deviantART: by:NgBoy

as soon as you enter the room this is what you see. my drafting table and computer desk is on the right. my ang's computer desk is on the left. and our "chilling" area is at the back.

as you look to your right, you immediately see my drafting table. pretty usual stuff you'd see. tray for pencils/pens/erasers. stencils, T-squares, french curves. there's my light box underneath that blank paper. looks like i'm ready to start a project! to the left of that is my street fighter eternal challenge soft cover! that thing has been flipped through so much it's just about to fall apart! i also have sketchbooks usually littered all over my table so i can refer back to my roughs when doing my final pencils. but since i've cleaned up i only have one out right now!.

to the left of the drafting table is my computer desk. the white computer is my old emac. i have most of my work stored on there from the past 6 years. just recently we bought a new macbook which is seen on the left there. i'm slowly transfering stuff over to there. the macbook is where i do all of my imperium pages. because it makes me feel all trendy

. on the left at the back is my super old printer, and below the desk there is my scanner. you can see my subwoofer down there as well. sometimes i need to compete with my neighbors for having the most bass. they always win though.

moving on.. here's our chill out area. this is where friends and guests could hang out, sit on the couch, maybe read one of the books we have on the book shelves. we need a better area rug though. the carpet we have there now is pretty thin and it would be nice to get a softer, more comfortable one instead.

here's a close up of the shelves. it's got graphic novels, art reference books, regular novels and toys galore! my gf and i have a pretty large toy collection that's stowed away in boxes in the closet. so what you see in the studio isn't even a fraction of what we actually have. here you could probably make out some street fighter figures, marvel legends, a bunch of superman action figures (my favourite superhero), and even though i don't draw them anymore, i still have a soft spot for the transformers toys. the second shelf from the bottom on the left there are actually full of my sketchbooks from over the years. full of roughs for just about every project that i've worked on! below that are where we put our office supplies and blank paper. some of you might recognize the framed picture on the very left being the batman image i have up on deviant art. that was actually a gift for my girlfriend since her favourite hero is batman.

here is the view of the couch. it actually folds down to become a bed so guests that stay over from a crazy night of rock band or partying can crash in the studio. you can see more... ]]> =NgBoy Imperium Comic http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19818832/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19818832/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:12:06 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

Hey guys! So the other day i was chatting it up with

and he was working on his awesome aardehn comic [link] and that really got me thinking. I've had this idea for a comic for years now and i never got a chance to really get it going. i was really impressed at how eric was able to just go and start working on his creation his way, and on his schedule. so it really inspired me to actually start my idea that's been in my head since college! also seeing Jim Zubkavich [link] and Matt Moylan [link] with their online comics (Jim even put it out in book form!) added fuel to the fire!

so i went ahead and made a dA account for the comic and have posted the first strip! I've already got the second strip drawn out, i just need to add the dialogue. eventually i'm going to get an actual website up for it, but for now dA will be it's home.

so check it out if you can, i'm always open to feedback. just make sure you read the journal on that dA page first!

Imperium:

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy Back From SDCC 2008! http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19659071/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19659071/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:51:32 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

So i just got back last night from san diego and boy was it tiring! the whole week flew by but i'm glad to be home to relax for the next couple days. i appreciate all the friends and fans that went out of there way to find the booth and say hi. i love meeting and chatting with people in person opposed to reading text on a computer monitor. if all those people hadn't stopped by, i wouldn't even know where to begin to find them! i took a bunch of pictures but they're not quite up yet so here is a link to jim zubkavich's sdcc gallery!: [link] i also had a blast with the udon crew. crazy fun moments that still make me laugh when i think about it.

thanks guys for making another SDCC fun as always!

i got a chance to play street fighter 4 for a little bit and i have to say, it's REEAALLY fun! i can't wait to pick it up for my 360! omar dogan and i shared an elevator with stan lee!! that was pretty surreal. he's easily the nicest guy in the business. very approachable and always with a smile on his face! it's too bad the elevator in our hotel is so freaking fast, or else i would have tried to talk to him more!

also, i might be a bit late on this, but i was totally floored after watching the dark knight last week. best super hero movie. ever. heath ledger was amazing and it's so sad that such a talent is not with us anymore. the whole movie was just so frantic and crazy. intense from start to finish!

now i'm going to go and chill for the next couple days! maybe i'll put up some sketches!

