We’re starting a new series, in which we highlight some of the week’s most IMPACTful news, tweets, videos and oddities–all in one convenient place! Earlier this week, we found these awesome videos, banned advertisements for University of Lincoln in the UK, check them out! And, of course, we’re all getting excited about the forthcoming Dark [...]

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Michelle Pfeiffer, among others, have joined Tim Burton in the remake of popular soap opera of Dark Shadows. Find out the full cast, the plot and see some photos at IMDB. One thing seems reasonably sure: this is one vampire that won’t sparkle. Of course, here’s a look at [...]

I loved my uni days at Queen Mary, University of London, but this makes me wish, just a little, that I’d gone to the University of Lincoln. Source: Failblog.org

What is it about reanimated corpses that captures our fascination? Aside from the “ew” factor, there’s a degree of horror that exists in zombies that vampires, even the non-sparkly ones, Frankenstein’s Monster or mummies just don’t quite capture (even if they are, technically, also animated corpses). I’ve been thinking about zombies a lot, which has [...]

Happy Chinese New Year! It’s appropriate that today, I’ve spent most of my afternoon working on a book about dragons. Hint: it’s from one of IMPACT Books’ best-selling, most-loved authors and the art, as usual, is gorgeous! The Daily Mail has a great gallery of images of the celebrations happening in the East, and the [...]

Check out this awesome promotional video for Mastering Manga With Mark Crilley! Be sure to preorder his book from our North Light Shop and we will ship as soon as it’s available!

Scape, Graffiti Artist and Author, will teach kids about urban art at 10 Portland schools for one week, Jan 30 through Feb 3, 2012. He will then appear at the Grand Opening of the new Dick Blick Art Store Feb 4th, 2012. At the 2/4/12 grand opening, from 4 – 7 PM Scape will demonstrate [...]

IMPACT’s sister site Artist’s Market Online is offering a 10% discount on 1-year memberships. Just use the coupon code SAVE10 when you register for a complete 1-year subscription.

Check out this free demonstration from Mastering Manga With Mark Crilley, which will be hitting shelves soon! The Father Figure Some manga stories take place in a world populated only by teenaged characters, where adults have seemingly been banished from the scene. Still, even the most youth-obsessed story will have at least a couple representatives [...]

2012 is going to be an exciting year! Do you do resolutions? If so, what are some of your goals this year relating to your art? Here at IMPACT Books, we want to help! We have a great year ahead of us with some exciting books coming out, including Mastering Manga With Mark Crilley, an [...]

Here at IMPACT headquarters nothing says “Happy Holidays” like a copy of Dracopedia. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favorite dragon books, DVDs and downloads. Make all the dragon-lovers on your gift list happy with these top picks:

It’s been a great year at IMPACT Books and we’d like to share some of our highlights with you! Learn how to draw some of our most popular subjects with the help of these free tutorials and then gift someone with your artwork–and a copy of one of the books they come from, too! When [...]

Want some fantastic resources for the aspiring comic artist in your life? Check out these IMPACT Books titles in our shop or through your favorite retailer for some great gift ideas for the holiday season. Comic Books 101 by Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton Creating Comics from Start to Finish by Buddy Scalera Cartoon 360, [...]

Marvel Comics have given people many iconic super heroes as well as villains. With one of the most popular super heroes to ever hit book shelves being Spider Man, it is only natural to give the ever popular web slinger’s most ruthless villain a mini series of his own. The villain I am talking about [...]

Let’s face it: One of the very reasons we love drawing fantasy is the fact that the possibilities are virtually unlimited! You can populate your world with all kinds of great creatures, weird foliage, cityscapes as far as the eye can see and so much more. You want humanesque characters with wings? Why not? Here [...]

The international graffiti crew “MSK” are known for putting their colorful and unique pieces all over the world. With having a reputation for “city beautification,” it is interesting to see the MSK crew film their graffiti exploits in Detroit. Though Detroit is known for a lot of things (more recently the Lions currently having a [...]

Artist Brittney Lee is a woman after my own heart: Her blogspot profile reads “I love drawing and chocolate.” Well, I can add that I love the art of Brittney Lee to my sentence, and I have no doubt that you’ll be blown away, too. Check it out. Her works remind me of chocolate, in [...]

Scape Martinez, IMPACT’s favorite graffiti artist, and author of GRAFF The Art & Technique of Graffiti and GRAFF 2 Next Level Graffiti Techniques is out and about again, speaking to classes and giving live demonstrations at high schools. Check out his latest blog here. And stay tuned to this page for more updates! Want Scape [...]

Tattoos have been a part of human civilization for an extremely long time. Tattoos mean many different things to different people, and that is no different for comic book characters. There are many comic book characters that we have grown to love (and hate). Surprisingly enough some of those inked characters were sporting their own [...]

HUGE warehouse sale November 10th through November 13th, 2011! Click on the title to purchase — free shipping on all orders $25 more. Get started on your holiday shopping for your favorite comic and fantasy artist!

Check out these escape pods currently being designed! They hold up to four people and float on water. I could see this being the basis–and the setting–for a futuristic fantasy story. Anyone want to draw that comic?

Bleeding Cool has an amazing story of meeting Lily Renee, female comic pioneer and all around amazing artist and woman, that’s well worth reading. There’s also some great information and links, as well as ideas for further reading about women in comics–both the women who make comics, and the ones on the page! Lily Renee: [...]

Comics have been a part of our culture for more than 50 years. The appeal of comics and comic-related stuff has spread, too, even reaching the remotest parts of the globe. So with the world’s ever-growing love of all things comic, it’s only natural to see comic-influenced art in different areas of art and media. [...]

Anime and Manga have become extremely popular over the years. With conventions having 1000+ people in attendance, and having both Anime and Manga being immersed in our mainstream media, it is safe to say  that Anime and Manga is here to stay. But though it is a very popular part of art, it had to [...]

Direct from the front lines of the fantasy and gaming industry, IMPACT author and digital art pro Gary Tonge shows you how to get more out of Adobe Photoshop and make the most of your CG art in his newest book, Digital Painting Tricks & Techniques. With lessons and step-by-step demonstrations covering beginner, intermediate and [...]

As you know here at IMPACT Books we are all about expressing your artistic feelings. Whether it is through creating superheroes fighting evil villains or drawing huge high flying dragons, we are all about artistic expression. With graffiti writers, artistic expression is pushed past the limits of conventional self expression through canvas or paper. From [...]

Here’s a tip from Supittha “Annie” Bunyapen for handling clouds in manga. You can find this and so much more in her book Shojo Wonder Manga Art School, where she gives great advice on how to paint with Copic Markers.  Cloud Do’s and Don’ts Even basic clouds have form created with shadows and shading. Painting [...]

With Halloween just around the corner, the ebook versions of Extreme Face Painting by Brian and Nick Wolfe are getting a lot of attention online. Check out what these bloggers have to say about Extreme Face Painting: 25 FIENDISH Step-by-Step Demos (Enhanced Edition) and Extreme Face Painting: 25 FRIENDLY Step-by-Step Demos (Enhanced Edition):

Aaron Brothers is having an online auction to benefit Boys & Girls clubs of America and Scape Martinez is one of the authors with a piece on the block. You can have a look and bid on his works, as well as works from Revok, Sever and more on the Aaron Brothers eBay page.   [...]

Judging from the fan reaction to Irene Flores’ first book, Shojo Fashion Manga Art School, manga is as popular as ever. For those of you in the Ohio area,  set your calendars for January 27-29 2012 for Ohayocon. Those of you who are new to Anime/Manga conventions and would like to check one out, then [...]

Still looking for ideas on what to go as this Halloween? Grandma’s Briefs blog shares some awesome Halloween face-painting tips from two new eBooks by award-winning special effects artists and IMPACT authors Brian and Nick Wolfe. Check it out right here… For more friendly face-painting ideas, purchase the eBook at iTunes or B&N. If fiendish [...]

The Convention season continues apace, with a series of comic-cons coming up, including New York Comic Con, this weekend. If you’re going (lucky you!), be sure and stop by Buddy Scalera’s table in Artist Alley and meet some of his models in person! Get him to sign a copy of Colossal Collection of Action Poses [...]

Check out this video of the “E-Marketing for Artists 101″ presentation that Angelic Visions author Angela Sasser gave at DragonCon 2011.

This artist, Mike Doyle, does some amazing Victorian House sculptures out of Legos! And nothing BUT Legos, not even glue was used. These are so seasonably appropriate, but check out some of the other ones he’s built, too. Does this inspire you to dig out your Legos and build? How about something Halloween appropriate?

IMPACT author Emily Fiegenschuh chats with the folks at Fantasy Literature about her new book, The Explorer’s Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures. Check it out for yourself right here… If you’re looking for some great instruction on how to draw and paint fantasy creatures of your own, be sure to pick up a copy of [...]

I love seeing the way a piece will evolve over time. Check out this video done by Angela Sasser of Angelic Visions fame. You can learn step-by-step how to draw some of her favorite creatures by purchasing a copy of the book.

We’re not sure if we’ve mentioned this before, but do you know you can get previews of many IMPACT titles on Scribd.com? Check it out. Latest to the bookshelf is Buddy Scalera’s Colossal Collection of Action Poses. If you like what you see, pop over to the North Light Shop to order the title at [...]

Check out this awesome demonstration from Annie Bunyapen, author of Shojo Wonder Manga Art School. For this demo and more, you can purchase the book by clicking on the cover or the links. Painting Tanned or Asian Skin Illustrations of Asian characters often depict narrow eyes and lightly-tanned skin. It is also common for Asian [...]

The audio is a little difficult to hear, but check out these book reviews from an IMPACT reader!

This weekend ArtistsNetwork.tv is offering a free trial subscription. ArtistsNetwork.tv offers over 150 art workshop videos, including a fantasy and comics section with world-renowned artists like J “NeonDragon” Peffer, Brian and Nick Wolfe, Brian Miller and more.

I suppose if Spidey and his friends can manage impossible feats of heroism, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that his drawn companions would lounge around in equally impossible poses. But you gotta love the internet for trying (and failing) to recreate them. Just remember, folks, some of these things (including swinging from [...]

Around this time of year, I still get the itch. School supplies, textbooks, new classes… even if you’re not in school, fall is a great time to pick up a new skill, or work on one you’ve already started. And as it happens, we here at IMPACT and North Light Books are having a Labor [...]

It’s out! I was pleased to work on Buddy Scalera’s Colossal Collection of Action Poses, bringing not only the best from his three previous photo reference books, but also brand new, never-before-seen material. This book lives up to its name, bringing a monstrous 320 pages packed with poses for comic and fantasy artists and step-by-step [...]

We’re all still a-buzz about Gen Con here at IMPACT, especially as updates from IMPACT artists who attended the event continue to roll in… We recently learned that Emily Fiegenschuh’s original artwork for The Explorer’s Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures won first place at Gen Con this year! If you haven’t seen Emily’s amazing work [...]

IMPACT author Brian Wolfe won first place in the face painting category at this year’s World Bodypainting Festival in Lake Worthersee, Austria. The festival took place in early July, and you can see pics of the winning entries in the face painting and bodypainting categories here.

Hey IMPACT fans! CLICK HERE for a free fantasy demo by Tom Kidd, author of the gorgeous landscape book OtherWorlds. He created the piece as the cover art for Hard Luck Diggings by Jack Vance, published by Subterranean Books in 2010. The demo is extra material not included in the book, so check it out [...]

There’s a sale going on in the North Light Shop, which means you can get 20% off IMPACT Book titles if you order now through August 21st. Use code 81120 at checkout on titles like: Just click on the photos to be taken to their page and checkout from there! It’s that easy!

Buddy Scalera’s most recent addition to the Comic Artist’s Photo Reference series, Colossal Collection of Action Poses, got a big thumbs up from Michael Wirth on ComicBooked.com. Here’s a taste of what Wirth has to say about Colossal Collection:

Space cowboys? Cacti graffiti? Of course Dragons sun themselves on Mesas or fly through canyons! Or maybe your comic is set amongst the ruins of the Anasazi? We all know that the Southwest has a lot of amazing art and landscapes to explore, so why limit yourself? If genre-bending is your thing, we have the [...]

GenCon was a success this year as our editors came back with pictures, updates and ideas. From dressing up to meeting authors, our editors were busy getting the scoop on all the gaming. Here are Christina and Vanessa “working” Here is Emily Fiegenschuh with her IMPACT book The Explorer’s Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures. Jim [...]

