March 1, 2007 Bonus Blog
J.D. came down yesterday and I gave him a dozen eggs as tribute for his chicken condo work. Peaches has breeched security and has figured out how to compromise our $1,200 chain link fence. She actually takes the fence in her teeth, pulls violently on it over and over (I laughed at her at first, not realizing her demonic skills), until the bottom bends, then she squeezes under the buried guy wire like some special forces dogface. Amazing.
May issue goes out the door in an hour. Abby Pearson and Dan Harshberger both have created award winning layouts in the issue. The Billy the Kid package is quite strong.
The taping I did for The Cowboys show on the Outdoor Channel ran last night. I didn't see it but got three emails this morning raving about it. One viewer, Frank Pingleton, of Tulsa, Oklahoma wants to locate a Buntline Special that he remembers buying when he was eight-years-old. He has contacted ABC, Proctor & Gamble, Mattel and various other entities and nobody, not even Tequila, the host of the Cowboys Show, remembers this plastic replica of Wyatt Earp's Excalibur. But I do. I seem to remember Dan Harshberger having one. Nope, just called him and he doesn't remember it. I have to believe someone who reads this would know. Maybe Steve Lodge or Jeff Morey. Someone, I want to say Mattel, put out a Wyatt Earp Buntline Special replica, but it was plastic (I can just see it, and frankly it was at Dan's house. Maybe his sister Charlene had one). Frank Pingleton told me he was running across a cow pasture, and the barrel got caught between his legs and he broke his. He has been looking for a replacement ever since. If you know where Frank can find one, send him an email at:
carolpingleton1@cox.net
You'll make two old cowboys happy.
And speaking of happy cowboys, Paul Hutton tells me that the only reason to watch "Buffalo Girls" is to see his beautiful wife, Tracy Lee, who is in two scenes: a wedding scene and another where Calamity Jane is leaving town. More on this later.
Samurai Comics is sneaking Frank Miller's 300 next Monday night at Harkins 101. I need to go down there, 5024 N. 7th St. tomorrow and buy some Frank Miller stuff (at 20% off) and get my ticket. See you there tomorrow morning. Theresa from Tri Star Publishing is going to meet me there to sign a whole bunch of limited edition books of mine. Evidently it was not generated by the Buckingham Books offer (see post below), but here's their address if you want to check them out:
www.buckinghambooks.com
Onion Headline de Jour
I'm Not Surprised Hitler Was A Taurus
"No facts are to me sacred; none are profane; I simply experiment, an endless seeker with no Past at my back."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thursday, March 01, 2007
March 1, 2007
For all you stat lovers, this is my 1,603rd post. I've been keeping a daily journal in my Franklin Daytimer since February 1994 when I was fired from KSLX radio for lousy raitings. I decided to get organized and got the daytimer and have been keeping a daily record ever since.
If you've read the brutally honest business timeline, those daily events were culled from my Franklin (and cleaned up quite a bit, in other words, all the swear words taken out. Ha.), and I started doing a daily blog sometime after we bought the magazine (1999).
As for my daily drawing, I've completed 3,291 sketches, six a day, without missing, although I've been in a slump in terms of quality for about a week, I think perhaps it's because of jetlag from the trip. Or, maybe it's confusion from all the comic art I saw in New York—or some versionof Manga-fever, or Yaoi Yankin', I don't know.
Yesterday, Seth Hoyt came in and is going to be working on several special projects for us. He and Bob Brink go way back, and Seth recently retired to Wickenburg, and after five weeks is itching to get back in harness. We welcome his energy and ideas.
I also offered Allen Waxenberg a job when we had dinner with him in New York at the 21 Club ($480 for four!). Allen also has great energy, worked with Bob Brink at Hearst, is retired and has great magazine skills. Allen told Trish Brink we might do well to hire all of these retired mag execs and when she told me, I said, "Well, it certainly has worked for me!"
I've told the story before but it's worth repeating. In 2002 we were losing $30K a month and my brother-in-law accountant gave us a 10% chance of survival and warned me I needed to find someone with "national magazine experience." I told Don Radina I knew Charlie Waters who grew up in the media biz and has been a publisher, and Don said, "Does he have national magazine experience?" When I said he didn't, Don said emphatically, "Then it doesn't count." I got exasperated and said, "Don, how am I going to find someone with national magazine experience in Cave Creek, Arizona?"
"Not my problem," Don told me in his matter-of-fact way. I fumed about this for several months, racking my brain on how I could possibly find someone with national magazine experience out here in the sticks.
On April 24, 2002, Robert Ray and I were discussing a cover design at his computer when I heard, someone say the word "Hearst" out in the store (just around the corner from Robert's computer). I walked out there and there were about five people in the store and I said, "Who just said 'Hearst'?" And this distinguished looking man said, "I did." And I said, "Why did you say the word Hearst?" And he said, "I ran the magazine division of Hearst in New York for 26 years and I just retired to Carefree." I politely asked him to follow me to my office where I closed the door and said as calmly as I could: "I NEED YOUR HELP!"
Now, at the time I didn't know that Trish Brink, his wife, who was with him, was going to turn out to be such a valuable asset as well, but she ran the Cosmo magazine sales staff and has turned out to be a great professional and hard worker for our cause, as well. So when I said, "it's certainly worked for me!" I wasn't kidding. I'm expecting big things from both Seth and Allen.
On Monday night Kathy and I tried to watch "Buffalo Girls" the made for TV biopic about Calamity Jane (Anjelica Huston) and her romantic fling with Wild Bill (Sam Elliott), but it was so weak we turned it off and I'm sending it back (Netflix).
Onion Headline de Jour
Area Man Tired Of Making Excuses For Rapist Friend
"You will never 'find' time for anything. If you want time you must make it."
—Charles Buxton
For all you stat lovers, this is my 1,603rd post. I've been keeping a daily journal in my Franklin Daytimer since February 1994 when I was fired from KSLX radio for lousy raitings. I decided to get organized and got the daytimer and have been keeping a daily record ever since.
If you've read the brutally honest business timeline, those daily events were culled from my Franklin (and cleaned up quite a bit, in other words, all the swear words taken out. Ha.), and I started doing a daily blog sometime after we bought the magazine (1999).
As for my daily drawing, I've completed 3,291 sketches, six a day, without missing, although I've been in a slump in terms of quality for about a week, I think perhaps it's because of jetlag from the trip. Or, maybe it's confusion from all the comic art I saw in New York—or some versionof Manga-fever, or Yaoi Yankin', I don't know.
Yesterday, Seth Hoyt came in and is going to be working on several special projects for us. He and Bob Brink go way back, and Seth recently retired to Wickenburg, and after five weeks is itching to get back in harness. We welcome his energy and ideas.
I also offered Allen Waxenberg a job when we had dinner with him in New York at the 21 Club ($480 for four!). Allen also has great energy, worked with Bob Brink at Hearst, is retired and has great magazine skills. Allen told Trish Brink we might do well to hire all of these retired mag execs and when she told me, I said, "Well, it certainly has worked for me!"
I've told the story before but it's worth repeating. In 2002 we were losing $30K a month and my brother-in-law accountant gave us a 10% chance of survival and warned me I needed to find someone with "national magazine experience." I told Don Radina I knew Charlie Waters who grew up in the media biz and has been a publisher, and Don said, "Does he have national magazine experience?" When I said he didn't, Don said emphatically, "Then it doesn't count." I got exasperated and said, "Don, how am I going to find someone with national magazine experience in Cave Creek, Arizona?"
"Not my problem," Don told me in his matter-of-fact way. I fumed about this for several months, racking my brain on how I could possibly find someone with national magazine experience out here in the sticks.
On April 24, 2002, Robert Ray and I were discussing a cover design at his computer when I heard, someone say the word "Hearst" out in the store (just around the corner from Robert's computer). I walked out there and there were about five people in the store and I said, "Who just said 'Hearst'?" And this distinguished looking man said, "I did." And I said, "Why did you say the word Hearst?" And he said, "I ran the magazine division of Hearst in New York for 26 years and I just retired to Carefree." I politely asked him to follow me to my office where I closed the door and said as calmly as I could: "I NEED YOUR HELP!"
Now, at the time I didn't know that Trish Brink, his wife, who was with him, was going to turn out to be such a valuable asset as well, but she ran the Cosmo magazine sales staff and has turned out to be a great professional and hard worker for our cause, as well. So when I said, "it's certainly worked for me!" I wasn't kidding. I'm expecting big things from both Seth and Allen.
On Monday night Kathy and I tried to watch "Buffalo Girls" the made for TV biopic about Calamity Jane (Anjelica Huston) and her romantic fling with Wild Bill (Sam Elliott), but it was so weak we turned it off and I'm sending it back (Netflix).
Onion Headline de Jour
Area Man Tired Of Making Excuses For Rapist Friend
"You will never 'find' time for anything. If you want time you must make it."
—Charles Buxton
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
February 28, 2007 Bonus Bonus Blog
Fred Nolan from Chalfont St. Giles, England sent me the following from Buckingham Books, under the heading: Thought this might make your day.
12. BELL, BOB BOZE. ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF BILLY THE KID, DOC HOLLIDAY, & WYATT EARP IN THREE SPECIAL PRESENTATION BINDINGS. LIMITED TO TWELVE COPIES. VOLUME I: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF BILLY THE KID. Phoenix: Tri-Star-Boze Publications, Inc., 1996. Second edition, Revised and Expanded. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies in brown leather, with gold stamping on the spine and front cover, numbered and signed by the author. Full leather, 192 pp., illustrated, maps, plates, portraits, credits. Ilustrated by the author. This edition is expanded over the first edition from 120 pages to 192 pages. Full leather slipcase with gold stamping on front cover. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. VOLUME II: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF DOC HOLLIDAY. [Phoenix: Tri-Star Printing, 1995]. Second edition, Revised. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies signed by the author. Full leather, gold stamping on spine and front cover, 128 pp., illustrated, map, plates, portraits, credits. Illustrated by the author. This edition has been revised over the first edition. Full speckled cloth slipcase. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. VOLUME III: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF WYATT EARP. Phoenix: Tri-Star-Boze Publications, Inc., 1995. Third edition. Revised and expanded. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies signed by the author. Full leather, gold stamping on front cover and spine, 142 [2] pp., illustrated, map, plates, portraits, credits. Illustrated by the author. This edition is expanded over the first edition from 128 pages to 144 pages. Full speckled cloth slipcase. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. These three volumes have been specially produced for presentation in fine bindings and limited to twelve sets. Together they provide a host of information about three legendary characters of the Old West. The Set of Three: $2000.00 (22479)
It did.
