AQUAMAN COMMISSION AND ARTWORK UPDATES!

IT'S A GLORIOUS BEGINNING OF DECEMBER, AND IT LOOKS LIKE SNOWY WEATHER MAY COME ABOUT!

I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU HAD AN INCREDIBLE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!

I am currently working on clearing even more commissions so that all of you  may enjoy them over the holidays, and I am also working on more PROJECT PINUP ARTWORK! I am looking at WELL OVER ONE HUNDRED PERSONAL SKETCH CARDS right now, waiting for inks and colors!

If you haven't seen it already, I have had a recently completed commission posted, which is very special to me. The piece is  called AQUAMAN AND THE SHARK DIVER, and it is based on Eli Martinez, the world famous shark diver! If you are a shark diver, or if you have ever been interested in shark diving, check out his website, www.sharkdivermag.com/ You'll be glad that you did!

AQUAMAN AND THE SHARK DIVER was completed using India Ink, Copic Markers and Acrylic. I have expanded my use of  the airbrush in this piece, and will continue to expand its use for future works of art! 

Enjoy!!  

INDEPENDENT ROAD PODCAST INTERVIEW

Come and check out my interview on INDEPENDENT ROAD with ALL STAR HOST,  PETER PALMIOTTI! AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD NOW ON ITUNES and at TALKSHOE! http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-74008/TS-783170.mp3

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

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NOW, PROJECT X BEGINS! It's a BIG personal project, and that's all that I can really say about that. I am taking time away from official sketch card sets to make this happen. In the end, you are going to have a guaranteed VISUAL FEAST!

GO FOR IT!

First off, I want to thank all of you who came out to bid on my work this past week. You are all fantastic people and it makes me very happy knowing that my artwork brings a form of pleasure to your lives. Thank you all.

That being said, I realize that my blog and journal space should be more than a billboard for my sales. I really should bring more than ebay plugs to the table.
I've been getting approached more and more by aspiring artists looking for advice on breaking in and improving their techniques. I can usually only offer so much advice before an individual has to just take the bull by the horns and GO FOR IT.
You're either going to make it or you're not. No one can force you, no one can really take it away from you, unless, of course, you do get pulled away from your dreams by some great tragedy or greater responsibility. Sometimes, dreams can become greater than we've can imagine. Sometimes, they get cast aside. But GO FOR IT.
You are responsible for you. If you really want to improve your drawing, stop waiting for better situations and DO IT. Do you want to be a better painter, sketch artist, ink artist, etc? GO FOR IT. You can't wait for the fabled "better economic time" or some politician to rescue you. YOU are the instrument of your change. DO IT. You live in the most incredible time ever, where the resources of THE WORLD are at your fingertips. Just a mouse click or swish of a finger on a tablet and you can have the advice of some of the greatest artists, writers, teachers, philosophers, etc AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. And no one is stopping you. RESEARCH? Thirty dollar AIRBRUSH ACTION instructional videos from years past have been uploaded to YOUTUBE. Fitness instructors give away their advice to YOU. For FREE.

Why should you spend another minute fretting about what so-and-so did at a party with so-and-so when you could be OFF exploring the UNIVERSE? GO FOR IT!!

You see, I never DREAMED that some of my art idols like JOE JUSKO, GEORGE PEREZ, and DAVE DORMAN, just to name a few, would be in constant contact with me over a SOCIAL NETWORK, but they are. Motivation like that to improve, could never be MORE CONVENIENT.

So what's stopping you? Your day job? Remember what we used to say in the OLDE DAYS: NO PAIN, NO GAIN. We had another very powerful phrase: SUCCESS IS THE BEST REVENGE.

GO FOR IT. You CAN. Every tool imaginable is at your grasp, no matter what dream has been placed on your heart. Now GIVE IT ONE HUNDRED TEN PERCENT. Only you can do that for you.

NEW YEAR, NEW ART!

Hey everyone!! I just wanted to say thanks so much for all of the support so many of you gave me over the past few years in my sketch card and pinup work. I owe so much to you, my fans and my fellow artists for standing by me and helping me grow artistically and in this industry.
For 2013, I should be posting blogs on a more regular schedule, as I will still keep you posted on new auctions and projects, and I will be letting you in on my process.

As so many of you know, in 2012, besides my usual contribution to 5finity Productions annual March of Dimes sketch card auction drive and my now regular contributions to Island Dreams, I worked on my very first Marvel and DC Comics sketch card licenses, Upper Deck's MARVEL PREMIER and Cryptozoic Entertainment's BATMAN: THE LEGEND. It was an incredible experience to finally work with some of my lifetime favorite characters!

Right now, I would like to give you a sneak peek on my latest personal sketch card project based on Spider-Man and an army of his favorite guest stars! Enjoy the artwork! Don't forget to go and check out my artwork updated regularly at http://www.ahochrein2010.deviantart.com/

R.I.P., Tony DeZuniga

Yet another comic book legend dies. I was first exposed to Dezuniga's bold inking over John Buscema's pencils in the black and white Savage Sword of Conan magazines published during the 1970's and the early 1980's. My very first Savage Sword issue was #56- the adaptation of Robert E Howard's SWORD OF SKELOS. From then on, I was HOOKED. I could not get enough of this black and white comic magazine! His inks over Buscema spurred me to collect Savage Sword on a regular basis and opened up a world of possibilities not found in regular 4 color comics.
Honestly, I wished the black and white, ink wash and zip a tone ride could have gone on forever, but it seems that only lasted as long as there were original Conan stories to be adapted. As those ran out, so did the sales, I guess. Thank you for helping to open my eyes to that Hyborian age magic, Great One. You are missed and adored.
Here is mark Evanier's article on Mr. DeZuniga's passing today. http://www.newsfromme.com/2012/05/10/tony-dezuniga-r-i-p/

R.I.P. AL RIO

 I know many of you learned of Al Rio's ( http://www.alrioart.com/ ) passing in January. Al Rio was one of the first artists of the last 2 decades whose artwork was a great inspiration for me to follow as a standard for modern comic art. I couldn't believe it when I read the news, as I was eager to meet Mr. Rio someday soon.

Al Rio was a Brazilian artist who worked on such comics as Grimm Fairy Tales, X-Men, Spiderman, Star Wars, Gen 13, Vampirella and so many more. He also had art appear in trading card sets and did sketch cards as well.

A great artist, Al Rio was also a great person, tutoring art students and donating art to worthy causes.

Al leaves behind three children: Rene, Adrielle, and Isabel, and his wife Zilda. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, February 1st, on Cemitério São João Batista, in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Contributions may be made to his family on his behalf through Kickstarter, and condolences may be sent to his family through terry@alrioart.com and David@glasshousegraphics.com.

(FROM HIS WEBSITE--I urge you to visit, as his agent, Terry Maltos has been offering sales to benefit the family-thank you so much for your kind consideration)

 "If you would like to help Al Rio's family, please look around here at the Art For Sale, or I will make you custom Prints or buy some items from the Zazzle store. If you would like to just donate, please do so here. Al Rio's death has left a family without an income earner." http://www.alrioart.com/