http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Taman88&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Taman88 en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:09:06 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/24746286/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/24746286/ Wed, 13 May 2009 22:18:22 PDT
Another project that just wrapped is the latest volume of ICONIC, an anthology put together by members of the Comicbook Artists Guild (or CAG for those of you in the know). I did the pencils on the bumper pages between each story and they are put together in a very unique way. The book has a really cool ending. It should be shipping pretty soon from the printer so I'll update when that happens.

And what is taking up a lot of space on my table now are extra pages for the Sky Pirates of Valendor Trade. It's sort of like a Director's Cut in that there is going to be bonus material and extended scenes. Hey, just because it isn't a dvd doesn't mean we can't do it, too. There are a lot of extra pages we're putting into it so even readers who picked up the first series can get the trade and read it for all the cool extras. I can't say too much but one thing I am excited about is the extended fight scenes. A giant bear with a big hammer is just too cool.

Painting-wise, I've got a new one on the easel. It's just something to work on in my almost non-existent spare time. We'll see if I can finish it within the year. The painting is pretty big, around 26 x 36 inches or so. The scene is of an oriental dragon and a geisha/sorceress standing in a summoning circle in a Japanese garden. I'll upload some 'in-progress' shots when I get to it.

I don't have any concrete plans as of yet for any cons but we'll see what the summer brings. The second series of Sky Pirates will be gearing up this summer so that is what the future holds (at least, that I know of). So that is my update. If my editor allows, I'll try to post some teasers soon.

So everybody out there keep drawing and peace out. Laters!

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/23205530/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/23205530/ Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:32:18 PST
The problem is that (and I am sorry. I don't know any other way to say this. Children cover your ears) there are too many dumbasses on DA. These dumbasses will do one of two things. They will 1) offer a critique in just the rudest fashion that doesn't offer anything useful to the artist. And 2)the people offering the critique don't know what the hell they are talking about. Let's call these people primary and secondary dumbasses.

I will give an example of each, taken from this very site.

Example 1) There was this art piece of a cat girl, done in a very elegant yet fun style. It was on someone else's page. She wasn't nude or erotic or anything like that. It was just a pleasant picture. Someone commented that the girl looked fat, was kind of ugly, and that they didn't like the colors that were used because 'cats don't have blue hair'.

This is an example of a primary dumbass. That critique had absolutely no relevence. It was completely pointless.

Example 2) I posted a piece here one time and someone commented that the anatomy needed work, that the ribs did not look like that, one arm was too long, blah,blah,blah. I picked up my anatomy books and double checked. I reviewed what some other artists had done with similar poses. I checked my PHOTO REFERENCE. It was all correct. So I went to the commenters DA site to look at his work. It was like someone had given an autistic child a pencil and free reign. I didn't comment. I just laughed and went back to my work.

This is an example of a secondary dumbass. He might have had good intentions but was too dumb to realize that he didn't know anything. In his defence, many artists have been there at one time or another when starting out.

So I am starting to lose track of where this is going so let me just get to the point. Critiques are appropriate of course if someone asks for one. Hell, critique away but do it in a positive manner. Don't just shred their work and their ego at the same time. If they become professionals they'll have editors to do that. But if someone does NOT ask for a critique and you just can't seem to stop yourself from giving one, it had better have relevance and you'd better know what you are talking about.

In other words, don't be a primary or secondary dumbass.

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/22610667/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/22610667/ Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:43:41 PST
Pencil Sketches:
$20 for single character with no background
$30 for single character with detailed background
An additional $10 for each character after the first.

Inks are an additional $5 - $10

Colors:
Digital Colors: $10 - $20
Watercolors: $15

Some examples:
A single character with no background, penciled and inkd, is $25.
A single character with background, penciled and inked, is $30.
A single character, penciled, inked, and digitally colored with white background is $35. With a color on the background but no background pencils is $45.
A single character with background, penciled, inked, and digitally colored is $60.

(Here is the fine print: Prices are adjustable depending on job specifics).

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/21428832/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/21428832/ Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:32:18 PST
Friday was a typical slow day. Everyone was browsing around and doing their best to see what they were going to buy on Saturday. Did a couple of sketches. I need to do a shout out to Mike Champion and Chris Summers, friends of mine I hadn't seen in awhile. Chris is a colorist and regular at WW Texas. Mike was a newbie, first-time artist behind the booth, and kicked serious ass doing commission sketches. Although, Mike, next time remember how much you are charging to do that detailed full body pin-up of Boba Fett! LOL! Anyways, after the show we all invaded Joe's Crab Shack where we got to catch up and had a really great time.

Saturday was the busy day. It was crowded and we had a ton of people stopping by the table (although not as much if we had been on the same side as Frank Cho). I don't think Liz and I stopped drawing all day long. Then the guys from Heroes 4 Heroes stopped by and invited us to the Live Art Show and Auction after the show. Now that was such a cool experience. First time doing something like that. I wish I hadn't have been so damned tired. We walked in and scored a spot at one of the tables (thanks to Ev) and turned out a couple of pieces for the auction. Hopefully Sue will send me a pic of it so that I can post it. The professionals at the easels were producing some really cool and amazing stuff. But exhaustion claimed us so we soon left.

