Here’s another bit of artwork I took the time to fiddle with last weekend. I like seeing Simone Addanac in the garb of different superheroines. This time I chose Marvel Comic‘s own Ms. Marvel to receive the Mrs. A treatment.

I hope you all like or appreciate!

It’s that time once again, Dear Readers. My very good friend, the internet impresario himself, Bearman, is having his fourth annual Charity Challenge this year.

Bearman has put his altruistic nature on display and is willing and eager to foot the bill for a variety of worthy causes. This guy has deep pockets and is prepared to turn them inside out to help others.

What’s the catch? What does it cost you?

Nothing but a few clicks of a mouse.

Spreading the word of this philanthropic endeavor is the key to sending Bearman to the poorhouse. On his website, he lists varying opportunities that you can participate in. If you do one or more of these things, Bearman will donate money out of his own pocket.

Where else are you gonna find a deal like that? Tell Google Plus about the Charity Challenge, and Bearman coughs up a few shillings. Write a blog about it (like I’m doing right now), and it costs him even more rubles.

It doesn’t get any easier than this, people. You know you’re on the internet day and night anyway. Why not make somebody go broke while you spread the word about it? I’m down for it, and I’m gonna do my part, so why don’t you pitch in with me?

I will love going to sleep conscience-free tonight because I did what I could to help the needy, and at the same time make a fellow blooger’s pockets look like rabbit ears. I couldn’t ask for much more.

For the Full Monty and the entire skinny on what you can do to make this dream come true, check out the details from the official Bearman website.

Let’s put his bank account on ‘E’ today!!!!

How to Get Into Art as a Career

Being the avid comic book fan that you are, you undoubtedly have some level of love and appreciation for art. You also likely have some degree of skill or inclination to create some form of art as well.

When you were a small child you busted open you box of crayola crayons, coloring your best rendition of your favorite superhero or cartoon character. Your skills blossomed even more as you doodled in your free time or made some beautiful creations in you grade school and high school art classes.

Perhaps now you are ready to take your artistic talents to the next step, and are wondering how you can get into art as a career. Fear not, true believer, for this article will detail the steps to pursue your artistic dreams.

Develop Your Artistic Skills

• Observe: All creation of art involves observation and having a high sense of detail on the subject that you are working on. Being a good observer trains your mind to thoroughly evalulate not your artistic projects, but also the projects of other artists as well. Much can be learned from studying the work of others.

• Practice again and again: There is much truth the saying “Practice makes perfect” There is no better way to improving your craft than putting in hours and hours of drawing, painting, and designing. Be sure to try different styles and techiques, and move out of your usual artistic comfort zones.

• Get feedback on your creations: It can be quite easy to get in creative ruts and not have a clear view of your art and your artistic develpment. It also helps to have an outside perspect to give you some feedback. While criticism may sting you and bruise your ego, it will help you in long run, not only for improving your craft, but also preparing you for the higher level of cricism that you will face in a professional environment.

Put Together an Art Portfolio

Art portfolios are expected as a requirement for admission to art colleges. You will also need to submit an art portfolio for any art gigs or jobs. A portfolio should be a quality representation of you current and recent artwork. It helps reviewers understand the ablities, skills, and potential of the artist.

Art polfolios have two elements: content elements and technical elements.  The content elements deals with the type of artwork submitted, and should represent your personal interest and abilities as well as your art background. The technical elements pertain to the physical aspects of the artwork and how it is submitted to the reviewer. This includes digital submission, physical product submission, and online portfolio services.

Education

The next step in getting into a career in art is applying to an accredited art college and completing an art degree. Education and training at an art school will enable you to develop the skills and confidence to be a succefull artist. For further information for choosing an accredited art program, check out the art college and art degree program options at www.mfadegree.net.

Sources

Thecareergamer.com/10-tips-to-help-you-become-a-better-artist

Collegeart.org

Here is some new art that I worked on this past weekend. I really like dressing my AC characters up as some of my favorite superheroes. I hope you all like it too.

What do you think? Does Simone Addanac make a nice Supergirl?

Supergirl character and costume is (c) and TM DC Comics 2012

I was just messing around one weekend with too much time on my hands and I created this lil’ .gif animation. Hank can never sit still for too long. It must be his ADHD acting up.

