Haditha/Katrina in Color

Here's the full version of the comic in Issue 78 (New South Journalism) issue of The Oxford American. Go swipe (and pay for) a copy at your local bookstore. New Yorkers: McNally Jackson has them in, and everyone that works there is nice (and handsome).

Latest Dispatch From Walter Reed

I had an incredibly smooth and wonderful trip earlier this month to WRNMMC. Robert Bates came all the way from North Carolina; Victor Juhasz and Mike Fay was there, too. Our chaperon that day, Howard Clark, was a great  ally in securing us longer portrait sessions with each service member. It was clear to me that the hospital has also cut back on extraneous visitors, making our visit more relaxed and less hurried.

Joshua Wetzel, Army.

First Lt. Nathan Rimpf, Army.

In an effort to imitate the beautiful line quality Victor gets in his life drawing, I drew these portraits with some woodless colored pencils. I'm happy I tried this out. The combination of using full color and having double the amount of time we're usually allowed to draw resulted in tighter drawings with greater character. Both of these men were injured about a month before I met them, were double amputees, and are now walking on prosthetic legs in physical therapy. The pace of their recovery is astounding. These men are really determined and hard-working, accept no pity, and see their situation as just part of the job of being a soldier at war. To top it off, they've both got a wicked sense of humor and were so hospitable and welcoming. I wish there were more people in the world like Josh Wetzel and Nathan Rimpf.

I'll be returning to Walter Reed the weekend of the Small Press Expo in September to visit Josh and Nathan to draw their portraits again. They've both shared stories I am including in the comic book. I am so excited to work on this project with them.

Photo courtesy Prayers for Josh Wetzel Facebook Page.

Photo courtesy Nathan Rimpf Support Fund Facebook Page.

Bethesda Ink Page Nine

I like the way this page sorted itself out. I am improving my lettering, but had so many other ideas on how to make letters and design things after I finished this ten pager. I will wait to post the full version until closer to the publication date. I am pretty happy with it. I'm going to visit Walter Reed again on Tuesday, this time I think I will focus on getting good drawings rather than good stories. Carrying around an audio recorder makes me feel like a jerk, so I'm not sure I'll use it. I have new stories to work on and that's been occupying my thoughts. Gearing up also to print some comics for the Small Press Expo. I aim to have copies of The City Chickens, Bethesda (Pt. 1), and Haditha Katrina (Pt. 1) at the expo.

I've recently read this essay by Josiah White, an Iraq War veteran and former Marine, who I have been in touch with and am working with on a comic story. It is beautifully done, read it when you can, it's very good.

Bethesda Pencils Page Five

One of my favorite pages from the Bethesda story. Still working on the other half of the pencils. Will ink this 'un by next week for the Cartoon Picayune. I'm headed back to Walter Reed Medical Center next week to draw more pictures and talk to people as well. It's busy over here!

The Balfa Brothers - Danse Des Mardi Gras
(Go see Beasts of the Southern Wild, it is beautiful. I am biased because it reminds me of home, it's full of boats and Gulf water and magic. I wished I had made it. And the musical score is awesome.)

Haditha Color Preview

I'm going back and cleaning up the messy edges I missed, but like the limited palette. I made Nathan's legs look like they've been in Miami, a shade (or four) too dark. It's interesting what you don't see until you send an image out into the world. It's been fun trying to figure out what goes where. This reminds me of a painting exercise we did in my first painting class at South: we paired ivory black with a few warmer tones, and could make the ivory black appear light blue--an optical illusion. The 'blue' of the flag almost looks blue, even though it's grey.

P.S. The lettering on this page totally rules.

We won't know the actual
If we never take the chance
TV on the Radio - Will Do

Nathan on His Bike

I really like this page from the Haditha/Katrina story. I'm coloring it so will wait to post the full version til then. My lettering is getting better, though the spacing/design is weak. I don't think I've ever worked this hard in my life.