Sunday was a looong day. Not much sleep the night before so I was dragging most of the day. But we got through it, finally got the table packed up, got everyone safely back to the hotel where we said our goodbyes. It's always kinda sad having to leave friends that you don't see but maybe twice a year. Those kinds of frequent visits should be reserved for your extended family that you don't like and only see during the holidays.

Here is a list of some of the highlights from the weekend:
1. "Mmmmm, Beerfest."
2. Ev getting his hands down Liz's pants (you had to be there to know).
3. Ev spending $20 on a Neil Gaiman book for a reference for Death and then she wasn't even in the book. I smell eBay!
4. Liz wearing her earplugs and still being able to hear every word you said but when she took them out, she couldn't hear a thing.
5. Mike staying up until 3:00AM doing a detailed pic of Boba Fett for $5.
6. Chris' son making $21 from doing sketches of HALO guys for a buck! Way to go!
7. A weekend that once again proves that spandex is not for everyone.
8. Freezing!
9. The Heroes 4 Heroes Live Art Auction. Way cool.
10. Ev once again being the recipient of the Sunday Weirdo.
11. Getting nominated for Best Indy Artist on Project Fanboy (I think I know who to thank for that, too).
12. Doing the free sketches for the kids.
13. She-It. No one really knows.
14. Finding out that there is no bean dip in Rhode Island (gonna have to send some to you guys).

I know I failed to mention about a dozen more things but its all kind of a blur now. So here is to Ev and Sue for making it down and getting to hang out together again. Glad my daughter didn't drive you crazy. And to Mike and Chirs, good to see you guys again. Can't wait until HeroesCon at Charlotte in June!

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/21224267/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/21224267/ Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:43:03 PDT
"Artists like you and he who think that publishers should throw obscene amounts of money at them and who promote ridiculously high pay rates are clearly both greedy and arrogant."

"Artists are only one half of the creative team, do they desurve to make so much more than the people who do the real work? NO."

"Artists are not paid by the hour; they are paid by the page and given a deadline. And the reason for this is simple; you are doing something that you enjoy to do and would do anyway even if you weren’t being paid for it. In effect you are being paid to skillfully pursue your hobby."

"writing, unlike art is something where the more time that you put into it the better it is."

"I never said that artists were disposable. But generally it doesn't hurt things to interchange them. You guy's are really kind of like batteries. The machine doesn’t work without you but one can easily replace another."

"Artists over rate themselves and put themselves above the real creators."

"You and your peers expect people to pay you more than your actually worth. $5 a page is bloody decent and i'll tell you why. 10 pages is $50 do 20 and youve made $100. i know that you over rate yourself and expect people to bend over backwards to meet your exploitative and insanely expensive pay expectations, but the fact is that you should not be valued more than the writers.
you arrogent artists arent so special that you desurve to make so mutch more or to expect to be paid extravogently."

I had to stop reading at that last one. And remember, this guy was trying to find an artist to work for him.

In the world of fine art, you occasionally meet someone who thinks far too highly of their own work and thus exaggerate their value and worth. In the commercial field, this isn't really the case (although it can be on occasion). It is not the artist who sets a price, it is the industry. We love what we do, that is true. Our art started out as a hobby. But a hobby doesn't pay the bills so naturally, just like everyone else, we would like to make as much as possible. But what really got me about this person's statements was the casual disdain they seemed to have for us artists. There was a complete lack of respect and understanding that truly offended me as an artist.

So my response to anyone with this kind of attitude towards me and my kind is this: Everything that you see and touch and own was created by an artist. That computer you are sitting at? If it wasn't for an artist, you would be typing on a box if wires and computer chips. That car that you drive to work? It was designed by an artist. That flat screen tv that you are so proud of and looks so good hanging on your wall? Guess who. You know the Batmobile that you really love and geek out over and wished you owned one? Yep. Artist. We aren't important? Then think about this. No matter what is build or who built it or what it's function is, an artist designed the way it looks. Think about that the next time you are listening to your cool looking iPod.

Me and my kind are the artists, the creators, the ones that define how the world you live in looks. Deal with it.

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/21077678/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/21077678/ Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:59:49 PDT
I just finished up the last issue in the first volume mini-series of Sky Pirates of Valendor and I am exhausted. Too many late nights trying to keep my deadlines. But the book looks good and I am very happy with how the overall series has turned out. Issue 4 is at the printers right now and is due to ship this Friday. Issue 5 should then be available sometime late November (just guessing. Its up to the publisher so don't take that date as gospel). Most of the team is coming down to Wizard World Texas where we will have a booth in Artist Alley so that is going to be a lot of fun. I don't get to go to many cons so the few times that I do I really look forward to it. Plus I haven't seen the guys since New York last April. Gonna be cool.

What else is going on art-wise? I am taking a short break from comics to do a little painting. I haven't painted anything in two years and I have really had the itch to do so. Don't know what it is going to be but I'll post it when it is done.

