The 3rd track in the sonic companion to THE SOLAR GRID graphic novel has dropped! THE SOLAR GRID SOUNDSCAPE by N Slash A is absolutely wild. I cannot stop listening to all three tracks back to back.
work
Putting together this talk for Ohio State University's Global Comics Lecture Series (the title of which was actually suggested by the organizer) and I'm starting to notice how quite a bit of my work on THE SOLAR GRID is informed by those outrageous times some ten years ago. And of course, a lot of what I did back then, be it on walls or in galleries was itself informed by comix. Everything feeds into everything.
It'll be fun to talk about, even if it's all virtual with no actual meeting of people in meatspace (hey, I'll take what I can get). Will include some shop talk on the making of THE SOLAR GRID as well.
October 19th is the day, 2:00pm is the time (EST, I'm assuming).
Radix Media is also organizing an online event, comprised of Molly Crabapple, John Dermot Woods, Matt L. and myself. Anything involving Crabapple is a joy.
The Küelox #500 nib flows fast and smooth like a Sable brush, and requires very little pressure. A light grip and fast strokes is all you need to get good lines, which requires a little getting used to, and until then, some lines will wobble, but they will still be very alive. Not a nib for noodling; ink is laid out thick as far as nibs go, but still offers a pretty broad range in line weight. Overall, it keeps you from getting sucked into ornamentation, and instead forces you to think about the broad shapes and only the very necessary of lines.
Which is a good thing.
My friends at Radix Media launched their Kickstarter today.
They're planning a whole collection of graphic narrative publications including an adult coloring book by none other than the bohemian mistress of rebellion herself, Ms. Molly Crabapple, as well as a graphic novella written by scholar of the written word Mr. John Dermot Woods and brought to life by inkslinging ninja Mr. Matt L. The collection also includes my own graphic novel epic THE SOLAR GRID, which Radix Media will be serializing in 10 saddle-stitched artisanal booklets.
Early pledgers get the chance of scooping up the entire graphic narrative collection for only $150! 🤯
I suspect Radix Media will be producing these in relatively limited quantities, so this kickstarter may be the only way to guarantee acquiring these unique editions.
Summer is officially over, and with that Houston's Moody Center for the Arts just released a video that provides an overview of their summer program, of which was an installation of my own, IT TAKES A VILLAGE, was created.
In other news, I'm also offering up my WALLS OF (UN)FEAR triptych, which admittedly I'm finding a little too hard to part with (Gotta clear up space to make new work though!).
They can be acquired either separately or collectively. Interested collectors can contact me directly to inquire about prices and payment options.
I keep getting asked to make available affordable poster editions of some of my art, something I've been neglecting to do because I'm often too caught up in creating the new!
So I've decided to release a series of posters in waves of three. One wave each month until the end of 2020, with each wave adhering to a theme of sorts.
For the first wave (pictured above), titled “The Resistance”, I'm revisiting a few “classics” of mine and reintroducing them with a slightly new spin on the originals.
All three posters are now up at garage.ganzeer.com
Finally got around to photographing WALLS OF (UN)FEAR, a large triptych I finished in 2019! 🤪
(What is time anymore?)
They're quite large, about 121.9 x 269 cm each (that's 48”x106” to the isolationists) which means they're not particularly easy to photograph. They involved photographing each one in parts and then stitching the pix together in Photoshop which pretty much consumed the entire weekend (with, in my opinion, only passable results).
In any case, this work finally has an entry on Ganzeer.com, which includes larger pix, a few closeups, and a little backstory into its making.
A bit more website maintenance tomorrow along with some administrative stuff. Hoping to get back into the creative stuff come Tuesday (then again, what is time anymore?).
Realizing that “THE SOLAR GRID” doesn't quite have anywhere near the same commercial cache as, say, a SPIDER-MAN or STAR WARS, I thought maybe I don't need to have the title run so large across the top bit of the cover and perhaps a more unusual layout for the cover-dress might serve as a better visual attractor.
Still best to abide by the top third rule though, so maybe something more like this:
Still have room to let the artwork creep into that section, but visually it should stand out a bit more than the typical comicbook cover.
Notice no publisher logos, will probably move them to the back alongside the barcode. I dunno, it's more tasteful that way?
EDIT: On second thought, maybe bigger issue number...
New power unlocked: MOBILITY!! 😈
Not that I'm going anywhere anytime soon. But still, this massive 19.5” x 11.6” clipboard is a nice way to take my work away from the drawing table from time to time, maybe over to the sofa, the bed, the floor, child's room, wherever. Just a way to keep me from being hunched over a table for hours (days?) on end.
I've tried going full digital before, but discovered that I don't enjoy staring at a screen all day for literally everything I do, and not to mention eventual technical glitches you have to deal with and various troubleshooting things and all that stuff.
Good day today, in general. Instead of scheduling a mail pick up, figured I'd do a post office drop off instead and make a long 1 hour walk of it, my first in like... 6 months?
Inbox down to just 2, and updated my to-do strip with a new batch of deadlines for the month (which I'm sure I'll have a hard time hitting).
And finally, adorned my drawing table with Wally Wood's 22 panels that always work, something I've been wanting to get to for awhile now.
Although, I do feel like in the process of creating THE SOLAR GRID I've been developing a bit of my own [visual] language. Let's see if I can riff off Wally and see if I can come up with my own set of 22s when it's all over.