Haditha Katrina Inking in Progress

It's happening! "Slowly by slowly" as Yoko Furusho once said to me. It's funny whose voice you hear when it's late and the window is open and there's just you and a quiet mess unraveling in front of you.

Haditha/Katrina Pencils (Pages 5,6,7)

Faster, faster, faster.

I think that she knows...
Love Stoned - Kaki King

Digestate Comic

This is a ten page piece I made for J.T. Yost's food and eating based comics anthology, Digestate. I am super excited about it. You can read it in its entirety here but I recommend getting a copy of the book, because it is full of awesome contributors (see here). I think it's due out in September and will be debuting at SPX.

Digestate Pencils Preview

Been working hard on this chicken comic for the Digestate anthology. My original story idea involving Blaine and his cow adventures wasn't really working and I had to abandon that idea.  A few weeks ago I talked with a man I had met at the Just Food Intro to Chicken Keeping workshop this past spring, Greg Anderson. It turns out he and his wife run a community garden (with chickens!) that is not very far from me. They were a lot of fun to speak with and got me to think about personal impact on a community over time. Staying in one place, digging in and working hard will eventually bear fruit. And chickens! Here's a preview of the first three (of ten) pages.

An Old One

I never posted this comic back in May when I finished it. I sent it for consideration in Issue 13 of Smoke Signal but it didn't make the cut.

Haditha Katrina Sketchbook

I've recently been in touch with my friend Nathan, a Marine veteran who is now working in Wyoming with the National Parks Service fighting fires and being an awesome dude in general. I contacted him about a year ago, asking him for help with my comic, and now we've got the beginning of the story. It's going to be beautiful and I am so excited. Nathan has been a great coach in giving me helpful advice on meeting veterans and conquering my nervousness.

 

Bethesda Excerpt

I'm working on an excerpt of the Bethesda book for the forthcoming issue of The Cartoon Picayune. From their website:
The Cartoon Picayune is a new bi-yearly magazine anthology of journalism in the form of comics. Our modest zine is a home and showcase in print for truthful reporting being created in the comics medium.

I really liked the way this pencil page is coming along and wanted to post it. I have to wiggle around the panels a bit for inking. No more teasers 'til the book is out, however,  I'll be sure to post details when the book is out so you can get your paws on a copy. Current issues of The Cartoon Picayune are available at Big Planet Comics in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Rabid Rabbit #14: Love Letter

 

I never posted the complete version of the Love Letter comic I did for Rabid Rabbit. I think the book itself is very beautiful. The production team at Rabid Rabbit did a beautiful job. My messy desk makes an appearance.

New York Times Video Feature

I'm humbled and honored to be part of the Joe Bonham drawing project and really happy with the great work the folks at the New York Times did with the story and multimedia. You can see the video here.

Joe Bonham Project in this Sunday's NYT Arts and Leisure Section

(Some of the Joe Bonham Project artists at Walter Reed: Ray Alma, Victor Juhasz, myself, Fred Harper and Jeff Fisher.)

 Since February I have gone on several trips with Victor Juhasz, Mike Fay, Ray Alma and Fred Harper to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. On our last trip Carol Kino, a freelance writer for the New York Times, and Marcus Yam, a 'curious and contemplative' photographer, convened with us there and documented our visit to draw portraits of the returning wounded. (Marcus' multimedia project, The Home Front was recognized by World Press Photo and is incredibly stunning and moving, I highly recommend watching the video).
What a thrill it is to see your art in the New York Times! (The taste all the more sweeter after years of sending promotional cards to the Op-Ed Art Director). I enjoyed what the interviewed service members had to say about the project and the powerful impact of portrait drawing, and their thoughts on the experience of being a soldier.

You can read the full article here, and see it in print on Sunday (or late Saturday if you're a New Yorker).

(Note the tabs for the Society of Illustrators' Facebook page and Rishi Tea...)

 (...and the scary Cindy Sherman/MoMA ad.)

(Photo Credit: Lacy Rhodes)