Fred Nolan from Chalfont St. Giles, England sent me the following from Buckingham Books, under the heading: Thought this might make your day.
12. BELL, BOB BOZE. ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF BILLY THE KID, DOC HOLLIDAY, & WYATT EARP IN THREE SPECIAL PRESENTATION BINDINGS. LIMITED TO TWELVE COPIES. VOLUME I: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF BILLY THE KID. Phoenix: Tri-Star-Boze Publications, Inc., 1996. Second edition, Revised and Expanded. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies in brown leather, with gold stamping on the spine and front cover, numbered and signed by the author. Full leather, 192 pp., illustrated, maps, plates, portraits, credits. Ilustrated by the author. This edition is expanded over the first edition from 120 pages to 192 pages. Full leather slipcase with gold stamping on front cover. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. VOLUME II: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF DOC HOLLIDAY. [Phoenix: Tri-Star Printing, 1995]. Second edition, Revised. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies signed by the author. Full leather, gold stamping on spine and front cover, 128 pp., illustrated, map, plates, portraits, credits. Illustrated by the author. This edition has been revised over the first edition. Full speckled cloth slipcase. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. VOLUME III: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF WYATT EARP. Phoenix: Tri-Star-Boze Publications, Inc., 1995. Third edition. Revised and expanded. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies signed by the author. Full leather, gold stamping on front cover and spine, 142 [2] pp., illustrated, map, plates, portraits, credits. Illustrated by the author. This edition is expanded over the first edition from 128 pages to 144 pages. Full speckled cloth slipcase. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. These three volumes have been specially produced for presentation in fine bindings and limited to twelve sets. Together they provide a host of information about three legendary characters of the Old West. The Set of Three: $2000.00 (22479)
It did.
February 28, 2007 Bonus Blog
Here's living proof we become all that we encounter. A week ago, as I huddled in a United puddle-jumper on the way back from Cody, Wyoming to Denver, (on my way to New York from seeing my mom), I encounterd a subtle, sunrise, sky effect out the window. Somewhere over Thermopolis, Wyoming at about 6:40 in the morning, a thin, orange line appeared on the horizon and a dramatic, purple cloud dissected it, falling down into a blue-ish, purple, snow-clad landscape. I pulled out my sketchbookand and tried to get as much of it down as I could in the dim light. I was working with a black pen so I had to make notes as to the colors.
Cut to: New York City and the Jacob Javits Center: after walking the New York Comic Con and perusing (or should that be wallowing?) in all of the Manga-Anime-Yaoi style, I came home for lunch today to whip out a Honkytonk Sue for the May issue which goes out the door tomorrow. As I ate lunch I looked at my sketchbook for landscape inspiration and encountered the early morning sky sketch, then set about doing a pensive Sue, pushing the front of her hat up. I didn't think the snow was appropriate for Sue's world, but I poached the landscape and nailed the cloud, by the way. As for Sue, well, let's just say she's way more Yaoi than I'd ever admit:
"Yeow-ee!"
—Old Cartoonist Saying
As for New York Sitings:
"I got a kick out of your New York stories which reminded me of the first and only time I was ever in the Big Apple. I had arrived a couple of days ahead of the rest of the cast and crew and decided to go for a walk around town with the production manager. We walked all the way up 5th Avenue to the CBS Building to check in with the producer, and on our way back to the hotel, we passed a smallish man in a suit who smiled, nodded and said, 'Hello' to us. It was only after we had continued on another few yards that my friend said to me: 'Was that who I think it was?' 'Yep,' I replied. And as we turned to take a second look, Ed Sullivan had already disappeared into the crowd."
—Steve Lodge
"If you can achieve action, you will achieve happiness."
— L. Ron Hubbard
Here's living proof we become all that we encounter. A week ago, as I huddled in a United puddle-jumper on the way back from Cody, Wyoming to Denver, (on my way to New York from seeing my mom), I encounterd a subtle, sunrise, sky effect out the window. Somewhere over Thermopolis, Wyoming at about 6:40 in the morning, a thin, orange line appeared on the horizon and a dramatic, purple cloud dissected it, falling down into a blue-ish, purple, snow-clad landscape. I pulled out my sketchbookand and tried to get as much of it down as I could in the dim light. I was working with a black pen so I had to make notes as to the colors.
Cut to: New York City and the Jacob Javits Center: after walking the New York Comic Con and perusing (or should that be wallowing?) in all of the Manga-Anime-Yaoi style, I came home for lunch today to whip out a Honkytonk Sue for the May issue which goes out the door tomorrow. As I ate lunch I looked at my sketchbook for landscape inspiration and encountered the early morning sky sketch, then set about doing a pensive Sue, pushing the front of her hat up. I didn't think the snow was appropriate for Sue's world, but I poached the landscape and nailed the cloud, by the way. As for Sue, well, let's just say she's way more Yaoi than I'd ever admit:
"Yeow-ee!"
—Old Cartoonist Saying
As for New York Sitings:
"I got a kick out of your New York stories which reminded me of the first and only time I was ever in the Big Apple. I had arrived a couple of days ahead of the rest of the cast and crew and decided to go for a walk around town with the production manager. We walked all the way up 5th Avenue to the CBS Building to check in with the producer, and on our way back to the hotel, we passed a smallish man in a suit who smiled, nodded and said, 'Hello' to us. It was only after we had continued on another few yards that my friend said to me: 'Was that who I think it was?' 'Yep,' I replied. And as we turned to take a second look, Ed Sullivan had already disappeared into the crowd."
—Steve Lodge
"If you can achieve action, you will achieve happiness."
— L. Ron Hubbard
February 28, 2007
Worked hard on finishing both my Billy the Kid classic gunfight and my editorial. Robert Ray helped me layout the Joe Grant gunfight and we culled several BTK paintings that will be in the Albuquerque Museum show (they are requesting 28 of my paintings). Our goal is to have a strong presence in their gift shop, when the thousands of people get out of the show. Should work, at least on paper. Ha.
When I was in New York I saw a ton of advertisements for the upccoming Frank Miller movie-graphic novel adaptation of 300 which opens soon. Posters were plastered on walls, vacant buildings, on cabs and buses. On Saturday at the showing of Pan's Labrynth I saw the extended trailer for the Spartan splatfest and it looks, in a word, marvelous.
Of course it isn't new at all. It's essentially a remake of the 1960s flick The 300 Spartans. Also, in the 1950s Steve Reeves starred in a series of sandal epics that touted the three Bs: big battles, big biceps and big breasts. As we walked down Park Ave. in NY and a bus came by with the movie poster for 300 blaring out at us, I laughed, because it really is a modern retelling of all those old Steve Reeves movies. And, of course, if you want to get technical, it goes all the way back to Homer doesn't it?
The story of 300 is about the battle of Thermopylae Pass where King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans stood and fought against a million Al Queda fighters, I mean, Spartan fighters, and fought to the death. Yes, we are living in strange times, but then I have a hunch that all times have been strange. Although I would have hoped that the familiarity of the cycles would be comforting, but instead it's just daunting. Stop war? Good luck.
Onion Headline de Jour
Bloodless Coup A Real Letdown
“Of every one hundred men, ten should not even be here. Eighty are nothing more than targets. Nine are real fighters. We are lucky we have them, they the battle make. Ah, but the one. One of them is a warrior, and he will bring the others back."
—Hericletus, 500BC
Worked hard on finishing both my Billy the Kid classic gunfight and my editorial. Robert Ray helped me layout the Joe Grant gunfight and we culled several BTK paintings that will be in the Albuquerque Museum show (they are requesting 28 of my paintings). Our goal is to have a strong presence in their gift shop, when the thousands of people get out of the show. Should work, at least on paper. Ha.
When I was in New York I saw a ton of advertisements for the upccoming Frank Miller movie-graphic novel adaptation of 300 which opens soon. Posters were plastered on walls, vacant buildings, on cabs and buses. On Saturday at the showing of Pan's Labrynth I saw the extended trailer for the Spartan splatfest and it looks, in a word, marvelous.
Of course it isn't new at all. It's essentially a remake of the 1960s flick The 300 Spartans. Also, in the 1950s Steve Reeves starred in a series of sandal epics that touted the three Bs: big battles, big biceps and big breasts. As we walked down Park Ave. in NY and a bus came by with the movie poster for 300 blaring out at us, I laughed, because it really is a modern retelling of all those old Steve Reeves movies. And, of course, if you want to get technical, it goes all the way back to Homer doesn't it?
The story of 300 is about the battle of Thermopylae Pass where King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans stood and fought against a million Al Queda fighters, I mean, Spartan fighters, and fought to the death. Yes, we are living in strange times, but then I have a hunch that all times have been strange. Although I would have hoped that the familiarity of the cycles would be comforting, but instead it's just daunting. Stop war? Good luck.
Onion Headline de Jour
Bloodless Coup A Real Letdown
“Of every one hundred men, ten should not even be here. Eighty are nothing more than targets. Nine are real fighters. We are lucky we have them, they the battle make. Ah, but the one. One of them is a warrior, and he will bring the others back."
—Hericletus, 500BC
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
February 27, 2007 Bonus Blog
Here are two photos I forgot I had taken in New York. The first is from Friday at the New York Comic Con and is of Larry Gonick (right), Marisa Acocella Marchetto (center) and Paul Hutton. This was taken as the events describing Jackie O were unfolding in real time.
This photo (below) captures Bob Brink (left), Hutton and Tor Forge Executive Editor Bob Gleason at restuarant 103 West on Wednesday night. The waiter is bringing us all steaks and they were very good.
Bob Gleason told us many stories but my favorite was about him being just a kid in the biz back in the sixties and going to an apartment where Harold Robbins was finishing a novel. Two hookers in the bedroom and a passed out publisher in the front room, all waiting for Harold to do his magic. Robbins was the Golden Goose in those days, churning out The Carpetbaggers, The Adventurers and many other best sellers.
"I'm afraid the book biz has been reduced to a consignment business."
—Bob Gleason
Here are two photos I forgot I had taken in New York. The first is from Friday at the New York Comic Con and is of Larry Gonick (right), Marisa Acocella Marchetto (center) and Paul Hutton. This was taken as the events describing Jackie O were unfolding in real time.
This photo (below) captures Bob Brink (left), Hutton and Tor Forge Executive Editor Bob Gleason at restuarant 103 West on Wednesday night. The waiter is bringing us all steaks and they were very good.
