New Years.

So I after this Saturday's purchase of some Moleskine sketch notebooks and the suggestions of my girlfriend, I came too a conclusion. I've seen the idea thrown around, I think some people have done it. But since they are so portable and I love how my microns feel on the paper. I am going to try and do 365 sketches, one every day. After yesterday's frigid adventure too a local lake and today's adventure to Weedon Island nature preserve, both with my girlfriend. I have a good start.

I am starting to compile supplies for the screen printing project as well. Going to start small. Need transparencies and a few other things. Making a checklist with Sam.

Out.

Merry Christmas.

So today was great. Fuck that, today was AMAZING! I love this time of year cause I love my family. I also love my beautiful girlfriend. This is our second christmas, first real one. We exchanged gifts and she loved what I got her. She loves baking so I got her two new pans and a carrier she really wanted. Also got her these hard to find PVC Mousegaurd figures and the Winter 1152 graphic novel. As well as the badass Hush figure of Joker, the new Harry Potter movie and a book on how to play guitar that helped me alot when I learned. Her parents got her this badass new camera.

She knew what to get me too. A new comic box, I am running out of room. This sick Green Arrow figure from the Cartoon I watched when I was a kid and the Hush, Hush figure. He is bad ass. An this little Moonknight thing I loved. Parents got me a new Macbook, needed it for school and for work, thing is amazing. I got a Speedball screen printing kit, needed it! Got this sick Sideshow old school Wolfman figure I wanted, a old 80's Punisher model. A Rapidograph pen and some ink for it, those things rock. Set of new H pencils, Assassins Creed II and Marvel UA 2. A new figure drawing book from Burne Hogarth and DC inking book. Programs and case for computer. Also got these new flannel shirts I wanted. Got some new dress shirts and pants, money and a gift card to Borders from Aunts, Uncles and Grandmas.

She came over to my Grandmas and she had a great time, she loves my family. Everyone was there except my Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Mike and their two kids. My family poured the love on her, she had a great time, got alot of things she needed and wanted. My two other little cousins were running around, everyone was having a good time. Grandma and Aunts and my mom made an amazing dinner, like always.

Had a great christmas, taking the new next few days off. I am sore, I am tired, and I exhausted. I am going hiking this next week hopefully with the girl. Making it a photo/sketching trip.

Hope ya'll had a good christmas, be safe!

Ian

Crystalus

Here is a low res image of the Crystal Mountain shirt.

The Perfect Design.

I got an email for this site a month or two ago asking me to do this interview type thing about my work and my inspirations and aspirations. Scanned over it before when a friend asked me to look over something she posted.

 I added some post interview commentary

"1. Where are you from, currently? Is this where you grew up as a child, or did you move there from somewhere else? Where did you move from?

I was born in St. Petersburg, FL, but was raised in a (relatively) small town 10 or so miles north of St Petersburg, called Largo.


2. What got you into graphic design? What was your inspiration for going into graphic design?

I was always into comic books when I was a kid, X-Men, Venom, Spawn, Batman. That really got me into art.

I got back into it when I worked for a metal magazine based out of Tampa. I had tinkered around for them doing ad's, logos and fliers for shows. I soon started doing artwork for local bands, t-shirt designs and album covers and stuff.

But illustration really caught my eye, I really don't do much "design" work, anything I do with CSS or Corel programs is on my Wacom Tablet.

I got a book that featured these two amazing comic artists Bernie Wrightson, he did Swamp-thing and Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and a alot of work for DC. And this other guy, Marc Silvestri, he worked for Marvel doing X-men then Image comics doing Witchblade then started his own company called Top Cow doing Darkness and all kinds of stuff. Also found out about Gustave Dore and Alphonse Mucha. Kinda blossomed from there. I also really love Jim Lee's stuff, Alex Ross, David Finch, Mike Mignola, John Dyer Baizley....too many to name.

To really sum it up, comic books again are what got me doing it.


3. Do you do freelance work, or corporate, or both? Do you love your job, and why?

I love doing work, mostly freelance, I run my own thing called IWELSHART. I mostly do artwork for bands, labels and private clients. I also do some comic work and other illustrated publications.



4. What’s your favorite part or aspect of graphic design?

Being able to put something that is in my mind on paper.



5. If you had the opportunity to do graphic design work for one event, or individual, what, or who, would it be and why? What other events, or people, have you designed for that are noteworthy, or stand out in your mind?

Comics, for one of the big three, Marvel, DC or Image. That (would be) is it.

