Happy Holidays!

So thank you everyone who has stuck in there with me!  I'm glad you all seem to like what I have to show you.  Here's a piece I did for my good friend Mark Boss.  He is the curator of the Cursed Pirate Girl Yahoo group.  Hope everyone has a safe holiday season! 

and also... here's a sneak peek at what I've been working on for the Archaia hard cover CPG vol. 1 trade.  Now, if you've got a copy of that poster I did as an added incentive to the Kickstarter campaign or have seen the posts I've done on "that print" as I've called it here before, you might recognize the name of that little island in the Crusher Bay.  This was the inspiration for that print/poster.  I drew this map first and then decided to have the poster about this small island off the coast of the royal lands of the king.  Don't worry there is a LOT more to this map, I just don't want to give it all away now.  We're putting together something really special for this hardcover edition and I can't wait to tell you more.  But I will.  I will probably be dropping more tid bits from time to time though so there's your incentive to check back on a somewhat frequent basis.  Thanks again for your patience I will endeavor to make it worth your while.

A call for help!

So a little while ago my computer crashed and I lost a ton of scans of con sketches I had done at various shows. 

Emily wants to compile a sketchbook for next year but I need more images.  If you have received a con sketch from me prior to August of this year, please send me a scan if you can.  We'd appreciate it greatly!  You can email it to me at talpasouk@hotmail.com

FCBD 2012

So for Free Comic Book Day next year Archaia asked me if I would participate in a special hardcover graphic novel they will be offering for FREE at shops across the nation.  So I said yes.  For those who picked up the Cursed Pirate Girl #0 issue that Olympian Publishing came out with, the story in the Archaia FCBD will not be something you haven't already seen, although I cleaned it up a bit and re did the type on it so that it matches what people will find in the trade.  I am overwhelmed with the work I have to do for the next volume of CPG but I still wanted to be a part of this new hardcover so I asked if it was alright to reprint the #0 issue story in it.  They very kindly said yes.  I am very fond of this story and I'm glad more people will be able to see it.  Here is the official press release Archaia put out on Fri.

MOUSE GUARD, LABYRINTH AND OTHER STORIES
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
2012 Free Comic Book Day
Retail Price: Free
Page Count: 48 pages
Format: Hardcover with no dust jacket (paper over board), 6” x 9”, full color
UPC: 811514010689 00311
Country: U.S.

Written by Jeremy Bastian, Nate Cosby, Royden Lepp, Jim McCann, Ted Naifeh and David Petersen
Illustrated by Jeremy Bastian, Chris Eliopoulos, Cory Godbey, Janet Lee, Royden Lepp and David Petersen
Cover by David Petersen

This Free Comic Book Day, Archaia offers readers the chance to experience history in the making with a FREE, gorgeous, 48-page, 6” x 9” full color hardcover original graphic novel featuring all-new material! David Petersen returns with an all-new Mouse Guard tale that’s guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings! Lose yourself once again in Jim Henson’s amazing world of Labyrinth, featuring a fantastical story from Eisner Award nominee Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin) and Cory Godbey (Fraggle Rock). Get a new perspective on Jet Jones in Royden Lepp’s critically acclaimed Rust, with a short story seen through the eyes of younger brother Oswald Taylor. Jeremy Bastian’s acclaimed Cursed Pirate Girl hits the high seas in this whimsical, swashbuckling tale of wonderland journeys and unimaginable dangers. Nate Cosby (Pigs) and Chris Eliopoulos (Franklin Richards) present Cow Boy, a comedy/western that tells the tale of a young bounty hunter determined to send his entire outlaw family to jail. And Jim McCann and Janet Lee follow up their Eisner Award-winning Return of the Dapper Men with an all-new short story that leads into the upcoming sequel, Time of the Dapper Men. Witness the origin of a new, major character! And…the return of 41?!


About Archaia Entertainment

Archaia Entertainment is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 50 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, Gunnerkrigg Court, Awakening, The Killer, Days Missing, Tumor, Syndrome, Artesia, The Engineer, and an entire line of The Jim Henson Company graphic novels, including Tale of Sand, which is based on an unproduced screenplay discovered in the Henson Archives. Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year according to Ain’t it Cool News, Graphic Policy, and Comic Related, and was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations. Archaia has also successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending their popular brands into film, television, gaming, and branded digital media.



And in case you were wondering Free Comic Book Day [or FCBD] is going to take place May 5th 2012 at every comic book store in the US [not really sure if they have it else where] and here is their website.  You can see what books will be on the tables in May.

that coat of arms

For some reason there is always one image that doesn't link properly.  This time it was this one, so here's a closer look.

a lot of sketches... on their way to your homes + Archaia!

Okay, I know I'm a bit bad with the whole "regularity" thing.  But, here's a whole lot of artwork!  This takes care of the last 3 conventions I've done.  The two little ones are taken from my phone and you might have seen them on my FB or the Twitter. 

So, what's next for me?  Well the very next show I will be at will be the Michigan State University's Comic's Forum on Sat. Feb. 4th.  I still have a couple more trades I will have there but that will be the last show I will have the Olympian Publishing version of Cursed Pirate Girl. 