GenCon 2011 is finally here! We’ll be updating Facebook and tweeting from GenCon for the next few days. Follow us for breaking news! Several of our authors, including Emily Fiegenschuh, will be there. Have you seen The Explorer’s guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures yet? Go check it out! If you’re planning to attend Gen Con [...]

Tomorrow a few of the editors at IMPACT Books are headed two hours northwest to Gen Con 2011 in Indianapolis! Last year we happened upon some impromptu cosplay dance routines, let’s hope these kids are back again along with some Smurfs and Bronies! We’ll be tweeting some of the convention fun so be sure to [...]

The Action Art competition deadline has been extended, which is good news for you! You have until August 15th to submit your video. FOR ART RELATED VIDEOS – Whether it’s instructional, humorous or inspirational, you could win $1,000 and exposure on artistsnetwork.com! Best of Show Award – $1000 People’s Choice Award – $500 10 Honorable [...]

Just in case you happened to miss all the buzz– The Explorer’s Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures by Emily Fiegenschuh is now available for purchase! And that’s not all… If you’re planning to attend Gen Con in Indianapolis this week, you’ll be able to meet the Emily in person, and get a peek at the [...]

Well the buzz of Comic-Con is over but things aren’t slowing down here at IMPACT.

Check out Scape Martinez in this video and all over the website for Artrageous! Join Scape and other great artists, enter the contest, and more.   Get copies of his books by clicking on the covers below.

I’m excited because I got the first copies of Buddy Scalera’s latest, biggest offering, Colossal Collection of Action Poses: Comic and Fantasy Artist’s Photo Reference yesterday. There’s so many poses packed into this book and you’ll want to draw them all. I thought I’d whet your appetite by giving you some exclusive online poses we [...]

Check out Scape Martinez, author of GRAFF and GRAFF2!

Captain America rocked this weekend, even moreso than Harry Potter. See it if you haven’t! Today is the last day for free Creating Comics from Start to Finish and Comic Books 101 ebooks and 50% off books in North Light Shop as Comic-Con comes to an end. So get get ‘em!

Captain America: the First Avenger comes out today! So excited! Now that Harry Potter is finished, I need something new to distract me and I’ll definitely be there to watch Steve Rogers transform and kick some butt. Watch the official trailer here then go see it! Don’t forget Comic-Con specials are still available. Free ebooks [...]

Hey IMPACT fans, Unfortunately, we’ve learned that some unspeakable glitch means you can only get the free eBook for Comic Books 101 from iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Google and Sony. Creating Comics From Start to Finish, however, is downloading just fine on all fronts so far. Our apologies for the confusion!

In honor of Comic-Con 2011, starting today through Monday (7/18-7/25), IMPACT books is giving away two free ebooks: Creating Comics from Start to Finish and Comic Books 101! These ebooks are offered through iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Google, Sony, and Amazon. Just click on where you’d like them from and they’re yours FREE! Creating Comics From [...]

Comic-Con is almost here! All the madness begins Thursday, the 21st, in San Diego and IMPACT will be there. The lucky people who go can attend Preview night on Wednesday to snatch all kinds of exclusive gifts. CNN.com gave us a sneak peak of these perks including never before released Indiana Jones action figures and [...]

Check out this video from the Cartoon Brew Student Fest, Defective Detective. It’s a great piece of animation! Congrats to its creators, Avner Geller and Stevie Lewis. You can find out more at Cartoon Brew’s website. I foresee spending lots of my spare time on there. Defective Detective from Cartoon Brew on Vimeo.

After the ten year ride, only a few more days before the Harry Potter series ends in an all-out epic war in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. This is the first and only of the series to be released in 3D. Like me, a few people are excited about this considering

Steve Ellis, author of IMPACT Books’ Scream (2009), has been nominated for a Harvey Award for best inker. Ellis is the author of Scream, which you can purchase by clicking on the cover of the book. The Harvey Award winners will be announced at the Baltimore Comic Con August 20th. Don’t forget that San Diego [...]

With the fourth of July on Monday, I have a lot of plans for this weekend—cookouts, fireworks and, of course, devoting all of Saturday to baseball. The IMPACT team deserves a three-day weekend with all the hard work we’ve been doing. Finally, DragonWorld is done as we’ve mentioned and is now available for presale. The [...]

The Dragon   Dragons are symbols of power—sometimes for good, sometimes for ill. Regardless of which, they are an elemental power; an embodiment of strengths and forces beyond human control. Their appearance is a fantastical combination of creatures of all sorts—the manes of lions, the horns of a stag, the shape of a lizard, the [...]

Lackadaisy’s author Tracy Butler talks about how she draws cute characters with consistency. It’s a good lesson, so check it out.And check out the story, which has been nominated for a 2011 Eisner for Best Digital Comic. Historical fiction with cute anthro characters. For more in-depth instruction, you can check out our book, Draw Furries. [...]

This weekend I saw Midnight in Paris, a movie about a writer who is vacationing in Paris when he accidentally travels back to the ‘20s and meets writers and artists of the time. Although the movie only included Picasso and Matisse, it got me wondering about the other artists and art that was around back [...]

It’s National Fairy Day! Impact Books wants to help you celebrate all weekend with 50% off plus FREE shipping on two of our most popular Fairy books, DREAMSCAPES by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and ENCHANTING FAIRIES by Barbara Lanza! Use coupon code FAERIE11 at NorthLightShop.com to save today! Also, check out the awesome fairy art in our Fantasy Art [...]

Hi everyone! My name’s Kirstie and I’m the intern for the summer at IMPACT books. During my time here, I’m going to update you on what’s going on behind the scenes, what I’ve been working on and other cool stuff that we’re all interested in. So far this summer, I have been very busy with [...]

I’m bummed that Brooklyn Museum has had to cancel their Art in the Streets exhibit due to funding. It’s a shame for all involved. On the other hand, street art is by its very nature, not something you have to visit a museum to see. I’ve always been envious of the Banksy and Phlegm and [...]

With help from a friend, a came across this article about a collection of old romance comics. While searching through a store in New York, Michael Barson found these late ’40s, early ’50s comics and combined them to make his anthology, Agonizing Love: The Golden Era of Romance Comics. Although these comics were originally written [...]

Check out this sneak peek into the soon to be released DragonWorld, featuring some of the world’s most popular deviants! IMPACT Books editorial director, Pam Wissman and editor Sarah Laichas scoured the pages of deviantART to find and contact some of the best dragon artists out there and assemble some of their best work into this [...]

Spectrum 18, the latest in the heavily lauded fantasy art showcase series, is due out this coming November. This year the tome will feature among its contributors Lisa Cyr, author of North Light Books’ Art Revolution: Alternative Approaches in Art and the upcoming Experimental Painting (due out this fall). Click here to check out the [...]

Learn how to draw an alien sketch card step-by-step with this demonstration from Sketch Card Mania by IMPACT authors Denise Vasquez and Randy Martinez.. Aliens make great science-fiction sidekicks; they make a nice contrast to the stoic hero. Aliens have very specialized skills that help the hero survive. Even though they look intimidating, aliens can [...]

After too much sun this weekend, I am going to stay indoors for a while. Avoid the yardwork with me and click over to IMPACT’s deviantART page! I guarantee you there will be no sweat, sunburn or allergies there. Most importantly, it is full of ideas to refuel. Check out our latest deviation, the Flying [...]

Here’s a free demonstration from our newest IMPACT author, Emily Fiegenschuh. The Explorer’s Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures features more than 25 step-by-step demos of fantastical beasts such as a venom spitting sand dragon, minotaur, sphinx, lantern bat and much more. Pre-order your copy today and check out Emily’s site for more of her stunning [...]

I don’t know about you, but I love the feeling of possibility that comes with a new sketchbook or supplies. The feel of the paper, the smell, and all that blank space to fill with…with something! I think of all the themes I could do, because I love themes. I love it so much that [...]

On Tuesday June 7th F+W Media, Inc., IMPACT Books’ parent company, will donate 50% of profits from all purchases, all products and services available through our North Light Shop (and any of our other 19 U.S. eCommerce stores) to the Red Cross. If you are able and choose to make a purchase Tuesday, know that [...]

The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists have announced their 2011 Chesley Award Nominees, and our very own Bob Eggleton is one of them! Congratulations to Bob for being a finalist in the Product category. Pick up a copy of Dragons’ Domain today by clicking on the photo and save 33% off the retail [...]

The beautiful swirls and Celtic curls of calligraphy are a magic addition to many fantasy illustrations. Get step-by-step tutorials on creating these effects with Cari Buziak’s new title from North Light Books, Calligraphy Magic.

Want to do a bit of graff practice, but there are no free (and legal) walls available? Check out this tip from Graff 2 author, Scape Martinez: Basically it is constructed from cardboard. We went to a moving company that sells your traditional moving boxes, and we found sheets of cardboard that were 4×8 feet [...]

IMPACT’s sister site Artist’s Market Online is offering another giveaway on its facebook page! When AMO reaches 500 fans, we’re giving away a copy of the 2011 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market ($34.99 value). AGDM includes over 1,100 listings for markets that buy artwork, including fantasy and comic art.

Hey kids! Here’s an awesome free demonstration from the upcoming Sketch Card Mania by Randy Martinez and Denise Vasquez. Check out the book for the best instruction on drawing sketch cards and great demos of wizards, warlords, warriors and more! HOW TO DRAW A UNICORN IN 5 EASY STEPS Everyone knows that magic comes from [...]

The original book, GRAFF, put you in touch with your creative style.GRAFF 2 is here to help you find your creative soul. Is it wildstyle or bubble letters? Scape Martinez is taking the message of creativity and expression to the next level. Follow Scape on Facebook for up to the minute news!  

Yes that’s right, it’s Customer Appreciation Day–just because we want to say, THANKS to all our awesome customers. So today in our online stores, customers will receive an extra 15% off their purchase, plus free shipping! Just use the promo code THANKU at checkout. So be sure to visit the North Light Shop and our [...]

IMPACT’s sister site ArtistsNetwork.com is giving away art supplies! The Journal Junkies Sweepstakes includes a variety of artists journals, pens, a watercolor travel set, 4 North Light Books, a subscription to Watercolor Artist, and a bunch of other great stuff (a $475 value). You have until May 31, 2011 to enter, so check it out. Who doesn’t love free art supplies?

I came across this story on Comics Alliance about a collage comic that looks absolutely incredible! I’m a huge fan of comics and collage, and putting the two together in this form exceeds every possible idea I could have come up with. The article mentions a few other non-drawn comics online; and in an interview [...]

“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.” It’s been ten years since we lost the late, great Douglas Adams, but I think I’ll always remember the helpful advice contained in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, written on the front of the book of said name: Of course, that one usually comes to mind just as [...]

The new Marvel movie Thor opens in theaters everywhere today. It’s directed by Kenneth Branaugh, stars Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, and tells the story of a Norse god on modern-day Earth. What’s not to love? Seriously, it’s certified fresh at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, and I’m certainly looking forward to seeing it tonight. Check out the official trailer here:

Today is May 4th, which of course, is Star Wars Day. May the 4th be with you! Of course, if you write your dates European style, with the day than the month, its 4th of May. I suspect Yoda would approve of this. And tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, so excuses options for decorating and [...]

I had plans for today, Readers. It involved long, intelligent thoughts about Akira and George Takei. But that went out the window thanks to the epic storm last night. One, the storms that have hit the Ohio valley in the past two nights have rendered my brain not very thinky at all, especially when we [...]

Check out these awesome fan-made opening credits for the upcoming X-Men: First Class movie. Thanks to Collider.com for the tip!

Over on Facebook, we’re offering a chance to win a copy of Graff 2. We’re really excited about this hitting the shelves and even more  excited about the chance to give it away to one lucky reader. Are you interested? It’s super-easy to enter: just drop us a comment on our Facebook that contains a [...]

Letter manipulation is a cornerstone of graffiti art. To create your own alphabet, you want to study the form and shape of each letter, then slowly push and stretch it to reconfigure it with your own style. Here, graffiti artist Scape Martinez shows us how to create a radical letter. They tend to be thick, [...]

I’ve been watching the film adaptation of Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, on Netflix this week which has me thinking about art traditionally used as a form of worship. There’s a great scene where the artist creating the gargoyles talks about how the stone speaks to him about what it wants to be. [...]

IMPACT author Buddy Scalera gives the lowdown on his newest book, Creating Comics From Start to Finish. Check out his interview with Jazma Online. Click on the images below to learn more about Buddy’s Comic Artist’s Photo Reference series.

