Selfie Esteem

Squids and Dudes

Sketching in the studio on Friday, trying to find the etymology of the 'f word', and also drawing from video stills from the only known footage of a giant squid in habitat.

Train Sketchbook

I'm drawing in my sketchbook again, trying to reboot and draw for fun. I got some Tombow markers that are interesting, though I miss the Pentel color brush pens they used to carry at the art store. Here's some people in Brooklyn riding the D and 4 trains.

Dadsville Comic

Here's a tiny preview of a two page comic I did for Dadsville, a father-themed comics anthology, about meeting my biological father in early July. The anthology is due later this year.

Paul Studies and First Pages

Here is what I have been drawing the past few days. I'm working on a story from a veteran who I have not yet met in real life, it's been interesting translating this story into a comic. I'm trying to develop cleaner lines and possibly do more with less digitally with this story.

Page One Pencil

Page 2 Pencil

Studies of Paul, done from photographs.

Drawing Paul from memory, making a character.

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.)

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.

 

Tattoo Story Page One Pencils

I drew this about a month ago already...time sure is flying. I have traveled more this year than all previous trips before this year combined, I think. I am really happy to burrow into the studio for the winter and do some printing. The guy at the top right of the page is John Haywood, a great talented tattoo and fine artist from Kentucky who I had the pleasure of meeting in passing in Newport. He plays all sorts of instruments really well, too.

Driving Page One

 

A pencil sketch for page one of the Tattoo Story, where Clifton Hicks travels to Whitesburg, KY from Boone, NC to get a really cool tattoo.