Some Dead White & Blue graphic novel art...

I've gotten some panels from Russell for the graphic novel.

I'll be uploading more in the days, weeks and months to come!

9:10 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

More new art!!

Just completed another piece which kicks off volume 2 of my Dead White & Blue Series

12:41 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

New art & graphic novel update

My logo design for Con Nooga '09 at which I'm Artist Guest of Honor. Con Nooga will be held in Chattanooga TN on Feb 20-22 2009.

Graphic novel news: Chops of Monster Ink has agreed to do some "cameo" art for the Dead White & Blue Comics graphic novel. Actually he begged and I caved when he offered his next born child but ONLY if there were no readily apparent birth defects or deformities. The Dark Gods hates those...

Billy

9:02 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Eastern KY Card & Comic Show
Category: Art and Photography

Back from the show in Morehead. Had a great time. Morehead and the surrounding area are my old stomping grounds. I was raised 20 miles east of Morehead so this was a homecoming of sorts. A more acceptable venue for my art in the area as opposed to the "fine art" shows I usually attend there. And way more fun! Got to meet up with some old friends, spend time with my family and make some new friends. What could be better?

Speaking of new friends: Check out these Kentucky based creators that were there.
R.D. Hall -  Writer of American Wasteland comic (which is awesome).
http://www.myspace.com/rdhall
http://www.myspace.com/americanwastelandcletus
Dave Flora - Creator of Ghost Zero comic (another awesome comic with a great pulp fiction feel)
http://www.myspace.com/ghostzero_comic

Over the last few months I have been amazed at the talent that resides in KY. Especially in the horror genre. Artists, writers, musicians. There is definitley something about the "Dark and Bloody Ground"...

9:22 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Wanna see the winner of Best Horror at ConGlomeration?
Current mood: adored

From My Cold, Undead Fingers was voted Best Horror at ConGlomeration '08. This is a phenomenal achievement considering the great horror artists that were there, Steve Gilberts, Scott Webb, Chris Hill to name a few. With all these great masters of the macabre present to say that I was surprised would be an understatement! Thanks to everyone that voted! Below is the award I was presented. A fabulous one-of-a-kind sculpture created by Scott Webb. The cool bonus? It lights up! How cool is it that??

And on top of that I had the opportunity hang out with some old friends. I got to meet the maker of Shane Moore's A Prisoner's Welcome costumes, Mask World, as well as hang out with Shane. Not to mention all the people that stopped by the booth. Thanks ConGlomeration for a great weekend.

 And then I get home and have some fabulous concept art from Russell on the Dead White & Blue Comics graphic novel in my inbox!



This was a good weekend.

5:03 PM - 9 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Update and insight on the Zombie Sam graphic novel!!
Current mood: creative
Category: Art and Photography

As some of you are aware Wandering Sage Press has given me the green light to proceed with a graphic novel based on my popular "Dead White & Blue" series of paintings. Which is greater than great. The downside: Now I gotta learn to write!

I now have the Dead White & Blue MySpace page up: www.myspace.com/deadwhiteandblue. This is where I'll be posted the bulk of update materials, promo art and cool stuff.

Speaking of art, I have found an extraordinary artist that just happens to live down the road from me to do the pencils and inks, Russell Runion. (www.myspace.com/freakelite). Now some of you may ask "But Billy, you are the greatest artist to walk the mortal Earth. Why would you have another artist do what you do best?".

Her are the top 3 reasons:
3. I don't have time. I've several projects going on and writing AND drawing a graphic novel is just not in the cards. Too much stress.
2. I'm not really into doing sequential or storyboard art. I've tried it and I've found I prefer not to do it.
1. My artistic style isn't what I envisioned for this project. When I first began to work on this in earnest I knew from the get go that my biggest obstacle, other than writing an entertaining story, would be to find an artist that actually got what I am trying to accomplish. I had a general idea of what I wanted this to look like and I coudn't pull that out of my ass. Luckily I crossed paths with Russell. Even luckier still he lives near me. Thank God for MySpace.

Keep in mind that I didn't want this to just be a vehicle to showcase my art. I've seen excellent artists take on such endeavors, i.e. graphic novels, movies, etc, just as another way to force their art onto the buying public. I've also seen very few pull this off successfully. For me, the project itself is the art as I think you will see when it's completed. But do not fear, citizens. I will be doing the cover and I have a few surprises in store for the interior.

I also didn't want this to be a way to force my political beliefs down your throats. Even though the subject would be the perfect vehicle for that it isn't what my art is about. I feel art should be an escape from reality. Not a reflection of it. When you read Dead White & Blue Comics I want you to forget about all the real life horrors going on just outside your windows and be transfixed by the horrors transpiring in the pages you're holding in your sweaty little mitts.

This project will be an entire package that encompasses several genres. You like zombies? Got 'em. You like superheroes? Got 'em. How about action heroes? Got 'em. Mad scientists? Got 'em. Aliens? Got 'em. Got a thing for hot German chicks dressed in leather and high heeled knee boots? Got them too.

Having a lifelong love for B-horror movies, cutting my teeth on 70s comic books and having a generally disfunctional and at times erratic outlook on life should give me all the inspiration I need to create the second greatest story ever told.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Billy



 

12:39 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

New art!!

New character illo from Shane Moore’s A Prisoner’s Welcome

Lance

New and improved cover for the same book


New promo art from my upcoming Zombie Sam graphic novel (from Wandering Sage Press) coming very soon!!

5:01 PM - 5 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Omegacon, A Prisoner's Welcome cover update and a major new project announcement
Category: Art and Photography

Another great con! 2 for 2! Thanks to everyone at Omegacon for the hospitality and congratulations on the record breaking attendance numbers.
Got to meet some great people, some for the first time and others for the first time in person. Check out these guys:
NEO-EARTH
Erik Steinberg
Like Moles, Like Rats
James Hill

Shane Moore’s book A Prisoner’s Welcome was a major success. Hopefully my art played some part in that. (Side note: I’m finishing up the new cover for the second printing within the next couple of days so keep yer eyes peeled for it)

Now for a quick plug for a new project that I began verbally promoting at Omegacon: I have been given the greenlight to proceed with an idea I have for a graphic novel based on my Dead, White & Blue zombie characters! That’s right, Zombie Sam, Fannie the Flesheater & Sgt. Rot shall be immortalized in comicdom for eternity! I’ll post more on that later but the whole idea makes my nipples tingle a little. How about yours?
Billy

10:48 AM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Con Nooga
Category: Art and Photography

Wow, what a con! Con Nooga was hands down one of the best I've attended. Met plenty of great people, made some contacts for potential projects and merchandise and just flat out had a great time. Got to hang out with Shane Moore, author of A Prisoner's Welcome. Finally got to meet scream queen Suzi Lorraine in person after months of conversing via email.
My new t-shirt designs were a hit. But most surprising was the positive feedback on Fannie The Flesheater! I think she will steal Zombie Sam's spotlight.
Many thanks to Todd and all Con Nooga staff and to everyone that stopped by the table.

Currently reading : A Prisoner's Welcome By Shane Moore Release date: 13 December, 2006

2:59 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

New art!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Art and Photography

Two new pieces...


Featuring Jessica



Moonlight Lady from the Ghost Walk project

               

Currently watching : Good To See You Again, Alice Cooper - Live 1973 - Billion Dollar Babies Tour Release date: 08 November, 2005

9:26 AM - 8 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment