Archive for October, 2010

30 Characters Challenger: Janine Frederick

| October 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

 

Hi!  I’m Janine. 

I’ll keep this short and sweet, which for me, is not easy – So, I’ll make a bulleted list just to be different and annoying. Ready? No? Too effing bad… here i go:

I…

  •  was born in 1979,
  •  am married to an aspiring comic artist – but he’s busy penciling a story,
  •  will be doing my own character sketches this month – I apologize in advance for their extremely crappy crappiness,
  •  work for a University,
  •  used to work for the government… fuck those bastards, 
  • am an auxiliary police officer (3 months of kickass academy training and hundreds of volunteer hours),
  •  went to culinary school,
  •  like guns,
  • could kill you in 15 seconds,
  •  was a child actress,
  •  still have the maturity level of a 5 -year old,
  •  want to know what Marcellus Wallace looks like,
  •  like horror movies and action movies,
  •  like to make horror movies with my friends,
  •  like to read comics that fuck up my world and shake my soul… and that are fun,
  • am a card carrying member of  the Creator’s Workshop at The Comics Experience, 
  •  write comics,
  •  competed in Zuda,
  •  will take over the world and turn small countries into amusement parks,
  •  will eventually own a medieval catapult,
  •  did your mom,
  •  like erotica,
  •  LOVE chocolate cake,
  •  could survive on movie theater popcorn for approximately 3 weeks,
  •  would die from approximately 9 shots of tequila, in a 2-hour timeframe.

Enjoy!

Follow me on twitter:  @J9Naimoli
My Facebook security is set really high, but you can friend request me here:  www.facebook.com/j9frederick

30 Characters Challenger: Dan Jensen

| October 27, 2010 | 1 Comment

What a grinning idiot...

Hey folks!  I’m Dan!  I’m 24, a Gemini, and I like relaxing, playing video games, and am quite fond of cookies.  You should date me because I have a giant– Huh?  Oh this is the 30 Characters thing?  Oh right right.  Sorry bout that!

Anyway, I’m here cause I just love doodling characters.  I do it a lot!  Or at least I used to.  I’ve reached a deficit in my character output these days, and I am hoping to rekindle that fire with this challenge.  Also looking forward to discovering new, exciting, and wacky characters, and seeing the characters they create!

My main passion is just simple illustration, but I dabble in animation and comics now and again.  I’m attacking this Challenge with little plan.  The first week is bound to be super random, whatever compels me as I sit down to the drawing board.  Perhaps in later weeks I will construct some sort of theme, only time will tell!

Until then, hoping to have fun and good luck to you all!

30 Characters Challenger: Melanie Dawn McGreevey

| October 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

Not exactly sure what I am really supposed to say, other than I am FAR from being super talented, but when I saw this pop up, I thought “Hey! I LOVE to create characters, why not give it a shot?”  I have attended the Savannah College of art and Design (I was in a volunteer group that helped begin to form the sequential art program there.  I was entirely too young to be that far away from home on my own, and only stayed a year.  I have lived all over the country (almost), and have a LOT of life experience.  I am currently going through something that opens my eyes to a wider world, and i think that give me a bit of a different angle when i create (at times).

I have been toying with the idea of really making a go at a web comic,

but i have 2 kitties that demand a LOT of attention…

Maybe this will give me some inspiration to push forward with it.

Sooooo ya… that’s me.  As you can tell, no gift for gab here 😛

30 Characters Challenger: Micah Weltsch

| October 27, 2010 | 1 Comment

Hello! How’s it going?

My name’s Micah, a near-30 amateur artist and history graduate student from the Midwest. I loved to draw as a child, quit for a while (I was convinced I wanted to do something else), and then came back to it about ten years ago and I’ve been doodling and drawing ever since. I’m not a professional, but maybe someday I’ll get that opportunity! For now I’m trying to finish my masters degree in East Asian history, with an emphasis on China, Japan, and the history of memory. My thesis project is an analysis at how the memory of a particular Japanese figure has developed over the last thousand years or so. Once I get that done and settle into a steady job, I’ll really start pursuing my dream. Meanwhile I feel a little overwhelmed by the number of professionals doing this challenge 😉

Until then, I work as a web developer at the university I attend. I also write and draw Planescape: Metamorphosis, which I need to make a button for so Tyler can post it up over there —->

The comic’s been a phenomenal learning experience for me because it forces me to do a lot of things I wouldn’t have ordinarily done. I was in a serious rut before I started it, but it’s helped me break out and keep trying new things. I look forward to more challenges it gives.

Anyone that has played D&D during the 90s (and even during this decade) will recognize the term “Planescape.” My comic is based on the old D&D setting of the same name and follows the adventures of Qul, a saurian man, and his companions across different worlds. Of course, they haven’t left Sigil, the City of Doors yet, but I have plans after my next story arc!

I joined this challenge to try and grease some character design wheels and have a good excuse to get some designs done that I need to do. I’ll be using the challenge to develop some characters for my webcomic, and try my hand at some other designs I can make use of. I love the superhero genre so I might make a few of those. I’ll probably also work on a bunch of fantasy or sci-fi style characters that I can use for other projects. Since I don’t have time to do fully colored digital art every day, most of my designs will be pencil sketches, sometimes colored with markers and/or colored pencils. Here are some examples of my finished art and some sketches I’ve done! Almost all my art ends up over at my very starkly-decorated sketch blog or my deviantART gallery so feel free to snoop around there, too!

30 Character Challenger: Harold Jennett

| October 27, 2010 | 1 Comment

Hi folks!

This is my first challenge, and probably not the best time to do it, as I’m super busy. But this project will only help me stretch my creative muscles! I was trying to do one sketch per day anyway, so this is perfect for me.

I previously did the art/lettering for a comic called M.I.M.E.S. You can see more at www.mimescomic.com.

I am currently working on Geek Syndicate: The Comic. It’s about a couple of geeks who get into crazy adventures, including, but not limited to: Interrogating Santa Claus, Cosplay cross dressing, and fighting mirror universe dopplegangers. You can check it out at www.geeksyndicatecomic.com. 

I’m also working on a comic anthology, who’s profits will go towards the homeless. It’s called “Epic Jam”, and you can read more about it on my sketchblog here: http://h4hsb.blogspot.com/2010/09/and-my-new-project-is.html

30 Character Challenger: Victor Dandridge

| October 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

HELLO!  I’m a long time comic book fan whose just taken the plunge to begin creating full-time, publishing thru my imprint WizWorld Inc!  I’m a Columbus native, where I live and play and have THE most incredibly beautiful children!

This is what I look like when I'm NOT making comics!

While I’d LOVE to get my hands on more commercial properties, I’m a newly crowned bastion for self-publishing and eagerly look to taking the comic book form and the small-press to new heights!  This year, I released my first solo comic book projects,  Omnibus #1 and Doing A Bid: How to Approach Work as a Freelance Artist. I followed those up with a run of original pulp mags that got me the attention of Ron Fortier, whom I’m currently doing illustration work for thru his Airstrip 27 publishing firm.

I’m taking part in the 30 Character Challenge to FINALLY fill my stock character list for my U Cre-8 Comics line; an activity series that uses comics to stimulate educational fundamentals in students grade 1-5!  Once finished, participants can use these stock characters as either protagonists or antagonists to the characters they’ve created, using the character creation app, similar to most roleplaying games.

30 Characters Challenger: Rolando Garcia

| October 26, 2010 | 0 Comments

Let me begin by saying how excited I am to be joining this challenge. I really look forward to this entire endeavor. It’s like my two favorite parts of grade school, recess and show & tell, all wrapped up into one.

I am a 30 year old raised in Brooklyn, NY and now living in Queens with my fiance. She’s so cool she’s letting my groomsmen and me wear superhero cuff links. I’ll be rocking Batman, they’ll be my Justice League: Superman, Green Lantern and The Flash.

My lifelong love affair with superheroes, mythology and serialized storytelling began as a toddler, watching reruns of the 60’s Batman TV show with my grandmother. That was followed by Star Trek (the original series) with my dad. But the real watershed moment came the day I first watched Back to the Future. My life was never the same after that one. Through it all comics have been omnipresent. Even when I wasn’t reading monthlies, I would have to pick up trades regularly to get my fix.

In college I spent most of my time writing and directing plays. My career path thus far has been steeped in movies. I have done everything from set work, to marketing at a studio, to producer on a documentary. But my passion has always been creating worlds and telling stories both big and small in them. Throughout the years I never stopped amassing ideas for stories in my head. This year I decided enough was enough and I have been bringing them to life on paper. I’m ready to share!

Unlike most of you, I am just a writer and thus all my entries will be written. Most of them will be coming from two projects and written in styles that play specific roles in those stories. They are:

CAPTAIN KERPLUNK. Despite the title this is not a superhero story. It is a story of a small town and the stranger that inadvertently inspires the young people who are tired of being marginalized for not conforming. The female lead, Lilly, leaves her job at the paper when they don’t let her publish the stories she believes are important. She begins a blog that becomes the voice of her friends. The entries from this world will be written in her voice, as her blog posts.

ILLUMINATIONS (working title). This is a superhero universe… only before the people with powers have realized their true value. They have all been hiding their powers, using them mostly in secret for personal gain. Each one thinks he/she is a singular fluke and alone. What happens, though, when someone figures it out and decides to start exposing them? These entries will be written as that person’s secret files. Except for one.

The rest of my entries will be one-offs, as I want to give myself room to play. Perhaps some of them will expand on THE OMEGA KID, an all ages cartoon series I have been writing (tweet at me if you’re interested in reading the first script  — I love feedback).

Thanks to Tyler and everyone else for creating this amazing opportunity to see new creators’ works and share mine with the community. See you all in a few days!

Rolando
twitter.com/roshow
roshow.tumblr.com
tothemthatsgone.com (aforementioned documentary)

30 Characters Challenger: Betsy Luntao

| October 26, 2010 | 6 Comments

Hey there! I’m Betsy, a twenty-something freelance artist currently living in central California. Betsy Luntao - 30 Characters Challenger!

Being raised on Disney movies, and loving to draw more than anything, I decided pretty early on I wanted to draw for a living.

Although my sights are set to work in the feature animation industry, I do have a love for the comic book storytelling medium. I’m working on an Old West set comic with my boyfriend, a Sci-Fi genre comic which takes place underwater, and have recently been recruited to work as illustrator for Children’s books.

I have a lot of projects up in the air which hasn’t left me with a lot of time to develop my Character Design portfolio. Once I heard about the 30 Characters Challenge on Facebook, I knew I wanted to participate and get that push that I’d need to get back to character design.

I’ve set up some guidelines for myself to keep me a little more on track with the challenge:

  • I will be drawing 3 sets of 10 characters. Each set will be of one theme or “universe”
  • Each set will include 5 males, 5 females, at least 2 seniors, at least 2 children, at least 2 turn around model sheets
  • Each character will include at least one prop/weapon
  • Each set will include at least 1 backdrop or environment
  • Each set will include at least 1 protagonist and 1 antagonist

Unfortunately, I already have a vacation scheduled for the 13th – 17th of November and will have to either post those early or late, but otherwise I hope to keep on track with a character per day.

Other than drawing, I love training in Aikido, a non-violent martial art. Being an artist, keeping my hands in working order is a high priority, so I wasn’t about to train in anything that had me chopping, striking or punching. Aikido relies on physics and using one’s body weight and gravity to throw an attacker, so it was perfect for me. Plus I’m a gentle soul and don’t really want to beat up people.

