I’ve been hinting at what’s been occupying most of my time the last two weeks here, but overtly giving peeks at it on Facebook, however, I haven’t completely revealed just what the heck I did in the windows of the Contemporary Arts Center until now. OK, technically the art installation itself was revealed to the public Thursday, when I put the finishing touch on it. But I haven’t really explained what the heck is going on.

Basically, the CAC separately curates its large, front window display facing Charleston Boulevard separately from the exhibits running inside the gallery. These “East Side Projects” essentially let an artist use the entire display to execute his or her vision. I was asked by the CAC board if I’d be interested in doing something with the window for March related to my comic book work, specifically The Utopian. I was honored, of course, but a bit apprehensive. After all, I’ve only had a few little piece of “art” shown in a few group shows, and had never done anything on the scale of filling a 22-foot-wide space, especially one that would be viewable 24 hours a day on one of the busiest thoroughfares in Las Vegas. Also, I didn’t want it to be (nor did the CAC) want it to be an overt ad for The Utopian, but I did know what I wanted it to be: fun, colorful and representative of my illustration style.

The concept I ended up developing was the effect of a passerby looking at life-sized comic book panels. I wanted to get across a few of the major themes of The Utopian, including the tendency to render the past with overly nostalgic eyes, and of course, the message of real change coming from the group up — something extremely relevant in light of the uprisings in Iran, Egypt, Bahrain and elsewhere. To my surprise, the initial designs I submitted — a combination of art and text culled from or inspired by the original comics — were accepted wholeheartedly, which left me to figure out just how I’d fabricate all the parts of this giant diorama.

There were three major elements to this installation: The two different backgrounds, the “stand-up” characters, and the foreground lettering (speech balloons and captions). It became almost more like set design. After initially considering producing everything digitally and printing in large format (which would have cost much, much more than the approximately $200 I poured into this project), I ended up doing everything by hand. The back walls — one a forced “exterior” perspective, one a high school hallway — were hand-painted with a combo of house paints and  acrylics. The stand-ups (four of them) were drawn onto and cut out of 5-foot-tall foam board, painted with  acrylics and outlined with a Sharpie. I created stands from left-over foam board. The lettering was done (poorly) by hand on poster board, and then suspended from the rafters with clear thread. Other elements were also created on the cheap, such as the “PRINCIPAL” door plate (white adhesive letters on black foam board) and a homecoming poster.

It took me about three days to paint the backgrounds and a day and a half to cut and paint the stand-ups.  Installation of the stand-ups and hanging elements took another day and a half. I did it all myself, with some last-minute assistance from Sara.

Feedback so far has been very kind. I personally think it turned out just “OK.” Of course, you lose a lot going from a perfectly controlled digital design to a real-life environment. But the effect is there. And it definitely brings attention to the CAC’s windows. If you get a chance over the next few weeks, swing by the Arts Factory and check it out.

Photo blatantly stolen from Fox5Vegas.com. Thanks Jaaaay!

I was going to start the title of this post with the usual “Where I’ll Be” prefix, but next weekend is another of those where I’m sort of all over the place, so there you go. Here’s the deal: I’ll be signing comics and shaking hands at two very worthy events in Las Vegas next week, and I’m hoping you can come to one or both.

First up, next Friday, Jan. 21, from 5 to 8 p.m., I’m going to be selling comics at a benefit for Spread the Word Nevada, a non-profit organization that provides books to schools to promote literacy among children. It’ll be at Sunrise Coffee (3130 E. Sunset Road, Suite A, just east of Sunset Park) and organized by my pals from the Avant Arts Collective. Other creative-types on hand include a couple authors behind The Perpetual Engine of Hope, live poetry by Harry Fagel and Kari O’Connor, and a wine-and-cheese bar benefiting the charity. Make sure you bring gently used or new children’s books to donate as well!  I’m also going to be donating 25 percent of comic sales from that night to Spread the Word.

The next day, Saturday, Jan. 22, from noon to 3 p.m., however, is the official release party for The Utopian trade paperback at Alternate Reality Comics (4110 S. Maryland Parkway, #8). My homeboy and cover artist Hernan Valencia is going to join me to sign comics, kiss babies and if you’re nice and get in line, do sketches. I’ve partnered with The Shade Tree shelter for women, children and pets for this event, so please bring one (or as many) of the shelter’s most-needed items from this list. Donors (and customers) will receive raffle tickets to win comics and merchandise from Alternate Reality, as well as signed copies of The Utopian courtesy of me. There will be snacks and stuff, so come down and geek out with us!

