Commissions!

Hey gang!

I wanted to take the opportunity to show off some of the commissioned pieces I've been lucky to get.

This one's for Ryan over at Rebelscum:

This one's a tattoo for Greg at TheForce.net:

These two are for Kaela over on DeviantArt:

Finally, we hit week 11 of the Women of Star Wars digi-sketch cards, and this week it's one of my personal favorites, Aayla Secura!!

Digital Sketch Card Tutorial

Hey guys!

I thought I'd try something new this week. I've put together a pseudo-detailed tutorial on how I do my digi-sketchcards, featuring this week's Women of Star Wars digital sketch card...Dutchess Satine in Mandalorian armor!


I know she's a pacifist, but I really love her character, and I'm sure she's proud of her Mandalorian heritage. I'm hoping that, at some point, she understands that war is a necessary evil sometimes, if the Separatists attach Mandalore or something! I really love the image of her in the armor, cuz I feel like she'd be a complete bad-ass in it.

This tutorial is to illustrate the usual steps that I take to go from start to finish on a given illustration. Since I do all my work in Photoshop CS3, you'll need CS1 or higher to follow along! Here's the tutorial:

BAM! DEVIANTART!

So that wraps up week 10's Digi-Skecth Card. I can't believe it's 10 weeks in already! Only 5 to go, time to step things UP!

Greener Pastures

Hey dudes and dudettes!

So I'll preface this with saying that this week's post isn't really Star Wars related, per say. However, it's about a pretty critical and necessary step towards becoming a full time illustrator and cartoonist.

After 2 years & change and a phenomenally successful visit to Celebration V, I've decided to leave Market Maker Interactive & TRAFFIQ to pursue this dream of mine on a full-time basis. I'll still be working for them part-time, from home on Staten Island, though! Let me tell you, if I had to do something that wasn't art-related, this was the place for me. Looking back, I had a lot of fun working with these individuals, and I can't thank them enough for their understanding and support in my decision. I'm truly blessed to have worked there, and I wish them all the best!

Now, what will I be doing once I leave on September 15th?

• Pencil, ink, and color for a 48-page graphic novel titled (tentatively) "C.O.R.e." on a full time basis (paid gig!). More details to come!
  
• Commissions! They're always open. Hit the LINK to see my rates.
• As stated a moment ago, still working for Mmi from home, part-time.

After C.O.R.e. is finished, well, we'll have to see! I'm currently preparing for a Dark Horse portfolio review this October, so maybe something will come of that! In the meantime, while working on C.O.R.e., I'll just have to market myself like crazy to keep up the momentum.

SO! Without further adieu, here's Week 9's Women of Star Wars digital sketch card. I'm bringing you the first sexy Twi'Lek in Star Wars history...Jabba's slave Oola!

Celebration V Experience Part III of III: Artists!!!!

Okay, last post about CV. I promise. It's been over for almost a month already!

I just have one more round of people to thank for their warmth and time: The OFFICIAL STAR WARS ARTISTS!!

I got to briefly talk with Tom Hodges, Grant Gould, Lee Kohse, and Spencer Brinkerhoff III, and they were fantastic! But some artists were kind enough to even pose for pictures after offering some really fantastic advice: Jan Duursema, Matt Busch, Katie Cook, and JAKe!

With Jan at TFN's Party.

I ran into comic goddess and legend Jan Duursema twice: First at CV, where she autographed a free postcard for me! I told her how long I've been a fan (Since the early Republic days!), and it was great to meet her. Then again at the TFN party, Matt Long re-introduced us, and she complimented my banner! I was lucky enough to get a quick photo with her as well.

MATT BUSCH IS POINTING AT ME.

Up until now, I thought Ray Park was the nicest bigshot in the Star Wars business. Then, I met Matt Busch. I've been a longtime fan of his, and have always loved his You Can Draw Star Wars videos, so meeting him was awesome! He's probably the biggest thing to happen to Star Wars art since Ralph McQuarrie. This guy was already busy selling prints, and yet Matt took the time to compliment MY work (he loved the Ackbar card!) AND leave his table to come around and get a photo with me. This guy is truly a class act, and I can't say enough about him. Thanks, Matt!!

With JAKe!!!

JAKe was another class act all the way. He took the time out to talk to me and offer me advice TWO DAYS IN A ROW! He gave me a lot of constructive criticism about keeping my Star Wars and original work separate entities. He also complimented my work, and took one of the cards! I think the biggest compliment I received all week was when JAKe already knew who I was...through THIS BLOG! Awesome! Thanks for your time and kind words, JAKe!

With Katie Cook, the person I owe it all to!

Katie Cook didn't seem to remember me, but I sure remember her. For any of you usual readers here, she's the one who suggested posting work in the fanart forums on Star Wars message boards...which led to this whole gig in the first place!! I was so thrilled to meet her and thank her again for her advice in person, and she too was kind enough to take a photo.

I can't tell you how much of a rush it was mingling with these obscenely talented artists. All I wanted to do was go home and get back to work immediately! I can't thank them enough for their advice, and I promise not to let them down.

This week's woman of Star Wars digital sketch card is coming at you from another corner of the EU: Guri from Shadows of the Empire (in her SOTE: Evolution duds)! Special thanks to my girlfriend Alicia for posing!

Celebration V Experience Part II of III: Portfolio Review!

Man, oh man. Lots more people to thank.