I also looooove dancing!! I’ve recently started taking Swing Dancing lessons with my boyfriend, and it’s easily my favorite way to spend a Friday night.

My love for movement, fluidity and storytelling shows up in my art work as qualities of being gestural and filled with emotion rather than being precise and awe inspiring.

I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s posts for this challenge!!

30 Characters Challenger: Julie Leone

| October 26, 2010 | 1 Comment

Nids!

Hellu hellu!~

I am me!

And you are not!

Now that introductions are done lets continue!  I work as an Assistant Manager in a Novelty Retail Mall Environment! (basically if you abbreviate that I’m an Ass.Man Ianrme?  What a horrible thing D: )  I sell horrifying things to wackados and secretly judge them. Since November is a very busy time in retail and malls I shall probably be doing most of the things that shall be posted as quick doodles while on lunch break in the food court!  I even got a new sketchbook, colored pencils and a sharpener that looks like a globe for this! =x

Doodling and Drawing mean two different things to me. To draw is to take the time to formulate what your doing, who you want to make, and what you want them to be doing.  Doodling is more random, you sit down, maybe have a vague idea of who you want to make and just start!  The picture forms as you go!  I am more of a doodler!

The things I doodle are random, its very interesting because even I never know what I’m making.  It can be influenced by a song, people around me, something someone said in passing, a picture on the wall, a crack on the floor, anything!

About me:
-I love randomness but adore storyline.
-Random battles make me angry but I get bored without them.
-Changing a word or two in a song to something entirely different is always fun.
-I have two cats that are mine, one is named Shana after a God of Death and Destruction from some game and the other is Nids, whose real name was Odin but that sucked so I changed it backwards and changed the O to an S.
-Listening to music and watching people move is very fun, also thinking up music videos in your head can be entertaining.
-I’m always up to trying a new craft just to see if I can do it!
-Pixelated objects make me happy!
-If I find two pieces of different figures I will try to combine them in some magically strange way.

I call this section “Other people might (this) BUT I (something to counter it)
Other people might have fancyness or specialness BUT I am rather odd and like silly things.
Other people might run a comic BUT I pretend to be publicist for one.
Other people might have art published in a magazine BUT I’ve sold randomly made things at convention’s.

If I could keep my attention span focused on one thing I would love to try and make a comic but it just never seems to work out most of the time. =x

I decided to join this because since I love making new random things I figured trying to do one a day in a row with a buncha people for a month would be a nice way to make the creativity flow very muchly so! I do have a SketchBlog thing that I always forget to update @ Kiwi’s Attack!

Here’s the type of things you can expect!:

A Watch Person Needle StaffMermaid Swirling Poop Hair Style!

Dragon WurmThis ones just for fun =x

30 Character Challenger: Mike Gallagher

| October 26, 2010 | 3 Comments

I am here to testify!

Because of 30 Characters premiere season last November, I got a paying gig!
Closed System is being published in BullSpec magazine right now!
http://www.bullspec.com/
Time travel on an apes head? You betcha! Come experience the drama of learning the rules of time travel in Closed System.

I have been drawing all my life. I have been published in several anthologies, co-created Ruin, and am working on several new projects. I have designed tattoos, t-shirts, gated communities, and candy packaging.
I am also a frequent guest on the fabulous Comic Geek Speak podcast.
http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/

I am doing the Challenge again this year mainly because it was so much damn fun last year! I love being a part of all this crazy creativity. Everyone feeding off each other’s inspiration is phenomenal! I plan on working out some of my character designs for a new comic I am working on called CeltSpace. And throw in some of my patented wacky characters too. So look out! The fun is just beginning!

30 Characters Challenger: Bobby Timony

| October 26, 2010 | 5 Comments

Thirty days. Thirty Characters. I’m in!

My name is Bobby Timony, and I like this sort of thing. I’m in it for a few reasons, but before I get to that, here’s a little bit about me. I’m a cartoonist and storyboard artist living in Brooklyn with my wife and two bunnies.

Earlier this year DC Comics published a creator owned comic book called The Night Owls, by me and my twin brother Peter. It’s about a trio of detectives that solve supernatural crime in New York during the roaring twenties. (The first issue is free on Comixology. I think you’ll like it.) Before that I’ve been drawing my own comics and stories for as long as I can remember.

Here’s why this sort of thing appeals to me.

1. The FUN.

Drawing is a ton of fun, but lets face it, sometimes when deadlines are looming or you’re forced to draw something boring, it can be a drag. A challenge like this is just the thing to reignite that love of drawing that drives us to ruination!

2. Pals.

Drawing is something we have to do by ourselves, and some people (some anti-social people) prefer it that way. Not me. having grown up drawing comics with my twin brother, I see the value in collaborating and sharing ideas. I’m looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with.

3. Showing off.

My characters are gonna be awesome, and I’m gonna force you all to be awesome too. Bring it!

4. Woodshedding my axe.

You gotta work those skillz everyday if you want to improve, and we all want to improve, right? RIGHT? Right. This is great practice and a good way to warm up in the morning.

5. The Payoff

At the end of the month I expect to be rewarded with a fulfilling sense of pride and accomplishment. I’ll also have 30 new character designs in my back pocket. Maybe they’ll inspire a new story or series. Maybe they’ll show up as supporting characters in future stories. Maybe I’ll never use them at all, but I will have them, and they’ll provide me a bit of insurance in case I’m stuck for ideas in the future.

Okay, enough Jibber-Jabber! Lets do this!

#30Characters on TGT Webcomics PODCAST!

| October 26, 2010 | 0 Comments

Hey, there #30Characters Challengers!  I was recently on the TGT Webcomics podcast.  I kick off the interview with a nice plug and discussion of the origins of the #30Characters Challenge.  Give it a listen.  Kurt Sasso of TGT does a great show, and his guest co-host Jules Rivera, is participating in the Challenge.