Sign up for Chuck Lukacs’s mailing list and get a NEW chance every few months to win ORIGINAL prints or collectible Magic: The Gathering cards. Not only that, each time, Chuck will also give a small amount to one of the charities (like this one) listed on his website. Chuck Lukacs is the author of [...]

Been wondering what Arnold Schwarzenegger has been up to since his “governating” days came to an end? (Yeah, we haven’t really either….) But, wait, they haven’t ended! Earlier this week Schwarzenegger announced in an Entertainment Weekly interview that he’s teaming up with Stan Lee to create a new animated TV series and comic book called The Governator. The story will feature Schwarzenegger as himself and a superhero alter-ego and is slated for release next year.

The spring sale going on now at the North Light Shop. Get an additional 10% off any books you order now through April 4th. Just enter the code SPRING2011 at checkout. Check out some of the IMPACT’s new and upcoming releases:

I read about these adorable cross-stitch samplers on IO9 the other day and I can’t stop thinking about how cute they’d look hanging in my hallway. And with a variety of superheroes and sci-fi, there’s something for everyone in there, ranging from Harry Potter to the Doctors–all 11 of them, which inspired the title of [...]

Looking for new ways to market your comic or fantasy art? Artist’s Market Online is giving away a copy of the 2011 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market on the AMO facebook page. Just become a fan of AMO and invite your friends to do the same for a chance to win.

Superman, schmuperman. This real-life superhero doesn’t need a fancy uniform; just some scuba diving gear, some plastic, and a bicycle to save lives. When the earthquake hit, Hideaki Akaiwa was at work, but when his entire town got hit by the tsunami, he grabbed some scuba gear (because doesn’t everyone just have that lying around?) [...]

Check out this free demo and get a sneak peak of IMPACT author and graff writer Scape Martinez’s new book, Graff 2, now available for pre-order in the NL Shop. The original book, Graff, put you in touch with your creative style. Graff 2 is here to help you find your creative soul. Delving deeper [...]

Check out Brian Chan’s video tutorial for making an origami version of Jedi Master Yoda. Chan also has video tutorials for making Boba Fett, the TIE Fighter, the Millennium Falcon and a host of other Star Wars characters and ships. Thanks to Comic Alliance for bringing these awesome videos to our attention!

It’s difficult to even find the wording to express our sorrow over what has and continues to occur in Japan and indeed, our hearts are still with those suffering in New Zealand as well. Anything we can do to help is needed, whether it’s giving our dollars, our time, or our skills. This blog at [...]

The folks at deviantART are going to be at the SXSW music and film festival this weekend. They’re setting up a lounge called the deviantART Sandbox to showcase real-world and digital art galleries, a deviantART muro classroom, laptops to browse the site and participate in a community-wide SXSW chat, art tables and a reading corner featuring books from deviantART members.

Over on our Facebook page, Graff and Graff 2 author Scape Martinez said, “I would like to see someone articulate how comics and street art are connected.” Well, that’s a fabulous idea, and it really got me thinking about the origins and ancestry of these forms–things like cave art and hieroglyphs. People have been using [...]

Theodor Seuss Geisel would have turned 107 yesterday. Love this image from The Butter Battle Book (1984) — the allegorical Seuss creation responsible for teaching legions of American school children the basics of the Cold War. …..

If you live in or will be visiting Georgia this month, be sure to hit up a stop on IMPACT author Angela Sasser’s book-signing tour. See Angela’s blog for dates, times and other info. Click here to learn more about Angelic Visions– learn how to draw and paint angels in watercolor with Angela’s debut book, [...]

Looking for some encouragement? How about this: Even Tim Burton, the director of Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas, received rejection letters in his early career. A few years before Disney hired Burton as a concept artist on The Fox and the Hound and The Black Cauldron, they politely (but firmly) rejected a children’s book idea that he submitted for review. Click here to see a spread from Burton’s book idea, his letter to Disney, and the response he received.

Nick and Brian Wolfe, authors of Extreme Face Painting, are on the move. Their full schedule of face art gigs, classes and conventions is listed below. If you have a chance to see them in person or take a class, do!

Today’s the day! Creating Comics From Start to Finish, by Buddy Scalera has arrived in the warehouse. That means it’s making its way to retailers across the U.S. and it’s available NOW from the North Light Shop. Stay tuned for creature sightings. Check out sneak peaks from the book here and here. And if making [...]

Looking for new ways to market your comic or fantasy art? Artist’s Market Online is giving away a copy of the 2011 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market on the AMO facebook page. Just become a fan of AMO and invite your friends to do the same for a chance to win.

Win a a signed copy of Angelic Visions, an autographed special edition metallic print of the cover, and a handmade angel feather bookmark! Check out IMPACT author Angela R. Sasser’s blog for details…

The release of GRAFF 2: Next Level Graffiti Techniques is fast approaching. Check out the video below to hear what some people at the Craft & Hobby Association had to say about artist and inspirer extraordinaire, Scape Martinez!

Spring is just around the corner and so are these awesome new IMPACT books! Three of our most popular authors return to the art instruction scene to give you the best tips and techniques in your favorite art mediums — comic books, sketch cards and graffiti! Title: Creating Comics from Start to Finish: Top Pros [...]

Discover how comic books are made—from brainstorming, writing and editing to penciling, inking and coloring—with Buddy Scalera’s Creating Comics from Start to Finish. Follow the graphic below to see what it takes to get your idea to the printed page. Includes awesome interviews and tips from top industry pros: Mike Marts – Editor Batman Mark [...]

In Angelic Visions: Watercolor Details you’ll follow along with IMPACT author and watercolor artist Angela R. Sasser to learn how to paint skin tones that glow and shimmer. Angela demonstrates a variety of basic skin tones as she paints angels and elves, layering color to create depth and luminosity for figures that come to life [...]

You’ve probably heard it fifty times over by now and it’s true. Wizard and ToyFare magazines will stop appearing in print immediately in favor of online only Wizard World. Our friends over at Comics Buyer’s Guide report President and CEO Gareb Shamus as saying “Wizard World will give consumers the content they want in a [...]

Fan of DragonArt and DragonArt Evolution? Check out the latest LiveStream from IMAPCT author J NeonDragon Peffer…

Did you know that IMPACT author and watercolor artist Angela R. Sasser had originally planned to be an English teacher? Neither did we. Check out this EMG-Zine interview and learn all sorts of other cool things about the lovely and talented Ms. Sasser. And if you happen to be in the Fayetteville, Georgia area this [...]

If you haven’t yet entered for your chance to win an awesome OtherWorlds prize package, there’s still time–but hurry! Today is the last day to enter the sweepstakes so don’t wait! Click on the image below to enter. Prize packages include a copy of OtherWorlds by Tom Kidd, art supplies, and a 2011 OtherWorlds calendar.

IMPACT author and artist Angela R. Sasser is hosting several great events this January to celebrate the release of her debut book, Angelic Visions. If you’ll be in or near Fayetteville, Georgia during that time, be sure to visit Artworks on the Square and check them out. Selected artwork from Angelic Visions will be on [...]

Great article on IMPACT author Scape Martinez in the San Jose Mercury News. He teaches art through graffiti, one classroom at a time. … Buy Graff 1 (published February 2009) Pre-order Graff 2 (on shelves April 2011) ……….

Click the image below to enter for a chance to win one of two awesome OtherWorlds prize packages — each includes art supplies, a copy of Tom Kidd’s book and the OtherWorlds 2011 calendar! …… …..

OtherWorlds by IMPACT author and fantasy artist Tom Kidd just hit the shelves a couple months ago, but it’s already widely popular and has received several smash reviews. Digital Image Magazine calls it “… just gorgeous to behold… Kidd fans will no doubt buy it just for the images inside.” Although the book focuses mainly [...]

We’ve got great news for Buddy’s fans! Buddy’s out-of-print comic “Parts: The SitComic” is available online as a download. It’s only 99 cents for the download, and many more will become available as Buddy uploads them. They’re available on the website Graphic.ly. The site is packed with great comics from artists just like Buddy. Whether [...]

Nice review of Brian and Nick Wolf’s Extreme Face Painting for the December issue of the School Library Journal: This is a guide for experienced artists ready to take their craft to the next level, instead of painting pictures on a face, like colors on a flat canvas. These instructions show how to use shading [...]

It’s that time of year again. As 2010 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year gone by, time to start making new year’s resolutions, and time to order your 2011 IMPACT calendar. How about a cool DragonArt Evolution calendar, featuring artwork from the book by J “Neon Dragon” Peffer? Or a [...]

It’s holiday time (at least that’s what Mariah Carey’s new CD and the decorations at the mall are telling us) and that means it’s time for presents! Even if you celebrate nothing, you can celebrate yourself with a lovely book from our IMPACT line…and for cheap with our Super 7 Day Sale. Enter SUPER7 at [...]

Thinking there aren’t quite enough comic conventions? We couldn’t agree more! Award-winning comic author Mark Millar decided that all of our conventions in the US weren’t cutting it. (Perhaps he grew tired of all that flying.) Millar’s goal is to expand the San Diego Comic-Con experience to the streets of London. Kapow!, the new convention, [...]

It’s a great time to check out the IMPACT authors over at Artistsnetwork.tv. Thanksgiving specials give you 10% off everything — from single workshops, to subscriptions by medium, or full site— through next Monday (Cyber Monday). Great videos from Chris Seaman, J “NeonDragon” Peffer, Brian Miller, and Wolfe brothers!… Just enter coupon code HOLIDAY10 (all caps).

For all of us who are still excited about the latest installment of the Harry Potter series in theaters, it’s about time for us to get into the kitchen and create some of the magic we love.

The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook is a new release from Adams Media, a fellow imprint of F+W Media (Impact Book’s brother, of sorts). We’re very excited for their success, as this book is one of the top-100 of Amazon.com!

Over at the IMPACT Facebook page, we’re still waiting for the correct answer to the FB pop quiz question:

We’ve heard of playing with your food, but this really takes it above and beyond…to a galaxy far, far away. Check out this Death Star watermelon.

As graffiti continues to grow as an art form, its impact can be seen and felt all around the world—even in some rather unexpected places, like Afghanistan. U.S. troops in the region have been using graffiti as a way of recording and sharing their experiences with the rest of the world. These images are just [...]

DiCaprio has set his sights high, as he is rumored to be working on two films right now, Akira and Ninja Scroll.

If you haven’t heard of either of these titles, you’re really missing out!

In Incredible Comic Book Women, artist Tom Nguyen gives you all the info you need to create cool babes with helpful tips for drawing a variety of attractive, sexy women, including various ethnic types, costumes and comic-book types. You’ll learn to draw specific attributes (eyes, hands, etc.) and how to place your characters in various settings to create a completed comic book page. From the “kick-ass” guide to drawing hot babes, learn how to draw a quick female body sketch in 8 steps with this free demo.

Featuring never before seen art from IMPACT author Angela R. Sasser, this calendar collects twelve angelic scenes from her first book, Angelic Visions. Purchase your calendar online today! Each individual image was traditionally painted using a variety of methods explored in the upcoming book, which features more than 20 step-by-step demonstrations on how to draw [...]

Learn from the world’s best artists in the comfort of your home!
ArtistsNetwork.tv features painting advice and techniques from dozens of popular artists in a variety of media and skill levels. Watch what you want, anytime you want.

If you like DragonArt Evolution, IMPACT’s latest book by Jessica NeonDragon Peffer, check out her first two, DragonArt and DragonArt Fantasy Characters. Jess has a great style that everyone loves, so the more the better!

Learn how to paint an angel with watercolor in six simple steps with this free demo from Angela Sasser’s Angelic Visions. Sasser’s first IMPACT book includes more than 20 step-by-step demonstrations in luminous watercolor, pen+ink and colored pencil. Pre-order your copy from the North Light Shop today. Materials You’ll Need Watercolor Pigments: Burnt Sienna, Burnt [...]

You don’t need to wait until books hit the shelves to get some divine inspiration– Angelic Visions by Angela R. Sasser is available for pre-order right now! Stop by the NL Shop today and save 33% when you pre-order your copy of this new IMPACT author’s debut book. With Angela’s graceful artwork guiding the way, [...]

Learn how to layer form with watercolor in 6 easy steps with this free Dragon Pass demo from Tom Kidd’s OtherWorlds.

Sadly, Halloween is over…technically. But does this monstrously horror-filled holiday ever really have to die, at least in spirit? Scary movies and supernatural beings are delightfully frightful year-round and IMPACT can prove it with (our horrible puns) and Creature Features!

“The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels” won the Eagle Award last week!

