ShojinStudios

Join us at the BLACK AGE Saturday Oct.10th

2009-10-01T20:59:00.004-05:00

Good day everyone! It's been a sec since I've posted in here but as always there's some work lurking around that I have to tend to. Fortunately some of that work is paying off. Raf and I will be appearing at the Black Age of Comics event on Saturday 10th at Kenwood Academy, 5015 S. Blackstone Ave. by South Shore Drive. Please please come out and support the many talented artists that will be appearing there. Click on the title and go to Turtel Onli's link to this annual event! Hope to see all of you and then some!

My Interview with Belkis

2009-09-08T23:48:00.003-05:00

Hello all! I had a great Labor Day weekend with the family! A whole lot of food and PS3Fun! My nephews are older now and we can actually kick my butt in a couple of the games! Ok mostly all of them but it's ok I always come back with a vengence!! (notice I never said I won! LOL!) One exiting piece of news that cheered me up last week was an interview with Belkis up at Belkis NYC: Marketing For The Creative Soul. I think I did a pretty good job! Please go check me out and judge for yourself! http://tiny.cc/Juan617 I'll be putting more things up as they come, Please please tune in! 'Til then Adios Amigos!

I've been busy!! Mostly from starting up a new project!

2009-08-25T23:48:00.005-05:00

Hiya, I have not posted in what seems like months.. oh wait that's exactly how long it's been! But there's a good reason read on! Please come check out my new project with Rafael Nieves, acclaimed writer of Hellstrom, Tales from the Heart, and more recently The Apocalypse Plan , and even more recent than that he is the writer of my new book coming out later on this year, Saint G.

Oh and here are a few things that have also been keeping me busy!

WOA!! it's been a sec!

2009-08-25T23:28:00.003-05:00

Hey all I needed to update this site acouple of months ago but here I am and putting out some of my older pieces from a couple of months back. They all had a more than a few re-writes, do-overs or were just not used, but it's ok I thought I'd put these out there to show some of the stuff that's been keeping me busy! Check 'em out!

WE HAVE RETURNED! tee hee!!! I'm like a giddy little girl!!

2009-06-02T22:53:00.001-05:00

Woa man this is Sweet I will have more work out soon Promise but for now check this out! Jeeez this looks amazing! tee hee!

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (animated)

2009-05-20T04:29:00.001-05:00

This year may be the best year to catch animated episodes or specials whatever they are calling it these days, but know this, DC is on a rampage this looks SICK!! (that's actually good for all of those who are not in the know how yet!) Between this movie, the Green Lantern animated movie and the Wonder Woman(Yea I'm a fan... Bring it!!) one that came out earlier this year DC is kickin some superbootay! Check it out and bask in the all the good things that are to come!

Hi, I'm a Marvel...and I'm a DC: Wolverine (Deadpool) and Watchmen

2009-05-03T22:28:00.001-05:00

HAHAHAHA! I had to share this!

Work related stuff!

2009-04-05T00:41:00.012-05:00

Hiya all! I will have some new pieces up from my own projects soon. For now here are some work related pieces that I've been working on. Some will be around the Chicagoland area very soon actually both in print and web. If you go to Univision.com in the next week or so you'll see a few banners I created for the site. I also created a logo for a site called theBrideSociety.com along with a popular bag named the Honemoon Bag. I really suck at promoting myself so please excuse my very late announcements! Please go check them out including illinoislottery.com where the poster that I created for the promotion is highlighted! Mostly I'm keeping busy putting my services to good use. Oh Watchmen RAWWKED! Not quite a true rendition to the graphic novel but I really liked it! Wolverine on th.... know what I wont say anymore, I'll stick to what I know and that's to show you all pretty pictures, the kind that don't make your stomach turn and produce vomiting sensations after viewing them, the kind that don't make a grown man cry from the agony of seeing a potentially GREAT picture be turned into something far less gratifying and less enjoyable to behold... But I digress, on with the pretty pictures(or at least I hope you'll like them more than that gawwd awful download that I have not seen yet from Fox that got leaked a few days ago!) Enjoy!!!

Hey Y'all

2009-03-04T23:34:00.011-06:00

How goes it people! How has the past month treated you? As for me I've been here bustin' chops and gettin' busy with work. I really suck at writing and making sense of all that's going on around us. Friends and families losing jobs, not getting jobs, jobs not being available the whole thing with our economy and how the "powers" that be still are trying to get away with murder... ahem Roland Burris yea I'm talking to you!! Anyhoo, since last I wrote alot has happened good and bad mostly good so I will stick to the positives. I've met a slew of great people that have truly been blessings. Many I've known for literally decades some I've just met this year! All in all one thing I've learned is always be thankful for your blessings and so here I am thanking them!

First off check out this site I've mentioned in here before it's http://www.pulpfantasy.com/ it's a great site that is getting up there with content. I've even been adding my two sense in there so go check it out! While in there please go into the comics secti

on there you can see and read the

latest chapter in Bryan Kinnaird's Proclivity, the comic series that is a prelude to the upcoming film the Villikon chronicles. Go read more about it...

http://www.myspace.com/villikonchronicles

Straight from Chicago I got to work with a great producer and musician, House legend Ron Carroll. The man is a top of his game. Thanks to Paulina "Pashii" I got a chance to work on his

logo for a new label that Ron is spearheading. Read up on my man Ron...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carroll

This is the Final look for Ron's logo!

I did a similar task for fellow Chicagoan and Gospel Music Legend Percy Bady. He is truly a wonderful person and an amazing artist. I got to create Percy's logo last year and had

an amazing experience while doing it.

Check him out

at http://www.gospelwithintegrity.com/index.php?main_page=artist_info&aID=296

This is Percy's logo for his company!

