a thousand little green monsters can't be wrong!

smarbaby @ 2009-07-10T11:48:00

2009-07-10T15:49:03Z

table numbers for san deigo are out!
i'm in the EXACT same spot i was in last year... which is awesome. i loved that spot.

it's table BB-18. here's a map of artists alley:

***

there will be a couple times when i won't be at my table... and this is where you'll find me!

PREVIEW NIGHT:
6 PM-7 PM: Strathmore Papers Drawing Demo at the Carpe Diem Art Booth (booth 4534)
I will be doing demonstrations of different pens and whatnot on Strathmore papers and... well, just drawing! So come on by and say "hi"! i may do a saturday demo as well, but haven't ironed out the details yet.

and... if you're around on sunday, bring your sketchbooks and pencils to my "how to draw star wars" panel! last year was a hoot and i've prepared even MORE poodoo jokes for this year. last year was also PACKED and people were turned away at the door because the room was FILLED. so come early!

SUNDAY:
11 AM - 12 NOON: How to Draw Star Wars for Kids (Room 30CDF) Lucasfilm's Bonnie Burton (You Can Draw: Star Wars) and artist Katie Cook (The Clone Wars web comic) help kids draw fun Star Wars characters. Lucas Online Senior Editor Bonnie Burton edits the drawing tutorials and craft projects which can be found at Starwars.com/kids. Artist Katie Cook (Katiecandraw.com) has done licensed art for Star Wars, DC, Marvel, Heroes, and The Lord of the Rings. She often dreams of being a Wookiee, which explains why she could use a haircut.

....and my offer from WonderCon still stands... anyone who gets Zachary Levi to stop by my table and give me a kiss on the cheek gets a free 11x14 full color commission every month for a year. get Adam Baldwin to stop by and to the same to Ryan? TWO 11x14 full color commissions every month for a year.

smarbaby @ 2009-07-09T08:54:00

2009-07-09T12:56:30Z

today is my big brother lorne (maxverbosity's) birthday!

lorne is responsible for a lot of things in my life, mostly the development of my sense of humor... so blame him.

smarbaby @ 2009-07-07T23:59:00

2009-07-08T04:00:40Z

my 197 ( i got three rejected) sketch cards for Ritternhouse Archive's "X-Men Archives" trading card set that was released today.
Most of the Rittenhouse sets I've done to date (sans the Woverine set i also did recently) have been in a normal "comic book" style.... so i REALLY wanted to approach these with the "cute" style and have some fun. the colors are more vibrant in person and some of them (like the dazzlers, gambits, icemans, etc) have GLITTER on them. ha!

smarbaby @ 2009-07-07T10:27:00

2009-07-07T14:28:38Z

View Poll: t-shirt sizes

smarbaby @ 2009-07-03T21:59:00

2009-07-04T01:59:32Z

i am bringing SEXAY BACK this holiday weekend by listing a few sketches up on ebay! the money from these will help me afford things like food while i'm in San Diego for comic con... so bid on and help a gal out! ;)

6 new pieces done on 8 x 8 colored cardstock and 2 existing pieces are up for grabs... so even iffun' you have in interest in buying a piece, there's pretty art to look at. there's NO reserve, so i suspect some of these will go CHEAP!

"lady in green"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&item=110410419000

"lady in blue"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110410418221

all the rest are behind the cu so you don't have tons of sexy lil' things on your screen...

"lady in tan"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&item=110410418667

"leia in yellow"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&item=110410420530

"ivy in grey"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&item=110410420105

"maleficent in grey"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&item=110410421053

bunny girl:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&item=110410421572

vampirella:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&item=110410422352

smarbaby @ 2009-06-26T08:39:00

2009-06-26T12:39:15Z

yesterday was the birthday of my favorite moustached artist... jeremy bastian! the creator of "cursed pirate girl" and one of the most insanely talented people currently walking this earth.

...so i drew him a lil' card:

(she looses an eye at the end of issue one.... which, if you didn't get, i TOLD you to go buy... so wtf? you aren't listening to me?!)

smarbaby @ 2009-06-24T19:18:00

2009-06-24T23:18:55Z

okay folks... i'm at a point for san diego where i need to organize what i do. last year was so unexpectedly NUTS that i have to set the ground rules before i go. Also, I'm finally taking the advice of my peers and raising my prices... for a long time i've been freaking out about asking people face-to-face to pay cash for my work... now that i'm trying to make this my career, i've moved past that concern :P

okay, here goes:

San Diego Comic Con Convention Commission Info

i will be doing sketches.

