Personal Piece

I've been A.W.O.L. from blogging too long, so I'm sharing a piece that finally came together last night. There's a story waiting to be born in here.

Fictionary comic

This is a comic I did for a magazine called Fictionary, published out of Columbia College in Chicago. It's for an article about how many authors are finding their novels being published as young adult fiction, a la Harry Potter or Twilight. And this is my first, completed, post-Cincinnati Enquirer freelance piece.

Feathered Frenzy

I can finally draw again and I feel just like these birds! This is my first piece since my injuries-as long as I take a lot of breaks, I am able to work again. YEAH!!

Jerry Dowling-More Gift Caricatures

From Jerry: "I was working on the next one while the previous one was drying. Sort of an assembly line.

Cincinnati Rollergirls Fundraiser

I thought I would post this, I don't know if it is still available or not. This is the piece (I am calling it "Lazervision") I put in the Cincinnati Rollergirls Art show, the show ends on Aug 1st. It is a new style that I am developing, I like that it's kind of crazier and messier than my digital work. I am interested in hearing what you guys think of it too.

Henry the Impatient Heron E-Book

Sylvan Dell who published Henry the Impatient Heron just launched a really well done new e-book function. It features auto-flip, auto audio-read, and instantly goes from Spanish to English with a click. It is SO COOL!

In other Henry news, the book is "Your Big Backyard" magazine's August book of the month!

Night two with the Tablet

Adding more details and playing with some color. I need to add a bunch more of those little sloth looking monkey babies.

I thought I'd try a different composition than normal. I'm thinking a mural shape. I like playing cards, I like the outdoors and animals so why not combine them all. This drawing tablet is going to cause me to lose a lot of sleep, hard-drive space but hopefully open up new doors for freelance, as it should cut down on expenses of shipping, sketching materials and time spent transferring sketches to boards, prepping and scanning.. Whew.
Gabe.

a quick question...anyone here worked with lost wax techniques, or have a line on someone who does? Give me a ring at 513-248-1550 or email jpmagg3@fuse.net.
Thanks,
John

Baby-talk

Here's the latest illustration for DVM Newsmagazine. It's about a client who talks to his pets like they're babies when he brings them in to the vet.

Just got a Drawing Tablet for home

I've used them at work for years, but finally couldn't deal with a mouse anymore at home. This makes sketches look oily pastely for sure. Just a quick first one, but we'll see if I make the transition to mostly digital like Ryan. I don't know what to do with the boxes upon boxes of editorial illustrations in my closets anyway. Later!
Gabe

Sugar Cookie Stars

This is an older piece of mine. Now that I can mess with color on the computer, I'm adjusting things I always liked but wasn't thrilled with in terms of color. When I post, it seems to push it towards cyan-is this a rule? I'd love some info from those of you who know more about the computer (which would be all of you...)

Books by the Banks

I'm honored to have been selected to create the illustration for this year's Books by the Banks poster. More info to follow as it becomes available.

Announcement: Jerry Dowling on Channel 9

From Jerry: I have a Pete book taping at Channel 9 at 6:30 to air at 11:30 on Sports of all Sorts Sunday with Dennis Janson.

Treasury Cancels Plans to Hire Cartoonist

From The Huffington Post:

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department is scrapping plans to hire a cartoonist to lighten the mood of its employees who manage the nation's $1.2 trillion debt, after a senator questioned its merits.

The cartoonist would have been hired by Treasury's Bureau of Public Debt, which accounts for borrowed federal spending, at a time Congress is embroiled in a debate about increased government spending.

"Our training staff felt that at a time when employees are working extra hours, it might have been helpful," said Kim Treat, a spokesman for the bureau.

Full story here.

Cincinnati Rollergirls Art Show 2009 Opening

I know this is late notice, but I spaced due to deadlines, being out of town, etc.

July 15th is the opening of the Cincinnati Rollergirls Art Show at Northside Gallery on 4040 Hamilton Ave. from 7:00 to 10:00pm.

Darcy Voorhees and Tom Miller have work in the show. Let me know if anyone else on the lunch list contibuted.

Cannot make it tonight? No worries-the show lasts until August 1st.

New Space for Artists?

The folks at the Kennedy Heights Art Center are looking into establishing a cultural center near the city's center for artists to work, meet, and exhibit & sell their work. (I'm imagining something along the lines of Pendleton and Essex, but the details are still being hashed out.)

Which is where you come in. Any illustrators out there with any passing interest in renting space are urged to fill out a brief (5 min.) online survey which will help guide the KHAC toward creating an environment that's truly serviceable to artists.

As a follow-up, there will be 2 small-group discussions taking place on Thursday afternoon, July 16. The first meeting is at 1:00 the second at 5:30.

The meetings take place at the Kennedy Heights Art Center (6546 Montgomery Road) and will be moderated by Jim Rulli (a professional facilitator) and Ellen Muse-Lindeman (executive-director of the KHAC)

the survey is here.

Your input is greatly appreciated!

The death of CiN Weekly

Just wanted to share that I, along with all the staff of CiN Weekly, were laid off today by the Enquirer. CiN itself is morphing into Metromix Cincinnati.

If you want to read a free weekly paper, pick up City Beat.

And if you know of any jobs, freelance or otherwise, send 'em my way.

On the Spot Portrait

I just posted this picture on my blog, but I'm really happy with it and wanted to share it with all of you. I created the pencils while watching a reading of the poet/author Jim Carroll back in 2005. I inked it a year later, and the miracle of Photoshop enabled me today to add color to a piece done on crappy sketchbook paper.

Jerry Dowling: Columbus Dispatch Article

The Columbus Dispatch has an article about Drawing Pete, Jerry's book from Edgecliff Press.

Bonus: See this You Tube video about the book Jerry illustrated: Rollie's Follies.

Update! Here is an additional review of Rollie's Follies!

Jared Lee Articles

Check out this cool article on fellow local illustrator Jared Lee in The Western Star.

It talks about his series "Teacher from the Black Lagoon".

Also check out this article in Dayton Daily News about his series "Tales from the Back Pew".

David Beck-Gallery Opening

From David Beck: The Redtree Art Gallery and shop in Oakley on Madison Ave. is having a one month art show beginning next week called "Superheroes Rise Up". It's a charity event for Visions and Visionaries.

I was asked to display several of my originals in support of the event. It is a juried show open to all artists interested in the comic medium. The show runs from 7/10 thru 8/8.

The opening is Friday July 10th from 6:00-9:00 PM.

A Couple CA Articles

This month is the Communication Arts Annual Illustration issue. They had a couple of interesting articles:

This one called Riding the Wave I found rather depressing in a lot of ways because it seems to indicate that a career as an illustrator is over. Maybe I read it wrong but I am curious what others think...

On a different subject, they also have an article about pitching a graphic novel to a publisher. It is not online yet but I will post a link if they put it up.

By the way, was anyone local in the annual?

Ladybug Factory

Now you know how ladybugs are made.

Sketch evolution

This is going to be a piece for a conference this fall...the first sketch (lower left) is the strongest but didn't quite fit their perceptions, so we're off to the races with revisions.

Approved under drawing

This is my approved under drawing for my first history painting/ illustration for the Midland Trail and State of West Virginia. The scene is of the boom town of Cedar Grove, WV in the time frame of 1785-1795. The illustration celebrates the contributions Cedar Grove had on establishing trade on the Kanawha River. The town was a hub for trappers and families trying to move further west using dugout boats (which were constructed on site from local timber) and larger flatboats moving salt and other commodities.