Here I go...

....yet more press I'm afraid.

I've written a review of the Birmingham Comicon which made it's way to the Forbidden Planet Blog.

Unbeknownst to me, the Matthew Craig also wrote himself a review that I mentioned in the post below, and which appeared a day before mine. In what looks like crossed wires from two comics artists from Wolverhampton, we've been singing each other's praises. All strangely unbeknownst to each other.

AND....Rol Hirst (of PJANG and the forth coming 'Too Much Sex and Violence' comics fame), has also took the time to write up a quick review of my comic.

Hurrahs all round.
RT

Sweet and Dandy

An awfully flattering mention of the Grinning Mask #2 in a Comicon review over at the splendid Forbidden Planet Blog.

Hurrah for the ever entertaining Matthew Craig for his kind words. Do check his comics out won't you?

RT

(More) Yesterday's Papers.....

Egad! There I am again - complete with a mention of the Grinning Mask.

RT

Yesterday's Papers

...just a quickie.

After a super-duper time at last weekend's Birmingham Comicon (more of a write up will hopefully appear here as if by magic later on in the week), I was alarmed to see a photo of me and Mr. McGee in the gallery of the Birmingham Mail's show review.

For those who can't be bothered looking, we're on the third set of photos, second one in from the left and two photos before Cyclops. I've never wrote that in a sentence before.

It did amuse me that the Birmingham Mail managed to catch the only two members of the Midlands Comics Collective who aren't actually from Birmingham....

RT

2 H.B.

...nearly there.

At last, the second Grinning Mask is ready to go. I've got the proof copy today and it should be ready (fingers crossed) tomorrow...

In the meantime, the lovely people at the Forbidden Planet Blog did a quick preview of it ahead of BICS.

Also, as promised a sneeky preview of the swag I shall be taking along to the show on Saturday. As well as copies of the Grinning Mask, you could also treat yourself to some mini-prints of bits and pieces what I have drawn. I'm also going to be making some into comicsy greeting cards.

If you feeling generous and in the slightest bit interested, then pop by on Saturday and throw some cash at the goodies.

Hurrah,
RT

When I get to the border

Just a quickie folks. As BICS hurtles towards us, I shall be spending this week finishing up the second chapter of 'The Grinning Mask'. It's all done and scanned and ready for lettering and if I do say so myself, looking a mighty fine piece of 'Medieval Mystery Horror'.

If you find yourself at this weekend's comic show, do pop by the Midlands Comics Collective table where I'll (hopefully!) be selling copies of this, the first issue and a few prints of stuff. I'll try to post again later on this week with a sneeky preview of what I shall be taking with me to the show.

RT

Young Man Blues

There's been a distinct lack of blogginess around these parts lately and the main reason for this is the second issue of the Grinning Mask. As the next Birmingham Comics Show hurtles towards us, I'm scribbling away to get this together in time for this and I'm deliberately trying to steer clear of posting anything from the issue for fear of nasty 'spoilers'.

In the meantime, here's some sketchbook stuff I keep meaning to finish off and colour in.

Until next time.
RT

I'm in pieces, BICS and pieces....

Well, what a top weekend that was eh? Lots of comics, catching up with folk, and a few drinks to boot.

I was there with the Midlands Comics Collective and we had a stall positively heaving with goodies. You can see my box of comics in the middle of the stall below...


What a super looking stall eh? Even better was the sight on mid morning Sunday...

Yeehar. I'd sold out of comics - howsaboutthatthen? I did give a few away to folk etc, but fully expected to be taking a good many copies home with me. I also got rid of all of the copies of Nu Earth that I took with me. How exciting.

I even got asked to do some sketching. I've got to admit that this was fairly nerve-wracking, and I've got fresh respect for the professionals who sit there sketching all day. I felt like apologising all of the way through my drawings for them not being very good.

Happily the Grinning Demon (no relation) from Mainstone seemed chuffed with my work and have seen fit to post my sketch of the Scarecrow on their blog below...

(The Grinning Demon Blog)

I get to be on the same page as Sean Phillips!

