COMIC CON

I'll be at San Diego Comic Con, once again this year. You can find me at table I-03 where I will be selling books, doing commissions and caricatures, and selling other little goodies.

How do you find me? Simply enter the hall, go back and to the right (towards the 700s), and look between the snack area and the bathrooms (a couple aisles away from the bathrooms).

I'm currently scrambling to get some resin toys ready (similar to last year), but I can't promise they will be ready in time, as I'm not a chemist... but I'm trying. I'm also looking to have a little ashcan sketchbook that I think a lot of people will be both surprises and happy with. More on that soon.

Lastly, you can scout me out to find out more about Moonbot Studios, my home for a couple years now, what we're up to, what we're about, our first iPad App (#1 on iTunes) and short film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. I was lead creative designer and developer on this project, so I know the ins and outs, will have the App with me, and ready to share with all.

Comic Con is super fun, and if you have a chance to stop by and say hi, or email me and tell me what table/booth you may be at, I'd love to check things out, visit, get a drink, and have fun with you. I may also be doing a signing at Udon's booth for their MEGA MAN TRIBUTE book (I was selected for that thing), so check that out as well.

MORE SOON!

ALA, Film Festivals, Comic Con

This weekend is big for Moonbot Studios, William Joyce, Morris Lessmore, and thusly -- BOOKS.

The American Library Association (ALA) Conference is being held in New Orleans and the Keynote Speaker is my boss and buddy, writer/director/illustrator, William Joyce. Bill will be touting his new robust books series with Simon & Schuster, The Guardians of Childhood, as well as mentioning our short film and iPad App, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

We are quite proud of all this hard work, and it is not often that you get to look at a one-page of what a film is doing and how an independent, small project gets noticed... but in sending out our film poster for festivals, I had a moment of "wow":

I can't help but be proud to be a part of that.

In other news/update-landia, Danielle and I will be at San Diego Comic Con again this year! We will be in a slightly cooler section (closer to my buddies David Colman, Alberto Ruiz, Stephen Silver, Bobby Chiu...), and we will have new statues! We are in the sculpting phase of making casts and molds of some new resin toys. Hopefully Binkus will have a friend this year.

We will also be offering the usual:

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Commissons
Caricatures
Original paintings
Statues
Exclusive sketchbooks (new!)
Hardbound books
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I'm also going to be doing commissions BEFORE the show, by request only. You can contact me (email, twitter) and request a sketch. They will be $50 and you can easily pay via PayPal, then pick them up at the show. This is something I've been considering for a while... The time and demand of drawing caricatures at the show is big, and when fans want commissions or other sketches, I don't want to shortcut them (especially if they seek me out). So let me know if you'd like any specific request or drawing (other than live caricature) and I can put some good time into it before the show, then bring for you to pick up in San Diego.

(samples below - final 'look' and style can vary)

BINKUS!

So as I promised, here is a look at our new friend, Binkus :

Binkus will be available exclusively at San Diego Comic Con, later this week! It is a limited run (less than 30!), and this hand-painted, each-one-unique, poly-resin, 4" statue is going to be available at the Art Squared Publishing table (E-09). Less than 20 will be painted, and around 10 statues will be unpainted for you crazy artists who like to DIY or just be different (believe me, I understand).

Designer Danielle Griffith and fabricator Joe Bluhm (myself) will be there to sign, talk, BS, etc. Hope to see you there!

(a few process pics)

Caricature from Comic Con

You can see more caricatures done at the San Diego Comic Con on my Facebook album, but here's one of a nice chap and artist named Nate:

Comic Con, Book Sale

I'll post more about the recent (and amazingly crazy) Comic Con in San Diego, very soon -- but for now, there's a sweet sale going on for a couple weeks over at Art2Books.com. They are apparently moving storage location and see an opportunity to unload some books at a great price:

Anyway, it appears you can get a FREE hardcover art book... check it out.
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TCAF 2009

This coming weekend is one I've been looking forward to for quite a while. The Toronto Comic Arts Festival is afoot, and I can easily say there is not an event/ con/ show that I look forward to more!

The people are amazing, inviting, talented and very cool. You MUST come check out this free show at the beautiful Toronto Reference Library if you have the time. I may live in New York, but I feel like a true Canadian around these folks, and there is not a better place to be this week!

Joe, TCAF 2007

Last time, I was selling my first book, REJECTS, and it went over really well. This year I'll be representing myself and Art Squared Publishing with several books, as well as drawing more finished caricatures, much like in the pages of REJECTS.

Drop by and see what all the hubbub is about... and get Joe's NEW BOOK!

BIG update!

Leaving New York

Well, temporarily. I've done a good amount of work in the animation industry, in short spurts over the last three years and it's something I'm ready to take on full-time. While I don't want to get rid of my own ambitions like painting, illustration, publishing, and other new projects, I am pushing towards a career in animation, through visual development and character design.