Dave Filoni poses for a quick picture, while some dude looks on. Thanks, Dave!!

As mentioned last week, I got a chance to talk to Dave Filoni briefly at the TFN party, and he even posed for a picture with me! Great, humble guy. It was a real honor! He also was kind enough to answer a question of mine at a Q&A portion of a panel he hosted the next day. It was really great to get feedback from him!

But come on, this trip was initially about one thing for me: The portfolio review with Troy Alders, head art director of Lucasfilm Licensing. This is what convinced me to go in the first place, and without it, I would've never enjoyed the star treatment I was fortunate enough to receive. So, how did it go?

Really, really well! Troy really came off like the type of guy that's really interested in helping artists succeed, and it was such a pleasure listening to him. We only spent 5 - 10 minutes together (my head was spinning, I'm not actually sure how long it lasted) because his message was brief: He didn't have any criticism for my work. WHOA, WHAT?! That was unreal to hear from him!

After asking for one of my art postcards (!), Troy imparted some advice:

• Go talk to the artists in Celebration V's Artist Alley and hear how they got their foot in the door (Which I did....continued in Part III!).
• Get in the faces of Dark Horse, Topps Trading Cards, DK Publishing, etc. because he thought my work was professional enough to get me work!!
• Get to Comic Con. Luckily, it's two birds with one stone, as Dark Horse and co will be there in October!!

Catching Troy after the review!

I also got a chance to meet up with Kaela Croft (a few times, actually!) and Megan Crouse, friends from DeviantArt! Kaela actually waited in line for a portfolio review too, and also got some pretty great feedback!

Meeting up with Megan & Kaela, DeviantArt friends!

Most importantly, out of everyone, I have to thank my traveling companion, my co-nerd, band's drummer, best friend & brother, Joe Sorbera. Joe's been stuck to me through thick and thin, and we've been through hell and back together. I don't want to imagine the 72 hours of Celebration V without him, and luckily I won't have to. Thanks, man. From the bottom of my heart.

Goodbye Celebration V, & may the force be with you!!

But enough of that mushy crap, here's week 7's (of 15) Women of Star Wars digital sketch card...Jaina Solo!!


Next week will be my final Celebration V post...and it'll feature the official Star Wars artists that I had the pleasure of meeting! These are the guys I'm trying to join the ranks of, so you don't want to miss next week's update!

Celebration V Experience Part I of III: TFN & Rebelscum

I just....wow. I don't even know where to start.

My first ever autograph signing. Thanks to TFN!!!!

While the portfolio review was the biggest deal of the trip, I have to update this week talking endlessly about how welcome and warm the TFN and Rebelscum folks were. These people treated me like royalty in exchange for a few hours of my time to do some art for them. The concept itself is still hard for me to wrap my head around!!

First off, the Rebelscum Wed night party was AWESOME. It was a low-key gathering at Miller's Ale House, where the conversation with total strangers felt more like a reunion with long-lost family members by the end of the night. The gang was SO GREAT to talk Star Wars with, and were so kind with their words and support for my career. I really can't thank them enough! Quick shout out to Scott, Ryan, Ruark, Drew, Sarah, Greg, and Kerry for treating Joe Sorbera and me like brothers.

Last of the Rebelscummers!

But then I have to move on to the folks from TheForce.net. These guys...blew my mind. They arranged for me to come to their booth for an autograph signing session (All 100+ art cards gone!!). They displayed my banner at their HUGE and AWESOME party. They (Matt) called me on stage to thank me in front of the whole crowd. AND, they (Dajuan) dragged me through a sea of people just to introduce me to Dave Filoni, the director of the Clone Wars. Their kindness and support had to be one of the most touching experiences I've ever had the privilege of taking part in. Can't wait to do the Celebration VI banner for them!!

Posing with Matt & Dajuan in front of the bad boy itself!

Mega, super, ULTRA thanks to Ben, Dajuan, Matt, and the whole TFN family for the simply unbelievable exposure, the biggest welcome, and talking up the giant storm of kind words.

I also wanna give a quick hey to Jazz, our new friend who came all the way from Norway! Dude is one of the coolest people we had the pleasure of meeting! You should see that full sleeve Star Wars tattoo he's got goin' on there!

Joe & I catching up with Jazz

Finally, I'll talk about the portfolio review and meeting all the AWESOME artists in the next Friday update. LOTS of awesome news there!! But first, here's Week 6 of the (now!) 15 set of Women of Star Wars digital sketch cards...Padme Amadala Skywalker! She's sporting the Skywalker Legacy, Anakin's lightsaber! I've decided to start taking some artist liberties with these sketch cards...so look for some cool little things like this in future sketch cards!

Greetings From Celebration V! (Not Really)

Well folks, by the time this post is published, I'll have already met with Troy Alders at Lucasfilm for my portfolio review. I've worked my tush off the past month to prepare for the big event, but had a blast the whole way through. I'll talk all about it in next week's post, once I'm home and have internet access (I'm writing this a week in advance). I'm taking lots of pictures too, so it'll definitely be something different!

If you find yourself at Celebration V this weekend, be sure to stop by TheForce.net's table to see my banner, and don't forget to print and bring my winning badge! Any and all support would be appreciated! You can also pick up an artist postcard at TheForce.net's table.

Since this is the big weekend, I wanted to have a very special 5th Women of Star Wars sketch card planned for this week, so here's my favorite lady Master/Padawan team, Luminara and Barriss! Hope you like them!