A couple of months ago I started a drawing intended as part of an inking lesson for my students. I started the drawing a little too late in the week to have it ready for Sunday's class so, I left it home and re-created the drawing in class and inked it on the spot. The idea with the drawing was to handle it three different ways and then ink it three different ways. The first would be very loose pencils, the second would be very tight pencils, and the third would be in the middle. One drawing would be inked with brush, one with crow-quill, and the third would be a mixture of the two. That at least was the idea. The drawing sat on my board for a period of time as I had other work that required my attention. when a gap opened up I decided to finish the drawing, but just as a single panel. I'd then ink the drawing for my own practice. For a long time I've felt my inks weren't quite up to where I wanted them and this would be a good chance to test myself and see if I could push my abilities a bit further then where they were. Here's the results of this test:

As a drawing I was extremely happy with the composition, figures, lettering, and the inking. Taking my time with this drawing really paid off in the level of quality that I perceive in my work. As I was drawing this I came up with an idea to continue the story of this panel to an entire page. The execution of that page would be handled the same way, with an eye towards maintaining a level of quality. Here are the results of that:

I am quite pleased with the results of this page as well. The composition of each panel is well executed, as well as the composition of the overall page. The level of quality and consistency stays equal throughout, which I am also very pleased with, especially on the last panel, 3/4 of which was completely re-drawn after a good call by my wife who mentioned that something was off with the panel. As I was finishing this page up, an idea for  a short story based around this page came into my head. I'll be working on that and posting pages when they are completed.

A million and a half years ago, when the internet was a young thing barely into its adolescence, I did a web-comic that I would post to my live journal, titled very appropriately, Stumped. Stumped was me having fun with doing single funny (at least to me they were funny, the jury never came back on whether or not they were funny to anyone else) comic strips. It was me learning how to tell a joke using my favorite medium, and on occasion I told them fairly well. I did a grand total of 6 Stumped comic strips, a lofty number back then and I had always planned to go back and do more of them as they were some of the most fun I've had putting pencil to paper and stylus to tablet. Life got in the way of me making any more Stumped comics, at least on a regular basis. My career of comic book artist went from speculative to actual and the free time with which I had in abundance suddenly vanished as I now had people paying me to do what I used to do to get out of doing any real work. 

Skip forward to the current day and age. The internet has left adolescence far behind. Live journal is still there, but the blog has, well, I don't have to tell you do I? In fact if you are still reading this I am completely surprised and flattered. Not so much because it is dull, but because it is far more than 140 characters. As for me, I'm married and careered, and still under deadline and spend a lot of time thinking about that funny strip that I used to do and how much I enjoyed it. This week I was low. I couldn't get my head unscrewed from my rectum and just needed something to make me laugh.  Leafing through an old sketchbook, I came across a page that had eight panels sketched out and found myself giggling. I put the deadlines aside just for a little while and spent time drawing for myself.  I humbly present the results here.

I of course showed it to my wife.  She is a PhD candidate and much smarter than I am, and in her wisdom said I should do more of these. And you know what, that feels right. Like I said she is much smarter than I am.  So expect this to be the first of what is hopefully many more attempts at me being funny, and if you have to blame someone, blame my wife. I'm not guaranteeing any kind of schedule, but I am going to do more of them.  Welcome to Stumped.

 

The Battle Of Blood And Ink Preview Is Up!

Want to see a preview of The Battle Of Blood And Ink, the graphic novel that I've been talking about so much lately?  Well, Tor.com has a preview up right now!  Check it out here:

The Battle Of Blood And Ink Preview
I figure that some of you want to try before you buy, and this is a nice 18 page chunk of our story about this dread-locked seeker of truth and her life on a flying city.  The book is hitting on May 22nd, and is still available for pre-order through Amazon.com You can pick it up here:

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Blood-Ink-Fable-Flying/dp/0765331306 

Sketch Monday

Every once in a while I get the urge to draw a super-hero, and Spider-Man is a childhood favorite.  I knocked this quick little number out while on the train on Saturday, on the way to visit family for the holidays.