If you live out of Las Vegas and haven’t bought your copy of the awesome 120-page Utopian trade paperback, I’ve got a solution for you. Also, if you live in either Portland or Phoenix and want to see my pretty face, well, check it out, I’m coming for you, too.

As the story goes, I only started The Utopian to get pro credentials for a comic book convention. But almost two years later, here I am with a small publishing company, a number of other comics under my belt, and now a full-on graphic novel that will look lovely on any coffee table, bookshelf or nightstand. Also, more importantly, in your hands and read by your eyes.

The beautiful cover is by my man Hernan Valencia, who drew that for the first issue of the four-issue series, but it ended up getting printed inside as a pin-up because his alternate design for the cover worked better. I made posters from the pin-up, and they sold very well as art pieces at conventions, so I thought so strong an image would make a perfect cover for the collection. And swell guy that he is, Hernan gave blessings to do so.

I opted for a minimalist approach to placing copy on the cover, downplaying the “comic book” aspect of it, almost more like an album cover or fine art book. The back cover design carries the font from the cover in the sub-headers, but features prominently the original “Utopian” logo, and a not-terrible photo of me from former Rebel Yell photographer Josh Navarro.

All in all, I’m very happy with the way it turned out. If you’d like to get a copy, you can order it on Amazon.com for $19.95, but you can pre-order it directly from me NOW at a discounted price of only $14.95. And if you order it directly from me, I’ll even scribble my autograph on it. Just let me know if you want it customized in the special instructions.

Need added incentive?

Top 10 Reasons to buy The Utopian trade paperback:

1. It makes a great gift, much nicer than an e-mailed link.

2. We’ve seen your bookshelves, and let’s be honest — it can only improve your collection.

3. Your coffee table looks lonely.

4. It features 6,000 words of annotations revealing the secrets behind every single page of story.

5. Coke and hookers don’t pay for themselves.

6. The books are printed in the USA, and if you don’t buy one, not only are you not helping our economic recovery, but you’re letting the terrorists win.

7. I will personally sign any copy you pre-order directly. All those bastards on Amazon.com can’t say that.

8. When you’re done with it, you can donate it to your local library, which makes you a better person.

9. Every time an order comes in, an angel gets its wings.

10. No one wants to read 109 pages of comics on a computer monitor.

So there you have it! What are you waiting for? ORDER NOW! Only $14.95 and I sign it however you want it signed.

Thanks for your support. Now I have to get over to a thing with some people.

This is my first in-store signing, and I think it might be MaximuM’s second or something like that. Either way, I’ll be there from noon until about 3 p.m. with the brand-new, fourth issue of The Utopian, as well as whatever I have left in stock from the first few issues (I can tell you I have only one or two copies of #1 left). I’ll be doing sketches as well, and MaximuM will be giving away other cool stuff in a raffle of sorts.

I just found out today (or yesterday, I don’t remember) that the awesome, new geek culture website/podcast/video channel, Nerdlocker, will be coming out during the signing to shoot some video and do a little interview, so it would be really really really especially nice to have you lovely people there, if just to hang out and drink punch. If it looks like a ghost town on camera, that won’t be good.

After that, I’m gonna head to Alternate Reality Comics (4110 S. Maryland Pkwy. at Flamingo Road), where my man Ralph is celebrating the grand re-opening of his store all day with sales, specials and guests of his own, including the elusive Jae Lee from noon to 1 p.m. If you’re a big Jae Lee fan, maybe go there first and then come see me at MaximuM? That would be cool. Or vice versa. Either way, a great day for comic fans in the Vegas Valley this Saturday!

Nah. I’ve just been working.

One of the things I’ve been working on is an article in this week’s Vegas Seven about the relative success of local comic book shops, especially in the face of our struggling economy. I think it turned out pretty well, and there’s a lovely picture of Ralph Mathieu inside the new location of Alternate Reality Comics accompanying it, so you should go read it.

