Red Rocket Comics

A New Coat For My New Phone

2012-01-01T17:21:00.000-08:00

Went over to case-mate.com and made myself a new cover for my new phone! Now everyone will know whose phone it is! I guess until they take the cover off.....

Sketched it out on grid paper, and built it in Adobe Illustrator. I like what I get but remember why I like brush and ink better when I'm drawing!

Certified Classics - The McFarren Edition

2011-12-23T12:35:00.000-08:00

Over at the One Lucky Guitar site Matt and the likely lads got a little something going called the Certified Classics. It's fun reading and gets you thinking about your own classics. I love music and really love the music I love, so I got to thinking, then I got to writing.

Honorable Mentions

10. The Ramones – The Ramones

9. The Cure – Disintegration

8. The Clash – London Calling

7. Social Distortion – Social Distortion

6. Rancid – And Out Come the Wolves

5. Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy

My parents were big into music, like a lot of people, and I remember most times in my house (through all the moves) some kind of music going on. My parents had records. I remember being about five when they taught me how to gently set the needle down and listen for the smooth, crackling of the right placement.

When I was in 7^th grade I rediscovered my parent’s record collection as I, along with pubescent youth all over America got heavily into the 1960’s, realized the absolute GOLD MINE that was in the cabinet under the stereo. I couldn’t care less about trove of alcohol there, but the other side, snuggled up next to each other was record after record to make my friends jealous. Sly and the Stones and Jimi and, you got it, Zeppelin. Three classic records. Led Zeppelin III, IV and Houses Of The Holy. Of course my parents loved that I suddenly was ravenous for these vinyl gems and told me stories that went along with each record. My dad told about seeing them in Germany, and how they kinda limped along, not really doing much until four songs in when they got to Stairway To Heaven. “That,” he said, “Is when they REALLY kicked it in!” dropping down into an awkward I’ve-Never-Played-An-Actual-Guitar Air Guitar Solo.

I discovered the joy of music. Of sharing passion and love and the stories about and around music then, at that weird time when you shouldn’t be having such moments between your parents and your middle school self.

And though, my mother kind of dismissed HotH, saying it just wasn’t as good as IV, that’s the one I connected with. That’s one of the ones in my house now that I play, loud and rowdy in the summer while we grill and my own kids get down to it.

4. Dead Milkmen – Big Lizard In My Backyard

Dead Kennedys – Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death.

Suicidal Tendencies – Possessed to Skate

These have to be rated to together for me. A veritable trifecta of musical power, revealed to great effect and awe, as young sixth-grade McFarren rolls down a hill, falls on already skinned knees and decides to call it a day a read the new “magazine” he has at home on his new favorite past time. It was on newsprint, still black and white then, and named Thrasher and it’s pages revealed the true glory of the Southern Californian lifestyle of skateboarding and the underground culture that came with it: graffiti, indie art, and punk rock.

So when my Grandma took me out for my annual birthday shopping spree, I, for the first time, decided to forego the toy stores and instead drug her around the record stores until I found tapes of some of the bands I had read about and knew I needed to be truly like my heroes. I came home with those three tapes and, truly, they blew me away. I only knew radio pop and classic rock and this was so much different! This was another world. It was angry and political and raw. And, yeah, I didn’t understand much of it for a long time but it hit me in my core and never let me go. My parents were so cool about it, too. They didn’t try to keep it out of my hands, while obscenities screamed out of the speaker, they just told me to keep it in my room. It opened so many doors to great music and art and still does. It helped me to be who I was, who I needed to be and helped shape me into the man I am.

3. Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual

Probably not the Jane’s album that makes most people’s lists because it was so all over the place and out there, right at their most commercial friendly time. But, to me, it was art. Art with a capital A. It was rockin’ and raucous and rebellious. It was rebellious in the chances it took, the stories it told, the visions it cast. It blew me away. I brought it home, loaned to me by my art bud, Brian Frieburger and went to my room and turned it up until my parents came home. I emerged from my room, not quite knowing what had happened but that it was good. The rest of high school had this record as it’s soundtrack and “Classic Girl” is still one of my all time favorite love songs.

2. Jawbreaker – 24-Hour Revenge Therapy

So there was this girl. This girl was amazing. I mean, we “met” (we actually knew each before that) at a Tilt show at Club 13 when it was on Wells right before the bridge. She was up on stage, standing against the wall because her and her friend had gotten to know Cinder Block before hand. And, dang!, if she wasn’t the cutest thing. And, then, dang!, if she didn’t put the perfect disc into my hands. Raw, tortured, angry, and romantic. The love songs for everything unrequited; for extremely late art school nights; for passionate make out sessions behind the couch and stolen kisses in the Sci-Fi section; for screaming along to in your car while dreaming of the bigger world.