(Don't think name dropping is cool.)



6. What piece of business advice can you give your peers that you learned from experience? How did you learn this?

Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Monotony is part of the job, if you want a piece to stand out be prepared to work 60+ hours on it.



7. Name one individual who has helped shape your graphic design career, and explain how they did this.

Cheesy, but my parents, they always indulged what ever crazy thing I wanted to try.
(Also a few teachers I have had and my girlfriend whose very damn supportive.)


8. What methods do you use to spark creativity for a project when it seems almost impossible to do so? In other words, how do you get over the writer’s block of design?

I always listen to music when I work, usually when I do work for a band I have them send me their lyrics, their ideas and their mp3's. I will immerse my self in their work and it will trigger something. I have a sketch book I just doodle random things in then when I get something good going I finish it up then transfer it to the Bristol.



9. What is it about life, other than design, that you’re passionate about? Please, explain why life is exciting to you.

Other than comics, I am a big history buff. Specifically the civil war, also love nature. Growing up in a area that 20 minute drive in any direction and you're in the middle of no where with swamps and forests. It is great.



10. To sum up… Where do you see yourself in the future? What is your biggest goal? What would be the ultimate accomplishment for you personally?

Doing comics or my own work, hopefully a mixture of both. Ultimate would have to be running my own imprint.

Thank you very much!"

http://theperfectdesign.com/blog/ian-welsh-graphic-designer-spotlight/

Down Time.

Since I have a little down time because of school being over with. I started working on some personal pieces. I've always wanted to draw a Samurai and I had a really cool image come to mind. I sketched out with a sharpie last night what I'd like the helmet to look like. Need to look at a few more examples but it's going to be fun. Got my mother her present today, going today or tomorrow to get my dads. Need to get same one or two more things and I am done!

Final

Call this one the "First Born". Reminds me of the demon baby from the Jericho game. This was my final for my drawing 1 class. Professor set up a still life on each side of the room and I picked this. Got a B+.

Contest.

Posting my annual contest tonight for a free shirt design. Amped up what I am giving away. Last time it flopped because the band suck at emailing.

This is the second time I am doing this. I am offering ONE band a t-shirt design free of charge. A full t-shirt design, color and all.

I am baseing my selection upon the originality of the idea for the design. So that means if you want zombie babies coming out of cadavers and so on you probably won't get selected, that also means I am not doing anything gore themed. If you send me something like "I want a vulture flying through the rings of Saturn that look like tree branches and cannons incorperated in it somehow", I may be more apt to pick you.

I will post a blog with the same exact message as this bulletin. Please only post your entries in the blog, not the bulletin, it'll get lost or will will go away and I don't want to lose peoples submissions. Also, don't send them through my inbox because they will get lost in the myriad of messages I get. I will give this contest til Dec 15th. December 16th at 12:00 A.M. I won't accept any more submissions.

The rules:

You must have more than 5,000 friends.

Must have music up and have total plays at the least of 15,000.

Must have played more than 10 shows in the past 6 months.

May not have been in contact with me in the past 6 months (through messages or emails, not comments or adds).

No gore, no black and white designs, nothing based off another bands artwork.

Must be ready to have these shirts ordered within two months.

Finally I request two units of these shirts for my portfolio.

It isn't a definite possibility but for this one I am leaning more twords picking a sludge, doom or drone band.


What I need from you:

A detailed description of what you want the design to look like.

A clear line of contact when you are chosen.

Credit and a spot on your top friends or a banner on your page when chosen.

How many colors you want put in it.


I am really looking forward to hearing what you guys come up with, good luck!

Ian

Seminole Wind

Inspired by native plants, swamps and forests as well as things I see every day. Yes, including the gator. As well as the John Anderson song I fucking love. Rough pencils for the tree tops, I am not done adding everything. I am going to ink what is on there now, ink the trees more freehand then add some mangroves behind the cat-tails.

Twitter.

I now use it, I gave in.
http://twitter.com/IWelshart

Ole' Marse Robert.

I did this for my American History teacher, one of his favorite generals. One of mine too. Stars suck but I suck at doing them.

Check in.

Tis the season to rush around. Finals are almost done, got a 81 on my final portfolio in my Drawing 1 class, still have to take the exam in my American History class. But since it is on the Civil War I am not sweating it.

I started working on Mountain of Judgement's album. Coming along well, finished majority of my current clients stuff. Running a little behind with most. Also did a portrait of Robert E. Lee for my AH teacher, hope he likes it.