Bob Gleason told us many stories but my favorite was about him being just a kid in the biz back in the sixties and going to an apartment where Harold Robbins was finishing a novel. Two hookers in the bedroom and a passed out publisher in the front room, all waiting for Harold to do his magic. Robbins was the Golden Goose in those days, churning out The Carpetbaggers, The Adventurers and many other best sellers.
"I'm afraid the book biz has been reduced to a consignment business."
—Bob Gleason
February 27, 2007
Scrambling to catch up on the May issue which goes out the door on Thursday. The Top Secret Project has totally consumed my time for the past three weeks and now I need to get back in harness. Feels good. Worked on the Joe Grant vs. Billy the Kid shooting this morning. Need to do several pieces of art.
And speaking of Billy the Kid, the big Paul Hutton curated Billy show in Albuquerque is coming up in May and I got in the mail a release form for my 30-some pieces, this morning.
When I was doing the True Grit voice commentary for the DVD a couple months ago, the producer gave me copies of Hal Wallis' hand written production notes and I got to looking at them last night, and it is pretty amazing. For example, Robert Duvall got $4,500 for his work in the movie and Dennis Hopper got $1,500. Jay Sliverheels (note says, "Indian @ hanging") got $850 for a week's work. Jeremy Slate got $15,000 (triple Duvall's fee and double what Darby and Campbell got!!). Of the three big stars, John Wayne got $75K (and the note says "+%"), Glen Campbell got $6,250 as did Kim Darby.
The building of the rocks for the snake pit that Darby falls into at the end cost $400 which included the mold and cast. According to the Wallis notes, bad weather cost them $49,137 and the crew evidently consisted of "71 men—4 Sundays @ 11 hours" plus "2 regular days at 11 hours" came to $40,115, for a LOC total of $171,840, with the Hal Wallis notation next to it, "$86 under bud." Ha. Really some low numbers, but it was, after all, 1968.
Another Larry Gonick gem from New York. When he heard we were doing a graphic novel he said, "I've got three words for you: Fourteen-point-type." Ha. He's referring to the large type needed for the reading ability of the average graphic novel reader. I think he meant it as hyperbole, but it is true that comic readers prefer larger type. Most magazines are at 9 or 10 point, so 14 point is pretty large.
Plus, two elevator stories from New York. On Wednesday I was riding down the elevator at the New York Athletic Club and we stopped on one floor and a very New York style woman got on, took one look at me and remarked, "We have Canadian Mounties now?" My reply, looking straight ahead: "No ma'am, Arizona Rangers." She had no idea what I was talking about, but it made me happy.
On another descent, a haughty, patrician of a gent got on and I said, "Good morning," and he looked at me like I was complete pond scum and turned his back to me, his neck bristling with contempt all the way down. I have to say, I don't miss that "class" aspect to the Big Apple. At least when people look at me with contempt out here on the desert, I know who they are and can respond in kind, "Honey, now stop it. Kids, I know you're kidding."
Onion Headline de Jour
Motley Crue Signs Sexual-Harrassment Guarantee
"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."
—Mark Twain
Scrambling to catch up on the May issue which goes out the door on Thursday. The Top Secret Project has totally consumed my time for the past three weeks and now I need to get back in harness. Feels good. Worked on the Joe Grant vs. Billy the Kid shooting this morning. Need to do several pieces of art.
And speaking of Billy the Kid, the big Paul Hutton curated Billy show in Albuquerque is coming up in May and I got in the mail a release form for my 30-some pieces, this morning.
When I was doing the True Grit voice commentary for the DVD a couple months ago, the producer gave me copies of Hal Wallis' hand written production notes and I got to looking at them last night, and it is pretty amazing. For example, Robert Duvall got $4,500 for his work in the movie and Dennis Hopper got $1,500. Jay Sliverheels (note says, "Indian @ hanging") got $850 for a week's work. Jeremy Slate got $15,000 (triple Duvall's fee and double what Darby and Campbell got!!). Of the three big stars, John Wayne got $75K (and the note says "+%"), Glen Campbell got $6,250 as did Kim Darby.
The building of the rocks for the snake pit that Darby falls into at the end cost $400 which included the mold and cast. According to the Wallis notes, bad weather cost them $49,137 and the crew evidently consisted of "71 men—4 Sundays @ 11 hours" plus "2 regular days at 11 hours" came to $40,115, for a LOC total of $171,840, with the Hal Wallis notation next to it, "$86 under bud." Ha. Really some low numbers, but it was, after all, 1968.
Another Larry Gonick gem from New York. When he heard we were doing a graphic novel he said, "I've got three words for you: Fourteen-point-type." Ha. He's referring to the large type needed for the reading ability of the average graphic novel reader. I think he meant it as hyperbole, but it is true that comic readers prefer larger type. Most magazines are at 9 or 10 point, so 14 point is pretty large.
Plus, two elevator stories from New York. On Wednesday I was riding down the elevator at the New York Athletic Club and we stopped on one floor and a very New York style woman got on, took one look at me and remarked, "We have Canadian Mounties now?" My reply, looking straight ahead: "No ma'am, Arizona Rangers." She had no idea what I was talking about, but it made me happy.
On another descent, a haughty, patrician of a gent got on and I said, "Good morning," and he looked at me like I was complete pond scum and turned his back to me, his neck bristling with contempt all the way down. I have to say, I don't miss that "class" aspect to the Big Apple. At least when people look at me with contempt out here on the desert, I know who they are and can respond in kind, "Honey, now stop it. Kids, I know you're kidding."
Onion Headline de Jour
Motley Crue Signs Sexual-Harrassment Guarantee
"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."
—Mark Twain
Monday, February 26, 2007
February 26, 2007
Good to be back in Arizona and back in the office. Yesterday, Kathy and I drove down to the Cine Capri at the 101 and Scottsdale Road to catch the 11 o'clock showing of "Pan's Labrynth." No lines, we were the only ones! Walked right up and got a ticket ($14 for two), walked inside and there were no lines for popcorn ($3.50 cash). Seven people in the theatre, got great seats. And this after all the airport lines I had to endure, not to mention the lines all over New York. And did I mention the weather? Patented 70 degrees and sunny.
Totally enjoyed the movie. In fact Kathy rated it as the best movie she has seen this year and that includes "The Departed," "Babel" and "Little Miss Sunshine." I wouldn't go that far, although it was a very imaginative flick, very intense, with Mexican and Spanish sensibilities ("put a root under your bed in a saucer of milk and your baby will survive.")
On Thursday at the New York Comic Con seminars on graphic novels, the first panel we sat in on, had an old friend of mine on it. Larry Gonick, who grew up in Phoenix (Central High), and is the creator of The Cartoon History of The Universe, among other amazing little gems, was there front and center. His mother Molly used to babysit Deena when she was little and we really liked her and invited her to our house for parties. Larry has had the incredible experience of having Jackie Kennedy Onassis as his agent. I'm not making this up. As you may know, Jackie worked for Harper's and she loved Larry's books and got him mentioned in Ann Landers newspaper column and the phones rang off the hook and the sales doubled, then quadrupled. Then a religious nut in Texas wrote Ann Landers complaining about several biblical references in the comic and Jackie had some religious expert (Tim Cahill?) write a scholarly response backing up every one of Larry's assertions and Ann printed that and the sales took off again. When I asked Larry what Jackie was really like he said, "When she talked to you she never looked over your shoulder, she looked right at you. She was gifted that way." Or, at least that's what I think Larry said, because I was looking over his shoulder at Marisa Acocella Marchetto, a famous graphic novelist who was coming our way.
Marisa created the best-selling graphic novel Cancer Victim: A True Story, about her own battle with cancer, and she is a regular cartoonist at The New Yorker. She joined us just in time to ask, "So what was Jackie O really like?" Larry regaled us with several more astonishing stories ("she was rail thin, 90 pounds of carbonite steel."). Larry also raved about my sketch book (it takes a Zonie to appreciate it because I don't think Marisa was all that impressed). He offered to take our Top Secret Project to his current agent at Harper's, and I thanked him and told him we would take him up on that when it was ready.
Other graphic novel factoids I learned at the conference: there were 2,800 titles released last year and they have surpassed comic books in sales as of this year. Graphic novels had $75 million in sales in 2001 and $330 million last year. Manga comics account for 46% of those sales and Manga also made $5.2 billion in licensing fees, last year. Yes, that's with a "b."
Yes, it's a mighty big business. In addition to the Yaoi phenom (see post below), there is an American title called "Lost Girls" (written by Alan Moore and drawn by Melinda Grebbi) which sells for $75. That's per copy. It's a graphic novel, supposedly quite erotic and it's very hard to find. Believe me, I looked.
Onion Headline de Jour
Publicist Schmoozes Wife Into Sex
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but you can take him to a new place where his tail gets to slapping into some outrageous shit."
—Old Cartoonist Saying
Good to be back in Arizona and back in the office. Yesterday, Kathy and I drove down to the Cine Capri at the 101 and Scottsdale Road to catch the 11 o'clock showing of "Pan's Labrynth." No lines, we were the only ones! Walked right up and got a ticket ($14 for two), walked inside and there were no lines for popcorn ($3.50 cash). Seven people in the theatre, got great seats. And this after all the airport lines I had to endure, not to mention the lines all over New York. And did I mention the weather? Patented 70 degrees and sunny.
Totally enjoyed the movie. In fact Kathy rated it as the best movie she has seen this year and that includes "The Departed," "Babel" and "Little Miss Sunshine." I wouldn't go that far, although it was a very imaginative flick, very intense, with Mexican and Spanish sensibilities ("put a root under your bed in a saucer of milk and your baby will survive.")
On Thursday at the New York Comic Con seminars on graphic novels, the first panel we sat in on, had an old friend of mine on it. Larry Gonick, who grew up in Phoenix (Central High), and is the creator of The Cartoon History of The Universe, among other amazing little gems, was there front and center. His mother Molly used to babysit Deena when she was little and we really liked her and invited her to our house for parties. Larry has had the incredible experience of having Jackie Kennedy Onassis as his agent. I'm not making this up. As you may know, Jackie worked for Harper's and she loved Larry's books and got him mentioned in Ann Landers newspaper column and the phones rang off the hook and the sales doubled, then quadrupled. Then a religious nut in Texas wrote Ann Landers complaining about several biblical references in the comic and Jackie had some religious expert (Tim Cahill?) write a scholarly response backing up every one of Larry's assertions and Ann printed that and the sales took off again. When I asked Larry what Jackie was really like he said, "When she talked to you she never looked over your shoulder, she looked right at you. She was gifted that way." Or, at least that's what I think Larry said, because I was looking over his shoulder at Marisa Acocella Marchetto, a famous graphic novelist who was coming our way.
