MASS MARKET 6!

Hey guys,
if you're in the Boston area, please come to the 6th annual MASS MARKET! I'll have a table selling zines, original art, the Invasive Exotics and gift card sets. Just $1! Tons of exhibitors!

ISSUE #0; SKETCH TEST - CHECK, CHECK,CHECK

Further observation of Original Amethyst series

Check out those color separations! Bleeding pink smoke? Who does that? C'mon --- While digital color allows for an infinite spectrum of color options, the hierarchy here is stellar (it's basically primary - just less saturated) the bluntness of his transforming Dark Opal's pink armor exaggerates the anatomy in his arms and the composition of the text is pretty perfect.

This panel comes from Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld issue 11 of 12. Previously I wrote a critical short blog entry on issue #4, but on further inspection of the entire story it's a pretty strange hoge poge of genres - I can't figure out who they were attempting to advertise the series to - the color palette and protagonist makes me think it was meant for young girls, but there are elements of dark fantasy and even horror throughout the series - which are somewhat mature. I can't even make some comparison in pop culture to what this series is like ... maybe "the Labyrinth"? Dark Opal is kinda like the goblin king, but less comical. The dream sequences are somewhere in between Little Nemo in Slumberland and Nightmare on Elms Street.

I'll write more soon, but I wanted to share the power of color separation versus digital. I'm all for digital, but the artist methods of the past cannot be forgotten.

Nice Review from Zine World

Clint Johns for Zine World:

The Invasive Exotics #1 - #4: A four-part comic serializing the rise of a psychotic ice cream magnate (Dr. Slimecold) who attempts world takeover using mutant ants, and those who resist (including the Lara Croft-like Jane, various Brooklynites, and conventional law enforcement). I admire the sustained storytelling (especially since the story is so odd), which works consistently across the four volumes. Some of the dialogue is stilted (“I am Sunset. Sunset Mike.” Why not just, “I’m Sunset Mike”? But maybe that’s an homage to pre-80s comic book talk?), but overall it reads well. The art is stylish and conveys the story effectively and moves things along - a talent that not everyone has. The pictures are occasionally cramped with darkness and detail, though, occasionally rendering the action murky and hard to follow. The covers are beautifully created, each with a detailed color sticker, affixed to the silkscreened front panels. The whole enterprise is impressive. Jack Turnbull, www.jackturnbull.com, www.jackturnbullstudios.blogspot.com, mr.jackwhturnbull@gmail.com [$5-6 each, $20 for all four, not ftp, 26-46M each, total reading time ~ :60]

ZINE WORLD

SKELETON WARRIORS / MAKING PALETTES VIA MOOD

"Skeleton Warriors"
21 inches by 29 inches
Acrylic/Gouache/Ink/Silkscreen/Oil

MOOD PALETTES

Breaking down a story by colors


Alright, alright, two of these are directly from Cinder and Ashe ... I'll tweak 'um ... or not ... 3 palettes, 3 moods (Winston on Stage is oblivion/revelation/joy).