Want to learn more ways to sell your artwork? You’re in luck! IMPACT’s sister imprint North Light Books just launched ArtistsMarketOnline.com. Artist’s Market Online is the online version of the trusted print resources Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market and Photographer’s Market.

Randy Martinez demonstrates how to draw a werewolf at a recent Creature Features book signing in Los Angeles, California. Randy and co-author Denise Vasquez are currently working on their second IMPACT book, Sketch Card Mania, on shelves in April 2011. ……..

“Appearing on posters or in film trailers, movie taglines are designed to give film fans that one catchphrase that producer’s hope will stick in their memories. The best ones can go down in pop culture history and the worst ones can make a bad picture even more laughable. In honor of Halloween, we have put [...]

Theresa K. from California won our DragonArt Evolution contest! She will receive cover art signed by author and artist  J “NeonDragon” Peffer! Congrats, Theresa!

Check out comic artist Bryan Hitch and his new book Ultimate Comics Studio on ComicBookResources.com. The article features an author interview, book review, and a sneak peek inside the book. Bryan Hitch has created some of the most famous characters and worlds in the comic industry, including The Avengers, Fantastic Four, The Ultimates and Captain [...]

Want more instruction for your art? Just check out the web, there’s tons of stuff available at your fingertips.

Buddy Scalera posted his pictures from New York’s Comic-Con! Check to see if you’re in any or just see the Con from his point of view! Click here to check out his flickr account.

Bob Eggleton, Hugo-award winning fantasty artist and author of Dragons Domain, will be at the Cranston Borders this Saturday, October 16th at 1:00. Stop by to meet him and check out his new book!   Event link Bob’s blog: http://bobsartdujour.blogspot.com/

Get beautiful works of art from IMPACT author Tom Kidd’s OtherWorlds by clicking http://artistsnetwork.com/wallpaper.

Harry Hamernik, popular cartoon artist and author of IMPACT’s Cartoonimals and Face Off brings you his latest book, Cartoon 360. This newest cartoon drawing guide covers every angle of how to draw cartoon people, from coming up with fresh ideas for an endless assortment of faces, to bringing your work to a polished, professional finish [...]

Hey you! Yeah, you. Do you like drawing comics? Well, if you believe you’ve got some great ideas there’s a very empty spot on comic pages around the country. Since Cathy is no longer on the funnies page, a few papers (most, really) have been looking for a replacement.

What’s better than drawing your way through a Jessica “NeonDragon” Peffer book like DragonArt? Nothing! Because all DragonArt books are awesome, but this is also pretty awesome. Watch NeonDragon herself draw on LiveStream via neondragon.com.

Want to find out more about Bryan Hitch’s Ultimate Comics Studio? Check out www.bryanhitchbook.com, a new site devoted to the book. You can read the latest reviews, watch Bryan in action, find out about upcoming events and even enter to win an original sketch by Bryan.

Superstar IMPACT author Buddy Scalera will be at New York Comic-Con this weekend, moderating all sort of panels.

Yes, that’s right, we’re giving away the DragonArt Evolution cover art signed by J “NeonDragon” Peffer. Click here to enter the DragonArt sweepstakes. The contest runs until 10/11 and you must be 13 or older to participate. Have a great weekend and good luck!

Don’t panic, but you have about a month left to master your face painting skills before Halloween! And with help from IMPACT authors Brian and Nick Wolfe, co-authors of the Extreme Face Painting, your little goblins and ghouls (or yourself) will be donning fiendish skulls and tiger stripes in no time.

Pre-order your copy by October 2nd and get an addition 10% off! Use code FALL2010 at checkout.

Join Today and SAVE! ArtistsNetwork.TV features art advice and techniques from some of your favorite comic and fantasy artists in a variety of media and skill levels. You can watch videos 24/7 from the comfort of your home—like Dragonart: Digital Dragons with J “NeonDragon” Peffer, Extreme Face Painting with the Wolfe Brothers and more! PLUS, [...]

AllPosters.com has a new line of comic posters for true comic lovers. They have galleries of hip, new posters as well as vintage posters dating as far back as the 40s (which is pretty exciting). The posters range from $15 (for a basic poster) to $280 (paintings, wall murals, awesome things).

Also, the North Light Shop is having a fall sale!

If you weren’t already aware, Robert Kirkman’s Eisner-winning comic book series The Walking Dead is being turned into a television series on AMC (the Mad Men channel). AMC recently released the key poster art for the series, which fittingly premieres Halloween night.

Have you been following the latest DragonArt Evolution reviews? J “NeonDragon” Peffer’s popular art-instruction book on how to draw dragons was recently featured on both Paper Dragon Ink, and Falcata Times. Also, be sure to check out BookLoons at the beginning of October, when a giveaway and feature on DragonArt Evolution will run in their [...]

High Moon, the Harvey Award winning online graphic novel from IMPACT author Steve Ellis (Scream) and David Gallaher, is still going strong on the iphone and the ipad as well as on Comixology’s site, http://www.highmooncomic.com . It’s great werewolf western fun! The most recent update is #9 and you can read parts 1 – 8 [...]

High Moon, the Harvey Award winning online graphic novel from IMPACT author Steve Ellis (Scream) and David Gallaher, is still going strong on the iphone and the ipad as well as on Comixology’s site, [link] . It’s great werewolf western fun! The most recent update is #9 and you can read parts 1 – 8 [...]

Ninja Mountain Scrolls, the blog with news from “a collective of artists who work mainly in the fields of Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, and comics,” recently interviewed Chris Seaman and Jim Pavelec to discuss Ink Bloom. The duo talks with Ninja Mountain about their creative process and what it was like to work together. Listen [...]

Fan of Dracopedia? Want to learn more about how to draw dragons? Visit Dracopedia author William O’Connor’s blog and check out The Dracopedia Project: Dracopedia Sketchbook to view this IMPACT author’s latest dragon sketches and more. Dracopedia is loaded with sketches, drawings, anatomical studies, detailed diagrams, brief natural histories and step-by-step color art demonstrations showing [...]

If you weren’t aware (somehow it slipped my mind), it’s the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. Happy Birthday favorite game of so many people!

Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about Halloween–my kids sure are. Check out the video here for Extreme Face Painting by Nick and Brian Wolfe. The book has 50 face projects, and even though it’s by two of the world’s best body artists, they’ve broken everything down into easy steps, so you [...]

Betty White, the Golden Girl with the golden career resurgence—thanks partially to the death of a majority of her Golden Girls castmates, to the WE channel’s commitment to broadcasting the show in five hour syndicated marathon blocks constantly, and to the fact that she is one of the most hilarious women in showbiz—has finally, finally hit the big time. Bluewater Productions is turning her life story into a comic book.

Live in the Cleveland area? Then you still have time to see many of the original Ink Bloom paintings in person and up close! Chris Seaman, co-author of IMPACT’s Ink Bloom, will be exhibiting over 50 pieces of his original work, at Arts Collinwood Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio, until Saturday, September 10th. This exhibition is [...]

We’ve just received an advanced copy of Sketchbook Confidential, and oh boy is it pretty! Sketchbook Confidential is a compilation of private sketches from more than 40 master artists. That means that you will have access to some thoughts and tips from many experienced artists, some of which you may have heard of. Basically, it’s [...]

Want more Impact? Just head over to deviantArt and check out our new site! You’ll be able to leave us comments and follow our recent activities even closer now. Plus, you can find out what others are saying about our products! Take a peek at this review from a user on DRAGONART EVOLUTION:http://news.deviantart.com/article/125653/ If you [...]

Desktop looking a little boring? Time to switch out the HP7 wallpaper for something new? Maybe something with IMPACT? Download free desktop wallpaper of fine art featured in IMPACT Books and get exclusive bonus desktop wallpapers by signing up for our e-mail newsletter.

J “NeonDragon” Peffer, IMPACT author of the popular DragonArt series reveals some of her favorite digital art secrets in Digital Dragons. In this DVD, you’ll learn digital inking and coloring techniques and tips for creating special effects all in one place! Includes digital files so you can follow along with “NeonDragon” as she demonstrates her [...]

With the occasional drift of brown, falling leaves, the anticipation of dressing up and painting our faces is overwhelming. Luckily, one of our favorite releases of the year is on special—10% off! What do you have to do to get this great discount? Just watch the video on YouTube and enter the discount code, found [...]

It’s time to get excited about a new event: the Cincinnati Comic Expo. As Cincinnati has witnessed over the years, it is hard work to keep comic conventions up and running (we’ve had only a handful in the past ten-fifteen years). So it’s time to show support and try to keep this one around.

We here at IMPACT understand the need for instant gratification. Sometimes we just aren’t patient enough to wait for books we ordered to come by mail, and sometimes there’s no way we’re getting out of sweatpants to go to the bookstore. Thankfully we solved our own problem with digital downloads.

Lauren Panepinto, creative director at Orbit Books — a top publisher of science fiction and fantasy literature — waxes on how to view and appreciate fantasy art, and reveals her two absolutes for the best of the genre. To learn how to create such realms, check out Tom Kidd’s upcoming book OtherWorlds: How to Imagine, [...]

Graffiti continues to grow as an art form. Graffiti artist and Graff author Scape Martinez talks about current trends and the evolution of graffiti on NBC. They even feature his IMPACT book, Graff, the world’s first how-to graffiti book. It illuminates the important elements of graffiti art, including its history and then shows you how [...]

We’re hip. We’re modern. We’re into social networking. Become a fan/like IMPACT at www.facebook.com/ImpactBooks and check out our Twitter feed at twitter.com/impactbooks.

Nick and Brian Wolfe are many things: twin brothers; artists; face and body painters; WORLD CHAMPIONS. As of last Friday, they are also published authors. Here are a few finished examples from their dazzling new IMPACT book, Extreme Face Painting: 50 Friendly and Fiendish Step by Step Demos. Click here to get your copy online

IMPACT books has a new page on deviantART! Follow us and keep checking back for new art and inspiration.

Ink Bloom is the first how-to art instruction book to feature an original sci-fi epic fantasy story. Follow Hachi and her friends on their quest to strange futuristic worlds, and learn to draw and paint a colorful cast of characters, costumes, weapons, ships and background elements. See how the adventures begin with a sneek peak [...]

New Marvel Releases! Stephen King works with Marvel now?

Did you know that you’ll save 34% by pre-ordering your copy of Extreme Face Painting? Award-winning artists Nick and Brian Wolfe share more than 50 step-by-step demonstrations that turn everyday faces into sweet, funny or frightening works of art. Full of friendly instruction for beginners and fresh inspiration for seasoned painters, this book also includes [...]

Here’s a little visual journey through the IMPACT team’s day at Gen Con. We saw some awesome artists, including our friend Jim Pavelec, who made Hell Beasts, InkBloom (with Chris Seaman) and Wreaking Havoc (with Chuck Lukacs, Thomas Manning, Christo) for IMPACT; had a great time browsing the vendors (possibly bought some furry tails); and loved the costume dance (which we have video of below).

Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels about slacker/gamer/guitarist/Canadian Scott Pilgrim, the storyline remains roughly the same. The less-than-buff Pilgrim, played by the always awkward (and Canadian) Michael Cera, has to fight the 7 evil exes of Ramona Flowers, the pixie-ish new girl in town with technicolor hair, to win her heart. Some people are worried that the film adaptation won’t do justice to the source material (when do movies ever, really?), but so far Scott Pilgrim vs. The World has a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and some pretty decent reviews.

Tom Nguyen’s latest book has been recognized by Comicattack.net as a great way to learn how to draw sexy, but still heroic, comic book women. Incredible Comic Book Women with Tom Nguyen: The Kick-Ass Guide to Drawing Hot Babes! is great for beginners and experienced artists alike. Beginning with a “Drawing Crash Course,” Tom expands [...]

Check out IMPACT’s booth at the San Diego Comic-Con (sorry if it makes you a little seasick!).

We here at IMPACT have been passing this link around. It’s ICv2′s Comic-Con wrap-up focusing on the trends and takeaways from the convention. The pop culture blog names off-site elements, the Tokykopop Tour bus, the presence of non-comic TV shows, kids (as in young people/children), the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund party and more as memorable facets of this year’s Comic-Con.

A power-packed, must-have guide for anyone who wants to draw cartoons, artist Harry Hamernik’s latest book is full of skills and insights for creating cartoon characters that pop off the page. Cartoon 360° covers every angle of drawing fantastic cartoon people, from coming up with fresh ideas for an endless assortment of faces, to bringing [...]

