The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone, but the turkey is still in my refrigerator. Not to worry, I happen to love turkey leftovers.
Over the weekend I did two things. I made a hat, and I started another story.
The hat is for the purposes of costume this coming Saturday. Gypsy Bandwagon will be playing the "Dickens Festival" in Biltmore Village, and I felt I needed a hat. It's a top hat of the variety that you would expect from a 19th Century character. It makes me look about seven feet tall, and when complete will have a festive holiday ribbon on it. Right now it's sitting on my secondary drawing table where I am in the process of glueing on some trim to hide the seams.
As for the story I began, it's called "T.A.E." and while I haven't yet completed "Doctor Incubus", I've actually been thinking about "T.A.E." a lot longer. I don't want to say what it's about exactly, but it is a science-fiction tale that begins, more or less, at NASA during the early 60s. I should be able to get a good bit of information from my brother who works down at the space center. While he's not one of the old Canaveral guys, he's got as much knowledge about them as I should need to make this reasonably believable. Should be interesting.
Making the transition to writer of prose has been interesting too. I don't know what I'm going to do with all this stuff that I've written. I guess I'll have to start shlepping it around like I do my art. Oh well, "live and learn".
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Musical thoughts
Today, I’m trying something different. Instead of typing directly into the blog editor, I’m taking a little time and typing this out in my word processor (AppleWorks 6, that came with my iMac). I’ll cut and paste it when I’m ready.
I’m also going to talk about something different than my graphic art too. I know that’s the stated purpose of this blog, but let’s face it, each of us has different facets to our personality that impact our creative work. I am no exception.
Today I wanted to talk about the Gypsy Bandwagon CD, “Stole My Mule”. If you’ve read the bio to the right of the screen you’ll notice that I am a member of GB. I got involved simply because my wife, Karin, was playing music with the two other members, Lance and Carissa Moore.
It’s a long story, and I won’t go into it here, other than to say that eventually I ended up playing drums, singing, and having a great time with the Moores. It’s a dream come true for me.
I grew up in a family of musicians. Some of my earliest memories are of my Dad hosting a “hootenanny” on our front porch, singing and playing folk tunes on his guitar. My older brothers were engaged in various musical outlets while we were growing up. In fact the three of us were The Chimpanzees when I was about seven (emulating The Monkees, of course). But we had the usual sibling stuff, and went our separate ways. I decided to ignore my musical leanings and set out to find my identity in the family by being the artist.
But I kept dabbling in music all along. When I moved into my first studio in 1985 it was supposed to be devoted to drawing comic books, but it was only a few months until I’d bought a secondhand drum set and moved that into the studio. I got a Yamaha PSS 460 keyboard a few months later and used to keep it next to me on my drawing board so that I could practice solos when drawing got boring. (This is not to imply that I can actually play a keyboard in any real way).
I even went on to join my brother, Jeff, and his buddy Brian in a Contemporary Christian band that lasted one gig.
I borrowed a Tascam 4-Track recorder from Jeff and did some experimental multitrack recordings about the time I met Karin, and sent her the results dubbed off on a cassette. She seemed to think I was pretty interesting anyway. Eventually, I ended up marrying her, so I must have done okay.
I’ve kept playing music. Jamming with various people, doing a little music at Church, that sort of thing.
But what really got me excited was the fact that I was married to a multi-instrumental musician! She got invited to perform and record with a number of people; Doug Trantham, Anne Lough, Michael Schull, Bean Sidhe, Celtic Knot…folk types mostly.
I’m not that into folk anymore, but when she’d go into the studio I’d get to go along! Fun stuff. I even seemed to have an ear for it, and occasionally I’d get to put in my two cent’s worth. It was a neat process.
Karin, on the other hand, tended to be a bit uptight. Well, she did have to pull off these performances, didn’t she? But mostly she was just into it for the performance. She simply enjoyed playing with other people, the genre was not the issue.
She would put in another bang-up performance, everyone would be amazed. I’d say, “she’s MY wife”, with a chuckle and big grin, and life would go on. The CD would come out she’d show it to a couple of friends and listen to it once or twice and then it would go into the CD shelf and collect dust.
But this time it’s different. This time she’s listening to the recording--A LOT. This time I come out to the car the CD is in the player. This time I hear her playing tunes from “Stole My Mule” for her music students. This time she’s excited.
I’m excited too. Hey! I got to play drums and sing on an actual recording, that costs money!
