Ocular Tangent [The Blog of Alexandra Beguez]

1/17/12

2012-01-17T23:32:00.000-05:00

Happy 2012!

I'm almost done working on my Pulpo comic (hurray!) but there is still much to be done. In other news, I recently applied to the SVA MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program. I won't know whether I got into the program until April, but I have a good feeling about it. Now all attention can be paid to preparing for MoCCA (which is also in April). More updates soon!

12/27/11

2011-12-27T18:55:00.000-05:00

I'm off work this week and have been putting all this free time to good use. So far I inked over the pencils from my Owl Maiden print and finished an ink wash portrait of my aunt (above). Once I have access to scanner at work, these will go up on my website (Upgrading to Mac Lion rendered my scanner useless). The next couple days I'll be knee deep working on several comics at once. My goal is to finish pencils on all of them, plus some pages inked.

In other news, I've temporarily closed my web shop on Big Cartel. Long story short, Paypal is a silly, silly thing. But fret not! I've decided to open a shop on Society6 for prints of the non-handmade variety. Alas, I need to rescan a few things so these prints will go on sale some time next week.

12/19/11

2011-12-19T10:19:00.000-05:00

A watercolor portrait for a friend.

12/12/2011

2011-12-12T15:38:00.001-05:00

Howdy! So here is what's been going on the past few weeks…

My book Llama! Camel! (edition of 16) has been fully assembled, complete with book jacket. How fancy. (Forgive my oddly-framed photos…)

Here is another project I worked on in November with Shalimar Luis which was hush-hush until recently. We collaborated on this baby shower invitation for our mutual friends Monica and Tom. The cards (edition of 75) turned out beautifully and everyone really enjoyed them. Hurray!

Lastly, I finished printing my Owl Maiden posters (edition of 30) this weekend (finally). The colors look completely different on white paper, which is fun. These posters and my Llama! Camel! book will be available for purchase on my web shop soon.

I still have much work to do. I'm wrapping up a commission (which I am hoping to silkscreen over the weekend somehow) and putting the final touches on my Pulpo mini-comic. WHY TIME GO FAST?

11/22/11

2011-11-22T20:12:00.001-05:00

It's on to the next one: a second printing of my Owl Maidens poster.

I'm concurrently working on a mini comic and a super awesome commission. Hoping to get some serious work done on both projects over the Thanksgiving break.

Happy gobbles!

11/14/11

2011-11-14T14:41:00.001-05:00

Shalimar and I spent most of our Saturday at the printshop working on our friends' baby shower invitation.

We're heading back to the printshop next Saturday to wrap up the job so they can be sent out Thanksgiving weekend. These cards are looking soooo sexy that we are going to submit them to FPO and other design blogs. We've enjoyed collaborating so much that we are thinking over what our next project will be. Shal and I also want to chronicle our process in an extensive inaugural post for our soon-to-be-revived blog, Partners in Design, some time in January.

Next on my to-do list, I plan on assembling my llama/camel book today in class while setting up my next silkscreen project: a second edition of my Owl Maiden print (seen here).

11/10/11

2011-11-10T10:58:00.001-05:00

It's been/being a highly productive week! Firstly, I contributed to Alex Griendling's awesome blog, Raygun52. I was very excited when asked to contribute to the project but then I slowly realized that I had no idea what to draw. Everyone who knows me knows I am not one to draw guns or related artillery.

The idea came to me one Sunday afternoon while having brunch with friends. Although I can't recall how the conversation steered itself into the realm of shotguns, I remember saying it would be funny if you can shoot puppies at people, subduing them with the puppy's cuteness. Everyone got a kick out of it, followed by a few minutes of demonstrating how said gun would work. Mosey on over to Raygun52 and enjoy my ray-gun's impracticality.

Above is a snippet of the other project I'm working on. I've tag-teamed with Shalimar Luis to create the cutest baby shower invitations you've ever seen for a mutual close friend. We're heading to the printshop this Saturday to silkscreen the cards. Hopefully we'll be able to print both sides. Either way, I'll take a ton of pictures and chronicle our process.

10/27/11

2011-10-27T13:04:00.001-04:00

Work in progress at the printshop.

10/10/11

2011-10-10T17:12:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday, my friend Kim Ku and I got together to make some tic-tac-toe comics. We were inspired by Matt Madden and Tom Hart's experimental comics jam and decided to give it a try.

The rules are simple: One cartoonist is X and the other is O. Since we played two games, we each got a turn being X and O. You play tic tac toe by incorporating an X or O in the panel somehow. The game ends once all the panels are drawn in (neither of us won, so we added the extra rule of incorporating an ox in the last panel we drew to signify a draw). We made it more difficult on ourselves by staying within a theme: mine was science fiction and Kim's was "creepy". Kim wrote a more thorough post on her blog showing some progress shots, if you are so inclined.

You can see both our comics here!

9/27/11

2011-09-27T23:38:00.000-04:00

My "desk", featuring some Star Trek paraphernalia and a shit-ton of paper and books.

The thing with comics (for me) is that I seldom have anything far enough along to post. However, with both my classes in full swing, you'll be bound to see some new work soon.

The status of my current projects: Still developing the octopus comic I mentioned in a previous post. Decided to change its format to a regular pamphlet-style comic with fun silkscreen goodies. In the meanwhile, I'm working on a short accordion book featuring a herd of sassy llamas mingling with a caravan of laid-back camels. It's looking super-cute and will probably be one of the first things I show you next month.

Last, but not least, I'm penciling thumbnails for my comic, The Owl Maiden (this may or may not be the working title). I'm unsure how many pages it will take to properly tell the story, but as of this moment the page count has swollen to 32! I'm hoping to finish a third of the book by December.

9/10/11

2011-09-10T17:31:00.001-04:00

I've been busy wrapping up a few projects (see above) and starting some new ones. Recently got the great news that my friends and I (calling ourselves the Three-Armed Squid) will have a table at this year's MoCCA Festival, so this means we'll be creating a ton of new work to fill up said table. Currently on my plate is a new (and longer) accordion book featuring a sea-faring octopus, a short comic about the perils of spring on Neptune and among other things, a very special ray gun. All this work will be serving double-duty as I'm reorganizing my portfolio for the grad school application frenzy to come later this fall.

