Okabayashi_Seliskar Project #4

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Here's a fourth Okabayashi_Seliskar illustration. Again, you'll need to click on the illustration to see the entire view. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Waaaaa (Trying to surf the Hokusai style)

Well it really is starting to get cold. I've posted another illustration. One of my reps has moved their office to a different location within the Big Apple region. I can't wait to visit their new location. I'm in the process of building up a business grant proposition this weekend. I'll fill in the details shortly.

Okabayashi_Seliskar Project #3

Happy "Monday Blues" everyone. I'm posting a third illustration I did with Stephanie Seliskar.

It's starting to chill down since yesterday. I think our "mild" days are officially over. I made a dash to the art store after realizing I've used up my last drawing pencil in the entire studio (actually I think I may have simply lost them all :))

Okabayashi_Seliskar Illustration #2

Here's a second illustration I just completed with Stephanie Seliskar. You can view her photo website works at www.stephanieseliskarphotography.com.

Amazon Japan

I was happy to learn that The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Manga Edition is recently spotted at the top of the Japan Amazon selling list in the business section.

Under the Tree

Here is another sample I did today. I imported a screen tone pattern using a manga software and set the layer above the image to "screen." Again, you'll need to click on the image see its entirety (I apologize - I'm trying to figure out how to get the entire image to appear without having to make the overall appearance too small.)

Teaming up with Stephanie Seliskar

I'm posting an illustration based on a collaborative project with one of my former client and colleague,Stephanie Seliskar, who is an amazing photographer. I love her sense of strong narrative and usage of light.

Sample

Here's a digital sample I just did today. You'll need to click on it to see the entire view.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Out in Stores!

Well, just like that my birthday came and went (I was born on Halloween). This year is just flying by!

Speaking of Halloween, The Five Dysfunction of a Team is now officially out in stores nationwide as of last Friday. It can be found in the business/management section.

Heading down to DC

It's amazing how fast this weekend just flew by like a pig (or something like that!)
Thanks to all who came by this weekend. Despite the bad weather, the place was full! My friend Sal Cipriano and Marylin Patrizzo came by. Afterwards, I did two interviews with Megumi Sato from TOKYO FM AT NEW YORK (one in English and the other one in Japanese.) I'll have to find out when and where it's being broadcasted/podcasted.

I'm taking a short trip down to DC to check out the galleries. It's been a while, so I'm looking forward to just getting out my studio.

Have a great day, folks!

Signing today @ Kinokuniya

I'll be doing a signing today on the second floor of Kinokuniya Books from 3pm. I'll be doing some demonstrations as well.

Stay dry everyone - it's supposed to be a wet Saturday.

KO out!

Kinokuniya

Back from St. Louis! It was fun hanging out in the mid west. I visited The Arch (unfortunately, the line was very long on a Saturday!) But the view and experience was worth the wait. I got to walk through one of the casino floors along the river.

25th, Saturday, from 3PM, I'll be doing a presentation at the Book Kinokuniya, 1073 Avenue of the Americas (between 40th and 41st streets, across from Bryant Park), NY, NY.

- Signing event is on the 25th, not the end of this week. Sorry for the confusion.

St. Louis Big Read Book Festival

I'll be flying off to St. Louis, MO for the Big Read Book Festival. My publisher is sending me over there to the mid-west. I'll be doing a class seminar at 10:30 am to noon at the Clayton High School. I'm very excited as this is the first time visiting St. Louis. Here this the link to the festival web site:

http://www.bigread.net/
I look forward to seeing you folks in MO there!

I'm flying a day earlier to hopefully get to do some sight seeing. I recently got my very first camcorder (which I'm very excited about as well). I'll be taking this "baby" along with me. Now only if I can get this thing to work. . .

On a more personal level, I've been feeling rather off-beat this week (haven't taken a vacation since March). While the book deadlines are for the most part wrapping up, I'm still trying to adjust my daily schedule to a normal work day routine. For example, I'm feeling wired up even at 3 am in the morning and can't get to sleep.

I've been back at the studio reorganizing the set up. There's a lot of backed up work that needs to get done. I'll be spending sometime while at the airport tomorrow trying to put together a temporary work flow schedule.

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)!