Happy Holidays Everyone!

Happy holidays everyone, Cristian and I hope you are all enjoying your holidays and not working too hard. Cristian is working nearly full-time durning the holidays which is why there haven't been any updates the past few weeks, so I figured I'd post a quick update to let you all know how things are going.

The comic is coming along a bit slower right now because of all the work Cristian has been doing, but he and Mario still meet up regularly and they're hoping to get their first issue out this spring. Unfortunatly they were denied a table at WonderCon because there were too many applicants, the Con is going to try and expand the space in order to accomidate all the applicants, so hopefully we'll get in. Otherwise you'll see us walking around the Con slinging comics gorilla style ;P

Cristian started a weekly figure drawing class back in October, but it has been put on hold this month due to the holidays, perhaps I can convince him to post so pictures!

We attended APE in October as well here in San Francisco to check out what other local artists are doing right now. One of our favorite booths is run by a wonderful woman and is called NERD JERK, you should check her work out if you're a gamer.

Look forward to more regular posting after the start of the new year, we're hoping it'll become a weekly thing, and thanks for checking us out and following us this year!

Happy Holidays from Cristian, Mario, and I!!!

~The Girlfriend

Wonder Con

Hello my fellow geeks, and nerds. So I just applied to get a temporary sellers permit and it was a lot easier then I thought it would be. I also over heard other people getting their's for Wonder Con, which is why I was getting mine.

I also faxed in all the paper work to get in to Wonder Con and I called to double check if everything made it and it did. I also asked when they start notifying people if they made it in or not and that's not till mid January! So keep your fingers crossed for us.

In other news, I was asked to do a wedding cake topper. What's nice about it is that the wedding isn't till May. NICE! So much time to get it done. The only problem is I have no idea what they want and I was asked to do a mixed bag of sample heads, so we'll see how it turns out. I will be putting up images of the sketches for the wedding cake topper and progress images of the sculptures as well.

As for the comic, not till the first issue, sorry folks. But I have been getting great responses from close personal friends whom have special privileges and they've liked it so far. Then again, they are my friends and they have to like it, right?

Take it easy and keep a close I on me and Mario.

Comic

What's up folks? Reluctant Zero is moving along, I just finished penciling the first page. It's going a little slower then expected but the point is that it's going. I really want to post up the images and show you guys but honestly you guys wouldn't go out and buy the comic if I did. And so I won't. I might put up some of the concept art the didn't make it to the comic but only if you kiddies are good. That's all for now and take it easy.

Listen up!

Hey everyone,

This is Cristian's girlfriend making a quick post, Mario and he are hard at work on the comic, and as you all know had their first radio interview just over a week ago. In case you missed hearing them live, you can now download the episode they were on on TalkZone.com, here: http://www.talkzone.com/episodes/199/2623.html

Check it out and comment on how you think they did and what you think of their comic's concept!

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

~The Girlfriend

Geek Speak

So today was the interview with the folks over at www.geekspeakradioshow.com and it was a lot of fun. I heard some of you even heard it streaming live, thank you by the way. It was a lot more fun then I thought it's be. Even though I got a slap o the wrist by one of the producers of the show (and old high school buddy) for mentioning that I saw a crackhead run by on our drive over. Who knew you couldn't say crackhead on air? I didn't.

Anyway, if you folks haven't heard us yet download the interview and let us know how we did and what you think. That's it for know and I'll keep you folks posted on how the comic is going and where to buy it when it's out.

It's On!

Alright folks, it's official, Mario and I will be www.geekspeakradioshow.com this Friday August the 27th at noon, so tune in peoples! We'll be talking about our independent comic and geeking out in general on different topics. So again, tune in, laugh with us (or at us, we geeks are used to that), call in even!

The first issue should be out soon, and by soon I mean within the next month. Still looking for a place to print them and we'll be selling them at The Comic Outpost here in San Francisco on Ocean Ave. I might be putting up some concept art here soon, but only a few as I'm going to put out a book with all the concept art work on it and have it for sale at WonderCon.

Alright my fellow geeks, that's all for today, peace!

Quickie update but not an update about a quickie, you dirty people you

Hey folks, been REALLY busy. No worries, I'm alive and kicking. So as you can probably tell by now, no fun pictures, sorry kiddies!

But good news, I've turned in a rough version of the head in to the guys over at Super7, no details but proportions are there and big shapes. Just waiting for Super7 to turn in it back over to me and give me the ok to continue.

In other good news, long time friend of mine and I are working on a independent comic about nerds. It's coming along fast, we have the first issue mapped out with his versions of storyboards and I'm working with my set right now. I'll be working on the comic boards soon, within the next two weeks and then inking. We already have a few spots where we'll be selling it and I'll post those on here once that's confirmed and again when the first issue comes out.

So keep checking the blog and come buy a copy and if you don't like it.... tough nougies cause there's no refunds! I'll be blogging more frequently from now on cause I've asked my special lady to be my drill Sergeant and man she's rough.

Peace out my fellow geeks and nerds!

Ps. We'll be on geekspeakradioshow.com sometime next week, talking about our comic so come and check us out! Check back here for more info.

Fishy Head

And here we go, just a tad bit further. Chipping away at the sculpture. I haven't gotten as for as I would have liked before Wonder Con but somethings came up this month that had to be dealt with but I won't bother you folks with it. I keep wanting to clean it up to make it smoother and sleeker but I haven't finished with the big planes and measuring. So I'll continue to fight that urge. Anyway, I hope to see some folks I haven't see in a while tomorrow or meet new folks to work with, at Wonder Con here in San Francisco. Also, you folks must check out Super 7's booth, Glen's the man for taking the chance on a kid like me and Jesse Hernandez's booth with Myx Vinyl addiction very cool guy and awesome sculptor.