I’m reasonably excited to have my artwork on the CD (but then I’ve been there before). But it is gratifying that my wife, the professional musician (did I mention that my wife is a professional musician?), is actually excited about the project. That speaks well of the album. She’s turned her nose up at some pretty good stuff over the years!
Is it the next “Rubber Soul”? I can’t say that. But “Stole My Mule” has got the players excited, at very least. That my wife (yeah, the professional musician, that’s the one) wants to listen to it again and again is something like a miracle in my experience. The only other CD in our collection that has gotten as much rotation is a copy of ELO’s greatest hits, “Strange Magic”.
To be fair, I think that Jeff Lynne has put a lot more work into his catalog so far. We have a lot of work to do to match that guy, but when’s the last time ELO had a cartoon donkey on their album cover? Stumped you with that one didn’t I? Well we have two! Three if you count the back cover.
I really didn’t want this to seem like a plug for another project. It may very well be, but I don’t want it to seem like one. I’d honestly like to give everyone a free copy of the CD and see if you like it or not. But I can’t do that either. We do need to sell some copies. If anyone is interested in hearing the sound you can order copies from
Gypsy Bandwagon Website
Someday soon Lance may actually have some downloadable sound files so you can preview the CD. I don’t know. He’s been working on the site feverishly for the past couple of weeks, but won’t show any of us until it’s done. If you link now you’ll get the old version of the site, but you can bookmark it if you’re still interested after seeing the prototype.
In the meantime I did set up the tee-shirt shop for Gypsy Bandwagon at
Gypsy Bandwagon Apparel
There you can see the “Official Gypsy Bandwagon Tour-Shirt” and even order one if you like. Four hard working musicians would appreciate the business.
(Okay, THREE hard working musicians and also a drummer would appreciate it.)
I’m also going to talk about something different than my graphic art too. I know that’s the stated purpose of this blog, but let’s face it, each of us has different facets to our personality that impact our creative work. I am no exception.
Today I wanted to talk about the Gypsy Bandwagon CD, “Stole My Mule”. If you’ve read the bio to the right of the screen you’ll notice that I am a member of GB. I got involved simply because my wife, Karin, was playing music with the two other members, Lance and Carissa Moore.
It’s a long story, and I won’t go into it here, other than to say that eventually I ended up playing drums, singing, and having a great time with the Moores. It’s a dream come true for me.
I grew up in a family of musicians. Some of my earliest memories are of my Dad hosting a “hootenanny” on our front porch, singing and playing folk tunes on his guitar. My older brothers were engaged in various musical outlets while we were growing up. In fact the three of us were The Chimpanzees when I was about seven (emulating The Monkees, of course). But we had the usual sibling stuff, and went our separate ways. I decided to ignore my musical leanings and set out to find my identity in the family by being the artist.
But I kept dabbling in music all along. When I moved into my first studio in 1985 it was supposed to be devoted to drawing comic books, but it was only a few months until I’d bought a secondhand drum set and moved that into the studio. I got a Yamaha PSS 460 keyboard a few months later and used to keep it next to me on my drawing board so that I could practice solos when drawing got boring. (This is not to imply that I can actually play a keyboard in any real way).
I even went on to join my brother, Jeff, and his buddy Brian in a Contemporary Christian band that lasted one gig.
I borrowed a Tascam 4-Track recorder from Jeff and did some experimental multitrack recordings about the time I met Karin, and sent her the results dubbed off on a cassette. She seemed to think I was pretty interesting anyway. Eventually, I ended up marrying her, so I must have done okay.
I’ve kept playing music. Jamming with various people, doing a little music at Church, that sort of thing.
But what really got me excited was the fact that I was married to a multi-instrumental musician! She got invited to perform and record with a number of people; Doug Trantham, Anne Lough, Michael Schull, Bean Sidhe, Celtic Knot…folk types mostly.
I’m not that into folk anymore, but when she’d go into the studio I’d get to go along! Fun stuff. I even seemed to have an ear for it, and occasionally I’d get to put in my two cent’s worth. It was a neat process.
Karin, on the other hand, tended to be a bit uptight. Well, she did have to pull off these performances, didn’t she? But mostly she was just into it for the performance. She simply enjoyed playing with other people, the genre was not the issue.
She would put in another bang-up performance, everyone would be amazed. I’d say, “she’s MY wife”, with a chuckle and big grin, and life would go on. The CD would come out she’d show it to a couple of friends and listen to it once or twice and then it would go into the CD shelf and collect dust.