there are ONLY 6 slots per day (except for preview night, where i will be opening 3). one slot per person. if you miss out on a slot one day, i will NOT reserve a spot for you the next day. when the list fills up the the day, i'm going to try and get through them by mid afternoon... if i do, another spot may open up. likely, it won't, but hold out hope and wish upon a star... and maybe it will happen.
taking on so few, i can finally put the time and katie-love into each one that i want to put into them. i want to be PROUD of each piece i do at this show for when you guys run out and post it online.

putting more time into them, these sketches are $80 each on 9x12 bristol board (which i will provide. 11x14 or 11x17 is available upon request for an additional charge)
sketches are one full-bodied character with full background, fully inked and rendered with watercolors. additional characters can be added for $20 each.

sketches in your sketchbook will lower the price, but your paperstock may not hold up to the paint and will warp. i'll discuss this with you when you bring the book by.

i will still be doing mini paintings for $5 each, free quickie drawings for kids and such... but i can't do my $15-40 sketches at this convention anymore.

if you want a spot on the list, PLEASE come early. i hate telling people to come back and try again tomorrow :(

i will also have some already completed originals and pages for sale, as well as the $5 mini paintings, sketchbooks, and more.

thank you,
k

smarbaby @ 2009-06-23T21:52:00

2009-06-24T01:56:17Z

a doodle from my sketchbook that i dig on all kinds of nerdy/crazy cat lady levels:

smarbaby @ 2009-06-17T09:13:00

2009-06-17T13:14:42Z

Everyone knows i'm a muppet/henson fan. really, everyone does, ask your mom, she knows it too.
and... one of my favorite, FAVORITE things in existence is Fraggle Rock. it's clever, silly, emotional and full of life lessons presented in a way that both children and adults can enjoy. even now, i love popping in the dvds while i work.

so here's a blast from the past for all you fraggle fans...

and, for anyone interested in the "work in progress" stages... here are the inks!

the originals are all 6" x 6" on smooth bristol, the colors done in photoshop cs3.

i hope you've enjoyed this fraggle-filled post as much as i had drawing the pictures :)

smarbaby @ 2009-06-14T21:14:00

2009-06-15T01:22:47Z

so i finished up putting together my 2009 convention sketchbooks! they're on their way to the printer.

they will be available starting at the san diego comic con next month. there are TWO different books (just like last year)... the edition with my regular and cute work and one that's more pin-up, curvy girly work. i will NOT be taking orders before san deigo, as i'm doing a limited run of 200 of each. i will then take the remaining books to Wizard World Chicago. any books left after wizard world chicago will then be available online.

they will be available for $10 each at the show, so start saving yer' pennies ;)

i even left a fancy-pants area in the front for me to sign it ;P

smarbaby @ 2009-06-04T12:26:00

2009-06-04T16:28:34Z

i was poking around looking for something i could post (because i'm working on some stuff i can't)... and found 2 artist proof cards i hadn't posted for Upperdeck's Marvel Masterpieces 2 set and then my Rittenhouse Wolverine Origins cards. enjoy!

if you live around ann arbor...

2009-06-03T20:33:43Z

So the music/dance show about science that Ryan has been pouring a LOT of time into is opening this weekend!

Molecules the Musical is playing for one weekend only at the Power Center in Ann Arbor.

http://moleculesthemusical.com/

Tickets for the Thursday, 06/04/09, 10:00am preview performance are sold out.

Tickets for the Friday, 06/05/09, 8:00pm World Premiere, the Saturday, 06/06/09, 8:00pm evening performance, and the Sunday, 06/07/09, 2:00pm matinee performance are now on sale through The Michigan Union Ticket Office (MUTO) and Ticketmaster. (http://moleculesthemusical.com/id4.html)

smarbaby @ 2009-05-28T08:48:00

2009-05-28T12:49:01Z

(robot image courtesy of the one and only david petersen!)

three years ago today... ryan and i got married.

holy CRAP... it doesn't feel that long ago, does it?

aaaaanyway, i just wanted to say that ryan is my best friend and one of the best things that ever happened to me. he's the peanut butter to my jelly, the grilled cheese sandwich to my tomato soup and the chocolate chips to my cookie.

i don't think i'd be where i am (and where i'm going) without his love, encouragement, support, scruffy face and all around chuck-norris-level of awesomeness. he's the best thing since sliced bread.

smarbaby @ 2009-05-12T22:22:00

2009-05-13T02:24:17Z

i was piddling about with a recent commission i finished up to play with some new textures i've been making n' this is el' result-o.

smarbaby @ 2009-05-10T19:10:00

2009-05-10T23:11:16Z

attn. fellow artsy peeps!

who do you have print your sketchbooks?