Archaia Entertainment will now be the home for CPG!  I am very excited about this.  Olympian Publishing was the perfect place to introduce CPG to the world, as well as a great partner to brainstorm with about coming up with new things to accent the book with.  Archaia will help bring it to a much larger audience.  It's a bit of a 360 degree move as I had first signed with Archaia, but I'm very proud to be welcomed back.  The quality of books they are producing makes me very giddy to see how they approach my little story.  So you should be looking for that some time in the spring.  I will most definitely be posting when that appears in Previews.  Don't worry you will get a heads up when you can go to your local comic book shop and order it.  There will be a couple of differences from the Olympian version.  I'll be dropping some tid bits on you about that in the future months preceding the release. 

Scary Chicago show, Wandering in New York and Kermit

Well I just finished up a piece for a show in Chicago later this month.  Got it finished right under the wire.  The piece is called- the Last Witch's Head at the Wall of the Man's Ruin, the show is called Grand Guignol II: Haxan- Satan + the women who love him.  You can see more about this show here.  And here is a little sneak peek detail shot of my contribution to it.

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the opening of Haxan, Emily is putting on a horse show and I will be helping her out.  It should be a great show the list of artists is quite impressive.

I will be going to the New York Comic Con, but alas only as an attendee.  Kickstarter.com has graciously asked Tom and I to be a part of their panel on Fri.  We'll be talking about how amazing Kickstarter is and tell you how easy it can be to get money for publishing your own project.  I will also be making an announcement about the future home of Cursed Pirate Girl at the panel, and I might have posters to hand out too!  Here are more details on the panel as well as who else will be up there.
This will be the first time I've attended a comic con without setting up in... 6 years[?].  It'll be fun though that just means I get to walk around a bunch and actually see a show.  I'll probably go pester these two since they will have tables there, David Petersen and Katie Cook.  I will also be dropping off a limited edition sketch cover CPG to my pal Jimmy Aquino for his Comic News Insider charity raffle.  I'll try posting a scan of it just before I leave next Thurs.

The next show I will be setting up at is the NC comicon.  I had a great time last year and they said I could come back this year, so I am.  I like NC, you guys rock, you've been good to me in the past so let's hope the same goes for Nov.  Here is more on that show.

Here are some con sketches that I was able to complete from the Cincinnati Comic Expo and the Detroit Fan Fare.  Both of which I had a great time at.  For the Cincinnati show Emily and I were lucky enough to spend some time with the talented Tony Moore and his wife the amazing Kara Fairfield.  They were both really cool and welcomed us into their home, they might be giving Guy Davis a run for his money as the nicest person in the comic biz.  I'd love to see a three way nice-off, maybe at next year's C2E2... eh?  Anyway, thanks a lot for being so frickin welcoming!  Aaaaaand now here are some pictures, enjoy...?

What I had left from Baltimore

So this is a new one, I actually have finished all the sketches I had left over from Baltimore.  Thank you very much to everyone who stopped by the table or contacted me via email to commission these. 

Ironically I did all these while listening to the audio book of It.  That's such a cool creepy book.  I really have got to get an audible account.  So the next show I'll be at is the Detroit Fanfare show at Cobo Hall in just a couple of weeks.  I'll open up the list for con sketches the week preceding the con, again there will be 8 available slots.  I'll only take 4 before the show and the other half during.  If you're interested they will be $100 for something like you see here.  You can email me at talpasouk@hotmail.com.  

More sketches... overdue

Here's the rest of the con sketches I owe to people.  I hope this is the rest of them.  I will be opening another 6 spots for the Baltimore show.

post Comicon post... heh

Ok, last week was the San Diego Comicon.  As I'm sure a lot of you already know.  Highlights of the show for me [since I was stuck behind a table for the whole time] were-
   I got to shake hands and meet with Aaron Horkey [!!!!!] I think this guy is a genius and here's some proof.
   I attended the Eisners and saw a lot of people I sorta know win awards for being extremely talented, and one guy I really know win an award for being extremely talented and for what turned out to be a great idea.  Congratulations Mr. David Petersen and all those who participated in his Mouse Guard anthology book Legends of the Guard.  Which I had a lil story in myself I might add.
   I met Andy Serkis, whom I highly admire, and got to shake his hand as well.  I thought I did a pretty good job of not totally geeking out all over him.  I am happy his kids seemed like they really liked Pook [that's a character from my book and it is not misspelled, it ends with a "k"]. 
   Ooh I also saw Ron Perlman walk by as we were getting Pink Berry one night.
   Emily and I picked up a couple of great books [not so much comic related], I found a copy of The Twelve Dancing Princesses illustrated by K.Y.Craft and Emily found a great !! copy of Anderson's Fairy Tales illustrated by Harry Clarke.  Which I did not know existed.
    And just having a great time after the show every night with friends and going to great restaurants and eating great food.