So, IMPACT just did Comic-Con. What’s next? Well, we’re packing up and road-tripping it to lovely Indianapolis, Indiana for Gen Con from August 5-8!

DragonArt Evolution, How to Draw Everything Dragon by J NeonDragon Peffer is now available in the North Light/IMPACT Shop! Discover how to draw dragons by following demonstrations with step-by-step instructions for 20 all-new dragons. Learn how to draw dragon anatomy and how to assemble different parts into an original dragon of your very own!

A series of Marvel Comics will be brought to television via the G4 channel in the spring of 2011!

Wanna get published?

For more than 30 years, Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market has been telling fine artists, illustrators, graphic designers, and, yes, even cartoonists, where and how to sell their work. And up until now these tricks of the trade have been in book form. But guess what, they’re getting digital!

DragonArt Evolution, the newest book by J. “NeonDragon” Peffer, comes out in early August! Check out the video preview of the book below, and preorder your copy of DragonArt Evolution at the North Light Shop. Enjoy!

This morning we’re looking back on one of Cleveland’s finest, Harvey Pekar. This memorable Toby-Harvey exchange from American Splendor involves two of our faves, White Castle and nerds. IMPACTastic! Check out this great timeline of Harvey by Comics Alliance. ……..

Impact Books, Krause Publications and Comics Buyer’s Guide at Comic-Con International in San Diego!

Mark Crilley is an awesome artist/illustrator/cartoonist/author and the creator of the manga series Miki Falls and Akiko. His Youtube page currently has 100 videos that give advice to artists on how to draw manga, including topics like “How to Draw ‘Realistic’ Manga,” “How to Draw a Female Body, Manga Style,” and “Manga Boby Proportions.”

Get on it! Fiction and nonfiction meet. IMPACT Books is releasing the first-ever (that we know of…if you can find another one…let us know and we’ll send Hachi to kick its you-know-what) how-to draw, how-to paint book that follows a story line. By the guys who gave you HELL BEASTS (that’s Jim) and WREAKING HAVOC [...]

Andy Schmidt, director of Comics Experience, Senior Editor at IDW Publishing and author of The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels has announced the beginning of his 2010 lineup with industry pros such as Chris Sotomayer and Mark Guggenheim. Check it out! –Mona  

Stop by and wish Chuck Lukacs a Happy Day at his new Fantasy Genesis blog, where he talks about childhood inspiration and his upcoming IMPACT book, Fantasy Genesis, coming soon…

Found these ohsocute zodiac characters via Lindsay Cibos’s blog and DeviantArt page–be sure to check out her DeviantArt page to find out about her latest contest centering around her December 09 IMPACT book, Draw Furries. Enjoy!

Known for his nearly obsessive attention to detail, Wes Anderson has a penchant for including zany, oddly appropriate paintings in his film sets. (Think of the “Aggressively Mediocre/Mentally Challenged/Fantasy Island (circle one)” paintings by Miguel Calderon in Eli’s apartment in The Royal Tenenbaums). Pretty awesome. With this in mind, I couldn’t wait to see what [...]

Andy Schmidt, Senior Editor at IDW, founder of www.comicsexperience.com and author The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels was interviewed by iFanboy.com in a special edition of Talksplode. You can listen to Andy’s interview here. Learn more about Andy’s book, The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels.

This interesting telephone sheep art from flickr crossed my desk in the form of a forwarded email, and we agreed it should be shared with all the IMPACT followers. It reminds us that no object should be thrown out, but rather creatively converted into something new…

After spending the entire day speaking with students Halloween Eve at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, Scape Martinez recalls one of his favorite student questions of the day: What’s crucial for aspiring artists? Check out Scape’s blog to get his answer. How would you answer the question? Click here to check out Scape’s book, [...]

Jim Pavelec and Chris Seaman’s upcoming IMPACT book Ink Bloom is featured in the current issue of Imagine FX. Check out the article and don’t forget to follow Jim and Chris’s progress on their blog. Ink Bloom will be available in April 2010. Have a great weekend! mary

IMPACT author Steve Ellis is having a busy month in publishing — he’s got two books hitting the shelves within thirty days. Book #1: The Harvey Award-winning online comic High Moon illustrated by Steve and written by David Gallaher recently printed in bound graphic novel format. Check out this stylish promo or buy it on [...]

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAnrnx9k7Og

What are you carving this Halloween?

      GRAFF author Scape Martinez gears up this week to head to Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, California on Friday, October 30. If you live in the area and you’d like Scape to visit your school, contact us here or visit Scape’s website. You can also write us to get free [...]

Celebrate the amazing feminal strengths of Princess Diana of Themyscira this weekend to benefit Domestic Violence Awareness month. This Sunday, October 25th, two comics shops in Portland, Oregon and Fleminton, New Jersey are raising money for the cause through awesome festivities and Wonder Woman silent art auctions. Don’t worry, you don’t have to live on [...]

Astro Boy opens in theaters tomorrow. Check it out! httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8H6j6afuOM

Fantasy artist and IMPACT author Chuck Lukacs has created a Facebook fan page for his upcoming IMPACT book FANTASY GENESIS! Connect with other friends (including yours truly, IMPACT Books) and get sneak peaks of art and the latest updates. Visit the Fantasy Genesis page Look inside Wreaking Havoc, the book Chuck wrote with this friends, [...]

We’re just days from sending Master Digital Color: Styles, Tools, Techniques, by Brian & Kristy Miller (of Hi-Fi Colour Design) off to the printer. Master Digital Color is the follow up to Hi-Fi Color for Comics: Digital Techniques for Professional Results, the Millers’ first book with IMPACT.  It’s a fortuitous time for the completion of book 2, [...]

IMPACT author Steve Ellis and his High Moon collaborators David Gallaher and Scott O. Brown have won a 2009 Harvey Award for best online comics work. The prestigious award ceremony, named after comic great Harvey Kurtzman, was held Saturday at the Baltimore Comic-Con. Steve won’t have time to rest on his laurels anytime soon. He [...]

Happy Friday everyone! We’re wrapping up the week with a fourth installment of super-awesome designer Wendy Dunning’s exploits at Mid-Ohio-Con: With a Little Help from Your Friends Comic Art Collaboratives and Groups I found that Columbus has a couple of groups of folks that get together to share their art with each other. One of [...]

Fellow IMPACTians, wait no more. Today we bring you badass designer Wendy Dunning’s third installment about her adventures at Mid-Ohio-Con last weekend in Columbus, Ohio: Lots of folks think small press publications when they think indie comics, but nothing is more independent than putting the entire thing together yourself. That’s what Ryan Claytor does with [...]

Yesterday you read about how IMPACT’s super fabulous designer, Wendy Dunning, ran into CBG editor Maggie Thompson and met Tony Isabella. The saga continues today—find out who Wendy ran next! Next on my list was visiting P. Craig Russell to ask him to sign my copies of the Magic Flute. Russell has done a number [...]

IMPACT designer extraordinaire Wendy Dunning, just back from Mid-Ohio-Con, brings us the inside scoop here…

If you haven’t already, check this out. We love this guy…maybe someday we’ll have a book with him? httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbYgmGzVooI

If you love Michel Gondry, you’ll definitely want to … umm … buy some Michel Gondry toilet paper? Yes, that’s right, you can get plush, 2-ply toilet paper printed with the notes, sketches and random thoughts of the writer and director of The Science of Sleep and Be Kind Rewind. Unfortunately, this item is currently [...]

The San Jose Contemporary Art Examiner just published a great article on Scape Martinez’s GRAFF. In the piece Scape describes some of his background, his philosophy of art and teaching art and offers some sage advice to artists of any level. See what all Scape has to say here.

It was pretty cool when Mountain Dew featured the wild art of Stephen Bliss, Nathan Cabrera and Pushead (to name a few) on their Green Label Art bottles in 2008. While promoting their cool factor, they also helped promote what was once an underground art style to the masses. Now, the Los Angeles fashion label, Ed Hardy, takes “art for the masses” to a whole new level…

Large and Loud! Next stop on the high school graffiti tour is Andrew Hill High School in San Jose next Monday, October 6th. Scape Martinez is scheduled to appear, and if past experience is any measure, he’ll ignite imaginations and leave a ton of new ideas behind him. Stay tuned for a downloadable version of GRAFF…coming soon! [...]

The first annual Long Beach ComicCon happens next weekend, October 2-4 and IMPACT author Buddy Scalera will be there hosting several panels including Photo Reference: How to Use Reference to Improve Your Comic Art. Programming includes something for just about everyone, from writers to colorists to movie fans. Word on the street says that Andy [...]

IMPACT author Buddy Scalera will be in attendance at the Long Beach Comic Con next week. As the convention’s programming director, he helped plan all the education panels including an extra awesome one based on his three IMPACT books. So if you stop by, make sure to check out Buddy’s photo reference panel: How to [...]

The yearly New York Anime Festival starts this Friday, September 25, in Manhattan. The show runs through September 27. According to its website the festival “features exclusive and extensive anime screenings, guests from America and Japan, manga, cosplay, video games, live-action Japanese cinema, fashion, food, and the cultural treasures that gave birth to Japanese pop [...]

I keep talking about Shojo Fashion Manga Art School because it just can’t be stopped….

GRAFF author Scape Martinez sent me this picture of his visit to William C. Overfelt High School in San Jose.   And the word is that GRAFF lesson plans have already made it to classrooms there. (Personally, I feel absolutely gypped. There was NO graffiti in MY high school art class.) Stay tuned for more free [...]

Character and casting information for the upcoming Green Lantern and X-Men: First Class movies is starting to leak. Much to the dismay of some fans, it looks like we can expect multiple baddies in Green Lantern. Although the details are unclear, Dr. Hector Hammond and Sinestro will both make an appearance. And actor Tim Pocock [...]

An animated 3D movie of the 1978 children’s book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs opens in theaters tomorrow. Early reviews are favorable and Mr. T plays the character of Earl the police officer. IMPACTastic! Official trailer Mr. T talks about the movie — he loves it and so should you

Artist Lisa L. Cyr’s book Art Revolution keeps getting rave reviews. This time, the online talk show SiDEBAR callout Lisa’s book as one of the three must-have books of the year. SiDEBAR features “four color conversations on comics, art and pop culture.” You can read the entire post here.

In eager anticipation of Shojo Fashion Manga Art School’s November release, here’s author Irene Flores’ 3 easy steps for drawing a scarf…

GRAFF: The Art & Technique of Graffiti is continuing to fly off the shelves and is keeping its creator,Scape Martinez, busy with workshops, signings and school assemblies in the San Jose area. What began as a classroom talk about mainly how to draw graffiti has turned into a full-blown assembly that covers not only how to create graffiti, [...]

In the mood for death, destruction, maybe even the apocalypse? Check out the trailer for the Tokyopop’s Deadman Wonderland here. If you’re looking for something a little more cheerful, why not create your own manga? Check out Shojo Fashion Manga Art School by Irene Flores or Draw Furries by Jared Hodges and Lindsay Cibos. Both [...]

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This guy is simply the best. Don’t you wish you could sit on Saturn’s rings? Watch the latest episode right here on IMPACT and keep your eyes peeled for the harvest moon.

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The post-apocalyptic movie “9,” produced by Tim Burton comes out today, which makes sense because it’s September 9, 2009 (as in 9/9/09, etc.) There are all kinds of interesting beliefs associated with the number 9. In China, 9 in considered to be a lucky number (as is the number 8); however, in Japan the number [...]

Batman: Arkham Asylum lets you witness the graphical power that happens when mixing talented programmers with one of the most beloved heroes of all time. It perfectly borders the fine line between realism and…

While you’re waiting for the release of the official Iron Man 2 theatrical trailer, check out the trailer for the IM 2 video game. It promises all the war machines and explosions you could possibly hope for. Both the movie and the game are set release in Spring 2010. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v8DjHXbigc

For those of you in the NYC area, IMPACT author Andy Schmidt is offering a 6 week intro course on writing for comics. Classes start September 8. You can learn more about course here. Can’t make it to Manhattan? Not to worry! Check out Andy’s book The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels.

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This just in from TOKYOPOP, Domo to make his grand english-language debut today in his very own Manga. Now you can follow his adventures

Check out Sakura’s Bordin Mark Marsinkul draw a caricature of IMPACT editor Kelly Messerly! httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKFWT1qZg2U

North Light Books, IMPACT’s sister imprint, congratulates author Lisa Cyr for her “Artist Spotlight” on The Alternative Pick…

Megan Groves, IMPACT Books’ editorial assistant for the summer, forwarded this article to me. For the record, I think D & D is cool. But seriously guys, it sounds like someone needs a nap. For a no less real, but slightly more reasonable look at the Dragon in D & D, check out William O’Connor’s new [...]

