deviantART: by:NetizenRon http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:NetizenRon&section=today deviantART RSS for by:NetizenRon en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:44:00 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png Land of the Dead http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/24072896/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/24072896/ Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:00:24 PDT
The reason I haven't been posting is for a few reasons. The main one is that I've been sick to one degree or another. I think the incident back in October is related. The last 3 months have drained me though. Started with a weekend of what I thought was a stomach virus, which led to weeks of waking up in the morning feeling nauseous, to a week of intense pressure in my abdomen, culminating in another visit to the ER for sharp pains in my left side. Both visits to the ER found nothing, despite tests galore.

I know I shouldn't feel guilty for not wanting to do anything outside my work day, but I do. I've gotten further behind in my side projects, both paid and personal. Today I feel 95% good. I hope tomorrow and the tomorrows after are as good so I can get back to participating.

I don't know why I'm telling you this, but I guess I needed to vent today.

Thanks for listening ... um reading. Keep up the great art.

]]> ~NetizenRon Marvel is watching you ... http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/23464996/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/23464996/ Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:43:19 PST Marvel's New Policy on Open Submissions
Due to an unprecedented number of unsolicited art and writing submissions, Marvel has altered its open submissions policy effective immediately. Marvel has remained the only major publisher to continue accepting open submissions, however that practice has been halted as we review our strategies for accepting future submissions.

Marvel has a proven track record of attracting new and emerging talent and does not plan on ending those efforts in any way.

"If you look at our track record over the last 18 months, I think you'll find the names of more new writers and artists in Marvel books than ever before. Maybe more than at any other major comic book publisher, as a matter of fact," says Marvel Talent Liaison C.B. Cebulski. "We pride ourselves on finding new voices and artistic styles to help us shape the Marvel Universe in original and exciting ways. And while the hunt for new artistic resources to help us ever expand the Marvel mythos will continue, we'll just be going about it in different ways. We've examined all our past practices concerning talent recruitment and it quickly became clear that more 'reactive' methods such as open submissions were the least effective ways to open the Marvel door for up-and-comers. So instead we'll be continuing with the more ' proactive ' methods of artist and writer discovery that we've found so successful of late, including some soon-to-be-announced new outlets."

While the open submissions policy has ceased, Marvel will continue its active recruitment of artists through its Talent Management department. Artists are also encouraged to bring portfolios for review to the major conventions at which Marvel will have a presence this year.

Talent Coordinator for Marvel, Chris Allo adds, "In regards to finding new artists, we in the Talent Management department will still continue to look at online websites such as Deviant Art, Comic Art Community, as well as comic art blogs, and other related sites. Online comics are rapidly becoming a source for scouting as well. And, of course, we will still go to the comic book stores on Wednesdays and see what new artists are out there working for other companies and on independent books."

With the successful discovery and publishing of writers in the fields of comics as well as TV, film and literature, Marvel will continue to search out new voices in all published fields, as we have for the past number of years.

As new media and means of publishing comics on the web as well as small and independent press, we encourage all new creators to continue honing their craft by using all of the tools available during this time. Marvel will be announcing a new submissions policy in the near future.

]]> ~NetizenRon It's raining get your Umbrella Academy http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/22514127/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/22514127/ Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:51:36 PST


Till next time, be fabulist,

Ron Earl Phillips
Website
]]> ~NetizenRon A TERMINAL Day http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/22481899/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/22481899/ Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:38:14 PST TERMINAL, they tend to assume it has something to do with computers, me being an internet developer working at my "terminal" every day. But no my book is about death and dying because I'm such a morbid fuck. Really. I am. And it sounded cool.

So if you haven't already checked it out, go stop by my placeholder site and sign up for the newsletter. TERMINAL NOVEL.

Today, however, has nothing to do with TERMINAL. It was just an excuse to point you guys in that direction so you completely miss that it's my BIRTHDAY. 40th to be exact. Yep, I'm not only a morbid fuck, but I'm an old fuck. Well to all you awesome 20-something artists. I don't even want to think about when you guys hit 40, I'll be 50ish ... *cold chill*

It's just another day just like any other and 40 isn't really old. I'm not going to become a quarterback or a teen idol, but with luck and health I should see another prosperous 40 years.

And being 40 isn't so much a shock. No the shock, and you guys with the new babies will get it soon enough, my daughter turned 15 last Sunday. Wow, that cranks up the OMG factor to the next level. If ever there was a map of our existence it's our kids.

