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That is a super awesome pod.

Thanks so much!

lovely simplicity!

Thanks so much Roberto!

I'm only really good at kids books.

That is an accomplishment to be proud of.

Thanks SSS! Maybe I shouldn't compliment myself.....

I personally still love a good ol traditional book format - with hardcover, good paper, print and all the goodness. :)

But I think interactive digital book like this is superb!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gew68Qj5kxw

Good luck with the robot museum! :D

Thanks Charles!

I'm the same way.

I think I like physical Books better, because it's something to hold, something tangible, and object. I especially love Tony Diterlizzi's use of leaf on his covers to make them three-dimension textural objects.

Obviously, anything you do with Robot Museum I will look at, read, and enjoy.

Do what feels right.
This could be a VERY cool comic.

Although I embrace all technology with religious ferver i do love to curl up with a real, honest to goodness, paper paged book.

Well, I'm a paper junkie, so when the paper quality is lovely, I can't help but wanting to touch it and look at it. I'm more prone to buying art books in print for this reason, but more and more I've been switching to digital for novels. It's greener, and, well... I'll need to buy another book shelf real soon (again) if I don't stop buying books. For a black and white comic, I definitely wouldn't mind going digital, but I think I still like the way colors look printed on paper...

Ah! great addition to the story. and glad you haven't given up on it... I've got so many things I've put on the back burner I've forgotten about 'em.

I like those Sculpey characters you made too. that's some fun stuff isn't it!

great design! Sort of reminds me of something from The Dark Crystal. Very interesting, I'm excited to see where the story goes

Dude, love his guy... definitely agree with S.M that it's Froudish.

Thanks Anthony!! I still use your sculpture to hp me with these guys. And since I realized they are mass produced clones it's come in really handy.

Thanks shane! The idea that occurred to me was literally " I think the robot Museum needs a Yoda" so you're not far off at all. And you know I'm a big Froud fan.

Thanks Gabe! Really looking forward to when I can spend more time with this...Right now I'm writing and sketching at odd free moments.

always lovin' the line work

Amazing!

Y'know, I'm going to challenge myself to approach your level with the iPod. Inspiring stuff, Eric.

That is so awesome it makes me both envious - and deeply anxious. Technology is moving so darn fast, I'll never catch up at this point.

I love the softness of the shading and the way the colours are not quite blended. I love these ipod drawings.

Thanks Glendon! I really can't think of anything better than inspiring my friends.

Thanks Erin! Don't worry, this type of art is no more legitimate or important than a pencil drawing on kraft paper. That's the honest truth.

Thanks so much Fearless! I'll post more than.

Wow!! You've gotten such a huge level of emotion and beauty out of a fingerpainting!

You are a genius!

Thank you so much Gabe!

Genius?? Yikes!

I would definitely buy Robot Museum online or even through comic book stores. I could see it having a huge following.

Thanks so much Gabe! I'll count hat as one comic sold. And I'll certainly buy anything you put out!

I love the colour on that image.

Thanks so much Gary! I'll try and get a copy for you guys.

Good luck!

Hugs.

Hi Eric:

Thanks for the comment on my blog.

There may be a few spare copies of my comics at The Beguiling, altho I do need to do another print run of all my comics soon.