IMPACT co-authors Chris Seaman and Jim Pavelec both received high praise and awards for the awesome work they presented at Gen Con this year. Chris won Best in Show for his entire body of work, which means that he gets to judge the art show next year. Jim won third place for a Star Wars [...]

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Check out this badass Lamborghini inked entirely with Sharpie markers. In 2007, Brett David, 19-year-old CEO/owner of Lamborghini Miami, commissioned local graffiti artist Jona Cerwinske to blanket the $240K vehicle in Sharpie as an edgy promotional stunt. Brett had recently taken reins of the dealership after the passing of his father, and he wanted to assert himself in [...]

Gen Con Indy–the place to go for gaming…and art!

Rainbows aren’t just for leprechauns. They’re the perfect place for you favorite elven character to dance or glide. Follow along with artist Barbara Lanza as she shows you how to paint your own rainbow using acrylic or watercolor paints in just 3 simple steps. Before you get started, you will need: Surface: Watercolor paper Brushes: [...]

If you are interested in gaming, Gen Con is the place to be…

I usually like vampire-themed movies and TV shows (love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel), but I have yet to jump on the Twilight bandwagon (too much teenage angst?). However, I have wondered, what if Buffy and Edward existed in the same world? Turns out I’m not the first to consider what might happen if [...]

Buddy Scalara’s Comic Artist’s Photo Reference: Women and Girls and Comic Artist’s Photo Reference Men and Boys earned three stars from Comic’s Buyer’s Guide in the September 2009 edition. High praise from the longest running magazine about comics.  Click here to learn more about the Comic Artist’s Photo Reference Series and about its creator, Buddy [...]

Wes Anderson’s stop-motion animated adaptation of The Fantastic Mr. Fox opens in U.S. theaters November 13, 2009. The trailer offers a glimpse at what promises to be a fun take on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story, with Anderson’s hallmark aesthetics. Find out more about the film and check out a slideshow of its production here. [...]

Synthetic humanoids take note, a significant piece of 20th century architecture has popped up for sale in Los Angeles, California for a cool $15 million. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House, built high on a Hollywood hill in 1924, is currently in search of a new replica-destroying owner. Among other films, the house was featured in Ridley Scott’s 1982 [...]

Check out what IMPACT Book’s editorial director, Pam Wissman, had to say about this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Sounds like it was another hit!

With demonstrations and art from over twenty amazing artists including Dave McKean, David Mack, Marshall Arisman and Cynthia von Buhler, Art Revolution, the inspirational and instruction book by artist Lisa Cyr, has taken bookstores, art supply stores and online shops by storm. Don’t take my word for it though, check out these rave reviews. And Click here for [...]

Ponyo On the Cliff by the Sea opens in U.S. theaters August 14, 2009. Looks like we can expect another winner from Miyazaki! httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BfNtYF94cQ&feature=fvst

For those of you following our story last week about the 2009 World Body Painting Contest, you’ll be happy to know the results are in and the champs reside right here in the US! Brothers Nick and Brian Wolfe of Wolfe Face Art & FX were crowned champs Seedoden, Austria, over contestants from 36 other [...]

According to Entertainment Weekly, an official Twilight Manga from Yen Press is in the works. A pub date is yet to be released, but the novel will feature…

Where the Wild Things Are opens in theaters on October 16. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NOkQ4dYVaM

That’s right, IMPACT Books is returning to San Diego Comic-Con International with our IMPACT University panel, author signings, contests, and giveaways. Stop by and see us at booth #1415, and you can enter to win an original piece of art from legendary artist Bryan Hitch (Ultimates, Fantastic Four, Captain America)! This original hand-drawn sketch is from Bryan’s [...]

Looks like the NeonDragon has braved braved the furry world at Anthrocon. She reports it as not at all creepy like the Internet led her to believe and pretty similar to an anime convention.  Check out photos of her sales table and the Furry Parade. If you want to learn to draw cute animals that [...]

Want to learn how to use your face or body as a canvas for your art? The twelfth annual World Body Painting Festival takes place in Seeboden, Austria, next week. Top-notch instructors from around the world will teach a variety of body-décor workshops, with topics ranging from elaborate face-painting techniques to exotic full-body designs. If [...]

Going to San Diego for this year’s Comic-Con? You’re not alone. Once again the show is sold out. But for those of you lucky enough to score some tickets, make sure you swing by the IMPACT Books booth to see what your favorite IMPACT authors are up to.

IMPACT’s newest manga instructional book is coming this Fall to a store near you. With Shojo Fashion Manga Art School you’ll learn all about drawing people, creating great expressions, clothing your characters, and placing people into settings. Everything you need to bring your manga to life. But, you don’t have to wait…

With 4th of July weekend behind us, it’s time for the IMPACT staff to begin gearing up for San Diego Comic Con–one of THE highlights of the year. If you’re in the area, stop by our booth for author signings, contests and giveaways. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet some of IMPACT’s most accomplished [...]

The world’s beloved King of Pop will soon have his own 32-page comic book. Bluewater Productions, publishers of the pro-lady FEMALE FORCE line of comics (Hilary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Caroline Kennedy and more on shelves now, and Baba Wawa and Oprah coming soon!) are fast-tracking an MJ comic to be released this October. Pre-order your [...]

High Moon, created by writer Scott O. Brown and IMPACT’s Scream author and artist, Steve Ellis, is nominated for 2 Harvey Awards for Best New Series and Best On-Line Comics Work.

The number one fashion workshop for shojo manga is…
Shojo Fashion Manga Art School!
Complete with 14 start-to-finish demonstrations for drawing a range of character “types,” from the girl next door to the punk guy, from single characters to couples and groups, this book will help you bring a world of unique and memorable characters to life … and have lots of fun doing it!

This just in, Dracopedia: A Guide to Drawing the Dragons of the World, by William O’Connor is available now for preorder from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It’s 160-pages of guaranteed dragon goodness! Look for it in book stores and art supply stores everywhere starting in September.

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The Jim Henson Company announced a new publishing partnership with Archaia Comics earlier this week. Kids of the ’80s dance your cares away! Red, Wembley, Mokey and the gang will be one of the first Henson productions adapted into graphic novel format. Reps from both companies will announce the creative schedule for the radish-noshing frenemies [...]

Yes, that’s right. We had to cancel our IMPACT University event that was scheduled the day before ComicCon. Thanks so much to those of you who signed up and expressed interest.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen opens in theaters this coming Wednesday, June 24. While it may not be an Oscar winner, the latest Transformers movie promises to be action packed and full of explosions. Check out the trailer here. Want to create your own transforming robots? Check out MechaForce: Draw Futuristic Robots that Fly, Fight, [...]

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Want great art instruction at the click of a button? You’re in luck! Many of your favorite IMPACT books are now available for purchase on ebooks.com. DragonArt, Dreamscapes, Street Scene and Face Off (just to name a few) are already available, and more are on the way. The downloads can be viewed on tablet PCs, [...]

Hey IMPACTians! What’s 1 hour from Toronto, 2 hours from Buffalo and 3 hours from Detroit? The IMPACTastic Waterloo Arts Festival in Waterloo, Ontario this coming weekend. This eclectic celebration of visual and performing arts aims to expand your artistic consciousness. And hey, IMPACT author David Okum will be there and so will this guy: [...]

Brian Miller, expert colorist and IMPACT author, has just completed two sweet new dvds on digital coloring.

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AHHHHH!!!!! Scream: Draw Classic Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, Monsters and More by Steve Ellis is now on its way to the printer and will be available in September 2009 (just in time for Halloween!). Preorder your copy of Scream here. You can also see some sample art and pages from the book on IMPACT’s facebook page. [...]

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Good news, everyone! You can sign up for IMPACT’s monthly e-newsletter simply by clicking the link at the top of the page.

What with retro all the rage now, it’s only fitting that an early 1900s adventure novel, Tom Swift, should hit the silver screen…

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Jessica Peffer (author of DragonArt and DragonArt: Fantasy Characters, just in case you’re just joining us) has released her second artistnetwork.tv video, DragonArt Digital Dragons. In this latest offering, she reveals her super shiny secrets for coloring dragons and adding sparkle! It’s now available for download and streaming. Visit artistsnetwork.tv to check out a preview!

Summer hours are now in effect here at IMPACT headquarters, which means our office closes at 3PM on Fridays, which means I’ll be able to catch a matinee showing of Pixar’s Up. Huzzah! Since the release of Toy Story in 1995, Pixar has been batting a thousand, and it looks like Up is par for [...]

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IMPACT University is the single most important even for any artist or writer looking to make it in the world of comics and graphic novels. Don’t believe me? Just check out this list to see why this even isn’t to be missed!

In my hunt for news that you might like to read I stumbled upon an interview with comic book writer David Hine, discussing FVZA: Federal Vampire And Zombie Agency, his new mini series…

Disney’s The Princess and the Frog is set to open in theaters this December. This will be the first traditionally animated movie that Disney has released in theaters in quite a while. (Lately, Disney has been concentrating on CGI animation with its extremely successful Pixar studios.) In the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, Disney released [...]

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Check out this article excerpt from the 2008 edition of Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. IMPACT event coordinator, Greg Hatfield, asks super-star comics and graphic novel writer Peter David about his experiences as a writer. Find out what he has to say below.

This isn’t your English teacher’s Sherlock Holmes! httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4K3aM5H5KM

Let’s face it, aliens are among us. It’s your right—your civic responsibility—to learn the skills necessary to protect yourself, your loved ones, and, ultimately, your planet. Below are 3 ways to do just that thanks to The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook.

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  Scroll down to check out the latest from J “NeonDragon” Peffer. Her first video with ArtistsNetwork.tv is now available for streaming. If you aren’t taken right to the page, just click on either the Workshop Details/Previews tab or the Buy Workshop tab.   And if, by chance, you haven’t yet…check out her first two [...]

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Lisa Cyr, whose new book Art Revolution hits shelves at the end of June, has been selected to appear in this fall’s Spectrum 16, the latest in the series of books showcasing the best fantasy, science fiction and horror art of the year. As a nice bonus, Spectrum is currently spotlighting her demo piece on [...]

If you’re a fan of Star Wars, you’ll want to check out the latest news about IMPACT author and officially licensed Lucasfilm Ltd. artist Randy Martinez. Randy is offering all 9 of his artist return sketch cards from his work on Topps’ Star Wars card. Check out the details here. Also check out Randy’s IMPACT [...]

Do you love supernatural thrillers? Shojo manga supernatural thrillers…?

Check out the new blog by Jim Pavelec and Chris Seaman, two of the authors of the 2008 release, Wreaking Havoc: How to Create Fantasy Warriors and Wicked Weapons. The pair has teamed up again to create another IMPACT book, due for release in Spring 2010.   Learn to draw and paint the fantasy warriors and [...]

After a limited opening yesterday, Star Trek is now showing in all theaters today. I was able to see it in a nearby theater last night and was surprised by the small crowd (fewer than 20 people in the theater). Where were all the trekkies? I was a little disappointed since a large, excited crowd [...]

Let your imagination take flight! This week, David Adams’s gorgeous new acrylic book FairyArt hits shelves. Here are three reasons this book will make you a better otherworldly artist: Over twenty step by steps of fairies in different settings Tons of natural elements to enhance your scenery including butterflies, birds, trees, bumblebees, water reflections, flowers, [...]

The Queen City (a.k.a., Cincinnati, IMPACT Books HQ) has a new ally in its fight against crime. The Shadow Hare is a local 21-year-old guy who dresses up as a superhero and patrols the streets. I’m not sure how serious any of this is, but he was featured on a local news station and then [...]

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Come on and join me in taking a break from your week with some Vintage Manga from manga.com. Here’s a clip of The Birth of Astro Boy to get you pumped…

X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens in theaters today, marking the start of this summer’s action packed movie season. Over the next few months we can look forward to Star Trek, Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Public Enemies, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, [...]

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IDW Publishing released G.I. Joe: Best of Larry Hama last week. Sweet. I love G.I. Joe for oh so many reasons, but here are my top three: The Crimson Guard commanders Tomax and Xamot. To this day, whenever I experience a sudden, random ache or pain I instantly wonder if I have a twin who’s [...]