Started thinking of music to do on my own. Going to do some alt country/bluegrass stuff as well as a drone thing called Cicada.

Ugh....society.

So today I did a little people watching at my local high end mall. I have to say I didn't like what I noticed. From one bad extreme to another, what becomes the "edgy" clothing trend is still annoying the hell out of me. These bright animal print colors, the hideous degradation into popularity of my childhood cartoons, the horrendous 80's hair. They also high jacked my beloved plaid! I wore that shit when I was a kid it's fine. It's like they mixed the horrible elements of the 80's and 90's culture and assimilated it into what is the in trend. Before it was the tight pants and the comb over hair do. Now it's hair spray everywhere and these skater kids that look like Eddie Vedder.

Mix this with the horrible artwork that Ed Hardy puts out on his clothing, the stupid band tee's sold at the skater stores, the badly designed "screamo" and "core" band shirts".

I had to rant. I hate kids.

By the way, read Marvel's new SIEGE: The Cabal, fucking excited!

MOJO

Here is a rough of the main component of the Mountains of Judgment album cover.

Exhilarating air of freedom

I find my self having a big sigh of relief knowing that all of my work for my drawing class is done and I am ahead of the rest of the students on my final.

I posted the picture I did for Morpheus Tales and I have gotten a very big reception within the short time it has been up.

Also, started seeing what all my girlfriends hoopla about Livejournal is. Lots of pretentious pricks on there, especially on the illustration community.

Finally!

So tonight I finished all my backwork due tomorrow for my drawing class. I also finished the Morpheus Tales 7 work a bit ago. I have some catching up to do with some clients.

As promised

Here is a unedited/unfinished look at the piece for Morpheus Tales.

Update.

So this Thanksgiving was my birthday. It was great, had alot of my family there, Sam came too. She said it was her first real thanksgiving. She was very impressed by my grandmother's cooking, I knew she would. Received some very nice gifts, had alot of fun. Spent the night at Sam's, made cookies and watched mythbusters. Woke up to head to Emerald City's black friday sale and visited some other stores. We then stayed in and spent the rest of the night as normally. Had a great weekend, best birthday in awhile. Going hiking soon with Sam as a gift too my self.

In work related stuff. Inking the Morpheus Tales work tonight, I am fully booked and am turning away work right now.

Sweet smell of things to come.

So I know not many artists brag about clients, but I don't consider this bragging. I am a new guy in the scene, been doing it for awhile, but I am new. I get excited with clients that have a larger base. So I got an email from a Russian independent label asking me to do a undisclosed album cover for the debut of the sideproject from the guys from a North Carolina sludge/drone/psychedelic band that will remain unnamed, but they have some weight to them.

I am really excited about this, going to start working on it soon. Have a hefty work load lately, haven't been free of a client since August.

CM

Been sick, didn't do much, started finishing the colors on Crystal Mountain's shirt. I will post it tonight, it's the rough version. I also am starting to work on a new more art nouveau piece, need to edit and color it. I am getting over what I had.

Mike and I will be jamming soon with Gray Ghost and I have a possible new venture with my old friend Paul and his friend Kyle doing some ethereal type drone what would be called post metal.

It goes on.

So the comic convention was alot of fun, Sam and I enjoyed it alot. I got some cool shit and so did Sam. Got Sam's Obama comic signed by Todd Nuack. Saw a old friend I haven't seen in awhile. The Brand New show was also great, found out why Sam loves them so much, really great band live, and I also found out I like Thrice.

Downfall? I got a fucking headcold. So right now I kinda postponed all work I have been doing. I have a few clients waiting on me, it'll pass in a few days.

Yesterday I got sick and Sam took care of me all day, love that girl.

Oh yes...

Going to Tampa comic con with my girl today, buying shit I don't need but oh so want.

Update

So this tattoo design I am doing is taking longer than I hoped. It's beginning to become a pain in the ass. Crystal Mountain's shirt design is coming along nicely, now to ink it. I also finished a mock up of Ampsontwelve's logo, posted below. Hellas Mounds never got back to me so I inked the piece I did for them and used watercolor markers on it, I have to say I love it, so did Sam, kinda surrealist looking. That'll be posted when it's touched up. Comic Convention this weekend with Sam, Brand New show tomorrow night in Ybor with Sam and her friend Lea.

Crystallus

This is part of a design I am doing for a band called Crystal Mountain, calling him Crystallus.