I'm super busy with school and trying to finish up my puppet theatre.......thanks for reminding me about word on the street!! Will you be attending?

~~~Caitlin

What a fun list of songs. I can totally see that going along with Harry & Silvo.

Hope your computer is feeling better, as well as *you* - and that you are all recovered now.

love this great composition. i really love the whimsical nature to your work. full of awe and magic.

i have a question, what kind of pens do you use when you ink?

Thanks Juliana!

Thanks Caitlin! I'll be there handing out minicomics.I'll look for stuff next time I'm downtown, I'm in Etobicoke right now.And I'll look for you at WOTS. Also~I want to see your puppet show!!

Thanks Tara! Stuff is better than it has been in monhs. Jut more stressful.

Thanks so much C.B! I think we're on similar pages creatively.

For years I've used a Hunt nib, number 101 I think, with FW Speedball acrylic India ink, which this piece was done with. But recently I've found the dipping and cleaning extrememly time consuming so for this project I swiched to technical pens.I am using a variety of pens and brushpens right now including Staedtler pens,Copic pens and Copic brushpen (multiliners),Pitt Pens and sharpies. I am still using FW opaque white ink for corrections as well as Windsor Newton white acrylic paints. Also, I draw on Arches 300 lb paper so I can really go at it and not worry about damaging the paper.

Wow wow wow! Want want want :D

Thanks James!

Thanks Viviane!

great Eric!
a lot of compliments!! ^__^

Congratulations!! This looks great, man!

Thanks Giulia!

Thanks Sergio!

I gasped with delight upon seeing this!!! How exciting! It looks amazing. Congrats!!!

Thanks so much Angela! that really means a lot to me.

congrats! nice job

That is sooooo freakin cool, Eric! Congratulations. Fine job. I will have to look for it!

Thanks C.B!!

Thanks so much Mark!

Man, this is way too cool!!! looks awesome!

congrats man, looks awesome! I bet it feels good to have the "scholastic" seal on your work, you deserve it! I can't wait to check out a copy.

Holy moly what a good header.

Thanks Anthony!

Thanks S.M!

Thanks Ben!

oh !! what a nice cover !

i want it !!!
^^

Thanks Orbie!

Congratulations, Eric!!!!! I can't imagine how wonderful you must be feeling! Well done, sir.

Thanks so much Brian!

Congratulations, Eric! I love the cover. Very exciting.

Congratulations Eric!!

Amazing!!... I told my friend Ramón to buy one!!! Fantastic!

Thanks M.D!

Thanks Cesar!

Thanks Kalo!

wooooow congratulations!!! the cover is beatuful, can I get one in argentina? mmmmm amazon? best wishes with the comic!

Thanks Aleta! Unfortunately it's only available in Canadian schools.

Hey Eric, congrats! SO COOL!

I'm still plugging away at mine -we should compare notes on the experience.

WOW! Is this the same project you've been posting sketches from during the past year??? That seemed to happen so fast! Or, maybe I've just been out of commission for too many months - I really need to get out more.

Well, baby's due date is tomorrow - we'll see how punctual she is. But, I'm hoping for Sunday - would have been my dad's birthday and he passed away in January. Hope you're having fun with your little guy!

Congratulations on all your accomplishments - may there be many more!

suhweeet. I will have to pick up a copy of this, as well. You are amazing

Thanks Ben! I'd love that!

Thanks Diane! I hope things are well!

Thanks so much Tim!

This looks so cool! I love how the type works with your illo. Many many congratulations!!

Thanks Annie!

Congratulations Eric. This has been in the making since your youth. It was inevitable, and I look forward to reading it - Ron is looking for it in every Scholastic flyer.

Ohhh! Ahhh! Love the latest new banner. Your first comic book looks awesome!

Keep reading those comics in bed! How fun and relaxing.

Paz

Thanks Paz!! Your blog is even more meaningful to me now that I've fallen in love with NYC.

I think it looks great! Comics are hard, aren't they?

Thanks jed! Oh, yeah are they ever! There's a reason Frazzetta only did one full comic. That being said this one was especially tough for me because of a number of editorial stops and starts. It dragged on a full summer and was less then 20 pages long.

I love your color choices for this one.

Thanks Jeanie!

OH WOW
thats GREAt :D

youre so talentuous ^_^
i would like to see your comic book !!

Looks great! Do I have to go back to public school to read this?

Wow, these are so fantastic. I saw your stuff for the first time on Seven Impossible Things and have been enjoying going through your archives -- awesome stuff.

Ok comme tu m'as dit que je pouvais commenter en français je me lance :D J'adore tes dessins de plus en plus ... en fait si j'ai bien compris tu dis que c'est plus sombre ce que tu montres là mais je trouve ça vraiment chouette, c'est magique !!!

Thanks Jeremy! I'm glad you found this spot.

Thanks so much Jojo!

Wow. What kind of color did you use for these drawings?
It maybe "tempera"?I don't know the english's name!

I like them!
Your works are always so magic!

Thanks so much Cammy! The pictures are in gouache with sepia ink lines.

Eric,
It's been forever brother. From the looks of things around here, you're staying super busy. Elio and I are still cranking out this silly comic we've got going on. It's slow but steady trying to reach our Fall print date.

I love these latest images though. You're paintings are really getting more and more depth to them. It's killer.

Talk sooner than later,
Joe y Elio

hey eric, i'm with you on this on, while i really liked the lighter/brighter version, i really really like the darker one, but i understand what you mean by appropriate.

Ah Eric, these are just wonderful illutratations! Keep up the good work and merry christmas to you!

Thanks so much Joe and Elio!

Thanks Christine! It may be too that the darker version is closer to how I envision it to be.

Thanks so much April! Merry Christmas to you as well!

I suppose they want brighter colors for the age they intend to reach. Personally, I think younger audiences are a bit more sophisticated today in their tastes and don't necessarily have to have bright colors though I understand the reasoning. Myself, I prefer the darker colors, it adds to the story line.

Right! Darker makes more the idea of robots. Congratulations! Beautiful illustrations.

Fantastic. Nice colors

Very very cool my friend!!!

The lighting on these are so wonderful! They all came out great!

Thanks Vickie! I really agree.

Thanks so much Mobu!

Thanks Ben!

Thanks Rawls!

Thanks Kim!

AMAZING!!

Thanks Mariam!

Wow! That's a lot of life stuff!!!!
Congratulations on meeting your deadline!