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Now there’s a brand new app on the market, and it fits in just perfectly with what we do here at IMPACT… talk about comics! This app–Comicstrips–is for reading comics on the go, and newsarama.com has an exclusive interview with its creator…

A new preview to the video workshop Hi-Fi Digital Coloring with Brian Miller is now available. Click here to watch the clip and learn about special effects for digital coloring. You can also watch the introduction to the workshop here. The full streaming video is now available on artistsnetwork.tv. Also be sure to check out [...]

Buy Here. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djOl5NIYIVE&feature=channel_page

The Hi-Fi Digital Coloring with Brian Miller video workshop is now available at artistsnetwork.tv. You can check out the awesome preview on the IMPACT home page. Brian is the co-author of Hi-Fi Color for Comics: Digital Techniques for Professional Results.    

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Calling all comic book lovers out there… Hugh Jackman and the staff of IMPACT Books remind you to mark your calendars for May 2: FREE Comic Book Day!

Would you like to learn how to get your comic book published or just how to become a professional comic book writer? Going to be any where near Comic Con in San Diego this coming July? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then check out the IMPACT University Pro Comics and [...]

David Adams loves to portray the fantasy realms of the wee people within a theater of natural intricacy and wonder. His first book FairyArt: Painting Magical Fairies and Their Worlds is set for release on May 6, 2009. Click here to see an album of FairyArt pages and painting on IMPACT’s facebook page. You can [...]

North Light Books, IMPACT’s sister imprint, is proud to have one of its authors share in the fantasy art spotlight. Lisa L. Cyr, author of Art Revolution (on shelves June 30th) has been selected to have her demo piece The Courageous appear in Spectrum 16: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Sept. 2009). Future IMPACT [...]

Newsarama.com posted a review of Comic Books 101: The History, Methods, and Madness by Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton today. Check it out here. The review lists Chris and Scott’s web site as comicbooks101.com, but their web site actually is comics101.com. Check them out here. Writing for Comics & Graphic Novels with Peter David and [...]

In an effort to showcase graffiti in a legal way, Nino Ceritano, graffiti-enthusiast and warehouse/restaurant owner in Blacksburg, Virginia, is hosting a graffiti competition…

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.” What is the world of Jane Austen coming to? Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Yes, that’s right, Quirk Books has published a version of Jane Austen’s classic work in which flesh-eating zombies add a certain [...]

IMPACT Books is proud to announce that online registration is now open for the new IMPACT University Pro Comics and Art Workshop, a one-day intensive of comics, graphic novel and art educational programming featuring some of the industry’s top names.
Click the link below to get the full details.

What better place? Scape Martinez, graffiti artist, teacher and creator of GRAFF: The Art and Technique of Graffiti, is taking his message of expression, line, art and being true to yourself into packed high school classes in the San Jose, California area.      For more about what graffiti is and how to create it check out [...]

If you haven’t already, go check out Monsters vs. Aliens this weekend. The film is geared towards kids, but also has enough jokes and kitschy references to keep adults entertained (especially those of the nerdy persuasion). Click here to watch the official movie trailer. Want to create your own monsters and aliens? Be sure to [...]

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Comic Books Resources wrote this little ditty about the upcoming Comic Books 101 by Scott Tipton and Chris Ryall. IMPACT’s sweet new guide on the history of comics hits shelves mid-May. We’ll keep you posted!

The newest IMPACT title, Creature Features: Draw Amazing Monsters and Aliens is set for release on April 8. Here’s a Q&A with the author, Randy Martinez.   Bio: Randy Martinez was born and raised in southern California. The son of two artists, he was destined to be an artist himself. But his road to being [...]

I love Manga and was excited to hear that some designs from TOKYOPOP will be made into T-shirts exclusively featured at…

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      Check out the new promo video for Goblinoids: How to Draw and Paint Goblins, Orcs and Other Dark Creatures, by Scott Purdy. This is a truly stellar offering from our IMPACT partners across the pond at David & Charles. The animation in the promo video is done by F+W Media’s own Adam [...]

We’ve been big fans of YouTube for quite some time, and now we have our very own IMPACT Movies YouTube channel. Click here to check it out and become a subscriber. Click here to watch our most recent YouTube video, an introduction to Hi-Fi Digital Coloring with Brian Miller. The full-length streaming video will be [...]

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The Super Friends : The JLA :: The Hall of Justice : Union Terminal Give a shout-out to Cincinnati, Ohio, IMPACT fans! The mid-size, midwestern rivertown is home to both IMPACT Books and Union Terminal, the humongous, half-atrium, art deco train station built during the Great Depression and inspiration to the classic ’70s cartoon Super [...]

The Watchmen “Tales of the Black Freighter” came out on DVD and Blu-ray yesterday. Check out a trailer on the Comic Book Resources site.

The Fantasy/Sci-Fi forum at WetCanvas currently has new posts from artists drawing griffons, elves, dragons, war scenes, and more…

Lately, everybody’s talking about GRAFF: The Art & Technique of Graffiti, so I figured it was time to post the Q+A we did with Scape Martinez, the author of this completely cool, how to draw and paint graffiti guide. Born in Newark, New Jersey and now living in San Jose, California, Scape creates with spray [...]

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Rufus B. Seder’s massive, moving wall art is true mural magic. Without the use of electricity or moving parts, Seder’s “Lifetiles” seem to move right before your eyes. Seder has created more than thirty Lifetiles installations around the world and has written two children’s books (“Gallop!” and “Swing!”), using similar technology (sort of similar to [...]

The Wolverine is turning 35 this year, and to pay tribute, Marvel has tagged April “Wolverine Art Appreciation Month.” Michael Cavna, comics blogger for the Washington Post, shares a sneak peek of a few of the character-inspired masterpieces on his most recent Comic Riffs post. And for their aesthetic contributions to the comic/art world, IMPACT [...]

Do you have a traditional art piece you’re particularly proud of and please with? Enter it in The Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competition. There’s a student/beginner division for artists age 16 or over. There are cash awards and all winners will be features in the January/February 2010 issue of The Artist’s Magazine. Click here for [...]

After a much heralded opening, Watchmen is receiving mixed reviews. Don’t get me wrong, in just one week it’s already raked in over $55m and has a respectable 65% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. But it’s just not getting the rave reviews I’d expected. Although the reviews obviously vary, the general consensus seems to be that it [...]

I wanted to share an instructional article I found on WetCanvas. It’s titled “A Method of Drawing Celtic Knotwork – Weaves.” I love the look of Celtic designs, and there’s no denying they make awesome addition to the costumes and weapons of fantasy art characters. Click here to read the article. Maybe you’ll find some [...]

We are three months into 2009, and taking a look back at our bestselling IMPACT art instruction of 2008. Dreamscapes: Creating Magical Angel, Faery & Mermaid Worlds With Watercolor is at the top of our list….

So the name of Peter David’s website is: Peter David, Writer of Stuff. I was over there poking around the other day and noticed he’s made some updates–including a bibliography section. There, you discover the real meaning of “writer of stuff” is, in fact–writer of  bazillion comics, novels, screenplays, articles, nonfiction books, etc. I guess [...]

IMPACT author Buddy Scalera was recently featured in a “10 Questions” interview on ComicsCareer.com. A writer, editor and photographer, Buddy has written for Deadpool, Agent X, Weapon X, X-Men Millennial Visions, Marvel Knights Millennial Visions, Necrotic, 7 Days to Fame and Decoy, and he’s the author of IMPACT’s Comic Artist’s Photo Reference series (People and [...]

Any Legend of the Seeker fans out there? I saw a lot of hype about it when it premiered this fall, and I thought I should check it out, but in my market it’s on Sundays at 7 p.m.—not my prime T.V. watching time, so I missed the first few episodes and then forgot about [...]

Based on DC Comics’ twelve-issue series by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins, the Watchmen is set for release this Friday.  httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VLA0tg5yI0

I’ve always wondered, “How do artists make those cool vinyl characters?” It’s no longer a mystery, and you can do it too…

J “NeonDragon” Peffer, (a.k.a. Jessica Peffer) author of DragonArt: How to Draw Fantastic Dragons and Fantasy Creatures and DragonArt Fantasy Characters, has started a channel on Ustream. Tune in to her show, Neon Dragon Art: A broadcast full of Photoshop mishaps and rad fantasy art, and join in the discussion.  You can ask questions, chat [...]

IMPACT is now on Facebook! We’re just getting started, so please be patient as we build up our page. Click here to check it out. Come back often to find out what’s new at IMPACT, see cool art and post your own art news and images. Become a fan and help us grow!

After successfully storming the big screen three times (with a fourth in the works), the Amazing Spider-Man is swinging onto Broadway in Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, and he’s bringing some big names with him. The music and lyrics for the show are being written by none other than U2’s Bono and The Edge. This [...]

As we get ready to eat King Cake and crown the King and Queen of the Office later this afternoon, I decided to share some fun cartoons with you reminiscent of this big day…

J “NeonDragon” Peffer (a.k.a. Jessica Peffer) has just left Artistnetwork.tv studios after filming two (count’em TWO) video workshops—DragonArt: Drawing Dragons and DragonArt: Digital Dragons.

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After just two weeks in the theater, Coraline has raked in $18.9M at the box office and has a very fresh 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I recently decided to check it out for myself and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’d never seen a 3-D movie before, so I was pretty excited about the goofy glasses [...]

Follow us on Twitter to keep up on the hippest happenings at IMPACT! But please bear with us, we’re just getting started. Tell your Tweeple! Let IMPACT be your Tweetheart!

Maybe I’m late to the party, but I just stumbled upon digital comics in the iTunes store. In my defense, don’t have an iPhone or an iPod touch (still rocking the 2nd gen nano, but some day *sigh*) so I don’t spend a lot of time looking at the apps. (I don’t wear envy well.) [...]

Hell Beasts, Jim Pavelec’s first IMPACT instruction book, just received another glowing review, this time from HorrorNews.net. Click here to read the full review. Check out Hell Beasts and Wreaking Havoc (co-authored by Jim Pavelec, Chris Seaman, Chuck Lukacs and Thomas Manning) for yourself: Click here to buy Hell Beasts. Click here to buy Wreaking [...]

Counterculture rebel and 2008 presidential campaign scapegoat Bill Ayers is set to star in a graphic novel of his very own. But don’t get excited for any federal building blasts or showdowns betwixt long-hairs and suits. This here’s a scholarly affair. Teachers College Press, an erudite liberal New York publisher, has signed on to adapt [...]

Here’s why I think drawing is awesome: 1. You can draw anywhere—with sketchpad you don’t even need a surface to work on 2. There’s no set up 3. There’s no clean up (all play and no work, how great is that) 4. There’s no drying time 5. The materials and supplies are inexpensive (especially compared [...]

Here in Cincinnati we had the Cavalcade of Customs in January, the VTwin Expo last weekend, and in a couple weeks we’ll get a chance to check out new rides at the Auto Expo. I love cars and motorcycles and couldn’t help but think how great these show venues are for artists…

Just in case you missed Andy at the weekend’s New York Comic Con, and well, even if you didn’t, here are some cold (and not so cold) facts about the insider behind The Insider’s Guide to Comics and Graphic Novels. Name: Peter Andrewes Schmidt Nickname: Andy Hometown: Fairmont, West Virginia Current residence: San Diego, California [...]

New York Comic Con 2009 is taking place today through Sunday at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. If you’re lucky enough to be there, click here to download this handy guide to the educational panels (thanks to Buddy Scalera for providing us with the link!). Several IMPACT authors (Steve Ellis, Andy Schmidt and Buddy [...]

Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick has adapted Neil Gaiman’s (creator and writer of Vertigo’s The Sandman) Hugo Award-winning, internationally best-selling young adult novel, Coraline, as a stop-animation film of the same name. The movie opens in theaters this Friday, Feb. 6, 2009. You can see the trailer at the official Coraline web site. Gaiman [...]

Yesterday I ran across an ad for an art opening featuring the work of illustrator Maurice Sendak. Although the ad was outdated, and the opening in Los Angeles last November, I checked out the website and found a little slice of heaven…

Andy Schmidt dishes up the inside scoop on what really goes on in the world of comic books. The Insider’s Guide to Comics and Graphic Novels hit bookshelves and internet shops everywhere last month, so I figure we’re due for a little insight into the author who so deftly shares his experiences and gathers expert [...]

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The teaser trailer for Transformers 2 Revenge of the Fallen was released last night during the Super Bowl. Long story short, it was awesome.

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 [...]

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.”

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 [...]

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 [...]

“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 [...]

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 [...]

If you want to have fun with paint, look no further than art instructor, Merle Rosen. I think you’ll enjoy watching her paint in her new videos out from artistsnetwork.tv. Start with…

  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 [...]