Matt wanted lyrics to break his heart, well, brother, give a listen.

1. Pearl Jam – 10

Stop me if heard this one: A Matt Kelley walks into an art room and yells across the room: “Hey, Jeremy! I got this new band who has a song about you!” Then he walks over to out art teacher and, in the way that Matt can, convinces him to put on the stereo so we can listen while we work. And, when, that song comes on, the one I share a name with, and the chorus rides in, I look and Matt and he gives me that nod and that smile. You know the one.

Matt’s probably moved on form Pearl Jam, chasing down Bob and Bruce, but I haven’t. I mean, I’ve had affairs along the way, dallying with punk and hardcore, short flirtings with early Emo and Krishna-core, and the live-in mistresses that are punk and reggae, but I always come back to PJ.

It was the sound of my first true heartbreak. It was the sound of the end of high school, gathered a fire with my best friends. It was sound of Freshman year art school and digging though bootleg bins to find the best of the discs. It was the sound of letting go of a hellacious semester of work, shared live with my wife. It’s powerful, anthemic rock-n roll for the ages. I mean, Alive, seriously, doesn’t have all the trappings of one of the greatest Rock songs of all time, you truly haven’t given in and listened to it live. It’s got it all: a hook, a chorus, a slow build with face melting guitars that keeps going until it all crashes to the end celebrating the fact that we’re all still alive.

I’m sure there’s a lot of great thinkers about rock-n-roll who will malign my ramblings, but they would be missing the point. Sometimes you just need to stop thinking and feel.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

Every year I draw our Christmas card and we send it out as a postcard. When we were first married we were poor and postcard stamps and copy machines were the cheapest route. Then I started stumbling on to all these great cards from some of my cartooning heroes, so I decided to make it a tradition. I've had some bad ones along the way, but it's fun for me every year and I've been told some people actually look forward to getting them and adding them to their collection. That is always guaranteed to bring out the "Aw, shucks!" in me.

The Long Assignment Part 3

2011-11-22T22:46:00.000-08:00

Cards and Invites For The Season's

2011-11-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

Gotta whole messa work done today while my son napped, trying to recover from his coughy mess of a chest.

Every year, I draw the kids invites for their parties and the postcard cartoon for our Holiday card. This tradition started way back when my wife and I were first married and we wanted a custom card and were too poor to afford it. Drawing, photocopying and a postcard stamp were the cheapest option! Now, it's a beast I can't stop as people tell how much they forward to their card in the mail, but really, why would I want to?

The Long Assignment Part 2

2011-11-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

New Red Rocket Comics Etsy Store

2011-11-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

I got my Etsy store all set up! In time for some holiday shopping! Mention this blog when you order and I'll throw in a free Black and White sketch!

New Story - The Long Assignment

2011-10-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

2011-09-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

I'll be participating in a show at The Lotus Gallery that's comic book themed. They are trying to make it like a little mini comic con! Kinda cool! I won't get to have a table at their "con" as I will be at a wedding, BUT they WILL have copies of both my RocketBoy book and my The Cauldron In The Back Cabinet (check over on the sidebar).

Above is a little sneak peek at one of my entries. I'll prolly have a couple small drawings too. Hope you can make it out!

p.s. If you want a copy of my book and wanna order one for pick up, let me know and I'll float a little doodle on the inside. You know, to punch up the resale value a couple cents in the next 50 years.

Instagramming

2011-09-21T17:35:00.001-07:00

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"Monkey-a-bunga! Lunchbox #doodles "

Instagramming

2011-09-21T17:35:00.000-07:00

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"#Spaceman and #alien illo in progress "

2011-09-20T18:08:00.001-07:00

The Crane Wife doodles.

(Actually this is a test to see if I can publish from Instagram on my phone.)

Lunch Box Doodles

2011-09-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

Added a bunch more of my Lunchbox doodles over here:

RocketBoy and Cauldron and Art

2011-09-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

The History Center here in Fort Wayne is having an auction to raise money for the museum. My better half and I are donating some shtuff. I'm donating some copies of my books and an original drawing in the form of an original page, created specifically for the auction. It's just a little one pager, light, fun, drawn and inked in an evening. The books are shown over there on the right!

New Lunch Box Doodles

2011-09-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

Took a day off from the story, but now we're back at it. An Instagram friend suggested I put all these little drawings together in a mini comic. I like that idea. I've been debating putting them all up here, but I don't have any extra time for scanning right now. Maybe soon.