8/25/11

2011-08-25T23:40:00.000-04:00

The mysterious owl maidens gather together when night is most black and dance until dawn on my latest screenprint. As I've alluded in the last couple of posts, my last silkscreen project for the semester was printing on wood. It presented new challenges to me. Half the blocks did not work out, but the ones that did look great. I also printed an edition of 18 on Arches & BFK Rives paper for good measure. They will both go up in the shop in late September. I will be taking another silkscreen class in the fall, which will be my busiest class/semester yet! First up is another accordion book (God help me) starring a sea-faring octopod. So much planning awaits me! In the meanwhile, below are each of the separations on the boards:

7/26/11

2011-07-26T22:35:00.002-04:00

My newest silkscreen print, Trinity, is now on sale in my shop! After a very long battle to get the separations registered, I'm very happy with how the poster turned out. Next up, silkscreening on wood!

7/18/11

2011-07-18T11:46:00.005-04:00

Thumbnail for Page 3 of my as-of-yet-untitled comic.

…for the lack of posts. I'm currently working on a 20-page comic, which is taking up most of my free time. The plan is to post the first 10 pages of the comic online once drawn and inked. In the meanwhile, I have been cooking up a new silkscreen poster ~~which I will reveal tomorrow and go on sale in my shop~~. It will be revealed next week and promptly go on sale in my shop. Below is a preview of my practice run:

6/8/11

2011-06-08T11:29:00.004-04:00

May was a hallucinogenic blur. Mid-month a few friends and I visited Phoenix and Las Vegas, which involved hiking (or vertical climbs, to be more precise), lounging in pools and experiencing pure joy and, well, love after having seen The Beatles LOVE show. Due to the strategic timing of said vacation, I accomplished nothing last month. Actually that's a lie. I did revamp a website for my current employer, but I didn't accomplish any personal goals.

Luckily, the rest of the summer is full of projects waiting to be tackled. I'm taking a record two classes this summer to aid in my quest to get stuff done. One class, an independent projects seminar (helmed by Tom Hart and Matt Madden), will keep my next comic project The Offering (working title) on schedule. It'll be the longest comic I've worked on to date at a whopping 20 pages, which will be challenging on many levels. I also plan on making a few new silkscreen goodies: the usual posters and printing on wood.

My motivation to work hard this summer is the knowledge that the deadline to apply for the MFA Illustration program at SVA is looming. I want to create a portfolio that will make me proud, whether or not I get into the program. Although getting accepted to the program would be nice. So let's make it happen!

5/24/11

2011-05-24T16:38:00.006-04:00

My latest web endeavor, updating the SVA BFA Computer Art Department's website, launched yesterday, featuring the Class of 2011's thesis films. I still have some odds and ends to tend, but I am really happy with the site's new minimalist direction.

You can see the entire website at www.svacomputerart.com.

4/27/11

2011-04-27T19:52:00.004-04:00

A little preview of the new Alien Raver: Quilt cover. I'll be heading to the printshop this weekend to silkscreen a whopping 120 of 'em (May the Lords of Kobol be with me)! Along with these limited-edition covers, the short story itself will be given a proper conclusion (it left off as a cliffhanger). It will then go up for sale on my shop. Once that's done, new projects eagerly await me: a new comic (or three), more silkscreen prints and books, family portraits and possibly new etchings. Quite the summer line-up!

UPDATE: Somewhere along the line, I messed up the covers so I will be reprinting them in June when the printshop reopens. Peeved at all the money spent on paper, but at least now I know where to buy more for cheaper.

4/11/11

2011-04-11T13:01:00.005-04:00

The MoCCA Festival this past weekend was a blast! I was exhibiting alongside the SVA Computer Art Department, although myself and fellow table-mate Ellen Su (whose work you should check out) took over the table. Many passersby were transfixed on our student and alumni work (including many little kids, which was funny since most of ours posters featured nudity). I sold a few copies of my new Owl Maiden mini-comic and Alien Raver postcards. Being my first time on the other side of the table, I quickly absorbed tips and tricks from the other exhibitors and will be putting these ideas into action at next year's festival. I most certainly will be better prepared with more mini-comics and inexpensive goodies! Overall it was a great experience and cannot wait to do it again. Below are some snapshots of our table and artwork.

Many thanks to all who purchased my books and stopped by our table to say hello! Appreciated more than you know.

4/8/11

2011-04-08T17:14:00.002-04:00

The elusive Owl Maiden has chosen to reveal herself to you! I've been working diligently the past few weeks on my newest mini-comic, The Owl Maiden, debuting this weekend at The MoCCA Festival (You can also view the mini-comic in its entirety here). This story is a prelude to long-form comic/graphic novel, tentatively titled The Owl Maidens, which I will begin working on this summer. The mini-comic is a 5-color silkscreen accordion book printed on either BFK Rives cream or gray paper (Choice is always fun!). It's a limited edition of 22, so if I have any copies left over from MoCCA, I will put them for sale on my web shop. Below are some work in progress shots…

I will also be selling my Alien Cheshire print and Turlitunnel etching. A purchase of either three goodies mentioned above will get you an exclusive Alien Raver silkscreen postcard (otherwise priced at $1 each).

The MoCCA Fest will be held on April 9th and 10th at the Lexington Avenue Armory, on 68 Lexington Avenue, between 25th and 26th streets. Admission is $10 per day, $15 for a weekend pass. Hope to see you there!

4/1/11

2011-04-01T19:04:00.003-04:00

MoCCA 2011 poster designed by Peter Kuper

Good news, everyone! Alien Raver will be making its debut at this year's MoCCA Festival, April 9th and 10th. My corner of the table I'm sharing will have some Alien Raver silkscreened posters and etchings available for you to grab up, as well as a non-Alien Raver mini-comic which I am currently racing to finish in time. Depending on how much time I have, I may have some Quilt mini-comics to sell. Who knows. This has somehow become last-minute. I will have more information as the dates get closer.

EXCITEMENT.

2/22/11

2011-02-22T21:32:00.002-05:00

Surprise! I created a second edition of my Alien Cheshire screenprint (here is the first edition) while I prepared for my next silkscreen project (more on that later).