 I had a great spot this year and met a lot of new fans, current fans, and surprised a bunch of people who had never heard of me before.  Here are a few con sketches I did over the week we were there.  Spoiler alert! to those I owe these to.

Queen of Hearts and Alice

forest demon

Victorian Emily

Kraken

 

Knight of the Omertas

CPG coat of arms

 

 

 

 

CPG fishing

 Over all SDCC was great!  Thank you so much Katie and Ryan for making the show even better and a lot closer.  I love doing that show and I'm always looking forward to it throughout the year.  It does take a lot out of you, I'm in day 3 of recovery.  Our plane left San Diego around 10:30 mon. night and we didn't get home until 11:00pm tues.  Still trying to work through all the con sketches that I owe people from previous shows. 

Now I have the Baltimore Comicon just up ahead Aug. 20th and 21st!  It looks to be a really great show and a much lighter con.  Baltimore is boasting such great guests as Stan Lee, Bernie Wrightson, Adam Hughes, Geoff Darrow and so many more.  Check out their site here.  I really look forward to this show every year too, it's in a really nice spot and has lots to offer.  Hope to see you there!

tentacles and skulls... spoiler alert for people who I owe stuff to.

A little catch up first.  The 25th of last month [June] was my birthday!  I spent it in Traverse City as a guest of the Cherry Capital Con.  I really like that show, it's a small show in comparison with Heroes but the folks that put it on and the volunteers take care of you.  The city itself has lots of neat features as well. Good restaurants, you got a couple of vineyards like Black Star Farms, it's right on the water, there's the casino [which I'm told was very good to a couple of the comic guests], and one of the best mom and pop style used/new book stores I've ever been to- Horizon Books [which Emily and I were very good to].  If you live somewhat near by I suggest you think about planning on attending next year, I know I will be.

Heroes Con went by as well and I had an amazing time in Charlotte.  Again, thank you so very very much to Shelton, Rico, Andy and the rest of the crew for letting me be a part of it!  That's another show that I will be putting on the "Must attend every year from now on" list.

Mad Eye Moody

So I'm sure you all know how friggin slow I am, and I apologize to all the patrons who I still owe drawings to. I did warn you... I'm not saying I'm not a jerk, but I did warn you.  Here are a couple of con sketches I've finished up.  This isn't all the con sketches I have finished, so if yours isn't up here, that doesn't mean I haven't started and or finished it.

Thestral

Older CPG

Emily and I just got back from celebrating her mother's birthday in a cottage she rented for this past weekend up north.  It was a cute little place right on a river [I don't know which so don't even ask].  It was about an hour away from Tawas MI. I know at least that much.  We arrived on Sat. just after lunch time and returned Sun. evening.  It was a short visit but turned out to be very beneficial. 

We love going to antique stores and there were a couple in town about 15 min. from the cottage.  We were practically rushed out of the first one because they were closing at 5 and we entered at quarter till.  Nothing quite remarkable in that store besides the large selection of antique farm equipment which Emily was drooling over.  The second shop had it's door wide open but the sign said it was also open until 5, at which point it was 5:08.  We inquired within and the gentleman replied "I'm still here so I guess I'm still open" and bid us to take our time.  It was at this store we came across the coolest thing we'd ever seen at a rinky dink little antique store.  And the best part was the price tag said $200.  We decided to sleep on it.  The next day it was the first thing we talked about and we both decided it was a MUST HAVE!  So after going to the beach in East Tawas we drove straight to the shop and made the purchase.  Anyway, here it is...
Pretty cool huh?!  We don't have a name yet but I'll let you know when we do.  This is our first BIG taxidermy purchase and we are loving it!  We just need a really good place to put it.

So here's one more image, a graduation gift.  Hopefully he doesn't follow my blog... :p  More fun with microns.  I had another pic I was going to put up that would have helped with the whole "tentacles and skulls" label but I was told I'd have to wait to post that.  So you'll be able to see a new T-shirt design probably after San Diego.  Which will probably be my next post. heh

Yesterday at the Antiquarian Book Fair

So by chance I remembered that there was an antiquarian book fair taking place yesterday at the Union at U of M.  I dragged my sister to it and proceeded to spend a little past what I was allowing myself to spend.  But can you really blame me [that's rhetorical].  I picked up a couple of books illustrating Napoleonic soldiers along with a couple of illustrated story books.  Of these last two, one jumps out and has indeed made itself my new obsession.  As far as illustrators go.  The book is The Brave Little Tailor and is illustrated by Olga Dugina and Andrej Dugin.  This duo has worked on only 3 other books, The Fine Round Cake, Dragon Feathers, and Madonna's the Adventures of Abdi.  There is also a large selection of illustrations from an Arabian Nights collaboration that I don't believe has come out yet, on their website.  Here are a couple of images from the Brave Little Tailor.

Inside the book it says that it took the duo six and a half years to complete the paintings that make up the book.  It's nice to hear it takes others a great deal of time to complete things as well.  This book has a lot of images that make me Extremely jealous and now I have to track down all the other books they have worked on.  I just wanted to share my find with you and encourage you to find this book and marvel at it like I do.