New Lunch Box Doodles

2011-09-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

Day 2

Lunch Box Doodles-1

2011-09-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

This started as a way to get my kids excited about going back to school: I'd put a little drawing in their lunchbox or bag for them to find. A little thing to ease anxiety and have a little fun. It also kept me drawing all kinds of stuff. Mostly light-hearted stuff to entertain them, make them smile.

I started when my daughter went to Kindergarten a couple years ago. Played around with images, told a weird little story, and then got busy with stuff and didn't do much last year. But I'm back at it now that my son is in kindergarten and my daughter has a broken arm.

This year's batch started out the same, little drawings, mostly of animals or anthropomorphized animals, light, fun; but I gotta tell stories. So here we go. Drawings right in ink, right onto the page and presented right out of the sketchbook, just like my kids see them. Not sure what the story is, but it will also be told 2 parts at a time.

I'm having a blast drawing for them, hopefully you'll like 'em too! I've been sharing them over on Instagram, too. If you wanna see 'em there, check me out: JJMcFarren.

Me as Tin Tin

2011-08-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

I drew Tin Tin as a self-portrait because when I had short hair I kinda looked like him. Definitely had the little whip of hair. So I added glasses and my new beard, but now it just looks kinda creepy. heh!

I remember discovering the Tin Tin books back in Middle School. I think the first book I saw was even in french. I couldn't read it, but the story telling captured me! I searched them out at the library and the adventure and action and childlike wonder still gets me today.

And, of course, because I can't get away from my love of the look, a half-tone version:

Swamp Thing Sketch reposted from Summit City Ink

2011-08-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

EDIT

Added some water and a little more detail around the shadows and such. Done for now.

...but I needed to post SOMEthing.....Must confess: I never really got into swamp thing. Prolly just never really got into at the right time. But as a kid, I dug the movie. And we had one of those weird playdoh-like action figures where you could rip his arm off and stick it back. (Except when it got too full of carpet junk and animal hair!)

My Hellboy Cover

2011-07-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

No, it's not a paid gig. (Yet! ; P) It's for this contest over at Dark Horse. Choose a cover and redraw it.

I chose this one because this was a great storyline, one that changed Hellboy's life forever and this issue featured a mucked with gorilla! Mine doesn't come close to Mike's but such is life. I'm digging my work, tho, if I can stretch my arm muscles a little to reach my back! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Polly Esther Posters

2011-07-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

My better half is a pretty talented artist as well as teacher. Her new little venture is this thing called Polly Eshther Threads. She makes these fun-shaped crayons--

And these T-Shirt scarves. She has a really good eye for putting this stuff together and making it look pretty rad. She sells Polly Esther goods at Firefly Coffee House, Fort Wayne Museum of Art and will be, along with myself, the Featured Artist at Freshly on July 18th. I put these posters together to start advertising her work a little more as she she starts to get some more exposure.

Look for an Etsy store soon!

If you'd like to order some crayons or scarves, drop her a line at pollyestherthreads@gmail.com. She can do batches, too!

The Cauldron In The Back Cabinet Book One!

2011-06-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

That's right! My little baby is ready to fly out of the nest and into the bright world!

You can check out the first 30 or so pages over here. If you want would like a copy order below or on the side of the blog!

It's 48 black and white pages with full-color cover.

$8 for the book and $2 for shipping and it will come to your door with an original sketch tucked inside!

(Let me know if you want the sketch kept PG.)

When Livi stumbles across a strange black pot in her parent’s kitchen she unexpectedly opens a door to a magical world filled with mystery.

How far through the door is she willing to go?

And can she close the door before it becomes too dangerous?

Summit City Comic Con Sketches

2011-06-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Summit City Floor Plan Map!

I've been busy creating sketches for pre-orders for my book The Cauldron In The Back Cabinet and to have some avaliable at Summit City Comic Con this weekend. So I thought I'd throw a few up here. I'm still taking pre-orders and would love to draw something for you! Stop by my table and see this weekend or drop me a line if you want a little sketch up!

I like to draw all kinds of stuff so if you wanna pick a subject you can!

Sketches are 5"x7" Ink on Bristol board and only $5!

$10 if you just want it in color.

Add $2 and they can be shipped right to your house!

The Cauldron In The Back Cabinet going to the presses!

2011-06-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

That's right! My little baby is about ready to fly out of the nest and into the bright world! The first book is ready to print and I am taking pre-orders! You can check out the first 30 or so pages over here. If you want would like a copy, drop me a line and your name will go on the list!

It's 48 black and white pages with full-color cover.

$8 for the book and $2 for shipping and it will come to your door with an original sketch tucked inside!

(Let me know if you want the sketch kept PG.)

When Livi stumbles across a strange black pot in her parent’s kitchen she unexpectedly opens a door to a magical world filled with mystery.