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy San Diego Comic Con 2008 http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19441651/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19441651/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:02:12 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

So the big SDCC is upon us again! As always, i'll be with the Udon Crew.

for those who are going and want to stop by, you can find the map of the con and our location here: [link]
we'll be selling a whole whack of goodies including the street fighter tribute book, prints of some of the artwork in the book, as well as the new Street Fighter Remix #0! the return of street fighter to american comics! let's not forget me along with a whole handful of other udon artists will be there for sketches and commissions! Go to the Udon deviant art page to see all the info!

hope to see you there!

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy Alvin Lee! http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19203121/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19203121/ Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:20:56 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

It's apparently my week for pimping. but alvin FINALLY got a dA account!! although i'm sure he won't need my advertisement. i expect him to clear my pageviews easily! lol why are you still reading this? go add him already!!

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy Marcus To! http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19178894/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19178894/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:10:07 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

A lot of you already know that i'm never shy to pimp out my friends. Not too long ago a buddy of mine Marcus just signed up to deviant art! he needs some super hero loving eyes to glance to his direction because his stuff is so fresh and so clean!

Marcus:

for those who don't know, Marcus is currently working for Aspen and pencilling the soulfire book!

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy Michael Turner passes away at 37 http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19088305/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/19088305/ Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:56:20 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

I woke up this morning and logged onto my computer going through my regular cycle of websites when i click on the first comic news site on my favourites list i see in bold "Michael Turner passes away at 37". my mouth practically dropped to the floor as i read the headline over and over to make sure it was real. i knew that he was still battling cancer but for some reason i never thought he would pass away so young because of it. the comic community loses another great inspirational artist.

while i admit that i was never the biggest fan of his art, i was never shy to say that he was a great person. i met him only once back in 2003, back when i was working with the now defunct dreamwave. my boss pat at the time introduced me to him and michael was nothing but friendly and open to talking to me. i was still very new to the industry back then and meeting an artist of his caliber was so exciting as he spoke to me like we were already good buddies. i never got a chance to talk to him again after that. he was always busy at other conventions that i saw him at and i don't think he even remembered who i was, but i'll always remember him as the first A-list comic pro that didn't treat me as another comic fan-boy.

the comic and art community will certainly miss you Michael!

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy Help out a fellow Udoner! http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/18943222/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/18943222/ Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:44:25 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

Some of you may have him already on your watch list, and some of you may not, but a fellow Udon artist and inspiration of mine Joe Vriens is now open for commissions! if any body is looking to purchase some awesome work from an awesome artist, they should give him a shout! even if you're not interested in getting a commission, at least check out his wicked gallery!

Joe Vriens -

in other news:

i've been extremely busy lately and have neglected this account once again. usually if i'm not working i'm spending time with family and friends or enjoying the wonderful weather we've been having. we can't live our whole lives holed up in a studio workspace right?? San Diego is a month away and i'm really looking forward to going back this year. it will actually be one of the first conventions i'm appearing in in 2008 which is a bit odd because usually it's one of the last of the year for me. but due to work and other obligations, i was unable to attend cons that were scheduled earlier.

i've also recently purchased a new laptop. my old computer was chugging pretty badly to the point where i couldn't use my web browser and use photoshop at the same time. now i've got a nice little toy to play with that has at least enough memory to let me use the graffiti application on facebook! ha!!

speaking of facebook, i've been receiving a bunch of facebook requests from people that i don't recognize. if you're one of them and i've rejected your request, please don't take it personally. i only add people that i know personally and have actually had a lengthy conversation with at one point in my life. oh and co workers too. what can i say, i can't let people i don't know have access to all the scandalous pictures i have up! (i kid)

ok that's all for me. i'll keep you updated on anything else that's going on in my journal. i can't really promise any new gallery stuff anytime soon, but i'll try?

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy cheese with that whine? http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17971487/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17971487/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:58:57 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

okay so this has been bugging me for the past few weeks. it involves the street fighter tribute contest that Udon was holding. i've recently seen all the entries that got in and i have to say i'm really impressed by the awesome submissions people have sent in. obviously not everyone could get in so i'm sure there were some that were on the bubble but just didn't make the cut. of course that's not the issue that i have a problem with. the thing that really bugged me was the amount of people that whined and complained about not getting in. i admit there weren't a lot of people that acted this way. for the most part the people who didn't get in acted very professionally, respectfully and maturely. they understood that perhaps the talent level in this competition was very high and a lot of them even took this as a motivational experience to only get better at their skill. but then there were the people that couldn't believe that they didn't get in and resorted to conspiracy theories! this sort of stuff makes me a little angry because i know for a fact that udon really tried it's best to make this competition as fair and open as possible, even letting in 3d entries and sculptures. then there were people who stated that only the friends of udon got in. of course these people didn't really read the contest description because it clearly stated that the friends of udon got their own pages already reserved and are not part of the competition section. and then there are those who feel the need to bash their fellow deviant artist's entries because they thought their entry was better.

it's unfortunate that some people have to act so immaturely and put a slight damper on an otherwise successful contest. but then again, this is the internet and stuff like this is a given. i understand everyone has an opinion, i just wish everyone stated those opinions in a little less whiney fashion.

oh and one more thing that i wanted to mention, but mr. dogan worded it so well i'll have to quote him on this:

"Anything worthwhile takes effort, and not every piece you do is your best.