New work

In time for Halloween. Don't know if I am going to ink it or not. Here is the piece I did for Morpheus Tales, it'll be on sale within the next month.

My Rig.

Well as of today I found out my guitar rig is expanding. Alot of things are being added and very quickly. I've yet to really work out the kinks but this is how it is going to be.

I've yet to figure out which head I'd like to use as my high end head. My Marshall or my Sovtek

Rig 1
Marshall JCM 2000
2 4X12 Cabs loaded with 75 watt Celestions
(Pedal depends on whether it is my low or high end rig)
Ibanez Tube Screamer or Blackout Effectors Musket Fuzz

Rig 2
Sovtek Mig 60
1 1X15 2X12(maybe) 1X8 speakers
(Pedal Depends as in top)

Extra amps
Peavey Renown 1X15 Black Widow combo
1X12 Rotary external speaker cabinet

Other Pedals
Dunlop Q95 Wah pedal

Morley ABY pedal

Full plate.

I never really take time to take step back and look at what I am doing. I did today, I have come to the conclusion that I have a very full plate. Right now I'm working on about 5 or 6 bands (a run down will be put on here.) I am also working for a periodical I do illustrations for monthly. I am working on two classes that are very involved, have a great relationship with my beautiful girlfriend. I also have a future client I will be doing concept art for his book and possibly doing the covor. I am starting up a new band that has shows already coming in, one word, PENTAGRAM!

I am really happy with my life right now, I am going to be even happier once somethings happen. This thing being I am going to start screen printing, small scale, limited runs of prints and shirts. All done by me (possibly my girlfriend if she wants). I've been thinking about it and it's too much fun not to do. I will probably do runs of 50 for everything and once that happens and I get comfortable I will start offering it as a service. I need to get down how much supplies will cost and how much I can charge for labor.

Here is a rundown of my clients.

Hellasmounds - Two Shirt designs, Album Cover, and a layout possibly
Sunneater - Album layout
Premature Burial - Album Layout and Press Kit
The Burn School - Logo and Layout
420 Trainwreck - Design for christmas card.


Possible new clients
Black Hole Caravan - Shirt Design
Kenoma - Shirt Design
HogTooth - Shirt Design
Wolf's Blood- Logo
The Never Scene - Logo and shirt design

This segment

Is called "New work I did last night and 2 months ago".
The first is the inlay for Sunneaters 3-way split, they are fucking sick, and from the Netherlands, sounds like Sunn had a love child with Moss. The second is a watercolor painting I did of Lizzie Bordin, enjoy.

Update

I finished a new rough for Hellas Mounds which I think looks pretty damn badass. They wanted ruins and a building here is something I did. It won't be the final look but it's an idea I had, I want to make the square part of the building more chipped away looking and make the whole bigger where the crumbeling had put its thumb in. I also am working on the finished piece for the Morpheus Tales, I'm almost done with the pencils. I also finished this really great looking Green Lantern drawing. I have been thinking of inking my viking piece, may do it tonight.

Work.

Here is a rough I made for the shirt design of Hellas Mounds, and I am also posting a rough of a design I did the other night.

Work.

Been really busy with school the last few days to actually get anything worth while done. My portfolio for midterms in drawing is dew next week, need two pieces I think.

I started working on some idea projects, got a new way of shading things and sketching things out that really helps (all thanks to Mr. Grass), this guy is amazing. During American History class came up with some ideas of a bonafide Revolutionary era Punisher, sketched him out at a desk with Jefferson, looks pretty sick, will post later. I also REALLY need to work on the finished pencils and inks of the Morpheus Tales but I am slacking.

I got offered to work on a sci fi novel, I will be doing concept art and the finished art for the cover I believe. This is exciting because this guy has other books published that have sold pretty well by what I have heard. It is a glorified Rated R version of Star Wars, lots of aliens and space ships I guess.

Started working on Hellas Mounds shirt a hour ago, just going to say, very Frazetta looking.

Recent findings.

Just thought I'd share this with people.
http://progressiveboink.com/archive/robliefeld.html

Progress.

So this past Monday Sam and I went to Central Art supply. I needed to pick up a few things, this place is small, but it's a nice store, it's local, only one, run by a man named Pat and His wife. They have two well behaved boxers that roam around the store. They carry what alot of stores don't, certain specific types of ink, copic pens. I had to get some new drawing paper and some new bristol, they were out of my prefered drawing paper, 11x14 canson 300 series. But I did end up picking up some nice 9x12 canson 2ply bristol. I used it tonight, I like it. Had to go to Michaels for my drawing tablet. Got Sam a little 4"x5" canvas board. At Michaels she got some felt that she want's to make these characitures with, I think it's a great idea. She want's to sell them on etsy. She is also going to make these ingenious little stuffed animals, kinda rustic folky look. I think it's pretty cool.