smarbaby @ 2009-05-10T15:49:00

2009-05-10T19:51:35Z

i have a few new pieces done that are going in the new "naughtier" version of my 2009 sketchbook.

the originals of these are going up for sale soon, as well as a few others i'll be posting later this week. i'll also be offering the option to color them to whoever purchases them.

i FINALLY finished up a longstanding pile of commissions. i'll be making a post office run this week to start sending them out.

smarbaby @ 2009-05-06T09:31:00

2009-05-06T13:33:05Z

a few wookiee doodles from the other day:

a 9x12 harli that i drew while i was sitting at my table at free comic book day. i think i'll color her up and offer the original for sale.

smarbaby @ 2009-05-05T08:13:00

2009-05-05T12:20:01Z

the other day, ryan was filling out a facebook "5" thing about his celebrity look-a-likes.

personally, i think ryan is a mix of andy serkis and les stroud... at some angles, ryan is a DEAD RINGER for les. (right down to the scruffy face). but if andy and les had an alternate world love-child, it would be ryan. :P

so i made this:

who are your celebrity look-a-likes?

Ypsilanti Ink & Stein

2009-05-04T15:42:28Z

do you live in southeast michigan?
do you draw comics or cartoons? (or, just like to draw?)
do you want to meet up with other artists in the area for good times and a big ol' drawing jam session?
then boy oh boy, do we have something for you!

The crazy grouping of david petersen, jeremy bastian, nate pride and i are teaming up to help host a new monthly event.... Ink & Stein!

Ink & Stein will meet on the last saturday of every month at the corner brewery in ypsilanti, mi. bring your bristol pad and pens, we'll all be drawing, chatting and sharing a few drinks.

we'd really like to be gracious and give the brewery a head count for the first meet-up, so PLEASE let us know you're coming! rsvp to inkandstein@gmail.com (also, e-mail this address if you have any questions!)

* * *

Ink & Stein!
the first meeting is Saturday, May 30th. mark your calendars

Time:
7 pm - midnight

Corner Brewery:
720 Norris Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48198
We're on the corner of Forest and Norris between River and Huron 2 blocks north of Cross Street.
(21 and up only!)

if you're coming (and have a facebook)... join the facebook group too!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78325243402&ref=mf

smarbaby @ 2009-05-03T22:51:00

2009-05-04T02:54:16Z

happy dog is happy!

also... happy dog loves the nasty, chewed up weird toy in the backyard:

also also... happy dog and oscar have become best friends:

smarbaby @ 2009-05-01T12:54:00

2009-05-01T16:55:57Z

this is the badge art for the 2009 Motor City Comic Con Droid Hunt for the Great Lakes Garrison of the 501st!

i was thrilled that they asked me to do the art for it. thanks guys!

smarbaby @ 2009-04-29T11:32:00

2009-04-29T15:33:06Z

today, the "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" trading card set from Rittenhouse Archives was released.
I did ONLY 25 full color sketch cards for this set n' i was just told i was allowed to post them. woohoo!

the characters i was allowed to draw were very limited... but it was still a fun set to do :)
...the deadpool on the moped is my favorite.

this is a completely different set that the X-Men archives set i just wrapped up work on. i'll post those whenever i'm allowed.

smarbaby @ 2009-04-29T10:08:00

2009-04-29T14:08:26Z

this saturday is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

i will be appearing at "WonderWorld Comics" in Taylor, MI for the festivities.... so if you're in the area, come on out :) i'll be doing sketches and talking nerd for the better part of the day.

22347 Ecorse Road
Taylor, Michigan in Scottwood Plaza, (between Loung Hing Chinese Restaurant and Senate Coney Island)
http://www.wonderworldcomics.com/

*****

also, i'll be at the Motor City Comic Con in a few weeks, so if you're going... come on by and see me :) i will be there on saturday and sunday ONLY. i won't be there friday.

smarbaby @ 2009-04-26T23:18:00

2009-04-27T03:19:40Z

first off, i finished up all 200 of my x-men cards for Rittenhouse about half an hour ago. i'm really happy about them. my wolverine cards were shipped off ages ago, so i'm sure that set is coming out soon.

ipod helped me with every one of my x-men cards from her little lockheed-esque perch on my shoulder:

also, i haven't posted a lot of art in the past couple weeks due to everything i'm working in being under wraps until whenever the heck the release date is. i CAN say that i've been drawing muppety things to add more samples to my portfolio and i'm really happy with them. i wanted to post a snippet of one of them.... the electric mayhem! woo!

i was born to draw the muppets. pass it on.

also also... i can finally get to my commission list next week. thank goodness.

smarbaby @ 2009-04-22T22:33:00

2009-04-23T02:35:11Z