But this time it’s different. This time she’s listening to the recording--A LOT. This time I come out to the car the CD is in the player. This time I hear her playing tunes from “Stole My Mule” for her music students. This time she’s excited.
I’m excited too. Hey! I got to play drums and sing on an actual recording, that costs money!
I’m reasonably excited to have my artwork on the CD (but then I’ve been there before). But it is gratifying that my wife, the professional musician (did I mention that my wife is a professional musician?), is actually excited about the project. That speaks well of the album. She’s turned her nose up at some pretty good stuff over the years!
Is it the next “Rubber Soul”? I can’t say that. But “Stole My Mule” has got the players excited, at very least. That my wife (yeah, the professional musician, that’s the one) wants to listen to it again and again is something like a miracle in my experience. The only other CD in our collection that has gotten as much rotation is a copy of ELO’s greatest hits, “Strange Magic”.
To be fair, I think that Jeff Lynne has put a lot more work into his catalog so far. We have a lot of work to do to match that guy, but when’s the last time ELO had a cartoon donkey on their album cover? Stumped you with that one didn’t I? Well we have two! Three if you count the back cover.
I really didn’t want this to seem like a plug for another project. It may very well be, but I don’t want it to seem like one. I’d honestly like to give everyone a free copy of the CD and see if you like it or not. But I can’t do that either. We do need to sell some copies. If anyone is interested in hearing the sound you can order copies from
Gypsy Bandwagon Website
Someday soon Lance may actually have some downloadable sound files so you can preview the CD. I don’t know. He’s been working on the site feverishly for the past couple of weeks, but won’t show any of us until it’s done. If you link now you’ll get the old version of the site, but you can bookmark it if you’re still interested after seeing the prototype.
In the meantime I did set up the tee-shirt shop for Gypsy Bandwagon at
Gypsy Bandwagon Apparel
There you can see the “Official Gypsy Bandwagon Tour-Shirt” and even order one if you like. Four hard working musicians would appreciate the business.
(Okay, THREE hard working musicians and also a drummer would appreciate it.)
Friday, November 18, 2005
Whine, Whine, Whiiiine!
Okay this is rather disheartening. It seems that Art just isn't selling much right now. I don't want to get too down about it, but that Black Canary I posted on eBay
(See the artist shamelessly plug his art) just isn't attracting that much interest. In times past a piece like this would have had a horde of buyers looking at it.
Now a lot of this could be attributed to the fact that it's just before Thanksgiving. Could be. A good bit more could be the fact that there's a lot of really neat comics art up there to be bid upon (I saw some Kirby going for tens of thousands). But then we can't all win the Kirby art now can we? So why no more interest in BC?
My friend, Bill tells me that at the gallery where he has his watercolors, that they say that originals just haven't been selling since 9/11. Hmmm. I did sell that one TV Batgirl pretty well. But maybe original sales have been off. I was selling a lot of prints at shows over the past couple of years. But my sales went off once I decided not to do prints anymore.
Still, I am getting stuff set up with CafePress to do more tee-shirts. I understand that the Gypsy Bandwagon CD is in. Gypsy Bandwagon Plug
So I'll have that stuff to push at shows. Maybe something will click. We'll see.
(See the artist shamelessly plug his art) just isn't attracting that much interest. In times past a piece like this would have had a horde of buyers looking at it.
Now a lot of this could be attributed to the fact that it's just before Thanksgiving. Could be. A good bit more could be the fact that there's a lot of really neat comics art up there to be bid upon (I saw some Kirby going for tens of thousands). But then we can't all win the Kirby art now can we? So why no more interest in BC?
My friend, Bill tells me that at the gallery where he has his watercolors, that they say that originals just haven't been selling since 9/11. Hmmm. I did sell that one TV Batgirl pretty well. But maybe original sales have been off. I was selling a lot of prints at shows over the past couple of years. But my sales went off once I decided not to do prints anymore.
Still, I am getting stuff set up with CafePress to do more tee-shirts. I understand that the Gypsy Bandwagon CD is in. Gypsy Bandwagon Plug
So I'll have that stuff to push at shows. Maybe something will click. We'll see.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
A lot's been happening
I've been covered up with work, which is good. I've been commissioned by a guy at…well maybe I shouldn't say, it's supposed to be a Christmas gift. But it's a pretty big connection to a pretty major fan it turns out. Nice work, glad to have it.
I'm closing in on the end of my draft of Doctor Incubus' first adventure, and have been getting good feedback, so if anyone knows of a publisher looking for about 30-50 pages of 30s Pulp-style writing (and I'm planning some illos too, of course) have them contact me.