I love this class im taking with my teacher Mr. Grass, his way of teaching is so easy to follow. He isn't hard, but he knows what you need to do and is honest. I've learn alot already, I have had hard habits, especially in figure drawing, these gesture drawing techniques he taught us are great.

New stuff soon, I am still working on the Morpheus Tales stuff.

Westbound and down.

So last weekend I took a much needed break from my life and went with Sam, her friend Lea and we went to Ft. Lauderdale. It was pretty fun, we didn't do the whole Miami thing but 2 hours. I hate that place, we intended spending alot of time in swamps and woods but weather had other plans. We decided to just drive around alot, spent time at the mall there and went to the most amazing comic shop I've seen. It's called Tates, it's in Lauderhill, one of the many psudeo townships in that god forsaken town.

It won the Eisner award this year. I bought a very cool Sabretooth figure I had never seen before. Probably the best one I've ever seen made. Sam got a bunch of vinyl toys she wanted (among other Hello Kitty things at the mall). This place was huge, I do have pictures of it. This place was two stories tall and about 3 shops long. Not much in the name of comics, various back issues, new stuff. Alot of indie comics and a good number of graphic novels. They were selling the Wolverine Origins movie the weekend before it came out, I thought that was cool. They had a small art room upstairs called the Bear and Bird gallery. It was like indie art and etsy style vinyl and wood figures. Most the art was done by Tattoo artists so I didn't look all that much.

They had more anime and vinyl figures so Sam was really impressed. They had a large selection of other things, so I wasn't too thrilled when they lacked on comic book related stuff. What I did like was they had a library of indie artist and comic book artist books. They had alot of instruction guides, and drawing materials. We drove around and found funny signs, found the only 24 hour Wal-Mart in the area, got lost in this crazy cemetary, Sam drove over a grave.

I drove the way back home, through a typical hurricane size Florida storm. We ate out alot, more than I wished, but we had no other options. We were kinda sick of it. The mall was nothing to write home about, typical, nothing fancy. The hotel was kinda disgusting too, roaches were scene and the room smelled like smoke. The place had a nite club that was filled and you could hear all night. Was kinda annoying but had a nice mixed crowed, the place was rather relaxing. Nice people that we met. Alot of people on business. No one goes to Browered except for Summer I think.

The girls did take a dip in the pool where we met a rather interesting fellow. He was from Lee county I think. He came to take a emotional management course that he said cost him a pretty penny. He was pretty ripped and had nice luggage. He was looking for hot tub but he went into the pool. I felt bad because he told me the only reason he came over on our side was because the steps were there. I guess I had a defensive vibe he thought, like I was watching the girls like they were my pride and I was the male Lion. He told us about the course, He said his "father" abused his mother a bit and his brother and him as well. I say father because he told him at 23 when he was on his death bed he wasn't his real father.

He loved him I take it but he said that it shook him up. He took the class, they had a anger session. He said he is good at calming him self down, he didn't like confrontation. They were trying to channel his dad, it wasn't working, then the guy spit in his face and started pushing him and it trigured it, he said he took tae kwon doe and he ended up elbowing the guy in the nose and flipping him over by reflex. They later got into it again and he got through it all. He is now able to confront it and channel it to something else. I liked the guy, he was very nice, very open. He was about 5'8" I think, curly hair, took care of him self, worked out alot, that was his release. I think he said he was an IT specialist.

Like I said, I drove home, everyone was asleep, I listened to Old Crow Medicine Show the way home. It was nice, quite, nothing happened. It was woods and swamp the whole way. I liked it, it was night time, it relaxed me, I got alot of thinking done oddly enough.

Here are some pictures.

This is the hellstorm we went through majority of the way.











Rest stop in the swamp.







One of the most beautiful drives, Big Cypress national park, the orchid capitol of America.


One of the things I got Sam for our one and a half year.









THE AMAZING TATE'S!









The drive home.

Morpheus Tales Layout

I knew what I wanted after I finished= reading the first sentence of the story but I wanted to work on some different variations. I ended up coming up with an idea for a mix of all 4.