So if any of you wish me some BDay cheer, be sure to stop over at my 15 yr/old's dA account and wish her a belated BDay.~KassyKat

To a great, a prosperous year and a longer life.

And don't forget to visit the TERMINAL site.:)

Till next time, be fabulist,

Ron Earl Phillips
Website ]]> ~NetizenRon A TERMINAL Year http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/22250890/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/22250890/ Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:28:15 PST
Hope you all had a good holiday and have a great New Year. In 2009, just 9 days after the last day of 2008, I turn 40. Wow. But it had to happen eventually. Time keeps on passing, passing in to the future. Or so I've heard.

So I want to make 2009 my most productive. To that end, my entire focus for the next 4 months is my novel TERMINAL. I've gone ahead as created a holding page where you can sign up for update and news. Eventually in about a month it'll span out into more of a blog and then on May 4, 2009 I will launch my first audio episode. Hopefully it won't suck. Take a moment and jump over to the TERMINAL NOVEL page and sign up. You can also post here if you like the logo or the tag line or if it looks totally lame.

I hope to also launch a couple other projects this year. Webcomics! Fingers crossed and before mid-year we'll see THE NETIZEN, featuring all my fun comic characters. Trust me after 6 months of TERMINAL, I'm going to need something a bit light hearted. Also going to try my hand at a pseudo slice-of-life comic called PAISLEY DAYS. Much later in the year.

Big goal is to always be writing. So hopefully a couple other things can squeeze in there.

Again, everyone have a great New Years and carry the good tidings all year round.

Till next time, be fabulist,

Ron Earl Phillips
Website ]]> ~NetizenRon Watching 30-something go bye. http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/21658574/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/21658574/ Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:52:55 PST
I know that for the most part I'm generally the oldest guy in the room, especially in a room full of daydreamers. I guess people give up after time and settle into just being happy with the day to day. Me, I still dream of what I would like to do and if I have more failures than successes well I'll still have my successes.

Fanciful as it might be to dream of success, it's hard not to look upon the new year, this new era, with a little bit of hope. My country is in one heck of a transition. The market is the worst it has ever been in nearly 80 years. We, as a country, have taken a step against our own prejudices our own status quo and voted in someone I hope will be looked back on a great man. The country is changing and I'm going to be turning 40, leaving behind 20 years of daydreaming in pursuit of many more. I think this could be the best time for personal transition, a time to be aggressive and build upon those dreams. I think it's possible to come out the other end of this recession (possible depression) with complete fulfillment.

This year might end with low but thankfully that means the only place to go is high. I'm banking on it and I hope to share a lot of new things with you in the new year as I say good-bye to 30-something.

Till next time, be fabulist,

Ron Earl Phillips
Website ]]> ~NetizenRon NaNoWriMo and something about a Doctor http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/21251377/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/21251377/ Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:18:49 PDT

Tomorrow starts NaNoWriMo. I'm going to attempt it again. I think this is my 4th year, maybe just 3rd. If I remember right my wife (~Catnel) did it 4 years ago and I did it the year after. Anyway, I'm going to use it to start (and maybe finish) my first draft of TERMINAL. Still haven't decided if I'm going to "publish" it anywhere. It's really disjointed in my head. I have a beginning and an end, it's all that stuff in the middle that baffles me. heh.

I don't know how observant you guys are, but I changed the title under my user name. It used to say "formally known as Ron Phillips." Now it says "Ron Earl Phillips, Fabulist." Two things about that, first I've adopted my middle name, Earl, but kept my first name short. This will be my creative name. Not a stretch, but it'll uniquely identify me and well now I have the eponymous domain I always wanted. (You might remember me yammering about that in the past and whoever suggested using my middle initial or name ... ding, ding, ding!). Secondly I've adopted the identity of fabulist: A person who tells fables or stories (in whatever form that will be). And I plan on telling a lot of them in years to come.

Okay, I'm a dork.

Now the thing about a Doctor ... oh you thought that bit at the beginning was the Doctor bit, nah. I got an early treat for Halloween. An original ink wash sketch by *DocShaner. I'm so happy about it, because it's just awesome. I wish I could wind back the clock 15 years and be Evan. Very unique style that meshes Hergé with Kirby, well just generations of good comic aesthetics. I've seen him tackle just about every character and never fall short. I'd love to see him do a Johny Quest just as much as I'd want to see him do Captain Marvel. His art is classic and fun, and I'm just pleased as punch to have my character drawn by him.