Marisa created the best-selling graphic novel Cancer Victim: A True Story, about her own battle with cancer, and she is a regular cartoonist at The New Yorker. She joined us just in time to ask, "So what was Jackie O really like?" Larry regaled us with several more astonishing stories ("she was rail thin, 90 pounds of carbonite steel."). Larry also raved about my sketch book (it takes a Zonie to appreciate it because I don't think Marisa was all that impressed). He offered to take our Top Secret Project to his current agent at Harper's, and I thanked him and told him we would take him up on that when it was ready.
Other graphic novel factoids I learned at the conference: there were 2,800 titles released last year and they have surpassed comic books in sales as of this year. Graphic novels had $75 million in sales in 2001 and $330 million last year. Manga comics account for 46% of those sales and Manga also made $5.2 billion in licensing fees, last year. Yes, that's with a "b."
Yes, it's a mighty big business. In addition to the Yaoi phenom (see post below), there is an American title called "Lost Girls" (written by Alan Moore and drawn by Melinda Grebbi) which sells for $75. That's per copy. It's a graphic novel, supposedly quite erotic and it's very hard to find. Believe me, I looked.
Onion Headline de Jour
Publicist Schmoozes Wife Into Sex
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but you can take him to a new place where his tail gets to slapping into some outrageous shit."
—Old Cartoonist Saying
February 25, 2007
On Friday night in New York, Paul Hutton and my son Thomas Charles, who took the bus up from Philly, ate at Victor's near Times Square. It's a Cuban restaurant and I've eaten there several times (in 1982 when Kathy and I first went together to New York, and then in 1995, or so, when Allen Barra came in from New Jersey and took us there). Great food and good convseration about graphic novels, history and movies. The only mishap was a server spilled wine on my jacket. They gave me club soda and offered to pay for the dry cleaning and I guess I could have gigged them for a free meal, but I didn't. I didn't want to ruin a good time by acting like some rube from out of town.
As we finished dinner, Thomas' old girlfriend Mirium, from Guinea, dropped in after work at Bloomingdales, and we took a cab from there to go clubbing. Actually, that's too strong. Kid's go clubbing, we went to a single club—Tao, which was techno, world beat loud, and full of the beautiful people. That is, if you don't count the aging college professor and the executive editor of a certain old west magazine (heavy on the "old"). It was fun to watch though, especially the lengths young people go to in order to "hook up." It really does have a primitive tribal aspect to it, which I could never have seen when I was in it, because, well, I was too horny to see past my antlers. And speaking of antlers there were quite a few big racks on full display.
From there we took a cab (it was bitter cold, in the low twenties with a sharp wind) back to South Central Park and walked down to the Park Lane Hotel for a nightcap. My son and I had the sipping brandy and The Top Secret Writer stuck with his Amstel beer. We ended up at this cozy upstairs bar all three nights, and it was the polar opposite of the noisy Tao, although I did spot several big racks there as well.
We all went to the Museum of Modern Art on Saturday, and had to listen to the indignant Hutton ripping all the modern art, on several floors. One so-called painting really got to him and he made me come back and look at it. Consisting of three blank , white, framed canvases in a row, Hutton riffed on the ridiculousness of it: "That's obviously a framer's statement about what is important." Hutton was in rare form, affecting an English accent as he described how he would report to his students whenhe got back to UNM: "Why yes, I went clubbing at Tao and then I went back to the New York Athletic Club and slept in my tie." He was quite funny and frankly, right on about most of the art. However, he, and all of us, appreciated the Pablo Picassos, the Klimts, the Van Goghs (two, including "Starry Night") and the Toulouse la Trec.
Flew home last night arriving at Sky Harbor at 9:20, got home at 11. The Top Secret Writer was stranded in NY by high winds in Dallas. American Airlines cancelled his flight home to Albuquerque (he had to change planes in Dallas) and he had to spend the night at a Holiday Inn on Long Island. I don't think he slept in his tie.
Back To The Drawing Board
The bad news is our prototype did not generate the heat it needed. The good news, that's what a prototype is and we think we know what we need to do to make it fly. I sketched all the way home (five hour flight) and did about two
dozen sketches of scenes I want to do.
"Vision without execution is daydreaming."
—Bill Gates
On Friday night in New York, Paul Hutton and my son Thomas Charles, who took the bus up from Philly, ate at Victor's near Times Square. It's a Cuban restaurant and I've eaten there several times (in 1982 when Kathy and I first went together to New York, and then in 1995, or so, when Allen Barra came in from New Jersey and took us there). Great food and good convseration about graphic novels, history and movies. The only mishap was a server spilled wine on my jacket. They gave me club soda and offered to pay for the dry cleaning and I guess I could have gigged them for a free meal, but I didn't. I didn't want to ruin a good time by acting like some rube from out of town.
As we finished dinner, Thomas' old girlfriend Mirium, from Guinea, dropped in after work at Bloomingdales, and we took a cab from there to go clubbing. Actually, that's too strong. Kid's go clubbing, we went to a single club—Tao, which was techno, world beat loud, and full of the beautiful people. That is, if you don't count the aging college professor and the executive editor of a certain old west magazine (heavy on the "old"). It was fun to watch though, especially the lengths young people go to in order to "hook up." It really does have a primitive tribal aspect to it, which I could never have seen when I was in it, because, well, I was too horny to see past my antlers. And speaking of antlers there were quite a few big racks on full display.
From there we took a cab (it was bitter cold, in the low twenties with a sharp wind) back to South Central Park and walked down to the Park Lane Hotel for a nightcap. My son and I had the sipping brandy and The Top Secret Writer stuck with his Amstel beer. We ended up at this cozy upstairs bar all three nights, and it was the polar opposite of the noisy Tao, although I did spot several big racks there as well.
We all went to the Museum of Modern Art on Saturday, and had to listen to the indignant Hutton ripping all the modern art, on several floors. One so-called painting really got to him and he made me come back and look at it. Consisting of three blank , white, framed canvases in a row, Hutton riffed on the ridiculousness of it: "That's obviously a framer's statement about what is important." Hutton was in rare form, affecting an English accent as he described how he would report to his students whenhe got back to UNM: "Why yes, I went clubbing at Tao and then I went back to the New York Athletic Club and slept in my tie." He was quite funny and frankly, right on about most of the art. However, he, and all of us, appreciated the Pablo Picassos, the Klimts, the Van Goghs (two, including "Starry Night") and the Toulouse la Trec.
Flew home last night arriving at Sky Harbor at 9:20, got home at 11. The Top Secret Writer was stranded in NY by high winds in Dallas. American Airlines cancelled his flight home to Albuquerque (he had to change planes in Dallas) and he had to spend the night at a Holiday Inn on Long Island. I don't think he slept in his tie.
Back To The Drawing Board
The bad news is our prototype did not generate the heat it needed. The good news, that's what a prototype is and we think we know what we need to do to make it fly. I sketched all the way home (five hour flight) and did about two
dozen sketches of scenes I want to do.
"Vision without execution is daydreaming."
—Bill Gates
Saturday, February 24, 2007
February 24, 2007
Met with a top executive at HBO yesterday at 11:30. She took us to lunch at a French restaurant off 42nd Street. They have a series on Wounded Knee coming out in May and they'd like True West coverage. We also heard about other projects, including the wrap-up on the Sopranos and the special movie being made to end Deadwood.
At two, Paul and I took a cab to the Jacob Javits Center and walked the Comic Con. As I mentioned yesterday, the grapic novel portion of the biz generates $330,000,000 a year in sales, but 46% of that market is Manga (pronounced man-guy, and it supposedly means "irresponsible drawings" in Japanese. Manga is that big-eyed drawing style that dominated the Pokemon phenom several years back. In fact, there is a theory that is what introduced or at least made it mainstream to an American audience. And, just like Toyota in the car biz, the Japanese are dominating in the comic biz as well.
The oddest and freakiest aspect of all this is a new phenom called Yaoi (pronounced Yow-ee) and when I heard of the format of this new genre that is exploding right now, I couldn't believe it. We learned about it on Thursday at the graphic novel seminars and everyone there talked about it like we all knew what the hell they were talking about. So I had to see it for myself. Paul and I found a booth that specialized in Yaoi and I talked with the publisher, an anglo woman about thirty. Here's how that conversation went:
Me: "You've got to explain this Yaoi thing to an old man. Did we hear right that the theme of all these comics is boy on boy sex and it's aimed at 13 to 15 year old girls?"
Pub: "Yes. It started about seven years ago among teenage girls who were dissatisfied with mainstream Manga and they started writing their own stories."
Me: "So these 13-year-olds want to see men on men action? I don't get that."
Pub: "Nobody on the planet is more perverted than a 13-year-old girl."
Me: "No one ever told us that when I was growing up in Kingman. Are there stories where it's boy and girl?"
Pub: "No, we tried that and they don't like it."
So I bought a Spanish Yaoi Western called Stallion and it is quite amazing. The key thing here is that the "boys" are drawn very feminine, so I can't wait to get home to talk to a certain therapist about what is going on here. But one thing is certain:
"You can't teach an old dog, new tricks."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Met with a top executive at HBO yesterday at 11:30. She took us to lunch at a French restaurant off 42nd Street. They have a series on Wounded Knee coming out in May and they'd like True West coverage. We also heard about other projects, including the wrap-up on the Sopranos and the special movie being made to end Deadwood.
At two, Paul and I took a cab to the Jacob Javits Center and walked the Comic Con. As I mentioned yesterday, the grapic novel portion of the biz generates $330,000,000 a year in sales, but 46% of that market is Manga (pronounced man-guy, and it supposedly means "irresponsible drawings" in Japanese. Manga is that big-eyed drawing style that dominated the Pokemon phenom several years back. In fact, there is a theory that is what introduced or at least made it mainstream to an American audience. And, just like Toyota in the car biz, the Japanese are dominating in the comic biz as well.
The oddest and freakiest aspect of all this is a new phenom called Yaoi (pronounced Yow-ee) and when I heard of the format of this new genre that is exploding right now, I couldn't believe it. We learned about it on Thursday at the graphic novel seminars and everyone there talked about it like we all knew what the hell they were talking about. So I had to see it for myself. Paul and I found a booth that specialized in Yaoi and I talked with the publisher, an anglo woman about thirty. Here's how that conversation went:
Me: "You've got to explain this Yaoi thing to an old man. Did we hear right that the theme of all these comics is boy on boy sex and it's aimed at 13 to 15 year old girls?"
