Oink Oink!

If you're a fan of mine from Germany, love pigs, and send me a nice letter including a self addressed envelope and enough money for return postage, this is what you might get back!

Thank you Hans and Ulrike!

Oink Oink!

Sports Illustrated Kids June

It's a little late but here are the illustrations I did for the "What's The Call" article appearing in the June issue of Sports Illustrated Kids. You're the official during the game and something really weird goes down. You tell me, what's the call?

Heads Will Roll

During Lynne Edison's first swing of a golf tournament, the head of her golf club falls off of the shaft. As she completes the swing, the head of the club rolls and hits the golf ball. You're the official. Does this count as a stroke?

Icing the Kicker

Tennessee Terriers kicker Carl Moynihan lines up for a game-winning 41-yard attempt against the Missouri Monarchs. Just as Moynihan looks up for the snap, Monarchs head coach Bruce Baskerville calls a time out to "ice," or disrupt, the kicker. Moynihan makes the kick, but it's waved off due to the timeout. As Moynihan prepares for his second attempt, Baskerville motions for another timeout. The Terriers claim the Monarchs cannot call two consecutive time outs to ice the kicker. You're the official. Can the Monarchs call two straight timeouts before an opponent's field goal attempt?

No Backsies

Georgia Gems catcher Jelani Hendricks hits a home run out of the ballpark against the Washington Willows. Hendricks tags first base, but misses second. When his foot touches third base, Willows first base coach signals to the umpire that Hendricks did not tag first second base. Hendricks runs back to second, but the Willows argue he cannot retreat. You're the umpire. Can Hendricks retouch second base before heading to home plate?

Good luck! I hope you make the right call!

OilCan Drive Track 3!

The newest chapter of OilCan Drive begins today over on the OilCan Drive website!

After showing off the 24 Hour Comic I did last fall for the past few months I am finally launching the third chapter in the OilCan Drive adventure. The gang finally makes their way into the big bad wasteland of the Zone. But, what will they find out there and how will they track down Lily and the rest of Brick's Wild Wonders of the Waste? I, for one, am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens. It really feels great to get back to my favorite little cartoon band after being away from them for far too long!

I did a few different variations of the cover for the third book. Originally I kept with the warm color scheme I had used on the first two books but, because the looks on all the characters' faces reminded me of some old Scooby-Doo type horror movie, I decided to try a more cool toned approach to the cover. It came off feeling a bit TOO cool. So, finally, I tried a mix of both covers, using the warm colors on the characters and the cool colors on the background and I that is the one I ended up going with. I think it works.

But, enjoy the variations on the tones and moods of all three untitled and uncropped covers.

Now, I just need to write and draw the rest of the book. Ah well, I have a whole seven days until next Friday to figure out what happens next. Tons of time!

Here we go, finally, into the Zone! It's going to be one hell of a ride!

I hope you all come along!

Happy July!

Hello everybody and happy July!

June passed by way too quick but I got a bunch of work done, had a few adventures, and even spent a week in Nashville visiting a friend.

This month's header was a piece I did for an alcoholic drink campaign. I'll show off the can designs I did soon enough but, for now, enjoy the Tiger Boy I came up with as a mascot for the drink. Right now he is one of my newest favorite characters.

And the visit to Nashville went great. I spent a week there messing around with music and learning a few new tricks. And, on the last day I was there, I had a chance to have breakfast with my sister-in-law and her Dad, both of whom were in Nashville for her Dad's book signing. And, lucky me, her Dad brought me a gift. Years ago he had bid on a guitar at a charity event and it had been sitting in his closest for the last ten years. So, I got to fly home with a brand new 1994 Les Paul guitar! You just can't beat that!

That makes two out of the three times I've been to Nashville result in me coming home with a new guitar. Who knows what will happen next time! I might need to make a wish list!

Okay, everyone. I hope you're having a great July so far and that those of you in the good ol' US of A have a great holiday weekend. Talk to you soon!

Sports Illustrated Kids - May

Geez, I've been so busy these last few months trying to get everything in the world of OilCan Drive in order that I totally forgot to post the newest Sports Illustrated Kids "What's The Call" pieces from May! Well, I guess there is no time like the middle of June to make up for that.

Here are the pieces I did for the May issue of SIK. See if you can figure out what is going on in each piece and how you'd make the call on the field as the official. Good Luck!