I've made it a mission in my career to work with people who share my ideas about storytelling and aesthetics in order to make really kick ass books.  When I met Jared I realized it was inevitable that we would be working together on something.  A simple conversation gave birth to the idea that nearly 6 years later would become The Battle Of Blood And Ink.  The ride has been absolutely incredible right from the start, and as I look back on the journey it has been a complete dream.  So much good has come out of being determined to create something that we would love.  We're now a month away from the books release.  We've got a ton of stuff planned to celebrate and usher our endeavor into the world.  Events in Baltimore, Wilmington, Brooklyn, and our home base of Pennsylvania.  More on these to come.  If you'd like to pre-order a copy of the book you can do so through Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Battle-Blood-Ink-Flying/dp/0765331306

or through Barnes and Noble here:


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/battle-of-blood-and-ink-jared-axelrod/1103277235

In the end, I love telling stories.  I cannot wait to bring you another kick-ass book.

I've been working on a ton of stuff since the start of the new year, and sadly mourning the loss of my Grandfather, who passed just before Christmas.  I've taken some time away from posting due to that, but I never stopped working.  Besides finishing up the Battle Of Blood And Ink, which is now available for pre-order from Amazon, just go to http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Blood-Ink-Fable-Flying/dp/0765331306 to reserve your copy today, Jared and I have been working on web only mini-comics that help to enrich the world of Blood And Ink and add to the Fables Of The Flying City.  You can read these mini comics at www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com.  Now, enough shameless self-promotion, onto the art!  Here's preview pencils for the cover of the next Fables Of The Flying City mini comic.  I really like the art deco graphic design feel that the image has.

Free Comics!

There wasn't a Sketch Monday this week, and I know you are all gnashing your teeth and wailing in dismay, but I am currently trying to get a bunch of stuff wrapped up by the end of the month.  That sounds silly I know, but December, of all the months, seems to fly by the fastest.  So Sketch Monday will be back next week, and actually on Monday rather then Tuesday.  Until then, I have a slew of free comic pages for you all:



http://www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com/news/free-comics/

This is the mini-comic that Jared and I produced for New York Comic Con in October.  This is the first of six planned mini comics that will lead into the release of our graphic novel The Battle Of Blood And Ink in May from Tor Books.  I hope you all enjoy!

New York Comic Con '11

This past weekend was New York Comic Con.  The Con has always been big, and has just grown exponentially since it's inception.  To say that it is a bit of a sensory overload would be a gross understatement.  The show itself, with all of its bright colors and big displays, the celebrities and all the fans who dress up in fantastic costumes, is a remarkably fun show. 

Jared and I went to promote The Battle Of Blood And Ink, and it was a resounding success.  Not only did we make some new fans, The phrase of the weekend was, "I can't wait to read this", but we were approached by several fans of the podcast!  What a great treat that was.  Not wanting to go to the con empty handed, we prepared a special Fables Of The Flying City mini comic, and people loved it. I'll be posting up the cover here in a bit, plus we will have the entire comic available for reading and download at www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com. I will of course announce when it goes live.  That will be followed by 5 more Fables Of The Flying City mini comics, which will be posted once a month until the release of the graphic novel.  Now, the con didn't inspire this, but it sure as hell motivated us to get these lead ins up and running. 

My favorite part of the con was the sketches.  I love meeting people, talking with them about comics, and doing a piece of art that is just for them.  I did a few Ashe sketches this weekend, but the ones that really stick in my mind are the Batman punching the shark I did and a Spider-man and Maryjane piece.  I've got a few here for you to look at as well!

  The Nightwing is for my friend Adrienne who absolutely loves Dick Grayson, almost to creepy stalker levels if he were flesh and blood.  The robot pinup is something I've been doing since the first New York Comic Con.  I just like drawing robots.

Overall this NYCC was a tremendous success!  More pictures and artwork to come over the next few days so keep your eyes peeled!                                                  

Sketch Monday

After a very busy weekend here we are at Monday again.

Heimdall

 

 

 

This sketch of Heimdall the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost was done on the train on the way to my teaching gig at the Art Student's League.