PLAY Podcast

LIVE PODCAST October 24, 2010 : 9PM EST
With Special Guest Co-Host Jules Rivera of Marsh Rocket  

Podcast Summary:
Host(s): Kurt (”VertigoX”)
Special Guest Co-Hosts(s): Jules Rivera (“Marsh Rocket”)
Special Guest(s): Tyler James Comic
Discussion Topic: The 30 Characters Challenge, Tears of the Dragons, EPIC, Over Comic
Length of Podcast:

Guests in Channel:
VertigoX, Jules Rivera, Tyler James

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

30 Characters Challenger: Joe Cook

| October 26, 2010 | 0 Comments

Hey Everybody. I’m Joe and I’m a challenge rookie from the Kansas City, MO area.

I’m the creator of the webcomic Shattered Myth that has been running for just over a year and a half now. Standard webcomicker bio pretty much. Grew up on comics, wanting to draw comics (Marvel/DC style), went to college and got a degree in commercial art. As always, somewhere along the way I got sidetracked with paying bills and starting a family. After 10 years as a graphic designer without picking up a drawing pencil or doing anything creatively interesting, I discovered the whole webcomics model. It took me a while to dig up my old stuff and get my nerve back up but then I dove back into it with the intention of learning on the fly.

I’m taking on the 30 Characters challenge because feel like I work so much better under pressure. I intend to create 30 Gods in 30 days without missing a single deadline on Shattered Myth. Because I draw 99% of my cast from various mythologies and cultures, I decided to let my readers decide which Gods I would give the Shattered treatment (ie robotic). They suggest the God, I take it from there.

I’m also taking part in this challenge because I’ve got some webcomic buddies participating and I’m looking forward to meeting more.

30 Characters Challenger: Warren Frantz

| October 26, 2010 | 2 Comments

My fave Deadpool doing the yardwork

Hey! My name is Warren Frantz. I am a school teacher by day, cartoonist by night. I have had a love of drawing cartoons since I was a kid, but just scrounged up the courage to start publishing them about a year ago in a webcomic called “Off Season”. The strip follows the off-ice adventures of Gully Golz  (a hockey goalie) and his friends and family. You can check it out over at www.wevolt.com/Off_Season/ I would eventually like to collect the comics into a book (that way less techie folks like my gramma can actually read my stuff!)

Cartooning isn’t my only love. I’m a huge fan of sports (especially hockey). I have two daughters who are hockey players/ballerinas, a wife who is a nurse and runner. 5km, half-marathon, it doesn’t matter, she runs it. I also have two large dogs who drag me around the local football field every morning. My family is the core of my cartooning inspiration… although memories of college roommates, hockey road trips and golf course antics are always on the tip of the pencil as well. You can expect a lot of my characters to be slanted toward the sports side, but I have always been a big fan of superheros, and I’d like flush out a few more heroes and villains in the sports world.

Gully and Sammy fighting green cancer monsters

Mole Man on the attack!

I tried the 30 Characters Challenge last year, but did not publish on the website. I was successful in completing it, though. There was a lot of learning along with a few duds, but a feeling of pride for finishing the challenge. This year, I plan on sharing the experience with students at my school by running “Cartooning Club” at recesses and have them come up with their own new and exciting characters. I have run the club before in the past and it is a beautiful and positive place to bounce ideas off  peers.

Good luck to everyone involved in the 30 Character Challenge!

Warren

30 Characters Challenge: Tim Mrozek

| October 26, 2010 | 4 Comments

Hi all! I’m Tim and I’m new to this here challenge. I watched it a bit last year as my friend Dan (@Saulone) , the Azure man, was participating and I always enjoy watching his work.

So I think I’m a bit different from some of the artists here as I am not really a comic artist. I’m currently working as a medical/scientific 3D illustrator and animator for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While this is my day job, characters modeling and design are my passion. Though I’m not a comic artist, I figure that a challenge like this is just as applicable to any practice involving characters. And, like a lot of you I’m sure, I know that a challenge like this is just perfect for keeping me motivated to spend every waking hour working on my stuff while networking with a great community of artists.

So my plan. I’ll be doing 30 zbrush sketches, or at least that’s the hope. I may do a few models in maya depending on how things are going, and if I get tired of zbrush for a day or two. My interests are all over the board, but a huge part of my motivation and inspiration comes from film and games. I don’t have any particular story or world towards which I’m making these characters, I just plan to use this as a sort of open concept outlet, hoping to find new inspiration every day to create something different. I will admit now, there will probably be a fair few creatures and aliens as I enjoy creating them and they’re a bit more forgiving than humans in terms of accuracy. I’m hoping this challenge will really help me to loosen up with my concepting, and push me to try some new styles. Hope I can keep it interesting and on time.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter. Here are a few things I’ve done.


30 Characters Challenger: Kevin Maher

| October 26, 2010 | 1 Comment

Hey everyone, this is my first time around for the 30 Characters Challenge. So here’s a little background: I went to school for Illustration and Graphic Design. I have been working as a Graphic Designer in Corporate America for the past 10 years. I also do illustration work on the side and I have been interested in drawing comics and cartoons my whole life. Recently I’ve decided renew my efforts in trying to break into the industry. I love graphic design but when I’m old and gray I want to have a history of published comic work behind me. My work has made immense improvements over the last couple of years and with the technology of twitter, facebook and webcomics there is no better time for me to show what I can do. I’ve had some decent reviews of my work and I am currently working on launching my own webcomic. So what do the 30 Characters Challenge? Well it gives me a good chance to show my work, network with artists, and just have some fun. I doodle new characters all the time anyway. Why not put all those goofy creations to some good use!

