Friday 28th May...

After last weekends hectic rushing and meeting and drinking and a bit of selling, but mainly chatting- This weekend hopefully will be a little quieter.

Working list:
Drawing:
The Crusader: Spoonful of Honeywith Chris & Steve Denton.
The pages are now away to my trusty colourist and I've finished the lettering.

The image at the top is my entry for the 2000 AD site art comp this month. I even managed to colour this (though I did get some advice on things from Mini-Bolt as I was going along.


Commission. I’m drawing the family unit of a member of the Hive-Mind. Sketches started and I'm looking forward to this. I've also started laying out the board with the required perspectives and I'm hoping to be able to scan somethng worth looking at after the weekend.

ABC Warriors: Mongrol- Blogging with David Withers & Mike Carroll
Sketches started, as I've never drawn Mongrol before.

Completed this Week!
Publishing:

FutureQuake 16
Cover artist sorted!

Something Wicked 06
Cover Artist sorted!

Dogbreath 23
Zarjaz 10

Lettering:

Average Joe for Insomnia Publishing.
Ongoing. This week lettered: nowt. However, I've got four to do, so I'll hopefully have them by this time next week.
Unfortunately I can't really show anything from this yet- I don't have permission.

Angels of the Somme for Timebomb comics
Writer Alec Robertson, Art Bruce McLaren
Ongoing.

Red Sands for Starscape
Writer: Matthew McLaughlin, Art Bruce McLaren
Ongoing.

Eagle Awards Rant...

As many of you here will know- the Eagle awards are up and running full tilt now for 2010. This is for titles published in 2009, and FutureQuake has been nominated for the third time in a row. You can vote here, if you like, but read the rest of the blog post first please.

Okay- firstly apologies if this gets a bit obsessive- but this has been bugging me for a couple of years now-

The Eagles, as it stands at the moment, is geared to whoever can get the most votes. It has two phases- open nominations and once the shortlist from there has been decided (presumably the five from each category with the highest nomination votes) then the top five go through for a direct vote-off!

I'm really only focusing on the 'Best British Black & White' category- as that is the only one that I have a vested interest in.

The opening section- with the open nominations is fine- as many folks, myself included, will simply vote for their own titles and hope that they can convince enough readers and friends that they are worthy. This leads to a huge number of nominations presumably, however it seems to work quite well. Indeed this years list is really strong- and I am very proud to have made it this far.

It is the second portion of this that I would change. It is again an open vote. Which is personally a mistake I feel. The current system is open to vast numbers of 'Internet' friends being balloted via Facebook- Twitter- or indeed good old fashioned email to vote for titles that they may well have never read. What is wrong with that? Well, as long as you have read all the books nominated- nothing.

I, personally, feel that once the initial nomination stage is complete, then a set of all titles nominated is provided for a panel of judges- similar to the mercury music prize- where each judge will be able to vote across the board. Automatically there is less chance of 'who has more friends' being a deciding factor- and the work itself will be in a position to shine through. I think that the lead of the eagles should choose a different panel each year- made up of members who do not have a vested interest in which titles are nominated and that all votes are collated in secret.

That would be an Eagle award worth really working towards.

I'd like to say good luck to all those nominated in whatever category you are in- as I feel the Eagles are a fantastic thing- but in need of some work.

That Pre-Bristol feeling!

It’s Bristol weekend. Traditionally seen as the biggest gig in the country- Bristol is based in two venues this year. FQP can be found in the Mercure for both Saturday and Sunday. I’ll most likely be on the table- so if you want a sketch from me, free if you are buying comics, drop by. I’ll also be looking at art samples all weekend.

Working list:
Drawing:
The Crusader: Spoonful of Honeywith Chris & Steve Denton.
All scanned and approved! The pages are now away to my trusty colourist and I’m going to sort the lettering.


Sneaking in next will be my entry for the new comp on the 2000 AD site. Then it is on to...

An actual, honest to god commission. I’m drawing the family unit of a member of the Hive-Mind. Sketches started and I'm looking forward to this.

ABC Warriors: Mongrol- Blogging with David Withers & Mike Carroll
Sketches started, as I've never drawn Mongrol before.