How far through the door is she willing to go?

And can she close the door before it becomes too dangerous?

I will also have stuff at Summit City Comic Con again on June 18th at the Grand Wayne Center. Stop by and say hi and pick up a book.

Lots of other great buddies there with some great work for sale!

Hope to see you!

New Cauldron Page

2011-05-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

Alright, now we get to start getting a look at what this thing is.

Hey! I'm going to start reminding everybody that I'm going to be at the super sweet Summit City Comic Con June 18th! I'll have a table representing Red Rocket again. I'll have copies of RocketBoy, Cauldron, and some copies of the mini I did. Plus art and stuff. And, I'd love to be commissioned. Some other rad guys and girls will be there, too, like my buddy Tim Baron, who'll have copies of his new book, which looks amazing!

You can follow me on twitter here and the con here. Hope to see you all there!

New Cauldron Page and Other Comic Stuff

2011-05-16T17:43:00.000-07:00

Livi's tired of not knowing rhat's going on, too. She doesn't quite know why she's scared suddenly, but she's gonna find out.

Also--

A bit comics journalism: Matt McClure from the IPFW Communicator contacted me about contributing to their comics themed issue of The Communicator. I agreed. They sent me a story. The story was about Lloy Ball retiring. It was a fun little project. Quick turnaround. Not en ought time to dwell.

Above is the final color version, below the sketch.

Columbo Contemplates His Lost Keys

2011-05-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

My submission to the group sketchblog I'm a part of: Columbo! Gotta admit: I don't know much about this guy other than a few episodes I watched on a little RCA TV with one of those UHF/VHF dials and rabbit ears at my Grandma's. I'd prolly like it, the character is interesting visually, but, you know how these things go....

Brush pen, with some PS toning. I left the scanned sketchbook rings in homage to the whole P.I. thing. It might be cheesy, though....

Original sketch is 8" x 10" Brush pen on paper. Can be part of your collection if you're a lover of 70's detective stories starring dumpy, dirty old heroes. Drop me a line if you want it.

New Cauldron Page

2011-05-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ooo. What is it?

Greedo's Last Bad Choice

2011-05-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

I've been lucky to be included in a group of comic lovers and artists who have a collective blog over at Summit City Ink. We've begun using it as a group sketchblog where we all throw up our versions of a theme onto the blog. This is the first week and the theme was Greedo. I love me some Star Wars so this was pretty fun.

You know, after all these years of being a Star Wars nerd, I've never really considered wether or not Han actually shot first. I was always just into the whole unpredictable cowboy/rebel thing of Han's and thought it was cooler than whiny Luke. Does it matter? Probably not. Not sure I would have waited either.

Plus, Han was more funny.

UPDATE: SOLD!

If you like my little attempt, I'd be willing to part with it. 8"x10" ink on paper. Drop a line if you want it. More to come!

New Cauldron Page

2011-05-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

New page in the story - - Does Livi start to put it all together?

What happens when she does?

New Cauldron Page

2011-04-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Alright, lets start trying to draw some conclusions to all this foreshortening I've been teasing you with. But first a few more questions....

New Cauldron Page

2011-04-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

The first part comes to a close with a mysterious figure in black and,

wait, what's that? Foreshadowing? Oh, my!

The box of worms Livi has opened is about to get messier!

Stay tuned!

Tonight's soundtrack provided by Soma.fm. Check em out!

New Blog Page - Sketchbook Stuff

2011-04-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

Scans from my sketchbook. These are mood exercises, drawn directly in brush pen while waiting, talking, watching TV, soccer practice etc.

New Cauldron Page

2011-04-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

Livi finds another strange object...

Drawing all the dead twigs got to be a bit meditative.... This page was neat the end of the initial push for the first 25 pages. I really felt in a groove in the pages leading up to and following this one. Most of the drawing and inking and a chunk of the toning of the past 5 and the next 2 were done in a mad rush in a weekend where I was alone:

Wife at a Chicago bachelorette party and kids away at Grandparents.

It was the best and worst weekend. Pure comic making and pure loneliness for the people that make your life really mean something.

New Cauldron Page

2011-04-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

The story starts really picking up here. I've had a great time trying to pack as much moodiness as I can into these pages.

I created a Pandora station that is cchock fulla moody, dramatic, soundtrack music that has become the go to sound while I work on this.

It started as Boards of Canada and Bruno Coulais, then added the Album Leaf and Danny Elfman and always Ennio Morricone.

I'm going to be here this summer and am trying to get this plus about 24 more pages ready to print up. I'd love any input and if you click on over here, I truly appreciate it!

New Cauldron Page

2011-03-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

New favorite page.