Feel free to check out my other work at www.kevstees.net

Or go on http://irishguyartist.deviantart.com/

Oh and follow me on Twitter, let’s talk some comics @Kevstees

30 Characters Challenger: Crystal M Rollins

| October 26, 2010 | 0 Comments
a photo of Crystal Rollins

what I look like

Hi There everybody!

Unfortunately for you all, I’m as boring as mud. Anything I might have that’s interesting, I try to shove into my comics and my stories. I’m not a professional comic artist, nor a professional writer. I’m not even really a “professional creative”. I work as a printer monkey for a company in the Northwest USA that produces fabric. In the last year, I’ve spent a lot of my freetime once again reviving a comic story about teenagers discovering super-human powers.

I don’t want to specifically classify it as a “super hero” story, nor as a Harry-Potter-esc “magic teenagers” story. It’s more about them growing up and using their newfound abilities, and about trying to understand where those abilities come from, then about fitting into an unknown counter-culture society or saving the day. Because honestly, you’d have to sit around at night for a LONG time to catch one of those rare juicy muggings superheroes seem to live for.

Chapter 2 Cover for Aspect

So what got me into this 30 characters thing? My friend, rival, and creative-partner-in-crime, Emily Gillis. She writes and draws a comic called Jikoshia, and pointed me at this site. I’m hoping it it’s a challenge and a good brainstorm. We shall see.

I’ve also written a novel, and this is the fourth attempt at Aspect (previously given other titles). I’ve been drawing since I could hold a crayon and working on comics off and on in my free time for the last ten years. I have a few short stories, story ideas, etc, in mind that I’ve been thinking of developing, and that’s probably where I’ll draw inspiration from for the characters in the upcoming month.

A short word about the art: I work mainly digital now, but I’ve worked before in markers, pen-and-ink, pencil, chalk, and paint. Aside from comics, I also sew, garden, bake, and make fine jewelry. Did I mention I can cut stones? Lapidary work is a blast. I haven’t won any awards or published on dead tree yet. And I graduated school with a degree in Graphic Design.

A short word about me: I live in the Seattle area with my husband, my roomate/friend Techaune, and our four combined cats.

Aspect
My Deviantart Gallery
My “Professional” Gallery
Wayward Studios: me and Em’s joint project site

30 Characters Challenger: Caine Dorr

| October 25, 2010 | 0 Comments

My name is Caine Dorr.  Im a retail center manager by day and storyteller, creator of the PALADIN BRIGADE, by night.

Last year I answered the call of the #30Character challenge that Tyler let loose onto the internet  side by side with #NanoWrimo.  Needless to say, that didn’t go well.  #30Characters won out.

I created APOLLO CITY with 30 characters who reside there (and even a third of a future ebook from the days I managed to participate in both November  events).

I decided to participate again this year to expand and flesh out a new “pulp” style concept I’ve been toying with turning into a ebook, webcomic, or possibly even a podcast (more than likely there will be a little bit of all three in there).   It would most definitely fall into the “Dieselpunk” category and features four “adventure heroes” of different archetypes who live and operate within proximity of each other.

Sometimes the content posted here can take on a life of its own and jump right off the page.  To that end, and because I want to be social with all of you, you can follow/contact me at different places on the internet listed under my secret web alias: BlaqueSaber

TWITTER

BLOG

FACEBOOK

30 Character Challenger Sam

| October 25, 2010 | 0 Comments

Sam is one of the founders of “WOC – World Of Comics”, the very first free school for comic arts, where young people learn for free how to go about making comics.

He’s himself an established and prized artist, but has found it easier to work as a full-time tutor in order to pay his bills, and has thus become a bit lazy in his artistic ventures.

So he decided to take the 30 character challenge to get a starting point in his new superhero comic project.

Sam lives in Munich, Germany – home of the world-famous Oktoberfest – together with his tomcat, High Hopes, in a shared flat. He loves cooking, movies, and writing about himself in the third person.

Examples of his work can be found here: http://www.worldofcomics.de/gall5.htm

May every participant be inspired by this challenge.

And thanks a lot to our hosts for giving this inspiration!

30 Character Challenger: Anthony Ferrante

| October 25, 2010 | 3 Comments

Hey there. My name is Anthony Ferrante, I am a writer and founder of the Black Hole Cavalry, a creator studio based on Long Island. I’ve written The Rejects, of which the second volume will begin to see digital print by the end of the year, Legacy, a project that’s currently being pitched, Electrical Resistance, also on the verge of pitching and The Triumvirate of Thicketwood, which is in its very infancy. I’ve recently done some work with Titan Books and the WWE.

Being a dirty common vagrant writer of the comic books, I realize that my posts may not be as interesting to the basic site-skimmer who will most likely frequent this virtual space. However, complete this I must – thirty individuals will be born in this space.

Tyler’s a good guy, and an indy comics maven, so I felt it was a good idea to get in on this platform and use it as not only a personal goal to achieve, but also as a nexus of likewise creative minds who one day I may collaborate with. I plan to learn, absorb, network and create together with a bunch of talented folks.

You can find me elsewhere on Twitter and Facebook.

30 Characters Challenger: Daniel Govar (saulone)

| October 25, 2010 | 8 Comments

I’m that guy your mother warned you about >:)

I write and illustrate the comic Azure now available via Comixology and DC Comics, and maintain a number of art-oriented websites (all linked-up below). I’ve done stuff for the SyFy channel (back when they were Scifi), am part of the Comic Social Club, and do a ton of commissions these days. Like most of you I take on too much and have too little time. Aside from illustration work, Comics, and being a creative director for a media firm outside of Washington, DC, I’ve got an awesome Boxer named Sandor who keeps me humble and somewhat sane. I drink whiskey, wine, and beer (most things so long as they aren’t too froo froo), am a movie-whore, play console games, run with my dog, program websites and applications, <3 my iPad, and would fall on a sword for my closest friends. Oh yeah – I livestream my digital stuff from time to time.