Ps. You folks like my doily!?

Fish Head Replica!

I've been asked by the manager of Super7 to create a replica head of an old Japanese toy ( which he told me the name and I forgot, forgive me Glenn). Super7 is an awesome toy and shirt shop, it's in Japan town on Post across the street from the Kabuki hotel in San Francisco. If you're in town check it out. Tell them, "Cristian sent me", it won't get you a discount, in fact it wouldn't even mean anything; maybe a "who" reaction.

So here is the beginning of the replica. It looks like the beginning of a 'Mogwai', Gremlins refrence, kudos to those that know what I'm talking about. At this stage I used Super Sculpey to make a ball smaller then the size of the toy head. I've scratched and etched the ball on all sides and baked it. Baking it hardens the clay. Some people like to use a ball of foil for the skeleton but foil is still plaiable, which some people like, it's just not my bag. The scratches and etches on the ball gives the new layer of clay a texture to hold on to.

And here is the new layer of clay. Here again, I've used Super Sculpey, the only difference is that this is Super Sculpey firm. I work better with clay that has more resistance, I also prefer the color. Here is a basic lay out of the head with the plains. Nothing too fancy.

At this stage I've smoothed out some of the bumps and lumps and marked where the eyes of the fish are going to be.

And here's the less worked on side of the eye. You can see that I've started working of the folds in front of the head of the fish, working from the middle to the sides is easier.

Speaking of which here are the folds. They've just been marked haven been defined or smoothed out yet.

And this is the last image. This is obviously the side I've favored the most. The can see the beginning of some texture and a bit more defined folds. I would say at this point I'm close to being half way done. Next post I'll have a near done piece to show you folks. Anyway, have a good night peoples and keep on creating!

Working on my day off!

So is the life of the starving artist, that he must work at becoming a better draftsman on his day off from his day job. Art, work? Nay. Though at times it does feel like work but one must push through even when you just want to sit on the oh so comfy couch. I've once heard someone say, "A professional is someone that does what he loves, even when he doesn't want to." Thus I am a professional student.

Enough of the monkey business and on with the art. The

first image you see here is again some more master copies of Andrew Loomis. I'm learning some much just from simply copying his heads. I try and hit every line with the exact angle. Doing so takes a lot of time but again I'm learning so much. Getting the angle of the nose on the last head took me about 1/2 an hour with much of it spent on erasing. Sad, I know.

After warming up with copying some Loomis heads, I went on to sketch out this drawing. I'm working on some steam punk characters to add more figures to my portfolio. I SHOULD have started with some quick thumbnail sketches first but I just had the urge to start big. As for my punishment, I'm going to force my self to finish this guy threw. Focusing more on texture off the outfit, to help me get better at clothing and having inanimate objects looking more realistic. Since making inanimate objects looking realistic is one of my weak points. This way something good will come from my drawing impulse. The following post I'll show how far I've got'en on the figure. Till next time.

Copying from masters

So here are a few master copies I've worked on during spare time the past two days. Finding time to draw seems harder everyday. The only thing harder to find time to draw is getting myself to draw during down time, since working full time.

So I managed to find a decent copy of "Drawing the Head and Hands" by Andrew Loomis. It was a pretty penny but I don't regret it at all. Loomis is one of the rare masters that can actually explain his process is a clear way. I love this book, you can find digital copies of most of his books online. I'm just one of those people that likes having a full book case.

I didn't do any warm up drawings before hitting this book. I've purposely left the bad drawings in there along with notes to myself on where to improve, what's not working, what is working. This system is great now that I don't have a teacher. Anyway, this is going to be a short post being that my girlfriend's on the phone in the background. Till next time folks.

Starving "working" Artist

Not too sure who this blog is for, my fellow artists that are curious about my progress perhaps, but more for myself, in an attempt to get myself to become a successful artist. Who knows, only time will tell.

And now for the nitty gritty. On my day off today I got the chance to drop in at a figure drawing workshop, at 23rd. St, here in San Francisco. It felt great to draw from a live model again, it's been about two years since the last time I got to work with one. The one here on the right, I did with an ink brush pen. It was a 7 minute pose, which is weird, I've never done a 7 minute pose drawing before. Looking at it now the breasts are too small and not angled correctly. So those of you critiquing (which, is one of the main reasons for doing this blog) beat you to it suckas! Although, I do like the hips.

The sketch on the right I also did with an ink brush pen. I enjoyed this pose a lot, I like the energy from this

drawing but the head is off and too boxy, but man am I loving my brush pen.(7 min pose)

This next sketch here is one of my favorites. I feel as though I really caught the movement of the pose. This was mostly done with the brush pen, which I was just staring at to give you folks the name but it's all in Japanese! At the end of the drawing I used a little charcoal. The feet obviously need to be worked on.(7 min pose)

I know this next sketch may not be the best, but it is one I'm proud of, I've never been good at handling fore shorting poses and this is the best one I've done by far. That's enough of tooting

my own horn.............. for now. Done with charcoal and brush pen.(10 min pose)

Okay, this'll be the last sketch I'll put up for today, hope I haven't bored you folks too much. We had a twenty minute break before this pose and during so I was looking through my copy of Charles Bargue book and after being influenced this is the sketch that I created. This sketch I

started off different, I used a hard charcoal pencil and then went on top of it with my new favorite drawing tool.(20 min pose)

Thanks again, folks for taking the time to humor me and I hope to "hear" from you guys soon. Night.