New Cauldron Page

2011-03-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite pages to work on so far. Until I go to the next page...

New Cauldron Page

2011-03-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

The Lotion Song

2011-03-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

My final piece for the Lotion Show. Come out tonight and check us out.

The Red Skull

2011-03-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

The fine folks over at Society 6 and D-Structure are curating an online show themed around super heroes. I drew Cap t'other day and he needed a nemesis so I put this guy down in ink and "painted" some color on. You can even buy an art print of it.

New Cauldron Page

2011-03-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

New Cauldron Page

2011-03-02T17:33:00.000-08:00

Cinderella Cthulu

2011-02-23T20:02:00.000-08:00

I had an image of a girl in a fancy dress (prolly the award season sneaking in). But I also had the image of these tentacles sneaking out from under (not sure where that came from). This was supposed to be one of my "Quick Illos", more of an exercise, but I did three versions, playing around with texture and coloring styles. One I'm turning into a T-shirt submission.

Here's the black and white version with some PS toning:

True story, kinda....

2011-02-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

Mechanical Valentine

2011-02-21T20:23:00.000-08:00

Spider-Man Down

2011-02-21T19:52:00.000-08:00

Quick sketch during my son's soccer game and an equally quick color job.

Neck Scarf

2011-02-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

A quick drawing in a new sketchbook drawn with a brush pen during an awards ceremony. Added a quick Photoshop color tonight.

New Cauldron Page

2011-02-21T09:34:00.000-08:00

Stuff starts happening faster...

The Lotion Song

2011-02-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

Knocked out the color finals on this piece I started last summer. It's inspired by a song called the "The Lotion Song" by The Silversmiths.

There's a funny story behind the song, but I'm not sure this is the place to relate it. Needless to say it is not necessarily safe for work. But one of the members had an idea to do a multi-media evening and asked a bunch of his artists friends to "interpret" the song, giving us the loosest of parameters and asked that we all come together on a single night to display our art and listen to some music.

Come out and check it out!

New Cauldron Page

2011-02-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

Missed last week with some not-feeling-goodness, so here it is, back on schedule.

Snow Day(s) Comic!

2011-02-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

In honor of The Blizzard(!) I'm posting another comic that has been waiting to see the light of day.

This one actually began life as an example for my cartooning class. The assignment was to study the work of a cartoonist, then create an homage comic, trying to emulate the style of the artist. I chose the amazing Bill Watterson and I almost don't want to say that as I fall far short. However, it became something else, somehting more me, so....Anyway the comic was actually drawn almost 4 years ago to the week, on another snow day, and inked and finished up today.

It draws upon my tendency to quote Star Wars in situations where the quote is less than appropriate and the imitable Calvin's tendency to drift off into his imagination, like all of us dreamers.

New Page of Random Comicness

2011-02-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

I'm going to present stories that don't fit into the Red Rocket mold here under Comics Odds and Ends. The first one is "The Gift".

I've been getting out some past comic projects that never saw much daylight (done as I was finishing my teaching license and in the middle of having kids) whilst putting together a portfolio. I've always been fond of this story and really pleased with the way it turned out - though now I would take out the self-portrait and any autobio reference. Maybe I'll do that when I color it, but I'm happy with it and wanted to "get it out there". I'd like to add color and get it looking a little more "web friendly".

Hope you like it.

New Cauldron Page

2011-01-31T18:03:00.000-08:00

New Cauldron Page

2011-01-26T16:52:00.000-08:00

New Cauldron page for the story.

You can still vote for the AVA Awards here.

Got some new music this week.

For some good Rock and Roll In The Car, some Americana Done Victorian Style and good Music To Create To:

New Cauldron Page

2011-01-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

How about a bonus Cauldron page since I got the day off due to freezing rain covering our streets in thin layers of ice! (It's getting a little creepy now.)

Don't forget: you can still vote for me in the Drawing category for Artlink's AVA awards online here!

New Cauldron Page

2011-01-18T17:22:00.001-08:00

Artlink's Visual Art Awards

2011-01-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

Fort Wayne's Artlink Gallery is sponsoring the 1st Annual AVA Awards. You can vote for a whole mess of talented people for your choice of Outstanding artist in a whole range of categories. I was fortunate to be nominated for an award in the Drawing category. You can vote here.

Hopefully you'll vote for your favorite! To maybe sway your opinion in the leastest, here are a few examples of my work.

Some other great nominees and some friends of mine are Nate Utesch and Drew Kora and Jake Sauer in Graphic Design; Eric Tarr in painting; and Clare Christian Tarr in Fabric Design.

