bit and run returns

You knew this day was coming and it almost finally has.

"bit and run" returns in one week for the second volume.

I'm really happy with how excited everyone is over on GoNintendo, the Nintendo blog where I release my comics. Check them out.

* * *

And because I couldn't decide between the two, here's a bonus teaser :

back from SDCC

Man, what a berserk last few weeks!

As you might have noticed the week before we left for the San Diego Comic-Con I pretty much abandoned my blog and ran out in a panic. There was so much to get ready, so many deadlines, and a ton of stuff to be put together before we left.

I'm pleased to report that things went very well and for the next few posts I'll be covering some of the highlights as well as posting some of the new work I took to the show.

I'm also picking right up where I left off with my blog, resuming my M/W/F posting schedule and getting back with the Alice work.

So hey, why not get started right here -- Here is my annual video tour of the San Diego Comic-Con. It's long and involves a lot of Star Wars. It's also 720p so can see all the nerdy detail. Also, if you please, click over to see it on Youtube itself so you don't have to deal with the video battling with my sidebar.

And if nothing else check out the last minute to see Kitty's guerrilla marketing in action and it actually work.

For 5 days we called booth #4616 home. Long live SDCC 2010 in our hearts and minds.

FLIGHT 7 : Onere and Piccola

FLIGHT is the Eisner nominated, Harvey nominated, graphic novel anthology created and edited by the genius Kazu Kibuishi.

I was honored again to be included in the 7th volume in the series.

In Flight 6 my story was "Walters" a rambling, wordless 40 page story. It was a fantastical retelling of the true story about the man who flew his lawn chair with weather balloons. You can see the extensive "making of" posts here.

For Flight 7 I was challenged to develop a story beyond a wordless one. After some time I settled on "Onere and Piccola" an original myth of mine. I love mythology and I'll take any chance I can to try to write something archaic and sort of grand. Truthfully the story of Onere and Piccola is just a small facet of a larger mythology of a story that I hope to be able to show you all some day. It's just one of the stories told in the world of one of my stories. If that makes sense.

Well, I followed a pretty similar production for this story as do with most all of my work except in this case I made much more developed roughs.

From there it was a matter a drawing and painting.

Like many others I listen to music when I work. I can't when I'm writing or storyboarding or doing the roughs, but once it's time to draw and paint I'm all for it. I don't know how many other people are like this but I tend to gravitate towards a certain grouping of music/songs while involved in any given project.

For "Onere and Piccola" I listened to these three pieces of music in particular on repeat throughout the project. I hope they'll add to your experience reading the story.







Once I was done, I hand-lettered the text. Yes, it was a little tedious but the story is only 20 pages (actually 10 cleverly laid out spreads to speed the production time, drawing and painting went much faster) so it did take a little extra time to letter but in the end it really made things look that much better I thought. I'm very pleased with the way it all came together.

Like I mentioned earlier, with "Onere and Piccola" I wanted to write something kind of grand, a little archaic, and something with a little emotion. I hope you will enjoy it.

Here is a link to see a preview of the first 6 pages.

Ah, what the heck, I'll post them here too --

Flight 7 will be released at San Diego Comic-Con this year (in a week!) Stop by the booth #2235, I'll be there periodically throughout the day signing some books and hanging out.

Alice, final drawing 14/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

"Epilogue"

Previously, 14/14 rough + color study
Previously, 14/14 underdrawing

Next post, Wednesday : Taking a break from "Alice" to talk about my story for FLIGHT 7!

Alice, final drawing 13/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

This one I'm also very pleased with. I'm happy with her form, it turned out how I wanted.

"Who cares for you?"

Previously, 13/14 rough + color study
Previously, 13/14 underdrawing

Next post, Friday : "Epilogue"

Alice, final drawing 12/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

"The Court of Justice"

Previously, 12/14 rough + color study
Previously, 12/14 underdrawing

Next post, Friday : "Who cares for you?"

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And bonus update! I got the proof (pages are loose, you'll in the pictures) in for my "Alice" book. It's 8.5 x 11, 30 pages, color. It's drawings, sketches, and excerpts.

More about this in the coming days but it looks perfect, I couldn't be more pleased with it.

Alice, final drawing 11/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

"What is his sorrow?"

Previously, 11/14 rough + color study
Previously, 11/14 underdrawing

Next post, Wednesday : "The Court of Justice"

Alice, final drawing 10/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

This one well could be my favorite. Probably because I love monsters, especially winged ones. I also really like how Alice turned out. The next piece in the series is "What is his sorrow?" and it looks like she's thinking -- like she's really hearing the Mock Turtle sobbing.

"The Gryphon"

Previously, 10/14 rough + color study
Previously, 10/14 underdrawing

Next post, Monday : "What is his sorrow?"

Alice, final drawing 9/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

"Nonsense!"

Previously, 9/14 rough + color study
Previously, 9/14 underdrawing

Next post, Friday : "The Gryphon"

Alice, final drawing 8/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

This one really worked out well, I'm very pleased with the Hatter's face and for Courtney, the March Hare has got straw on his head.

One of the other things I'm excited to show you guys is the next stage after the final drawing., the watercolor underpainting. In truth, these underpaintings have turned out to be more finished than I originally intended them and most of them I think are show ready, the painting for 8/14 in particular. I suppose you all will be the judge of that when the time comes to post them. Until then.

"Your hair wants cutting."