So all in all, a top weekend. I'll be getting some more copies of the Grinning Mask printed up this week and will (hopefully) get the copies posted out that I've promised to folk real soon.

Until next time.....

RT

All done....

Hurrah. My comic - 'The Grinning Mask' is now all ready to go to print. With but a week to spare for BICS. Like I say, if you're about and fancy paying a whole pound for a copy then pop by the Midlands Comics Collective table at the show.


If there's anyone out there in internet land who fancies a copy then let me know and I'll look to sort something out.

RT

Inking ahoy....

Phew. Where does the month go? I'll tell you where, sat at my drawing board inking this comic for BICS.


Still looking good for getting this together in time. More info and stuff to follow.....

Stay cool won't you?

RT

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH

Afternoon folks,

I've now finished all of the pencils for my BICS comic project and am getting on with the inking. Hurrah for me. If you're at BICS this year and feel like supporting a starving comics artist, do pop along to the Midlands Comics Collective table and get yourself a copy of this. Check out the rest of the stuff on the table as well - by the sounds of it, there should be plenty of goodies there in time for your delectation.



I'm also getting a bit fed up of drawing screaming faces. The more astute amongst you may have noticed that this is a horror comic - much in the EC tradition.


I think that I might draw some more 'Archie and the Sweep' for some light relief.....

RT

Inks (at last)...more to follow.

Slow, slow, slow

Afternoon folks.

It's been a busy couple of weeks what with my brother getting married, me doing the best man thing and a trip to my see my girlfriend's family. This general business means I've not had much chance to do much of this here blogging.

Hopefully, now things are on a bit more of an even keel I can get back to it. I'll probably look to start inking my BICS comic project this week, but in the meantime I'll stick some sketchbook stuff here. C'est voila, it's Rogue Trooper and the oddest of Marvel groups, the Defenders.



Until next time.

Yet more pencils.....

.....in progress.


I've just finished pencilling page twelve of a hefty-and-rather-ominous-sounding twenty one, of my BICS comic / project.

Behold ye a couple of snippets for folk to take a peep at.


Right then. Back to it.....

Pac Man Paintings

...Like it says above, Pac Man Paintings.

This is a set of acrylic on canvas paintings that I've recently finished as a pressie for my brother and his computer room. Now I've handed them over to him, I figure that it's safe to stick a few piccies here.


I'm really pleased with them now they're finished. The perfectionist / computer nerd in me had quite a job making sure that the colours were as close as I could get.

Hope you like them folks. I may get another set together in time for BICS and try and sell them on the Midlands Comics Collective stand?

Messy, messy pencils

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I'm a bit of a messy penciller. This doesn't make me a bad person though.

Yep, this week has been yet more pencils for my comic (the very same comic which I could do with coming up with a title for).
Despite being a messy penciller, I'm nothing if not methodical. I know folk who jump about a script, tackling pages in any old order. My preferred method of working is to pencil an entire story start to finish before even thinking about the inking. I'm afraid that readers of this blog may have to put up with a couple of weeks of pencils therefore before they get to see any inky stuff.

As well as the comic, I've been doing some painting as well as dipping into my sketchbook. I'll post some piccies of the painting when it's safe to do so, but for now I'll post a quick sketch of the Creeper. I plan to ignore the slightly dodgy anatomy and use this for some much needed inking practice...

Until next time chums.....

Another week.....

.....another post.

Right then, so what have I been working on this week then?

I'm currently working on a comic of my very own which I'm hoping to get together in time for the British Comics Show. There's going to be a few late nights ahead to get it together, but if nothing else, I'll be a few pages better off in my portfolio.

Anyway, it's all scripted and laid out, and I'm currently wading through pencils.





Fun, fun, fun eh? I'll post more stuff as the weeks progress...

As a final treat this week, I'll post an inking sample to balance up the pencils. Yep, it's everyone's favourite mutant. These are my inks over Joe Ward's pencils, and is my first foray into digital inking using my Wacom tablet. As test pieces go, I'm quite chuffed with it.



Once again chums, any comments criticisms etc will be gratefully received.