Pub: "Yes. It started about seven years ago among teenage girls who were dissatisfied with mainstream Manga and they started writing their own stories."
Me: "So these 13-year-olds want to see men on men action? I don't get that."
Pub: "Nobody on the planet is more perverted than a 13-year-old girl."
Me: "No one ever told us that when I was growing up in Kingman. Are there stories where it's boy and girl?"
Pub: "No, we tried that and they don't like it."
So I bought a Spanish Yaoi Western called Stallion and it is quite amazing. The key thing here is that the "boys" are drawn very feminine, so I can't wait to get home to talk to a certain therapist about what is going on here. But one thing is certain:
"You can't teach an old dog, new tricks."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Friday, February 23, 2007
February 23, 2007
Bob Brink, Paul Hutton and I took a cab down to the Jacob Javits Center at ten yesterday and registered for the NY Comic Con. The first seminar on graphic novels started at one, so Paul and I went on down to Ground Zero to see where the towers once stood. Very moving, many people crying. Ate a cup of soup at O'Hara's pub that we recognized from the many documentaries. They were closed for seven months. There were several fire fighters eating lunch in there and that had an eerie effect.
The graphic novel seminars were quite instructive and it was amazing to hear the double-digit growth in this new medium. Sales of $330 million last year got our attention. More later, meeting an executive from HBO. More later
Bob Brink, Paul Hutton and I took a cab down to the Jacob Javits Center at ten yesterday and registered for the NY Comic Con. The first seminar on graphic novels started at one, so Paul and I went on down to Ground Zero to see where the towers once stood. Very moving, many people crying. Ate a cup of soup at O'Hara's pub that we recognized from the many documentaries. They were closed for seven months. There were several fire fighters eating lunch in there and that had an eerie effect.
The graphic novel seminars were quite instructive and it was amazing to hear the double-digit growth in this new medium. Sales of $330 million last year got our attention. More later, meeting an executive from HBO. More later
Thursday, February 22, 2007
February 22, 2007
In meetings all day. Bob Brink reserved a stunning penthouse suite on the 16th floor of the New York Athletic Club with spectacular views of Central Park, the Dakota and Columbus Circle. We held court there in the morning with our book agent James Fitzgerald and a publisher with the unlikely name Brando Skyhorse (of Skyhorse Publishing fame). Mr. Skyhorse, or as I called him, "Please-Redman-No-Horsehead-In-Bed," was not interested in the graphic novel, but pitched us on repackaging my six existing outlaw and lawmen books for a broader audience. Our agent told a joke: "Did you hear about the Pollack who got into publishing to make money?" And, Brando followed with, "How do you make a fortune in publshing? Answer: Start with a larger fortune."
By the way, Bob Brink lent me a pair of his slacks which I've been wearing with some satisfaction (nobody has jumped me in the lobby, like they did the first night when I wore my Wranglers).
At lunchtime we met the head honchos at King Features Syndication in the second floor dining room. As we walked through the crowded room I noticed that many were gawking at me and I soon found out why. A waiter practically ran to our table and said snippily, "Sir, may I check your hat." He carried my custom $1,000 Optimo lid away like he was handling a dead rat. Talk about hat Nazis! Later in the day when Paul Hutton arrived we tried to get a drink in the bar and there was a sign that said, "All hats and coats must be checked at cloak room." The entire room was empty of people, except a stoic bartender at the end of the bar and I said, taking my hat off, "Can we come in for a drink and I'll put my hat in my lap?" "No sir. You may check your hat at the cloak room."
On the positive side, as Paul and I sat in the lobby and waited for Bob Brink to come down for dinner, someone tried to use a cell phone and the doorman loudly reprimanded him and forced him to put that oppressive device away. Now that I liked! As I came into the city on Tuesday night, almost every person at every intersection was walking and talking on a cell phone. To say it is an epidemic, is an understatement. So that a gentleman's club would ban these incessant gizmos, I greatly admire that.
One of the editors for King Features, Jay Kennedy, remembered my comic strip Honkytonk Sue, and said, "Do you still live on MacKenzie?" Well, I did. In 1978! What a memory. Jay wrote a very collectable book, "The Guide to Underground Comics" and somehow had remembered not only my comic book character but the street I lived on at the time. Now that's detail retention!
At six, Bob Brink, Paul Hutton and I hailed a cab and went up through Central Park to Broadway and 103rd to meet Bob Gleason, executive editor of Tor Forge Books. After drinks at Henry's, a local pub, we walked up to a restaurant called 103 West. Bob Brink and Bob Gleason hit it off because Gleason is a huge fan of Jim Brown, the hall-of-famer, and, of course, Bob Brink played football with Brown and is to this day one of his best friends. So, as Hutton joked, "You two have a book deal, and Bob Bell and I are out in the cold."
Actually, Gleason is interested in the graphic novel and we had a very good discussion about the parameters of doing business together.
We got back to the NYAC at about midnite and Paul wanted to walk down and see the General Sherman statue, across the street from the Plaza Hotel, which is being totally remodelled by the way. Stood out in the cold and admired "the man who saved this country," or, that's the distinguished professor talking.
Then we retired to the Helmsley Hotel bar for a nightcap and talked of the day's events, meetings and possibilities. One thing is crystal clear: the prototype is far from being finished and I have to use cartoon balloons whether I want to or not. One of the King editors said, "It looks like a picture book." Ouch! Just the reaction I didn't want. However, Mr. Mott (the name of one of our characters in the GN, by the way) remarked on the artwork, saying, "You can't sustain this level of art for the entire book, can you?" I took that as a complement.
Today we are headed downtown to the New York Comic Con for a day of graphic novel seminars and then dinner tonight with Allen Waxenberg, a retired editor at Hearst, at Club 21.
Before lunch yesterday I was sketching in the lobby and when Bob Brink came down I said, "Thankyou. This is a total thrill for me just to be here and meet these incredible people." Bob laughed and told me to go put my sketchbook in my room because I couldn't take it into the dining room (you can't do business or put papers out because it is considered unseemly). So I've been here less than 48 hours and I've broken three rules and I'm wearing strange pants. Really another world.
And, by the way, if you haven't already done so, go register your vote on our new poll. Do you read Western comics/graphic novels?
"Nothing is impossible. We just don't know how to do it yet."
—Old Vaquero Saying
In meetings all day. Bob Brink reserved a stunning penthouse suite on the 16th floor of the New York Athletic Club with spectacular views of Central Park, the Dakota and Columbus Circle. We held court there in the morning with our book agent James Fitzgerald and a publisher with the unlikely name Brando Skyhorse (of Skyhorse Publishing fame). Mr. Skyhorse, or as I called him, "Please-Redman-No-Horsehead-In-Bed," was not interested in the graphic novel, but pitched us on repackaging my six existing outlaw and lawmen books for a broader audience. Our agent told a joke: "Did you hear about the Pollack who got into publishing to make money?" And, Brando followed with, "How do you make a fortune in publshing? Answer: Start with a larger fortune."
By the way, Bob Brink lent me a pair of his slacks which I've been wearing with some satisfaction (nobody has jumped me in the lobby, like they did the first night when I wore my Wranglers).
At lunchtime we met the head honchos at King Features Syndication in the second floor dining room. As we walked through the crowded room I noticed that many were gawking at me and I soon found out why. A waiter practically ran to our table and said snippily, "Sir, may I check your hat." He carried my custom $1,000 Optimo lid away like he was handling a dead rat. Talk about hat Nazis! Later in the day when Paul Hutton arrived we tried to get a drink in the bar and there was a sign that said, "All hats and coats must be checked at cloak room." The entire room was empty of people, except a stoic bartender at the end of the bar and I said, taking my hat off, "Can we come in for a drink and I'll put my hat in my lap?" "No sir. You may check your hat at the cloak room."
On the positive side, as Paul and I sat in the lobby and waited for Bob Brink to come down for dinner, someone tried to use a cell phone and the doorman loudly reprimanded him and forced him to put that oppressive device away. Now that I liked! As I came into the city on Tuesday night, almost every person at every intersection was walking and talking on a cell phone. To say it is an epidemic, is an understatement. So that a gentleman's club would ban these incessant gizmos, I greatly admire that.
One of the editors for King Features, Jay Kennedy, remembered my comic strip Honkytonk Sue, and said, "Do you still live on MacKenzie?" Well, I did. In 1978! What a memory. Jay wrote a very collectable book, "The Guide to Underground Comics" and somehow had remembered not only my comic book character but the street I lived on at the time. Now that's detail retention!
At six, Bob Brink, Paul Hutton and I hailed a cab and went up through Central Park to Broadway and 103rd to meet Bob Gleason, executive editor of Tor Forge Books. After drinks at Henry's, a local pub, we walked up to a restaurant called 103 West. Bob Brink and Bob Gleason hit it off because Gleason is a huge fan of Jim Brown, the hall-of-famer, and, of course, Bob Brink played football with Brown and is to this day one of his best friends. So, as Hutton joked, "You two have a book deal, and Bob Bell and I are out in the cold."
Actually, Gleason is interested in the graphic novel and we had a very good discussion about the parameters of doing business together.
We got back to the NYAC at about midnite and Paul wanted to walk down and see the General Sherman statue, across the street from the Plaza Hotel, which is being totally remodelled by the way. Stood out in the cold and admired "the man who saved this country," or, that's the distinguished professor talking.
Then we retired to the Helmsley Hotel bar for a nightcap and talked of the day's events, meetings and possibilities. One thing is crystal clear: the prototype is far from being finished and I have to use cartoon balloons whether I want to or not. One of the King editors said, "It looks like a picture book." Ouch! Just the reaction I didn't want. However, Mr. Mott (the name of one of our characters in the GN, by the way) remarked on the artwork, saying, "You can't sustain this level of art for the entire book, can you?" I took that as a complement.
Today we are headed downtown to the New York Comic Con for a day of graphic novel seminars and then dinner tonight with Allen Waxenberg, a retired editor at Hearst, at Club 21.
Before lunch yesterday I was sketching in the lobby and when Bob Brink came down I said, "Thankyou. This is a total thrill for me just to be here and meet these incredible people." Bob laughed and told me to go put my sketchbook in my room because I couldn't take it into the dining room (you can't do business or put papers out because it is considered unseemly). So I've been here less than 48 hours and I've broken three rules and I'm wearing strange pants. Really another world.
And, by the way, if you haven't already done so, go register your vote on our new poll. Do you read Western comics/graphic novels?
