Of Beetles and Busy-ness

If you've been following me the last couple months, you know that I've been doing an epic amount of conventions. And by "epic" I mean "crazy". I just did a two-fer of New York Comic-Con and then GeekGirlCon back to back. But, because I'm living life on the road, I haven't been posting as much stuff here as I'd like. It's a little clunkier to post from my iPhone, plus, you know, general busy-ness. So, as things are quieting down, I'm going to post some of my favorite art, commissions and photos from my convention season. First up, well, it's not any of those. My friend Tim Wallace is the brain behind the Kord Industries blog and part of the well-oiled machine that is the Baltimore Comic-Con. I've owed him a Blue Beetle piece for a couple months now, and I've finally managed to get it done. And now, I share it with you. Click and embiggen!

Twinkie Ads for the Next Generation

This thing called Comic-Con is coming up, and I feel like I should have something new for it. I mean, it's not like the complete run of Love and Capes isn't enough, right? Not to mention the chance to meet me. But yeah, I think we need something new, too. So, in conjunction with justJenn Recipes, whom you may remember as baking me some Twilight Sparkle cookies back when I helped launch the My Little Pony Micro-Series, we have created a Love and Capes print in the style of the old Hostess ads. Ads which are so awesome that they have been collected by Seanbaby into this fantastic web archive.

Today, all you get to see is this preview image. On Wednesday, head over to justJenn's site and see even more details. We'll both have them for sale at our booths at Comic-Con, so drop on by!

The Man of Steel

If breaking news hasn't changed things, I should be on WTAM-1100 radio in Cleveland on the Wills and Snyder show talking about Superman. if any of you have met me in person, you know that's a topic that's hard to get me to shut up on.

Inspired by the new trailer, I decided to do a Superman and Lois piece. Click the below image to enlarge it, or "biggimized" as the kids say.

My Little Pony Sketch Card

Last summer, I participated in the Topps' Star Wars: Galactic Files sketchcard series. As a result, I've been doing a lot of these, including this My Little Pony card. I'll be making a batch of them for my appearance at Captain Blue Hen in Newark, Delaware for Free Comic Book Day this year. That doesn't mean you have to make it to Delaware to get one, though. (I do encourage that, of course, Joe holds a great event at his store!) I am taking orders and pre-commissions for cards, too. They're $15 in black and white, $20 in color!

My Little Pony Sketch Covers

IDW does a lot of variant covers for their My Little Pony books. They did sketch covers and, something I haven't seen before but really dig, sketch back covers. They print them on something that's effectively bristol board, takes pencil and ink really well, and people can commission us to draw on them. Coming out of last week's My Little Pony event at Beach Ball Comics, I got a series of four covers, two fronts and two backs to draw. I'm pretty happy with how these came out. I do have some blank covers in my box of comps from my Twilight Sparkle issue, so if you're interested, drop me a line and we can talk price.

Either way, here are the covers I did. Click and embiggen!

WonderCon this Weekend! My Commission List is Open!

This weekend is WonderCon, Anaheim-flavor. I'll be there again, set up in Artist Alley at table 184. I'll have all the normal stuff, as well as a full stock of the brand-new fourth Love and Capes collection! I'll also be signing and chatting and doing commissions.

I'll also be on the Kids' Comics Panel at 11:00am on Saturday in Room 210A, along with Neo Edmund, Heather Nufer and Barbara Kesel! And I'll be signing at the IDW booth at 2:00 on Sunday.

As a warm-up for sketching at the show and for figuring out a style for my next project, I've been messing around with doing some trading card headshots. Just because I like a theme, I did the original seven members of the Justice League. Click and embiggen!

My commission list is open for the show, too. Drop me at line at tz (at) thomz.com and we can talk specifics. I'm discounting prices for pre-ordered commissions. My normal rate is $25 per character (black and white), $50 for color. Today and tomorrow only, pre-orders will be $20 and $40 for black and white and color.

See you at the show!

Many Things I Have Drawn This Week

I've been drawing up a storm in preparation for Emerald City Comic Con. I've had people request commissions, people who won t-shirts and commissions as part of the Valentine's Day promotion, and a couple of ones to have in my portfolio to sell. I've been posting these on Twitter (which is why you should follow me there, too) but if you don't, or if you missed them, here they are.

All of these are purchased except for the Twilight Sparkle/Spike one, which can be bought at Emerald City.

Drilling for Work

This post is going to be about art, but it's also going to be about the business of art. I have a great dentist, Dr. Nemeth. And while I like him a lot and recommend him highly if you're in Northeast Ohio, his reminder postcards left a little to be desired. Every six months I'd get one of these things and wince at the cartooning. They were serviceable, to be fair, and did the job. The front had a cartoon and I just didn't care for it. (Apologies, dear reader, if you're theone who drew it.)

So, the last time I got my teeth cleaned, I asked him about doing new cards. I proposed caricature cards of him as different cartoon characters with different headlines. As we keep going, we could do new cards. We hammered out a price, and then I drew some cards.

You can see them here on this post, and as always, click for biggimization.

Two things about this:

One, the good doctor loved them, and the next time he's going to a conference, he's going to bring them and show them to other dentists. That could very well mean more clients and more work for me. That's all to the good.

Two, I think this is one of the important things about being a freelancer. Sometimes work comes to you, sometimes you have to get the work. I saw an opportunity here, put myself out there, and got the job. Hopefully many more jobs.

The great thing about freelancing is the control of your job. But that means taking the reigns, too. Sometimes you have to shake the tress for work. It's part of the job, and it's not always my favorite part, but if you're going to do one, you have to do the other.

My Little Pony art: Fluttershy

Three days until my My Little Pony issue comes out, and today's Pony piece is Fluttershy. Unfortunately, she doesn't appear in my story, but she's ny favorite's favorite, so it wasn't going to be long before I drew her.

I should be doing at least a couple more before New Comics Wednesday, and all these originals will be for sale at Emerald City Comicon in two short weeks, Table B-06.

Digital pencils, transferred to board by lightbox, and colored with Copic markers.

My Little Pony Art: Dr. Whooves and Derpy

This Wednesday, my issue ofthe My Little Pony micro-series… issue #1, in fact… comes out to comic shops in the U.S. (Sorry you have to wait, United Kingdom!) In that spirit, I'm switiching from drawing Couples Commissions to My Little Pony characters, First up, Doctor Whooves, with new his companion Derpy Hooves. Whooves? Hooves? It's like it's meant to be.

More stuff will be appearing all week.