Wizard World Chicago Comic Con Sketches

Here are some sketches of con goers and artists that I did while set up at the Wizard World Chicago show. A con is always good for people watching, for sure. I wish I could have captured the chicken guy up on the right side, but he was too darn quick. You know, chickens....

Convention Sketches WW Chicago

During down times at conventions I like to sketch some of the attendees and other artists. The best people watching can be at a  comic convention, that's for sure. These were done at the Wizard World Chicago show last month.

Admiral Ackbar Commission

This was my favorite commission that I did at the Wizard World Chicago convention this past weekend. It was based off one one my sketch cards and wanted to make it better if I could, add a few more details that weren't on the card. The background is a different color, as well.

Wizard World Chicago

Tomorrow through Sunday you can find me in Rosemont at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center for the Wizard World Chicago show. I will be in Artist Alley at table B5, right next to Action Joe Corroney. Besides the brand new King Kong print (which you can see the black and white version above), I will have the latest Stoopid Stuf book, other prints, official sketch cards, all the books that I have work in and will be doing commissions, as well. So, come on by and say hello!

King Kong Print

I will have a new print debuting this weekend at the Wizard World Chicago show in Rosemont, IL. I took a different approach with this one, using watercolor and ink instead of acrylic washes. Also, I intentionally made the perspective on the wings a bit wonky to try and create a little more dynamism and to give the impression that all is open on this side, but closed on the other. I'm not sure that I nailed it, but I think it works. The one small thing that I get a little giddy about is the spot where the gunner is looking back at Kong. I think I created a good sense of depth there. A very happy accident.

More Sketch Covers

I haven't done too many of these sketch cover thingies, but after attending Wizard World Chicago back in August I can certainly see the potential for them. I'm sure it depends on the show, but for that one I did alright with the covers. So, while I was there I drew up a couple more to replace the ones that I sold and were commissioned to do. I will have these on hand at this month's Detroit Fanfare if anyone is interested in them!

Wizard World Chicago Recap, Part Three and Art & Sole

Normally, I tend to buy printed artwork at cons, such as graphic novels or books, but at this past Wizard world Chicago show I went for artwork, both original and prints. to start the show off right, my friend and fellow cartoonist Jay Fosgitt did caricatures (all by memory, I believe!) of everyone from our group:

Me by Jay Fosgitt

4x6

pencil

 I bought Michael Golden's latest sketchbook and since I've been wanting an original sketch from him for some time now, it wasn't too hard to talk me into it:

Acroyear by Michael Golden

4x6

sharpie on bristol board

I was thinking that I wouldn't get too many chances to get a sketch by the master George Perez, so I went for it:

Scarlett Witch by George Perez

9x12

sharpie on bristol board

And on one of my trips around the con I discovered an artist using deep sea divers in his work and he has achieved what I have been striving for all this time. It was a joy and a punch in the you know what, but definitely wonderful to see someone doing such great works. It also gave me a different perspective and a cause to sit back and re-evaluate where I want and need to go with my own symbolism on this matter. The artist's name is Michael Manomivibul and I bought three of his prints:

untitled

8.5x11

print on textured paper

Bubbles

8.5x11

print on textured paper

Flotsam

8.5x11

print on textured paper

A big thanks to Wizard World for having me at this show and also to the staff, which were very helpful. I appreciate all the work that you did for us! It was a great show!

Now, on to other things. Mainly, that this weekend will find me at the Art & Sole Festival in Grosse Pointe, MI. This will be a first of sorts, as they mainly have fine artists and crafts people at this show and now they will have a few of us illustrators to shake things up a bit. I'm a bit of a fine artist myself, so I can hang. Our sketch group, Motor City Sketch will be doing sketches and selling original artwork for donations, in which the proceeds will got to the Belle Isle Aquarium, which will be officially opening next week. More on that later. Much thanks to Rainy Day Art Supplies for putting all of this together!

Wizard World Chicago Recap, Part Two

Here are a few more pics from my weekend in Rosemont, IL at Wizard World Chicago.

My buddy Scott who was at the show getting autographs and such picked up this beaut of a commission from Dave Dorman.  That's one damn awesome Yoda painting!

 While we were in town I had to drop in to see my long time bud and Muck Man theme song musician, Chris Quigley. The last time I swept through town we couldn't hook up, so we went over to Schaumburg to see his buddy and their band play. They are called Space Was Cool and they rocked the place and even gave us a shout out. from L to R: Chris, Scott Toth, Bill Pulkovski and moi. Rockstars.

 As the show wound down I just had to get a sketch from the mighty George Perez, Drawer of Super-People and Super Nice Guy.

 And here is George with the Scarlett Witch that he just finished up for me. I was his last sketch of the weekend. Whew.

This is what happens when you cross a couple of artists. You wake up with a beheaded Yoda. Scott trembled in fear when he opened his eyes to this horrendous sight.

And to top off an already great weekend, on the way home we saw this guy with his tattoo of a band-aid on his arm. He was cool and he wanted you to know it.

In my next post I will show the artwork that I picked up or was given at the show.

Wizard World Chicago Recap

It's been almost a month now since the Wizard World Chicago show and I wanted to do a post on the weekend, so here it is. Better late than never.

I love cons for the little things that happen and make for good stories. Our first morning found Bill and I at the Hyatt for their breakfast buffet. The man who sat us sounded just like Lo Pan from Big Trouble In Little China and we had a good chuckle at the coolness of that. After we made our way the the buffet line and started to eat, I look over and who was coming in at that moment for breakfast? Lo Pan himself! Well, the actor who played him, James Hong. And he sat down right behind us. Love it!

The 1960's Batmobile in the lobby of the conference center.

                                            A cool night time shot of downtown Chicago.

Cartoonist Denver Brubaker and his lovely fiance, Jillian stopped by my table to say hello. h

He couldn't miss my table. He knew to head for the pink and the glitter, as you can see across the way.

 Brian Pulido, who was an awesome neighbor to have brought Lady Death with him on Saturday.

                                        And the Blues Brothers came by to say hello, as well.

                                                More pics to come in a couple of days!

Wizard World Chicago

Starting tomorrow and going through to Sunday will be the Wizard World Chicago convention in Rosemont, IL. I will be set up in Artists Alley at table #4128 and will have all the usual goodies, such as prints, my cartoon books, Muck Man comics, original licensed and personal sketch cards, etc. I will have two new prints based on a Deadworld project that I will have more news on later. One of them is the image above as the print will look. They are printed on a linen stock, so they have a nice texture to them that lends itself nicely to the topic at hand.

It looks as though Michigan will be represented in a goodly manner with such artists as Jay Fosgitt, Bill Pulkovski, Tony Miello, John Marroquin, Scott Zambelli and Ryan Stegman among others. Well, maybe it won't be in a 'goodly manner' with this crew...

Anyways, stop on by and say hello.