of my camera, aside from the fact that it was a gift from a friend, is that there's plenty wrong with it that makes it produce unwieldy results. Part of the reason I stopped shooting so much is that I didn't want to continue burning film if I had no idea when a rolled was loaded right, how it was shooting under what conditions, etc.

Luckily it was all shot within the last year and a half, so I remember many of the experiments.

-Jam

Holiday Teaser

Roughing out characters really gets me in the mood to work. Even though I doodled these some time ago, I had put off inking them for some reason.

Also, big thanks to everyone who's gotten into LFC, vol. 1, I appreciate it tremendously, and hope you're enjoying the books. More to come, stay tuned!

-Jam

RIP Goodwin

It has happened. MC Goodwin, truly, is done for. My hand-painted "apple" deck has fallen to ruin, after being left in the rain for some months(I won't name names). Warped, water-logged, and haggard, I cast the good MC into the garbage, and said a praise in my heart.

Rest well, Goodwin deck. You live on skate-memory.

-Jams

#100

Lingua Franca Comics, vol. 1 exists! I did a small run of the inaugural issue, every issue hand-cut and bound, which neatly coincides with my 100th post. What celestial alignment! Also, Glenn and James, being swell cats, let me stash a few copies at Rock Bottom, or you can just get in touch with me. If I put copies anywhere else, I'll give a heads up.

The next one is well on its way.

-Jam

*edit: you can now also find them at Lingua Franca Comics, or just link to the store.

Second Try

So, I edit a blog with a good friend, and I have been sorely absent from our shared space since, well, its implementation. Mostly, I haven't really found my voice with that kind of writing. I attempt to somewhat rectify this with the first in a series of posts about a first attempt to self-publish at Second Thoughts.

Whether or not that interests you, the K-Fitz's previous posts are worth several looks.

Turning over a new leaf.

-Jam

Challenge!

So, Turbo, Ryan, and I face the 24 drawing challenge...and won! mostly. Turbo cranked out 26(what!?) pages in like 11 hours, and they look damn good. Chances are the internet will never see those pages, which makes it so much more hip, but Lance McDance is something of a legend around here. No pencils and he didn't waste a single page.

Ryan by far worked the longest, putting in 20 hours, at least, before succumbing to the throes of finger calluses and exhaustion. I hope he decides to take "The Salamander" into a more fully realized story at some point. Gun Stuff!

As for myself, I penciled 24 pages in under right around 13 hours. Then I spent an inordinate amount of time lettering the damn thing before calling it done and passing out. As far as I consider it, the pencils came out pretty well, and it stood as a fully realized randomly seeded comic, but I really should have stayed up trying to ink as much as possible before time ran out. I did not. So, I decided that when I got back from vacation, I'd take my time, clean up the pencils a little, and lay down some thick inks with care and consideration. Still, the story and dialogue/narration are largely unchanged, and I barely touched the pencils.

In any event, I have completed a number of pages already, and have begun posting them at an Apprentice's Tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed the drawing challenge and working on this comic for a number of reasons, and hope to complete a consistent product when all's said and done.

and if there are any interested parties out there, I would definitely take part in more than one drawing challenge per year.

-Jam

ps- in case you hadn't heard, we also do a round robin comic called Condensed Vibrations, which involves time travel.

Design'd

When it rains, it pours. Thanks to Ryan, for being my first paid commission. This is a hallmark, internet, so thanks for being there. Stay tuned as I do my utmost to leave a stain all over Ryan's animation like you wouldn't believe.

-Jam

Figures

I've had limited interaction with models, but I am beginning to understand the relationship that has persisted for centuries between artist and model. I have been lucky enough to settle, however briefly, in the same city where Frank Stack has retired, and hosts a figure drawing session once a week. I'm late to the game, but I plan on making the most of it from here on out.

-Jam

Re: Paneled

I almost forgot, my Daredevil panel appeared on Mr. Vukojevich Repanled blog in May. I was pretty happy with how this turned out, like I captured the comical confusion of the image, and I love the idea of the window working as the panel's borders. Check it out here to see it side-by-side with the original. If you haven't seen his site, I highly recommend it.

-Jams

Wonder

Even though a carefree hand will make mistakes, confident brush strokes emerge as the grip loosens. Until this point, most of my figure/reference drawing practice has come from photographs, either that I've taken or have come across. No substitute for the real thing, but the accessibility of photography has been a boon for the development of my artistic eye.

-Jam

Join

I go through Vader kicks every now and then. The character built in my mind as a child cannot be sullied by recent interpretations, and that character is the product of multiple visions. Many people worked together to bring him to life, to give him weight and timbre. and he remains a powerful image in my mind. Like the villain of our collective unconscious given a form that was still vague esoteric enough to intimidate.

-Jam

Grey Rain

I like that when a project starts in the early evening, and stretches into the early morning, it can take on a drastically different shape and tone by the time it's finished. From sketchbook to last splash of ink, I thought this was going to be a commission for someone. But the tone is all wrong, because it developed as I worked. Still, the sun coming up as I was laying grey tones did seem somewhat appropriate considering the subject matter.

also, using only sumi to do a wash is challenging, and requires a little planning, but I am looking forward to further experimentation.

-Jams

sktch'd

Believe it

If you're interested, should be a pretty awesome show. Check out the Believers here.

-Jams

Sktchbook

Some new doodles from the book today. Should have more coming in, cause it's been some time since the scanner saw my sketchbooks. Batman/Zorro story will be up soon, down to one page now.