My interests as a creator are all over, spanning just about every genre aside from Manga and Humor. Modern Fantasy, Sci-fi, Steampunk, & Horror are occupying most of my time these days so expect to see a good deal of concept pieces for pitches and some personal odds and ends showing up here. Last year I divided my 30 characters into 10 Pencil pieces, 10 digital pieces, and 10 waterccolour pieces. This year I plan to add Ink to the mix, and promise to give those I can, background bios.

Why this challenge? Last year was a lot of stressful fun. This year I plan to step it up a bit. Be warned. I loved hitting refresh each day (4 or 5 times) and seeing new creations flow into my browser. Last year we had 3o or so, this year I plan to hit refresh about 20 times a day! Can’t wait 🙂

   

Links:

DanielGovar.com
There And Back Again
DeviantArt
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

30 Characters Challenger: Evan Windsor

| October 25, 2010 | 0 Comments

A self portraitHi, everyone! My name is Evan Windsor, and I am a computer programmer/comic book writer. I write and draw a comic called Jimmy and the Hammer which is into it’s 5th issue on the web, and hopefully issue 1 will be in print before the end of the year. It’s a funky-fresh action romp about a firefighter/P.I. with a mullet and a talking monkey with a drinking problem. They team up and attempt to solve crimes. Sometimes they even succeed!

While writing has always come fairly easy for me, drawing has always been a challenge, with issue 5, I’ve been taking my time, and making sure the art is as good as it possibly could be – a process that for me has been very mechanical and meticulous. This is one reason I’m very excited to do the 30 Characters Challenge. It should give me the chance to A) be creative and write some new material and B) make some drawings that are fast, loose, and fun to make.

I’m looking forward to the challenge! Hopefully you will enjoy seeing my creations as much as I will enjoy making them!

30 Characters Challenger: Ran Brown

| October 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

Hey all! My name is Ran (no, really) Brown, and I’m a Canadian Graphic Designer/Illustrator. Though I’m still relatively unknown, webcomics and I have had a long and colorful history. I got into them in highschool when I decided that just drawing characters for all the stories in my mind wasn’t enough, and launched my very first webcomic, Ransom, on Smack Jeeves in its early days. Unexpectedly, I rocketed to the top of the SJ charts, and managed to sit there for over a year.

Getting to know the community led me to some great opportunities at SJ, and as a result, I was an administrator there for more than a couple years and spoke on a number of webcomics panels at various conventions on their behalf. This led me to meet some interesting people, and made me realize that I’d lost sight of what I’d joined for–making comics, rather than just talking about them. I resigned and took a couple years to sort myself out, and as a result, my husband/writer, Cory Brown, and I launched the webcomic The End last May. We’ve been doing well enough that we’ll be launching a second comic, In Absentia, at the end of January 2011.

When I saw Tyler’s call for participants for the 30 Characters Challenge, I knew that I had to join. With In Absentia launching in January, and the cast of The End about to head off into space, I need to design a colorful cast of characters–human, demon and alien–in a very short amount of time. As opposed to making them up on the spot, when I need them on a page, this challenge poses the perfect opportunity to space it out, and force myself to meet a lot of small deadlines in a row. I’m very, very excited for the challenge to start!

30 Characters Challenger: Igor Glushkin

| October 25, 2010 | 0 Comments

30 Characters Challenge: Igor Glushkin

Hi, I’m Igor Glushkin.

I’m a freelance graphic designer and currently working on the idea of blending fashion with my love for Star Wars.

Originally from NYC(Queens), now living in Columbus Ohio with my wife and expecting our first baby girl! YEAHHH!
I’m looking forward to the creative and fun way of sharing my ideas and characters created by me and everyone else participating in the 30 Characters Challenge.

My Interests: Films, coffee, Tom Waits music, drawing, reading, star wars and occasional self loathing… ha ha ha.

Link to samples of my work: igordesign23.daportfolio.com
Find me on Twitter @igordesign23

Lets see what fun the month of November will bring.

30 Characters Challenger: Gary Lister

| October 25, 2010 | 0 Comments

Gary ListerHowdy! My name is Gary Lister, graphic designer/illustrator/wiseguy from Jefferson City, Missouri. By day, I work as a Graphic Designer for a printing company; by night, I do freelance art and work on my own webcomic creation – MORGANNA OF THE BORGS. MOTB (for short) is the story of an average down-on-her-luck girl next door who suddenly finds herself the reluctant savior of Earth – the only person on the planet who can stop an inevitable alien invasion! I wear all the production hats — it’s frustrating, exhausting, and a giant challenge — but OHHHH is it FUN!
UPDATE 2011 – For the majority of 2011, MOTB has been on extended hiatus for personal reasons I will not bore you with. Look for MOTB to resume updates after the New Year.

I grew up reading a ton of 80’s Marvel comics and watching Saturday morning cartoons; both were very heavy influences in my art. John Romita, Gil Kane, John Buscema, Jack Kirby are my biggest comic artist influences. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always dreamed up comic book superheroes & villains. The first I remember drawing was a hero named Captain Star. I was 10 then so there wasn’t a whole lot to him – he was dressed in red, white & blue with big gold star on his chest, with a big red cape. He had an underground HQ, a fast supercar and a dog sidekick who had the same gold star on his side. I remember thinking how awesome it was to have my own superhero creation — the rest is history. I’ve never stopped creating, imagining or drawing up my Listerart universe.

I first attempted the 30Characters Challenge last year and bombed out about #17. Make no mistake, this challenge is A TON of work (so I found out). This year, I am better prepared and look to make it to the finish line in grand fashion (fingers crossed.) I usually work 100% digitally, drawing everything in Photoshop but I might revert back to paper, pen & ink here and there when it fits the situation.