This print has 6 separations (or colors), of which I tried taking work-in-progress photos when I could. I went for a nice yellow-orange paper which doubled as a 7th color, making the whole thing pop. A friend of mine gave me two sheets of orange so it was interesting to compare the two when printing. Needless to say the two orange prints will remain in my permanent collection (because I am selfish). This edition will go on sale at this year's MoCCA Festival in NYC.

As for my next silkscreen project, I'm working on an accordion book. It'll be a short mini-comic with a tie-in to a long-form comic called The Owl Maiden (more on that here). My goal is to finish this project in early April (perhaps more MoCCA fodder?) so I can silkscreen the cover for my Alien Raver mini-comic, Quilt. So much to do, so little time! More updates soon…

1/30/11

2011-01-30T21:45:00.007-05:00

Sketches drawn at this Sunday's Dr Sketchy's. The night's theme was Neil Gaiman's Sandman characters.

1/12/11

2011-01-12T20:36:00.010-05:00

And so begins a new year and a new decade…

It's expected to have a New Year's Resolution of sorts. You'll eventually get asked if you have one. You probably do, except you never see it through to fruition. Because, despite your best intentions, your heart's not in it or life happens, or more likely, both. I'm determined to change my procrastinating ways and follow through with my resolution: make more comics. Granted, I am not the most prolific cartoonist, but this doesn't mean I can't have a few projects in the pipeline, or preferably work on two simultaneously. Knowing myself, I have schemed ways to keep me in check and very much motivated.

Firstly, I shall be taking another class with friends this semester: a silk-screening class that concentrates on turning printed sequential images into artists' books, themed portfolios and beloved comics. All things I need to work on. This will give me the much-needed hard nudge to wrap up my mini-comic, Alien Raver: Quilt, as well as start on a non-Alien Raver related mini-comic tentatively titled The Offering (More on that in a later post). I would also like to redo my previous Alien Raver screenprints, as I am not very happy with how they turned out.

Secondly, I think the best way to accomplish any goal is to surround yourself with people who have similar aspirations and create a support base. To this end, I have recruited good friends Shalimar Luis and Laz Marquez to reinvigorate our long-neglected Partners in Design collective. With monthly meetings at the very least, we'll come together and discuss our current and upcoming projects, provide constructive criticism and more importantly, give each other the encouragement to see these projects through to the end. Together we'll be unstoppable.

Parallel to my PID cohorts, I will be working on a comic collaboration with my cyberpunk-loving friend, writer Melissa Dominic (whose work you can read here and here).

Although my comics are in various stages of production (some still ideas cohabiting in my head), I want to share with you fine folks what I plan on working on this year. Most importantly, I want to go back and redo my original Alien Raver comic. Initially a project for an inking class I took two years ago, I've since expanded upon my nameless protagonist's character and the silly world he inhabits (which you can see here). I intended it to be a stream-of-consciousness sorta-comic with no end in sight. After considering what kind of stories I want to tell, I've found he's bettered suited to self-contained stories with little attention paid to continuity unless I deem so relevant (think Dexter's Laboratory or early Aeon Flux).

Alongside my Alien Raver love child, my other comic in the works is titled The Owl Maiden (which I had intended to contribute to the Sketchbook Project this year but couldn't due to prior freelance commitments). Without giving it away, it's the tale of a young cobbler lured by the titular owl maiden into a dancing orgy.

I'm MORE than excited going into 2011. After I finish my freelance gig ~~(of which I will post the results of shortly)~~, I'll be kicking it into high-gear and posting on a more-regular basis. See you later, space cowboy…

12/15/10

2010-12-15T11:39:00.005-05:00

Christmas has come early for you Alien Raver lovers! I have (mostly) finished my Alien Raver mini-comic, Quilt, which is now up on www.alienraver.com, in its (almost) entirety! I will be selling Quilt in upcoming comic festivals in-and-around NYC, as well as on my website (which I am hoping to have completely overhauled by January) as an accordion-bound book with a silkscreen cover.

10/20/10

2010-10-20T22:42:00.002-04:00

A little preview of what's to come…

As I've been constantly referring to on Twitter, I've enrolled in a class at the School of Visual Arts called Creating Independent Comics. I'm using it as a springboard to work on an Alien Raver mini-comic as I slowly re-write my original Alien Raver web-comic. It will be presented as an accordion book with silkscreened sleeve acting as both cover and container. As an appetizer to the finished book, I'll post the first six panels before I put the book on sale in my shop (and possibly in future comic festivals?).

10/13/10

2010-10-13T22:45:00.003-04:00

I was commissioned by a friend to create this portrait for an upcoming lecture at the MFA Design Department at SVA. Had fun making it, and can't wait to see it as part of the poster promoting the event! I'll post it once I get my little hands on it.

10/11/10

2010-10-11T21:06:00.001-04:00

10/2/10

2010-10-02T13:05:00.001-04:00

I finally opened my shop back up, fully stocked with several Alien Raver prints. Mosey on over and bring home a turliphant of your own!

9/9/10

2010-09-09T00:38:00.004-04:00

I decided to spot some blacks on this drawing to make for a more interesting composition, as well as differentiate it from the silkscreen edition.

8/9/10

2010-08-09T15:17:00.007-04:00

Here's my finished silkscreen print of Alien Cheshire (see two posts down)! This is the first in a series of three inspired by the book Alice in Wonderland. The print above combines the trouble-making Cheshire Cat and the ever-high Caterpillar. Below are the work in progress shots taken in the print shop.

This limited edition of 29 will be on sale for $35 later this month. Keep your eyes peeled!

8/4/10

2010-08-04T11:16:00.007-04:00

My first (successful) silkscreen print, featuring Alien Raver and those gosh-darn lovable turliphants. Borrowed from a page in the web-comic to focus on learning the technique. Silkscreening is more setup and cleanup than actual printing. But now I've got the hang of it, I find myself a big fan of the whole process. Below are some work in progress shots from the printshop:

I'll be selling this edition of 18 for $25 each (as soon as my shop reopens).

7/26/10

2010-07-26T20:36:00.005-04:00

Apologies for the lack of posts this summer. Many new projects on my plate, but currently I've been working on a series of featuring Alien Raver in scenes from one of my favorite books, Alice in Wonderland. This particular illustration features him as the Cheshire Cat, consuming both sides of the caterpillar's mushroom. It begs the question: will he grow taller, or will he grow shorter? My ultimate goal with this set is to make limited edition silkscreen posters, which will be for sale late summer. Next up, a very merry un-birthday!