I also worked with a few others in the music industry. Keep an eye out for these labels I'm just glad I got to contribute to the cause! I'm a huge fan of all music... even Ranchera music but not too much... So every single endeavour I've taken on from last year onto this year has been a blessing!

This logo I created for a New York label called OvahGround Records!

This here logo is for Teethed On Records based here in Chicago! I'm getting a bit hungry!

This one is for StreetLight Eternal Entertainment. Also from Chicago, I'm telling you we have some awesome talent here in Chi-Town, keep an eye out for all these labels you might see them in an itunes store near you!

Last but not least I just want to encourage so many of us artists who are honestly in need of a break. As you can tell the businesses are out there waiting in need of our skills don't give up, keep a positive outlook it only helps you go through these times with a lot more ease. I hope to see more of you all later, either here or in one of these many links I've provided! I hope you all have a great week! WATCHMEN... Friday! Can't wait!!!!!!!

TABLE CON is here... no over here! "yooo hoo!"

2009-01-29T00:49:00.009-06:00

Woa this Con is sooo darn exclusive I just found out I was in it! Thanks to my good friend and brotha' from anotha' fatha' TMalo aka Toné or as i like to call him, sugaplum! This here Con is taking place in the very part of the city I like to visit most, the northside. Now Parking is going to be a pain in the Bhind but it will be worth the while, since LaMorris will be there, lemesee... Doc will be attending... Art Balt will be there too, cooool!!! hmm... Ohh Nino and Lil' Nino will be there as well... finally more Peruvians!!! Woo Hoo! I miss my peoples... sniff! Well hey I think it will be a blast! I secretly "borrowed" Tony's JPG from his blog that carries all the info about this here MEGA TABLE CON, up in the northside of Chicago. It'll be from 11am to 7pm non stop! It's this Saturday the 31st at 3rd Coast Comics which is located at... wait a minute click on the freakin' Title Link above already... what the crap... I gotta sharpen my pencils so, I'll see you there!

HAPPY belated EVERYTHING!!

2009-01-23T12:07:00.005-06:00

SO Christmas is gone, We are in 2009 now, wow where has the time gone and now we have a new President...Mr. Prez Obama... Big O!!! It's a hopeful time in America or at least in my eyes. In these times where a cloud of doubt and uncertainty glooms over our nation I look on the bright spots that still linger in our midsts. I'll admit it, I have a huge trust in GOD, and I don't let times such as these waiver my belief that you must first go down a valley before you reach a summit. Well I know not everyone will be in a happy or great mood now a days, one thing I do to bring me back to that happy state of mind is draw. It helps me focus on a totally different subject each time. Yet in every instance I get a very unique pleasure from the art I produce. Having said that, I've been doing a lot of art this past 2 months and I have a couple of links i'd like to share with you. Both are for the VILLIKON CHRONICLES a project I've been working on since last year. It was a great project and I got to meet a bunch of very talented folks while doing it. I hope that you enjoy it as well. Copy and paste each URL to your browser (Until I figure out how to make them into links!! Grrrr!). The first link is to the 2nd Volume in the series.

http://www.pulpfantasy.org/Villikon/villiconchronicl.html

The second is to an article about yours truly and a bit of the inside process as to how I work.

http://www.pulpfantasy.org/Villikon/atthehelm.html

Both links are to this cool site called Pulp Fantasy. Really great site I'd recommend to any artist, writer, director who wants to see their properties put out unto the web in a very professional manner. Well that's it for now. I'm getting better at posting at least it hasn't been months since my last post, LOL! More to come!

Villikon Chronicles Proclivity Web Comic

2008-12-16T12:27:00.002-06:00

Hi all, The web comic Villikon Chronicles Proclivity the prelude to the movie Villikon Chronicles GENESIS OF EVIL is out on the web now, so go check it out!!

http://www.pulpfantasy.org/#

Please support this production by visiting Pulp Fantasy every month until June and catch more on the ever evolving world of The Villikron Chronicles. I'll have more up in a few!

'VILLIKON CHRONICLES: PROCLIVITY' Mini-Graphic Series

2008-10-30T01:25:00.002-05:00

Thanks Bryan!! I got involved with VILLIKON CHRONICLES: PROCLIVITY, by chance trying to help out and hopefully be part of something BIG and sure enough I did! I really am enjoying drawing up the comic book Prequel to the movie and hopefully have more work from Bryan down the line. So far it's been a thrilling experience. I'll keep all of you posted. More Vids and art coming soon. In the meantime check out www.myspace.com/villikonchronicles
for more info and sneak peeks of this awesome flick coming next year!

Woa it's been a sec!

2008-10-22T12:13:00.007-05:00

Jeeez, well if there is still anyone out there reading this blog, I'm still alive, just BUSY as a Mo'Fo' hence why I am posting like a year later, lol. As many of you know I have a day job as an Art Director and I also Freelance for a living. Not only that but I'm a full time Daddy and Husband, so yea I have little time next to no time to post. Fortunately I've found a light at the end of this here tunnel and I can update this here Blog before I go back to being a hermit! Here are a few samples of some work that has kept me busy most of the summer...

This here was a campaign for the good folks at MHOA. I enjoy coming up with ideas that I can see through to it's final creation, this here was one of those projects. It was a lot of work but it payed off, maybe you might of seen these up a local McD or you happen to attend one of these events, regardless it was fun and I hope to do it again next year. Anyone have a lowrider they can sell me?

Here's another poster that got to see the light of day. It's for a back to school promotion.

This one is for the Newberry Library exibit of very old children books. I was hoping to create a poster for them but it didn't happen... sigh!

Here's a small intro animation I created for a presentation we did for the Shedd Aquarium.

