A recent piece I showed in at the Halloween exhibit at the new Tr!ckster store.  The store location on 2631 Ashby Ave. Berekeley, CA.  Tr!ckster used is a fantastic artist ran, and artist profited store, all proceeds from sold books, art, merch, go directly to the store store and artists.  The collection of new comics and graphic novels on the shelves are absolutely fantastic, as Anita Coulter(who runs the store).

The show was great, though a bit some time ago. Though I wish the piece had sold, I am glad to have it back so that I can share it here. Remember to photograph/scan your work before sending it off to a show!

Illustrators Mike Manomivibul, Grim Wilkins, Jenna Trost

New piece finished recently. Oil on Arches Watercolor paper. 19″x12″.

Recently, I made my way down South to take part in an event near Comic-con called Trickster.  This is my first year down to endulge in a piece of San Diego’s infamous mid-summer fiasco known as Comic-con. I didn’t get a ticket to the con, but these days its easy to get a feel for how gigantic an event it has become just by walking around the perimeter.

Tr!ckster, the event I went down there for, is on its second year.  This year it was located several blocks and a safe distance from the hub of the entertainment fiasco, but still close enough to be accessible for everyone.

The event (www.trickstertrickster.com)was started just a few years ago by storyboard artists Scott Morse and Ted Mathot and Anita Coulter as an event across the street from Comic-con.  A little place of hideaway for comic and art fans, as well as an escape from the mother load of entertainment fiasco near by.  Functioning as part bookstore, and part social get together, it was all about just having a place where artists could meet other artists, where any artist or writer off the street could come and enjoy an informal get together to talk shop and share their stories.

The three days of the event were a combination of good times and good people. The mornings at Trickster were a series of symposiums, a discussion of professionals and newcomers alike, to share old ideas, and discuss new ones. This period wasn’t mean to be a panel, but to embrace a more open ended, everyone is invited to share their ideas, or problems they have encountered in storytelling or character development.  This seemed to be the philosophy of Trickster all in all. I for one, sitting quietly in the back of the crowd, was certainly interested in what everyone had to say.

The people I met, too many to remember, I was so happy to see there. Lots of important faces showed up to give the new event some support.  David Mack, Guillermo del Torro, Dave Mckean, Barron Storey, Jim Mahfood, Craig Thompson (author of Blankets) and many other writers and artists.

The beautiful thing about Trickster, was in how accessible it was for everyone.  With no cover fee or admission, anyone could come and check it out. And the opportunity to meet other professionals, whether beginner or rockstar, everyone was on the same green. Without pretentiousness or awkward convention floor table conversation, getting to meet your favorite artist was as easy as saying, hey what’s that your drinking- a hot tottie? For the record I witnessed no writer or artist order such a drink.

 A couple of books I put together for the store. The picture below: a series of handmade books, a little story about a pigeon, along with individual little paintings I threw in the inside jacket.  Above: a little book of sketches and paintings.

During the night, with the combination of the two bars, the live dj, and free figure drawing, the event blew up. After 7pm, Comic-con closed its doors to the public crowds, and all the fan boys carrying around sketchbooks looking to draw girls in costumes, but avoiding any confrontations at the bar or dance floor swarmed the building.

Here are a few sketches from the drawing night *colors added later:)

The space, reconstructed out of an old theatre and stage prop factory(I could be wrong about the exact previous purpose) utilizes the large center space for a communal working area.  Equipped with a printing press, three letterpress machines, and lots of tables, the center space makes a good spot for working on a large printing job.  Along the perimeter are a each of the individual artists’ studios. The property also includes a gallery in the front, a large woodshop, a metalsmithing studio, a silkscreening area, and some kilns here and there.  One could- if he were inclined to do so- tackle about 246 projects in one sitting without leaving the space and still have room left for exploration with the amount of tools and knowledge available on hand here.

Unfortunately I ended my time there this past May, as I moved to San Francisco and I could only get there one day a week. I was sad to let my space go, but I told myself I’d see it again one day.  I’m still keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll become rich and working there will be my full time occupation.  There were so many great artist to learn from and talk shop with.  Matt and Lena, the couple that created The Compound Gallery and run the space, are probably the best people to get advise when you’re knee deep in a project you got yourself into.   I feel fortunate to have met the folks I did and given the chance to work there for the few months I was around.

I also recently began an illustration job working in a game studio in Palo Alto.  I was excited for the new change and the work is great, but for the sake of my time and my sleep, I could no longer enjoy my studio space.