I hope he's working his way up to sequential work, and when he does get something out there, I know I'm going to buy it.

If you haven't seen his work. Go now and visit him: :icondocshaner:

Thanks again Evan. The sketch was worth every cent and then some!



Well if I fall off the radar some more it's because I'm busily writing.

Till next time, be fabulist,

Ron Earl Phillips
Website ]]> ~NetizenRon Random Stylings http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/21142663/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/21142663/ Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:40:27 PDT
It's been busy at work. Current project is a new real estate site for the paper. Not hard work, but kind of not exciting either. But we have to pay the bills some how, right? I hate that 'Bill' gets all my money.

With the long hours, I've been dragging my ass on side jobs and projects. The one big project, the website for a great comic company is coming soon to an end. I hope to leap some big hurdles this week-end and 'git'r done' as Larry likes to say.

November is NaNoWriMo month. I'm going to write my draft for TERMINAL that month. In the past I've webbed my attempts with little success. I haven't decided if I'm going to web it again this year. If I do, it will probably be on a weekly basis. I hope to get most of it done during the challenge so I can set it aside and work on some design and concepts for my AFTER JACK webcomic project.

AFTER JACK is going to be more or less a traditional strip, but it will have set story arcs, some of which won't be part of the ongoing comic itself. Little diversions. The main strip will be about average guy, Jack Norman, who ends up in not so average adventures. But during those diversions, I hope to visit some characters I've created in the past: The Netizen and the Net City crew, Klik Boom: Exterminators, Dewey Thompson - Dick for Hire, Battlin' Buzzbee and family.

Since I'm all ambition and no talent, I'll probably have to get a real artist to draw on occasion. It'll be months before it get's rolling. I'm hoping I can successfully navigate this next week and get the website done so I can release some creative juices.

2009 is going to be a good year for me. Personally. I know it. Just glad I don't have tons of money in the stock market or in hock to a mortgage company on a loan I couldn't possibly pay. I'm secure.

And on that note, let me tell you how last week was for me. I went out to Colorado to visit in-laws with the missus and kid. We had fears about recent down turn in health of an elderly relative out there and wanted to make sure Kassy (the kid) was able to visit again.

We drove. 1300+ miles. 2 days. Not fun.

It was a restful week. I was tired and didn't feel like doing much, and for the most part I got to relax. 2 days to recoup from the drive, and the 3rd I was going to work on that website. A day that I wasn't at work, a day to myself. 3 am that morning my wife wakes me up and has me get something from the car. So I do. I come in from the Colorado night and all of a sudden I feel breathless. I sit down and I feel light headed. Then my heart starts pounding and my blood races. I can feel it rushing through my veins in my legs, my arms, my chest. A strange awareness. I feel anxious and uptight. I try to go to bed. Lay there for an hour as the pounding and racing becomes pressure and anxiety. I feel throbbing in my left pectoral and arm. I go to bed anyway. For a few hours anyway.

When I wake up, I feel fine initially, then I roll over. I feel like loosing my dinner, if there is any left. I need to go to the bathroom. Pounding, racing and throbbing pressure return. My god, I think I'm having a heart attack.

So we go to the ER. They take blood. Do an EKG or two. A CT scan too. Give me Dilaudid. The pounding, racing and throbbing vanish. I feel no pain, but I do feel queasy sick. Ugh! I'm going to toss it. I don't. I guess I studied hard, I passed the tests. It wasn't a heart attack.

However, they want to put me in the hospital for observation and a stress test. First they try an echocardiogram/stress test. The film on it was fuzzy so they scrubbed it before I got to the treadmill. So they keep me overnight so I can have a nuclear dye scan/stress test. They ran my heart rate up to 180. I did fine. Surprised myself. I was pretty thirsty afterwards though.

Six hours later my "doctor" came and said I was fine. No sign of cardiac or pulmonary distress, no apparent risk factors. They gave me a short list of things to go over with my family doctor. Things that require evasive probes and scopes. I haven't called my doctor yet.

I drove back the next day (Saturday) and took my time and took a couple extra days off this week.

So my week of last was crap. But at least I'm not going to die of heart or lung failure.

Sorry that was long and boring. I just wanted to document this for posterity and if I drop dead, we'll know what it wasn't.

BTW, I'm 77 days from my 40th birthday. Anyone know the over under of me actually making it?