We have another comic project coming up that I will also be posting some sketches and pin-ups for soon. The basic story outline is done but Everett (the writer/creator of Sky Pirates) has to do the working script before we start on any art pages. Its going to be a very cool story and I don't want to give it away yet but its inspired by Peter Pan, Narnia, and Labyrinth. I am really excited to get started on that (after my break!).

So that is about it for updates. Oh, and now that this first series of Sky Pirates is finished, I just want to publicly thank the team for a really cool experience and the chance to work with some of the best talent in the independent field. And a BIG ol' thank you to my understanding wife who lets me stay up late at night drawing funny books and pursuing a career. Luv ya, babe!

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/18114132/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/18114132/ Thu, 01 May 2008 08:24:46 PDT
Well, two weeks ago was the New York Comic Con and it was a crazy good time. Met alot of new people, saw alot of different work (some good, some not so good), and got to see a small part of New York city. And most of all finally got to meet my writer and publishers face to face. Good people, cool crowd, but all of us sharing one hotel room sucked. Seven people. One bed. Sucked. But hey, at least no one spooned me. So here is to all the folks I got to meet, especially my fellow Free Lunch group. It was a great time.

The con also made me realize just how many small press companies are out there. And let's face it. Not everyone, no matter how talented, is cut out to work for the Big Companies. I submitted and didn't even get an interview. That really bummer me out until I talked to a friend at the show. He said not everyone can do super-heroes and such a huge part of the comicbook market in the US is taken up by superheroes. This led to another discussion later on. Why do so many fans read only Marvel, DC books? Yes, there is alot of the best talent working for them. But not everything they publish is worth reading. And yet month after month fans will buy the same books simply because they have always done so. At the con I picked up several books from some of the smaller companies and was very impressed with the quality. To name a few: Okko, published by ASP, Mouse Guard, also published by ASP, Leviticas Cross (not sure the correct spelling) with art by Deviant's very own Hector Sevilla, plus Virgin Comics had some really interesting books there with art by their studio in India. I saw some nice stuff from Praxis Comics, APE, and Devil's Due Publishing. Cool stuff. And finally one of my favorites (because I like the novels) is The Dresden Files published by the Dabel Brothers. And not a superhero in the bunch. So all I can say is I grew up on superheroes. I love 'em. But there's alot more out there if only you'll check it out.

That's my soapbox.

And finally this Saturday, May 3rd, I will be at the CAPE event in downtown Dallas, TX. So anyone and everyone feel free to stop by and say hi.

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/17793066/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/17793066/ Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:43:13 PDT
Just wanted to send this out to all my fans (both of you) that I will be attending the New York Comicon next week, working the Free Lunch Comics booth and helping to promote Sky Pirates and world peace. I am really excited about this because it will be the first time to be on the other side of the booth and it will be at such an awesome event. So if you happen to be there, look up the Free Lunch Comics booth and stop by to say 'hi'. Oh, and buy a copy of Sky Pirates, too (my editor told me to say that. You can just say 'hi' if you want and then turn and run).

Speaking of Sky Pirates, issue one is out and looks good. Issue two is at the printers and should be here any day. Issue three is in the can and will hopefully be going to the printers soon. The story keeps getting better and better. The writer, Everett Soares (a newbie like me) really does a bang up job of giving these characters personalities and emotion. Its been a blast working on this book.

Uh, what else? I will be updating with new stuff soon. More pages from issues two and three plus some other projects I've been working on. So keep checking back. Gotta run, folks. See you on the flip side.

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/14882024/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/14882024/ Tue, 02 Oct 2007 08:21:43 PDT
I finally uploaded some of my non-comicbook work. Specifically, some of my paintings. I would still like to do cover work so I am building up my portfolio for that. I like the comic work but working with paints is much less hectic and stressful.

Speaking of paints, I know there are alot of talented digital painters out there. I've seen alot of work that made me go "Wow, I wish I could do that". But I've tried the digital thing and it just wasn't for me. There is something about taking a hairy brush and squishing it around in some colored goo that just appeals to me. Probably left-over affections from kindergarten when they let us use finger paints. But in all, I much prefer traditional paints to digital. There is nothing wrong with digital work and in the publishing industry it probably is better suited but it just isn't me. So here's to all the paint squishers out there!

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/12160959/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/12160959/ Mon, 12 Mar 2007 19:01:46 PDT
Oh, and vote FOR us, not AGAINSt us. Thanks!

]]> ~Taman88 http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/11575453/ http://Taman88.deviantart.com/journal/11575453/ Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:51:52 PST
In the meantime, a little about my work. I have done illustrations for several rpg companies as well as pencils for some independent comicbooks. My latest project is a submission piece for a book called Sky Pirates of Valendor. It is a very cool idea that blends the traditional pirate genre with steampunk and magic. I've posted a couple of ads that will go up on the website (when its completed). I'll post some teaser pages here when I get some spare time.

So take a peek in the gallery and I hope you like what you see. I'll keep posting as I can and let everyone know how that island purchase is coming. Laters for now!

]]> ~Taman88