The Compound Gallery is always open to the public for viewing, so if you’re interested stop by talk to some artists, look at some great work. The space in just off San Pablo on 65th st.  http://thecompoundgallery.com/ in the Golden Gate District between Oakland, Emeryville and Berkeley.

As you can see, Jose created a beautiful book using arches watercolor paper, end papers, a silky smooth cloth finished cover, and probably some magic as well. He also sells his one of a kind books at APE every October, and I’m sure he takes commissions online.

I’m pretty excited to hand it off to someone else and see where it goes, who knows where it’ll end up?

Jose’s sketch

Me staring down the mouth of the beast

This past month I attended the evermore popular and competitive convention, Creative Talent Network Expo, in Burbank, CA. It is a young convention, this year being only it’s third.  Though there are other conventions like ComicCon, WonderCon, and Ape to fulfill the needs of West coast comic nerds and illustrators, CTNX is dedicated exclusively to the world of animation and anything within the industry.

Along with some friends of mine from my alma mater, CCA,  we drove down through the hazy valley of central California agriculture wasteland, breaking through to fresh air again only shortly before arriving to our destination. It was my first time to Southern California, and LA proper stood ground to be all I had heard and imagined it to be.

The convention itself was a blast.  By its third year, CTN had attracted an overwhelming amount of visitors.  The convention room was packed with students, graduates and others nervous looking folk getting in line for portfolio reviews with the few studios that were out on the floor.  I’d say the artists and exhibitors with booths out on the floor had been in the industry for a few years already- no rookies here.  Given the large crowd, the exhibitors were very friendly and accessible.  The most worthwhile conversations I had were from walking around and just asking a question from the artist doing a demo, or representing a studio.

James Gurney sketching another artist sketching on the demo floor. Double the fun!

In addition to the convention floor, there were also demonstrations, panel discussions, and workshops.  The demos were great because they were ongoing and anyone could walk up to an artist and ask technical advise. Like I did with Kent Melton:

Stuart Ig talking to Kent Melton and his demo sculpture

The most rewarding and best talks I heard were from the workshops.  They were smaller events within the convention, which took place in small rooms that could only fit 20 or so people, so of course they reservations ended early.  I did get to attend two workshops, however packed they were.  The first was a talk from Bluesky sculptor, Michael DeFeo, about the translation between a two-dimentional design and a 3d sculpt.  This has been a curiosity of mine as I do love to sculpt and have gotten my hand dirty with clay form time to time.  There are many technical obstacles to climb when trying to replicate a drawing into a sculpt.  Michael broke down every step, and it was great seeing the way he thinks, as well as his collaboration with other artists and designers, i.e. the work he and Peter de Seve had worked on together for the film, Ice Age.

Another great talk and workshop was called “Hand drawn Animation: Dead or Alive?” Kind of a sad title, but it was delivered beautifully by long time animator, Mike Nyguyen. Such an honest and open-hearted guy, he shared his love for his work, animation, and illustrated his speech with great clips from Ansel Adams documentary, an interview with Joseph Cambell, and excerpts from old animated Disney and Miyazaki films.

All in all, a great trip and one I hope to do again! We also hit up Disneyland for my friend and animator Steve’s big birthday.

we are lookin so good

I’m way behind on this post, trying to keep up with all these illustration kids and their blogging. This month has proven to be fairly eventful.  Selling prints and art at the Alternative Press Expo with fantastic Mr. Grim Wilkins last weekend was a blast.  I met so many incredible artists who were equally as frantic as myself, attempting to sell work and talk to as many people as possible.  The first day tested my endurance, as I hadn’t slept at all the night before.

But wait theres more!…. actually not a whole lot. The photos on top are from the CCA Alumni 2011 show, which I was fortunate to have a piece featured among many talented illustrators.  I wish had pictures of other artists and friends from the show.  The Q&A and the talks given by 5 alumni, including friend Brynn Metheney, from that night was the most rewarding and honest dialogue I’ve heard form professionals in a while.  The talk was geared toward students in the audience, providing a straight-shot advise and highlighting some important things to keep in mind after graduating.

Two main points of advise I remember:

“Be excited about what you are doing. No one cares. But they will if you show them how important it is to you.”
“There will always be people to shoot down your ideas.  Sometimes you just have commit to doing you know and what you are passionate about.” With which someone added, “Wear a suit of armor.”

It was good to hear and meet some older alumni, whose work I was not as familiar with.
Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you at the APE(next year) or at CTN this coming November!