Recent Figure Drawing

I tried out a different marker / brush pen combination technique this past weekend after having a frustrating time with my usual varnish based pencils. This was a fifteen minute pose. I've posted several more in the figure drawing section of my website.

Piggy Back Studios website

My main portfolio website, www.piggybackstudios.com, has been updated. The layout has been overhauled and condensed for quicker navigation and with easy-to-view larger images. I've also updated the artwork on all of the categories.

Wizards of the Coast (Unhinged)

I recently saw a link to a Magic Card illustration I did a while ago on the Wizards of the Coast website. Click here to view the image and download different wallpapers for your computer or iphone.

Supposedly, it's a strong card. I remember going to a tournament opening with fellow Magic artists where a judge was trying to explain to me the rules for playing.

Second piece sold.

Greetings. I have just returned from San Francisco vacation (well, not completely, since my rep called me to work on some frames from Saatchi and Saatchi). Among the places where I went were Mur Woods, Alcatraz, and Napa Valley. Some breath taking trees at Mur Woods. We had a rare opportunity to go below the surface of Alcatraz with a guide. He gave us the lecture of the basement structure of what used to be the fort during the Civil War. Napa Valley was quite the sight to see even though the vines weren't in bloom and the weather was cloudy. We went on the Wine Train (which I highly recommend). They serve really awesome food while you enjoy the sights of the wine estates.

Well returning back to business. Stephanie Seliskar and I sold our second piece at the Big Bar, New York City. I'm planning on having a meeting later this evening with Stephanie to talk about out our next piece. You can see our gallery at www.koss2.com.

JAVA! Recaffeinated has been fully inked and is now being colored.

I've been invited back to hold another two-day seminar in MO. I will be teaching a manga workshop.

I've met with a new design colleague, Tomonori Tsujita, about the redesign of Piggy Back Studios website. I'm jumping on the band wagon of people who think that html is probably the best way of creating websites. Flash is quite cumbersome (at least for me).

More to follow :) - Cheers!

Translated versions of The Five Dysfunctions are here!

I just got a copy of the translated version of the graphic novel I illustrated titled The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: Manga Edition. The first one is in Portuguese. The second one with the variant cover is the Bahasa translation.

La-Te Sketch

For those not familiar with the "JAVA!" series, La-Te is one of the main characters. She's Java's closest friend and side kick who makes sure that Java doesn't get too out of control. This is a quick sketch image of her checking her time as Java is once again behind schedule in delivering the coffee beans to the depot station.

"Java! Recaffeinated" Promo Art

I'm posting the promo art for JAVA! Recaffeinated.

Get 10 Dollars off at the Piggy Back Shop!

Basically, as the title suggests - Add the promo coupon code, GIVEMETEN at your next purchase at the Piggy Back Shop for an instant 10 dollars off. Hurry, as this only will last until the 29th. Sorry about the last minute posting.

Artwork sold at New York's Big Bar

Gooooood morning all! I'm almost fully recovered from two weeks of long hours of illustrating frames and boards at Saatchi and Saatchi. I keep forgetting how it takes a couple of days for the body to "wind down" and "reboot". Today is my official first day back in the studio from a three day weekend vacation.

Some news updates:

1. Stephanie Seliskar and I sold our first collaboration piece at the BIg Bar. You can visit our collaboration website at www.koss2.com. Both of us are very excited about this. The client was staff from the United Nations who wanted something that would remind him about the New York lifestyle.

2. I will be a exhibiting at Brooklyn's King Con Comic Book Convention in November 7 and 8 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. I've listed the information bellow.

Brooklyn Lyceum
227 4th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.brooklynlyceum.com

Photo from last weekend's Manga Class

I've posted a photo from last weekend's class in Columbia, MO. It was a lot of fun - including my first experience riding on a propeller turbo plane on my connecting flight from Memphis. Saturday I taught a Manga class. Sunday I taught digital coloring on Photoshop using the local university computer lab.

These past couple of weeks have flown by faster than ever before. I've been sketching frames for Saatchi and Saatchi on an almost everyday basis. While it's been terrific fun and a great experience, I feel completely exhausted (especially having to catch a 6AM flight right after a past midnight deadline crunch). Today's my first day off in a couple of weeks and then I'm back at Saatchi on Monday.