5/12/10

2010-05-12T14:54:00.005-04:00

The last and one of my favorite etchings I made this semester, this slumberous camel is meant to be one half of a set (the other being this llama etching). The color palette came out EXACTLY to my liking, a warm purple/red with yellow dominating the figure and subtle orange adding to the form. Etching is a long, quite messy process requiring much patience and a good sense of humor. It has forced me to relinquish some control over the process and its end result and just go with the flow: a good lesson indeed.

5/9/10

2010-05-09T22:53:00.004-04:00

This etching was created using a technique called sugar-lift. This involves me using a combination of gum arabic and black ink to "paint" onto the plate (versus makes lines with a metal needle-pen). Inspired by a life drawing sketch, I may do a few more in this style in the future.

5/7/10

2010-05-07T09:49:00.004-04:00

In lieu of my lack of Alien Raver comic-making, I decided to create an etching of them silly critters! This particular etching took me a few tries to get right. I accidentally etched it with the image reversed one time, another the line work didn't set deeply enough. Either way, I'm very happy with how this print came out. A limited edition of a dozen or so prints were made on my last day of class, since the next step for this plate is to add some solid grays and blacks. It'll be posted on my Etsy shop soon!

5/4/10

2010-05-04T14:03:00.005-04:00

A continuation of my last post.

4/26/10

2010-04-26T21:48:00.010-04:00

Finally, work to post! One of three new etchings I'll be posting throughout the next couple of days (of which I previewed on Twitter). This has the same line art as this etching: however, I somehow awkwardly scratched the plate and in an effort to save it, added some texture. Want to try printing this on different colored paper and inks and make a few limited edition variants. If that sounds moderately interesting to you, keep an eye on my Etsy shop…

4/6/10

2010-04-06T09:04:00.007-04:00

Two Saturdays ago I attended Dr. Sketchy's for their circus-inspired session. Fun variety of costumes and poses this time around (the last model from the previous time I attend barely moved). I even broke out my watercolor moleskine for the event (on which I painted the last two sketches). It amazes me how naturally I am taking to using watercolors. Since taking an inking for comics class, I've become much more comfortable using such mediums. I find it more practical using watercolor/ink for life drawing than pencils now. Go figure!

3/13/10

2010-03-13T23:31:00.009-05:00

I headed to the Metropolitan Museum on Friday and sat myself down in the seldom visited Arts of Africa, Oceania and The Americas galleries. I found the masks, figurines and totem poles to be expressive little characters ripped right from a page of a comic book or frame from an animated movie; distinct personalities with stories waiting to be told and heard.

Unfortunately, fifteen minutes into my second study (after getting over the small crowd of people looking over my shoulder while I was drawing), one of the guards politely tells me wet media is not allowed in the museum unless I have special permission. He added that pen/markers are also not allowed (as if he knew what my next choice in medium was). So caught off-guard (and annoyed) was I that I stormed out of the gallery and forgot to take down notes on the totems.

Think I might try the American Museum of Natural History next, as they have a larger collection of totem poles. Although I'll have to keep the watercolors at home. Boo.

2/28/10

2010-02-28T23:22:00.005-05:00

Had a chance to attend this past Saturday's Dr. Sketchy's session on the Lower East Side with Laz Marquez. However, we got there an hour late (oops) and only managed to find a spot to stand in the back of the bar. Our distant viewpoint of the model posed some challenges, but Laz and I pumped out some amazing drawings. Oddly enough, I brought my watercolors to the session (and anyone who knows me knows I never use watercolors), proving to be a good case of foresight. I worked loosely and produced these sketches on my moleskine (which held well and barely buckled). The highlight of the night was when Laz won the final contest, which has us incorporating a dictator into the drawing (trust me, as soon as he posts it I will provide a link). We might try going again in two weeks, my job schedule notwithstanding.

1/20/10

2010-01-20T17:56:00.001-05:00

1/10/10

2010-01-10T20:07:00.012-05:00

My cousin recently purchased a book by Maria Sibylla Merian (April 2, 1647 – January 13, 1717), a German naturalist and botanic illustrator. I'd never heard of this artist, and as I browsed through the book's pages I was quickly impressed and enamored with her engravings. Merian spent two years traveling the then-Dutch colony of Surinam, sketching the exotic fauna and flora of its interior rain forests. In 1705, she published her third book Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, collecting her engravings (based on her watercolor sketches) from her time abroad. Merian's careful chronicling of the life cycle of caterpillars and butterflies greatly contributed to entomology. This went against the prevailing opinion of the day, as it was commonly thought insects "spontaneously generated out of rotting mud". Her trip to Surinam in and of itself is also noteworthy, as not many women in the 1700s sailed across the seas without the company of a man to explore the New World colonies.

The following illustrations are a few of my many favorites from her third book. Her attention to detail, use of color and compositions are superb. I'd really love to see the original sketches behind these masterful engravings.

More information on Maria Sibylla Merian can be found here and here.

1/4/10

2010-01-04T22:30:00.008-05:00

It's been a while since we last saw each other. What's kept me? Well, I started a new full-time job in November which has drained me of my energy, resulting in my neglected blog (and sketchbook… and everything else). Now that it's 2010, I've decided that my resolution this year was to really dedicate all of my (free) time to my various projects; preparing for eventually exhibiting at local comic conventions and even self-publishing my comic. Here's a little list of what I hope to accomplish this year:

+ First and foremost, work on Alien Raver, my web-comic (which you can see here). I'm starting over, adding more details to the story and basically re-drawing everything seen up to this point. My main goal is to complete and possibly self-publish the first chapter of my in-my-head-this-is-going-to-be-a-sprawling-epic comic. Finishing the entire comic might take me longer than a year, but I want a good head start. If I can even get the whole story down on paper, that would be an amazing accomplishment.