]]> ~NetizenRon Dancing Jesus http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/20511346/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/20511346/ Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:35:17 PDT
The exercise was to write a short story between 1500 and 2000 words. No restriction on structure, style or genre, only that it had to have a cursory relation to a garage sale.

And don't worry about the title. It deals with religion, but it isn't overtly religious. I know some people can be offended or discouraged if they feel a belief is being pushed. It's all in context.

Hope you enjoy. :)

[link]

I'd appreciate any criticisms or comments you have to make.

Type at you later.

Ron Phillips

Home | LJ | dA | MySpace | ComicSpace
]]> ~NetizenRon After Jack and other stuff http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/20248592/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/20248592/ Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:53:25 PDT
Been a couple weeks or so. Life has gotten in the way quite a bit, but doesn't it always?

Trying to free up time to start my TERMINAL project. I'd still like to get the first draft done by New Years. Right now it's just sloshing around in my brain being tainted by age and alcohol. I was reading an interview with an up and coming writer, name escapes me, who said he could write anything until he lived with the idea for years. I'd like to be a little more prolific than that. So I'll keep you up to date. I do plan on serializing this to the web, probably somewhere close to this time next year if not sooner.

Sometime in the next year I'd like to start doing webcomics, not necessarily just NETCITY TALES, more alternative fair. I don't know the frequency and I may get artists to work with me for some of the stories. But for the most part its for me to better learn this medium I've been dabbling in since I was a kid. NETCITY TALES might land on it's own site sometime next year, but the alternative comics will be on a site called AFTER JACK. Once I start, you can infer what you will of the title. It'll be my art/comic blog.

Speaking of webcomics. A friend of mine, Dirk Manning, who I maintained his NIGHTMARE WORLD webcomic site, has started a new group site called MIND OF MATTER comics. The site will be re-publishing NIGHTMARE WORLD from issue one and other comics by his friends in various genres. I might re-publish my two story arcs of KLIK BOOM: EXTERMINATORS there under his Friendly Fridays category. I'll let you know when that happens in case you didn't get to read them in print.

The CRANKY OCTOPUS crew are still plugging away with their 3 OC comics; VIGIL, ROCKET AND BOUNCE and MAVERICK AND FRIENDS. All three doing a great job of it, interesting stories so far. My favorite is ROCKET AND BOUNCE. Sorry Joe and Angie, Gene looks to be a natural for sequential art. Of course one of the things that fascinates me the most with webcomics is the growth of the creators, so I'm sure the Brits will catch up quickly. And as I said all three are good stories so far.

One last shout out. I've been watching my buddy Peter posting character concepts the last week or so for his OCs. I just want to send my 5 friends over to check them out. So do it already. *piotrov

Well back to work for me. I've still got work to do on Boom.

Type at you later.

Ron Phillips

Home | LJ | dA | MySpace | ComicSpace
]]> ~NetizenRon Artists Recommendations ... http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19843230/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19843230/ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:31:07 PDT
TERMINAL is a go. I'm going to spend the next couple months plotting and researching. Once that's somewhat done or at least enough to start the novel I'm going to write, write, write. And write, write, write. My goal is to have the first draft done by New Years. Heck I'd like to be into the second draft maybe, even.

But first and foremost I'm going to take the sage advice of practically every writer I've talked to and just write it. This means just write, no edits, no starting over, just write. It's true of the dozen novels I've started, the most I ever gotten through was about 15,000 words, even though I probably wrote 150,000 to get there.

The goal is to get it written by January 1st. I will do it.

What's this have to do with an artist? Well, once I get past the first draft, and then do some polishing, this book is going online ... for free. Serialized over a span of 4-6 months with chapter updates 2 or 3 times a week. I may even do an audio version.

Artist?

Yes, I'm getting to that. I want to find an artist to produce cover art. I'm looking for something moody, eerie, disturbing. Something maybe like Ben Templesmith, Kody Chamberlain and other artists that blend the macabre and supernatural.

I've got an idea for the cover that conveys living death, a picture of our hero in a very atmospheric setting but the shadows and lights play such that we get the impression of his skeleton.

If only I were talented enough to pull out the image in my head.

I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but really I'm just looking for recommendations, suggestions. It will be for pay and I'll discuss that with the artists on an artist by artist basis.

But first I need to find some prospects. Any of you guys have that skill set or know someone who does?

---

BTW ... if you haven't checked out Cranky Octopus Comics you better do it now. Don't make me hurt you.