Out of Order

With two outs in the eighth inning of a 2-2 game against the Port Chester Pandas, shortstop Dale Osbourne of the Birmingham Beavers hits a RBI single to right field. Before the next pitch, Pandas manager Martin Collins out Osbourne should have batted at the top of the order to begin the inning to the home plate umpire. After checking the Beavers' lineup card, the umpire confirms that Osbourne batted in the wrong slot. The Beavers argue that the lineup card is incorrect. You're the official. Does the Beavers' run count?

Foul Trouble

In the final moments of a basketball game, California Caterpillars guard Ramona Flores pulls up for a jumper. She makes the shot just as a whistle is blown on her teammate, forward Karla McLean, and Delaware Ducks center Adrina Fisk under the hoop. A double foul is called on both players. The Ducks set up to inbound the ball, but the Caterpillars argue it's their ball. You're the referee. Which team has the possession?

Helmet Mishap

The Hartford Hounds and Willingboro Wildcats are making line changes during a hockey game. Hounds left wing Edgar Gleason forgets to strap on his helmet. As he leaps onto the ice, the helmet falls off his head and rolls on the ice. The Hounds are setting him up to score, so he doesn't have time to retrieve it. Gleason receives a pass, glides by two defenders, and buries the puck in the net. The Wildcats argue that the goal shouldn't count because Gleason wasn't wearing his helmet. You're an official. Does the goal count?

Denver Comic Con 2015

Whew! It's been almost three weeks since the end of the 2015 Denver Comic Con and I am only now getting around to finally writing about it. Sorry about that but, as they say, better late than never.

This year's con was absolutely crazy! I've been attending the big Denver con since they began in 2012 and they have just grown by leaps and bounds since that first year. I think the number of attendees the first time out was around 28,000. This year it topped out at a little over 101,000! That is a huge jump in attendance after only four years and you could really feel it this year.

For me, to be honest, this year felt a little overwhelming. I tried to wander through the convention a few times but I always ended up just running back to my table where it was safe. It was a very loud convention, both audibly and visually. If I had to describe it in some way I'd say it was like the internet had come to life and everywhere you looked there was something vying for your attention.

But, even though it was busy and very exhausting, I had a great time.

We had a booth at the end of the hall this year and, because I had no one beside me on the end, I got to build my space out a little bit and added Ryan's hockey jersey and guitar to the display to accompany my usual art. Although, I did learn, if you put a guitar that close to where kids can touch it, by the end of the weekend you're going to have one very sticky guitar. I had new banners created to sit behind me and I also had a kind of picnic spread banner to put over my table. The whole thing really came out nicely and I was happy with how our space looked.

I sold a bunch of books, both old ones like OCD #1 and the newest books like OCD #2 and a print copy of the book I created for the 24 Hour Comic Challenge. I was hoping to get a new album of music done before the convention but getting a really bad cold in the weeks beforehand put the kibosh on that plan. Ah well, there is always next year.

And, as busy as it was I had a chance to catch up with some friends, solidify some contacts I made last year, and meet a bunch of very cool people. Probably the coolest part was that Dave Dorman of Dark Horse Comics and Star Wars fame was seated in the table right behind mine. After peeking through my banners to see if he was free I had a chance to sit down and talk with him for a bit. That was really cool and he's a super nice guy.

And, yes, Monika had a great time as well. She dressed up as something different each day. The first two days she cosplayed as characters from my comic and on the third day she left my world to play Wonder Woman. I'd be jealous but, honestly, it's hard to beat Wonder Woman. It was great having her there and she made the whole weekend a lot easier. She's definitely the best convention partner I've ever had.

So, yes, I had a great time and I can't wait to do it again. Maybe by this time next year I can finally get another OilCan Drive album done. I can't be sick all the time!

Have a great one and I'll see you all soon!

Happy June and a bunch of process shots!

Happy June everybody!

Sorry again for being a few days late with the newest blog header. The month ends these days far quicker than I'd like and I find myself always struggling to get something new up for each month's header. Plus, I am still reeling from doing the Denver Comic Con a week and a half ago. I should definitely do a recap post about the con with some of the photos I took. Maybe later this week. It was a great time but it really left me exhausted.

This month I did a new piece of Lily that will be posted on the OilCan Drive web comic site later this month. Basically I am giving myself two weeks off before I run the next chapter of the book and I needed a little placeholder to let people know when the next story starts.

So, who better to fill the space with her lovely face than Lily?

Below are a bunch of production photos I took while working on the piece and you can see my process from pencils to inks to computer color to finish. And, finally, at the bottom, is how the piece will look on the OilCan Drive site. So, yes, if you're checking this post out from the OCD web page, you are getting a sneak preview!

Enjoy the new Lily piece, enjoy the month, and I'll talk to you all soon. The convention recap is coming up next!