I wish everyone participating good luck. Don’t forget to HAVE FUN doing this, that’s what it’s all about. I can’t wait to see all of your cool & groovy characters! Here are some samples of what I do. You can see lots more at www.listerart.com; give me a holler on Twitter or Google+ too!   — Gary

Morganna Of The Borgs #2MOTB sampleMOTB Sample 3MOTB sample 2

30 Characters Challenger: Matt Stout

| October 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

Hi friends! My name’s Matt Stout, and I’m a dude that likes comics.  I live in Kentucky with my wife and dog and a baby on the way in January.  By day, I’m a seminary student and mailroom manager.  By night, I draw two comics! My main comic is Big Sandy Gilmore, which updates three times a week.  My second project is called Community Life, which is (mostly) a single-panel comic for the seminary that I attend.  I’m also the co-host of The Lightbox Podcast, a weekly webcomics podcast I do with Chris Flick of Capes N Babes.

"Oh well!"

I’m participating in the 30 Characters challenge for a few reasons. Firstly, I am trying to expand the worlds of both of my comics, and want my main cast to start interacting with characters other than each other.  This will give me a chance to do some great world-building.  Secondly, I just got Adobe Illustrator, and I need to practice using it as much as possible and this is a great excuse.  Thirdly, fun!

30 Characters Challenge: Christopher Tupa

| October 25, 2010 | 4 Comments

Hey all, first I want to thank Tyler for putting this all together!!
I participated last year and it was a real blast! It was very inspiring seeing what everyone comes up with as well as reading all the comments. So much fun in fact I came back fior round two!
I live in South Texas and love to draw and paint. Pretty much all of my free time is spent drawing, illustrating and painting.

I can’t wait to see all the entries and getting to know the artists involved in this challenge!

Here’s a couple recent pieces I did:

If you want to see some work:
http://www.ctupa.com

http://www.flickr.com/tupa

30 Characters Challenger: Martin Brandt

| October 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

My name is Martin Brandt and I love making characters. I live on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where I create comics, doodle, and work as a desktop engineer in our nation’s capital. I’ve been creating characters and writing stories for as long as I can remember. My early years I spent writing game story lines for friends to play through and coming up with imaginary scenarios to act out. I would also write and doodle my own comics with friends in school. As I progressed through school I turned to writing prose and including people I knew in my stories. It is amazing how addicted people become to their imaginary adventures. Eventually I would learn that this building block is fundamental to the writing process. Writing what you know, who you know, makes things believable and really takes them to that next level. When people identify with what you write it draws them in and they can’t stop reading.

Returning to games I spent my spare time designing game systems with friends and scripting demos together that would never see the light of day. All the while I continued to write stories and doodle characters. This lead to the creation of my first graphic novel, Grim Furry Tales: Seeds. Originally a game idea, my wife pushed me to write more. The project evolved around me and I honestly had no idea where it was going till I held the book in my hand. The return to creating comics hooked me. I instantly came up with the idea of doing a zombie anthology, a genre my friends and I love, Grim Crew Presents: Dead Future was born. The best part of working on comics for me has been the great people I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

Last year I jumped at the chance to join Tyler’s 30 Character Challenge. This year I used characters I created to enter Small Press Idol 2010 with artist Silvina Rinaldi. Our story Stitchwork won cover feature for Mysterious Visions anthology. Recently a doodle on my facebook wall turned into collaboration with Jason Stephens on a new title called Kidthulhu. I’m no “A” game artist but I plan to have fun here and expand the characters in Kidthulhu, Grim Furry Tales, and whatever else comes to mind. Beyond that I enjoy watching other people’s creations come to life and look forward to seeing everyone else’s madness spread across the page.

Dead Future Cover work by Paul Petyo

30 Characters Challenger: Jay Faulkner

| October 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

OK … *DEEP BREATH* … here we go:

Jay - Headshot

Jay - Headshot

Hi there everyone, my name is Jay and I’m the confused guy wondering just what on Earth he is doing here amongst all of these creative, talented people.  All I can say, in advance and by way of a pre-emptive apology, is that I LOVED Tyler’s concept for 30Characters so much that I entered it before really thinking through the consequences: i.e. having to actually come up with 30 new characters during November, and attempt to draw them, even though I am not an artist! 🙂

Anyway, I’m here now so am going to make the best of it so may as well tell you a little bit about me.  Like I said my name is Jay (Faulkner) and I currently live in Northern Ireland; my dad was in the Royal Air Force so I’ve spent a lifetime moving from country to country and air-base to air-base so don’t’ really ‘feel’ like I am from anywhere in particular.  Home, for me, is simply where my loved ones are, which is my wife, best friend and soul mate, Carole, and our two wonderful baby boys Mackenzie and Nathaniel.  I’m lucky enough that the rest of my family also happens to live in Ireland so am close to them too.

Educationally I have a degree in Art and Design but, after moving to London a long time ago, I fell into the evil grip of ‘working for a living’ and unfortunately I realised that I got paid more for tinkering with computers than I did for sketching so picked up an increasingly growing set of qualifications in I.T.  So now, by day, I am an I.T. Services Manager, specialising in Information Security – yes that is as boring as it sounds which is why by night (and any spare moment during the day) I teach martial arts and write … though usually not at the same time.

Writing is probably my main creative outlet these days, though I still try to dabble with art when I get the chance, and took the plunge in August 2009 by actually sending a piece of my work to a magazine – they were mad enough to publish me and, since then, I have been writing and submitting (rather than writing and burying in the garden) more and more.

I’ve been lucky enough to have been published in Offshoot Magazine, Apollo’s Lyre, Campfire Tales, Nanoism, Long Story Short, Every Day Fiction, Static Movement, Twisted Tongue, Trapeze Magazine and Full Armor Magazine to name a few and my work can be found in multiple print anthologies, including Rigor Amortis, a collection of zombie romance tales … yes, you read that right, zombie and romance!

