Thursday, March 29, 2007

The Beat

Actually, I like The Specials much more, but...

Friday, March 23, 2007

Elektra

This should put a smile on at least one face...: )

Thursday, March 15, 2007

More faces

If you don't know me by now...



Sunday, March 11, 2007

More Cromwell





Not too happy with all of this, but if I post just the good ones, there wouldn't be much to see.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

JC & CC

Here are couple of sketches of James Cromwell. I did them as an exercise of drawing different faces then I ussualy do. The great actor certainly has a remarkable face, but oddly enough, not much profile shots can be found on the net.

Also, I'm trying out brush-pen I got from Cliff Chiang on my recent visit to NY. I met Cliff on my first visit to NY in 1999. when he was still assistent editor at Vertigo. I like to think of myself as somebody who had a bit of influence on his decission to became a professional artist. Cliff has his website fresh up and running. It's beautifull and it witnesses that his decission was right, so check it out!

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Endem

New issue of Endem, Croatia's longest lasting fanzine is out! This issue is hommage to Playboy and it features cover and centerfold art by late Eddy Biukovic. Many more comics and drawings from (mostly) Croatian artists can be found there, including mine. It can be bought in comic-stores in Zagreb or ordered from tihomir_tikulin@yahoo.com , along with previous issues. It's not expensive (though shipping could be costly, depending on where you live) and believe me, it's worth every penny, even if you don't speak Croatian!

Pop Thought & Massimo

Alex Ness from PopThought wanted some questions answered. I had to obey.
And one note on my previous 'Y-the Last Man' post;
I took for granted that all of you know that I worked on the interior art only, and forgot to mention that cover illustration I've put there is done (like numerous before) by talented Massimo Carnevale. Check out his blog, lots of stuff there. Here's the freshest cover for 'Y'.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

NY Con, part 2

Still dragging that flu, but feeling better. So, the second part;

Inside the Center, as ussual, DC Comics and Marvel have the biggest booths up front, but had some serious competition in companies that have comics as sidejobs and mainly deal with vidgames, movies or/and toys

Fox Atomic is one of them. With strong (financial) background and ambracing new techonologies they'll try to take their piece of pie. And they have Heidi McDonald on board and that counts for something!

Vertigo is, of course, part of DC's booth and had lots of their writers and artists signing and promoting their books there. Here are Jason Aaron and Cameron Stewart, authors of 'The Other Side', Vertigo's mini-series which you should definitelly check out because it's a little masterpiece! Aaron is also wirting Vertigo's new monthly 'Scalped' with fantastic R.M. Guerra as artist and first two issues are very promising.


Kevin Eastman and his 'Heavy Metal' are still alive and kicking, although 50% off of the books they're selling might suggest things aren't that great.

On the upper floor there's Artists Alley where you can meet in person tons of artists, who are promoting their self-published books and selling original art and comissions. My favourite there was John Paul Leon, underated genius! Of course I was too emabarrassed to take a photo!

On the lower level there are number of rooms where panels are held. I attended the one where Vertigo was promoting their ongoing or soon-to-be-published books and series. From left to right you can see vague silhouettes of: Karen Berger, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Azzarelo, Jason Aaron (I suppose), Douglas Ruskoff, Jonathan Vankin (behind him),Becky Cloonan; Andy Diggle (behind), Brain Wood, (can't remember who's the guy in shirt on stripes, sorry), Percy (rapper whose autobiography Vertigo will publish as a graphic novel) and Rick Vietch, the legend!
I've also attended interesting panel about war and comics, but that one has, of course, drawn quite smaller crowd.

People dressed up in costumes became so common things that I didn't even bother to take pictures of them all. Still, when I noticed that Batman is taking a piss right next to me - i was shocked! Of course I didn't pull out my camera then! Would you?

Toys, figures and stautes are getting more and more popular. I must admit some of them are really beautiful and very well crafted, but I'd still rather spend my money on comics and beer.




You can't see the price here, but this piece costs 690$!!!!!

This is not a statue! I think poor creature was looking for his parents...

Brian K. Vaughan was one of the guests of honor (among Stan Lee, Stephen King and others) with schedule of signings, interviews and panels so full that it seemed to me like hard work instead of having fun, what I thought conventions are all about. Anyway, I noticed how incredibly patient and welcoming he was with fans and I simply had to take advantage of it, getting a photo with him and my 'Pride of Baghdad' signed with dedication I'm unworthy of!
Thanks, Brian!



And this would be it, as far as I got it covered with pictures. I must add that I had a lots of fun smoking cigarettes with Italians, drinking with Brits (and a random American), meeting lots of great artists and making Dunja, Vuk and Miran less homesick. Also had some interesting talks with people from Vertigo, you'll read about it here in days to come. At the end I can only say it's been too short. I'll plan it better next year.

Say, what? I promised a report full of gossips, name-droping and self-promotion? Well, welcome to the beautiful world of false advertisement! I did extensive name-droping, some self-promotion, but for the gossips you'll have to buy me a beer when you see me! : )
Cheers!

Thursday, March 1, 2007

NY Con, part 1

I'm back! Woke up sick this morning, but nothing serious. Probably just exhausted from trip.
Anyway, I'm happy reporting is not something I'm making living out of. I'd be starving. Made some useless photos and very often had too much fun to remember and take my camera out of the bag. Here's what's worth sharing, though:


I stayed at the Hotel 41 at Times Square. That's what it's called, but is acctually in 41st street, which is very near Times Square.
It's a nice place, with wonderfull people working there. OK, I agree the view from the window is not breathtaking, but all I needed was a nice bed and a clean shower and I got that.


Just around the corner there's Midtown Comics, from what I heard the best shop in the city. Didn't manage to spend more then ten minutes there, but spent quite a lot at their booth at the con.

Around the other corner there is Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Nicholas Cage in front of it. For some reason it felt scarry looking at him.



Jacob Javits Center where the convention was held is about 25 minutes of walk from my hotel, but I took a cab, because the wind was bone-freezing. JJC is pretty huge, but I've been in San Diego, so this didn't come as some surprise.





On Friday thing's were pretty normal, but on Saturday it was madness! Tickets were sold out (at cost of 45$, so I was told) and people waited on cold wind in long lines to get in. Such patience and devotion.


Hope you'll bear that in mind while you're waiting for the next part of my report in the warmth of your rooms. It's obvious I should've been in bed long time ago.