Type at you later.

Ron Phillips

Home | LJ | dA | MySpace | ComicSpace
]]> ~NetizenRon To be me or not to be me? http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19827227/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19827227/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:39:11 PDT
Earlier you might have caught a quick post regarding eponymous domains and me not being able to have one because of a certain fat televangelist who shares my name. I thought about it and figured no one would care. So I decided that I'd bring up an equally non-important issue but nearly related.

I don't think my name is powerful or unique. 'Ron Phillips'. It's nearly 'John Smith' in it's commonness. I've always struggled since I placed it in the back of my head that I'd one day take time and become a writer. I've been hemming and hawing the writing business since I was 14 when I wrote my first short story, A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL. (You'd think after 25 years, I'd have a veritable library of works done, but that's another rant).

Since my late teens, let's say 19. I've wrangled with what I'd call myself, well maybe actually before that. I'm a child of divorce and I was given my father's name. A man I didn't know for 20+ years. I've met him since and well I've lived with this name for a few years.

I guess my point is I'm torn. Do I push forward my writing career with my name because that's who a great deal of people know me as or do I choose a stronger name, maybe even take a maternal family name as homage?

I know writers take up nom de plumes for all kinds of reasons. Anonymity, to separate profession from identity, to try new mediums ...

My grandfather's name is Theibert, and if by some miracle I could finish and get published before his passing, I wonder what kind of emotion it would evoke to see the name Ron Theibert on a book? He's an avid reader, though I doubt he'd read my type of fiction.

I'm probably getting all wrapped up over nothing. I'm always the dreamer, and for some reason I don't 'Ron Phillips' is meant for big things.

I'm weird.

Type at you later.

Ron Phillips

Home | LJ | dA | MySpace | ComicSpace
]]> ~NetizenRon It's a mad mad world ... http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19779584/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19779584/ Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:06:08 PDT
:iconangelcrusher: is having his second 'season' of AngelCrusher's Fight League. Has over 50 participants and it looks to be some outstanding artistic brawling. It's still early in the game, but my favorite is ~dan-sch and his OC, Fowl. Dan puts together fabulous panels and no-one's more hard core than the Fowl. There are lots of other great contenders, but that's my call. I'm just glad that I didn't make the deadline, or these guys would have been kicking my gal, NanoGirl's ass.

Go on, check out the fun. It won't hurt that much.

Got to give a shout out to Cranky Octopus. On 8-8-08 they are launching their new site Cranky Octopus and will be launching 3 web comic series for their OC's. The creators are dA OC royalty. Well at least two of them have ties to the Queen, so that's close enough. They are just a great group of kids. So be sure to tune in on Friday and read:


  • Vigil by :iconkostmeyer:

  • Maverick and Friends by :iconvalemeister:

  • Rocket and Bounce by :icongenekelly:



*Kostmeyer and *valemeister are participating in AFL, so you're going to check out their stuff anyway, right?

Not sure how many of your are readers? As in novels and books, but last week I finished after several spurts SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE by Justin Grossman. It's the story of a super-villain told from the perspective of the super-villain and a rookie super-hero. It's really well written and I give kudos to the author for making the story accessible while not making it low brow. It's not quite the level of say THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY (which I'm reading now), but is quite a bit above the works of Peter David and Chris Claremont for this type of writing. Don't get me wrong, PAD and Claremont are great writers, I'm just not a fan of their prose work.

And speaking of novels, thanks for the bit of input on which novel idea (that's a weird turn of words) was more appealing. I think I will be starting with TERMINAL. So does anyone know a genetic researcher whose brain I can pick?

No new art this week, maybe I'll get some time when my schedule dies down later this month.

Thanks for reading.

Type at you later.

Ron Phillips

Home | LJ | dA | MySpace | ComicSpace
]]> ~NetizenRon What's it been 3 weeks? http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19496778/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19496778/ Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:06:52 PDT
Even though they changed up the site and made some pay features permanent, I still might get a sub again. I hate ads. heh. I think it's a mistake that they are giving away the thumbs and message preview features. Sure it makes it nice, but these are the things as a dynamic site that will sky rocket bandwidth and server load. I kind of figured they'd just have them open for a week as a sneak peek and then take them away. They still could ...

Just some quick updates.