Here's another Intro i did for the Chicago Historical Museum. No sound or resized pics but you'll get the jist!

I'll post a few TV spots I created along with the fine folks at MasCommunications!

MOB RULE 2 @ WizardWorld Chicago!!!!!

2008-06-22T13:12:00.004-05:00

Jeeeez! this piece looks amazing!! It was created by Dan"The Man" Dougherty. It serves the purpose of promoting our second annual meet at WizardCon here in Chicago. This venture has been spearheaded by our very own Master Of Minds aka M.O.M who also goes by his secret code name: Rafael Nieves. It's one of the few events that we get to come together and it's grown since last year so who knows how big it'll get next year!? Come and be part of this grassroots event, phenomenon, EXTRAveganza!!!

Stormrider - Clash of Evils

2008-06-20T00:53:00.003-05:00

WOA NELLY! I love this series I got introduced to the world of Wind and Cloud about 10 years ago. The movie Stormriders was and still is a favorite of mine. Come to find out a sequel is being made Stormwarriors in 09, Awesome! Today I found out an animation based as a sequel to the '98 movie is in production to be released this year (I hope!) here's a trailer to that anime by asiaanimation.net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyPVXpdLSCA&NR=1

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a total geek for this, seriously! The animation looks amazing and very close to the comic. Now I collected as many issues as I could but since I lack the Chinese reading portion that is needed to understand these comics i don't really know who and what some of the stories are about. I try to follow them as much as possible and I tell you the truth they blow me away. Well from the little Manhua I read I have to say this is truly a joyous event and I am really looking forward to seeing these characters come to life in a animated format. Here's a link to the homesite,

http://www.asiaanimation.net/en/movie_storm_a.html

Catch you all later!

My Greatest Creations and my Stunning Sidekick!!

2008-06-10T02:45:00.008-05:00

I thought I'd share a blast from my past! these were taken about few years ago of my daughter Bijan MaiLei and of my son Aiden Cruz, I still get a kick out of their imagination and laughter, you'll see why! Hope you get a kick out of them as well. I have to capture my wife Jackie on film one day! She's hard to get on camera, but I vow to get her on this here blog soon enough. She's the main reason why I'm still sane and the greatest LOVE of my life! One day honey ONE DAY! 'Til then here's a couple of pics of this Stunning Vixen along with two of my greatest creations, Bijan and Aiden, I love you both more than you'll ever know! Enjoy.

Dragon Princess 2.0

2008-06-08T20:48:00.004-05:00

Hi again! As many of you know the Wizard Con Chicago will be here in just a short time, June 26th - 29th! So I am preparing a few pieces that I will be selling and showcasing in the upcoming Con. This is one of them, The Dragon Princess. I'm hoping that the prints will be a big hit, One of my favorite pin up artists is Jim Silke, and like him I tried to bring the sexiness and fun into my pin ups. Don't know if i did a good job? you be the judge. I'm still in process mode as far as compiling my ideas for other projects so please PLEASE! write in and let me know if you like this piece, otherwise I'm just calling this whole thing off and becoming a librarian! Gracias all!

What I've been up to these past months!

2008-05-25T19:10:00.010-05:00

Here's a few things I've been busy creating at home and work. I've been busy preparing for the June Wizard Con here in Chicago. The first piece here is Kalypso the Greek Goddess from the Homer tale. She'll be one of the prints that I'll be selling at the con.

Next it's a pin up I did for a buddy Ash Jackson, of Eve: Vampire Diva for his pin up book he will be selling at the Philly Con later this month, May 30th thru June 1st to be exact.

Next I did this cover (I gotta color it too so this is the before shot) for my friend LaMorris Richmond up at BLAM comics. He's going to be putting out a graphic novel and I'll be providing the cover, logo and some older pin ups I did for JBD. The novel will feature art by the Great Seitu Haydon of "Tales of The Heart" fame.

Here's some poster art I did for McD that will be gracing the Orange lines this summer. If any of you ride the "L" and take the orange line, look up and you'll notice these posters on the roof of each rail car. Let me know if you see any of them on your way to or from work!

Lastly here are some more pieces I've worked on. 'Til next time true believers.

Thanks Ollie, for making illusions come to life!!

2008-04-15T21:59:00.008-05:00

Yesterday a "Great" passed, Ollie Johnston went on to join the rest of the 9 in animation lore. He along with eight others were the original animators that brought us classics such as "Snow White", "Fantasia", "Cinderella", "Lady and the Tramp", "Alice in Wonderland", and "Sleeping Beauty". Although he was a pioneer in animation he was best known for his long friendship with Frank Thomas who passed four years ago. They have a magnificent book titled The Illusion of Life, a must have for any artist. He was also "animated" in a few animated films, 2 by Brad Bird, "The Iron Giant" and "The Incredibles". He was a kid at heart and at 95 was still enjoying life. Hope we in the art profession remember those who came before us and learn about the great accomplishments they have given to our craft. Thanks Ollie, you'll be missed!

Frank and Ollie in "The Incredibles"

Ollie in "Iron Giant"

Some more, old and new sketches

2008-04-13T03:49:00.004-05:00

The title says it all, Oh the scanner is working again now so expect more posts in the future! I've been good so far, or at least a whole lot better then last year!

Some old sketches and some new ones!

2008-04-09T01:13:00.007-05:00

Here's a few sketches from my not so distant past, some of these are just a few years old and some a couple of weeks. Stuff i do in my spare time at work, LOL! Well hit me up my scanner at work is going caca so i might have to get a new one, I hope you enjoy these. You know there's so many projects I have not finished especially with my dear friend Raf Nieves I feel ashamed. Hope this will inspire some of you to continue on with current projects, don't let up, I learned from my mistakes so don't let it happen to you. Well, keep on keeping on and let me know your thoughts!