The other things I’ve been working on … well, it’s almost tiring to think about it. I mean, my eyelids are even sagging as I type this. Let’s go to list form:

• Playing shows again with As Yet Unbroken. We went from no gigs for nine months (while we shifted membership) to five gigs in two months. And we’re in the process of recording a proper EP, something that takes a lot longer than expected when all of us have day jobs/lives/vacations/side projects/health crises/potty breaks. But it’s getting done. I’d check out the AYU website for more info on upcoming events and whatnot.
• Making art. I mean, aside from comics (which we’ll talk about in a minute). For whatever reason, people becoming aware (or being reminded) of my semi-ability to draw has led me to be invited to group art shows. There was that LVSK8 show earlier in the summer for which I painted a terrible piece, and now I’m coming back again with an original creation for a zombie-themed show at Blackbird Studios (formerly Place Gallery) in October. I’m still not quite done with it, and the show is being hung next week, so I kinda need to get on that. But it’ll be sweet when it’s done. I hope. I’ll also be at First Friday with my own Outdoor Exhibition Space next week (Oct. 1), showing original art from Tales from the Boneyard, and promoting the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival. Speaking of which …
• I’ve been on the planning committee for the aforementioned Comic Book Festival for the last two years, but this year, my involvement has been amped up by volunteering to publish, edit and contribute to Tales from the Boneyard, an anthology of local creators to benefit the Festival’s benefactor, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. I know I’ve mentioned it here before, but let me just say that it is turning out way more awesome than I ever could have expected. But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself.
• Oh, comics, right. Well, in addition to the Boneyard book, there’s a fourth issue of The Utopian and a third issue of Omega Comics Presents both coming out in the next few months, and rumor has it you can go ahead and pre-order them at the Pop! Goes the Icon website right now. I’ve got a few other things up my sleeve, but mainly, once these two issues and the Boneyard anthology are out the gate, it’s mini-hiatus time for the Peej, as I recover from what feels like a six-month marathon. You know, before I start another one.

That’s pretty much it. I’ve also been trying to find time to work on a major redesign of this website that would take the focus off this blog and put it on the work itself (a portfolio, I suppose), but uh yeah right. In the meantime, thanks for reading and bless your face.*

*Sorry, Toby.

The top panel on this page I’m working on has taken me about three days to just get that far in rendering. Obviously, not three days straight, but three days of about two hours at a stretch. It’s the last bit of inking I need to finish for my contribution to Tales from the Boneyard, the one-shot (well, possibly annually recurring) anthology comic book I volunteered to publish and edit for the 2010 Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival.

You can learn a heck more about the comic at the official website, which also features the first chapter of the anthology, an amazing story by newcomer Barret Thomson. He’s set the bar high, but that’s good, because it goes to prove the awesome collection of homespun talent we have here in Las Vegas (though, sadly, Barret is moving to South Korea to teach for an undetermined amount of time). This project has sucked up a good amount of my time lately, between wrangling freelancers, building the website, doing public relations and marketing, editing and, as evidenced above (and in previous posts), completing my own eight-page tale, which will make its web debut on Aug. 15.

At the same time, the band has started recording tracks for our forthcoming debut EP, the Utopian is careening headlong into its final chapter, and as soon as I finish the Tales from the Boneyard story, I have to dive back into finishing the third chapter of “Omega” for Omega Comics Presents #3, which is supposed to be released this fall, assuming my head doesn’t implode by then. Oh, on top of that, TV and comic book writer Mark Guggenheim went off and announced a new comic book he’s created for release this November, coincidentally titled Utopian. So as you might imagine, I’ve spent some time talking to lawyers the last week as well.

It’s all a bit overwhelming, but at the very least, most of these projects have termination dates in the foreseeable future. The Utopian (erm, mine, not the Johnny-come-lately) will finish its year-and-a-half web run in September or October, just in time for a fourth and final print issue to make its appearance, and then — assuming I still have the rights to that name by then — fully collected as one complete work in a trade paperback collection in the winter, hopefully in time for Christmakwanukah. At which time all of you who have been holding out on reading The Utopian (yes, I’m looking at you, Sara) will have no excuse not to enjoy 100-plus pages of all the teen dramatic fantasy you can handle, in full blazing color.

Whew. I’m kind of tired just typing all this. Or maybe I’m tired from working on that stupid, overly detailed panel above for the last few hours. More soon.

I’m back at the drawing board, trying to get all of the pencil artwork for my eight-page contribution to the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival anthology finished before I leave town for 10 days. And get the website for said anthology launched, at which point I’ll post all about it here and beg you for money. What else is new? At least the money is for the Library District and not for my hedonistic exploits.