Previously, 8/14 rough + color study
Previously, 8/14 underdrawing

Next post, Wednesday : "Nonsense!"

Alice, final drawing 7/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.


I do my dead level best to stick our one cat, James in any work I do. Heck, remember my week-long blog giveaway? James showed up every single day. For science. When he's not doing blog give-aways, he usually sleeps in whatever chair in my office that I'm not in. We have three cats (2 indoor only, 1 outdoor only) but James is by far the most interesting looking one. He oscillates between looking really stupid and sort of almost endearing. Some day I'll put together a compilation post of all James in printed works. There's quite a lot. Until then, please enjoy the final drawing for "The Cheshire (James)"

"The Cheshire Cat"

Previously, 7/14 rough + color study
Previously, 7/14 underdrawing

Next post, Monday : "Your hair wants cutting."

Alice, final drawing 6/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.


This one I love, I feel like I got it just how I wanted. I'm most pleased with Alice's stance.

"The Caterpillar"

Previously, 6/14 rough + color study
Previously, 6/14 underdrawing

Next post, Friday : "The Cheshire Cat"

Alice, final drawing 5/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

"The Puppy and the Thistle"

Previously, 5/14 rough + color study
Previously, 5/14 underdrawing

Next post, Monday : "The Caterpillar"

Alice, final drawing 4/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

Man, I like this one but the dodo's eye unsettles me. Birds eyes do anyway but this one feels especially creepy. And fish. I don't like seeing fish eyes.

"The Thimble"

Previously, 4/14 rough + color study
Previously, 4/14 underdrawing

Next post, Monday : "The Puppy and the Thistle"

Alice, final drawing 3/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

"I wish I hadn't cried so much!"

Previously, 3/14 rough + color study
Previously, 3/14 underdrawing

Next post, Friday : "The Thimble"

"erin in the traffic : a true story, drawn in quick fashion"

A bonus, off schedule Tuesday comic post for you.

Alice, final drawing 2/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

I'm so glad we're at this stage now, I love drawing, it's the one thing that really comes naturally to me.

In real time news I'm plowing through the watercolor underpaintings. I've about 6 through. They're going well but nothing pleases me like seeing a drawing.

"The Glass Table"

Previously, 2/14 rough + color study
Previously, 2/14 underdrawing

Next post, Monday : "I wish I hadn't cried so much!"

Alice, final drawing 1/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the final drawing.

Finally! We're at my favorite part -- getting to show you guys some completed work. This is the final drawings stage in my method. And of course below you'll find each previous post for this piece is linked. Enjoy!

"Daisy chains"

Previously, 1/14 rough + color study
Previously, 1/14 underdrawing

Next post, Monday : "The Glass Table"

Alice, underdrawing 14/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the underdrawing.

The last of the underdrawings! This Friday begins with the really interesting stuff, the final drawings.

"Epilogue"

Previously, 14/14 rough + color study

Next post, Friday : "Daisy chains"

Tuesday post!

Another surprise off schedule post. These are getting to be so regular that they will no longer be surprising -- just off schedule.

Well, all the same, here's what it's about -- the video about my wife Erin and friend Libby's craft fair project, Indie Craft Parade. I did the intro and closing animation. If you ever wanted to see me animate an elephant here is your chance :



Indie Craft Parade is accepting entries through June 18th. Apply! I hope to see you there!

Regular scheduled posts M/W/F return tomorrow.

Alice, underdrawing 13/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the underdrawing.

Penultimate! We are here! One more underdrawing post after this one (Wednesday) and then we'll begin posting the final drawing phase this Friday.

In real time news I'm nearly done with the final drawings, and I don't think I could be more pleased with the way they've turned out. Each one in it's own way is my favorite. Hey guess what, that sort of sounds stupid, on to today's post.

"Who cares for you?"

Previously, 13/14 rough + color study

Next post, Wednesday : "Epilogue"

Alice, underdrawing 12/14

*** A huge thank you to my readers, and a big welcome to the new ones! I hope you'll find something worth your while to look at here. If you're just tuning in, I'm pretty much in the middle of a 14 piece series of Alice in Wonderland illustrations. This is the personal project I'm working on after client work. I'll be taking these to the San Diego Comic-Con. Hope to see you there!

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the underdrawing.

"The Court of Justice"

Previously, 12/14 rough + color study

Next post, Monday : "Who cares for you?"

another surprise off day post

Well, why not, surely you're tired of seeing Alice stuff and I mean, wait, I'm on the front page of Vimeo?


Dang! How about that! Well, I feel very honored.

Thank you Vimeo!

Here is "bit and run" 13 -- Mario's Ladder again,



and remember, "bit and run" Volume Two returns August 6th!

Here's a link to all the Volume One comics. Enjoy!

Alice, underdrawing 11/14

Note : I am posting the progression of these Alice pieces, start to finish. This stage is the underdrawing.

"What is his sorrow?"

Previously, 11/14 rough + color study

Next post, Friday : "The Court of Justice"

Indie Craft Parade

Look out -- it's a surprise Tuesday post. It's because,


Hooray! My wife Erin, and friend Libby have pulled their powers together to bring my beloved Greenville a craft fair worthy of a city named after the American Revolutionary General Nathanael Greene.

From Erin's blog,

Applications are now open! Indie Craft Parade is accepting submissions through June 18. If you are an artist, crafter, designer, or creative somewhere around Greenville, submit your work now!

To find out more or to apply, visit our website here.

I hope to see you there!