1 Page Down - I think

I think this should do it for this page. Hopefully get the other 3 pages done quicker than this one.

Black Flag Finally Finished

OK, the art and words are done. Any suggestions or complaints, please share 'em now--PLEASE.

Just to back up a bit--these are the first 9 pages of what would have been a first chapter of 18 pages (the first chapter of 9 in a graphic novel of 100 some-odd pages). These guys only want to print the first 9 pages (thank God because at this rate it would take me a year to do all 18 pages). So this will (and should) feel incomplete. But I'm hoping it makes some sense. Inevitably, some of it will be lost on an audience that doesn't know anything about this period of music, but see what you think.

I have been terribly absent online this month. Forgive me. It's been a funky stretch.

Military Industrial Complex

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!

L3|D.P. Associates asked me to sign the forms to begin a background check. If that clears and I pee in a cup, they will make me an offer to do something photoshopy for the Navy to train someone to do something. This will last about a year, they claim.

Getting Notes is upping my game

I think.

I'll try to be done with the page tonight.

 Maybe not done, but well along

 I got more notes. Asking for clarification on some of it. Making sure he means that he wants black where he has solid red blobs indicating foliage.
What do you think?
This is all photoshop. No manga studio.

Do you wanna work grocery?

So I had an interview at Jimbo's. I was asked whether I could lift 50 lbs. I said sure. After the interview I went to the Ralph's nearby and put 50 lbs of dog food on the ground to see whether I could lift that amount over my head.

Future Antique Map Texture

The index card I use to set my coffee onto

Battle Star Frazetta

From back in 1978. The Frazetta promotionals used for Battlestar Galactica

Thunder Agents Archive

Just plowed right on through THUNDER Agents Archives Vol 5.

So pricey. If I didn't get that comic book credit, I wouldn't have bought it.

50 bucks!

Beyond that, super charming, Wally Wood cynical humor gold through out.

The art is so-so in many cases. Especially like Chic Stone. But it is there that the "22 Panels That Always Work" are used the most. Probably doing about 3 pages a day from the look of it.

Childhood favorite that is as good as I remember. I may do an Indy version of Weed.

Chain smoker, no powers, kind of accident prone.

More Website Updates

I've come up with a cheaty way of pointing my URL at the Wix version of my website.  It will work for now.  I may eventually move my entire site over to Wix, but for now this new arrangement suits me.  It's WAY better looking and more professional than my old site, which was my actual goal.  Above is one of my Polar Bowler concept drawings along with a "beauty shot" of the final models.  There's a couple more of these in the "Portfolio-Current" section of my website update HERE.

Coloring B&W

I am still crawling, bumbling and stumbling toward completion of this first comic book. Right now I'm "coloring" my black-n-white pages.

At the same time, a few weeks back I got some good news--the book publisher who'd rejected my Black Flag graphic novel pitch contacted me to ask if they could publish the first half of my chapter in a new textbook they are preparing for Spring 2015. They are paying me (a pittance) and I retain all the rights--it's just the first half of my first chapter. But I was greatly encouraged by their interest.

But now I have to finalize the (very unfinished) artwork I sent them almost two years ago. One thing I'm trying to do is add "color" to this b&w comic in a way that looks period-correct (story takes place in 1981). Which for me means Ben-Day dots.

I've found some great tutorials on how to create Ben-Day dots in PhotoShop, but the trick remains getting a look that works. I've resisted doing Ben-Day on the Chubby Cheekers story, but I'm posting two examples of these different "coloring" methods and asking for comments/advice.

Many thanks T.A.G. brethren!

Marty, Following instructions (more or less) from this. -BDM

Made Map for Simonetta Carr's book on John Knox

I almost forgot ... The map I created of Northern Europe (as it was in the 1500s) recently appeared in "John Knox,"  Simonetta Carr's latest book in her Christian Biographies for Young Readers series, published by Reformation Heritage Books. Here is a link to an online .pdf preview. The map is right after the Table of Contents. I've done maps for all but one of her books. Very talented lady; very nice, too.

Me and Menear

This fellow, Craig Menear, is supposedly the heir in waiting to take over for the top guy at Home Depot, Frank Blake. I am in the photo because I was selected by my store to be its representative at the District 21 Customer Service All Star lunch. Yes, I designed the aprons for the event ... though Craig didn't wear his ...still prefers the Sharpie approach.