This brings me to my new job, starting next week. I'll be heading to Shreveport, Louisiana on April 1st to help create storyboards and design on a new project with William Joyce of "Robots" and "Meet the Robinsons" fame. I'll be down south for about three months, and I'm really looking forward to working around the clock and creating a fun portfolio for this field in animation.

Sketch Infectus is out there

The pre-orders have been mailed and the book is stocked in the warehouse and ready for sale. I've seen a few reviews online (and won't discourage more!), and they are really positive and exciting! If you haven't seen it yet, drop by the Art Squared publishing website and take a peek. I'm quite proud of this book and hope you'll pick it up and get inspired.

Daily Sketchbook

With the aforementioned projects and time-consuming preparation, I've slacked a little on my updates and new personal goal to share something new from my sketchbook every single day. I'll do my best to keep updated, and here's another page from my sketchbook. This was just one of several fun warmup pages the other night... more sketches to come, this week.

Comic Conventions

I've been attending a few shows on behalf of myself and Art Squared Publishing, and they have been going great. Everyone visiting, getting their caricatures and books, have been delightful. Here are some photos from the most recent show, MegaCon in Orlando, FL:

The next appearances will be at the always amazing Toronto Comics Art Festival in May, then MoCCA in NYC. Hope to see you at either of those events. They are really fun and inspiring.

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NY comic con

On February 6, 7, and 8th I'll be hosting at the Art Squared Publishing / Joe Bluhm booth at the New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz center in Manhatten, at 11th Ave. & 34th St. You can find me near Alberto Ruiz and other publisher/illustrators at booth# 2341, on the aisle.

Anyone who brings me a can of sugar free RedBull gets a free quick-sketch caricature, and anyone buying two or more books will get a quick sketch as well! I'm debuting my new book, SKETCH INFECTUS (preorder now, to get an even more amazing gift) as well as carrying others that you may recognize. I'll be doing caricatures, hanging out, showing art and books and having a general good ruckus-like time, so stop by. There are a lot of great artists in this area, like Alberto (and I hear Shane Glines!!!), so swing on by the aisle of fun!

See you there!

Girl Sketching

Drawing girls is not that easy, and it's something I've tried to brush up on this past year. At the 2008 Comic Con in San Diego, I did a few sketches to sell while at the show. These were just for fun to practice, and I came across them yesterday while cleaning out some boxes, so I figured I'd share them here.

WARNING: naked lady drawing below

Drawing women is a separate mentality and skill, in a way, and I always feel it's important to work on our weaknesses. Women make me weak, and drawing them is not easy... hwah ha ha.

These drawings came on the heels of some other drawings of the feminine variety, also done for Comic Con. These were staple-bound as a small sketchbook. I still have a dozen or so left, if anyone is interested. Here are some samples of the drawings in that compilation:

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Comic Con

I'm back from Comic Con International (San Diego) and it was crazy. The show gets busier every year, and this was no exception. A sold out crowd was present, sweaty, and crazy-excited. I sold lots of books and did plenty of commissions. Even though it's a lot of work and quite tiring, I get to see so many good friends and meet so many great artists, fans and colleagues. I can't wait for next year.

I was quite inspired by a lot of the comic-book-art-nerdry, as well as all the great artwork at the show, so I recorded a new digital painting. This next one is more of a sketch and fun process, but I've been listening to the feedback and requests and will try to deliver. So quite soon I'll finish editing and post the new Digital Painting Podcast.

Check back soon!
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New Book for Comic Con!

If you or a friend are attending the SOLD OUT Comic-Con in San Diego this week or weekend, you will love the new stuff I've got at my booth, table B-2.

Here is the first look at Blubber Lubber, a new book featuring the observant and unique people-sketching of Dan Hay. Dan is an artist in Florida whose drawings of interesting strangers are dynamic and hilarious. This book is just over 6" tall, thick and sturdy, and will be priced at a special rate for Comic-Con visitors. It will be available, with other books, this fall at ArtSquaredBooks.com.

I'll be doing commissions and will have other books and new artwork at the show, so stop by!
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Sexy Ladies

This is a side of artwork that I don't share or use too much, but am beginning to appreciate it more and more. Just a peek at a bit of the new stuff for Comic-Con in San Diego, later this month.

* this one is definitely inspired by my friend Alberto!

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San Diego Comic Convention

It's the biggest show for media, entertainment, comics and art in the world ( and quite a good time for the art-lover). The Comic Con runs from July 24th through July 27th. Whether you like illustration, comics, movies, celebrities, animation, fine art, toys, sculpture, or just being around large, nerdy, sweaty crowds... this event can't be topped.

I will be at booth B2, doing rare commissions and introducing some brand new stuff! It's quite exciting, so drop by and say hi. And if you haven't made plans to visit the Golden State or to Comic Con yet, check it out!

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