Before Bearman belittles, beleaguers, and berates me, allow me to confess. Yes, I should have posted this blog eons ago. Bearman is a world-class, stand-up guy who did me an enormous solid and I never made the time to publicly say Thank You, I Appreciate That.

Late last year, Bearman attended the Cincinnati Comix Expo and brought back some booty. Not the good kind like some of you all are thinking, but something even better; the kind of booty you call treasure!

Anyone who knows me well is aware that I am a huge comic book and comic strip fan. Plus, I have a strong affinity for anything ADDANAC CITY-related. Bearman (whose real name is rumored to be Leroy Heigelmeyer-Faulkner) was kind enough to approach a few of the guys in Artist’s Alley to sketch up some special custom-made items for me. Here’s the skinny on the prizes he collected for yours truly.

This neat Hank Addanac sketch card was had-crafted by Columbus Ren aka @DarknessPRO on Twitter.

Here’s a close-up of the card for your visual enjoyment.

Now while I was still floored by this nifty piece of fan art, Bearman did me one better and got this fine gentleman to create a Zombie Hank drawing on a sketch card. The artist is Kurt Dinse aka @PungentBasement on Twitter.

Here’s the close-up of Zombie Hank.

I love both of these drawings and think that Bearman was a pretty good friend to procure these items for me. But, his ability to get the job done doesn’t end there. I revealed to him one day that the first comic book I ever recall reading was a Jughead Jones digest (published by Archie Comics) from 1978 that my older cousin gave me after he finished going thru it.

My cousin had bought it merely as something to do while trapped with his family in my rural, boondock hometown. Little did he know that that tiny digest magazine would change my world. Ironically, this is the same cousin who gave me the copy of Adobe Photoshop that enabled me to wanna make a webcomic.

It’s funny that the stuff just laying around his house could change my life infinitely. Maybe I should move in with him and his wife?

Anyway, I was a huge fan of Archie Comics as a whole. I bought every one that I could get my hands on , plus I had all of the digest. Bear in mind, Archie published about 50 full-size titles a month and about 10-15 little digest comics. I had ‘em all. You knew exactly where my allowance was headed.

Lo, and behold, Bearman remembered me telling him this story and guess what he did for me?

This is the guy who I always wanted to be. His name is Stan Goldberg and he was one of the premiere artists for Archie Comics. This guy clocked in almost 50 years and running drawing comics every month. If he owns every comic he drew, I’d be surprised he had anywhere to sit.

Bearman says he tried to get Mr. Goldberg to draw a picture of Hank, but I guess contractually (or just being codger-ish) he would only settle for drawing Jughead. Heck, I take what I can get, and get what I can take. Here’s the drawing below.

Although I know that it’s waaaay late, I just wanna say Thank You, Bearman!

If you don’t know who Bearman is, go visit his website. He’s a self-proclaimed hack cartoonist who tells it like it is about society, politics, and the world in general. He even keeps me on the straight and narrow on occasion.

Every now and then, when I can find the time, I like to draw some Fan Art for some of the webcomic series that I’ve been currently enjoying. One new comic that I’ve bumped into has been Joe Charney’s Espresso City Comics.

Joe‘s comic is loosely based on his life. Well, basically, he’s kinda-sorta the star of the series, but I don’t imagine that the crazy things that happen in this comic actually occur to Joe. He has an antagonizing talking slug for a companion for one thing.

Below is my drawing of the star of Espresso City Comics. If you have a moment, please go give Joe Charney’s comic a look. It may be right up your alley.

Another webcomic series that I’ve been recently enjoying has been Tim Green‘s Vinnine The Vampire comic. The title almost describes it all. Vinnie is a teenage vampire whose life you would initially think would be all fun and fangs but, really, how much fun was being a teenager and learning how to be cool and less awkward?

Vinnie has to deal with all of the trials, troubles, and tribulations that go into surviving your teen years. Being a vampire can be a burden or an asset depending on how you view it at the moment. Plus, Vinnie has a family that strongly embraces the vampire lifestyle which makes Vinnie appear even more unwieldy and gangly.

I chose to draw one of my favorite characters in the series which happens to be Vinnie‘s younger sister, Sunny. She loves who she is and isn’t afraid to be herself. I can respect that. Check out the art below, and go spend a little while in Vinnie’s world. I’m sure he’d enjoy the company.