Jay-Oh

I'm still in disbelief...we lost him...:(

2009-06-26T01:16:00.006-04:00

MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON - 1958-2009

So, I'm at Eaton Centre, its late afternoon, and I'm working another promo gig. I run into an old friend of mine and he tells me that his brother told him that Michael Jackson had just died. I was like "NNOOOOOO!! Get out of here!! He can't be!!"

Then I go to The Globe and Mail website on one of our laptops at work and it reads...MICHAEL JACKSON DEAD AT 50... Afterward, I couldn't bring myself to finish off my shift. I couldn't concentrate. I was still in disbelief over the matter. Then as I venture home on the TTC, I'm sitting down and thinking...one of my heroes just died. How can this be happening???? He was just about to make one of the most ground-breaking comebacks in history. HOW??? WHY??? As I got home, I turned on the TV and checked for all the news and music channels. Most of the music channels did tributes to Michael, playing his videography. That's when things started to sink in.

This news of his death saddens me deeply. He was one of the few recording artists that we looked up to and related with. He was an artist that I could relate with. Both of us were consider oddities (or outcasts) amongst people that were "normal". Both of us faced extreme parental pressure. He was and will always be a true inspiration to me as an artist, and a visionnaire. His music, his lyrics, and his sounds has helped me get through some of the good and bad periods of my life.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.....

What's been going on so far...

2009-05-27T23:53:00.006-04:00

Hey all!! Just here droppin' another entry for May. A lot has been going on the past couple of days. One of the biggest things I did the past weekend was at ANIME NORTH with the homie Mark "MV" Williams and the rest of the HEROES OF THE WORLD crew!

The response for HOTW was HUGE!!! Honestly, I was worried that we wouldn't make that much of an impact. Peeps at AN are usually heavy into anime and nothing else. Luckily we pleased the anime fans so much, that we made good profit on our sales. I believe that if you can please people at Anime North, that you know you're something right.

I also did a little business seminar with my good friend, Liz Habermehl. She did most of the business talk, while I spoke to people about HOTW came to be (in a business sense). We rocked that one as well! ;)

Here are a couple of pics and a video from the event:

HOWDY!!! with a little bit of SNIKT!!

2009-05-12T11:29:00.003-04:00

Howdy all!

Its yours truly with another long overdue blog entry. So much has happened since the last time I've posted. I've been working a lot on the HOTW comic book and I'm almost finished with the finished pencils. Once I'm done with those, I'll get started on my art piece for the DYV Artshow that will be going down in August. When I get time, I'll show you guys some progress stuff with the art piece I'm working on.

I've also been working out a lot these days. I recently signed up for fitness boot camp sessions run by my friends Leroy Bascombe and Tamara Nikic (of Fourth Quarter Marketing). So far, the training sessions have been intense. But just the intensity I need to lose 15-20 pounds this summer.

Well anyhoo..that's what I've been up to lately. I'm gonna leave y'all with a self-portrait that I did of myself. I was thinking of Wolverine #1 (the mini-series) at the time. ENJOY!!!

Making the Heroes of the World comic

2009-03-31T00:34:00.007-04:00

Hey all!

Its yours truly here with another long overdue entry! hahaha...errr. I've just been busy with a lot of Heroes of the World biz (along with those pesky side jobs). Anyhow, we're onto the final pencils for the book. I'm hoping I can get it done in time.

Anyhoo..here's a little video blog my boy Mark did during the comic creation.

Its been a month almost...i know..i know..whadda want me to do i'm sorry!!!

2009-02-24T22:50:00.004-05:00

Hey all! Just thought I'd update you with what's been happening lately. I haven't been updating because there has been so much that has been going on. With Heroes of the World, our writer and friend, Vince Galvez has been helping us edit the story for the first book. Also we've finally got our own t-shirt press machine and printer! GOODBYE So, we've been going back creating new panels and editing a few pages here and there. As far as other work is concerned, I've finally scored a few promo rep gigs for Toronto Auto Show and Home Show. So far, things have been good on work front. As for things on the social front...well let's just say there have been a few "unexpected" turn of events.

Anywhoo..enough about me..here's a couple of sketches I did while myself and the HOTW crew were at the Kuumba Festival.

Yesterday...History Was Made...

2009-01-21T01:10:00.003-05:00

Yesterday at about 12:05 am, Barack Hussain Obama became the 44th President of the United States! Now how amazing is that?!? What makes it even better is that he's the first black man to make it into the White House. This very moment has inspired me in many ways. I'm hoping he'll set things right in the States. Its gonna take a while, but I know he'll do a fair job. But why am I worrying and hoping. I'm not American, but usually what goes on the States eventually spreads to our backyard..so...yeah...

I felt like putting this bad boy together in celebration of yesterday's historic event.

