Comic Con

It's officially Comic Con! I'm looking forward to getting to the convention center tonight. There's always been a boost of creativity during and after being at San Diego Comic Con every year I go. Although Kuroi Ookami Studios wasn't able to get a booth this year, it's still going to be a good time. We'll try again next year, at the very least, I'll try to get a table in Artist's Alley.

Recently, I've been working on the ninja story, Sons of Iga. This is a book I've been writing for a few years now and finally got to actually start doing the artwork. The preview should be online soon.

Looking Back

I spent much of the week checking eBay, keeping up with status of the Comics for Cures auction. Although I must admit that I enjoyed watching the bidding on my own work, I found just as much excitement watching the bidding for other artists. It does make me proud, being able to contribute to this wonderful cause.

Sadly during this week singer Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer. So just as we artists were having our work auctioned off to help find a cure for cancer, another artist died of cancer. I grew up listening to Dio’s music, so every so often Holy Diver would pop into my head during this week. Interestingly enough, a little before I started writing this, the episode of South Park with Dio playing at a school dance was on TV. Instead of being sad, I’m grateful for all the music he brought us.

Back to art, I recently found some artwork that I had done years ago. I think it was done around 2000 or 2001, back in the Conspiracy Productions days. I realized that I’ve arrived to a point where I no longer look at old artwork and say, “This really sucks.” I currently have the attitude of, “Look how much I’ve improved.” Seeing the personal evolution of one’s art and embracing that growth is a great way of reflection. It was also good for me to see how well my work did in the auction. It was a confidence boost that showed that there is an audience there for my work.

I am looking forward to seeing where my art will take me and to looking back to see how much I’ve improved.

Art and Evolution

An interesting thought had crossed my mind last night as I looked at the artwork for this year’s Comics for Cures auction. As I found my art among the other artwork I noticed how much has changed in my art style from just a month ago to this current moment.

Most of us look at past works and tend to be a bit critical. Whether its art, sports or any activity that is dear to us, there is a tendency to pick apart things and see what we can do better. This is exactly what I was doing last night as I saw my artwork that was created less than a month ago. I must admit that it was a pleasing experience which gave me new ideas for next year’s Comics for Cures auction.

Recently it has been important to me to bring my art to the so called, next level. That meant taking my foundation and really refining it and I mean really refining it. So viewing what was done less than a month ago and actually seeing improvement has been a satisfying experience. It’s nice to know that I’m improving and have actual proof to back it up.

So, not only for myself but for others looking to improve themselves, keep going. We always have the potential to improve.


To check out the auction please click on the link below. The auction benefits the American Cancer Society.
Click Here to go to the auction.

Perfecting the Art

A great deal of time is expended while perfecting ones art. While it may never be perfected, we continue to strive for that goal. A person’s chosen art is a living thing, constantly evolving. If our art does not grow it becomes stagnant, much like standing water. Eventually, much like stagnant water, it ends up stinking. If our art flows like a river, it will stay clean and constantly refreshed.

I’ve spent much time allowing my art to evolve. Many hours have been dedicated to redrawing pages for the upcoming 919 Maple St. comic. My style is different from when I first started not too long ago and it bothered me a bit to put out to old artwork. With that in mind, I still have to get the book out ASAP so I can get issue 2 through 4 done. There are also a few new stories I have been working on as well that I’m really excited about. I’ll write more about that soon.

So, now it’s back to drawing.

The Art of War, The War of Art

In the same way that I would draw the sword to cut
I take the brush with the same commitment and leave marks of ink on paper
The sword cuts ignorance
The light cutting through the darkness
The other, the art of creation
Presenting my gift to the world
Mara is always if front of me
Tempting me
He wants me to turn from my art
He wishes me to forget sacrifice
He wants me to take the fleeting pleasures
But with his way there are tears
With him there are regrets
With him lacks compassion
I draw the sword
In this moment I cut down Mara
Until he comes to me again