-Jams

Cover'd

Been busy with my table recently, so not as much time to post recently. However, Robert Goodin posted my Madman cover on his Covered blog. I'm stoked, so check it out.

I have a lot more free time coming up, so hopefully something to show for it before long.

-Jams

Stylin' and Profilin'

Check out this awesome profile JB posted on me at MidMoCoCo. Very stylish. And while you're at it, check out some of the other creators. All in all, a really nice collection of people and work.

Also, for anyone who didn't already see it, check out the next big thing in animation: 2-D!

-Jam

Colab?

Working Progress

Here is the first page to a story about Bruce Wayne during his college days. I have been working on it off and on for a little while, and have pages and pages of sketches devoted to hashing it out.



My process is a very organized one, but it works.

Up to page 8 here, but I'll try to track the production as the pages come out.

and yeah, that's Zorro. Intrigued? Better stay tuned.

-Jams

Hollaback, y'all!

I did this poster for a raffle being held by the Columbia chapter of Hollaback!
But, I decided I should set up the scene a little bit more, so here you go. The raffle is this Saturday, April 2nd, at Cafe Berlin. There will be music and other prizes. If you're free, you should go out and show your support for anti-street harassment and assault, and maybe you'll win something!

-Jams

Bitter sweet'n

So, the last two days have provided me with some closure to a little anxiety. Sadly, my submission to Smoke Signal #8 was rejected. However, the next issue is going to be a collaborative project with the KutiKuti publishing collective, so submissions were even more competitive than usual. and I saw the table of contents, so it will be a banging issue.

On the upside, this means I can finally share the strip I submitted, which I thought turned out pretty nice. and this just gives me more incentive to kick up my game.

On a lighter note, I was accepted to CCS's MFA program, which is pretty rad. The whole application process was worth it just to meet Jason Lutes, James Sturm, and the current students in White River Junction. Now, I have to decide if I'll go and how to pay for it.

So, one set of anxieties is replaced by another, but there are a ton of great projects coming up, and I'm just happy to be involved and producing.

-Jams

Commission'r

First round of finished commissions. Due to lack of available resources, these are done on heavy weight paper instead of bristol, but they are done nonetheless. Same rules apply, if commissioner is unhappy with the results, I will dutifully redraw the work until pleasedness runs freely.

-Jams

A very inspired comic, and a warm-up sketch for a Zorro project I'm working on. Not to be mistaken with Turbo's and my other top-secret TLR/Zorro project.

We're enigma's locked inside a rubik's cube.

-Jams

Citizen Exposed

Dissecting the man.

-Jam

Bourbon Cock

To kick off the commission season, here is a poster I did for Sleazy. Unless he doesn't like it, then I'll do another one.

In another year.

-Jams

Commish'd

Ok, kids, here are the rules:

You give me a subject to illustrate, establish any constraining parameters (such as location, scene, etc.) and I'll turn ideas into eye candy in ink on an 11"x14" sheet of bristol. If I'm feeling frisky, there might even be some ink-wash.

but probably not. When completed I mail the piece to you.

Any other issues will be dealt with along the way. I reserve the right to refuse anyone doodles. but, I don't foresee much of that happening...

-Jams

March'n

On the first of March, I will start a month of commissions. You tell me what to draw, and I will draw it. The full details will be explained at the beginning of the month. Until then, start considering what dreams you'd like realized in ink, and I'll imagineer it.

-Jam(s)

Now in Black and White

Every project is a learning experience. Now, the title page to a rough draft in black and white. Work has been coming along off the web which will lead to internet ripples.

and other stuff.

-Jam

Vee-Day

Turbo and I made some Val-Day cards that we didn't sell. Go us. Anyway, we made them, and will unleash them at our leisure.

-Jam

Part 1(of 3) to a strip I had the idea for a few months ago, when I was watching a ton of Ultraman. Which is not too much different from now, except that being snowed in equals scan day at the cabin. Anyway, there are a few of these floating around, and more on the way, when I get around to them.

Enjoy.

-Jam

Check it...

Recently Turbo and I faced a drawing challenge. I drafted a teaser to an introduction story for an upcoming pulp project with supernatural elements.

and...

Check it out! Anthony Vukojevich featured my work on his Repaneled blog. Check out the post here. Thanks a lot to Anthony, for maintaining a fun blog with a great premise.

-Jam

Beware

The holidays aren't over yet. They will remain embedded in our subconscious, shifting like winter snakes beneath every decision, hibernating until the wind, rain, sleet and snow sifts down to our feet and soaks into our socks.

-Jam

Daily

NewYork

My last update was right before leaving on a two-day drive, leading to a micro-trip to New York. I stopped by Desert Island, and wandered into the Time Machine. Came away with mega goodies for cheap. Later on, a trip was made to MoCCA and a stop at an ICP exhibit.

The MoCCA exhibit was fantastic, because there is a ton of original art by Kitchen and Jaffee, so you can see the process they went through to get the look they wanted. Not only is their process indicative of the period in which they were working, but you can really see how much work it took (and still takes) to create a polished, finished page that looks professional. Donnelly's exhibit was a bit more reserved, but the commentary on her own work was interesting. ICP was also amazing, but it would have been cool to stay longer (even though the set up of the exhibit could have been better). I think the modern face of war changed along with its coverage, and that dichotomy is ever evolving.

Tons of sushi, 5 full days of transit. Still, a few drawings were had here and there.Once I got back, it was straight into the holidays, then a few days laid up in bed. Just now getting back into the swing.

-Jam