Thanks Viviane! The deadline shifted, but only because the editorial team wanted more time. I found out recently that my comic book will be accompanied by an educational guide, which Scholastic put together.
i'm so excited to go on to other projects now. Although I really need a day off, too.

Wonderful!

Your use of monochrome is fantastic, inking suggestive like Moebius' work

Ciao
Pagas

Thanks Pagas! This is how I started doing the underpainting before it just started to take to long and i began painting direct with goauche. I actually prefer the underpainting overall.

Congratulations Eric!! You finished!! Yay

I can feel you are tense. Too many important things going on at the same time. I know.. Just try to prioritize and then take it one at a time. The baby can come any time now. Specially first babies they like to come as a surprise :o) After your precious baby is born it will be a relief. You'll see.

You work hard my friend and it shows, just try to enjoy the moment with your child and Julie. The rest will fall into place.

Thank you so much, Alicia!

Great work Eric!!! Despite our "inventing several new ways to procrastinate" it feels good to get something finished doesn't it?!?! ahhh.
Hey, are you publishing through Scholastic?

Thanks Rawls !
this project was a 13 page painted comic for Scholastic Education. that means it'll be sold at book fairs and has some educational value. In this case my comic is accompanied by a teaching guide about robots.
This was a cool project for a number of reasons, one was that i got to script it. This is the first published work that I've both scripted and painted.
also, it was a chance to work for Scholastic, which was very cool. Amazing editorial team. and it looks great on my CV.

Cheers!
I can't wait to see where you go with all of it!
=D

Eric:
Congratulations for the baby and my best wishes to you and Julie for your "other baby". I guess the second one will give you more satisfactionthan any other "paper baby" ever did before ;-)

Thanks Erin!

Thanks koldo!

Great job! It must feel good to be so far along. The monochromatic looks nice. I can't imagine inking and coloring a comic book. It looks like a lot of work. I'm glad Fogg is taking on a life of it's own. Babies come when they come. Just remember they are little only once and those memories you will create will be some of the most precious. Take time, you really won't regret it in the end.

beautiful drawing and congratulations for de baby!!! I hope that you and your wife are doing well, I´m gonna get married this week, and I´ve been crazy finishing drawings and comisions, but this are exating times!!! best wishes to you and your family!

Your life is full~
Good stuff, I am so happy for you.
Do take a day or so & plan or not plan a bit of quiet, special time for you & Julia, before the baby comes.Sort of a "deep breath".
~Amy~

Thanks Vickie!

Thanks Aleta! And congratulations to you as well! Things got so much better for me once I became a member of a team!

thanks Amy! Must breathe....

beautiful stuff!! very simple and elegant,with just the right touch of glow...
congrats on the scholastic work!

and all the very best with your soon-to-arrive little bundle of joy! :)

Thanks!

Great news, Eric! Glad to be here to see a part of the ride. Can't wait to see what's coming up next either

I can understand the time consumption of painting a comic... Can't wait to see it though man. Besides, you can't go wrong with a title like Robot Museum!
... I wish I lived near a robot museum:(

Thanks! It's loosely based on Alexander Graham Bell museum in Cape Breton. It's a really rural museum but pretty cool. The sucky part of this project is that it will only be sold through schools.

Hey Eric! the new look of the site is great!

and thanks for the comment on my dragon... only you shouldn't be so humble. I can't wait to see yours in color!

Thanks Anthony!

hey eric, how goes it? loved your piece at the Totoro show, too bad didnt see you there. love your new look btw.

saludos eric,great gallery!!

WOW ERIC!!!I make again you the compliments. the last works are very very cool.

yeah, painting a comic has got to just eat time up like nobody's business but I'm certain you'll make it through.

It's another process. Once you're done with it you'll be that much stronger. Can't wait to see this thing when it's all done.

It's pretty safe to say that, from this detail here, your pieces haven't lost any of their quality! Great work as usual, Eric.

Hi Eric~
I have not been around much~Computer woes~
But~ your new look on your blog is cool~ edgy~ sharp.
I just wanted to say~ that I think your Robot Museum Book will do very well at the Scholastic School book Fairs.I have been going to them for SOOOO Many years. And, very often it feels like the same old stuff, Sponge~Bob & Brats ~"Are you kidding me?" I always try & search out something new.Your book will be a welcome change.I know that other parents feel the same way.It can be very frustrating.~Your book has something for all age groups.~ So, take heart~ I know, I will be there holding your book & WoWing over it~ pointing it out.
~Amy~

Thanks JC! I was really looking forward to meeting you! Things conspired to keep me on the East coast. I'm sure I'll paths will cross again. At the least I need you to sign my book!

Thanks Tony!

Thank You so much Mato!

Thanks Brian!

I'm so glad Amy! Thank you.

Ach, beautiful though... Can't wait to see the whole thing! A whole comic as lovely as this little bit, WOW!

I think you hit on something brilliant there! I want to know more about the Fogg academy too.

Great melanchonic feeling created by grey/blue tones

Thanks Viviane! I don't want to blab too much but I have this lovely image of Mina Fogg escaping a bad life in a haunted airship.

Thanks Pagas! I'm trying a richer monochrome feel here and actually using black paint which I almost never do.

A very nice picture and a brilliant blog you have here. I really like those Fogg drawings.

Thanks Charles! I know and enjoy your "poetry" blog.

I love the atmosphere^^

beautiful colors and subject *_*

GiuliA ^,^

Thanks Mirella!

thanks Giulia! This is based on a line from a poem by my friend Sandra Kasturi. It's a lovely poem about clockwork dancers. This is also just about a quarter of the full image. I'll post the full thing when I'm done.

I'm waiting for it! :9

GiuliA ^,^

hey eric, lovely piece. you have such a strong handle on natural materials, I'm sure once you tame the wacom it's going to be double awesomeness.

Cool Giulia!

Thanks JP! Love the Wacom but sort of assumed I would get it straight awy. Which didn't happen, looking forward to exploring it more. I have to say I'm really excited by that added digital element in my work. I can really feel the increase in range.