Better days should come...(Plus new art post)

2009-01-19T17:27:00.006-05:00

My OSAP Interest Relief period is almost up, and I really need some cash! I've been throwing resumes to every event promotion company in the city. I hope I get a call back (especially with the Auto Show coming next month).

I know what some of you are thinking. Why are looking for event promo jobs instead of illustration jobs?
I like the fact that its quick and easy money, and it pays the bills in the meantime.

Meanwhile, I've started the coloring process for issue #0 of the Heroes of the World comic (which is titled Unite! - The Adventures of Oreh Gaia). I really hope things jump off in a big way for Heroes of the World this year. I know we'll get big enough so that we won't have to work regular jobs again. And most importantly, so that our parents won't have to work.

Enough of that, on the my new art post. This one is of another X-Men favourite. Ms. Ororo Munroe (who we all know and love as Storm!)

Pencils, Prismas and Inks oh my!!

2009-01-08T01:08:00.000-05:00

Its been a while since I've used Prismacolour markers on sketches. The last time I used them was waaay back (Sheridan days woot woot!) The peeps of subject are my old man, my brother Daniel, and one of my DYV compadres, Mae Mae!

Semi-drained!!!

2009-01-06T23:43:00.000-05:00

DUUUUDEE I am drained!! Well...almost...

Majority of the day, I was at the DLM Dance Studio my buddy Shawn Cuffie (DLM president and business manager of Heroes of the World) clean his studio. There was a lot of crap that had to cleaned, rearranged, and what not. Luckily the majority of the cleaning was done today. Now I just feel like kicking back and jammin' to some old school tracks.

There's a job fair I wanna hit up tomorrow, but the "apparent" snow storm might damper my plans. We'll see what happens...

Second post of the year - Peter Parker

2009-01-05T13:40:00.000-05:00

Well it's the first official work week of 2009! I was chillin' with my brother yesterday. We were talking about the new year, and what needed to be done. He mentioned something to me that was thought-provoking. He stated that whatever you do during the first work week of the new year, will determine how the rest of your year will go. I thought about that for a second, and I then I was like "wait..he could be right". Matter of fact, he is right. If you start off your first work week strong, then the rest of 2009 should turn out just the same.

I think that's what needs to be done here. No more procrastination, or sidetracking. Its time to get things accomplished early this year. Time to get down to it! First things first, there's the Heroes of the World comic (issue #0) that I gotta finish cleaning up. But before I start that, I thought I'd drop another sketch on this thingy.

Everyone's favourite geek, Peter Parker.

First post for the year! - James Howlett (Logan)

2009-01-04T20:14:00.000-05:00

Well all, its 2009!!!

Last year was quite the year. I went through my shares of success (mainly Heroes of the World) and failures. Experienced some wins and a few losses (including my mind at one point..but that's something for another time).

Its been a while since I've posted something on this thing. I've had intentions of posting more work, but most of my energies were focused on the Heroes of the World project that I've co-created.

As far as 2009 is concerned, I know it'll be a better year. I just gotta keep pressing forward!

With that being said, here's one of my first posts for 2009.

Here's the good Mr. Howlett (who we all know as Logan). Wolverine has always been one of my favourite characters. However, I'm not too keen on the upcoming movie.

Around the way...from movie sets to the subway

2008-01-26T23:24:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to post these sketches somewhere. Might as well post them here. These are a few sketches I've done over the past couple of months. Some were done on the subway. Others, were done on different movie sets. Oh yeah I forgot to mention..I tend to do the movie extra thing every now and then. Its good side $$...sometimes.LOL. Anyhow enjoy.

"Its a long road......when you're on your own"

2008-01-25T00:09:00.000-05:00

I just sketched this bad boy while I was listening to the soundtrack for the first two Rambo films. I dunno about this new one that coming out. Anyhow check it out....

Sketch Blog

2008-01-19T00:24:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd drop a few sketches on this lil' blog 'o mine. You can't have a Blog without a few sketches. Here's some stuff I did just last year.

Back on Blogger for the first time??? And, the new year so far!

2008-01-18T18:42:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know I haven't been on this thing in like like ever. But, I'm going to try and get on here more often. I see this as a useful tool to express myself artistically and mentally.

For this year, I have set these personal resolutions/goals:

IN 2008 I WILL BE....

a man of God
a better artist
a better son
a better friend
a better brother
a leader and NOT a follower
a sultan of style
a lean mean fighting machine (I got till March to lose 40 lbs)
a man of peace
a force to be reckoned with
a major money maker
a person who looks for validation from no one!
a man of stability (physical and mental)
a man of dependability
a man you can admire
a man of respect
a man of independence
a driver
a positive thinker
a lover of life
a soldier
a major idealist
a visionary
a success story

Slowly but surely these goals will be meet for this year. I see a lot great expectations in 2008. I'm just taking it one day at a time.