Ottawa gets Popped...

It was a cold weekend in Ottawa but luckily it was a warm welcome at the Ottawa Pop Expo this past weekend. A big thank you first of all to everyone who came to the show and stopped by our +Spent Pencils table and everyone at the artist alley. We do the traveling, the drawing and all of it for you, so a big thank you again to all of you. The trip was a blast though, when you are in good company you can go anywhere really, and the drive up was a blast with a stops along the way and even belting out "Wrecking Ball" as we drove, it's a damn catchy tune. We got in to town in the afternoon and decided to crash, apparently artist don't get much sleep, apparently this a thing. But as we watched the World Cup line ups and ordered in some pizza, we got to sketch and work on our different projects. It was also a great opportunity to work with some new pencil necks Nicholas Lukic and Herbert Kwan, not to mention working with my big brothers Joe Osei Bonsu, Maddsketch and Vince Sunico. I think all of us had a hard time getting to sleep out of excitement, but we passed out one by one. After a quick breakfast we made our way down to the Ernst & Young Centre and got unpacked, ready to see what the days ahead had in store. 

What I gathered from this weekend is everyone loves Loki. Even if he is a Lemongrab. I didn't think my print would do so well, but you guys love that Lemongrab Loki, and lots of love for my Pokemon and Adventure Time prints as well, so once again thank you guys! And I got a great response from the X-Men and Adventure Time cover I did, so you can bet you will be seeing a print coming very soon. And be sure to drop me any and all suggestions here or on my Tumblr, Twitter or even on Instagram. I want to do more with all of you here, a back and forth if you will. After all you can't have a storm without any clouds. 


 
But this weekend was a blast as you can tell from the pictures here, I got a chance to get to meet a lot of new faces, work on a few commissions as well and got to pick up a few gifts for friends as well. And every show and every convention gives me more and more experience and I love doing this with my Spent family. So a big thanks for all the support and love this year, 2013 has been a blast! I got to get going but again, keep posted here for all updates, I will see you soon. Keep chasing the storm. 

Deadpools for Everyone

So I kind of haven't posted anything comic or art or comic art related for a while now, I was beginning to worry that I would be getting side tracked. I mean complaining and bitching is fine every now and then, especially on a blog, it's practically why they are made in the first place, right? Anyways, a lot of art work to be done in the next few days, we got a few events to be leading to and a convention next month, not to mention that Spent Pencils has got some big projects in store for the new year and I got to get my ass in gear and pump out some amazing work. And yeah, we are rolling up a lot of work and shows in the next months as well, so I got organize myself and keep all of you in the loop and updated. Also I want to connect more with all of you around the world, be it in the States or in Europe, I want to send out some cool art giveaways and maybe prints, and you guys spread the word of ChileanStorm and Spent Pencils. One of these possible giveaways could a postcard, maybe a Deadpool postcard, like this one...

Bam! Wam! Thank you mam! 

So I am going to have this at the Ottawa Pop Expo on December 7th and 8th, these will be postcard sized so it's perfect to mail out to any and all Deadpool friends during the holiday season. They will be on sale for $2 a card, and I've also got some New 52 style Joker and Scarecrow cards as well. And of course a few originals for sale that go for about $10, not a lot for some original art. Also going to try and bust out some more prints and postcards for the show. So anyone going to the show in December, let me know what you would like to see and I can do it up for you. Got a cool idea for a sketch cover, let me know and I can have it ready for you. Drop a comment or shoot me an email, I look forward to meeting and chatting with the lots of you. 

So remember guys, December 7th and 8th at the Ottawa Pop Expo! Be there and tell your friends! Until then keep chasing the storm! 

And also, Rob Ford...ugh.

Argh...

I am going to blame this on writer's block.

Hey everyone, back from the grave and doing really well actually. From the last time I posted, a lot of things have changed for me. In the first place I have recently started my new part time job at Starbucks. Now I know what you'll be thinking, but why? Doesn't it suck? Why? Well let me say, yes I was worried about starting and screwing up there, but I am slowly learning the ropes and I still have not had anyone scar me with a hot cup of java. The thing is, Starbucks is a really cool place to work at for a guy like me, it's not perfect by any stretch and at the end of any shift I am out of breath, but the shifts go by really quickly and they really are cool about working around my schedule. The fact is I wasn't sure if I could manage with barely making enough at conventions and shows, I needed a source of money that I could count on. And you know what Starbucks really looks after it's employees, I get health, dental and vacation benefits. Keep in mind, this is my first job with any kinds of benefits, this is strange to me. Not to mention getting free coffee isn't too shabby either. But yeah I am now working three different jobs, two part time and one full time which is being an artist. And not to mention trying to update this old blog here as well, that's a job in of itself as well.

Also I am getting ready for the last convention this year in Ottawa and I want to try and make a decent scratch there as well, I want to get atleast three new prints for that show. So if you are going to Pop Con in Ottawa, let me know what you would like to see. I am making prints, a few postcards and I got plenty of blank variant books that I am working on as well. I should also warn everyone that I am taking part in this thing called Movember as well, so beware it's coming soon. Fear the stache.

 But yeah thought I would give a little update on what's been going on with me here and I want to keep up on this thing as daily as possible...any bets to see how long that lasts? 

Capital Punishment, Spent Style

This weekend I got the chance to go on a road trip to Ottawa with my art family Spent Pencils, this marking my first big road trip with the crew and my first big convention out of the general GTA area. Now granted this is going to cost me more then I may make, but honestly if I was in this business just for the money, I wouldn't be an artist. I know I am starting and I know my place in the large vast art world, I need to have patience and use this time to learn everything I can from my crew mates and other fellow artist friends, and learned I have. But I am loving this experience to grow and develop, and it's something every artist should enjoy. Take critic and suggestion with an extremely open mind and know your place, you may not be as high up as you think you may be. Honestly if I can give any real advice to young artist, it is to listen. 

But so far, I want to say thank you to everyone who came by our table and said hi, grabbed a business card and/or picked up some art from any of us here at the Ottawa Comic Con. Again thank you guys and gals for coming by, we honestly appreciate everyones love for the Spent way of art. Keep coming back at the next shows, we are only getting better and better. 

I must say though, Ottawa does feel like an upside down Toronto, everything feels out of place and a little further away then it should be. But I will say this, the downtown and the canal is absolutely gorgeous! And good on all the Sens fans for Sens Mile, we need to get our shit together in Toronto and make a Leafs Nation street. I hope the Maple Leafs can do the impossible and defeat Boston and have another round in the playoffs, easier said then done of course. 

Anyways, one last trip to the convention today and in a way it's going to be sad to leave, but it's the life that we live, after one show we got another to get ready for and on and on and on. Thanks for the memories Ottawa.