For those of you that didnt get in, it doesn't necessarily mean you are not good. Just keep trying and do what you love to do.

Ask any professional how many revisions they go through and how many pieces don't make it."

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy Cal-Con appearance cancelled. http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17859573/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17859573/ Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:06:51 PDT news and events

July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

UDON's Street Fighter Tribute art contest

Hey guys,

Due to a pretty big, yet last minute project popping up, i'm unfortunately canceling my appearance at the Calgary Expo this year. while the convention is great and the organizers there treat the guests really really well, the turn around for this project is pretty tight, even for comics, and the convention would take too many of my work days away during the middle of this project. so for those who were planning on stopping by and saying hi, my apologies and maybe i'll see you guys next year!

in the mean time, a friend of mine and an awesome artist that i actually met at last year's calgary convention, Francis Manapul, just joined deviant art! make sure you check out his page and give him some love!

click here ----->

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy general update http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17430388/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17430388/ Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:23:53 PDT news and events

April 26 - 27, 2008 - Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

UDON's Street Fighter Tribute art contest

so i think the snow is gone for good over here. i don't think i could have taken much more of it. hopefully the coming of the spring will get me rejuvenated work wise. lately i've been feeling like i've hit a bit of a wall creatively. hating everything i do and all that jazz. every artist goes through phases like this and i know it will pass. i've been starting to work on some projects that i'm really excited about so hopefully that will get me going a bit more.

i've been checking out some of the entries to the street fighter tribute contest and i have to say, there are some really kick ass looking pieces being submitted by pros and fans alike! i'm still working on my submission unfortunately. it's been slowly dragging for a couple weeks now. doing a little here and there but it should be done by the deadline.

i find it a bit amusing just by doing a quick search for "street fighter contest" how many people have put up their entries on dA. wasn't it recommended that people NOT do that?

that's all i have to report for now.

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy Make-A-Wish Foundation: Jayce Morrow http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17285594/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17285594/ Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:15:20 PDT news and events

April 26 - 27, 2008 - Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

UDON's Street Fighter Tribute art contest

This past Monday I flew to Edmonton Alberta to meet up with a young boy named Jayce. Jayce has T-cell leukemia, which is a form of blood cancer.

Last Thursday i got an email from Jay Bardyla, owner of the award winning Happy Harbor Comics shop in Edmonton. He told me that Make-A-Wish Foundation contacted him about Jayce and that one of his wishes is to go on a shopping spree which included coming to the best comic store in Canada. He was told that Jayce was a really big Transformers fan, and that's when Jay got the idea to contact me about flying up to Edmonton and meet the boy in person and do a sketch or two for him. After a day of changing around my weekend schedule, I packed the few things I needed for the trip and flew to Edmonton Monday morning.

Meeting Jayce and his family was a wonderful experience. He's such a great kid and he already has a knack for drawing! He showed me some really great drawings of Bumblebee as well as his own custom characters! As mentioned before, he loves Transformers and his favourites are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. Along with the sketches from myself and local artists; Daniel Schneider, Andrew Foley, and Rudi Gunther, Jayce got some really great Transformers toys and comics donated from Happy Harbor, Roger B, Metropolis Toys, and myself. Spider-Man himself was also with the family and was up to his web-slinging ways!

Overall it was a wonderful experience for me and I'm glad that Jayce was really excited about the day and all the gifts that he recieved. I've sent him and his family the link to this page so if any of you guys want to say hi and give some words of support, you can go right ahead, they're probably going to be reading it soon

Articles about the visit can be found in the local Edmonton newspapers as well as online here:

The Edmonton Journal: [link]
Metro Canada: [link]

photographs courtesy of Jay Bardyla of Happy Harbor Comics and Ben Lemphers of Metro Edmonton.

-joe

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]]> =NgBoy sick + street fighter contest! http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17100277/ http://NgBoy.deviantart.com/journal/17100277/ Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:22:11 PST news and events

April 26 - 27, 2008 - Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
July 23 - 27, 2008 - San Diego Comic-Con
August 22 - 24, 2008 - Toronto Fan Expo Canada

UDON's Street Fighter Tribute art contest