All Hallow's Eve is upon us! I'll be Zorro for Halloween, I'm very excited to don the mask. My girlfriend is going as Zorro as well, she doesn't have any imagination. I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween. Check that candy for syringes and razor blades! lol!

On a side note, I started scripting Volume 1 of Solar Flares: Outside Earth and Upside Down. This will be my first full length graphic novel, consisting of three 24 page chapters and maybe some "extras" in the back like early concept art and 24hr comic adventures. Stay tuned for things in that nature!

Sorry there hasn't been much art, I've been too busy with Biology. Blame my Biology teacher.

Just passing along some info, here's the site and info:

http://ordinary-imaginary.blogspot.com/

Ordinary Imaginary
Now accepting submissions for ORDINARY IMAGINARY.

This new anthology will feature comics and illustrations on a very simple and universal idea--something (extra)ordinary clashing with the mundane. This challenge is about facing your fears, both in the theme of the stories/illustrations, and the execution there of. The theme is broad for a reason-- I'd like to encourage artists to do a story that they can explore however they'd like to, and to create the work using methods they may not have tried before.
If you're a digital artist, try inking with a brush (or vice versa).
Try doing an entire comic without using any dialogue.
Maybe you want to do a story about confronting your fears in an unusual way. Awesome. Maybe your story is about running into a mythical figure while running errands. Exciting! Have fun with this and let your imaginations (literally) run wild.

Of course, there are some guidelines for submissions--

Comic and Illustration Dimensions: Submissions lengths must be between one to 15 pages, black and white, or greyscale. All pages will be printed at 5.5″ x 8.5″ including an eighth inch gutter on all sides. Therefore all art must not exceed the printable dimensions of 5.25″ x 8.25″. Illustrators, you are free to do a two-page splash image, but please account for the bleeds.
How to Submit: We will take submissions both digital and physical. If you choose to send your submissions digitally please format them at 600 dpi. Please save images as JPG or PSD file formats. Attach the files, along with how you would like to be credited, to extraordinary.imaginary@gmail.com.
Prior to submitting to this anthology, please contact me with a rough estimate of your page count, so we can take into account the approximate size of the book and make a contingency for printing options.
Deadline: I'd like to give everyone plenty of time for this, so the deadline is May 1st 2010. The goal is to debut at HeroesCon. I encourage everyone to continually ask for feedback and critiques on their progress as they're working. I want high quality, professional art, and this should be something you'd be proud to show to editors. I also can't promise that everyone that submits will be included in the anthology. Submissions will be chosen by a group of professional, impartial judges.
Availability: This is going to depend on printing costs. If we go with something like LuLu, each contributor will be able to buy however many copies of the anthology they'd like from there at cost, then sell them at whatever price at conventions or local comic shops. I'll be pricing out other printers though.
Compensation: Each participant will receive one free copy of the anthology. I wish I was made of money and could pay you all and guarantee this will sell like HOT CAKES and we will all make thousands of dollars, however... well, I guess just keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best. If nothing else, you will hopefully have something amazing to have in your portfolio and show to editors


SPREAD THE WORD ALL OVER~

I might as well spotlight another artist, I don't believe he's on DeviantArt either. His name is Francesco Francavilla, and his website is: http://www.francescofrancavilla.com/

I found him through my love of Zorro. At first when I picked up the comic, I was wishy washy with the comic. The inking style looked a little soft, and the story wasn't designed for single issues. I returned again, once Dynamite Entertainment released the first trade to Zorro. Story is great, artist is a match made in heaven. My only qualm is the generous amount of spelling errors in their usage of Spanish (or should I say Spanglish) through the comic.

So, I visited Francesco Francavilla's website, and I am floored. This artist is after my own heart. He has a huge love for old horror movies and pulp crime fighters!! He also makes title cards for episodes of old radio shows, and gives a link to the mp3 in his blog. These title cards are beautifully done. I wish I thought of it! The main radio show he draws for is The Shadow, but he also has a few others, in particular Green Hornet.

Besides doing art for my favorite heroes like Zorro, Shadow, and Green Hornet, he also has his own creation, The Black Beetle. It looks really well done, I sent an email in hopes of buying one of his one shot ash can comics. I also ordered his sketchbook, also available on his website.

So, now on to this man's artwork. I'll post a few favorites, I hope he doesn't mind:


I love the way he makes collage pages like this







Some radio show episode art. Its so nicely done, I also like the dimensions of the piece, a long narrow canvas must make for a unique design.


Nice splash page of Zorro. I specifically like his limited palette, it gives it a nice touch!


Just an all around eye catching page!


I like the design in the panel layout, great way to introduce a character and his abilities!


I love how he's using a "binocular" style field of view to tell us the character is looking down at the scene of the building, but the panels of the field of vision create an entire image. When this technique is done well, it always amazes me.


More cool collage pages. I'm definitely taking notes!


Classic!


I love the detail on that old Zenith radio!


The Shadow is just awesome. A classic Shadow over the city.

Well, I could add about a hundred samples of Francavilla's work, but I'd rather not. Anyway, I'm taking a few notes, so Francesco, thanks for the lessons!

Also, on his blog, he has some old stuff of his from 1994. Its really great to see someone that you admire, and be able to see how they have grown and how they started. It makes me feel that I can grow and achieve more with my work.

So, I was browsing Etsy out of boredom (still sick, no fun) and found some comics made by Justin Madson, http://www.justmadbooks.com/.

I am stunned, I love his art. I am so fed up and jealous of people like him. His art is so eye catching and neat, but its also quite simple. I love it, and maybe you will too.

Anyone know if he's on deviantArt?

I have Swine flu/Tengo Gripe Porcina...

this sucks, I can't really afford not to work, or miss classes. I'm going back to bed.