Art wise, I am creating the playfield and backstop artwork for a new mechanical game: Lighting Streak, that is moving through its prototype phase. Three companies are interested in distributing it, all pretty large, all international, so it jumped in front of our Candy Popper and Space Baby games, though they'll get back on track once L.S. is finished. I am also jumping back into the writing gig and will update y'all with news on music, TV and film pitches as they progress.

Sold out

The opera benefit at the Kensington Theater showing "A Night at the Opera" was sold out.

I'll stream it by myself then.

Blue Line Erasure Tutorial

On Tumblr

Another drawing- Tuesday-
Removing blue marker roughs with the same technique.

Digital inking I did tonight.

Still needs some touch up.

Jack Kirby talks about WW2

Youtube link

Half a Page

I'll probably get the author's feedback when I get home from work today.

Speaking of which. Got to leave in a couple of minutes.

 Youtube of all the comics I got for drawing on Free Comics Day
Very generous credit.

This takes you to a Tumblr link explaining this drawing

all relating to finding my groove on Easy-Ellis style.

I think I'll go see it

It sounds like Bryan Cranston is great in it.

I watched the last of Godzilla Raids Again last night.

I'm ready!

New Podcast

Just as a general guest.

No life story.

No name dropping.

Doodle- Warming up for some web comic work

8 by 5 index cards can be hard to find. Wal-Mart has them. Step up from typing bond-but not bristol thick. Great to waste with any notion you want sketch or list to stick in your pocket.

Nick Fury Lives

Sorry for my absence--we went back to Ol' Virginiy for Blair's college reunion. I'll get caught up on all the cool posts, but in the meantime here's some FURY (from a Kirby drawing, 'natch). Tho' my back o' book drawings aren't nearly as great as Ellis's Free Comic Book Day sketches--sheesh!! I love that Doc Ock!

UPDATE: Some of my Ellis- and Kirby-inspired faves (note Uncle Goggle appearance--it started out as the sketch I was gonna do fer you, El, but then I came up with the Teen Ellis vs. Frankenstein):

R.I.P. Dick Ayers

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/05/05/r-i-p-dick-ayers/

Avis Again

It went smooth. Knew everything. Everyone happy to see me back. I'm happy to be back. 3 days a week. Laughably little money but, ultra, ultra , low stress and easy work. Will pay the bills and allow me to work as an artist. I have something lined up on the artist, freelance front I'm starting on soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtAeeyXY5mo

Everyone do a registration badge!

The San Diego Comic Fest would like to receive artwork for this year's registration badges.
Please provide line art designed to fit on a 4" by 3" card. Artwork can bleed off the edges.
Some restrictions:
A holgram sticker will be placed somewhere near the top right or left corners
The bottom 3/4" should be left empty or not too busy to allow for the name and type attendee (one-day, volunteer, etc.).

The printing will be done off a laser printer so use the appropriate resolution on the art (300dpi?, most of you guys probably know better).
To see info about the Fest go to http://www.sdcomicfest.org.
Themes for this year are:
Ghostbusters, 30 year anniversary
Ghostbusters 2, 25 year anniversary
Dune the movie, 30 year anniversary
The Twilight Zone
Jerry Siegel's 100th birthday

You are not limited to those themes.

Send your artwork to bdrormontag@gmail.com and I'll forward it the registration czar for approval.
Post here so I know to check that email, and if you have my "real" email, send me a note there so I know to check here to go to my gmail.

Spread the word.

I'll do Billy Mumy. With a big mass behind him, writhing in eternal agony. Everyone has been wished into the corn field. Kid friendly.

Free Comic Book Day- I worked for nothing

Did a lot of sketches on free comic book day. And you fans of my podcast ability, did another one of those. The subject was the Pulps. I'll post a link to that in about a week.

Regret not getting more shots of the work I did. Probably did 5 an hour for 6 hours.

I say I worked for nothing. Got a 100 dollar commission out of it.

More sketches on Tumblr

 Hard at it. Doing my 10.1 minute sketches. Notice the hand blur.

 More angles. I hate picture taking of me unless it's me doing it. Selfies are best where I'm concerned.