Woa I forgot I had this!

2008-04-05T20:24:00.004-05:00

Back in December I did a couple of pieces for a very talented director, Bryan Kinnaird for his movie The Vilkron Chronicles. I had one of the pieces up before but I never posted this piece. It's of Mystere and it's a non action pose. I just wanted to create her looking hot and ready for action. The character in the movie is played by Cara Fawn, great fit for Mystere and it seems the cast is full of great actors from all over. I'm exited about the project, and even though it's a small contribution I'm proud to be part of it. Well as always let me know your thoughts and I hope to putting some more pieces in the not so distant future!

Messing around with 3D again

2008-04-05T00:34:00.005-05:00

Hiya all again! I started playing around with 3D again it's been a sec but I still know how to get around the interface. Now I did this as a part of a pitch for the Chicago Fire, a soccer team here in Chicago, that Hernandez & Garcia has been working on, so far it looks promising. This took me a day to create and a day to render, I'm rusty so give me a break. Regardless it was fun and I really liked playing around with 3D again, it's been too long. I'm actually doing a few projects in 3d and I'll be posting a few as they get approved to be shown. For now let me know what you think of my 2 second end animation that I came up with.

Dave Stevens, Thank you!

2008-03-11T17:12:00.009-05:00

On a sadder note another ICON has passed, One which I held in high regard and got a chance to meet in person and who I admired. Dave Stevens passed from a long battle with cancer. Read about it here http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35965

I really loved this man's work and even now I like catching The Rocketeer movie, cheesy as it might of been, it still rocked, no pun intended. Thanks Dave for everything!

Mainasha's Tweening Art, Diamond in the rough!

2008-03-11T15:51:00.002-05:00

There's a great site that I have not talked about and that, apart from me being ashamed of myself for not mentioning it sooner, I'm also part of as far as contributor of content. The main Gal in charge of putting together such kick@$$ content is Mainasha, an accomplished animator and talented all around femme fatale! http://tweeningart.blogspot.com/ is the site and it's also below in my links under Tweening Art. Not only is it filled with inside info on animation and the animation industry but it's a chance to see her work. Well I promised to be posting more so I will on both sites! Go check her out!

Justice League The New Frontier animation

2008-03-09T00:48:00.003-06:00

I have to say with all the talk about the Justice League Live Action movie in my opinion The New Frontier should be considered as the benchmark for its live action counterpart. Either that or begin the movie as a sequel to this one. If you have not seen The New Frontier animation yet, You really should pick it up. i got the 2 disc version and loved it even came with 3 episodes of Justice League Unlimited for under $20, not a bad deal. Seeing I've been trying to post in here more often about my mindless ravings I figured why not give props to some of these great pieces of geek delight. Thanks Ken for reccomending this Vid! and sorry Akey for not jumping at the chance to get this series when it first came out! For those of you who haven't seen it here's the trailer.

I can't wait!

2008-03-08T16:58:00.005-06:00

Now when I saw this Vid I got pretty exited. Not only is this overdue, I think they should do this treatment for all American Superheroes, DC and Marvel alike. I think this type of artistic collaboration is very much needed in the existing Comic Book genre of today. Let's hope this is a seed for future projects, Excelsior!!

Doodlin' @ lunchtime!

2008-03-05T15:34:00.005-06:00

See told ya I'd be posting a bit more consistently! Well so far so good as far as using time wisely I've adapted a habit of sketching here at work when I have some down time. I found a great resource for just brushing up on your sketching (as well as your anatomy skills). It's found here, http://www.characterdesigns.com/index.php?sitepage=tutorials It features some beautiful renderings that will help as far as reference and just letting loose. I love to sketch in Pen, don't ask me why but it helps me develop a sense of urgency as far as getting the proportions right from the get go. Everyone has their own little method this is my little quirk. Here's a few samples I came up with. Check it out, Kevin Chen I believe is his name, really has alot of samples to sketch from.

Hi Dee Ho!

2008-03-04T17:11:00.009-06:00

Hey, Happy New Year! ok now that the festivities are over, oh wait and have a safe Valentines day! ok I'm done ok so you might be wondering what in God's name I've been up to well, A LOT OF WORK and not only that but I've been up and about looking for a place to move to. I love Chicago I've called it home for most of my adult life. Sadly opportunities here for what I'm looking for have pretty much dried up. Me and the family have set our sights on a warmer climate somewhere were the temperature wont drop below zero, actually below 40 :) Where is such a place you ask? Well we've narrowed it down to Austin Texas. Seems like a 360 turn but luckily I've done my research and it seems like a great place to live in, let alone work from. I happened upon this state oddly enough applying for a job there, just to see how far I'd get. I don't think I got the job but it opened up a world of possibilities for me. So I've been doing my homework and looked around to see where I could fit in, so far it's looking pretty good, we'll see. Anyhoo besides all that I've also been busy creating collateral material or plainly put some art for our clients here in H&G. I've also been hard at work putting together thumbnails and final penciled pieces for my little en devour - RIMANAKUY YAWAR the bloo d covenant.
Well enough chatter for now here's some of the stuff I've been working on.

Well hope to hear from you soon I have more, but that'll be when I start putting the pages together. Stay tuned!

slackjaw lazy good fer nuthin' swine!

2008-03-03T12:50:00.001-06:00

Yea that's me sorry I've been BUSY and with this crappy weather it hasn't helped things any. I'll be posting tonite some of my new stuff I've been working on, So go easy on me, 08 I feel will be a better posting year for me!

Hey look new art!

