The Oracle of Chock

I sketched out this character, whom I am currently calling The Oracle of Chock, last night while I was thinking about fleshing out the little world of Gip Noodlebottom. Gip is a blue, horned and legless pig that gets around on a good fortune length of noodle. I am in the process of developing these characters into a online strip. The Oracle will be one of the many colorful characters that Gip will encounter in his travels. I'll certainly share more as I develop this idea.

Visual Storytelling

This week, the Visual Storytelling exhibit opens at the Gallery Project in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Myself, as well as Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), Katie Cook (Tricks of the Trade), Joshua Cotter, Guy Davis (B.P.R.D. and Zombies that Ate the World), David Dwonch, Matt Busch, Jay Fosgitt, Anthony Fontana (Second Life stories), Otis Frampton (Oddly Normal), Jamie Dee Galey, Jessica Hickman, Tom Hodges, Keeli McCarthy (Lot’s Daughters), Jake and Matt Minor, Jon Morris (Calamity Jon), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Nick Sousanis, Paul Taylor (Wapsi Square), Adam Winnie (a take on Little Red Riding Hood), among others, will be displaying works that showcase our visual and sequential images as narratives. The works I will be showing are selections from my latest illustration project, Books of Wonder: Jules Verne, an exclusive with Barnes & Noble. Among the selections will be pages from my sketchbook, examples to show my process in creation and some of the original, black and white illustrations. "Visual Storytelling" runs from April 15th-May 24th, with an opening reception (that I will be attending) from 6-9pm on Friday, April 17th. Visit the Gallery Project for more information on the show, directions and hours of operation.

Books of Wonder: Jules Verne

I'm really excited about sharing the news of my latest art project. I have recently completed illustration work on a fiction book for Barnes & Noble. The book is a collection of three stories by Jules Verne; Around the World in Eighty Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The publication, Books of Wonder: Jules Verne, will include 61 black and white illustrations, full and spot, for this exclusive edition from Barnes & Noble. I currently do not have a release date, but I will update this blog with any news as soon as I know. The pictures featured are full page samples from each of the stories.

Michigan Comics: Mirth, Mockery and Mayhem

I have been invited to show some of my latest works as part of the Michigan Comics: Mirth, Mockery and Mayhem gallery show, from March 31st-June 5th, 2009. The comics art show is becoming a yearly tradition on the Eastern Michigan University's campus. This year, co-curated by Professor Richard Rubenfeld and cartoonist, Dave Coverly. This show features Michigan-based artists and cartoonists displaying their original works of graphic storytelling. I will be showing a handful of pieces from my latest illustration project based on the works of Jules Verne. The show will be located in EMU's Student Center University Art Gallery. The opening reception is March 31st from 5-7 pm with a comics panel discussion to follow in the Grand Ballroom (B) until 10 pm. Directions and a map. Michigan Comics: Mirth, Mockery and Mayhem will continue after its run at EMU as a travelling show throughout Michigan until the Fall of 2009.

Graveslinger in Stores

I illustrated a color pin-up of the lead character, Frank Timmons, for the Graveslinger graphic novel a little while back (see my Nov '08 post for the art). The complete book is in stores now and can also be purchased through Amazon. For more info and preview art visit http://www.graveslinger.com/.

Get Cursed!

I have been a fan of Jeremy Bastian's fantastically intricate artwork ever since I set eyes my on it. I wanted to make sure everyone knew about his first issue of CURSED PIRATE GIRL #1, from Olympian Publishing, that is available for pre-order (Diamond Previews on page 286. Order code is FEB09 4407) from your local comic book shop this month. Check out Jeremy's website to see what I am talking about... and then go ask your local comic shop to order it! It is going to be a really fun and beautifully illustrated series that you won't want to miss out on.

A Woman of Two Centuries

This past January 11th, my Great Aunt Helen Wallace passed away at the age of 93. She was an amazing woman and I will miss her terribly. She and her husband, Russ (who she has been without for more than 30 years), were very creative and nature loving people. They have a unique home that reflected their love of art that I spent many years visiting, especially for the family's annual New Year's Day party. She was a nuturing force in my understanding of the comics medium by allowing me to borrow her hardcover book of Pogo strips when I was younger. I have one memory that sticks out in my head relating to my art and Helen. I was a young boy, maybe 8 or 9, and during a certain point in my artistic development I loved to draw people in my family. I remember making a pencil drawing portrait of my Great Aunt and showing it to her at an outdoor picnic at my Grandma Jeanne's home in Plymouth. "Oh, Nathan...!" Helen was mortified. I apparently, even in those early years, had an attention to detail by focusing on her youthful wrinkles that I loved. By making them very deeply etched I had crafted a caricature of her that was apparently less than flattering in her eyes. She asked me sweetly not to draw a picture of her again. I laugh inside sometimes thinking of this incident and I like to think she may have grown into my only drawing of her. Although I never drew another picture of her, I will always remember how art can have lasting effects on people.