This piece looks great so far, Eric. The tablet takes a bit of getting used to. After some time you'll find it so neat (especially once you've mapped shortcuts to the buttons) you'll be unstoppable.

As much as I fool with mine I still prefer starting out with the good ol' paper and pencil though. I'm weird.

Wow! It´s the first time I enter to your blog and I love the ambiance you obtain through the colours palette, all your work is a kingdom of magic. Quite melancholic this one... is just amazing. I add your link to my favourites list. Take care! B*

thank you eric!

great to meet you!~ you have really great stuff, I love the variety of media you use and your style is really interesting :)

lovely drawings!

love the mood n mystery about the whole piece... beautifully drawn and painted!!

Such a beautiful atmosphere...

Forgot to say, I'm sure you'll love the wacom. It just takes a little bit to get used to and adjust to the pen pressure. I know I never considered digital until I got one.
Can't wait to see what kind of wonders you'll be making with it! :)
Please, keep posting the watercolors too, though!! They are always wonderful

Thanks Brian! I was amazed at the effects and depth I could achieve on that mermaid painting I worked on in photoshop. It was really meant to be a fun sketch but found it expressed something a lot of my work didn't. against accepted wisdom I found the addition of digital media added to my work rather then detracted from it so I'm very excited to explore this further.

Thanks Lion! I love your work and am happy to share dreams with one another.

Thank you so much Stevie! Brilliant work.

Thanks Dintoons! I'm really happy to hear your thoughts.

Thanks Gaia! I think our work sometimes is looking at the same mysterious world.

Brilliant piece. I love the feel of it.


Jillian

Oh, I'm glad you are pursuing Fogg Academy further! (and I hear you re: the difficulty in fleshing out one's personal portfolio in the face of 'life' and commissioned projects!)

Which Wacom tablet did you end up getting? I've been so pleased with my little one since @pablod's advice. At some point, I may actually upgrade to a 'real' one.

magique!

wacom is great (once you get use to it!) I look forward to seeing more of your fantasy and sci-fi work! =)

J.

Thanks Jillian!

Thanks Tara! I'll keep you up to date on the academy and I plan on publishing another short piece starting next week. This is ti help me write a longer script and I thought it might full out a chapbook nicely.
The Wacom is an older one, a DU, I think it's called...Not sure, it just says Wacom on the front. Works well, but a bit hard to get used to.

Merci Achde!

Thanks Jennifer!

Fantastic piece, absolutely stunning.
"Fogg academy" sounds really inspiring too...

Thanks Patrick!
Updates on both as I have them.

Brilliant
Love the character and the feel!

Thanks Dominic! I really appreciate your comment, you are the best caricaturist I know of.

I'm sooooooOOoo happy you're posting your process, Eric! I was going to ask but I figured you're so busy already that it probably wouldn't happen.

I'm headed to the bookstore tomorrow so I'll definitely look for those books

Thanks! I'm actually pretty random about it. I get excited about an idea and ramble about it.
All of those books are amazing. I really do recommend them.

that's a great idea... you can find some names and sites of fantasy/scifi rpg and strategy games publishers here:
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=publisherlist
http://www.roliste.com/editeurs.jsp
http://spaceship.brainiac.com/spacecompany.html#BBB

Wow! Luis thank you so much!

it's a beautiful work, eric! I love it^^

Thank you so much Mirella!

Some french ones :
http://www.l-atalante.com/
http://www.bragelonne.fr/
http://bd.danielmaghen.com/ (a gallery and a publisher),
http://www.audiable.com/ (sf and thrillers... books by Neil Gaiman,too),
http://www.nestiveqnen.com/index.php
http://www.ak-editions.com/
http://www.au-bord-des-continents.com/
Plenty of good books to discover...

interesting-sounding group. as usual, i like your drawing.

paz

Ask & you will receive. :) Great start on this list, great ideal.
Amy

Great idea! Please keep us posted. (and where did you see "the fan to professional
article on tor? " I've looked all over and can't find it).

Thank you so much Anais!
I really appreciate the links!

Thanks Paz!

Thanks Amy!

Thanks Tara, and it took me a bit to find it as well, it's called Ecce Fanno and here's the URL
http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=620
a lot of the best bits are in the discussion. It's also about writers, not artists.

Thanks for the URL. Interesting post. I wonder how much it works the same way (in a parallel form) for illustration...?

(I've got to stay away from the tor website! Work to do! argh!)

So, so addictive.....

Thanks man. I will happy to send you all the info. Whats your email address? Send it to me at [email protected]. Thanks again!

Hey Jeremy, i emailed my email address but here it is again [email protected]

I hope when you put this together you let the rest of us know. I would love to have such a resource.

I will Vickie! I find this type of work pretty dull but I think it's important to have such a list. I'll post more about it later. Right now I have a list of 20 predominantly genre publications.

Bravo!

Well its nice.


unsecured loans

Very cool style Eric! I really like your value studies...

Salud!

Thanks Dianne!

Thanks Nicolas!

These are great! Love the way you painted the lightning :)

Thanks Susan! I was thinking of monster movies from the 30's. Especially Frankenstein.

I always love your big positive and negative shapes. You are so good at composition that way. Nice job!

Thanks Manelle!

The sky is amazing ! my fav is the second one : i really love the shadows and the colors...

Terrific work.

I'm adding you to my Blog List. Love this stuff.

beautiful!! the atmosphere is wonderful, add extra favor in the painting!

I just came across your blog. You have beautiful work. Really inspiring work. Keep up the great work!

Merci Anais! I really appreciate it! and thanks for the warm welcome on myspace...

Thank you so much Glendon!
I love your approach to science and art, truly full of wonder.

Thanks Alina!

Thank you so much Lue!

Cool looking stuff!

wow, the paintings are great! a very nice style.

Eric these look great ! Love the feeling of the rain , the lighting , all of it.You are becoming the master of setting the mood in your paintings.Amy

Very nice! The lightning is fantastic and I can just hear that rain. It reminds me when I've been out like that. Great job!

Hi -

Nice work - it's fun to see it all unfold.

Just wondering - I know you paint your images. Do you do anything to them digitally? Does your publisher expect digital files or original paintings?