NEWS: Next year's MOCCA has been announced to be in April. Unfortunately, they are sticking us back in that Armory again. Hopefully, it won't be as hot as it was last year when it was in the summer.

Happy Sunday

After making my first couple of trips to the new Brooklyn Ikea, I couldn't resist. Working at Saatchi and Saatchi tomorrow :)

A Saatchi and Ikea Summer

It's been a busy summer working with Saatchi and getting used to a new location in Brooklyn. Much apologies with the lack of updates on the blog site. Actually, it's been very exciting making several trips to the new Ikea store in Brooklyn. My friends and colleagues, Mark Smylie, and Naser Subashi, have been generous with their time in helping me carry the heavy load (no pun intended).

Pretty good day at Saatchi with hurdling another tight deadline. Unfortunately, I had to miss a meeting arranged by my rep to meet client Draft FCB. Hopefully will be able to attend their next meeting.

San Diego Comicon 2009!

Well it's that time again. I just arrived in San Diego after having to delay my trip for a freelance project with Saatchi & Saatchi. There's still more frames that need to be illustrated, but for now I'll have some fun in the sun (well more like being in front of my lap top and wacom tablet). I'm looking forward to meeting with colleagues and meeting new inspirational artists.

My new studio in Brooklyn has yet to settle in. I feel as if this whole entire month has been quite exhausting. Quite a lot going on right now. I went for a figure drawing session this past weekend for the first time in weeks just to get back into the groove of things.

No Sleep TIll Brooklyn!

Sorry for the delay in postings and updates. I'm starting a new phase in my lifestyle by recently moving into Brooklyn! I'm very excited about being a New Yorker once again after living in Jersey City for close to ten years. This has meant a complete overhaul in my studio and layout.

This past weekend, I did a signing and panel discussion at the first Asian American Comicon. It was interesting getting to meet various artists who had a range of creative styles.

An illustration image from the Piggy Back Project..

Cafe Press store is open.

Hello all. I've revamped my cafe press a bit. For now, it mostly has the characters from the Piggy Back series. Later on, I'll be adding in the characters from JAVA!.

Click here to Enter.

MOCCA Festival is here!

Day one at the MOCCA has launched here at the Armory in New York City. For those of you unfamiliar with this unique event which is in it's 5th season, this is one of the few comic book conventions which features comic book creators (what a concept!) More and more, comic book conventions have become flooded with non-comic book related companies and vendors. Shows such as the San Diego Comicon has become a media related mass frenzy where the floor has diminished presence of comic book creators and lending itself more an more towards Hollywood and television stars and shows. Thus it's very hard to find shows where fans show up just to see what other artists are doing and creating.

This show was a debut of the series called "Piggy Back" about an artist pig trying to "make it" in the big city life.

Launch Party Tonight in NYC

Currently working on last minute printing materials to prepare for the event tonight. Would love to see y'all stop by and say hi! 75 East, 7th Street at the Big Bar. If you know of any art directors, please pass this information along. Stephanie and I are very excited about tonight.

KOSS2 Launch Party Tomorrow Night in NYC

Well, I'm very excited about the part tomorrow. I've been working with Stephanie Seliskar in making sure that things run smoothly.

Equally as pressing, I've been preparing for the MOCCA exhibit coming up this weekend for Sat and Sun at the armory in New York City. It's such a relief not having to worry about traveling far for some of these shows (too bad I can't say the same thing for San Diego Comicon!)

My table is number 216 on the exhibit floor at the 26th Street and Park Avenue. The shows start at 11 AM. Hope to see you there!

On a side note, I just am amazed how expensive printer inks are. I just got the set for my wide set printer, Epson 2400. It ran me over 100 bucks?! I smell a government conspiracy here!

KOSS2 Launch Party on 6-5 in NYC.

Me and my colleague, Stephanie Seliskar, are having a launch party on the 5th of June. I've attached a flyer with this blog posting. Please feel free to circulate the image to your friends (especially art directors) by right-clicking your mouse over the image and "save."