Completed this Week!
Publishing:

FutureQuake 16
MASON HE WROTE

Something Wicked 06
Dogbreath 23
Zarjaz 10

Lettering:

This week I've finished lettering a little strip for Matthew McLaughlin & Tony Rothwell Called Rek Fen-Birn. Only four pages.

Average Joe for InsomniaPublishing.
Ongoing. This week lettered: nowt.
Unfortunately I can't really show anything from this yet- I don't have permission.

Angels of the Somme for Timebomb comics
Writer Alec Robertson, Art Bruce McLaren
Ongoing.

Red Sands
for Starscape
Writer: Matthew McLaughlin, Art Bruce McLaren
Ongoing: 1st chapter now available from Red Sands and it is all wrapped up in a lovely Alex Ronald cover, too!


As part of the continuing assault on Millarworld by short strips- I’ve relettered the Joy of Text strip from FQ10 by Paul Glasswell and Simon Penter. Simon has done a lovely colour scheme for the page so good luck to the both of them.

The Paginator is a single page strip for the Emperor and Chris Askham that is for the 2000 AD art comp this month.

Working list:
Drawing:

The Crusader: Spoonful of Honeywith Chris & Steve Denton.
Inking Finished! Next I need to scan the six pages and sort them to my trusty colourist.

Sneaking in next will be my entry for the new comp on the 2000 AD site. Then it is on to...

ABC Warriors: Mongrol- Blogging with David Withers & Mike Carroll
Sketches started, as I've never drawn Mongrol before.

Completed this Week!
Publishing:

FutureQuake 16
Something Wicked 06
Dogbreath 23
Zarjaz 10

Lettering:

This week I've begun lettering a little strip for Matthew McLaughlin & Tony Rothwell Called Rek Fen-Birn. Only four pages.

Average Joe for InsomniaInsomnia Publishing.
Ongoing. This week lettered: nowt.
Unfortunately I can't really show anything from this yet- I don't have permission.

Angels of the Somme for Timebomb comics
Writer Alec Robertson, Art Bruce McLaren
Ongoing.


Red Sands for Starscape
Writer: Matthew McLaughlin, Art Bruce McLaren
Ongoing: Hopefully launching soon- watch this space. Still...

May 6th Update.

Working list:
Drawing:


I drew Fractal Friction P20. A lot of fun and a ‘very’ quick job. It was inked in a single sitting- which is rare, but a tight deadline is a great motivator. Thanks to The Emperor and all the rest of the chaps at FF for asking me to take part. Visit the link to see the final page, with colour by Matt Soffe and lettering by Jim Campbell.

The Crusader: Spoonful of Honeywith Chris & Steve Denton.
Inking page 4!
The Fractal Friction page has gotten my drawing muscles moving again after being in neutral for ages- I plan on having this done- inks wise- by the end of next week.

ABC Warriors: Mongrol- Blogging with David Withers & Mike Carroll

I’ve been contacted by a rather prominent member of 2000 AD fandom with a request for a portrait in the same vein as the pic of Hi-Ex! Organisers Rich & Vicky. Still early days, but I’m looking forward to getting the photo ref and working on a likeness.

Completed this Week!
Publishing:

FutureQuake 16
Something Wicked 06
Dogbreath 23
Zarjaz 10

Lettering:

This week I’ve lettered KILLER-MEK, for Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer- this was their entry in the MILLARWORLD comp. Fingers crossed chaps.


I’ve also lettered a strip for Matthew McLaughlinand El Chivo that is due out later this year.

Average Joe for InsomniaInsomnia Publishing.
Ongoing. This week lettered: nowt.
Unfortunately I can't really show anything from this yet- I don't have permission.

Angels of the Somme for Timebomb comics
Writer Alec Robertson, Art Bruce McLaren
Ongoing. This week I’ve been tinkering with a logo for them- think it is about there, some colour things to fix- which regular readers will know can cause me problems.

Red Sands for Starscape
Writer: Matthew McLaughlin, Art Bruce McLaren
Ongoing: Hopefully launching soon- watch this space.