Other sketches

Here is some other work I did.

Recap

Ok, busy week, finished all the work for my clients. I just finished doing the prelim layouts of the image for Morpheus Tales, story is pretty good. Here is the work I did for At The End of The World and Mondhaurn.

Catch up

So this week has been full of news. I finished the layout of the page, I am going to fuck around with some of the coding though. I did some new work I like alot and put it up. It took me awhile to pick what I wanted. I just finished a new piece last night which looks great to me. I will post it tomorrow. I finished Devil's Dinner, Mondhaurn, At The End of The World. I am all caught up on everything, except one band (will not be named).

I also may be doing work for Kenoma (ex members of Rune) and I am going to be doing work for this magazine called Morpheus Tales, they print short horror stories and have comic like sequential art next to it.

By the way, anyone wanting some of the beaten path comics, definetly check out Haunted Tank, that comic is amazing.

New band practice next week, wish me luck.

Discoveries.

So this weekend I got everything I needed for class, and something amazing. A DRAFTING PENCIL! This thing is awesome! I've always wanted one but never saw the point in paying $6.70 for a glorified mechanical pencil. Got it for $1.00 and I love it!

New shit.

New work.

So I have some pieces done of some new work. Well they are roughs with color to be exact. I also got shit rolling with this asshole who still owes me payment after 4 months of work on something I finished 3 and 1/2 months ago.

Back to class.

I feel some sort of finality tonight. Some end of something big in my life and I don't know why. It's between me and my girl. Actually I do, it's because we were both used to seeing each other every day and now this is ending. Both of us are starting up classes and she may be getting a new job and the hours will cut how much we see each other. But hey, this is great for her, she needs this. She was so happy today, it was great.

Anyways, this will also give me more time to work so quicker turnarounds. Almost done editing some new work.

Inks and Pencils

Here is two new works I have done, as promised. One is rough inks the other is just the finished pencils. Both with be painted with watercolor.

Rolling sTone.

So I have been working alot lately on various projects. Three clients at the same time, I need more hours in the week. I would get this shit done quicker. So umm, TOS broke up, finally. I am really happy that I am free from the creative prison. Got three things on my plate. I am starting over with Gray Ghost, no more Chris but Marc is coming in and got two drummers I am trying out. I also have a full proof studio band that is going to be signed (seriously, it's going straight to record). It's called Skin Tomb, doom sludge shit with Tony from Generichrist. I am also doing some dark bluegrass with Marc.

As far as merch design goes, things are changing. New name, new designs, new way of doing things. I. Welsh Art or I, Welsh Art, I think the first is better. I am also almost done with the artwork for the submission to Fierce comics. Need to work on my composition more though so I don't know about some pieces.

List of things to do in life.

1. See every monument in Gettysburg
2. Walk the Appalachian Trail.

New prospect?

Hm, well just finished a great Thor piece last night, very proud of it, probably my best work. I also found out something new and very exciting. I was contemplating going to Ringling for the longest time, but I always fought my self sub consciously. I didn't like the drive, I didn't like the artsy fartsy nature of all the kids, and I have heard multiple stories that most kids are only there because their parents make over $150,000 a year. So, that whole situation pissed me off, plus I saw art there that was unoriginal, uninspired, boring and just not up to my standards.

Now, I have come to find out that USF, the school my aunt Sussie and aunt Lyn both went to offers not only a Bachelors of arts and fine arts, but....a MASTERS of Fine Arts. This is a great thing because my family has went there, they all loved it, and also it's very close to home. I am excited about this new prospect in my career/life.

My First Convention.

So Sunday Sam and I went to our first comic book convention, thought a small one, we had a great time! A lot of really nice people, a lot of new experiences, and a lot of new comics.I spent about $7 on comics and left with like 40 of them. I got a Sabretooth poster signed by Chris Claremont which totally made me fan boy day. Sam got a Little Lulu bobble head that she wanted really bad. We got alot of comics, some random stuff, Batman, Green Arrow, Ghost Rider, Ultimates, one guy handed me a bunch for free. He was cool.

The second best part of the day was finding out there is a comic book company based out of St. Pete called Fierce Comics that is looking for free lance artists. I am going to get a portfolio together with some sequential art and some cover looking art and send them that. I have a really good feeling about it, they have some interesting characters that I think I could bring alot to their stories. I will be posting my progress.

Things are looking up.

