January 30, 2009
Free Comic Book Day is just a few months away (May 2), and I’m pleased to announce that Marv Wolfman has agreed to write the foreword to IMPACT’s 2009 free comic.
An award-winning comic book writer, Wolfman is perhaps best known for creating Blade and New Teen Titans. For more on Wolfman, click here.
With a cover by Bryan Hitch and the foreward by Wolfman (not to mention awesome content and art instruction), IMPACT’s free comic is going to be in high demand—be sure to snag yours early!
January 29, 2009
It’s been snowing here in Ohio for days. Our offices here at IMPACT were actually closed, and we never get snow days here!
At home I watched the snow come down. Lots of snow. Big flakes the size of silver dollars. I couldn’t resist it and went outside for a walk with the dogs. Boy, to have 4 legs and be able to run through powder like they do…they had smiles frozen on their faces.
Being outside with my best friends reminded me of Calvin and Hobbes and their snowy fun. I’ve always been a big fan of that comic and after coming inside to warm up yesterday, I found a link to a Calvin and Hobbes Snow Art Gallery you might enjoy.
Ever the art critic and great thinker, Hobbes has great advice for how to spend a snow day, “[Snow] is like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on.” So, if it’s snowing your way, I’d recommend you either 1) get out and play or 2) stay inside and grab your pencils and paper and create your own adventures! Snow + Comics = FUN!
January 26, 2009
The tradition of learning always amazes me. Sometimes I forget, and sometimes I am reminded. Like yesterday. Chris Seaman, one of the authors of Wreaking Havoc, forwarded to us at IMPACT a couple pieces of art created by budding artist, Jordan, age 12. (In case you haven’t heard, we LOVE getting art from readers.)
This morning, while emailing back and forth about how COOL these drawings are, I recalled an interview I did with John Howe when I first started with F+W Media (then F+W Publications), IMPACT Books’ parent company. The interview was for Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market.
(In the interest of full-disclosure, I’ll tell you I’ve referenced this interview several times recently, on different occasions, for different reasons. I love it when something gives me a lot of mileage…but I do worry about the horse. Ahem.)
Jordan’s first sketch is from Chris Seaman's Wreaking Havoc gnome.
In the interview, John said:
“The deeper you throw yourself into copying someone else’s work, the faster you get through it and identify the elements which may eventually become part of your own way of approaching things. It’s a tradition that’s been going on for millennia. You’re trying to understand another’s work and the only way to understand is to try to do it. I must’ve copied millions of things when I was in my teens.”
I love that Jordan did the gnome, then seemed to take the stuff she really wanted to use—like the armor decoration for example—and put it to use with her own creature. Perhaps that’s all learning is—whether it’s drawing or writing or whatever. We see or hear something we like. We emulate it. And we should emulate it, at least for a while.
Jordan’s second sketch is her own creation.
John explained it like this:
“You’re looking for yourself somewhere. You’ve identified something that you think you can use. You need to try it and you need to make it your own. Imagine a road. You see a section of it way up ahead—because someone else has been drawing for ages and they’re professionals with all these techniques and gimmicks an gadgets. You get a glimpse long before you could get there by cutting through the woods yourself. Now you can forge on.”
So forge on, Jordan. You drew the gnome, then discovered how to take elements from that drawing and incorporate them into your own. Who knows what you’ll discover tomorrow?
To read the entire article, originally published in 2004 Artists’ & Graphic Designer’s Market, click here.
January 23, 2009
Oscar nominations for 2008 films were announced yesterday, and, despite the hopes and predictions of comic fans everywhere, The Dark Knight didn’t make it on the nominations list for best picture. However, as expected, Heath Ledger did receive a nomination for his brilliant and terrifying performance as the Joker.
Check out this video to hear the nominations for yourself:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWQlFQsYQGA
January 22, 2009
“Music gives a soul to the [DC] Universe” –Plato
The background beats for the highly-anticipated Watchmen film (March 2009) are now available for an online look-see.
In tween-related news, the suspiciously emo band My Chemical Romance has covered Bob Dylan’s Desolation Row exclusively for the movie. And who’s the lead singer of Your Enzymatic Love Affair? The Umbrella Academy‘s gothic dreamboat creator, Gerard Way.
The soundtrack:
1. Desolation Row – My Chemical Romance
2. Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
3. The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
4. The Sound Of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
5. Me & Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin
6. I’m Your Boogie Man – KC & The Sunshine Band
7. You’re My Thrill – Billie Holiday
8. Pruit Igoe & Prophecies – The Philip Glass Ensemble
9. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
10. All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
11. Ride of the Valkyries – Budapest Symphony Orchestra
12. Pirate Jenny – Nina Simone*
* – used in the end credits of the “Tales From The Black Freighter” DVD.