"Nothing is impossible. We just don't know how to do it yet."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
February 21, 2007
After five airports, a "puff" security check, 8,000 air miles and 1,300 warnings about not leaving my baggage "unattended" I have arrived in New York. Now I need a pair of dress slacks or I can't have breakfast.
Since Carole Glenn booked my flight to Cody one way, and at the last minute ($1,650) I got flagged for being a security threat (thankyou Mohammed Atta!). Had to go to the airport on Sunday to personally pick up my ticket. When I called the toll free number for USAirways, I got some guy in India (thanks outsourcing bastards!) who, when I asked hm if there was a closer place to pick up my ticket (Sky Harbor is 40 miles from my house) he said, "You can go to Yuma."
So I spent three hours of my Sunday driving down into the Beast to pick up a damn ticket.
Flew all day Monday, with a stopover in Denver. Every flight oversold, and my connection to Cody was delayed for two hours so they could "find a crew". They found one coming in late from Durango, and we finally got airborne at eight at night. Got to Cody at 9:40 and to my mom's at ten. Thanks to Chris Randolph for picking me up at the Cody Airport!
Lou told me about my mom's condition (not good, she's not eating much, almost totally confined to hospital bed which they've put in her bedroom). Went in at 11 and woke her up. She was thrilled to see me, but kept saying, "When are you coming back?" I'm here now mom, I kept saying, but she was stuck on me coming back.
Lou woke me up at four, got back to the Cody airport at 5:40 and flew all day, arriving in New York last night at 7:20. Thanks to Bob Brink I am staying at the New York Athletic Club on South Central Park and I knew they had a rule about wearing a tie, jacket and good shoes, but when we tried to go to dinner they kicked me out for having on jeans.
More later. I'm gong to try to go to breakfast but I'm dreading this encounter:
"I'm sorry sir, no pants, no service."
—Head Dick
After five airports, a "puff" security check, 8,000 air miles and 1,300 warnings about not leaving my baggage "unattended" I have arrived in New York. Now I need a pair of dress slacks or I can't have breakfast.
Since Carole Glenn booked my flight to Cody one way, and at the last minute ($1,650) I got flagged for being a security threat (thankyou Mohammed Atta!). Had to go to the airport on Sunday to personally pick up my ticket. When I called the toll free number for USAirways, I got some guy in India (thanks outsourcing bastards!) who, when I asked hm if there was a closer place to pick up my ticket (Sky Harbor is 40 miles from my house) he said, "You can go to Yuma."
So I spent three hours of my Sunday driving down into the Beast to pick up a damn ticket.
Flew all day Monday, with a stopover in Denver. Every flight oversold, and my connection to Cody was delayed for two hours so they could "find a crew". They found one coming in late from Durango, and we finally got airborne at eight at night. Got to Cody at 9:40 and to my mom's at ten. Thanks to Chris Randolph for picking me up at the Cody Airport!
Lou told me about my mom's condition (not good, she's not eating much, almost totally confined to hospital bed which they've put in her bedroom). Went in at 11 and woke her up. She was thrilled to see me, but kept saying, "When are you coming back?" I'm here now mom, I kept saying, but she was stuck on me coming back.
Lou woke me up at four, got back to the Cody airport at 5:40 and flew all day, arriving in New York last night at 7:20. Thanks to Bob Brink I am staying at the New York Athletic Club on South Central Park and I knew they had a rule about wearing a tie, jacket and good shoes, but when we tried to go to dinner they kicked me out for having on jeans.
More later. I'm gong to try to go to breakfast but I'm dreading this encounter:
"I'm sorry sir, no pants, no service."
—Head Dick
Monday, February 19, 2007
February 19, 2007
Still wrestling with what to do with the word balloons in the Top Secret Project. Here's some good advice I got last week:
A Carpenter's Take On Balloons
"Here's what they did with The 9/11 report: A Graphic Adaptation
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0809057387/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-7865794-3952949#reader-link
"I offer this unsolicited opinion: use the balloons. The story and the art will win the day, not a tricky graphic design alternative to the tried and true balloon. Of course this is from a man who earned his undergraduate degree in literature by reading Classic Comics and whose master's thesis at the Biloxi School of Bartending was titled: Chic Young's Blondie: Cartoon tits as context within a postmodern nocturnal emissive cultural hegemony."
—Tom Carpenter
Worked on soldier scenes yesterday. Here's a Tom Horn study of him practicing roping with twine. The real Tom was a professional roper, in fact he won a very early Phoenix rodeo in 1888, so I gave him this little habit, mainly because when I was growing up, my Kingman cousins, all did this. They were always roping, even air roping. You couldn't talk to them without them making roping motions (kind of like a businessman doing his putting stroke in his office). Anyway here a study for that. Needs work, but I like his outfit:
One of the scenes in the Top Secret Project has a roomful of soldiers in a dusty and dak adobe. I worked on this effort for some time but unfortunately killed the effects. As it is, it looks more like Night of The Living Dead Troopers. Ha.
On Saturday I drove down into the Beast to attend a fund raiser for Terry Earp. She was hit by a truck while in a crosswalk on her bike. Fortunately she had her helmet on. She is recovering in Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado in Chistopher Reeves old room. The event was at the Sierra Bonita Grill, a new restauarant at Seventh Street and Glendale. Here's the official report on the money they raised:
"We had a very successful benefit tonight at Sierra Bonita for Terry and Wyatt. The place was jumping and the final total was $9826.00. Sheldon Knopp and Nate Hopper out did themselves and their staffs were just incredible. A couple of the young waiters came up after the event and gave me their tip money because the wanted to give it to Wyatt. Now that is a sweet thing. Wink and her staff were hopping and she came up with incredible auction items. They must have had 75 auction items at least. Linda Bilque it was great to see you and thanks for your donations. The lady that got the Hawaiian Spa gift was thrilled. Marshall donated books, Gary and Peg Sprague were there and bought some great items.
"Wyatt was moved so deeply by the event and the generosity. Everyone had a great time, the food was incredible, the staff at Sierra Bonita was wonderful.
"Bob Boze Bell came down and donated some great items and we thank him for coming as well. He's a hot auctioneer too. And folks if you need an auctioneer Marshall is your man, he and Bob got $700 in less than 5 minutes for a two night stay at the Phoenician. Money was flying around and yea I was the dudette counting it.
"Wyatt was at Sun Lakes this morning, with us this afternoon and then did a show at Rockin R so he will probably sleep well tonight.
"Bless each of you who gave your time, your love and your thoughts and ofcourse your money for this benefit tonight. Im still on a natural high. It feels good to help and Im sure you all know what I mean.
— Kathy, The Collins Group
I came in to the office early this morning to tweak the prototype before I leave. I'm flying to Cody today to see my mother. Then I'm flyiing all day tomorrow to make it to New York. May be spotty in here, depending on wi-fi in the multiple airports I'm going to be lounging in for the next 48 hours. Carole ticketed me on Friday and United quoted a price of $1,4650, but by the time I called to buy it, the price was $1,650. Expensive to fly at the last minute.
Onion Headline de Jour
Nation's Tall Asked To Stand Back
"My watch is three hours fast, and I can't fix it. So I'm going to move to New York."
—Steven Wright
Still wrestling with what to do with the word balloons in the Top Secret Project. Here's some good advice I got last week:
A Carpenter's Take On Balloons
"Here's what they did with The 9/11 report: A Graphic Adaptation
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0809057387/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-7865794-3952949#reader-link
"I offer this unsolicited opinion: use the balloons. The story and the art will win the day, not a tricky graphic design alternative to the tried and true balloon. Of course this is from a man who earned his undergraduate degree in literature by reading Classic Comics and whose master's thesis at the Biloxi School of Bartending was titled: Chic Young's Blondie: Cartoon tits as context within a postmodern nocturnal emissive cultural hegemony."
—Tom Carpenter
Worked on soldier scenes yesterday. Here's a Tom Horn study of him practicing roping with twine. The real Tom was a professional roper, in fact he won a very early Phoenix rodeo in 1888, so I gave him this little habit, mainly because when I was growing up, my Kingman cousins, all did this. They were always roping, even air roping. You couldn't talk to them without them making roping motions (kind of like a businessman doing his putting stroke in his office). Anyway here a study for that. Needs work, but I like his outfit:
One of the scenes in the Top Secret Project has a roomful of soldiers in a dusty and dak adobe. I worked on this effort for some time but unfortunately killed the effects. As it is, it looks more like Night of The Living Dead Troopers. Ha.
On Saturday I drove down into the Beast to attend a fund raiser for Terry Earp. She was hit by a truck while in a crosswalk on her bike. Fortunately she had her helmet on. She is recovering in Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado in Chistopher Reeves old room. The event was at the Sierra Bonita Grill, a new restauarant at Seventh Street and Glendale. Here's the official report on the money they raised:
"We had a very successful benefit tonight at Sierra Bonita for Terry and Wyatt. The place was jumping and the final total was $9826.00. Sheldon Knopp and Nate Hopper out did themselves and their staffs were just incredible. A couple of the young waiters came up after the event and gave me their tip money because the wanted to give it to Wyatt. Now that is a sweet thing. Wink and her staff were hopping and she came up with incredible auction items. They must have had 75 auction items at least. Linda Bilque it was great to see you and thanks for your donations. The lady that got the Hawaiian Spa gift was thrilled. Marshall donated books, Gary and Peg Sprague were there and bought some great items.
"Wyatt was moved so deeply by the event and the generosity. Everyone had a great time, the food was incredible, the staff at Sierra Bonita was wonderful.
"Bob Boze Bell came down and donated some great items and we thank him for coming as well. He's a hot auctioneer too. And folks if you need an auctioneer Marshall is your man, he and Bob got $700 in less than 5 minutes for a two night stay at the Phoenician. Money was flying around and yea I was the dudette counting it.
"Wyatt was at Sun Lakes this morning, with us this afternoon and then did a show at Rockin R so he will probably sleep well tonight.
"Bless each of you who gave your time, your love and your thoughts and ofcourse your money for this benefit tonight. Im still on a natural high. It feels good to help and Im sure you all know what I mean.
— Kathy, The Collins Group
I came in to the office early this morning to tweak the prototype before I leave. I'm flying to Cody today to see my mother. Then I'm flyiing all day tomorrow to make it to New York. May be spotty in here, depending on wi-fi in the multiple airports I'm going to be lounging in for the next 48 hours. Carole ticketed me on Friday and United quoted a price of $1,4650, but by the time I called to buy it, the price was $1,650. Expensive to fly at the last minute.
Onion Headline de Jour
Nation's Tall Asked To Stand Back
"My watch is three hours fast, and I can't fix it. So I'm going to move to New York."