Buddy Scalera, author of IMPACT’s Comic Artist Photo Reference series has organized a host of educational panels for New York Comicon 2009. The panels will be attended by highly-respected industry pros who will discuss the craft and business of creating comics.

Find out who’s attending and read the full press release here.

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 [...]

Marvel Comics’ Amazing Spider-Man #583 hits comic book shops today. This edition features a special side story with a nod to history as Peter Parker covers Barack Obama’s inauguration and discovers a situation that requires Spiderman’s help. Half of the covers feature the president-elect. Marvel expects the edition to sell out. Do you have plans [...]

I am looking forward to February as a month for more than just Valentine’s Day now that I stumbled upon the trailer for Coraline, directed by Henry Selick (where have I been…under a rock?). Based on the 2002 book by author Neil Gaiman, the story is about…

Attention all you Facebook users, IMPACT author and artist Harry Hamernik has a created a Facebook ground for Cartoonimals, his latest art instruction title.

Monkey: Journey to the West is the title of a “pop” opera by Gorillaz (one of my fav bands). It opened in November 2008, but so far performances have only been in the U.K., and according to the web site, it looks like the last performance wrapped up Jan. 4. Gorillaz is fronted by four [...]

The Dark Knight proves that, yes, a comic book movie can be considered a “Best Picture!”

BIO Jason Cheeseman-Meyer is an artist, illustrator and writer currently living in Arizona with his wife and two daughters. Formally educated at Oberlin College after a stint at Otis Art and Design, he continues his arts education with artists and illustrators around the country. Jason has been studying curvilinear perspective since 1993. He has brought [...]

BIO Doug Chiang has worked in film and television production since 1986, earning an Academy Award, two British Academy Film Awards and a Clio Award. As a film production designer, he has worked on The Polar Express, Beowulf and the 2009 Disney film A Christmas Carol. Chiang was design director for the Star Wars prequels [...]

So, I’m sure you’ve all been finished with your holiday shopping for weeks, months even. But just in case…

No question about it, 2008 has been a great year for DC and Marvel movies, and it’s not over yet. The Spirit is coming to a theater near you on Christmas day. Judging from the trailer, The Spirit is going to be typical Frank Miller fare: over the top, but stylish and fun. Take a [...]

Roll out the red rug. Mr. Hugh Michael Jackman has been announced as the host of the 81st Academy Awards on February 22nd, 2009 at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. Contract negotiations are still pending for a statuette trophy makeover. IMPACT Books designer Guy Kelly presents The Wolvaward: In other news, after a brief [...]

BIO 8fish is a jack-of-all-trades creative workshop that has been producing mind-blowing animation, design and illustration for more than ten years. The secret to 8fish’s success is a feisty team of incredibly talented and versatile artists who constantly challenge themselves and each other. Their clients include Nickelodeon, Writer’s Digest, Wendy’s, DirectTV, among many others. Name: [...]

Achieve a successful drawing, even if you’ve never picked up a pencil.

Buddy Scalera has hit the big time. In preparation for the New York Comic Con, Pulse News has run a great interview with the man himself about his work, comics, and most importantly CAPR: Men and Boys.    Check out the whole thing here.

Congratulations to Mirana Reveier, our grand prize winner of a signed Doug Chiang print and a copy of his book Mechanika..

2008 has been a great year for comic fans. We had a record summer for Marvel and DC movies, starting with Iron Man, then on to Hellboy II, The Incredible Hulk, and ending with The Dark Knight as an amazing grand finale. As of this past Tuesday, all four movies are now available on DVD—what [...]

Reviews for The Punisher: War Zone are amassing into two distinct piles since the film’s nationwide release last Friday: nay for the stodgy, uptight Hollywood critics and yay for the erudite fanboys. This is the third cinematic up-to-bat for Marvel’s brutal anti-hero, and what some comics fans say is the closest yet to the original [...]

BIO A freelance artist and illustrator for over 20 years, David Okum has been published in Antarctic Press manga anthologies and other comic books, including six by Guardians of Order. He’s authored four popular books with IMPACT, Manga Madness, Superhero Madness, Manga Monster Madness and Manga Fantasy Madness. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts [...]

For those of you who haven’t seen graffiti in action, read on…

While I may have had some qualms about buying Hellboy II on DVD, I have no hesitation when it comes to The Dark Knight, which comes out on DVD next Tuesday. I have to admit that although I truly enjoy most Marvel and DC movies, I probably wouldn’t be first in line on opening night [...]

Los Angeles Times’ entertainment writer Geoff Boucher has published the final installment of his three-part interview with Neil Gaiman on the LATimes blog, Hero Complex. Check out the interview in full: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

BIO Dermot Walshe has worked in art and animation for that past twenty years. For the last fifteen, he’s worked as a concept artist and designer for films, television and computer games. Currently, Walshe works as a freelance artist in production design, concept development, storyboards, 2D and 3D workbooking and layout. Walshe bought his first [...]

Twilight is here and big and everyone has something to say about it whether they’ve seen it / read it, or not. Just out in the US, Twilight the movie has been dubbed a “cultural phenomenon,” making a big IMPACT on audiences of all ages. How do you weigh in on this new fantasy phenom?

  Time is running out to submit your art to be included in the next IMPACT e-newsletter!  Just send a JPEG of your latest work at 72dpi to: impactbooks@fwpubs.com. If your piece is chosen to showcase in next month’s e-newsletter, we’ll send you a signed print from Mechanika: Creating the Art of Science Fiction With [...]

“Drawing is like reading, a skill learnable by almost everyone.”

Scape Martinez, author of the upcoming GRAFF: The Art & Technique of Graffiti (February 2009), is all about public works and celebrating the communal nature of graffiti–legally.

So, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army was released on DVD last week. Has anyone purchased it yet? I’m thinking about it, but I had somewhat mixed feelings about the latest Hellboy installment. Don’t get me wrong, I love the chocolate-eating, evil-fighting demon from hell, and the artistry was amazing. (You can always count on Guillermo [...]

David Okum’s new book Manga Martial Arts contains over 50 basic lessons for drawing the world’s most popular fighting styles.

IMPACT has teamed up with AintItCoolNews to give away ten signed John Howe “Wandering Fire” posters and free copies of the new book Forging Dragons. Just pick your cast for the new Hobbit movie and it could all be yours.

Hello everyone,
Let me introduce you to my new hero, Captain Fantastic Faster than Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Wolverine, Hulk and the Flash Combined.

You guys have boring names like Brian, Jennifer and Chris. You should try to be more like this guy. I’m thinking of changing my moniker to something like, “The Claw” or “Even Better Than Captain Fantastic Faster than Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Wolverine, Hulk and the Flash Combined.” The ball’s in your court folks.

IMPACT author and artist David Okum will be at the Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, for the “Get Your Warhol On” art show and sale.

John Howe, concept artist for the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy and fantasy artist extraordinaire, has a released a new collection of dragon art.

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Johanna Draper Carlson Reviews Writing for Comics with Peter David. . . and likes it!

Check out this new book by Buddy Scalera. It’s like having a superhero right in your studio.

So I finally made the leap. I’ve gone from mere comic collector and nerd to full on scary comic guy. I bought a piece of original art. Superman is so freaking awesome and I’ve really been digging the way Renato Guedes has been drawing him. So, I’m at the San Diego comic con working my tail [...]

HBO is getting ready to launch a new series about vampires and they’re using an online comic to provide the back story. Get the delicious details here.

Tired of action-packed comic books about crime-fighting superheroes and sleuths? Then check out the new and exciting Google Chrome comic book! Google, the masters of all things Internet, recently teamed up with comic artist, theorist and writer Scott McCloud to develop a comic book-styled press release for Google’s new open source browser, Google Chrome. The [...]

A little background information on myself, although the main topic of this post is the animation and cartoons of my brother, Mike Mayfield.

A Nintendo spoof by Los Angeles based animator Mike Mayfield.

I’ve been working on John Howe’s latest book Forging Dragons (which is awesome by the way!) and inside there’s a brilliant painting of an inky, ethereal cosmic dragon soaring through space. It’s so good that i just had to read the text to find out what the story was behind the painting. Imagine my surprise then when I discover that this is a painting of the famous dragon Tiamat, from the 70s kids cartoon Dungeons & Dragons!

Our very own Scott Francis had a chance to sit down with visual effects director and Oscar winner Doug Chiang at Comic Con, asking him about the effect of movies on the con and the future of entertainment.

The best 4 days in gaming have come and gone and IMPACT was there. Between panels, games, the art show, costumes and everything else we got home happy and exhausted.  Here are the highlights.  “The Wreaking Havoc Guys,” Jim Pavelec, Chris Seaman and Chuck Lukacs, were kind enough to participate in a panel for us. Their message [...]

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A bunch of us IMPACT chicks–Mona, Wendy, Jennifer, Kelly, Erika and I–are off to GenCon today (tough work, but somebody’s got to do it). We’re totally looking forward to seeing our friends Chuck Lukacs, Jim Pavelec and Chris Seaman there, as well as the awesome con crowd! The guys are authors of Wreaking Havoc: Create [...]

John Howe’s signings at Comic Con were amazing. The crowds lined up all the way around the IMPACT booth on both Friday and Saturday of the show. John, of course, was very gracious and took time to talk with each fan and draw sketches. Here’s a short video of him drawing Gandalf for a fan. [...]

Check out Brian and Kristy Miller’s site http://www.hifidesign.com/ for everything they’re up to, including their time at the San Diego Comic Con, at which they did a panel on Hi-Fi Color for Comics and participated on our IMPACT Books panel. Great to see them and the tremendous interest in what they do. They’re in Egypt [...]

Check out this interview with renowned fantasy artist John Howe, author of Fantasy Art Workshop from IMPACT Books. John is a widely recognized Tolkien artist and the conceptual designer for the Lord of the Rings movies. I had a chance to meet John at Comic-Con and talk to him about the blending of movies and [...]

100 Days of Monsters author Stefan Bucher shares his thoughts on Comic-Con and talks about his own favorite comics. Stefan’s book is a fun collection of ink blot drawings, stunning design, and wild stories inspired by the monster illustrations. The book even comes with a “Monsters in Motion” DVD, showing Stefan’s innovative illustration techniques. bucherinterview.wav (1.56 MB)

Yeah. You know that Comic Con is cool. There’s exclusive clips of mind-blowing new block buster films and celebrity panels and collectible giveaways and the like. But, you want to know what one of our favorite moments at the Con was? A 10 year old artist named Selina from Santee, CA stopped by the booth [...]

  Check out the following interview with renowned comics writer Peter David, author of Writing Comics with Peter David as well as numerous comic titles including The Hulk, The Dark Tower, X-Men and many others. IMPACT Books and Writer’s Digest Books Publicity Manager Greg Hatfield catches up with Peter at Comic-Con and talks about Peter’s favorite [...]

The staff from IMPACT Books is back in the office after an amazing time at San Diego Comic Con. We’ve got all kinds of great stuff to share with you (which I’ll post in bite-sized chunks). Here’s a few highlights: Our annual IMPACT University panel was a blast offering great instruction from the likes of [...]

Lexington, KY, July 18, 2008 — LexArts announces a series of Comic Art programs in conjunction with the Lexington KY Comic Creators Group and the Lexington Art League for August 2008 including guest lectures, hands on workshops and a gallery exhibit for all ages highlighting comic art from across Kentucky. The Comic Art exhibit will [...]

Just got back from San Diego Comic Con International! Our booth was very busy, panel very successful, and we had a great time meeting with both current and potential IMPACT authors, contributors and readers. Most of the IMPACT team that attended the show got there on Wednesday, in time to avoid the long lines and [...]

I’m thrilled to welcome you to our new IMPACT site. If you’re not familiar with us yet, let me fill you in. Since 2004, IMPACT has provided the best art instruction for fantasy, comics and pop culture styles. We now have over 30 books in our line, including bestsellers DragonArt, Enchanting Fairies, Face Off, Comic Artist’s Photo Reference, Dreamscapes and Hi-Fi Color for Comics. We’ll continue providing you with more great books, of course—cranking out 20+ new ones per year going forward—but with this site, we’ll also provide the best art instruction (and more) online with lots of inspirational art, fantastic teaching and interviews with top-notch creators; links to videos of demonstrations; step-by-step tutorials; the possibilities are endless. Oh yeah, and be sure to check out our schedule for the San Diego Comic Con, which of course is happening right now! We’re at booth 1415. Please stop by and visit us if you’re at the con, and thank you so much for visiting us online!

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