New Cauldron Page

2011-01-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

Cauldron in the Back Cabinet

New Cauldron Page

2010-12-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

New Cauldron Page

2010-12-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

New Cauldron Page

2010-12-13T19:00:00.000-08:00

Working On The Cover

2010-11-29T18:58:00.000-08:00

Coloring in process....

New Cauldron Page

2010-11-09T20:17:00.000-08:00

New Cauldron Page

Posting New Story Page by Page

2010-11-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

I am going to try to start posting pages of my story regularly leading up to me putting it out. For now, here's the first three! They will be in the Cauldron In The Back Cabinet page.

Artlink's Toy and Book Illustration Show

2010-10-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Going to be a fine show of art over at Artlink in Fort Wayne coming up. They are sporting a Toy And Book Illustration Show. Work featured in books and with books and toys as the theme. I have some work from my RocketBoy book in the show as well as local illustrators and artists. I'll be selling copies of the book at the show, too.

Also, check out the the installation show that will be there, too!

The Characters From "The Story"

2010-09-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

Working on the look of the book: characters, toning, color. I think I got the look pf the characters, down, still toning and coloring. Got lots to do between now and December 8th.

Ghost and Boy with Color

2010-08-09T12:19:00.000-07:00

The final color version. Still playing with tone and color for the look of my other project. Getting closer. Thanks to Tim Baron and Aaron Minier for toning help.

Below is the original pen sketch.

Livi and The Imps Sketch

2010-08-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

One of the sketches that was waiting for color so patiently has been rewarded with color. Well, I hope it was a reward and not a miserable failure. Still working out color schemes and toning. I want the books to have a monochromatic look with a blue tone. Not quite sure this is the exact look but it's a start. Still figuring a look for the texture, too. I don't want to get too fancy as there are people who do it better and that's not quite the look I want.

Drawings Waiting Patiently

2010-08-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

A couple of quick drawings. The left one is a drawing working out a couple different characters for a story I'm working on and I just wanted to draw weird space scene on the right. Both done during the time I was teaching a summer cartooning class for high schoolers. Both now patiently await color.

I drew this during Graduation ceremonies on the back of a folder, still no color. Influenced I'm sure by this guy's art I've been admiring.

A Bella also drawn during the class.

And an Edward. Color with markers.

Derby Girls Bust-A-Move Bust

2010-07-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

Our local Derby Girls have a charity event called Bust-A-Move, where they raise money for Breast Cancer research. The groups casts the torsos of breast cancer survivors and members of the Derby Girls. The casts are then given to local artists who create art on the casts. The artists then donate their work to the Girls for a silent auction where the proceeds go to fund the research.

This is actually Step 1.5, because I didn't snap a pic of the all blue bust. This is a white wash covered in an iridescent medium that makes it a little sparkly.

Step 2. A little more blue on top of the white, a little more washing. Light wash to block in where the figures are going to be: in this case Luchadoras on Roller Skates.

Step 3. Some more details on the figures. I keep color pretty washy and monochromatic for a long time when I paint. I pretty much suck at painting with color unless it's a VERY limited palette.

Step 4. Color done. Gots to dry so I can draw and ink in the lines with Brush and India Ink.

Step 5. Ink in the lines and done!

Introducing: Dragona

and Magmadame!

I Am Fercocious

2010-07-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings! Jeremy here to shout about Ferocious, a new anthology of illustration and storytelling put together by local wunderkid Nate Utesch of Metavari and One Lucky Guitar. It features images by an international roster of amazing artists, including a 6 page excerpt from my comic. This is quality, folks, pure and simple.http://fe.rocious.com/

Another Poster For The Same Bar

2010-06-24T05:44:00.000-07:00

Another poster design. This one also inspired by Mid-Century modern design, this time specifically the Hi-Fi recordings and album cover design. The basic line drawing is below.

A Robot For A Poster For A Bar For Some Bands

2010-06-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

I designed a poster for a friend's bar. Got to draw a robot climbing out of the ground! I had an image of an old pulp sci-fi novel in my head as the inspiration.

Above is the original black and white drawing. Brush and ink. Below is the final illustration colored in Photoshop. I will post the poster after it has been used.

RocketBoy

2010-06-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've self-published a kids book!

It's an "ABC Adventure Story" that tells a tale about an intrepid young adventurer that is aimed at parents who read to their kids and the big kids who like adventure stories. The structure follows the basic "A is for..." format introducing more complicated words while telling an exciting story reminiscent of the the space adventure stories of the 50's and 60's.

The book is self-published through lulu.com. If you decide to order it through them, they will ship it after your order is placed. You could also hit me up with and email and a check for $15 and I will send you out one with a drawing!