The score:
1. Rescue Mission
2. Don’t Get Too Misty Eyed
3. Tonight The Comedian Died
4. Silk Spectre
5. We’ll Live Longer
6. You Quit!
7. Only Two Names Remain
8. The American Dream
9. Edward Blake – The Comedian
10. The Last Laugh
11. Prison Fight
12. Just Look Around You
13. Dan’s Apocalyptic Dream
14. Who Murdered Hollis Mason?
15. What About Janie Slater?
16. I’ll Tell You About Rorschach
17. Countdown
18. It Was Me
19. All That Is Good
20. Requiem (Excerpted from Mozart’s Requiem)
21. I Love You Mom
Gerard Way's head shot for the Twilight sequel.
January 21, 2009
Who’s ready for the new Watchman movie? It’s current release date is March 6, 2009, and it shows a lot of potential with director Zack Snyder, who also directed 300 (which won a Saturn Award) and the 2004 release of Dawn of the Dead. You can check out the movie trailer here. What do you think? Will this comic movie be a hit like The Dark Knight or will it tank like The Spirit?
January 20, 2009
If you want to have fun with paint, look no further than art instructor, Merle Rosen. I’ve taken drawing classes with Merle here in Cincinnati, and she opened my eyes to shape and color, value and expression. She is full of great ideas and wild art.
I think you’ll enjoy watching her paint in her new videos out from artistsnetwork.tv. Start with her video, Acrylic Materials and Techniques for Expressive Painting–it offers dozens of tips and techniques for having fun expressing yourself with paint:
Click here to preview Acrylic Materials and Techniques for Expressive Painting.
You can purchase the full-length video workshop at www.artistsnetwork.tv.
January 19, 2009
Patti Brady with her new book, Rethinking Acrylic.
Pour, scrape, squirt, roll, layer, excavate. There are a million things you can do with acrylic paints, and Patti Brady has assembled an incredible collection of how-to’s and bold inspiring art in her workshop-style book, Rethinking Acrylic. Check out the book and write directly to Patti with questions and comments here on the book’s blog page!
January 16, 2009
The New York Comicon 2009 Educational Panels will offer real world advice and hands-on interaction with top comic industry pros who will be teaching aspiring creators secrets of the craft and business of creating comics. The convention takes place February 6–8 in Manhattan.
Artists to discuss penciling include Georges Jeanty, Cully Hamner, Jerry Ordway, Whilce Portacio, Ron Garney, and Rags Morales. Writers will include Peter Milligan, Frank Tieri, Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi, Fabian Nicieza, Christos Gage, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, and Jimmy Palmiotti.
In addition to writing and penciling classes, there will also be interactive panels on inking, coloring, computer-generated comics, comic strips, editing, and even comics for young readers.
“The New York Comicon will offer a lineup of world-class educational panels that rivals any convention,” says Educational Panel organizer Buddy Scalera. “We have an amazing mix of creative voices, styles, and disciplines. Every one of these creators has reached the top of this creative profession because of their commitment to the craft and business of creating entertaining comic products.”
To keep the level of conversation on the appropriate educational level, the panels are hosted by respected editors and other creators. Hosts include Steve Wacker, Filip Sablik, Dave Devries, Glenn Herdling, Dan Goldman, Brian Haberlin, Matt Herring, and TJ May. A series of panels will be hosted by Andy Schmidt, creator of Comics Experience.
Many people go to conventions to break into the comics industry. Educational panels offer actionable and practical advice for people seeking information and guidance. Working editors from mainstream and independent companies will talk about breaking into the industry, including Mike Marts, Scott Allie, Rob Levin, Nick Lowe, and Jann Jones.
In addition, “Creator Connections” is hands-on networking panel offered on Saturday, which connects like-minded creators and helps them initiate their first creative collaboration.
The convention offers a wide range of educational panels throughout the weekend. However, Room 1A15 is the only room that is exclusively for educational panels. “In the past when I’ve run educational panels, I’ve seen determined artists and writers virtually camp out the entire weekend and soak up ever minute of the experience,” says Scalera. “With this lineup, I wouldn’t be surprised to see people living in there from Friday to Sunday. I just hope they shower every morning.”
Get the complete panel listings here.
January 15, 2009
We’re itching to give away some San Diego Comic Con 2008 exclusive John Howe Forging Dragons posters, signed by the man himself. All you have to do is send your latest and greatest piece of art, and we’ll pick two winners to receive a signed poster and a copy of the book. Just send a JPEG of your latest piece at 72dpi to: impactbooks@fwpubs.com.
If we pick it to feature in the next IMPACT newsletter, you win! Winners will also be featured right here on the IMPACT blog.
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