+ As a companion piece to my comic, I want to create an Alien Raver ABC book. I'd like it to be a silk-screened limited edition book, with crazy detailed illustrations of everyone's favorite no-name buzzard & friends in crazy situations corresponding to a letter in the alphabet. Considering starting a kickstarter project to help fund this goal. This would also assist in another goal of mine…

+ …I would like to build a strong illustration portfolio and apply to SVA's MFA Illustration Department for Fall 2011. Financially I have no idea how I am going to do this, but for now I want to focus on creating a better body of work. I generally want to hone my skills in the areas of inking, painting (with gouache) and printmaking. I never want to lose steam creativity.

+ Redesign my website/blog. Not completely though. I like what I have going on, I just want to make it all work better and look more cohesive. So don't be surprised when you see more doodles of me in random costumes floating around my portfolio site.

+ More sketching! Gonna try sketching at least once a week, which seems fesible considering all the planning I have to do for Alien Raver.

I'm excited for what I can accomplish this year. So stick around and expect more posts full of sketches, works-in-progress, finished illustrations and comics galore!

10/19/09

2009-10-19T12:51:00.005-04:00

From last week's drawing session.

10/9/09

2009-10-09T13:11:00.004-04:00

This week's model was particularly hard to draw, and I wasn't the only one who had trouble in class. At some point I decided to forgo drawing her head (or actually create an entirely new face), which yielded better results.

10/6/09

2009-10-06T21:52:00.006-04:00

These are the 5, 10, and 20 minute poses (respectively) from last week's life drawing class. By the end of the session I had gotten the hang of it. Still need to speed up, though. Wondering if I should go tomorrow or stay home and work on other endeavors?

10/1/09

2009-10-01T12:27:00.005-04:00

9/23/09

2009-09-23T12:46:00.005-04:00

Saw this lying around the apartment and decided to work on my inking/brush skills. Might do something with the background…

9/22/09

2009-09-23T12:41:00.004-04:00

Had an opportunity to visit The High line on Labor Day, and drew this quick sketch while taking in the view.

9/4/09

2009-09-04T16:16:00.009-04:00

I've always had the intention of going to graduate school. Since graduating and acquiring my BFA degree, I get the sensation that I'm slacking off (in the educational sense) and stuck in a rut. Also, this ridiculous recession has hit me hard, which only deepens the depths of my rut. The only remedy I can think of is going back to school, using the time wisely to improve my skills as an artist and a storyteller while having the freedom to experiment and explore new avenues of expression. Oh yeah, and make new contacts and network. And let's not forget to socialize with a new crowd of people with similar interests. There are numerous reasons why going to grad school is a good idea. Unfortunately, there are also several reasons why it's a bad or unnecessary idea. Thus creating a dilemma for yours truly.

For a while now, I've planned to apply for an MFA in Illustration. It was my intial choice when applying for college the first time around, but I decided to go for Computer Art (Animation) instead. Don't get me wrong, I love filmmaking and animation in particular. A degree in illustration would help expand my job options, as well as supplement my animation skills. However, not many schools offer graduate programs in illustration. Fine arts, yes. Printmaking, yes. But illustration is no where to be seen. The only schools I've found that offer programs are SVA (my alma mater), Savannah College of Art and Design, Academy of Art in San Francisco, and Minneapolis College of Art and Design. There is also the well-known Central St Martins College of Art in London. The lack of choice for us illustration-types is disheartening.

Except for SVA, all my other options are very far away and involve my moving for at least two years. One even requires me to procure a student visa. Although moving far away from everything I know would mostly likely be an amazing experience that can add to my learning experience, I am not sure I am ready to take such a step. I also have to keep in mind, will moving affect job availability for me. That leads to the ultimate reason to think twice about grad school: money. I was looking up tuition for SVA's program (which is my first pick at the moment) and it'll definitely set me back for a long time. Unless I marry a millionaire or win the lottery along the way. Is it even worth going to grad school in the end? More debt than you'll be able to pay off in one lifetime, the possibility it doesn't improve your chances in the work force, the off-chance that it turns out to be a sucky experience, etc. There is also the horrible chance that I may not be good enough to get into any of the aforementioned programs in the first place. It's arguable that if I just keep applying myself and keep on enrolling in continuing education classes, it would have the same effect as going for an MFA degree with less damage to my wallet.

I still plan on applying to a few places in December (including The Center for Cartoon Studies, which offers an MFA in Cartooning/Comics). I hope by that point, I'll have decided what is best for me. What do you think?

8/18/09

2009-08-18T10:20:00.002-04:00

Another etching from my portrait series.

8/15/09

2009-08-15T21:07:00.005-04:00

The first part of a 3-plate etching. This is going to be a very challenging illustration, but so far it's looking to be one of my best-looking etchings yet. I have to wait until September to work on the other two plates, so until then I present you with this sneak peek.

8/8/09

2009-08-08T14:50:00.004-04:00

If you haven't noticed by now, I have a most peculiar obsession with America's 16th president. For some reason I am not completely satisfied with this portrait. I may try adding some areas of gray in the face and background for some additional depth.

8/5/09

2009-08-05T20:45:00.005-04:00

Here are my latest prints in a series of etchings featuring llamas and camels. July proved to be a busy month in all things non-art so not much was accomplished sadly. But I have learned that printmaking-shop access has been extended past my last class date, so I hope to pump out a few more prints before it officially closes.

For those who don't follow me on Twitter, part of the reason I was blog-absent in July was my attending San Diego Comic Con and visiting friends in LA. I had a jolly good time running around the exhibit hall and trying to get into various panels (such as James Cameron's Avator and LOST). I didn't purchase much art however (for the except of this Alex Pardee poster). I felt that this convention placed more emphasis on television shows and movies when compared to NY's Comic Con. Artist alley was considerably smaller (although there were interesting booths scattered about the place). I think anyone that is into comics, illustration, fine arts, and the "popular arts" should attend SDCC at least once in their life.

From now on, I will be exclusively working on portfolio pieces for grad school admission in December, as well as my neglected Alien Raver comic. Prepare for more frequent posts as I exercise my mental and hand muscles!

6/30/09

2009-06-30T12:48:00.007-04:00

A print from my most recent etching. Working on a new etching featuring a camel in, where else, the desert. Only 5 more classes left though (eep!) so I must speed up.