Polly Esther Identity

2010-06-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Been working on some designs for my wife's Polly Esther Repurposed Threads line of handcrafted goodness. Working on a hanger to display her tie cuffs and a business card.

These are just first drafts. Any input would be appreciated.

These books have been floating around fueling the handmade rampage at our house:

Portfolio Pages

2010-06-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

I have the Pictures Pages theme in my head (Come along and watch Bill Cosby do a picture with you!)

Posting pages from my portfolio that I've begun handing out to potential clients. Since I'm not cool and don't have a fancy or even semi fancy web page yet.

With Frank Noca for f.a.y. Design Parlor.

Summer Spots

2010-06-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Spot illustrations for summer kids stuff. Personal work challenge: Spot illo a day. This is two days worth.

Brush Pen and Photoshop.

Hoot!

2010-05-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

A poster design with owls in it. I'm not sure why, but I felt I needed to make it. Vector art practice, using simple shapes and Charley Harper as an influence.
The first one is fairly straight up. The second is meant to look kind of like a woodcut.
Don't like the tree as much in the second.

Mini comic madness!

2010-05-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

Mini comics ready to go for the con!

Button Designs

2010-05-14T03:26:00.000-07:00

Button designs for RocketBoy and Red Rocket Comics for the Convention.

threadless.com T-Shirt Design (Link Changed)

2010-05-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

You could go here and vote for me. I would love you.

More Sketch Cards

2010-05-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

More sketch cards. Scott Pilgrim style, yo! Available at Summit City Comic Con.

Sketch Cards

2010-05-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

The Summit City Comic Con is coming. They sent out sketch cards for the exhibiting artists. I started mine this weekend.

A bit of ironic that I got the new that I was that I was getting the cards the day after my good friend Tim suggested I should try my hand at drawing some.

Zap and Zip, but Wait....

2010-05-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

L is for Lasers! But, they lack an effect on the
lifeless forms as RocketBoy looks for a launch-
ing place to take leave of this haunted liner.

But, wait! L is also for Loneliness! The specters
have no family left to love them out here in the
long vacuum.

I've self-published my book RocketBoy and the Space
Ghosts through Lulu.com. You can access my page and
purchase a copy here.

Jets!

2010-05-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

J is for Jetpack as RocketBoy jabs the controls
in an attempt jettison himself from the jarring
situation. “Jeepers, this is a jam!” RocketBoy
shouts as the spirits jostle the lad, jangling his
nerves.
K is for KZZZT! and KKRRKKLL! as the ghosts
briefly interfere with RocketBoy’s electronic
systems. Then KLUNK! when they kick back in.

!!!!!

2010-05-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

G is also for Ghosts! Space Ghosts!
H is also for Haunted! “Head for the hills!”
RocketBoy says to himself.

I is for Interstellar poltergeists interrupting
RocketBoy’s inspection of the vessel. “Interloper!”
they seem to intone to the intrepid young explorer.

What's This?

2010-04-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

G is for “Going inside!” RocketBoy says as he
gingerly guides his gear through one of the
gaping gashes. “Golly!” he thinks. “This ship is
good and knocked out!”

H is for Holes in the hull. “Here’s the reason this
hulking freighter site falling apart,” thinks Rocket-
Boy. “Perhaps I may hunt down the heart of the
problem for my hurting Hyperdrive.” But wait!
RocketBoy thinks: “I’m not alone!”

Uh-Oh!

2010-04-23T03:06:00.001-07:00

E is for Emergency Experimental maneuvers as RocketBoy’s craft unexpectedly exits her Hyperjump and encounters debris in and area not entered in the ship’s Electo-Navi-Brain on-board computer.

F is for the Farthest reaches of space, further from where any freighter should be found. RocketBoy fuels his famous jetpack and fearlessly leaves his vessel to explore his find. Could this be why his own ship’s progress failed?

No Turning Back RocketBoy!

2010-04-19T03:39:00.001-07:00

C is for the Courage RocketBoy uses to keep his head cool as he commands his ship and her cargo, cruising past the speed of sound. The clouds cleave as he sets his course for Hyperdrive to the stars.

D is for Deep Space: RocketBoy's destination as the Hyperdrive leaps, driving the daring lad into the void. "Dangers, ahead!" some say, but RocketBoy has designs on detailing the dark void and no one will dissuade him.

Comission Me?

2010-04-14T17:47:00.001-07:00

I will be a the Summit City Comic Con on May 22nd hawking my wares. I'll have a book self-published and a comic and I will be taking commissions. If you wanna come out and check out a comic convention stop by and see me. If you don't want to brave the geekdom, and would like a sketch or a painting, contact me and I'll be glad set up a commission or send you a random drawing.
Hope to see you!

RocketBoy is Launching!

