Nickelodeon Cartoons on Acid! (Publishers Weekly says so)

Oh, man.

Publishers Weekly went and reviewed my new book, Twisted: Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol. 1, and it looks like they’ve given it a thumbs up:

“In stories that last only a few pages and comics that resemble Nickelodeon cartoons on acid, Thompson riffs on zombie, werewolf, and other ghoulish genres, while also finding the horrific in unexpected places…Just the thing for readers who aren’t scared of the dark—or for those who are and like it.”

Even my dad picked out the “Nickelodeon cartoons on acid” line as a favorite. He should have. That’s where I get it from.

Here’s a link to the entire review: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-9836699-0-6

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Cover #sketchbookproject

So I went and joined the Art House Co-op and their Special Edition Sketchbook Project. They’re going to print at least one spread from each sketchbook they get back in a series of books they’ll be publishing documenting the project.

I know. I almost have time for this.

I decided to try out a relatively new medium for me: markers. That might be an idiot of an idea, but I’ve also decided to draw things that aren’t so new for me: Square Kats. Hopefully the markers will be kind.

Here’s the cover and the first page pages:

So looking forward to ParaNorman

Soooo looking forward to August 17. I think I’m growing a stop-motion fetish. Don’t you just want those maquettes to play with for yourself?

You don’t become a hero by being normal.

ParaNora. That’s what they meant to call it. Para. Nor. A.
http://www.paranorman.com/

Now accepting credit cards!

So when the nice people at the Frick asked me if I would be able to take credit cards at my book signing tomorrow (see details below), I had to honestly tell them “no.”
But.
A day and a half later I bought myself an iPad (geeky dance around the room) and got busy with Square. Square is a tiny little thing that plugs into your ear bud jack and you swipe cards through it. The reader is free; the app that goes with it is also free.
And it’s really fun (and easy) to use.
I’ve inventoried everything that I’ll be selling (hardcover and paperback books, prints, posters and bookmarks) and added images and prices for each. So all I have to do is touch the product that someone is buying and the app starts up a tally.
Oh. The details about tomorrow:
What: Book signing (along with my new buddy Stacy Innerst)
Date: Saturday, April 14
Time: 1:30-2:30 pm
Location: The Frick Art & Historical Center, in the museum rotunda
And! It’s Friday the 13th! It doesn’t get any better than this.

I’ve got a book signing!

Now I went and did it.

This Saturday, April 14 between 1:30 and 2:30 in the afternoon, in the rotunda at the Frick Art & Historical Center, along with my new buddy Stacy Innerst, I will be signing copies of my book Twisted: Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol. 1. I will also have prints and posters from the book on hand and free bookmarks for each book purchase.

So, in case you missed it:
What: Book signing for Family Day at the Frick
When: Saturday, April, 14 from 1:30-2:30
Where: Frick Art & Historical Center
Why: Because I’m a starving artist. Oh, and the Frick is exhibiting Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children’s Book Illustration. But mostly because I’m a starving artist

Please don’t let me be embarrassed with nobody in my line and everybody in Stacy’s.

Please.

So looking forward to Frankenweenie

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Octo&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

So so so looking forward to October 5. I want a Sparky dog stuffed animal doll. The stitched one. With a removable tail.

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 5 It’s Aliiiiive!!!

I’ve finished the skateboard for On Deck VII, and here he is. I still have to attach the hanging hardware, package him up and send him off, but the creative part is complete.

I’ve decided to call it Bruce after the shark in the movie Jaws. I haven’t decided whether the brusher’s name is Bruce or the brushee, and I don’t think I will.

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 3

I was a little stuck on what color (or colors) to make the toothbrush, so I started mixing colors I was already using and came up with this purple.

I’m not sure if I like it yet or not. It’s a nice contrast to the yellow shirt, but something feels a little off for me. Not sure what. I do need it to be darkish so when I add the lighter bubbles later they’ll show up against the dark background.

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 2 AKA "The Great White Turd"

I’ve made a little more progress on my On Deck skateboard for the Montana Skatepark Association’s charity auction.

I wasn’t completely sure what colors I wanted to use for the toothbrusher’s clothes except maybe that he should be wearing jeans. I grabbed some of the dark purplish blue I had used for inside the mouth and added a little white and Unbleached Titanium to lighten it up.

His shirt ended up yellow, and I’m thinking it’s just because sometimes I tend to think in a primary color scheme.

The hardest part for me is always mixing a convincing flesh tone along with shades of it that don’t make it look dirty. I started his skin, but then let it sit for a couple of days before I finished it. Just a little bit of nervousness about it, I think.

By the way, a few little pieces of trivia…

You may have known that the crew on the set of the movie Jaws referred to the three mechanical sharks they used as “Bruce,” but did you know that Steven Spielberg named it after his attorney? Also (from IMDB):

“In addition to the well-known nickname of “Bruce”, Steven Spielberg also called the shark “the great white turd” when he really got frustrated with the troublesome animatronic fish.”

Bruce is also the name of the Great White in Finding Nemo.

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 1

The Fed Ex man delivered my skateboard safe and sound-like at my door for the On Deck 7 charity auction happening in May. The deck is due back in Missoula by April 1, so I decided it might be a good idea to get this puppy rolling.

First I sanded off the finish, filled in the holes I wouldn’t be using for hanging, and then I primed it. Once the gesso dried I transferred the sketch on over.

I painted inside the mouth first, and decided to use Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Alizarin Crimson and Crimson on this part. I’ll also use these on other parts of the board, along with Yellow Oxide, Unbleached Titanium and Titanium White. I’m also using some Burnt Umber to mix with the Ultramarine to make black when I need to.

I honestly can’t remember what was going on when I came up with the idea for this one, but I can say I’ve spent the last couple of weeks enduring yet another root canal. Not sure, but I may have dental work on my mind.