Artistic expressions, new projects, dope ideas, and anything fresh in the creative landscape can be found here on any given day…
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Book Drops Next Week
Last year as I was freelancing, temping, taking an evening computer class and planning a wedding, I squeezed in writing a joke book for Random House.
My former DC Comics co-worker gave me a call asked if I was interested, and at first I thought there was no way I could do this. And then I remembered I was getting married, sucked it up and started writing.
Who knows you might have seen me on the 6 train cracking myself up as I jumped from one gig to another. From there I cashed the checks, made revisions and forgot all about this project until my Google Alert went off. It told me that my name showed up somewhere on the web and at first I just thought that another one of my namesakes did something stupid. To my great surprise it was a listing for the book. Its a crazy feeling when you search a book site and your name pops up.
This was the craziest thing I’ve ever written, so I need to thank a few people. First on the list my editor Frank J. Berrios for giving me this shot. Thanks to artist Erik Doescher, who I’ve never met but did a great job bringing life to my super stab at humor. My niece and nephew for being my beta testers, I also dedicated it to them. To all my friends and family that pre-ordered my first published book. My Mother cuz you have to thank Moms, but really for supporting, if not fully understanding my love of 4 color characters.
My last thank you goes to my then fiancée, now wife Sharon for slowing my roll when I compared myself to Morrison and Heinlein. I’ll still expect my name in the next round of Pulitzer nominations and now I have proof that I’m the funniest cat I know.
DC Super Friends Joke Book can be found at:
And please rate it on GoodReads.com.
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DC Super Friends Joke Book
Last year in between temp work, school, and oh yeah planning a wedding I wrote a kids joke book.
So it’s a good day when your editor sends you an advance copy of your book. The book drops on Sept. 5th, look for DC Super Friends Joke Book.
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May the 4th be with You!
This is a piece I wrote a few weeks back, May the 4th be with You!
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Dispatches from the Black Comic Book Festival 2017
An article I wrote for FanBros.com for the full article click here.
For more pictures not used by FanBros, scroll down.
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The FIYAH This Time
“So give us your Black elves, your Black space captains, your Black heretics standing against prophecies and insurmountable odds. Send us your Black wizards and Black gods, your Black sergean…
Source: The FIYAH This Time
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Top 5 of 2016
With all the passing’s of celebrities, family and friends, a crazy election, and injustice still an issue in this country, 2016 could be looked at as one of the worst years in a long time, but I won’t look at it that way as I had some great times and life changing moments. Here are my Top 5 of 2016.
5. Black Comic Book Day
The annual event of Bleeks and Blurds, held at the Schomburg Center in Harlem, NY, is filled with talks and vendors of color in the comic book field. This free gathering continues to grow in influence and spreading the word that there are comics out there for us. Black Comic Book Day Pictures Here
4. Civil War and Luke Cage
Captain America: Civil War – My second favorite Marvel movie had one of the best super powered battles since Revenge of the Sith, introduced Spider-man into the Marvel cinematic universe, but the most important reason for making the list was the debut of the Black Panther on the big screen. Also this year was one of the best written of the Marvel shows Luke Cage. Amazing cast, dynamic dialog & humor, and a banging soundtrack made this one for the books.
3. Kobayashi Maru
If the name sounds familiar it’s because the Kobayashi Maru is the famed test for Starfleet cadets and earlier this year I was able to show how I had the right stuff. For the full details of my exam experience click on my article written for BlackSciFi.com Kobayashi Maru.
2. Star Trek Mission
Star Trek Mission – The 50th Anniversary to celebrate the legend that is Star Trek, I went full out trek, battled Klingons in space, represented DS9 on a panel, met Q, and sat in the Captain’s chair. For the full details of my personal Trek read my piece on BlackSciFi.com Star Trek Mission.
1. The Wedding of the Century
And of course I couldn’t close out my Top 5 list with out the most important event of my life. Getting married to my Sharon Carter. You can tell she gets me by the Christmas gift she got me.
2016 is just the beginning for us.
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Sci-Fi Royalty
Icon, Actor, Script Doctor and all around Funny Lady, May the Force be with you.
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Happy Holidays
To make sure that 2017 starts on a creative and positive note I wanted to end 2016 with an artistic thank you to everyone who was there for me as I became an honest man.
This post includes the stages of creativity for my Flower Power illustration.
Working off of my iPad I used Adobe Draw to create the basic black and white line art. The next stage of this was filling in the flat colors. A note about the creative process, the green of the shirt was a happy accident, in making sure I filled all the open spots I used a green background and realized how good she looked in green. Even a digital drawing has an organic aspect.
The last stage was adding shading and details to the figure and her clothing. To give her that pop and personality I used Adobe Capture to create the flowers in her hair and on her shirt. From here I used Adobe Creative Cloud to transfer the illustration to Adobe Illustrator to clean up the image and create a more portable png.
With the final image done, I uploaded the illustration to Canva.com to add my Happy Holidays message and some random “snowfall” to give the seasonal feel. Enjoy and here’s to staying creative in 2017.
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December 21 W.I.P. – Flat Color
Phase 2 of this w.i.p., flat colors added with details and shading to follow.
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W.I.P. December
Working on some new illustrations of love, joy and happiness for the new year, starting here with the line art, shading and color to follow.