2007-11-02T22:44:00.000-05:00

I was hoping to put up more, but I have a couple pieces I can show and that I'm pretty proud of. One is for my day job up at H&G. It's for an upcoming promotion that I've been assigned to do. I had alot of fun doing it and learned a few things along the way. It's very Alphonse Mucha inspired, he's an amazing artist that I have admired for years now. I have always wanted to create a piece that would pay homage to his great works and even though I'm not close by any means I hope I've gotten a bit closer with this one. It will probably change once it goes into the revision state, adding of legal copy and logos, so I want to share what I have so far while still in it's early stages, hope you all like it!

My next one is a piece I did for Bryan Kinnaird. I created a piece for his up coming flick called "VILLIKON CHRONICLES" I'm also pretty proud of it and being involved in a film project is pretty sweet. My art along with many other pieces from various talents from across the globe will run at the end of the movie. This is the first one I came up with, I'm hoping to create a couple more. The pissed off hottie jumping in mid air is Bermusa, and the hottie about to receive the beat down...(or will she? stay tuned...) is Mystere.

Well let me know what you all think I'll try and get more in as they get done. Once I finish up some of these jobs I will get back into my web comic. Yea I'm hoping to get that off the ground and put it up with the help of Transfuzion Comics by next year. More on that soon.

ORIGINAL DESIGN GANGSTA

2007-10-10T23:44:00.001-05:00

OHHHH HEELLLLZZZZZZ YEA DAWG!! This is my new acronym yo, ODG, Foo!

Holy Mama!

2007-09-27T02:26:00.000-05:00

Hey all! Sorry I've been busy doing some writing for a web comic I'm (trying very hard!) to wrap up. I have alot of sketches and thumbnails drawn out unfortunately not enuff time to scan all of them. I know, I know I'm a slackjaw lazy good fer nuthin' swine, I couldn't agree more but I've at least posted what I sold as prints in the con. You can find them in my comicspace site, But as soon as i can get some time i will start posting some thumbnails and other sketches too. So if you have some time to waste check out my galleries. Just a few of shout outs to Tony "Malo", Raf, Norm , Gary, Doug, Crystal, Gio, Arnie, LaMo, man so many I can't count them all, Thanks for checking out my stuff and putting up with my last minute posts and CONGRATS on each of your individual projects. I look forward to hopefully contributing to some of them. I know I always forget to post stuff i said I'd post and maybe I will next time around when i re read what i wrote a month ago...man that sounds bad..EEch!

The Con...eh?? yet it still rocked!!

2007-08-16T22:29:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Con is not the San Diego Con by any means, but for the first time in a loooooooong time I had a blast! There's a whole list of stuff to write about and art to post but seeing I still have a day job that takes up a good chunk of my time, I will do it this weekend. I wish there was more hours in the day in order to create and put up all the things that I want to do. Thanks to this Blog I can at least talk about doing it! Well the Con was a reason for a bunch of artists, writers and comic book aficionados to get together and simply dwell and bask in the grandeur that is comics. I got to meet tremendous talents like Gary Reed, an award winning writer not to mention publisher, Len Kody a great writer and his lovely girlfriend, Dan Dougherty an amazing artist, EricJ an incredible all around talent... just to mention a few. I hope this little club of ours, "The Chicago MOB" continues to grow and include alot more of Chicago's great pool of talent. Well I'll get to some more on the con this weekend.

MOB RULE DECLARED IN CHICAGO!

2007-08-02T18:58:00.001-05:00

Authorities uncovered a plot by a nefarious group of artists, writers, and other bohemian ne’er-do-wells planning to storm the upcoming Wizard World convention in Chicago on Thursday, August 9^th, through Sunday, the 12^th.

The insurgents are intent on taking over the event, inciting riots and attempting to add numerous supporters to their dastardly cause. Their goal seems to be world domination!

Early intelligence reports have identified key members of this mob; a full disclosure of their names and areas of expertise are as follows:

Rafael Nieves, a Writer (VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE; THE PHANTOM; MR. MOTO), and the apparent ringleader of the mob whom, it is said, has threatened to sell and sign numerous publications from his 20 year stint in the field. Nieves has aligned himself with quite a diverse band of hooligans, which includes these known associates:

Douglas Klauba, Painter and Cover Artist for THE PHANTOM, KOLCHAK, THE SPIDER, DOC SAVAGE, ZORRO... will have copies of his Sketchbook for sale, packaged between full color covers, with never before seen drawings, sketches and roughs from throughout his career and, for the very first time, includes a special Phantom section of preliminary drawings and studies. Along with the Sketchbook, Klauba will have collectible postcard sets and DC VS trading cards on hand, and there will be a selection of limited edition fine art prints available.

Juan Arevalo is an Art Director and Freelance Artist who has collaborated with Nieves on various projects in the pre-production phase. Arevalo has worked with leading Christian publisher UMI and comics creator Michael Davis on the initial launch of THE GUARDIAN LINE of faith-based comics. He has also created character designs for an upcoming animation in association with toy company RC2. Rumor has it that Arevalo is currently working on a personal project, RIMANAKUY YAWAR-THE BLOOD COVENANT, a web comic due out next year.

Antonio Maldonado, Artist and Radical (CHILLIN'S , the cover art for band Aiden's RAIN IN HELL CD, and Game Animator for Spongebob Squarepants:Diner Dash 1 and 2 for
Nickelodeon and Playfirst) has a number of projects in the works: a back-up story for Nieves' re-release of EDGAR ALLAN POE’S THE BELLS titled "Alone", and the graphic novel BLACKBIRDS, also with Nieves. This malcontent will be selling copies of CHILLIN'S and his CUCOS! sketchbook, and will be doing Commission Sketches.