I'm still working on the Boom Studio website. It's ongoing for probably another 3-4 weeks. Then after that I hope on an as needed basis. I'd like to be invited back to work on site updates/upgrades. We'll see. Overall I've a good working experience with the guys. Only draw backs are time management and learning Magento, both which are my issues. I could have smoked though this in a month if I weren't currently working full time elsewhere.

Prior announced projects. I've pretty much thrown everything I've ever announced off the table. This recurring theme of time, along with money, makes it impossible to fulfill web or creative projects all at once. And really it was silly for me to think I could. But being like a magpie, I get distracted by the least trivial thing. It's shiny and I must get/do it.

That's not to say they won't slide back on the table. I'd like to get the NETIZEN webcomic going if I can find the right collaborator. Of course collaborator is code for no pay, so good luck to me. heh. I also have two novel ideas fighting for my attention. Both are very shiny. Maybe you can help me figure out which comes first.

LUCKY ME - A man sees the future in his dreams, glimpses of peoples' last moments, their murders, and never did anything to prevent or help them. He's haunted by them and drowns his guilt deep in a bottle. Drunk and apathetic he does nothing until he dreams of his own death, executed for the murder of a woman he doesn't even know, but he saw the day before. He must prevent the murder in order to save himself.

TERMINAL - You only child has a terminal cancer. What would you do to save his life? Would you become the guinea pig for a clandestine government agency in their race to create the first superhuman when all the other subjects died horribly?

With either project I'm considering podcasting the novels. Right now the TERMINAL is winning me over, but I haven't lived with it as long as it's not as fully developed yet.

So I guess I'm back. Maybe I'll draw again soon.

-Ron Phillips

]]> ~NetizenRon Time for me to go http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19135951/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/19135951/ Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:13:16 PDT
I still like the art. The thing, that probably keeps me attached to comics is the art. The variety of interpretations. The creators vision. I like that voice.

Sadly a voice was taken from us this last week, Mike Turner. I'm not going to profess to know him or even like his style of art. For some reason though it hit me with little effect at first. I didn't even know he was sick or had been fighting cancer for 8 years. I used to keep up with this stuff. I used to be a source, an observer, a commentator. There should have been a nugget in this failing mind of mine that Mike Turner had cancer, that he'd been fighting the good fight. I should have known him for him, and not for his art, which to me was a little too comic booky? I don't even know if that made sense. I guess I never made that connection with him.

When Drew Hayes died, I was shocked even though I knew his lifestyle and health. When Mike Wieringo died I practically wept. I'd met these guys, I'd followed them on their journey. They had been imprinted on my psyche. But when I heard second hand that Mike Turner died. I was distant. I was cold. I didn't know ... him.

I spent the day getting to know him, to know a man I never would in life. Not through his art, I already knew his art, but through his friends. Through their words, their sadness. And I felt loss.

The one thing that has been said about Mike beyond being a consummate professional was that he was full of life. LIFE. Even in death, they look back at the joy and the untrodden desire for life that Mike had.

Roughly 2 years older than Mike and I don't think my friends could say that of me. I've lived, and I live, but I don't think I've ever been full of life. I don't have joy in what I do day to day. Smiling doesn't come easy and I want to smile. I want to feel life.

Death is a somber bedfellow and as you edge through your 30s and beyond, seeing contemporaries die, it makes you think. And it seems like many a contemporary has died in these last few years. Not just the Mikes, but many known and unknown people. It is a rough life and you're only as immortal as the memories you've left behind.

I don't mean to be morose, but I guess it hit me because harder because despite Mike being and having wonder friends, or being a notable person in this profession, I don't see the community mourning. Not like they did for Ringo, who by all accounts was just as much a wonderful consummate friend and professional. Sure it was a bigger shock, but the man left his imprint. His mark is there and I would have thought the memories would be spread far and wide in this community. Maybe I'm missing it?

I also don't mean to use his passing as an excuse, but as an empowerment. I need to find what's going to make me happy and full of life again, if I ever was. I want to take infinite joy in what I do. I just don't know what it is I do?

So I'm going to take off now. Find myself and find my life so that when it's my time to move on for good maybe, just maybe, I'll have left something behind worth remembering if only that being I found life, lived it and loved it.

Thanks for the good times. I'll be watching because art still makes me happy.

Prayers and happiness.

-Ron Phillips
Writer, among other things ...

]]> ~NetizenRon Art Jam: Rocketeer Tribute http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/17296685/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/17296685/ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:22:27 PDT I want to thank you guys for contributing. I love to see more. If your friends have been motivated by your drawings to draw their own, please point them my way. If not, encourage them to contribute. I'd love to include them.