I just ask because someone was telling me publishers want digital these days and I work with old fashioned pencils and brushes. I suppose I could always scan the original...

I love how moody and atmospheric these are. You have a very strong sense of 'Eric Orchard-ness' in your work that ties it all together and makes it recognizably yours.

Thanks Oscar!

Thanks Kat! Great pencil work.

Thanks Amy!

Thanks Vickie! Actually there's a thunderstorm overhead right now.

Thanks Amy!
Do you mean publishers only want digital art? Because I don't think that's the case, traditional art is still very strong.
As for the files, they do want digital files. I'll either pay to have them scanned and emailed from where I am or I'll send the original art work to them to have scanned.It's never a problem though.

Thanks Tara!

Hi Eric! These panels are great... I love how you depicted the storm... and the lighting is very dramatic.

When I showed this to my brothers they felt the suspense and were worried about Nora. This is a fantastic beginning to the novel! I don't know how you thought of it

Thanks Anthony! I think I was thinking of old monster movies from the 30's like Frankenstein with the crashing thunder and lightning. Tell your brothers Nora's OK...
By the way, did you guys get the package yet?

old monster movies definitely come across in the paintings and the boys can't wait to see what happens next (they love action!)

We haven't received the package yet. We both live in separate middle of nowheres so I guess it might take a bit (LOL) We'll be on the lookout!

Thanks

Fantastic illustrations, Eric!!
It's always great to stop by your blog and enjoy the eye candies! :)

Oh what a treat!!!
This is now one of my favourite things to wait for on the internet, or maybe my favourite, the next glimpse of the Robot Museum...

I don't know, I have a strong feeling that you are doing things just right.

Thanks Viviane! I hope I'm doing things OK! I'm looking forward to your next installment!

I don't know anything about agents, but, it sure would be nice to have someone seeing you.
Selling is a job in it's self.
Have you ever looked into it?
I think you should, it couldn't hurt.
I hope one of your loyal visitors can answer this for you.
These sketches are wonderful ! I like the rainy one, great mood in them all.
Amy

Thanks Amy!
I have talked to a number of agents in NY but have put it off because I had the sense they wanted to guide my career in directions I wasn't entirely sure of. I'm not certain if I'll end up just doing picture books or if I'll end up in comic books or some other form of illustration and I want to make those decisions for myself at the moment. The downside being i have no one to represent me in the US right now, and while I'm amazed at the progress I've made I think my being somewhat isolated has limited some possible avenues. Or made the path longer.

Guauuuu...beautiful blog!!!!

Incredible!
This page is amazing:
sense of darkness, mystery, suspence a great lesson of story-telling.

Bye
Pagas

Thank you so much Belula!

Thanks Pagas! You've really made my day.

Agents can really be helpful in freeing up your time from marketing (it can be hard to sell onesself! I don't enjoy that part - beyond sending out mailings. One of the big reasons why I got agented). One thing to consider is that you could get an agent just for children's work, say, and handle the comic stuff on your own. Or visa versa. Find what you think is the best fit and/or approach for *you*. And if you're not sure yet, that's fine - keep on the way you are (which looks like it is working for you at the moment). If/when you need to change that, it ought to become apparent.

I especially like the third drawing.

Paz

Thanks Paz!

Yeah, i think i have about 4 compositions that I rotate.....

It's funny, the first sketch looks like the Totoro Forest project ! Maybe it's because it's nearly the same composition...

(oups, i delete my last comment...)

Eric-heya! Cool blog! My experience with agents was all bad. They want to modify your "foot"(style) to fit a certain "shoe"(client).It was really annoying. They see a niche and want you to fill it.You'd work your ass off on a nice piece and the agent will go "I don't want to show that" and then they'll tell you to do a P.O.S. and think that's great. Also, what I have found ESPECIALLY in kid's book stuff, it's a case of "Don't call us, we'll call you". We recently had a kid's book on dinos, we finished, and the packager-who turned out to be very cool people-parted with the publisher(major name) because of many reasons, and one of which was the publisher wanted radical changes to what we'd already worked too hard to attain. Mostly because their editor was an "old school hardliner" with what comprised a kid's book. The packager stood up for us, and now the book is looking for a home, however the packager is doing that work. We got paid, mind you, so I can't complain, but it's unknown when it will see print.

Thank you so much for the advice bob.
I've been talking to agencies in New York over the last year and I found they were asking for me to change my art work before even signing me or asking if I could work in a certain manner, and this was before signing me. I feel a certain amount of panic at times living a distance from the major centers but things seem to be going along fine for me.

What it comes down to is that I feel like a little guy ion a room full of giants trying to get noticed.
That's what would motivate me to get an agent but your advice is sound and in keeping with my own experience.

I have no experience with agents so far but I know about editors telling me my style is not what they're looking for.

To me, this is more a personal choice than professional. It has to do to with standing for oneself, to keep our own individual identity. It happens in the editorial world but once again it happens all over the place because that's part of the system.

On the other hand, I can only see myself being sucessful if I achieve to cross the hawthorn wood and I manage to reach the people because they are after all the ones who are going to buy my books and my paintings. And I do know I'm not reaching anybody if I don't have something different and unique to offer, being myself.

I like your artwork because it's unique, I can spot it in a second, and that you should never loose that uniqueness, no matter what agents will tell you.

Thanks Koldo!
I really appreciate your thoughts on this matter!

Where does time go?! I can't believe its been a couple of weeks since I last checked in, and so much has been going on. The Scholastic thing is fantastic, congratulations. And the latest drawings and first pages are just delightful. LOVE the Quentin sculpture, what a lovely thing for Anthony to have done.