Dan Dougherty (CYCLONE BILL AND THE TALL TALES, KOLCHAK) will be previewing several upcoming projects, including two zombie period pieces, ROTTEN and NATIONAL HORROR, as well as the long awaited anti-gravity yarn NEWTON'S LAW.

Len Kody: The up-and-coming comics Writer started his career contributing short stories to the MOONSTONE MONSTERS anthology series, which is now available in trade paperback. He'll be selling and signing copies of his dark, Western mini-series, CISCO KID: GUNFIRE & BRIMSTONE. And he'll no doubt be talking up his long awaited CISCO KID vs. WYATT EARP crossover, a two-issue event also featuring the talents of Chuck Dixon and EricJ, scheduled for a late '07 release. As a Convention Exclusive, Kody will debut pages from his first independently produced original graphic novel, SOUTHSIDE COP, about the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Nick Muntean, the Writer of "Kay-rash" from the anthology CHILLIN'S. Currently working with Antonio Maldonado on their upcoming 2008 project DOOM DOOM: 21ST CENTURY GIRL, a book so quirky, so odd, so manic, so pop-culture that it's best and most coherent description is "The Archies on acid!" Nick and Antonio will preview their book with a special, for-sale print of the characters.

Juan Gomez, Artist (CHILLIN’S, EDGAR ALLAN POE’S THE BELLS) will be previewing his latest project, WHO? THE HEX! as well as MALGATO, a graphic novel to be released in 2008.

La Morris Richmond is a Writer/Publisher/Revolutionary who, through his B.L.A.M! comics imprint, has produced the comic series CANTON KID and PURGE. His BOOTS OF THE OPRESSOR and JIGABOO DEVIL remain benchmarks in provocative, guerilla storytelling. Richmond will invade the convention on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and will have copies of these books available for purchase.

John Siuntres is Host/Agitator of wordballoon.com, the best place to find podcast interviews with comicdom’s best and brightest. Siuntres is a raconteur and bon vivant nonpareil, so be warned!

All law-abiding citizens are urged to attend the WizardWorld Chicago convention and seek out this rabble at booths 4110 through 4120. Only by purchasing as much of their tracts and propaganda as possible can we deflate their scheme for rampant anarchy, preventing them from spreading their misinformation and half truths to the unsuspecting world!

Jeez' I've been gone a sec!!!

2007-04-02T15:19:00.000-05:00

Hey all! sorry for becoming a hermit all of the sudden, but work was kickin' my Arse! I work as an art director for a small but busy ad firm in the northside suburb of Lincolnwood near Chicago. I'm posting some of the work that I've been doing there. I have some personal projects that are coming too so please be on the lookout for those. I need to invent a time machine in order to get me more time to create some of the stuff I'm planning. If any of you out there beat me to it please let me know so I can hitch a ride to where ever it is that you're going!! Anyhoo I'll be back soon with more stuff... Promise.

The Poe Poe is comin'!

2007-01-30T00:08:00.000-06:00

Hey all! I created this here image for my very good friend Raf Nieves. It'll be featured as one of the many pinups for his upcoming book "The Belles" based on the story by Edgar Allen Poe of the same name. Raf adapted it and Johnny Gomez, another brilliant fellow wielder of the led, drew it. I had some time to fiddle and doodle around so I decided to make it a bit more dramatic. I used PS to color the piece and create the background and the fonts. I drew Poe and the Raven on a tree piece. I really like the way it came out, hope you do too.

The Justice League of Amigos

2007-01-19T00:36:00.000-06:00

OK so let me be honest... I'm freakin' geeked about this episode. There I admit it I was feeling like a little 10 year old again, watching Superfriends back in the 80's saturday morning lineup. Yes, some of the costumes were pretty gay looking and some lines were just beggin' for wine to go with all that cheese, but it was a very cool episode. I enjoyed watching all of them work in unison just like the JLA in comics would, The anticipation leading up to this point was very exiting and since I'm a huge Smallville fan this was truly an event. Yea I'm geeky that way. Well I also found out that Martian Manhunter will appear again on next week's episode... BADASS! Along with all the MARVEL movies coming out this year, seeing this just makes this year look that much more worthwhile. usually I don't have alot to look forward to, movie wise anyway. The movie Superman Returns made last summer a bit of a letdown after all the hype it got, not to mention what a dissapointment it was to watch. It's good... No it's GREAT to see someone doing the Superman Mythos some justice(no pun intended!) Yea so til' next week True Believers... Exelsi..... Oh wait that's Marvel, well you get the point! Ciao!

Look what I found!!!

2007-01-18T00:41:00.000-06:00

Here's some oldies but goodies(at least to me!) from about 2-3 years ago. I created these for a meetgroup who consisted of various talents from Chicago. A couple of pieces I wasn't able to finish Like this Lenore piece from the EAP poem The Raven. This Cap I just created cus' Cap doesn't get mad enuff' !! So I figured why not piss him off a bit
These are Tony Akins Inks and my colors...Perrrrty cool!
This one too.
This is my hot yet fiesty fairy... Don't see too many of those around anymore.

Some ol' stuff!

2007-01-18T00:22:00.000-06:00

Hey all! I'm just posting some old art so as to keep up with Tony"MALO" M. It's only about a year old or so! I was selling them as prints and the plan was to sell em for every month... I might still do it! This scheme was thought up by that madman Raf Nieves in order to help me out financially, The man is a genius! I think I might of already posted these but oh well, enjoy!

New Painted Pics

2007-01-10T17:39:00.000-06:00

Hola! Yea I was bored and decided to paint these characters. I'm trying out a new way of painting and I think I'm getting it down. I really admire artists like Kim Hyung-Tae and Tetsuya Nomura so I've been trying to get a style that reflects both of their coloring techniques. I think I'm getting closer. I'll have more soon, my computer went for a little trip to hell and I'm trying to resurrect the old girl. Soon I tell you soon!

