Day 2 @ San Diego Comicon

Sitting at It's a Grind coffee shop, downtown San Diego while putting in this entry. I just discovered this place yesterday and I love it! Much better than Star Bucks and I get free wireless networking. Feeling much better now that I just finished up a freelance story board project and sent it over to a brand new client, DKB Marketing in Manhattan. One thing that I can't get used to taking my freelance work on the west coast is that the time difference. Just when you think you're ahead of schedule, you need to factor in that back home is three hours ahead of you.



(update) Still no work about the missing book and art materials on the plane. Good news is that I'm getting a new copy shipped out to me. I've been trying to jot down as many drawings I can remember from the past couple of weeks.

The locals here are so polite that it always takes time getting used to the environment. Makes you realize how stressed New Yorkers are with the crazy deadlines that go on.

My former SVA classmate, Joy Dey, has graciously allowed me to stay over the past couple of days.


Joy and Bill Dey in their new home.

The floor is crazier than I ever remember. Yesterday (Thursday) was so packed that you couldn't even move around the floor. Picked up my third Adam Hughes sketchbook among other freebies. Feel worn out overall. Haven't had much of a chance to do my routine network (frankly, I think I've met and known all the art directors prior to this convention).


Transformer's Optimus Prime


The Newest and Latest DDR.

Rough few Days @ San Diego

Well, if this isn't the mother of all ____ ___. With clients calling in at the last minute the following morning I get here. My laptop software didn't scan and kept crashing. Finally figured out that the epson drivers were to blame. Live and learn folks - if Photoshop ever keeps crashing on you, delete all epson drivers and plug-ins. Then I realize I've left all my sketches and thumbnails of the book I'm working on along with the manuscript itself on the plane! No words, ladies and gents. I'm depressed beyond words. One weeks worth of hardwork and accomplishments down the drain like that. Simply no words. . . . Unbelievable. Should've never left New Jersey (even for comicon).

San Diego Comic Con

Gearing up for San Diego. I'm dreading having to bring my portable work station with me. The whole thing (portable scanner, laptop, and wacom tablet) weighs close to 40 lbs! On a lighter note (ha ha ha ha) I'm hoping to seal up another book agreement soon. Stay tuned for details coming soon.

San Diego Comicon

Gearing up for San Diego Comicon. I can't believe how fast things are going with summer in full swing. Finishing the details with establishing a graphic novel conctract with John Wiley/Asia. More details to soon follow. Unghh. Here's to another looong and tight deadlines.

Waves

Posting a recent manga digital illustration. I'm experimenting by adding some Japanese woodblock print elements. Comments appreciated!

Panel discussion at Anime Next

Photo of me (on the left) doing a panel discussion at NJ's AnimeNext. I've been invited to MangaNext at October. Earlier I did some demonstrations of incorporating life drawing into manga. It was a blast.

Some Long-Due Photos

This was with my acquisitions editor, Michael Lewis, from Wiley at the Book Expo at Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York City.

Here's a photo from MOCCA festival last month. Morgan Spurlock from Supersize Me came by!

Javacomics.com Back Up

Javacomics.com is now back up again. I'm off to North Carolina for a much needed vacation. Next weekend, I'll be doing a couple of panel discussions at Anime Next Japanese Anime Convention, in Seacaucus, NJ. You can visit their convention website at animenext.org for more information about dates and directions. I'll be there on Saturday.

Javacomics.com Temporarily Down

Javacomics.com is temporarily down. It should be back up in 48 hours. Mocca was a blast. I'll be posting pics soon. I saw Morgan Spurlock from Supersize Me.

Got LinkedIn?

Hey guys. Just set up a LinkedIn account. Still trying to get everything together, but for now you can see it at
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kensuke.

Gearing up towards MOCCA

Gearing up towards MOCCA exhibit next week. More details to follow. My girlfriend got me locked on to facebook. My initial intentions were to use it as a way of promoting my work to the college community, but it's becoming just another excuse to procrastinate my work. Fun, nevertheless!

Back To Summer Sessions

Entering my second week of teaching comic book art at the Education Alliance Art School in Manhattan. Classes are on Tuesdays from 6:30- 9pm. I'm taking a break for the summer from teaching figure drawing, but I will be resuming it in the Fall. Call the school at 212-780-2300 ext. 378 for more information. Had a blast in NY Book Expo last week - all the books were signed and gone within 15 minutes or so!

Signing at the Book Expo in NYC

Weather is getting hotter here in Jersey City. The studio renovation is coming to an end (finally!) I'll be doing a book signing at the National Book Expo at Jacob Javits Convention Center tomorrow (Friday) from 2-3pm. Anyone in the area, please come on by and say hello!!

Revamping my studio

Finished with some storyboards for LG Electronics yesterday and the day before. Had to do 28 frames! Unghh. So today I'm taking some time off to revamp my studio. It really needs a major make over! I also need to make sure that if or when guests come over, the place doesn't look like all hell just broke loose. Paper and drawings are everywhere right now.

Signing at Borders / Manhattan

Another great Monday morning. Working on location right now doing story boards for Brand Buzz Ad Agency. I'll be doing a store signing this Sunday from 7pm at Borders Bookstores Kips Bay. They're located on 32nd Street and 2nd Avenue. Come drop by and say high!

Signing at Barnes and Noble at Princeton Market Fair

Just came back from Chicago. I will be doing a signing at Princeton Market Fair this Saturday the 19th from 2pm. I think it will last for a couple of hours. Here's the address:

Barnes and Noble Princeton
3535 US Route 1 South
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-716-1570

Please come by and say hi!

Signing at Barnes and Noble at Wheaton, Illinois

Well this month is signing month. I'm kicking off with an evening at Barnes and Noble in Wheaton, Illinois. It's on the 11th starting at 7p.m. (a Friday). I'll post details within the next couple of days. Other dates include another Barnes and Noble in Princeton Market Fair, NJ, and Borders in Manhattan. Just finished off some designs for Camel. I just came across an interesting article about the specific brand I was illustrating for. 5 Senetors are saying that they company is targeting teenage girls. Stay tuned. . . .

MFD Hits Germany and France!

Exciting news today. I just got a letter from Wiley saying that Manga for Dummies has been selected to be translated and published in German and French! More information to follow.

Johnny Hart Passes Away

Hats off to Johnny Hart (creator and artist of "B.C."). He passed away on Easter weekend. He was one of the few Christian cartoonists in the main stream syndications who had the guts to include Christian themes into his works. The last strip which was on Easter day was very touching and witty. I'm sure he's drawing like crazy in heaven as we speak. God bless you, Johnny.

Pig under the Weather

Feeling a bit under the weather as I'm struggling with trying to learn the Manga Studio software. Ironically, while the difficult and tedious tasks are made easy with this software, the more simpler tasks I take for granted are frustratingly hard to accomplish. But then again, I'm sure this is somthing we all identify with.