6/19/09

2009-06-19T20:38:00.007-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this month! It's been a busy past couple of weeks, and my topsy-turvy schedule at work makes it hard to get down to business in my spare time. I'm behind on several projects, Alien Raver to name one. However, I've managed to start on a few things in the meanwhile: I'm taking another etching class this summer to continue working on my portrait series (see example), as well as a new series featuring camels and llamas. Also been working diligently on a new business card design to have ready in time for my trip to the San Diego Comic Con in July. On the topic of Alien Raver, I'm aiming to have new pages ready by August, including a mini-comic I never got around to posting.

While you wait, mosey on over to my website and check out new work posted in the illustration and sketchbook galleries. Feel free to follow me on twitter!

5/18/09

2009-05-18T23:34:00.002-04:00

5/8/09

2009-05-08T12:09:00.003-04:00

A little turliphant to keep you company in the meanwhile…

5/4/09

2009-05-04T12:44:00.004-04:00

This is the second of my series of intaglio portraits. I want to work on her eyes a little more, darken them a tad for more contrast.

5/2/09

2009-05-02T00:22:00.005-04:00

Finally, I present to you the first in a series of portraits. I am very satisfied with how this etching turned out, especially after messing up the first one I made and having to start from scratch (since this is painted freehand). I am entertaining the thought of printing this with color or maybe adding more tone, but I have a whole month to think about it as the SVA printshop is closed until June. More to show soon!

4/21/09

2009-04-21T14:55:00.007-04:00

My newest monoprint of a dromedary (Arabian) camel. I plan on working on a monoprint of another type of camelid, maybe even making a set of three. Also have a sugar-lift etching in the pipeline which I plan on finishing the more "technical" aspects of the process tomorrow (unless it needs a certain je ne sais pas). Hopefully I'll be able to proof it and give you guys a preview!

For anyone who has no idea what an etching is (because I tend to spew out all this terminology with minimal explanation), go here for more information.

4/15/09

2009-04-15T20:51:00.006-04:00

These are from the last life drawing session of the semester. Although I must wait until September to practice drawing nudes, I will try to draw from life whenever I get the chance. Starbucks, here I come!

4/13/09

2009-04-13T19:58:00.006-04:00

By George, I think I've got it! Now if I can only repeat my success. Refer to my last post with Remus for more information.

4/8/09

2009-04-08T17:08:00.007-04:00

A return to using Sharpies and Prismacolor markers were in order last night. The resulting look is very much to my liking, so I am going to implement it in my sketches from now on (or at least until I find another way I like better). These drawings also complete this sketchbook's epic journey, so now it's on to the next one!

4/7/09

2009-04-07T13:13:00.005-04:00

A page from a life drawing session two Tuesdays ago. Planning on going to tonight's session with the goal of filling up the last few pages of my first-ever moleskine.

4/3/09

2009-04-03T11:40:00.003-04:00

Just can't get enough of the ol' boy. I'm still playing around with this etching, figuring out how I want it to look as a finished piece. Added some tone to his blazer using a technique called spit-bite aquatint. My etching workshop teacher went crazy adding primaries together to get the nice brown seen on the second print (plus fun splotches of left-over color). The more I look at it, the more I like it having color vs. just using black. So during my next class I am going to play around with the color inks and see what happens! I'd like to make a few portraits utilizing this style, perhaps work on a slightly larger scale to get the most out of the brushstrokes. But I only have 4 weeks of class left so I better get crackin'!

4/2/09

2009-04-02T14:42:00.009-04:00

I was able to attend another life drawing session on Tuesday night (to my delight), so here are the results. I put down my moleskine for a bit and tried messing around with ink wash (my inking for comics teacher would be proud). My first attempt I wasn't too crazy about, so for the second I decided to pencil lightly as a guide to much better results. However I still need to work on getting faster so I can get as much detail as possible. By the end of the class I felt very inspired about an illustration project I hope to start working on in April (among a zillion other things).

There is so much to do this spring/summer/fall before applying to grad school that it boggles my mind. I plan on applying to the School of Visual Arts MFA Illustration program for Fall 2010. I originally wanted to major in illustration for my BFA but I ended up in Computer Arts land. Although I am pretty confident that I will get into the program, a part of me fears that I have no potential as an illustrator and SVA will see that and reject me. But I think I'll feel better once I start accumulating good pieces in my portfolio. And there is always Alien Raver to keep my hopes up!

3/26/09

2009-03-26T13:52:00.004-04:00

I managed to finally attend a life drawing class at SVA. I can't wait until March is over: I'm always exhausted and never seem to have time to work on anything personal. Just a few more days…

3/22/09

2009-03-22T22:32:00.006-04:00

It's been a long and busy month. Haven't been able to put out as many Alien Raver sketches as I originally intended, but I will try to make it up to everyone by drawing like a madwoman in April! I present to you a new character: Summer Heimdall. She will be appearing in the next few pages. Although I don't want to give up too much information, I'll tell you this: Her name foreshadows her significance within the story and you've briefly seen a version of her in the beginning of the comic. Confused yet? Well, the answers will be here soon!

More sketches to come in the following weeks until Alien Raver's triumphant return.

3/17/09

2009-03-17T14:51:00.009-04:00

Last week I was able to pull a half dozen prints of Remus (left) and Sea Jellies (right) before school closed for spring break. After all the unexpected enthusiasm for the Sea Jellies print, I've decided to start selling them! They go for $25 each, printed on Archies white paper and are around 6x9 inches (paper size 11x15 inches). Email me at alex@bisforbeguez.com if you're interesting in purchasing one!

2/27/09

2009-02-27T17:18:00.006-05:00

In this last (but not final) installment, our lonely protagonist reveals a darker side of himself. He lets nothing stand in his way, not even a cute little turliphant. Determined to find the woman that haunts his memory, he struggles ever forward… but what lies in wait for him across the sand dune? And where are all those turliphants coming from? Find out when Alien Raver returns in mid-April with new installments!

In the meanwhile, I'll be posting sketches randomly that will feature new and old characters (such as in this previous post) appearing in the next installment or perhaps in a much more distant chapter?!… So stay tuned and thanks for reading!

2/26/09

2009-02-26T11:01:00.005-05:00

My newest working coming from my etching workshop class. Above, Remus makes an appearance in my newest work in progress. Below, the cnidaria swim in a deep blue-magenta ocean via another coloring technique I tried out, although it a messy process. I have some ideas for a series of etchings, but with my crazy schedule I dunno how much I will get done before the end of April. I would like to post my entire process, from rough sketch to final etching, but that implies I would have to remember to do that. So we'll see!