—Steven Wright
Saturday, February 17, 2007
February 17, 2007
Last night Kathy and I had a great dinner at Cartwright's. It's a top-rated steakhouse which is right next door to the True West offices. She bought so I won't record the damage but let's just say she spent a C-note on her husband and call it a day. Ha.
Robert Ray worked late last night getting the prototype for the Top Secret Project ready for New York. We slammed and jammed all afternoon, pruning and tweaking (we added Dan Harshberger's colored backgrounds and that looks mucho groovy). Still hanging out on the word balloons but it's going to be fine for show and tell.
Train Brain Drain
My father watches your program [True West Moments on The Westerns Channel]. He's a big fan. He tells me that he wants to see a stature of Wyatt Earp that you featured in one of your programs. He says it is near Bisbee, AZ next to some train tracks. At 91 he doesn't get all the details correct sometimes. We traveled to Bizbee today and were not able to locate it even after asking the local tourist info centers. Can you give me some idea of its location? Seeing that stature would mean a whole lot to him. Thanks so much.”
—Congressman Bill Redmond, New Mexico
Bill,
I am so sorry. The statue is at the Tucson train station. When we recorded this bit, the train museum in Tucson didn't want their name on the piece (their “historian” claimed the script was too sensational and not accurate). This was after we had filmed the bit and were getting ready to go to Tombstone to film. We were running late so we couldn't refilm, and because they were being so stupid about the script we felt oblidged to take the plug for their museum off the piece (I know, this is so stupid I still can't believe it). So, consequently, at the beginning of the True West Moment I say, "The train from Benson glided along these tracks. . ." I got a call from the Benson Chamber of Commerce last summer and the guy said, "What did you say on the Westerns Channel? We just had the fourth tourist today coming in looking for a statue of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday."
The Tucson Train station of course is right down town and well marked. When you go be sure to tell the museum how sorry you are that everyone is going everywhere but to their musuem. Ha.
—BBB
I got word this morning that my mother is very sick and I may need to fly to Cody tomorrow. She got the flu a couple weeks ago, it didn't get better and she went into the hospital and still didn't improve. Hospice is coming into her home on Monday and I'm afraid if I wait until after the New York trip it may be too late. She's 85.
Onion Headline de Jour
Bush Determined To Find Warehouse Where Ark Of Covenant Is Stored
"The best leaders create an atmosphere of mutual respect while setting out goals that fill up the days with striving rather than conspiring."
—Dale Dauten
Last night Kathy and I had a great dinner at Cartwright's. It's a top-rated steakhouse which is right next door to the True West offices. She bought so I won't record the damage but let's just say she spent a C-note on her husband and call it a day. Ha.
Robert Ray worked late last night getting the prototype for the Top Secret Project ready for New York. We slammed and jammed all afternoon, pruning and tweaking (we added Dan Harshberger's colored backgrounds and that looks mucho groovy). Still hanging out on the word balloons but it's going to be fine for show and tell.
Train Brain Drain
My father watches your program [True West Moments on The Westerns Channel]. He's a big fan. He tells me that he wants to see a stature of Wyatt Earp that you featured in one of your programs. He says it is near Bisbee, AZ next to some train tracks. At 91 he doesn't get all the details correct sometimes. We traveled to Bizbee today and were not able to locate it even after asking the local tourist info centers. Can you give me some idea of its location? Seeing that stature would mean a whole lot to him. Thanks so much.”
—Congressman Bill Redmond, New Mexico
Bill,
I am so sorry. The statue is at the Tucson train station. When we recorded this bit, the train museum in Tucson didn't want their name on the piece (their “historian” claimed the script was too sensational and not accurate). This was after we had filmed the bit and were getting ready to go to Tombstone to film. We were running late so we couldn't refilm, and because they were being so stupid about the script we felt oblidged to take the plug for their museum off the piece (I know, this is so stupid I still can't believe it). So, consequently, at the beginning of the True West Moment I say, "The train from Benson glided along these tracks. . ." I got a call from the Benson Chamber of Commerce last summer and the guy said, "What did you say on the Westerns Channel? We just had the fourth tourist today coming in looking for a statue of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday."
The Tucson Train station of course is right down town and well marked. When you go be sure to tell the museum how sorry you are that everyone is going everywhere but to their musuem. Ha.
—BBB
I got word this morning that my mother is very sick and I may need to fly to Cody tomorrow. She got the flu a couple weeks ago, it didn't get better and she went into the hospital and still didn't improve. Hospice is coming into her home on Monday and I'm afraid if I wait until after the New York trip it may be too late. She's 85.
Onion Headline de Jour
Bush Determined To Find Warehouse Where Ark Of Covenant Is Stored
"The best leaders create an atmosphere of mutual respect while setting out goals that fill up the days with striving rather than conspiring."
—Dale Dauten
Friday, February 16, 2007
February 16, 2007
I just got off the phone with The Top Secret Writer. He is driving to Colorado to pick up his kids. He got the pdf prototype last night and raved about the images, but we're still at an impasse with the cartoon ballons. Meanwhile, Will Shetterly sent me a link to the V For Vendetta site and I took a look at the way they handled the baloons. Intriguing, but we still need something that works for our hybrid.
We are now going to strip down the prototype into more of a movie trailer and play the tease for all its worth:
Big voice: "Two slim whirlwinds with issues, fight to the death, before retiring to casino life on the res."
Last night I practiced my best Fred Remington style, aping several character types by the Western master. Here they are:
The trick will be to take this style and apply it to our characters in the Top Secret Story, so that Remington will be illustrating characters and scenes from our story. Then I need to marry those sketches with a funky, aged texture, so that it looks like a page out of Remington's sketchbook a la 1888. Very ambitious, but I'm not aware of anyone ever doing this in a story. Usually it's a writer (think Viva Villa and Lawrence of Arabia), but since this is a graphic novel, how fitting that an artist is our conduit in the story. And we see his art. And if I do it right, some readers will wonder, "Is that really Remington's sketches? Did he really sketch Tom Horn and Al Sieber?" Of course he didn't, but he was there at the same time as they were. Unfotrunately he didn't have the ability to see who would become famous a century later. This isn't just Fred's problem. Ha.
On Wednesday I bought long-stemmed roses for all the women in our office (8), then went back to Bashas' and bought a dozen roses for Kathy. Tonight we're going to dinner at Cartwright's, next door, for a post-valentine's day treat (she's buying).
Onion Headline de Jour
Upper-Middle-Class Man Vows To Never Forget Middle-Class Roots
"To be elated at success and disappointed at failure is to be the child of circumstances: how can such a person be called master of himself?"
—Old Vaquero Saying
I just got off the phone with The Top Secret Writer. He is driving to Colorado to pick up his kids. He got the pdf prototype last night and raved about the images, but we're still at an impasse with the cartoon ballons. Meanwhile, Will Shetterly sent me a link to the V For Vendetta site and I took a look at the way they handled the baloons. Intriguing, but we still need something that works for our hybrid.
We are now going to strip down the prototype into more of a movie trailer and play the tease for all its worth:
Big voice: "Two slim whirlwinds with issues, fight to the death, before retiring to casino life on the res."
Last night I practiced my best Fred Remington style, aping several character types by the Western master. Here they are:
The trick will be to take this style and apply it to our characters in the Top Secret Story, so that Remington will be illustrating characters and scenes from our story. Then I need to marry those sketches with a funky, aged texture, so that it looks like a page out of Remington's sketchbook a la 1888. Very ambitious, but I'm not aware of anyone ever doing this in a story. Usually it's a writer (think Viva Villa and Lawrence of Arabia), but since this is a graphic novel, how fitting that an artist is our conduit in the story. And we see his art. And if I do it right, some readers will wonder, "Is that really Remington's sketches? Did he really sketch Tom Horn and Al Sieber?" Of course he didn't, but he was there at the same time as they were. Unfotrunately he didn't have the ability to see who would become famous a century later. This isn't just Fred's problem. Ha.
On Wednesday I bought long-stemmed roses for all the women in our office (8), then went back to Bashas' and bought a dozen roses for Kathy. Tonight we're going to dinner at Cartwright's, next door, for a post-valentine's day treat (she's buying).
Onion Headline de Jour
Upper-Middle-Class Man Vows To Never Forget Middle-Class Roots
"To be elated at success and disappointed at failure is to be the child of circumstances: how can such a person be called master of himself?"
—Old Vaquero Saying
Thursday, February 15, 2007
February 15, 2007
Finally cleared out weather wise. We had more rain yesterday, but it's bright and sunny now (3:22 p.m.). Bob Brink, Joel Klasky and I met the Brown's for lunch today at Tonto Bar & Grill. We talked at length about the future of Festival of The West and our involvement with them. Mary and Jim have been at it for 17 years. Amazing. I will present Mary the festival of the year award in March for all her hard work putting on the festival.
Went home after lunch and finished three images for The Top Secret Project. The first is a dry-lake sequence, where a certain lanky whirlwind meets a strange procession coming the other way on a big, dry lake. Great opportunity to do dust and lots of it. Still wrestling with how it will look after a herd of cattle go by, churning up the lake bed into a massive dust bowl. Quite challenging because it should look quite surreal, and yet you need to be able to determine who is who. Not easy, but oh, the pictures in my mind! They are perfect! Too bad I'm not. Ha.
And here's two scenes of the San Carlos sequence. Having more fun with dust and getting it down.
Working hard to upload the prototype to the Top Secret Writer. We're still arguing about whether we will use cartoon balloons or not. Unfortunately, most identify balloons with graphic novels and to leave them out flirts with the reaction, "Oh, this is just a book with pictures," which would not be a good thing. There are exceptions. Frank Miller's epic GN 300 (which is coming out as a movie soon) has no captions, although he utilizes comic book lettering for narration. Meghan bailed into our narrative this morning and had several suggestions.
Onion Headline de Jour
Man, The Terrorists Win At Everything
"You will never 'find' time for anything. If you want time you must make it."
—Charles Buxton
Finally cleared out weather wise. We had more rain yesterday, but it's bright and sunny now (3:22 p.m.). Bob Brink, Joel Klasky and I met the Brown's for lunch today at Tonto Bar & Grill. We talked at length about the future of Festival of The West and our involvement with them. Mary and Jim have been at it for 17 years. Amazing. I will present Mary the festival of the year award in March for all her hard work putting on the festival.
