New Book Trailer

This is a trailer for a short book I illustrated called Tim, the Golden Lion Tamarin. It comes with a little plush tamarin and the proceeds benefit saving the Tamarins. This is the website.

I was surprised how small tamarins are-about the size of a cat. I saw some other species of tamarins when I went to the Ft. Wayne children's zoo. Facinating animals...

Below is the plus and a couple of my favorite paintings.

Adena Illustration

I just finished my most recent illustration recreating the Adena Culture in West Virginia. The illustration is one a number of images celebrating different historical moments in the state's history. The piece is 30" x 40" and is mixed media.

A challenge to myself

A challenge to myself:
"Drawing" with paint...No sketch...No erasers...No command-Z...One try...Begin to tell a story with minimal brushstrokes. Well worthwhile.

Announcements: Note from Tammy Lyon

From Tammy: Need an Office Assistant?

I have used this lady for many things in the ol' art studio. Great with organizing art, billing and accounting, scanning and packaging art to be shipped, just a general all purpose assisstant. She works for any duration you need be it an hour or a week. Her fees are extremely reasonable and negotiable per assignment. I thought I would pass her info along in case anyone else out there could use her help. She's really saved me!

Her name is Mary Ann Deatherage and her phone is 859-462-9822 or email at scardina@cinci.rr.com

Jerry Dowling: Reuben Celebration Picture

From Jerry: This is a photo taken last June at Back Porch where we had a small ceremony for Craig McKay's third Reuben Division award. This entire group has gather eight. Not bad for our local members of the Great Lakes chapter. Chris has three, Daryll and Jerry one each.

L to R: Jerry, Craig, Chris, Daryll

Pam D first try on blog

Hi Christina et al~

This is Pam trying to type into a blog for the first time. Did I get there? Thanks!
-Pam D

Something Sweet

It's a nice day today.

Around the World

This is one of 10 full-page illustrations that I did last summer for the Reader's Digest book, Amazing Quiz Challenge last summer. I hope to post more of these within the next couple of weeks.

He's officially "Shermin"

To end the rat naming problems, a simple announcement:

His final name is "Shermin," and here is his blog: Shermin the Vermin.

Please consider "following" the blog. Vermins need love, too.

Thanks to all.

Sneak Peek-Comic Anthology-page Two

Here is page two for the comic I am doing for our anthology. To keep an air of suspense, I am not including the type. That will require reading the book...

This will make pre-orders go through the roof ;)

And I promise the typography will not include "papyrus"...

"Shermin" or "Sherman"?

My mother (the rat lover) pointed out to me that I accidently changed the spelling of the rat's name, his "ShermIn" became "ShermAn."

My gut says that "Shermin the Vermin" looks funnier than "Sherman the Vermin". Those repeating letters do something.

So, shall I change it? Or will anybody care?

"Sherman the Vermin" has his own blog

The rat is back. And stinky. And committed - to appearing at least twice a week on his very own blog.

Here's where to visit: Sherman the Vermin.

Call of Cthulhu

Work in progress but just about done. Trying to finish in time for the Spectrum deadline of next week!

Dr. Sketchy's January

Great session at Dr. Sketchy's tonight! The cold war/Russian theme was really fun to draw. There was a Frazetta-like feel to a lot of the poses.

The next one is in March with a Goth theme.

I hope some of the others illustrators there will post their images. The same with the comic. Show some work!

News about C.F. Payne and Will Hillenbrand

Some great write ups today about some local illustrators:

C.F. Payne is mentioned in the Cincinnati Enquirer today and will be doing some paintings for Gold Star Chili:

More details here!

Will Hillenbrand has a nice mini review of his new book Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! in the Horn Book Newsletter:

Check it out!

Little Red Bat-Book Trailer

I just finished the book trailer for Little Red Bat coming out in March.

Enjoy and feel free to comment on the site!

Ergonomics

Can anyone we know provide an ergonomic evaluation of my home workspace?

I just returned from two weeks away from my computer, and my sore, tight arms loosened and relaxed. Within an hour of working at home, my arms began their familiar ache.

I've got an adjustable keyboard support. When I draw on the Wacom, I move the keyboard and position the tablet in front of me. But that's two different angles - and obviously neither one is right for me. I can't figure this stuff out from online diagrams.

Help!

Sneak Peek-Comic Anthology

Here is the first page for the 10 page story I am doing for our 12-Way with Cheese comic anthology. It is very different from what I usually do. I have had this story idea for years but the art approach did not work because it was not cartoony enough. I scrapped all of my initial concept art and redesigned all the characters.

Below is a worksheet for the characters. They are literally "star shaped" people. I will post more pages as I finish.

Some Work

This may be a little redundant for those who attend the lunches or check my blog but for those who have not and those who have been asking for a post, here you go.

Here's:
• a comic/graphic novel Cover for a Kolchak: Monsters Among Us should be out next month I think
• an inked sketch of Uncle Creepy
• some sketch Cards I did for Moonstone probably floating around on Ebay somewhere except for the Kolchak
• and finally here's an in progress of Hammer's Christopher Lee as Dracula

Jerry Dowling: Rollie and Appearances

Here is some more work from the series of books Jerry is working on. These are for book two but there will be fourteen in the Rollie's Follies series.

Look for it to be out in February.

Also, come to Joseph Beth on January 12th. Jerry will be signing his book about drawing the Bengals at 7PM.