Stepping outside of my Time Capsule

Well, as I thought would happen in my last entry, I've been under the gun working around the clock to meet deadlines for Figure Drawing for Dummies and haven't had a chance to update the blog (all my entries would've been the same "I'm tired and stressed out" phrases anyways!) However, I had my first free Sunday this past weekend in months (didn't quite get Saturday off). It's a bizarre experience stepping outside and not having to worry about a deadline on the following day - like stepping outside the storm shelter and surveying the world for the first time. It almost doesn't feel right not working all the time. If anyone of you have ever had this experience, I suggest taking a picture of your studio before and after the storm. It's going to be a long week trying to pick up the debris of drawings, references, pencils, empty coffee cups, and movie DVDs. I can't believe it's October already - I totally missed the summer experience!

Today I had some corrections based on my editor's feedback of one of the chapters for Figure Drawing for Dummies. I'm not exactly finished with the project yet, but the light at the end of the tunnel is right in front of me. I'm setting my sights towards the next projects with colleagues. Some of the them are way over due (including updating a storyboard portfolio for my rep.) In addition to working with other writers, I'm going to be working with one of my former client and art director who recently entered the freelance photography industry. Her works are beautiful and amazing! We've both taken fancy towards each others works and look forwards to doing projects together - more details to follow.

Last week, I got my first copies of Manga for Dummies translated into German. It's interesting to see the first few pages of JAVA! being translated into German! I'm still waiting to receive copies the French translation.

Hope all is well with the anime friends - I wish I could have made it to the Anime Festival this past weekend in New York City. Last year was definitely fun.

Pigs still fly when the sky is blue . . .

Entering home stretch!

This is the last month working on the Dummies Book. While it's been quite busy with deadlines (I'm writing and illustrating the book at the same time,) I'm very happy with how things are going. I hope to be finishing up within the month.

On another note, I just got the advance copies of the Five Dysfunctions book from Singapore that I've been working on for the past year.

Since it appears I haven't had much time to update my blog these days due to a crazy schedule, I just want to say thanks to my family and friends for their support during a challenging year. I'm looking forward to hanging out with everyone as soon as I'm through with this book.

Sometimes Pigs Fly when the sky is blue!

Gesture Drawings

I haven't posted much art lately, so here are some quick gesture drawings I did in a Soho figure drawing session last weekend.

It's raining haard here in Jersey City!

Book Tour in MO

How's everyone's weekend?
I went to a figure drawing session in Soho. I desperately need to get some more drawings for Dummies book.

I've been invited to attend a book tour in Missouri on October, 11 (A week before signing at Kinokuniya Bookstore in New York City).
Details are here.

"Five Dysfunctions" Hitting Stores in Asia next Month

It's finally done and printed. Five Dysfunctions of a Leadership is being printed and set to be distributed next month. It will be first released in Asia before coming to bookstores in the USA around October, this fall.

Phew - over a year long project finally coming to an end. It's been a great learning experience as well. I'll keep everyone posted as to the exact date of release.

Cover for Figure Drawing for Dummies Released!

Hello folks! I hope everyone has had a great weekend. I just found the cover for Figure Drawing for Dummies. Out of the many choices of figure drawing sketches I gave the publisher, they went along with this one. It's currently being listed on amazon website along with The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. You can find these and other of my book listings here!

Back from the Palm Trees

Well, like the wind that blows so fast, the San Diego Comicon 2008 is over and I'm back in Jersey City. It was nice to hang out with friends from art school and taking a tour of San Diego for the first time. The people were so nice over there - every time I walk in a busy Starbucks, they actually have time to start up a friendly conversation! I was a bit disappointed not seeing the publishers and artists I saw last year. Don't get me wrong, it's very nice to see Hollywood and the gaming industry present at the convention. But the comics section has been getting smaller and smaller every year a return. Most people coming seem to be coming not for the comics, but to see the latest games and hot acting stars. The banners that are posted throughout the downtown area say "celebrating the popular arts". It seems to imply they're no longer about the comics anymore. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.

It was actually a bit busy with deadlines so I didn't get a chance to walk the convention hall until Friday. After three all nighters in a row, I decided I needed to go for a break and go to the beach rather than staying another day inside the convention center. Now I have a nice tan (actually it's kinda painful right now).

I'm working on the rough artwork drafts for Figure Drawing for Dummies. I got a call from the Main Japanese Kinokuniya Bookstore in Midtown Manhattan about doing a book signing event on October 25th. I'll post more details later.

For now, it's back to taking cold showers to sooth the stinging sunburns. Wish I could be back in San Diego right now (the weather over there is so awesome)!

San Diego Comicon

Hard to believe it, but it's already here - San Diego Comicon!

I just landed here this evening. This year, I wanted to come down a little earlier to hopefully catch up with friends from the SVA years. The flight was pleasant (asides from those few unexpected bumps). We stopped over in Austin, TX on the way in. I haven't been to that airport in over 10 years - brings back memories.

Sorry for the delay in updates - our DSL service from Verizon was giving us headaches, so we had to switch over to cable connection which is a heck lot faster. Makes me wish I had switched over sooner!

Final revisions for the Five Dysfunction of a Team have been submitted. I'll keep everyone posted with regards to when it's all finally completely done. Thanks everyone for their support throughout this past year.

Till later!

Updates before the weekend

I hope everyone is doing well and planning for a fourth of July weekend BBQ. While working on the 3rd quarterly deadlines, I'm trying to get organized with junk and clutter everywhere (seriously, it's like a tornado just ripped through my home studio.) I haven't been able to get back to my main studio in a while, so I hope to do so soon.

