Holy Cow what am I doing here again. I tried this blog thing back a few years ago and just could not keep up with it. Hopefully this time I won't neglect it like I did before. I have been up to alot of things over the last couple of years and have made some strides in my quest to reach the
BIG 2. I have managed to do a graphic novel as well as produce some covers for Masterpiece comics.
This is the cover to the Graphic Novel:
It was a great learning experience for me and one that I know will help me along as move forward in my artistic progress.
I also have been to a a few Comicons. The Baltimore Comicon in 2007 with Masterpiece Comics;
Baltimore Comic-Con 2007
Well The 2007 Baltimore Comic-Con was bigger this year but with more no-shows.
It was still a good show and the promoter does a nice job with a very efficient staff.
Cesar, Ace, Rusty and I set up on Friday and Met a lot of the Inkwell Crew.
Al Feldstein was there from Montana. Al was a brush man back in the MAD days and was one of the Editors of Mad that put it on the map. He was a very nice guy and a hot ticket.
Don "the Duckman" Rosa was hawking his wares as well. I love his Duck work. He is all tech pen and does a super job with his stories. He was busy from start to finish.
Mark McKenna had his "Banana Tail" set up and his Comics Buyers Guide Cover with Billy Tucci was really a hit with the people I talked to. Mark is one great guy.
Jim Califiore was there with his art and doing sketches. Jim is good with pencil or quill.
Cesar was busy for the two days with sketches and I inked a couple of them for people that stopped by.
Serigio was swamped with people. Who doesn't love "Groo" or the Mad Marginals.
Another inkweller, Cully Hamer was there as well. Nice art huh! Cully does great work.
Jim Starlin was there signing and he liked our book as well. Jim is a great Guy and I can't wait to see his new DC stuff. He will be finishing up his "Kid Cosmos" as well.
Mark Sparacio was there with his incredible art. Here he is holding a peice that Billy Tucci posed for. Mark also finished the cover to issue #1 of the upcoming "Sgt." Rock series along with Billy Tucci. 
Here are some of the Inkwell members, (L to R) Cesar Feliciano, Bill Meiggs(rear), Norman Lee, Neil Volkes, and Me. These are a great bunch of guys and Bill is a great inker. Norman is not only a great inker but one heck of an artist. Neil is "Da Bomb".
Another Inkweller and one third of the Taco Trio (Andy, Tom Nguyen and Keith Champagne), Andy Smith was there Doing nice commissions and signing.
Here he is...Franchesco! He sold his sketch books out the first day so I missed buying one. He is such a talented artist and a great guy.
My "Full Mon Craze" Posse, Ace Masters (Publisher), Rusty Bartlett (Editor) and Cesar Feliciano (my favorite penciler).
Rusty was selling autographs for $1.00 each for sodas.
Parting Shot. Darth Vader and a minion enjoying a copy of "Full Moon Craze".
Brandon Wasn't able to make it as well as a few others so that stunk. But it was a great show and very productive. We enjoyed the people and sold a lot of books.
Jim Lee and a lot of others were there and they do wonderful work but they are not on the inkwell so...
See you next time.
Post by Jim Tournas
The Boston Comicon in 2008
Boston Comic Con 2008
Hi, it's me!
Well I got back from Boston's new Mini Comic Con and it was a pretty good show overall.
Rusty and I got there a little after 10:00 am and it was crowded.
I saw some guys from the Inkwell, Mark McKenna, Bob Almond, Scott Ambrusion, Norman Lee (Who was there with what I thought was a penthouse Pet of the month, You dog Norman ;-) ).
Cesar Feliciano was there with Kris Carter, Bob Shaw (Serendipity Sales art rep.) along with Peter Laird, Paul Ryan and Mike Lilly and many others.
But the reason I really likes it was Bernie Wrightson, Who is perhaps the one standout artist of my comics reading life.
Bernie was there with Liz, and a bust of Frankenstein, modeled after his drawings. He was very Gracious, and a Friend of mine bought a couple of his drawings for $2,000.00. Wow, I thought Neal Adams got a lot.
I introduced myself, told him about the Inkwell awards and asked if he would do a cover for the Secret Invasion book, He at once said he would (what a guy), so I grabbed Bob Almond and a book, and Bob sealed the deal.
His art has always been number one in my book, and if you don't have it already, buy the newer Frankenstein volume. It reproduces his art more faithfully then the earlier edition, and is a must have.