Went home after lunch and finished three images for The Top Secret Project. The first is a dry-lake sequence, where a certain lanky whirlwind meets a strange procession coming the other way on a big, dry lake. Great opportunity to do dust and lots of it. Still wrestling with how it will look after a herd of cattle go by, churning up the lake bed into a massive dust bowl. Quite challenging because it should look quite surreal, and yet you need to be able to determine who is who. Not easy, but oh, the pictures in my mind! They are perfect! Too bad I'm not. Ha.
And here's two scenes of the San Carlos sequence. Having more fun with dust and getting it down.
Working hard to upload the prototype to the Top Secret Writer. We're still arguing about whether we will use cartoon balloons or not. Unfortunately, most identify balloons with graphic novels and to leave them out flirts with the reaction, "Oh, this is just a book with pictures," which would not be a good thing. There are exceptions. Frank Miller's epic GN 300 (which is coming out as a movie soon) has no captions, although he utilizes comic book lettering for narration. Meghan bailed into our narrative this morning and had several suggestions.
Onion Headline de Jour
Man, The Terrorists Win At Everything
"You will never 'find' time for anything. If you want time you must make it."
—Charles Buxton
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
February 14, 2007
Finished three San Carlos scenes for the Top Secret Project yesterday. I had to smile when I illustrated the Triplets in the background of the scene below, which illustrates a certain rider cruising through a stand of wickiups. The Triplets are those three peaks in the background, and are prominent reference points on the San Carlos Res. i smiled because I know that Dale Miles and the locals will enjoy the attention to detail. The second scene shows our rider descending into the Gila River bottom with long rows of military tents in the background. This is based on a photo taken in the 1880s, when the area was known as "Hell's Half Acre."
And here's another scene of the same rider approaching San Carlos headquarters (it was never a fort). It really was a motley post in those days and much dreaded by soldiers. That's Mount Turnbull in the background. This was executed from reference photos I took last summer when the Top Secret Writer and I drove down there to see for ourself what all the hub-bub was about.
I'm still hanging out on about a half-dozen scenes. Robert Ray and I attacked the whole document with much vigor yesterday but it is a long way from being done. May have to postpone the printing (should go to Jiffy Printing tomorrow, if I have a prayer of carrying the prototype to New York with me next Tuesday). It can't go until it's ready. And we've spent too much time working on this to just rush it out.
Onion Headline de Jour
Vatican Tightens Nocturnal Emissions Standards
"Every choice carries a consequence. For better or worse, each choice is the unavoidable consequence of its predecessor. There are not exceptions. If you can accept that a bad choice carries the seed of its own punishment, why not accept the fact that a good choice yields desirable fruit?"
—Gary Ryan Blair
Finished three San Carlos scenes for the Top Secret Project yesterday. I had to smile when I illustrated the Triplets in the background of the scene below, which illustrates a certain rider cruising through a stand of wickiups. The Triplets are those three peaks in the background, and are prominent reference points on the San Carlos Res. i smiled because I know that Dale Miles and the locals will enjoy the attention to detail. The second scene shows our rider descending into the Gila River bottom with long rows of military tents in the background. This is based on a photo taken in the 1880s, when the area was known as "Hell's Half Acre."
And here's another scene of the same rider approaching San Carlos headquarters (it was never a fort). It really was a motley post in those days and much dreaded by soldiers. That's Mount Turnbull in the background. This was executed from reference photos I took last summer when the Top Secret Writer and I drove down there to see for ourself what all the hub-bub was about.
I'm still hanging out on about a half-dozen scenes. Robert Ray and I attacked the whole document with much vigor yesterday but it is a long way from being done. May have to postpone the printing (should go to Jiffy Printing tomorrow, if I have a prayer of carrying the prototype to New York with me next Tuesday). It can't go until it's ready. And we've spent too much time working on this to just rush it out.
Onion Headline de Jour
Vatican Tightens Nocturnal Emissions Standards
"Every choice carries a consequence. For better or worse, each choice is the unavoidable consequence of its predecessor. There are not exceptions. If you can accept that a bad choice carries the seed of its own punishment, why not accept the fact that a good choice yields desirable fruit?"
—Gary Ryan Blair
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
February 13, 2007
Robert Ray came in and fixed the server problem this morning. For some reason, both Meghan's and my computer reverted to an old server number and refused us access. Shades of Hal from 2001, which by the way, seems so antiquated now. I remember being in a theater in Tucson (1968?) watching the Stanley Kubrick futuristic flic and reflecting on how strange and unimaginable that date seemed from that time and place. It's also ironic that it's the year of 9•11, so the bottom line is none of our most inspired imaginings can fathom the actual ridiculous future (see quote below).
During my outhouse push several weeks ago, I did this one, forgot about it (and didn't send it to Jeff at the Westerns Channel!). It's a pretty good example of outhouses being constructed right over a creek. Oh, imagine the environmental impact statement on that puppy!
Here's two more fire studies for the Top Secret Project. Sweet cliff effects on the top one. After the fire, our lone scout rides "the black." Did several versions of this (see directly below). May use them all. Very sooty. Like the early morning effects.
Frederick Sackrider Remington came out to San Carlos in 1888 and sketched the natives over the shoulder of soldiers. Here the Yale Cowboy is, sketching over the shoulder of Tom Horn. And yes, that's Beauty, the Apache maiden who figures so prominently in our story. This is a scratchboard and I tried to capture Remington's style of rendering. Check out the forged signature at bottom, left.
Meghan, Robert Ray and I had a pow-wow this morning to finish the prototype. Dan Harsbherber did a pass at layout and style yesterday and we are going to incorporate some of his slick tricks (wonderful cactus drop caps). I'm going back out to my studio to finish the last five images, and then we are going to lock it down this afternoon, send a pdf file to the Top Secret Writer for his approval. We go to New York a week from today.
And speaking of which, I just got word that Stephen Colbert is going to be at the Comic Con we are attending.
We have a new poll up. Check it out right here and go cast your vote:
Where do you often purchase items when you "collect the West?"
a. Auction Houses
b. eBay
c. Other online auction site
d. Craigslist
e. Antique/Collectible stores
f. Antique Shows
g. Friends
Onion Headline de Jour
No One Admits To Fart Joke
"The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future."
—Frank Herbert
Robert Ray came in and fixed the server problem this morning. For some reason, both Meghan's and my computer reverted to an old server number and refused us access. Shades of Hal from 2001, which by the way, seems so antiquated now. I remember being in a theater in Tucson (1968?) watching the Stanley Kubrick futuristic flic and reflecting on how strange and unimaginable that date seemed from that time and place. It's also ironic that it's the year of 9•11, so the bottom line is none of our most inspired imaginings can fathom the actual ridiculous future (see quote below).
During my outhouse push several weeks ago, I did this one, forgot about it (and didn't send it to Jeff at the Westerns Channel!). It's a pretty good example of outhouses being constructed right over a creek. Oh, imagine the environmental impact statement on that puppy!
Here's two more fire studies for the Top Secret Project. Sweet cliff effects on the top one. After the fire, our lone scout rides "the black." Did several versions of this (see directly below). May use them all. Very sooty. Like the early morning effects.
Frederick Sackrider Remington came out to San Carlos in 1888 and sketched the natives over the shoulder of soldiers. Here the Yale Cowboy is, sketching over the shoulder of Tom Horn. And yes, that's Beauty, the Apache maiden who figures so prominently in our story. This is a scratchboard and I tried to capture Remington's style of rendering. Check out the forged signature at bottom, left.
Meghan, Robert Ray and I had a pow-wow this morning to finish the prototype. Dan Harsbherber did a pass at layout and style yesterday and we are going to incorporate some of his slick tricks (wonderful cactus drop caps). I'm going back out to my studio to finish the last five images, and then we are going to lock it down this afternoon, send a pdf file to the Top Secret Writer for his approval. We go to New York a week from today.
And speaking of which, I just got word that Stephen Colbert is going to be at the Comic Con we are attending.
We have a new poll up. Check it out right here and go cast your vote:
Where do you often purchase items when you "collect the West?"
a. Auction Houses
b. eBay
c. Other online auction site
d. Craigslist
e. Antique/Collectible stores
f. Antique Shows
g. Friends
Onion Headline de Jour
No One Admits To Fart Joke
"The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future."
—Frank Herbert
Monday, February 12, 2007
February 12, 2007
Big time in Wickenburg on Saturday. Dan and Darlene Harshberger met Kathy and I at the Carefree Highway and we drove together the 45 miles to Wickenburg. Got to the head of the parade at 8:30. Met Joel and his brother Ed, Trish and Sam. I stood in the back of Dan's '55 and we cruised down the parade route. Joel and Trish walked in front with our big True West banner, while Kathy, Darlene, Sam and Ed ran along the sides and handed out 1,000 magazines. Crowds were great. Lots of cheering and waving. "Wavers get a free mag!" I yelled which almost always got a big reaction.
I worked the rest of the weekend on The Top Secret Project. Finished about five paintings. Brought them in this morning to scan, but having problem with the server, or I'd show them to you. Will try to get them up tomorrow.
Unexpected rain yesteray afternoon. A female rain, actually. Gentle and consistent with nagging thunder. Very nice although I lost about ten photos I forgot which were out on the patio. I drank coffee out there in the morning. Laid out the reference photos then went inside to work. Forgot all about them until it was too late.
Onion Headline de Jour
Report: Our High Schools May Not Adequately Prepare Dropouts For Unemployment
"Turn loose, give up, you'll never learn how."
—The late Rod Goebel, a Taos artist who taught how to let go
Big time in Wickenburg on Saturday. Dan and Darlene Harshberger met Kathy and I at the Carefree Highway and we drove together the 45 miles to Wickenburg. Got to the head of the parade at 8:30. Met Joel and his brother Ed, Trish and Sam. I stood in the back of Dan's '55 and we cruised down the parade route. Joel and Trish walked in front with our big True West banner, while Kathy, Darlene, Sam and Ed ran along the sides and handed out 1,000 magazines. Crowds were great. Lots of cheering and waving. "Wavers get a free mag!" I yelled which almost always got a big reaction.
I worked the rest of the weekend on The Top Secret Project. Finished about five paintings. Brought them in this morning to scan, but having problem with the server, or I'd show them to you. Will try to get them up tomorrow.
Unexpected rain yesteray afternoon. A female rain, actually. Gentle and consistent with nagging thunder. Very nice although I lost about ten photos I forgot which were out on the patio. I drank coffee out there in the morning. Laid out the reference photos then went inside to work. Forgot all about them until it was too late.
Onion Headline de Jour
Report: Our High Schools May Not Adequately Prepare Dropouts For Unemployment
"Turn loose, give up, you'll never learn how."
—The late Rod Goebel, a Taos artist who taught how to let go
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