Flickr

2007-01-09T02:27:00.001-06:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Merry Christmas!!!

2006-12-27T00:50:00.000-06:00

Ok so I'm all late about it, but on my defense I've been busy at work and at home. All this shopping for presents can zap you of your superhuman ability to doodle, well at least it zapped mine. All in all it was very cool festivities! My Baby got me, Kim, Hyung-Tae's OXIDE 2x!! I screamed "SweetBabyJesus, this is what Christmas is all about!" as soon as I opened it. That didn't go over too well at first, but after I reflected on what this holiday is all about and explained to my wifey, that my enthusiasm came from the thought of knowing how Kim's artwork has influenced not just myself but countless others all over the world and how now I was part of that creative chain that would in turn help me create hundreds, no THOUSANDS of pieces that would in turn inspire others to create, and so on and so on and by then I realized I was talking to the tree. Seeing that I had failed to drive my point home, I went thru my old sketchbooks and found a few sketches that I forgot I even drew. So in this season of inspiration, here's some doodles that were inspired by whole lotta artists and I hope inspire u aswell. Oh and in case I forget to mention it! ComicSpace rocks majorly... is that even a word, oh well! Yea so go check it out, drop by say hello! Pick up a few friends along the way, i did!

Latest sketch-a-doodles

2006-12-12T00:30:00.000-06:00

Yes it's been a sec but as always I found time to come up with some new sketches and I even painted one of them. I tend to talk too much and explain too much when i write these things in so I'll just let you see them for yourselves and let me know what you think! The Asian woman who i have named Otohime was conceived while sketching at a sketchmeet with Norm Dwyer and Tony Akins. Two of the most talented artist on this side of the planet! It was an awesome experience albiet brief, but I hope we can have more of them! Norm is moving to Montana soon at the end of the month to be exact and well, he was one of my earliest teachers, and I will miss him. Norm, hope I've made you proud!!! but hell it's only Montana, so maybe we can have a sketchmeet facing yellowstone park one day!

Yanni and Vann Johnson Love is All Taj Mahal India

2006-12-08T17:43:00.001-06:00

Yea it's Yanni, but Vann Johnson is the voice that attracted me to this song. She has a powerful voice. Anyway I tend to listen to this song for inspiration, it often helps me concentrate. I thought I'd share it seeing we all need a bit of inspiration once in a while.

Guild Wars: Factions Trailer

2006-12-06T18:13:00.001-06:00


Swwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeta! had to share this with you all i have this game and it is awesome. Now i'm not much of a gamer, but I was sold on the trailer. It's an older trailer from last year i think, but for those of you who never saw it here it is, I'll be posting soon so be tune in next time...

Ho Ho Krampus!

2006-12-06T17:42:00.000-06:00

GRESTEN, Austria (Reuters) - As Christmas nears, Austrian children hoping for gifts from Santa Claus will also be watching warily for "Krampus", his horned and hairy sidekick.

In folklore, Krampus was a devil-like figure who drove away evil spirits during the Christian holiday season.
Traditionally, he appeared alongside Santa around December 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, and the two are still part of festivities in many parts of central Europe.
But these traditions came under the spotlight in Austria this year, after reports last week that Santa -- also known as St Nicholas, Father Christmas or Kris Kringle -- had been banned from visiting kindergartens in Vienna because he scared some children.
Officials denied the reports, but said from now on only adults the children knew would be able to don Santa's bushy white beard and red habit to visit the schools.
Now, a prominent Austrian child psychiatrist is arguing for a ban on Krampus, who still roams towns and villages in early December.
Boisterous young men wearing deer horns, masks with battery-powered red eyes, huge fangs, bushy coats of sheep's fur, and brandishing birchwood rods storm down the streets, confronting spectators gathered to watch the mediaeval spectacle, which is also staged in parts of nearby Hungary, Croatia and Germany's Bavaria state.
Anyone who doesn't dodge or run away fast enough might get swatted -- although not hard -- with the rod.
"The Krampus image is connected with aggression, and in a world that is anyway full of aggression, we shouldn't add figures standing for violence... and hell," child psychiatrist Max Friedrich said.
A JOLLY OLD FRIGHT?
Friedrich, who says Krampus is scary because people can't communicate with a mask, doesn't get much of a hearing in the traditionalist towns of Lower Austria and the Salzburg and Tyrol regions that hold the most elaborate Krampus processions.
In Gresten, 3,000 people, including many children, packed the kerbs of Dorfstrasse one recent night to await his coming.
The horned figure suddenly burst out of a dark corner, shouting menacingly at onlookers and waving his birchwood whip.
As he knocked over a metal crowd barrier and waded into the spectators, a boy who identified himself as Simon flinched.
"Don't worry," a nearby adult assured Simon. "Krampus won't do anything to you. He's not allowed to."
Johann Leichtfried, a young Krampus actor in Gresten, defended his role and said most children were fascinated by Krampus's symbolism. "Krampus is for the kids."
But not everyone agrees.
Listeners of Austrian youth radio station FM4 shared the horror they felt when first confronted the figure.
"Krampus scared ... me when I was seven," said one, identified as Riem on FM4's Web site. "I panicked that I was never going to see my father again because a hoofed human wanted to throw me in his wooden backpack."
But Friedrich conceded there had been few known cases of "Krampus trauma".
He said Krampus remained a popular custom probably because "there's a phenomenon of finding fear attractive", pointing for example to the frequently frightening, sometimes gruesome, plot twists in the classic fairy-tales of the Grimm brothers.
Sometimes, Krampus can get carried away -- in some towns in the Tyrol and Salzburg areas, some of the horned devils have lost control after downing a few too many beers or schnapps.
"In Tyrolean communities ... the Krampus actors have to wear a number so everyone can know who the bad guy is behind the mask, just in case," said Friedrich

just a few more

2006-11-15T23:35:00.000-06:00

More Mayara

Mayara Sketches

2006-11-15T23:32:00.000-06:00

Here's my gurl!!