I am still not comfortable with my lack of musings for the band but some things have came up that make me a bit more happy. One is the huge influx in interest in my work, I get about 15 to 20 emails a week, 10 of which become serious. I am also starting up, in full force, Gray Ghost. I am going to start writing for it within the next few weeks. This makes me really happy, plus Mark and I may be doing our bluegrass thing. I am maybe looking into voice lessons.

Here is some new work for a client I did. I like it.

Sorry.

If anyone actually reads this (I don't think so but whatever) I am sorry, alot of complaining in the last few posts. I have noticed my longing for something new and to be in a different place has left me somewhat despondent. I am finally finished with the jackasses stuff (almost), and I am working on a new client right now.

These last three days are the 146th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, I really wish I was there right now, kinda saddens my heart that I'm not. Right now it's 12:03 pm on day 3 of, about an hour from now the Confederate battery of 170 odd cannons would be opening up. I love going there, and I need a break from.....well this. I really don't feel like playing the show tonight, I really want to just go see a movie with Sam or something. I'd rather be doing nothing at all, this show just seems meaningless to me and I don't know why.

Anyways, watched The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and I have to say that's one of the best movies I have seen. Loved Brad Pitt's portrayal of him, and how they didn't focus on the train robbing, in fact there is only one and it's in the beginning and it's the only time his brother, Frank James shows up. Kinda wished they would of showed him with Quantrill though.

Fuck the Philis!

I find my self questioning my happiness with my band on and off every month. I find it disheartening that when we write new music I can't find anything inspiring about it. I find my self wanting to write, which is good, but when I comes to it I have nothing to mind. I don't know if it's writers block or what. The more I think, the more I may want to look twords other things.

Long hard road.

Getting this touring thing behind me in small quantities is a good idea. I don't know why but this took alot out of me. I don't even think it was the two shows in a row and little amount of sleep, but the adventures in between, the messes and the crazyness. I thought Saturday night we were going to be leaving from Brandon to go to Orlando but I was wrong. We played in Brandon, initially no one showed up, but about an hour or so after getting set up and checking the nice little comic book shop next too the club out we had a good group in there, then the place was filled. We opened up because of a long list of things out of my hands. We played pretty damn well, Cancer Whore and Quarter the Villain loved it, so did the crowed. This was also the first time we played "8" and Chainsaw Hedgemaze Mayhem. Quarter the Villain told us some stories about the road through the south and the mishaps, and we got to know the good ole' boys from Louisiana's Cancer Whore. They are a bunch of fucking basket cases there. Not only the sick show both of them put on, but Han's, the owner of Black Coffee is a crazy fucker, some chicks come in just texting and not paying attention he throws them in the fray of the atmosphere.

We then get to the show the next day in Orlando at the Dungeon and the place is crazy inside, took us about half an hour to find it, come to find out it's 8 minutes from our hotel. We rocked that place, made some new friends and got to join the two bands on the last night of the tour. We thanked them and went back to the hotel. Woke up about an hour after we should of, got our shit, left, ate, hung out around downtown Disney, drove around and went through this wicked storm that was blinding. Literally couldn't see a foot infront of us.

Now I am home, and I am relaxing, stircrazy but sore. I know I can do this, but I need to build it up, I am way too exhausted right now to think it's a good idea though. So tonight I will probably do some sketches and tomorrow I am going to lay around.

Limbo for the forseeable future.

Well this has been a week of ups and downs and I am currently not in a good mood. This is me complaining. We are going to be playing the last half of the tour but, the band isn't doing too well. We are in the throes of confusion. Some of the members (including me oh so dearly) are looking to do music outside of the band, but keep with it as the main body. Then there are others that aren't happy with how one of us stated it, rightfully so. Now, then there are others that seem like they don't want anything to do with it anymore. I am getting to the point where what happens happens, I honestly don't know if one of the major components leaves if I would keep with it.

Now, I have had a great week of work, but have a horribly absent minded client that thinks I can read his mind when he wants something different. I am working on new logos and a myspace layout. But I also did the new album layout for Premature Burial which turned out great.

Record breaking!

So I started my extra top secret project, I have to say I am very pleased with the first try. I bought some cheap records from this local record shop I frequent (one of them turned out to be a Foreigner one). The one I used tonight was a underground rap group from Miami. The single mentions the word black so I rolled with that. I went off this song from The Sword called "How Heavy This Axe", which is amazing. It's these black metal skeleton warriors with broad axes in the middle of a thunderstorm (cause it's been raining non-stop here in Tampa).

What did I learn?