In the meantime, my agent, Aaron Bushy will be posting this image at eBay probably today.
Hope you enjoy this nice Black Canary art.
BTW, Black Canary is ™ and © DC Comics, inc. Artwork by James E. Lyle
I'm closing in on the end of my draft of Doctor Incubus' first adventure, and have been getting good feedback, so if anyone knows of a publisher looking for about 30-50 pages of 30s Pulp-style writing (and I'm planning some illos too, of course) have them contact me.
In the meantime, my agent, Aaron Bushy will be posting this image at eBay probably today.
Hope you enjoy this nice Black Canary art.
BTW, Black Canary is ™ and © DC Comics, inc. Artwork by James E. Lyle
Saturday, November 05, 2005
I am not Tom
Okay, since this came up again yesterday I suppose it would be good to deal with it. I'm not going to tell who thought I was Tom Lyle, since it happens a lot and the person who did it obviously simply made a mistake. So this isn't intended to slam that person. Really it's just to clear up as much of the misunderstanding as possible.
I recall an old episode of "My Three Sons" wherein Chip Douglas makes a date with an older girl at school. She thinks that she's been asked out by Chip's older brother, Robbie. When Chip shows up at the door she freaks. It, of course works out in the end, and Chip is assured that eventually he will be out of the shadow of his older brother. High School works like that. Eventually you get to be your own person.
However I'm not in High School and Tom isn't my brother either. Not that I'm putting down Tom's work. Far from it. The guy's nearly as famous for his run on Spider-man as Ditko, or John Romita, Sr. So why would I mess with that?
Heck! I've even done this sort of thing myself. I ran into Terry Beatty in Chicago a few years ago and went into a rave about his inking of some of Butch Guice's work. He sat there and was cool about it, then when I was done he informed me that I was probably thinking of JOHN Beatty. Of course I was! Not that I had anything against Terry's work, either. I like them both. Terry went on to tell me that DC Comics regularly mixed up his fan-mail with John's.
Speaking of Butch Guice, he's got two younger brothers, Brian (Bruno) and Jeff (no nickname). They both are really good artists as well. But neither seems to have ever taken off in the comics industry. Talk about living in your brother's shadow. It's too bad. The three of them could be the east coast answer to the Brothers Hernadez.
Anyway,Tom Lyle and I are not related (so far as we know). I see him, every now and then, at shows and I kid about how we really should do something together just to confuse the masses more.
Tom comes from (correct me if I'm wrong) Northeast Georgia, and I come from Western North Carolina. Relatively close together geographically speaking, but still a couple of hours distant. We both got started in comics about the same time in the 80s. So I understand the confusion. But it is a bit unnerving at times.
Particularly when someone e-mails me out of the blue and says they want me to work on this or that project. I have that strange feeling that one gets when handed an anonymous note from a secret admirer.
"Are you sure it's me you're talking about?"
I suppose that some guys would take the money and run. As for me, I've got too much of my ego wrapped up in this artist thing to do that.
"I think you mean TOM Lyle," I'll say. "There goes another job", is what I'm thinking, though.
Does this count as a cross to bear? I'll have to ask The LORD when I see him.
I recall an old episode of "My Three Sons" wherein Chip Douglas makes a date with an older girl at school. She thinks that she's been asked out by Chip's older brother, Robbie. When Chip shows up at the door she freaks. It, of course works out in the end, and Chip is assured that eventually he will be out of the shadow of his older brother. High School works like that. Eventually you get to be your own person.
However I'm not in High School and Tom isn't my brother either. Not that I'm putting down Tom's work. Far from it. The guy's nearly as famous for his run on Spider-man as Ditko, or John Romita, Sr. So why would I mess with that?
Heck! I've even done this sort of thing myself. I ran into Terry Beatty in Chicago a few years ago and went into a rave about his inking of some of Butch Guice's work. He sat there and was cool about it, then when I was done he informed me that I was probably thinking of JOHN Beatty. Of course I was! Not that I had anything against Terry's work, either. I like them both. Terry went on to tell me that DC Comics regularly mixed up his fan-mail with John's.
Speaking of Butch Guice, he's got two younger brothers, Brian (Bruno) and Jeff (no nickname). They both are really good artists as well. But neither seems to have ever taken off in the comics industry. Talk about living in your brother's shadow. It's too bad. The three of them could be the east coast answer to the Brothers Hernadez.