I had a great meeting with my Managing Editor from Wiley who was visiting from Singapore earlier this week. We're all excited about the Dysfunctions Book as the sales and orders are expected to do very well. It's slated to first enter the Asia market before hitting the US market. You can pre-order the book on Amazon.

That's it for now - I'll do my best to sneak in another update soon.

To those traveling, drive safe! To those flying, tell your pilot to not fall asleep!

Quarterly Deadline

Hope everyone is doing well! It's hard to believe it's already summer!

As I'm brushing up some corrections for the Five Dysfunctions, I'm rushing to meet a quarterly deadline for the Figure Drawing for Dummies (which is tomorrow).

I've gotten a some emails lately asking me to review portfolios online. Please excuse my tardiness in getting back to you. I'm neck deep in getting deadlines, but I promise to try and get back to as many emails as I can.

Summer is Here!

Hope this post finds everyone well! I did a couple of panels talking about drawing from life at AnimeNext. I wish I could have done more, but I had a quarterly deadline for Wiley yesterday. Thanks to my new brand new awesome assistant, Rachael Mellaci! She's an SVA student (my alma mater) who's helped me meet my deadlines. Rachael just did an awesome job on applying tones to the pages of Five Dysfunctions book.

I'm having a lunch meeting with my publisher from Jossey-Boss/Wiley Publishing, tomorrow.

Heat is ON!

Well it's been another great weekend at MOCCA. In the scorching sudden heat index in the Big Apple, a huge convention room surrounded with multiple AC units is always welcome!

I enjoyed meeting Nash from Blue Sky Studios. I also was lucky enough to catch up with Joe Staton (one of the coolest and nicest guy in the industry)! I made sure I got some original pages of Scooby Doo from him.

As I'm catching up with deadlines for Figure Drawing for Dummies, I'm trying to get on track with projects for Archaia Studio Press. I hope to have some images to post later on this month. Stay Tuned!

MOCCA this weekend!

Wow, things have been so chaotic, I almost forgot to mention this. I have a table at this weekend's MOCCA at the Puck Building in SOHO, New York City. I hope to see you guys there!

http://www.moccany.org/artfest-exhibitors-08.html

Trying to make up a quaterly deadline for Wiley Publishing. Things are tight, but it's nice to have a change of subject matter. I'm planning on getting a lap top computer soon so that I'll be able to take my work wherever I go.

Peeking out of the Time Capsule

Hope everyone is doing well this week!!

Submitted the Dysfunctions book to my editor yesterday (very excited about getting the project near completion).

It's been a beatiful couple of days and so I had a chance to walk around a bit in the city river walk yesterday afternoon after handing over the page files to my new assistant for photoshop touch up work. Today's the first day back at my Kearny studio in weeks.

Now it's back to tackling the Figure Drawing for Dummies (aka FDD) which is already behind in deadline due to the Dysfunctions book. Back into the Time Capsule!

Soiree in Manhattan

Went out last night at a last minute business party hosted by my rep in Manhattan. It was definitely a much needed break away from my home studio (even if it was for just one evening). I chatted with colleagues Marc Phares and David Reuss (awesome illustrators at Napoleon group). I had a chance to also catch up with friends at Agent 16.

I got back and went straight to a conference call with Doug Jackson (my copy editor for the Five Dysfunctions Manga project)around midnight. Since he lives in Japan, this is pretty much the ideal time to communicate.

Inside my warm and cozy Time Capsule

I've been staking out at Staten Island at my assistant's studio frantically getting the inks done for the Five Dysfunctions graphic novel. Just to show how my clock is out of synch, it's already past midnight (I thought it was 8 pm!)

I've got all the things I need (high speed internet,art tables, large scanner, Digital Cable, and a great helping hand). Now only if the Mets can beat the Rockies. . .

Loew-Cornell Art Set Availiable

I just got in a batch of artist copies from a client, Loew-Cornell. It's basically a Manga for Dummies Art Set which I did a bunch of additional illustrations to compliment the text. It should be currently sold in art stores.

Cute packaging. I will try posting a photo of it either later today or tomorrow.

Brr... it's gotten coooollld all of a sudden here in Jersey City! I hope everyone is stayiing warm here on the east coast.

A great weekend!

It was a fun weekend at the Sakura Festival. The trees were in full bloom and looked awesome (I was given a quick tour guide around the area by one of the staff members). Both presentations on Saturday and Sunday went well. Thank you everyone who came by - I really had a blast! Many thanks to Anita Jacobson of BBG for all her hard work in organizing a successful event!

I had a chance to see the Murakami exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. It was packed with the weekend crowd. Tempted to get one of those cute dolls, but seeing they were charging 40 bucks for a t-shirt, I didn't bother to inquire the prices.

Demonstration and Book Signing at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The weather is getting warmer here in Jersey City! I haven't had time to get back into the off site studio this week since Monday. It's been so busy, I've been working at my home studio (which can be nice since I don't have to commute).

I wanted to mention I'll be doing some manga demonstrations on May 3 and 4 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Sakura Festival. I hope y'all can come by and say hello!

http://www.bbg.org/exp/cherries/sakura.html

Spring 2008 Visual Arts Journal Cover

An illustration I did for Skyzone Mobile Entertainment was featured on the School of Visual Arts Magazine - Spring 2008. SVA is my alma mater. They also featured JAVA! on the splash page of the main article.