----

I've been under the weather the last day or so. Caught a bit of the flu that's been going around, so I've been out of it. :/

One of the things I missed the last couple days was the passing of Dave Stevens. Those of you who don't know who Dave was, he was the creator of the Rocketeer. One of my favorite comics from the 80's. One of my first introductions to a creator owned comic. Not only did the comic have a wonderful throw back to the glory of the 50s, but the high flying art was a dream to look at. Dave could draw one hell of a woman.

I wish I could say I was an authority on the life of Dave Stevens or his works, I was just an admirer who loved his work. Beautiful work it was.

It's sad because Dave wasn't that old, 52. Yep, that's it. To you invincible 20-somethings, that seems old, but us guys tipping the latter end of 30 know it's just around the corner. Unlike Mike Wieringo, it wasn't unexpected, Dave had been diagnosed with leukemia. But 52 years is still a short stint in this world. I'd like to think the pain the disease brought is over and he's flying high somewhere like the Rocketeer.

Since the Rocketeer is Dave's legacy, I'd like you guys, my pals to draw up your renditions of the bullet-headed hero. As a tribute to Dave Stevens.

There will be no end date, though I'd like to see contributions sooner than later.

Contributions



Ron Phillips

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]]> ~NetizenRon 10 Free Sketches http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/17256435/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/17256435/ Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:22:48 PDT 10 Free Sketches

Several of my friends have participated in the 10 free sketch meme? and part of the agreement is to pass it on and do one yourself.

I've been lucky to be awarded free sketches from :iconstriffle:, :iconakiraine:, :iconvalemeister:, :iconalejandroisaminotaur: and :iconbruno83:. Thanks for choosing me. :)

So this is how it goes ...

The first 10 people who comment on this journal will get a sketch, free. However, in return, you must offer 10 free sketches in your own journal. If you've already done 10 Free Sketches, simply link the journal entry in your comment... You still qualify.

01 - I won't draw your request until I see this in your journal
02 - In your comment, include a link to a reference picture of the character you want me to draw or write me a description
03 - Only one character per person - remember, this is FREE

01. :iconnuclearconvoy: - El Aguila Ardiente
02. :iconcaz-divad: - Vortex
03. :iconmangaangel: - Jamaican Spider
04. :iconrpotchak: - Ardy Vanstarr
05. :iconakiraine: - Lou Creedy
06. :iconvalemeister: - Maverick
07. :iconspeedslide: - Vice
08. :icondan-sch: - The Fowl
09. :iconkostmeyer: - Vigil
10. :iconmrwizard44: -

I posted this up in my prior journal, [link] a couple days ago.

I think I've got one more spot to fill. If I promised a sketch to someone not on my list, pipe in! When it's filled I'll start on the sketches. A few interesting choices. :) Some revisits, but that's cool. I like drawing your guys stuff.

JAM: Hands - Result


Those who read my last entry, know that *vagabondx won the hand drawing challenge with his wonderful rendition of Doctor Claw. I just wanted to let you guys know he received his 3 month subscription, I hope he's enjoying the extra features that go with it... ]]> ~NetizenRon 366 - Sketch Cards http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/16206848/ http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/16206848/ Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:46:02 PST Well I guess this is where I start the ambitious task of drawing 366 sketches, or rather sketch cards, over the next year. At the last moment I figured I'd play with the sketch card fad and draw my daily sketches in the minute size of 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I even made my own card template. Woot, me!

Part of the reason I'm doing this is to motivate myself to draw more. I draw in spurts generally, and well that makes for pretty inconsistent work. I'm hoping that by the end of 366 days, day 366 will look a heck of a lot better than day 1. Here's to hoping. :)

I will break the cards down into themes, either monthly or weekly. I don't know what they all will be, but I'll add to this entry as I get to them.

Themes:

January - FRIENDZ Month - I take my friends' characters and draw them.

http://NetizenRon.deviantart.com/journal/14149174/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:43:41 PDT
I saw him again in the Early 2k's and amazingly his success hadn't changed him at all. Mike was a genuine nice guy.

It would have been nice to have known him creator to creator, to work with him, but I won't have that pleasure. Mike died Sunday from a heart attack. He lived life healthy and happy. He was one of the good guys. He shouldn't have had to go so soon.

See you in another life, Mike, and my best wishes to those you left behind.

]]> ~NetizenRon