Sketchbooks

What a whale of a year.  STEEL NOODLES Number 1 debuted to great reviews especially from the very people that matter…YOU.  To all who have joined me on that journey, I thank you deeply and hope you will be there for the second and final book of the Advent story.

Then there are the countless many of you I have met during the many things we did on the road and at places like Comic-Con.  To you I say that the pleasure has all been mine.  To my colleagues especially the ones whom I had the chance to collaborate very closely with, my admiration is boundless and your friendship is priceless.

I am looking forward to 2011 with a lot of vigor and energy.  Lots of things are in the works and the only limit is the time from which to create from.  Have a fantastic holiday season and hope that everyone takes the time to count their blessings around close friends and family.

The sketch is from our trip to Grand Cayman and is part of some of the research I did for a future book project.

See you all in 2011!

I got the call yesterday from my printer LC Printsmith that the books where ready. But I couldn’t get there until today so it was one excruciatingly long evening of anticipation. So needless to say I was like a bat out of hell getting to the printer this morning to pick up my books.

This is the first un-boxing I’ve done via the trunk of my car, at a parking lot. But let me tell you that I can’t be happier with the stuff inside the box. ALTERNATING CURRENTS just looks great. Another year. Another book. Another big sigh of relief. And like I’ve said before, that feeling of satisfaction never gets old.

This book a whole lot of fun to do plus I got a big boost from the Axiotron Modbook during production. Now it’s on to Comic-Con next week to share it with all of you.

Here’s the final cover for my new sketch book ALTERNATING CURRENTS. It’s a full-digital illustration done in Adobe Photoshop CS3 using a custom brush. Drawing this was just sheer fun. (click the image for a larger view)

Click HERE for a little insight in the production process on MODBOOK JUNCTION.

It’s essential for any artist to always to find any excuse to sketch, (at least I do) so carrying a sketchbook should be standard operating procedure. It’s a great way to stay sharp and expand the inner visual vocabulary.

For weekend jaunts to wherever I always lug a backpack filled with sketchbooks, a pouch for my drawing implements and my Windsor & Newton Cotman mini-watercolor set. Sometimes the opportunity won’t be there but whenever I’m killing time somewhere I’ll reach into my bag and sketch whatever catches my eye.

Recently I dug up these 2 x 4 inch newsprint pads that my brother Ron gave me as souvenirs from one of his trips to Japan. The great thing about them is they’re small and compact and will fit easily in your pocket. Instead of a whole pouch of pens I’ll bring a 0.9mm Automatic Pencil, one ink pen and a waterbrush. The Cotman is around 6 x 3 x 2 inches and fits in my pants pocket as well.

This is a great alternative to carrying a bag of stuff, and personally, it eliminates the “I’m too lazy to lug a backpack so I won’t bring one” excuse as well.

These sketches are from Los Angeles’ historic Farmers Market. All sketched quickly by pencil on the above mentioned newsprint pads. Coloring done digitally via Photoshop with faux watercolor brushes.

One of my favorite books is artist Craig Thompson‘s CARNET DE VOYAGE and I was delighted to read in DRAWN that one; unbeknownst to me, Craig has had a blog since the middle of last year and two; his latest post is about the making of Carnet itself.

I am a self-confessed process junkie so I get all jazzed when artists give insight into the making of their respective works. Needless to say, seeing Craig’s post made my day. One revealing tidbit is that he kept two sketchbooks while he traveled. One for general use (which took the road abuse) and another “private” book for sketching more finished drawings at night.

Have you ever seen or read or heard something that just impresses the hell out of you and say “man, I wish I created that?”. Probably all the time. Carnet is one of those works that has that certain magical quality where the pieces fit together perfectly. It’s an inspirational piece and I can only hope to create something along those lines before It’s all said and done….