And Congratulations on the best seller status for The Terrible, Horrible, Smelly Pirate! I love my copy - my favorite parts are the pink clouds, the spider, and the surprise robot you snuck in :-) Way to go!

Thanks Terry! I'm glad you noticed the hiding robot in the book. I was starting to script the Museum story at the end of the book and seriously had robots on my mind. I'll post more of the comic early next week.

Oh this is so excellent :)

Thanks Viviane!

I listen to movie soundtracks when i write, based on the type of mood in the scene im writing.
when i draw and paint at my drawing table, i listen to radio dramas like the twilight zone, the hobbit and LOTR, or starwars. its something that i have done since i was little and i find it just gets my creative brain really going. sometimes i throw a DVD into the player (which has no TV attached) and i just listen to a movie. not sure why it helps me, but i really enjoy it.
im a huge radio drama fan.

I agree with you on all accounts here, Joe! I do much the same. I just finished a page the other day while listening to the audio book of Hitch hiker's guide to the universe. It really works, keeps you at your drawing table and keeps you entertained. I always thought it was funny but made sense how Jack Kirby used to watch Spanish language TV while he worked, it kept him company but didn't distract him. The only thing I can't listen to while working is Beethoven, because it's so powerful and distracting.
I was listening to the Gremlins theme the other day while I worked....

For a second, I thought you were going to say, that the baby was coming. So, when is your little baby due?
I love Tom. I need a movie going when I work. Something I have seen a 100 times or so works well.I don't like to be off by myself when I work, I have a little studio that I never use, it is a little sun porch, just outside the living room. I prefer to have the kids around driving me crazy as I work.
Crazy...But, true. amy

Hey, that is true! Tom waits really goes with him! How nice!

Thanks Amy! Not yet, October 20th or there abouts. Ambera Wellmann used to watch movies when she worked too, really bad ones, but she got some of the most beautiful paintings I've ever seen done. The kids thing sounds nice actually, I don't mind kids running around making noise but when adults do it i can't stand it. Especially drum practice and construction...

Thanks Viviane!I think Quentin's all clang-y and boom-y so it really suits him. I picture stuff crashing and thunking around him as he tears robots apart with his telekinesis.

I love to listen to music when I'm working - the whole process of drawing along with the music is a complete ticket to "Neverland." Suddenly, hours have passed.

I listen to all kinds of different things. Ok - I'll admit, once in a while I even cross-over into dancing while drawing.

Never tried anything like an audio drama. Wonder if it would be distracting or if I'd remember any of the story. Hmmmmmm - worth a try.

Congrats on the upcoming baby! Your first?? They're such an adventure.

Very interesting observation Julie made. Also interesting to read what you can or cannot listen to while working. ;-)

Paz

That's an interesting little discovery! When I think about your illustrations, I picture anything by Mark Mothersbaugh. Or maybe that's just the music I picture you drawing to. Either way. How's Julie doing? What kind of music do you suppose the baby likes?

Thanks Diane! The dancing thing is a good reason to have your studio on the top floor! It is our first...

Thanks Paz! I find it so funny that Beethoven is too distracting to have on. Apart of me thinks he did that intentionally.

Thanks Ambera! I was listening to Devo yesterday, they do an odd-ball cover of the stone's Satisfaction. Julie's great, she keeps expanding. That's normal tho'.

love your penciling way ... ^-^

Thanks Man!

I love it when author/illustrators include a 'play list' of things they were listening to when they created that particular book.

I 'listen' to movies a lot when I work. Then when looking back at certain illustrations, the flavor, music and textures of whatever movie it was come back full force... Wierd, but cool phenomena.

Thanks Tara! Yeah, it would be really neat to read people's unofficial soundtracks...I'm making mixed "tapes" on my computer for the first time and rediscovering some old music so there would be all sorts of eclectic stuff on it. I'll make a note to do that at some point and I'll ask you for the soundtrack to the Fairy Chronicles...

Hello Eric, thanks for your lovely words about my latest works :)
I love these roughs.. your pencil drawings are fabulous... I do admire how prolific you are and the speed at which you produce work :) It must be great to be working on your own creation like this...
Happy week to you
Rima

Meeeeh! It's Quentin!!! (Cheers and claps)
This is really starting now! :D I feel like I'm in a cinema and trying not to rustle the popcorn bag now as the main feature begins...

Thanks Rima! It's extremely fun and frustrating and gratifying.

Turn your cell phones off, please.
Actually, this is all I have for the time being, as I paint these two pages in gouache and work on ongoing contracts.I'll post related stuff though.

NICE!!! Very cool stuff Eric. All of it. I really like pencil work just as is. It's truly my favorite medium and, I think overlooked in appreciation. These are jewels. Really great stuff. Oh and thanks for stopping by my blog!

Thank you so much Mr. Eggleton! I'm very honoured that you visited my blog. I'm a big fan of yours and I believe your outlook on SF has really influenced my own. I agree about pencil rendering, I even considered doing this comic entirely in pencil but realized it might be a hard sell. Maybe another project.

And just so everyone knows, Mr. Eggleton has an asteroid named after him (Bobeggleton) How cool is that?!

you have such imagination and creativity...these pencil roughs (although they look like more than roughs to me) are great!!

Thanks Christine!
I'm painting these pages right now and it's going really well, I just had to get passed an initial phase of not knowing what I was doing.

HA! well when you figure out the key to getting past the initial 'not knowing' phase, clue me in...that's my main mode of operation!

Well, if it's pencil or just watercolour I feel I'm on pretty steady ground but I'm finding this project requires a lot of invention. I plan this comic to be about 100 pages in length, which is about 600 miniature paintings. I really wasn't sure which medium would give these little paintings the most clarity and would also be interesting for me to paint. Gouache, with ink lines is working the best. I never seem to be able to work out these things to my satisfaction until things are well underway.