Anyway, I could go on, but he is just to good an artist and you guys know that already.
Peter Laird, Local Boy does good, was there as well and he looks great.
Scott Ambrusion was there all in his Pirates outfit, he actually looked at home in it.
Cesar and Kris were there doing sketches and hawking there wares. I hope they made a ton.
Mark McKenna and Norman Lee were there set up next to Wrightson and Paul Ryan. Paul was there with his Phantom art. I really like Paul's work.
Mark had some Wicked cool inks he brought, and his work is just Stellar.
Norman is getting to be quit a penciller, and it would not surprise me to see him pencilling at some date in the future.
Brian Kong was there and is a super illustrator. He even offered up an Invasion cover for the Inkwell awards, along with Norman Lee, Paul Ryan, Peter Laird, Hannibal King and A few others. So they get a Tip of the Hat as well for that.
There was Larry Harrison, an advertiser of the Inkwell Awards, so if your ever in Salem, Mass or Medford, Mass you can visit one of his comic and gaming superstores. And Larry is actually one of the nicest guys I know.
The show was bustling, and I love the fact that it is close.
Now on to the Pictures.
Bernie Wrightson
Franky
Bob Almond
Cesar Feliciano
Ed Couts (Love that wash)
Kris Carter (Hard at work)
Mark McKenna and Norman Lee ( Two talented guys)
Peter Laird
Scott Ambrusion ( Didn't I tell Ya)
Paul Ryan
Mike Lilly ( This guy can draw and I love Bob's Inks over him)
Brian Kong (he looks to young to illustrate so well)
Partingshot: I had some Halloween candy left
so I forgot all about driving Rusty home.
Well that's it for now so see you soon....Jimmybob
I also made it to the 2009 NY Comicon with my art rep at Serendipity Art Sales:
New York Comic Con 2009
Hi Everybody!
OK here's the skinny...
New York Comic Con predictions were that artists would have a tough time selling sketches for big money and it may be slow. That was the buzz I heard. Then we got to the Big Apple around 4:00 pm on thursday, I drove a van For Larry Harrison and Rusty drove one as well. We unloaded and got to our rooms that night dead on our feet.
Friday Morning I drove the Gang over to the Javitts center and Bada-Bing! a crowd...a goodly crowd on Friday Morning. Wow! Imagine that, people must want to get in and out before the weekend. So we piled out of the van like a Barnum and Baily clown car, except for all the knee and back creaking. Jay Fife unloaded his Refridgerator size portfolio trunk and we were off.
The place was buzzing at 8:30AM with setups going on and dealers checking out the competition and the throngs were lining up for tickets.
Artist alley was sparse but that was probably because they have a quick setup and can come in a tad late. Bob Almond had our Box of Inkwell Awards comp books for those that donated last year to help support us via Ebay auctions. We also got signatures of all the contributors to sell some of these CSketch books for the 2009 Inkwell Awards.
I got about 15 Dark Avengers Sketch Cover Variants for new sketches this year to auction off.
We did very well and you can get the EBay Link for those from www.inkwellawards.com site.
I met some wonderful new artist and Inkers and it was a great show. Jammed every day. Sunday was as good as Saturday!
Now on to the Photos...
Jimmy Cheung was at artist alley. An incredible Penciller and fav of mine, not because Johnny Dell Inks him, because I love his art style.
Artist Alley was wall to wall most of the show.
The Entrance was a huge mass most of the show as well.
There were a ton of Girls and boys dressed up in some pretty good costumes.
Yeah, I Know, But What can I say ;-D
A slow lull in the day.
Did not see what was going on, Just took the picture as I was going by.
One of Larry Harrison's workers at the show.
He won't call us "Tracers" anymore...
A young lady as Nightwing...interesting...
A Ross pose.
More crowd shots... are you there?
Hey everyone said take more costume pictures.
A sea of fans and collectors.
Bob Shaw (Inkwell Awards Committee member) of Serendipity Sales (Middle) had a roster of artists.
Kris Carter, a good Friend and upcoming artist was doing well at the show.
Cesar Feliciano was in good Form cranking out sketches.
and most recently back again at the Boston Comicon 2009.
So I have been out there in the public trying to get my name more recognizable. Any way I am looking forward to adding some samples of my latest work and sharing the trials and tribulations that I am dealing with as I live the dream. Alright folks until later . . ."Vaya con Dios muchachos"