I was also short listed in the 2010 Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition and am currently working on my first novel, ‘Wednesday’s Child’.

I founded, and edit, ‘With Painted Words’ – http://www.withpaintedwords.com – a creative writing site with a monthly image prompt that is just about to celebrate its first anniversary.

That’s a lot of words but, in summary, I would say that while I’m a hopeful writer, martial-artist, sketcher, and dreamer that mostly I’m just a husband and father.

If you want you can find out more by visiting www.jayfaulkner.com

The honest reason for taking part in 30Characters is pretty simple: to have fun.  I don’t have a comic, I am not planning to pitch for a comic, I am not thinking about going back to art full-time.  I’m just here to put some of the ideas spinning around in my head down onto paper and see what they look like.  I am pretty sure that they will be (mostly, at least) super-hero based, though I ‘may’ attempt to sketch out some of the characters from current and upcoming stories too.

For now though, and try to put something ‘arty’ into this introduction (as well as steal a phrase from all good kid’s TV shows) here are some sketches that I made earlier:

Dragon - Ink Motormouth - copyright Marvel UK / Paul Neary Spider-Man - copyright Marvel

The next two images were created for Martin Eden, creator/owner of Spandex (http://www.spandexcomic.com), for a month long theme he called ‘Japandex’.  In his own words this was “To celebrate the Spandex team’s trip to Tokyo in issue 2, Spandex creator Martin organised ‘Japandex’, a very special online gallery of Japanese-related art – with a Spandex twist!! The artwork was provided by some of the UK’s top artistic talent and debuted in June 2010. You can see it all here:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=183778&id=137375331859

My contribution was my ‘take’ on Neon and Glitter, inspired by traditional Japanese images:

Glitter - Spandex Comics, by Martin Eden Neon - Spandex Comics, by Martin Eden

30 Characters Challenger: Eric White

| October 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

After 12 months of anticipation…it’s finally here.  The 30 Characters Challenge!! As one of the alumni from year one, I think I’m more excited now than I was the first time around.  In 2009…I think I looked at the characters as a sort of…extended Suicide Sketch (which, if you’ve never heard of that, is a requested sketch that you draw & post online in only 10 minutes) but this year I have a plan to use the characters I come up with…so I’m going to put more thought and effort into each day’s offering.  What is that plan…and better yet…who the heck am I??  Let me fill you in!!

What I would look like with a rock'n porn stache

My name is Eric. I live in Omaha, Nebraska.  My wife and I have two great kids (5 and 2).  I work during the day as a graphic designer for the University of Nebraska Medical Center and at night (and I mean ALL night)  as a flatter.  Over the past few years my flatting work has grown to the point that most weeks I barely make my deadlines and I average 3-4 hours of sleep a night.  It has, however, allowed me to meet some amazing people and work on some world class titles.  I’ve had LOADS of fun with it but I’m beginning to start thinking about my time after flatting.

A recent I.M. Sketch card

That's right...SpiderPig

This past year I made a commitment to myself to begin drawing more and start turning down some flatting work.  I’ve began working on sketch cards and more suicide sketching.  I’ve also began jotting down a lot of ideas into some loose story ideas. From those ideas…a story is beginning to gel.  In the end…it’ll all come together as a web comic.  We’re still a long way out from having anything resembling a finished product…but it’s a work in progress.

(watch me bring this mug back around full circle)

Where last year my entries for the 30 Characters challenge were a bit whimsical and sort of thrown aways…this year I have a purpose.  I’ll be creating and sharing 30 characters that will inhabit the universe of my web comic.  I’ll also be unveiling a lot of other exciting things like locations, logos, icons, etc…which I’d like to begin doing right now!  The title of my web comic is (wait for it…) Solar Maximum!

What can you expect to see from me? I want to be able to tell you that I’ll have a complete, colored and polished piece of artwork as well as a 1500 bio every single day…but lets be honest here. Between Day job, daddy duties and my night job I’m already over worked.  My goal is to post complete and (digitally) colored pieces for each of the main characters but you’ll probably see (fairly) tight pencils for the supporting cast. As for character information…that’ll be based on the importance of the character. Some will be lengthy while other will be relatively short.

So there it is!!  You’ll be seeing all the main characters and many many of the supporting cast from my upcoming web comic, Solar Maximum. This will be a big month for me. I’m looking forward to sharing this process with everyone and I hope you enjoy it.

30 Characters Challenger: Tyler James

| October 24, 2010 | 2 Comments

Hey there everybody!

My name is Tyler James and I’m the guy who got this #30Characters snowball rolling.  I’m a comic creator and game designer residing in Newburyport, Massachusetts. I recently completed my first graphic novel, a romantic comedy called Over, which ran online for the last 15 months, and has now been collected in print.  I’m also writing Tears of the Dragon, a swords and sorcery fantasy webcomic, and EPIC, a new superteen comic, drawn by fellow #30Characters participant Matt Zolman.  I also write the Creating Comics! The Art + Craft column for Comic Related, which gives me a forum to share my tips and trips for navigating the stormy seas of independent comics.

I conceived of the 30 Characters Challenge last year as a way to compel myself to rediscover the joy of character creation.  I shared my plans, and it just so happened there were others out there interested in joining me.  And so The Challenge was born…

Now, in its second year, I’m hoping to use November to create some zany new characters for the EPIC universe, work on character designs for Tears of the Dragon, and flesh out some concepts for new projects I plan to develop (for myself, and  with other artists) in 2011 and beyond.  I’m hoping to spend a little more time this year on the art side of the challenge (’cause so many of you are bringing your A games.)  Can’t wait to get started!