I love the light in these Eric, I hope we'll see them in colour one day!

Thanks Jess! It's coming along really well.

Very cool. I enjoy watching your process from idea to pencil rough to finish. The story is really starting to come to life.

Thanks Frank!
I'm pretty happy with how the painting is coming too. It's been a bit of a struggle but it's starting to make sense to me as a project now.

This is a treat- seeing this creation unfolding. Thanks for sharing this.

soooo beautiful!

Thanks Stephanie!

Thanks Aleta! I'm loving your new comic pages!

these are great eric. you drawings are magical. keep it up.stay creative my friend.

These are great Eric! I love how Feebot is flying in an irregular pattern, leaving the little trail in the air

These drawings almost look animated!

This drawings remind me of my childhood, and I believe this is a really good thing for you!

your style is fantastic!
Thanks for visiting, we would add between my links

Eric, this is becoming very exciting!
Well, it has always been exciting to look at your drawings. BUT...THIS is becoming VERY exciting. : D
I love your pencil work. So, do you paint right over the pencil? Or, do you make a copy & paint on that?
amy

Thank you so much, C.B.!


Thanks Anthony! I've always avoided an animated look for some reason when doing comic books. I think I was thinking of something Federico Fellini said about film, how he didn't want to imitate literature because film is something totally unique. So I've thrown that out the window and I'm using whatever I can to make this the exact book I want it to be. And I'm glad you got that unsteady rhythm from Feebot. When you look at the page as a whole I hope you get this bumping, uneven rhythm throughout the page.

Thanks Koldo! That's exactly what I'm going for,I'm trying to do something I would love to read. Both then and now.

Thanks Emilio! I'm honoured!

Thanks Amy! It's really exciting for me too. There's something about having a long term project that is just amazing. Like being on a quest.
As for how I'm doing this, I do transfer these pencil sketches to water colour paper( I've ended up using using Fabriano 140 lb Artistico water colour paper ) and mostly just the out lines. Than I ink over that and then I paint a water colour under-painting and then I paint over that in gouache.

Nice Pencil Roughs

I have put a link to this post at: http://halifax.infomonkey.net.

I like to feature local artists. Could you tell me whch of the artists you link to are in Nova Scotia.

Well, if you are doing the book that you always wanted to read... I think that you're on the road!!
that's the good way!!

Cool! thanks Edward.
Info Monkey looks great!
Only Amber Wellmann is from town.
http://www.amberas.blogspot.com/

Thanks Kalo!

I did not realize that you even sold the originals Eric. Where are they listed, your etsy shop?
We always liked that painting a lot.

Sorry about that Frank.
I haven't advertised them or anything like that. It's been entirely people locally who have requested pieces.
I'll put some work up on Etsy today.

i can't agree more on your fear of selling originals. i recently sold two of my very early works and i was very sad to see them leave. don't get me wrong, the money is great, but i definitely have a separation problem.

great piece by the way.

a marvellous effect on this picture. really cool !

This is a really beautiful piece- I can see why it would be hard to part with! And congrats on your book hitting #1!

Wow! cool painting! not surprising you sold it! Sometimes I felt similar:It's strange to let something go sometimes, specially when you have painted it for yourself. It is different when it is a request from the beginning, at least for me... But it is very rewarding that someone wants to buy something that you did :D

Eric, beautiful piece. Yes, this would be a hard one to give up. But, I am sure you have made someone very happy.amy

I love your pink clouds. This reminds me of the other piece you have with pink clouds also and there is like a small island full of little houses. I really love that one :o)

Visionary taste, simply wonderful!
So long
Pagas

the pink clouds are delicious! remind me of cotton candy, i could live on these stairs! as for selling paintings, i know where you are coming from. i HATE selling my paintings, been known to shed a tear. they are all little pieces of me, my children, and it breaks my heart to send them off...but can't pay the bills as an artist if you don't sell your paintings. :(

Im with you, I have problems selling originals too. =)

The clouds remind me of cotton candy too.. but it does make me wonder where the clouds go.
*cotton candy heaven... tasty* ;)

an old favorite! I adore the assortment of paintings that come from not working on a specific project, but just for the sake of making it because you want to.
Congratulations on selling it, I imagine it was hard to part with.

"Stairway to Heaven"? ;-)

Thanks Peter. It's a funny trick I play. When I make these pieces making money is usually pretty far from my mind but to survive I have to self things I paint.

Merci, Achde!

Thanks on both accounts Eric. I also have a sloppy mind and am always forgetting to write down who bought what...

Thanks stranded! I find I do all these paintings to create this magical world around me and I hate to let that go, but other people should enjoy that too. By the way, I was looking at the sculpture on your website and it's really beautiful. You should do more!

Thanks Amy! It was for some children, so that is some consolation.

Thanks Alicia! I think I grew up with clouds like these. They are very typical here.

Thanks Pagas!

Thanks Christine! MMMM cotton candy...

Thanks Jennifer!

Thanks Ambera!

Ugh! YHa ha! Thanks Koldo!

Ok, thats it!! I'm moving to Nova Scotia then!

Olá!!! Adorei teu desenho, is very Good!

hey hey <3
your art is great!
thank you for your nice comment on my blog!
I've been very happy n__n
hope to hear from you very soon..
bye bye, congrats again!

Oh, I love this clouds illustration!

Paz

Hmmm... I don't know Alicia, I think the weather's a little nicer where you are. This only happens after the rain.

Thanks Ramont!

Thanks Serena! I will be back to visit your blog soon.

Thanks Paz! Maybe these clouds blew up from New York...

hello Erich! thank you so much!
I'm happy you appreciated my picture!!!
I really find your stuff interesting!
hope to hear from you soon
ALL THE BEST!
Serena

I can't put into words either, but understand how hard it is to let go. How brave of you to send your creations into the world having the faith they'll remain appreciated and not relegated to a closet.

LOL! Interestingly enough, I've been taking a LOT of cloud photos lately. ;-)

Paz

Thanks Serena!!

Thanks Vickie! I think the fact that my wife'll be having a baby in October makes me braver, we could use the money...

