Salute!

I spent the weekend on this new piece for an auction.
It's to benifit a military fund raiser for injured troops and their families. Right now I don't know when or where it will be, but I'll post more details as I get them.
Her uniform is based on a British Lance-Corporal from the 4th Infantry Division stationed in France in 1940. It had a kilt and a hat with a little red pom-pon thing on it, so I thought it might look cute on a girl.

Sold!

...out that is.
That unavoidable day has finally come, the day in every book's life when they've all found a home. Today is that day for Belle du Jour. I'm a little sad they're gone, but happy that they're being cared for by so many of you. I'll not be the worrisome parent, I know they're in good hands.
Goodbye Belle du Jour. I'll miss you.



However...
If you want one, it may not be too late!
I may be sold out but there are a few retailers that should still have a supply of them. Stuart Ng Books, Brand Studio Press, Gosh! in London and probably also the Labyrinth in Toronto.

There are still plenty of copies of Bookplate Betties available. The limited edition however is nearly depleted (only 2 copies left as of this writing)

UPDATE: DEC 10, 2008
The limited Edition of Bookplate Betties is now also sold out.

Bombs Away!

It's been a little too long since my last post.
Here's some recent convention drawings to tide you over.

Catnap

Done and delivered to the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society.
My usual concentrated watercolor on top of acrylic wash technique.
Unusual dimensions for me, but it was fun going that horizontal.

This piece will go up for auction at the "Purr-casso Art and Craft Gala"
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008
12-4 PM
Hollis Street Project
5900 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA




I found out that the deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday October 31st (Halloween). So it's not too late to donate a piece if you've found the inspiration.
Keep an eye on the official Purr-Casso blog for further developments.

Purr-casso

Wow, it's been a month since my last post. I don't know how that happens.
The "Purr-casso" art show fundraiser is fast approaching with the deadline in just three short days.
I think I'll have my piece done in time. Here are my roughs.

Smash That Kraut Sour!

I'm updating the blog shop to include the original 2004 English language Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher trade paperback, which was previously available at www.monkeysuit.com. Monkeysuit is officially shutting down, a sad day indeed. Without Monkeysuit Matt Peters and I probably would have never gotten Rex out there. But I'm hopeful the New York based anthology will make it's triumphant return someday.



The book is 132 pages glorious black and white throughout, published by Monkeysuit press in 2004.
Not very many remain of this edition, and it contains some material that will probably never be reprinted.

Here's what's inside:
"Countdown to Annihilation" The original Rex Steele story that was first published in the anthology Monkeysuit vol. 1 in 1999.



"In the Bosom of Terror" The second Rex Steele story first published in the anthology "The Bride of Monkeysuit" in 2000.
This is the story that was adapted for the animated short film by Alex Woo released in 2004.



"Operation Mother's Day" The Third Rex Steele story originally published in "Viva la Monkeysuit" in 2001.



Quite a rarity, "Menace of the Pinheaded Goons". This story is unique to this volume and has never been reprinted (and possibly never will). Written by Matt Peters, plotted by Matt and myself and illustrated by our very talented friend Stephen DeStefano. This is a faux vintage Rex story found in a fictional archive.



Also unique to this volume is an extensive collection of pin ups, other artists interpretations of Rex Steele. Some of the artists include Bill Wray, Kasu Kibuishi, Ricky Nierva, Mike Wieringo, Dice Tsutsumi, Enrico Casarosa, Jackson Publick, Dean Yeagle, Mark Andrews, Mo Willems and Ronnie del Carmen.



And lastly the volume ends with a section devoted to my sketches and developmental drawings which contains some drawings that are in the French volume and some that are not.



I am hoping to reprint the full color French edition (with it's two additional stories) in English eventually, but at the moment there is no guarantee.

Also, this book will ship from a different location than my pin up books, so I'm afraid combination orders with the other books on my blog will be impossible.

Thanks!

Penny Farthing Part II

As promised, the final.

And the color study.


I'm really enjoying working on colored paper. It's great starting with the mid tone, you can work from mid to light and mid to dark instead of light all the way to dark. And colors are pretty much automatically unified.
I think it's some kind of pastel paper. It tears up easily if I erase but it absorbs color nicely and I can get some really subtle grads on it.