White out = Ink
Ink = "Black" out
I have to get some dip white out or white opaque ink to do my next ones. I have some gruesome idea's in my head for the other two I am working on.

I also finished my second (or maybe first) piece in that 1860's series of illustrations. I am really happy with it, it looks great, I may not ink it, I may ink it, I know I am framing it.

For now I am out, going to lay down, play some Warriors Orochi 2, watch some Hulk and go to bed.

I may be opening a venue...with some help.

I have been booking shows for almost 3 or 4 years now in the Tampa Bay area. For that same span of time I have always wanted to open up my own venue. There are some great venues, but not many are left in Pinellas County, most are at opposite ends. In St Pete, most are on Central, theres one or two in Pinellas Park area and then there is a few at the north end. Nothing in the middle of the county.

Another issue is the constant demand for shows from a bloated scene. There isn't enough venues to meet the demand for shows of legit bands. I've heard from so many clubs that they can't handle the overload of emails from young bands wanting to open a show for a 15 minute time slot. It's hard for the clubs because when they do book them they may not even draw, and it's hard for the kids because some of the really good bands don't get noticed.

I have talked with a few close friends of mine that I have known for a good while and we have come to the conclusion that the Clearwater/Largo area needs a venue for the young extreme acts. All of us have been in the scene for about 20 years combined. We have all decided be it one time only, be it a sporadic amount of events, or be it a permanent main stay. We are currently looking into opening a venue.

Nothing is confirmed, we are still in the talking stages right now, but we have all decided to pursue this in one way or another. An if this goes through I have been asked to be the booking agent for the venue. So I will be looking into alot of the bands in the Largo/Clearwater area for this.

Work completed.

After some commotion with a client I have finished my work for two others.

Underoath Mom 0 - Me 1

I have a funny story for you if you don't mind. I don't know if you're too familiar with the band Underoath or The Almost, both of them are from my home town. One of the members Aaron Gillispe frequents a bar that local bands play at in a little town called Tarpon Springs, FL. So last weekend my band was playing at this bar with quite a few christian bands. I believe us and a NY style Hardcore band were the only bands that weren't. I my self am a LaVeyan Satanist and many of the lyrics I write are about those sort of ideals.

So Aaron is there promoting his new clothing line, he's not playing, he's just feeding off the scene, like the grammy award nominated sleaze needs anymore money. So I have a favorite shirt that has a picture of Mary holding the shroud of Jesus, her eyes are barred out and it says below the picture "Boycott this Product." I find out that his wife, younger brother and mother are at the show. Our merch guy has this shtick where he says, want a free shirt? An hands them a sticker and puts it on their shirts, pretty funny.

His mom and Brother don't get that I am in the band puts it on. So we play and get off the stage, his mom comes up to me pulls me aside "What does that shirt mean to you?", I tell her I don't believe in god and religion is an industry, simple enough. She asks how I think we got here, I tell her big bang and Darwin. So the rest of the night she gives me the most dirty looks, she stands behind a corner looking right at me like she want's to confront me the whole night. She goes driving off, I notice she STILL had our sticker on our shirt, tell the guys that weren't there about it and we all get a good laugh.

Still the speech and you aren't smart enough to take it off.

Some idea's I have had rattle around in my head.

Lately I had a revelation. I want to learn how to sing, like really sing, not passable Nickelback shit, like full on Ronnie Van Zant and Avett Brothers singing. I, of all places, have been looking on Youtube and think I have some good ground to start on, I have to get use to the fact I can't EVER sing too high, I am a baritone, but I can hold long notes, I already know how to do breathing controles. Just have to learn to do this while playing guitar.

Here is the kicker, I want to do this because....I want to do some sort of bluegrass/country music. Not Toby Keith crap, but like old outlaw stuff. But, in a bluegrass format, like Old Crow Medicine Show, Earl Scruggs, Jimmy Martin style stuff. I think I'd be good at it, and with my talent, I could make some money, maybe make it big. All to supplement my other endevors.


Just a thought.

Beautifully Depressed.

So this week I am probably jammed back about a month or two worth of work, I'll be making about 2 grand hopefully. I have been so busy with my life and work that I haven't had much time for this, which is a shame. I have been sort of brooding. I need to release some of my musical ambitions but I can't get them out from time restraints and the lack of equipment that befell my band. I need to get out MY feelings in sonic way, it will soon come about. About 10 or so bands need work that I will be doing, 3 or 4 of which is illustrated. Here's to that!