Clouds are one of my favorite subjects, Paz...

Love this piece!

I am a new guest here visiting your blog enticed by the adventurous whimsy of your work.

Thanks Terry!

Thanks Robin! I'm glad you're here!

That's just amazing!!! You must be very proud. You're friend did a GREAT work!

I know! Thanks Benjamin! I was so thrilled to see this and incredibly honoured. This is better than an award.

Moly CoW ,Eric, you are so lucky! THat sculpture is SuPeR aMaZing !!!
Anthony is truly a gifted artist, what a treasure! amy
and thank you for visiting my blog. :0)

Oh wow how amazing and beautiful Eric!!
Anthony rocks! You are very lucky to have such a wonderful and talented friend.. that is a very lovely gesture.

Now you can see your beloved Quentin from every angle and hold him in your hands. Very cool!

aw, I love!!!!!!!!!

That Anthony! What a great guy and artist!!!

these are great eric. very cool. these would make great reference for this character. congrats.

thanks for your support. it's good to be surrounded by a network of artist who you admire and respect. thanks.

Thanks Amy!

Thanks Alicia! It's very cool! And I'm super lucky to have friends like Anthony...and You!

Thanks Mirella!

I know! Thanks Roberta!

I couldn't agree more, C.B. For myself, living fairly isolated I'm super grateful to know people like you.

What a great present !

I know! Thanks Anais!

I love this sculpture!
It's amazing!

I know! Your books look amazing too, Xavier!

AWSOME! That's the sort of thing I want to get in the mail :0

Wow! Very, very nice!

Paz

Stunning. . .simply stunning!

What an incredible gift!

Thanks everyone! I just hope Anthony is reading this!!!

Just great!!!
Congratulations1

c'est une vraie merveille ! c'est magnifique !

You're awesome Eric! Thanks! and thanks everyone!

I put the model in the mail Saturday morning... hopefully it will arrive in about a week

Please don't get discouraged when things get tough (scanners, coffee, and deadlines... yikes!) You have a wonderful creation in the Robot Museum :) I'm anxious to see it finished!!!

Thanks Flavia and Achde!

Thanks Anthony! I hate to think I'm sounding to negative, I trey to see the humour in this stuff to. I'm only a tiny bit discouraged.

I'm sorry Eric... you don't sound negative... humor is the only way to get through it

although you may get a little depressed when you see the flaws of the model up close :)

-anthony

Yeesh, don't apologize. If you could hear my voice you'd know I never sound really serious.

It's great! How lucky for you.

Thanks Tara!

Sounds like it was meant to be ! A great opportunity. What is your time frame for the finished book ?

Thanks Amy! I would like to have both the the 12 page piece for scholastic education and a 10 page proposal done by the end of Julie. I'll continue work on a longer story after that, hoping to have a 100 page story done mid year next year, but hopefully earlier.

So, that's what's going on with all these robots ! It's a good thing you signed for a short story first : even if it's an old project of yours, with characters and designs you know well, it might be easier to shape it first in a short story.
(and good thing to keep the rights, too...)

Thanks Anais! Yeah, a short story will give me the chance to learn a bit more about this world as well before I launch off to a larger project.

nice

congratulations eric! good things come together in time...i've always believed that if i've held on to an idea that long it has merit....i think you've just proved that theory! you must be floating on air!

Wow, congrats!!
Thats fantastic =)

Thanks C.B.!

Thanks Christine! Actually , good things make me nervous...

Thanks Jennifer!

What a whirlwind year Eric! Written down like that it sounds like a crazy time.
I'm glad you've decided to go through and develop through scholastic, and excited..you really get the best of both worlds this way.

Thanks Ambera! It is crazy when I write it down. And to top it all off did you hear my new book is number 1 in sales? Pretty cool. Yeah, I think I'm doing the right thing. The deeper I get the harder these decisions become.

oh, no, a 10 page proposal signifying the end of Julie! Say it ain't so! :)

#1 in sales?!
That deserves applause. I'm clapping right now, can you hear me?

MMMNN..Julie can visit me whenever she wants...That's why the studio is under the same roof. That and we're poor...

I can hear you! Stoppit already! Thanks Ambera!

That sounds great! I love the robots and would love to have the story even though I don't have any little ones. You know when an idea is timeless, it really doesn't matter how long ago it was developed. It sounds possible this is such a piece!!

wonderful news! i think it is a tremendous opportunity, a new chance to allow your ink/ideas to spark the imagination of your readers.

congrats again.

Awesome. And kudos to you for taking the time to figure out what you wanted the business end of the process to be shaped like. So, so many people get into trouble by not having a clear idea of what they want in that regard...

Crazy story Eric. Awesome! It is so nice to read tales of triumph from guys doing their own unique brand of drawing and storytelling. I can't wait to see where this story goes. Everything is so damn cool so far.

Peace,
joe

A very cool story and opportunity! Congrats!

How absolutely great! I would love to see the Robot Museum stuff be published! I'm so happy for you...Ok, and a teensy bit jealous...but mostly happy!

happy for you. That's a great job and certainly a marvelous opportunity for you. As we say in France:
Tout vient à tmps pour celui qui sait attendre (you name is french, do you speak french ?).
Anyway : BRAVO !

Cool looking art! Good luck with the book!

Thanks Vickie! That's a really cool thing to hear, I really appreciate it.

Thanks Peter!

Thanks Tim! I realized early on I would have to have some responsibility for how I proceeded on the business side of things.

Thanks a lot Joe! I really appreciate it! I'm glad you guys are around to raise the bar for the rest of us. Can't wait to have a signed copy of El Grande!

Thanks Joseph!

Thanks Diane! Don't be jealous! It's not a huge thing and if i want to make a big graphic novel out of this, which I do, it'll be a bit of an uphill battle.

Merci, Achde! c'est vrai! My French is terrible, my Father was French but he passed away when I was very young so I never learned French properly. To my frustration.

Thanks Howard!

That's awesome, Eric! Funny how one thing leads to another in this business!

Thanks Jennifer! I've worked really hard but it still seems like everything that has happened has come from the most oblique, unexpected angle.

Correction...end of July!!

Julie

Right, july 23rd to be exact! Thanks Julie!