2/21/09

2009-02-21T15:52:00.003-05:00

The pit-moshing, doo-wopping and air-guitaring as-of-yet-nameless protagonist of my comic Alien Raver.

2/17/09

2009-02-17T12:01:00.006-05:00

I've got some bad news and I've got some good news. The bad news is there will be no new Alien Raver this week. In fact, next week will be the conclusion to the current story arc (and will be an extra long installment of Alien Raver spanning the equivalent of 3 pages). After next week, Alien Raver will go on hiatus until April. I can hear you all booing across the internet already, with tomatoes in hand. BUT!… the good news is, what's coming up on Alien Raver is going to make your mind go supernova. It only gets wackier from here! Throughout the month-long hiatus, I'll be posting Alien Raver sketches, including characters you've already met and some that you will be meeting shortly.

So prepare for next week's finale by catching up with what's been going on so far over at www.alienraver.com.

2/13/09

2009-02-13T14:35:00.004-05:00

Getting back into the etching groove. This print was made just using aquatint and although this was just a test plate, I think I am going to try and incorporate this technique into my future work. I especially like the ghost images in the background. For some fun examples of aquatints, I refer you to Francisco Goya.

2/12/09

2009-02-12T13:28:00.006-05:00

I re-worked these sketches last night while at work. I like this direction, and might apply similar, surrealist-ish elements in a series of etchings I am currently working on. I have a few more sketches in my moleskine that need finishing touches (including a neglected family portrait), so I'll be adding those shortly!

2/10/09

2009-02-10T00:47:00.005-05:00

Keep up with the perplexing world of Alien Raver by reading from the beginning here. Another short but sweet installment this week, our friend has suffered quite the setback. What will he do next, and what the hell is that thing? Stay tuned!

2/9/09

2009-02-09T15:01:00.011-05:00

I had a blast at this year's NY Comic Con. I saw the screening of the new Futurama movie, Into the Wild Green Yonder and met Seth Green after his Robot Chicken panel. I also attended panels for Joss Whedon's upcoming show Dollhouse and one of my new favorites, Fringe. Wish I could have met the Fringe cast, but maybe it's something I can look forward to when I head to the San Diego Comic Con later this year.

I also spent way too much money buying prints, like the NY Comic Con exclusive Dr. Manhattan print from artist Alex Pardee. I actually wish I had more time to look around, as I was busy trying to get into several panels (I realized after I left on Saturday that I missed The Venture Bros. panel). But overall it was an awesome three days of comic-filled adventures. Can't wait until next year!

1/27/09

2009-01-27T01:16:00.005-05:00

Keep up with the perplexing world of Alien Raver by reading from the beginning here. A slightly shorter installment this week, we are introduced to a new character whose presence will permanently alter our weary hero's fortunes. Stay tuned!

1/20/09

2009-01-20T00:51:00.004-05:00

Keep up with the perplexing world of Alien Raver by reading from the beginning here. Next week, will he catch up to the mysterious maiden before she fades back into his memory? Stay tuned!

1/19/09

2009-01-19T21:57:00.014-05:00

In an out of character move, this post features a short story I wrote for my Short Fiction class in college. Not that I expect to win a Pulitzer, but it's a pretty fun read.

He sat watching the man with the olive-colored coat for a long time. He blended in perfectly with his surroundings: a typical suit drinking his usual morning cup of joe. Just another white grain among the noisy static of the New York City landscape. Covertly, he took a seat four tables closer, not once losing sight of the man. Too bad. If he would have taken a quick look around the room, he would have seen me watching him. I walked towards his table slowly, giving him a chance to sense me getting closer. Even as I stood directly behind him, he was unable to feel my presence. I let out a quick giggle as I took the empty seat next to him. Still haven't been spotted. Such an intense stare.

"So, Benny boy, do you think this stupid attempt of yours is going to change everything?" I asked him. He practically spit out his coffee when he realized who I was, but managed to swallow it. His hands betrayed his otherwise cool exterior with a slight tremble. He turned his head slightly to look at me with one eye, the other on the man four tables away.
"Well I have to try something," he finally replied, "Besides, it's been according to plan so far."
"That's what you think. It's only a matter of time before..."
"And that's what you think, sir." His eye might as well as have burned a hole in my forehead. I couldn't help but grin at his sorry excuse for intimidation.

"Honestly now, do you think this is going to work? No matter what you do, it's still going to happen. I was like you once. Hard to believe, but true. I thought that I could make a difference, that it only took one person to turn the tide of history. Pulled a few stunts in my day. You must have heard about them. Anyway, I learnt that nothing can change how things have happened, or will happen. The universe self-corrects itself somehow. Look, I know this is a phase you are going through right now, but you need to snap out of it. People are starting to talk, and not good things mind you." Benny hardly acknowledged my speech, muttering a few yeah-yeahs and sures. My grin quickly shrank back to its normal frown-like state. I turned my head to look at the man Benny wanted to prevent from fulfilling his eventual fate. He was an ordinary man, gave no impression of genius whatsoever.

"I know what I am doing. The difference between you and I is that while all your attempts failed, mine will be successful." Finally, a response.
"I've always admired your optimism, Benny boy."
"Don't patronize me. I'll be a hero when I get back home. More of a hero than you even." He took a quick glance at his watch. "Now if you excuse me, I must finish what I've come here for." He suddenly stood up from his chair, careful to not make a sound, and began to walk towards the man in the olive-colored coat.
"Benny, do you know why I am still alive?" The question made him stop dead in his tracks. Puzzled, he turned around to face me, and found himself looking down into the barrel of my gun.

"Wha-a-at are yo-o-u go-oing to do-o..." he stuttered.
"I'm still alive because all my attempts failed. Don't you understand? If I had accidentally changed those events long ago, our timeline would have collapsed. You can never be sure of how your actions will affect history. Luckily, someone has always been able to change my mind before I went and did something... crazy. I assure you, Benny boy, I will pull the trigger if you insist on doing this."
"But don't you see I'm doing the right thing here! A million people's lives hang in the balance!"
"You are breaking the oath you and I both swore to..."
"Please, let me do this. Things will be better..."
"You have no way of knowing that for sure. You think it will save us all from experiencing pain and agony but you might end up making someone else, someone of much more importance, stop existing. Things happen the way they do for a reason, Benny boy."
"Let me do this. Let me save both our souls," He motioned me to put the gun down. I lowered the barrel so it now aimed at his groin.

