quick art update

Texture/pattern portrait of Clint Eastwood as the Man With no Name.

 

“Octoblob” — Experimenting with paints and ink… Threw on some color then tried to make them into organic-looking shapes. Looks like an octopus made of mammalian organs.

“Skull Island” — same method but tried making it into a mythical creature of some sort.

 

my GameCenter CX fanart displayed at Tokyo Game Show

At Tokyo Game Show 2011, there’s a food booth run by Game Center CX’s “former delinquent” cameraman Abe. My GCCX fanart (which features Abe on the Hang-On bike) is displayed there!

The speech bubble note they added reads “An American fan drew this! For more details, please see the special episode on BS [BS SkyPerfecTV]“. The chances of my art appearing on the US trip special is looking better and better! The “GCCX Goes to USA” episode will air on October 6.

Source: http://www.moeyo.com/2011/09/tgs2011_food.html

New Meat Bun shirts with my designs

Meat Bun, known for their stylish video game T-shirts, has just released their 20XX Line. I drew four of the designs! Three were commissioned by Meat Bun (Real Soviet Damage, Honda Onsen and Emperor of Muay Thai) and one was just something I drew for fun (Shao Khalvin) that got made into a T-shirt. Check them out!

Game Center CX Fan Art Mission Complete

I’ve been a fan of Game Center CX for years. So when Arino-Kacho and the crew held an event in Los Angeles this week for a special episode (details yet to be announced) that’s going to air in October, to make up for not being able to go, I decided to finally do a Game Center CX fanart like I’ve been meaning to do for ages. I drew Arino riding on the back of a Hang-On bike with cool guy Cameraman Abe at the handles (a reference to two separate occasions on the show), hapless former AD Inoue chasing them on foot. The pic also has some reference to the show. I then got an LA fan called Jetpack Postman to print out a nice poster-sized print of it to give to Arino and the rest of the GCCX staff.

Here’s a video of the moment he receives it (4:05 mark). Above are some screencaps. My favourite reaction was Abe’s.

Producer/Narrator Kan reportedly was “very protective” of it. Now I wish I had put him and the other show regulars in the pic too but I had no idea who would come on the trip. Arino, Abe and Inoue are my favourites.

This definitely made up for not being able to make it to the event. I can’t wait to see this episode, and I hope my art shows up on there!

A bigger version of the art here:

Powell Street Festival appearance

I will be speaking at the Powell Street Festival, an annual celebration of Japanese-Canadian culture in Vancouver. 12:30 PM at the Firehall Studio on July 29, Saturday. Unlike the ads say, I will not be doing a reading. I’m sure a live reading of a comic book would be kinda interesting, but I’m not prepared for that kind of performance art yet. Instead I’m going to talk about how I started my career and some of the quirks that come with being a Japanese-Canadian who draws manga that isn’t manga because it’s in English!

“Mayo Chiki!” anime used my Simpsons Death Note fanart

Some sharp-eyed anime viewer — I’m going to guess someone from /a/ in 4chan — was watching episode 3 of a new anime called “Mayo Chiki!” and somehow recognized a poster in the background as my Matt Groening-style “Death Note” fanart!

Pretty bizarre but cool discovery. I never would’ve noticed. I am honoured! Thanks to everyone who alerted me to this.

“My Deadbeat Dad”

Here’s a short story drawn by me and written by Ian Boothby (writer of the Simpsons Death Note parody I penciled and nominee of three Eisner Awards this year!). Uploaded for your enjoyment!

Gamedeals is open and so’s my art!

It looks sweet!

I was chosen to do the art a week before the store opening. I came up with the concept, they picked the characters, and I drew it on the weekend.

I’ve never seen such a huge print of my work before. I went with a sketchy style because I knew that if I tried to make everything look neat, the slightest imperfection would drive me nuts since it’s so easy to see.

If you’re a Vancouverite or just visiting, come see! It’s only about a block or two away from Waterfront Skytrain station and easy to spot. They sell tons of retro games and new games, too.

I’m also going to do a “villains” version for their New Westminster location, so stay tuned.

Gamedeals grand opening

Fellow Vancouverites! If you’re free this Friday, come to Gamdeals‘ new location in Gastown (across the famous steam clock). They’re a store that specializes in retro video games.

Gamedeals Gastown grand opening party – May 20 (Friday), noon to 7pm

Their storefront is going to feature a big mural by me (not traditionally painted as there was no time for that, but printed)! Here’s a sneak peek:

I’ll be there in hiding. For those of you who can’t make it, I’ll post photos after the fact.

Bart Simpson #59

Bart Simpson #59 featuring a 12-pager penciled by me, “Eat the Pie Slowly”, is in stores today!