2010-04-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

B is for Blast off as RocketBoy's boosters propel him up into the sky! Crowds gather to bid the brave boy-explorer bye.

A is for Adventure as RocketBoy amasses the remaining display apparatus for his aircraft. He assembles his family to bid them Adieu! Explorers, away!

MILK

2010-03-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

Found this through Juxtapos' FB page. I really like the stuff. It's definitely digital, but I can't tell if it is AI or PS. Maybe both?

Great images.

Rainy Afternoons At The Library and Saturday Morning On The Internet

2010-03-27T05:23:00.000-07:00

Found this great site built of a bunch of little sites that are dedicated to Gilded Age cartoonists. My favorite of which is Henrich Kley, whose beautiful drawings I discovered while at the library one rainy Saturday afternoon with my mom. I remember just being completely abosorbed by his drawings. The little vignette drawings were amazing little trips into imagination where so much could happen. The more I looked at his stuff over time I admired his fearlessness with a pen and his subtle ability to subtly slap around society.

Of course naked ladies help, too.

Rhino Poaching Illustration

2010-03-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

Grad. illustration project based upon this article. Digital. All pieces hand drawn, scanned, modified, tweaked, ruined in Illustrator.

Typography Posters to Keep You Alive

2010-03-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

In design class my students are creating posters comprised of only type, inspired by a poster my friend Frank sent me. The kids had to take it a step farther and apply a theme to how they layout their type, then create an interesting and readable poster. My example is inspired by my recently favorite movie. I watched when I needed exactly what kind of movie it was. I'll post some of the students work when they get done.

I'm getting their bomb posters ready, too.

Bomb The World

2010-03-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

In my design class we are learning the art of poster design and creation. Each student had to start with the image of a bomber squadron and then create a symbol that the planes could be "dropping". Kind of: "If you could give people something, spread a word of some, what would it be?" I, of course, made an example. The kids came up with some pretty cool stuff, which I'll post later.

I think I'm going to turn it into a t-shirt design.

My Burger Is Seeping

2010-03-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

Finished Illustration for class. Pen and Ink and Digital. I have been fighting myself lately on whether to render the heck out of something or lay off a little. I like to put little details and shading hints in drawings, but I like the stripped-down design of mid-century modern stuff so much I want to try to balance the two. This is sort of that kind of attempt. Looking at Dave Stewart's comic coloring alot.

Clouded Ideas

2010-02-15T15:56:00.000-08:00

Class example for illustrated potrait. Pen and ink drawing, photoshop colored in about half an hour.

Illustration Class Sketches

2010-02-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

Graduate Illustration Class: take an overheard conversation and illustrate it.

Conversation #2 – My Burger Is Seeping

This conversation also took place at school, on a different day in a different class. This took place in my cartooning class as the students were working on a cartoon illustration for a T-shirt design. A girl student is drawing a cartoon happy meal that has ben turned into zombies.

Girl: “Mr. Mac does this look right? I don’t know…”

Me: “Well, how do you want it to look?”

Girl: “I want it to look like a zombie, but I want it to look right.”

Me: “Well, the thing about zombies is they’re dead. It doesn’t really matter how they look as long as it looks cool.”

Girl: “So make it my way?”

Me: “Make it your way.”

Girl draws more.

Girl: “Hey, look!” Shows it to other kids. “My burger is seeping.”

Conversation #3 – Coffee Light Bulbs

A young lady at Starbucks is mopping the floor with determination at the starbucks. She cleans counters and straightens items quickly. A Young man watches her while doing some other cleaning himself.

Young Man: “Alright! We got power mopper!”

Young Lady: “I just feel so bad because this place was looking so fresh!”

She serves a drink, puts mop away. “Okay. I’m going to go see if I can figure out how to look at that light bulb.”

Conversation #1 – You Should Make a Chupacabra

The conversation was overheard in my art class at the school I teach from a a group of 5 girls working on a wire essence sculpture of an animal.

Girl 1: “What are you making?”

Girl 2 (Not the one sculpting): “It’s a meerkat.”

Girl 3 (Still not the one sculpting): “It looks like a Chupacabra!”

Girl 4 (The one sculpting): “Yeah! Heh-heh!”

Girl 5: “You should make one!”

Girl 1: “You should totally make a Chupacabra!”

Girl 4: (The one sculpting): “Oh, yeah! That’d be cool!”

Girl 3: “Yeah!”

Girl 4: (The one sculpting) “Heh! I should totally make a Chupacabra!”

Girl 3: “Wait, do you even know what that is?”

Minimalist Star Wars Posters

2010-02-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

Re-posted from the Drawn! blog. OOF! This is great stuff!