"Dying, Benny boy, isn't the worst thing that could happen to you." I said matter-of-factly. I put the gun down on the table. "I can't force you to come back with me. Do what you want." Benny didn't wait to see if I was bluffing. He quickly grabbed the gun off the table and ran towards the man screaming "Signore Fermi! Murderer! You shall pay for the sins you will commit!" The whole café gasped in horror. The man got up, knocking down the wobbly chair he was previously occupying and began begging for his life in broken English. Benny furiously waved the gun around, screaming at Mr. Fermi to stop helping the Americans develop the atomic bomb, and how it would cause unimaginable death and destruction. Many began running towards the door, others hid underneath their tables and behind chairs as the gun violently shook from side to side.

But just as soon as it began, it just as quickly finished. The café returned to how it was moments prior to Benny's disruption.
"Would you like some more coffee, sir?" a waiter asked me, although he poured me a new cup of coffee without waiting for my expressed permission. "Sure, kid."

1/12/09

2009-01-12T23:59:00.008-05:00

Keep up with the perplexing world of Alien Raver by reading from the beginning here. Next week, will he find the answers he seeks in the dust of the fallen pyramid? Stay tuned!

1/5/09

2009-01-05T12:07:00.011-05:00

Behold Alien Raver! New installments every Tuesday.

12/2/08

2008-12-02T16:27:00.015-05:00

Moebius' 40 Days Dan Le Désert (40 Days In The Desert for the non-French) has been a tremendous inspiraton to me while working on my comic Alien Raver, as well as my work in general. I became aware of Moebius (real name Jean Giraud) when my cousin got me his compilation book Fusion back in high school. Most of his comics are within the realm of fantastical and delirious science fiction, with a graphic style ranging from extreme realism to a more dream-like nature. Désert is a series of drawings that focuses on a priest/archer figure residing in the desert who witnesses magical occurrences while approached by other desert dwellers whose cities seemingly rise and fall around him (in a nutshell).

In Désert he draws all 70 pages in ink (either with a micron or dip pen, not entirely sure) and supposedly without preparatory pencil drawings. His line work is so clean (very steady hands) and the amount of detail really gives each drawing an amazing sense of depth. The characters that populate his world are distinctive and go about their daily routines even while observed; yet they live under a deep shroud of mystery.

11/26/08

2008-11-26T21:46:00.010-05:00

I’ve been working on a Wizard of OZ illustration series based on the original book version for the longest now. Ever since I started on this project, I can't help but notice a bunch of Wizard of OZ comics that have/are coming out. It's quite a coincidence. Not that no one has ever thought of the subject, but it's just funny that it's come to my attention since I decided to illustrate scenes from the classic book.

Today at Midtown Comics, as I finished purchasing some Marvel titles, I noticed they had a free WOZ sketchbook promoting an upcoming comic mini-series by Skottie Young and Eric Shanower. Although I try not to look at other WOZ-related comics for fear that those ideas leak into my own work, I gave it the ol' look-a-roo and found the style treatment to my liking; A fun revisioning of the characters, very loose yet expressive brushwork and a rich, earthy color palette (from what I saw in the preview pages). I look forward to following this title when it goes on sale in December. You can find more info on it here.

The cover for the 3rd issue reminds me of my Poppy Field sketch.

11/24/08

2008-11-24T19:02:00.004-05:00

Coming soon…

11/21/08

2008-11-21T16:23:00.005-05:00

Painted over a lousy sketch.

11/13/08

2008-11-13T23:47:00.004-05:00

More ink studies from class.

11/11/08

2008-11-11T23:38:00.005-05:00

I might revisit these sketches in the near future and add on some magical macabre silliness.

11/10/08

2008-11-11T17:20:00.003-05:00

10/23/08

2008-10-23T14:28:00.006-04:00

We had a model last week in my inking class, so we did some quick studies. Let me tell you, inking without penciling first isn't easy. But it's all good practice. I've been working on creating a webcomic to post here as well as on Partners In Design. Hopefully it will be up by the end of November or early December. So keep an eye out for it!

10/10/08

2008-10-10T17:26:00.008-04:00

You might think it's vanity, but I'm the easiest model to acquire at a moment's notice. And it's good practice. I see an improvement in my inking skills already! ~~I'll try to scan these in at a later time (my scanner is out on loan at the moment).~~

10/8/08

2008-10-08T14:10:00.010-04:00

10/7/08

2008-10-08T13:54:00.004-04:00

Hello again! I've neglected to post for quite some time. I've been incredibly busy the past few weeks, and had nothing worth sharing. But alas! I've recently taken an inking for comics class at SVA. Here are some drawings I did using brushes and ink washes. Still getting used to inking. Hopefully my next batch of self portraits will show improvement.

8/4/08

2008-08-04T23:47:00.010-04:00

Some of my illustrations were accepted into a local art show in my neighborhood, titled "The Artist's Mythology". The opening reception was July 30th, with the show continuing until August 27th. I'd like to thank my family and friends who were able to attend the festivities. Next show I'm in, I'll make sure to post the details ahead of time. It's been a hectic past few weeks for me, in a nutshell.

If you are in area, you should check out all the wonderful pieces in the show: Park Avenue Bar and Grill

8/2/08

2008-08-02T13:21:00.010-04:00

7/8/08

2008-07-08T23:09:00.008-04:00

Edit - I added a dark gray background, to make them stand out more.

7/2/08

2008-07-02T21:47:00.004-04:00

I recently joined a moleskine-enthusiast blog called skineart.com, and they have featured my interview and additional art in their 'Artist Spotlight' for the week! Check out my interview here:

6/28/08

2008-06-28T23:28:00.010-04:00

Another Wizard of Oz sketch, I drew the good and bad witch of Oz together, like a playing card. Here are the other three so far in the WOZ series...
Poppy Fields, The Winged Monkeys and The Munchkin Council

6/24/08

2008-06-24T21:38:00.003-04:00

Left over sketch from a life drawing session back in January.