2016 A Year in Reveiw

It will be 2017 in just a bit, and if you are anything like me., you cannot wait for this steaming pile of "Alan Rickman" stealing crap to be over. Still, this year had its high points and I wanna thank all those who helped make it possible.

Last February I was part of month-long Black history exhibition at Smithville Mansion in Easthampton Twp, NJ. The show was an opportunity to meet new artists and hope people would tour the facilities and see the work. Sadly I did not win a prize, but my mentor Don Stephens took third. Don deserved first! It was with great pride I displayed "Lil Miss Salty" and "My Fair Electric Lady."

Another highlight this year is the completion of the children's book, "Frankenstein's Monster Goes to OZ". My good friend Matt Denion, author of the "Atomic Rex" series, wrote this wonderful book. I was honored when Matt asked me to illustrate this book! It was a hell of a challenge. Still, we did it! Copies are still available on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/Frankensteins-Monster-Goes-Matthew-Dennion/dp/1533640424/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483057329&sr=8-1&keywords=frankenstein+monster+goes+to+oz

I had the opportunity to do some fun shows this year! A book-reading and Free Comic Book Day at Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse and the Jazz Fest in North Philadelphia! A big thanks to everyone involved! 

I was able to do some blogs and vlogs this year! The vlog was with a wild bunch of guys who had me on as their very first guest! Here is a pic of one of the hosts, Alex, and myself at Dragonfly Con. I had so much fun with these guys! Watch out, 2017--I am on the docket for another round of discussions!!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsop-8pJJI4BQbTo692b5tg/videos

My first solo blog interview was with the two ladies of  "Drunk On Books," episode 20 podcast! I love being on with these two women. They are intelligent and so very nuts! We hope to do another book discussion in 2017! Stay tuned! As a side note, let's give these two a big thank you for putting up with me and forgiving me for screwing up at least one interview!  With that being said, "Take it away, Valkyrie!"

https://soundcloud.com/drunkonpodcast

One thing I was able to do this year was a commission of the great Jimmy Hendrix! He was damn popular. Yes! Next year, we will have a Prince and David Bowie!

Lots more great stuff happened in 2016, but I don't want to bore you with all of the details! So here is to 2017 and Happy New Year. One more thing. Please show my amazing wife some love in the comments. It's because of her that you people get to enjoy me and read grammatically correct blogs!

The Kraken Jim! Yes Again!

Back again kids!!!!! So back in 2014 you read my "New Techniques, New Problems" entry. If not, here you go.

http://brokenrocketart.blogspot.com/2014/08/new-techniques-new-problems.html

I thought to myself it might be fun to break out that design and make it over into something just a little different. So with a few new techniques and fun ideas, I present to you, again, "The Kraken Jim."  Prints and the original work are available upon request.

The last and biggest show of the year!!

It is that time of year again!! We get big and fat from turkey day... Then we spend four more weeks packing on the holiday pounds!! So before you fall face-first into 8 gallons of rum-spiked eggnog, why not come walk off some of Grandma's biscuits and see me and twenty-nine other artists? This is the best art show in all of New Jersey! They have an amazing array of artists, crafters and live music!   It's from December 9th thru the 10th! Please see the attached website for all the details!

http://www.artwithinreachnj.com/

A great shot of show creator Eric Wolff, Jen Shwab, and myself from the 2015 event.

And now a podcast! A filthy interveiw with Drunk On Books!

I was lucky enough to do an interview with the incredibly funny ladies of +Drunk On Books.  I had a great time and learned more about pop-up books than I ever thought I could!  Take a listen and comment below!  Make sure to follow the podcast!

http://drunkonbooks.libsyn.com/drunk-on-books-ep-20-off-the-books-w-joshua-toritto?tdest_id=407234

Vlog With Why You Should!!!

Last Friday night I was lucky enough to hang with the boys of "Why You Should".  It was so much fun to do an interview with these funny guys. We reflected on career choices and what it's like to be an artist.  I was also allowed to sit in for two other discussions! I want to send a big thank you to these guys! I can't wait to do it again!!! Please watch and comment!

Book Signing at BCLS Westhampton and Halloween Comic Con

Hey Everyone!!

I have two fun events coming up this month!

On Sunday the 23rd, we are having a book signing at the Burlington County Library in Westhampton. Matt Dennion and myself will be signing our book, "Frankenstein's Monster Goes To OZ" from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm! Please come out and say hello!

5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060

On Saturday, October 29th, I will be hanging out at the Halloween Comic Con at Amalgam Comics in Philly!!! I will be showing my work from 10 am to 6 pm! Come see me!

2578 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Etsy Store is Open!!

For anybody who doesn't know. I have a holiday greeting card line! They are the funniest in the business and certainly the most original! Take a look!

www.etsy.com/your/shops/BrokenRocketCards

Fun Weekend At Dragonfly Comic Con

So this weekend I got to hang out with some great people at the first Dragonfly Comic Con! The weather wasn't great... in fact, I was wrapped up in a blanket like an old lady.... Still, we had a great time even with all of the cos-players who didn't sew a place into their costumes for a wallet!

                                               Here is a group shot of our corner of artists and publishers!

                                                                               It's Batguy....

                                                                       And then this lady came by...

                                                                          Deadpool was the best!!

                                                         Why You Should Vlog!!! tiny.com/WYS-Vlog

                               My homie Phil McNulty! And his amazing art work! Making me look like crap!!!

 

Book Signing At Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse

Last Saturday my literary partner and good buddy Matt Dennion and I had a book reading and signing at the fantastic Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse! We had a great time meeting and discussing the book with new fans! Here are a few pictures!

My First 3d Sculpeted Pumpkin!!!

It is that time of year when Halloween crap is all over the place!!!! I love this time of year. Apple cider doughnuts and apple cider! This is when I pack on the pounds to my own fat ass, if only to keep body heat because I have no hair.... That is not what is important. For the last few years, pumpkin sculpting has becoming very popular. I have been wanting to try my hands at it. So, for my wedding anniversary, my wonderful wife picked me up the Villafane how-to DVD and tool set. So I picked up a pumpkin and got to it!

So first things first. I picked up a pumpkin from the local market only because if I screwed it up, I didn't spend a ton of time at a patch looking for a good one. Then I got all my tools and a sponge. Next I watched the first lesson on the DVD and took notes.

 Second step was wash the pumpkin, then draw the face you want. For this, I was to just do eyes and a mouth.

 After that, I scraped away the rind or pumpkin skin! It's not as easy as you might think.
 
 Next I dug out the eye socket and shaped the eye.

 After that I shaped the highlight, pupil, and iris.  I wish I had not gone so wide on the pupil. Live and learn.

 Next was more rind scraping and starting to make the teeth where they needed to be.

 Top row is not too bad. Notice the curve I tried to make on the gum and tooth lines.

 While it is set back some and light, there is a bottom row of teeth.

 All done! Hope you enjoyed this! I will add a post of my next pumpkin!