More Cruz pics

2006-11-15T23:31:00.000-06:00

Here's some more

Some old ideas coming to light

2006-11-15T23:19:00.000-06:00

Hey all, I've always had an idea of creating my own book, and until recently I've been pondering the thought. Finally I simply put my ideas to paper, and started to develop a story and characters. Some are fairly old characters I've had in my sketchbook and my mental doodle book for years. I wanted to re-create them and so here are the first 2. I got alot more but I'm starting out with 3 main characters, here's 2 of the 3. The "Mami Caliente's" name is Mayara, and the "Mucho Macho" dude is Cruz. I've been coming out with some good ideas for them but I'll post more finished work later for now here's my random thoughts on paper. Hope you like em'

and here's some more...

2006-11-03T22:58:00.001-06:00

Here's a CD I created for an awesome singer. Her name is Lynn Smith, and I was lucky enough to hook up with her, thanks to music producer Derwin Davis at Minstrel Studios. DERWIN when are we going to finish YOUR CD, man!?? Anywho, here's a peek at her cd cover, should be out soon so be on the look out! I've heard her songs, and YES the woman has talent, she's the real deal!!

Hi Deee HO!!!

2006-11-03T22:58:00.000-06:00

Hey All! Here's some book covers that I created for "The Book Publishers", a publishing company based here in Chicago! My very good friend DR.CARR or as I like to call her, AJA created this succesful venture. We had lunch once and I offered to create her logo if she paid for my meal, needless to say i was full that day and the rest as they say was history. Much love AJA!

Work related stuff!

2006-11-02T18:05:00.000-06:00

Here's a few of the projects I've been involved with at Hernandez & Garcia. I started working there this summer, It's an awesome place to work, cool people and an awesome atmosphere. The Ad's were for newspapers and magazines, The 3D stuff was for a 30 sec spot for a commercial for Start Rehab. A fellow artist Jose Villareal helped me out tremendously in this project, so mucho props Joser!

OH MY GAWWWWWD!!......I'm back.

2006-11-02T17:49:00.000-06:00

Hey All! sorry for being MIA, Thanks to my persistent brotha from a different motha, Tony Maldonado, I've come out of hiding. Gracias Tony!!! Well You wanted to see some art...Here ya go. This is some of the stuff I've been working on. I want to show more but some projects I can't disclose just yet, But I'm working on that. Also I gotta fire up the old scanner tonight! So for now let me know what you think so far! And yes I will post more art in the years to come....HA!!! J/K man, I'll have more up tomorrow.....or the day after!

OK It's a wrap! Finished cover for "HUNTED"

2006-03-12T00:04:00.000-06:00

I'm pretty proud of this piece here. It will be the cover to a new book I'm working on with Rafael Nieves aka Raf. Now I gotta get crackin' on what's gonna go inside the book. Let me hear your comments and/or daggers to my fragile ego (whimper!) See I told you I'd be putting on more work! Later!

Welcome, again!

2006-03-07T20:16:00.000-06:00

Woa!! it's been a sec but yes I'm back updating this here blog! I have new pieces and some work in progress. Also I'm putting in some of my Illustrator art and some of my 3D stuff. So yes It's been a sec but hopefully worth the wait!

Eidelon

2006-03-07T19:35:00.000-06:00

this is a project still in the works. Me and Raf have obviously had many projects come our way but we come back to this one because for one it's so cool! So I put my 3d skills to work and started to develop the city and of course the main character, Eidelon. I did my modeling on 3D Max 6 I've gone back and modified the character and city so stay tuned for those updates.

Sketches for upcoming project!

2005-09-30T20:17:00.000-05:00

These are the main three characters in the story.

Roughs on the the cover and alternate sketches

2005-09-30T19:58:00.000-05:00

This is what the cover will almost look like. I'm finishing that process as we speak. This is the first sketch and then colors laid in on the finished pencils. The cool logo was done by none other than Rafael Nieves who also wrote the story. I'm coloring the cover in photoshop with my trusty wacom in hand which makes life that much easier, not to mention coloring the thing.

These last three sketches were alternates for what the "beast" would of looked like and the leading lady.

More you say?

2005-09-30T19:41:00.000-05:00

Ok, well here it is! This is the cover to my upcoming Artbook, Illos (short for Illustrations) designed it myself. I have placement art for the meanwhile, Although this pic is growing on me! I'm pushing for a summer launch. If all goes well It might be the first of many. I'll keep you posted.

This here is a sneak peek of my website. Again, why pay someone if you can do it yourself! So this too I'm hoping will be up soon and I will let you all know as soon as it is!

WHAT!? that's it... you bum!

2005-09-30T19:38:00.000-05:00

Well no! I got more, actually here are some pieces that I've done for different friends and clients. The two women chatting over coffee was a cartoon for a local mag. Shango (the guy with a white orb behind him) was for a friend of mine Jiba Molei Anderson for his book "The Horsemen Compendium" that came out in March. The rapper and kid leaning on the sign, were for UMI, a company I used to work for. The pregnant lady was for a fellow Graphic Designer, Lisa Cain. All these pics, except Shango who I drew and painted in photoshop, were made in illustrator.

Well that's it for now, I'll have more real soon. Not like next year soon, but soon enuff! Til' next time! (soon promise!)