I wrapped up a feature for Vegas Seven I’ve been working on for a while on breaking into comic book writing, something about which I know a little. Actually, I turned in the story yesterday, got asked to do some rewrites today, and finished those rewrites tonight, so hopefully that will be the end of that. I’m still busting my butt as much as possible to get The Utopian wrapped up ahead of schedule and then turn my attention back to other things, like finalizing and releasing the fall publishing schedule for Pop! Goes the Icon and turning my band’s rehearsal space into a recording studio for the next few months.

Speaking of As Yet Unbroken, it seems like momentum is picking up again quite quickly. We had those bookend gigs last week, and hadn’t planned another show until the first week of September. But the band that opened for us at N.O.I.S.E. on Friday, Thrown Clear, has asked us to join them (or at least one of them) at another venue in a few weeks. So we’ll probably do that, and I’ll have more info on that soon. And for you lovely Southern Californians, we’re working on a gig in the Orange County area circa Oct. 1. Nothing is confirmed yet, so if you know any bookers in the L.A.-O.C.-S.D. area, feel free to highly recommend us for a slot at one of their venues on that date. Otherwise, keep posted here, or even better, join the AYU mailing list.

Oh, HI. I know it’s been quiet up here in Awesome City. It’s only because I’ve been slaving away at various projects to foist upon your delicate senses in varying ways. A brief rundown, because lists are fun:

• My band, As Yet Unbroken, has been breaking in our new guitarist, Peter Stauber, and we’ll be making our revived debut at Boomers Bar this Sunday night at about 10 p.m. We’re playing with a bunch of random bands, none of which play in the same style, so it’ll be like a mini-Lollapalooza. If that doesn’t sell it for you, I don’t know what will. Call in sick on Monday and come rock with us. It’s only $5, and allegedly, we get some of that money.
• I’m editing and publishing a one-off comic book anthology for the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival called “Tales from the Boneyard.” It features all Vegas-spawned creators and will be awesome. But it also has meant spending the last month assembling the talent, setting deadlines, creating sponsorship proposals (this is a nonprofit fundraiser for the Library District), attending meetings and working on my own contribution to the compilation, an eight-page tale about a girl and a robot. If, by chance, you’d like to sponsor this endeavor, drop me an e-mail and I’ll drop you a sponsorship packet.
• I finished painting my terrible entry into the LVSK8 IV skate deck art show. It’s called “Powered by Love,” and all I will say for now is that with its existence, I have created a new genre of art called “sci-fi folk art.” If you’re so inclined to see it, along with dozens of other decorated skate decks much nicer than mine, you should come to Place Gallery (1054 S. Maint St.) next Friday, July 2. I’ll be there from 6 p.m. until probably 8 p.m.-ish.
• Speaking of art, because of demand from one or two people, I’ve created an online store where you can buy prints and postcards and stuff. Why not?
• Been trying to get way ahead on the usual workload, blazing through updates of The Utopian webcomic and deadlines for various publications. A new HRH cover story came out this past week, but I’ll slather you in the details once its digital edition goes online.

That wasn’t so hard, was it? See, all you have to do is get me started and I just type like a madman. More soon on new comics, shows and convention appearances. If you’re interested.

It also features an all-new splash page and a bonus sketch, both by yours truly. It’s only $5 for 24 full-color pages, and if you order prior to the scheduled May 5 release date, I’ll even sign it before dropping it in the mail. THE AUTOGRAPH ALONE IS WORTH IT.

Oh, and in case you need to get caught up and you don’t like reading comics on the web, you can also order the prior issues as well. Or if you live in Las Vegas, please visit Alternate Reality Comics or Comic Oasis and support both local artists AND local businesses!

/end shameless self-shilling

Yes, it’s January and after a minor mix-up at the printer, The Utopian #2 is finally available for you kids to get your grubby little hands on. I have to drop my usual humility here and say these look pretty friggin’ good. It’s amazing how much better this story reads as a complete comic book, as opposed to a one-episode-weekly webcomic. And those covers? Man, Steve Downer‘s colors really made my art POP on the standard cover (left), and Hernan Valencia just knocked it out of the ballpark with the deluxe cover (right).

If you pre-ordered a signed copy from me, I’m dropping those in the mail today. And if you didn’t, you can click this link to have one shipped directly to your mailbox, or if you’re in Las Vegas, please drop by Alternate Reality Comics (4800 S. Maryland Parkway) and pick up a copy from Ralph, the world’s greatest comic shop owner.

Oh, and if you happen to be the world’s second or third greatest comic shop owner, you should be carrying this comic for your unwashed geek masses. They’ll love it. Contact me!