Anyway,Tom Lyle and I are not related (so far as we know). I see him, every now and then, at shows and I kid about how we really should do something together just to confuse the masses more.
Tom comes from (correct me if I'm wrong) Northeast Georgia, and I come from Western North Carolina. Relatively close together geographically speaking, but still a couple of hours distant. We both got started in comics about the same time in the 80s. So I understand the confusion. But it is a bit unnerving at times.
Particularly when someone e-mails me out of the blue and says they want me to work on this or that project. I have that strange feeling that one gets when handed an anonymous note from a secret admirer.
"Are you sure it's me you're talking about?"
I suppose that some guys would take the money and run. As for me, I've got too much of my ego wrapped up in this artist thing to do that.
"I think you mean TOM Lyle," I'll say. "There goes another job", is what I'm thinking, though.
Does this count as a cross to bear? I'll have to ask The LORD when I see him.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Red letter day!
Today's been really interesting. No, I didn't get much done, that's true, but I've had a number of events happening.
First off, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Companion (from Two Morrows publishing, edited by Jon Cooke) got here today. I got coverage on many pages! Eight pages were devoted to the Solson "Thunder" book that I worked on with Michael Sawyer back in the 80s. But I also have art on a nuber of pages. So for anyone who cares, pages 148-155 features "our" Thunder Agents book. Page 39 has the cover of that book. Page 118 has a partially inked page of Dynamo by Lou Manna and me. Page 121 has a fully inked Dynamo page by Lou and me. Page 149 is incorrectly credited to Jackson Guice alone, it's actually his inks over my pencils. And page 158 is also incorrectly credited; while it's definitely Paul Gulacy pencils, those are my inks.
Imagine, getting mistaken for Butch Guice AND Terry Austin in less than 10 pages! Wow! Am I complemented.
Page 168 has a very nice cover piece I did (with inspiration from Lou Manna) back in '99. Page 172 has my inks over Lou again.
So, if I've counted correctly, that's 13 pages with my work on them, as well as more coverage than either Boris the Bear or ThunderBunny!
But on to other stuff.
Today I also got approached by a group who's developing an animated cartoon. They've got connections to an animation studio who has a "first look" deal with FOX. More on that as it happens.
Also got approached by some big time legal types…in a good way! I'm working out a commission deal with that contact, time will tell.
Hey! I just noticed that the Solson Thunder is even on the cover of the TA companion. Just to the right of Menthor's hand there's "our" NoMan.
You know something else I just noticed? This entry is beginning to sound a little too much like an old "Stan's Soapbox" from the 70s. So I'd better go before I start sounding too bombastic and sign off with "Excelsior!"
EXCELSIOR!
(D'oh!)
First off, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Companion (from Two Morrows publishing, edited by Jon Cooke) got here today. I got coverage on many pages! Eight pages were devoted to the Solson "Thunder" book that I worked on with Michael Sawyer back in the 80s. But I also have art on a nuber of pages. So for anyone who cares, pages 148-155 features "our" Thunder Agents book. Page 39 has the cover of that book. Page 118 has a partially inked page of Dynamo by Lou Manna and me. Page 121 has a fully inked Dynamo page by Lou and me. Page 149 is incorrectly credited to Jackson Guice alone, it's actually his inks over my pencils. And page 158 is also incorrectly credited; while it's definitely Paul Gulacy pencils, those are my inks.
Imagine, getting mistaken for Butch Guice AND Terry Austin in less than 10 pages! Wow! Am I complemented.
Page 168 has a very nice cover piece I did (with inspiration from Lou Manna) back in '99. Page 172 has my inks over Lou again.
So, if I've counted correctly, that's 13 pages with my work on them, as well as more coverage than either Boris the Bear or ThunderBunny!
But on to other stuff.
Today I also got approached by a group who's developing an animated cartoon. They've got connections to an animation studio who has a "first look" deal with FOX. More on that as it happens.
Also got approached by some big time legal types…in a good way! I'm working out a commission deal with that contact, time will tell.
Hey! I just noticed that the Solson Thunder is even on the cover of the TA companion. Just to the right of Menthor's hand there's "our" NoMan.
You know something else I just noticed? This entry is beginning to sound a little too much like an old "Stan's Soapbox" from the 70s. So I'd better go before I start sounding too bombastic and sign off with "Excelsior!"
EXCELSIOR!
(D'oh!)
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Why does it take so long to be creative?
I've been having a week of some considerable frustration. It seems to take me most of the week to get around to doing what I want. Well, not exactly. I did finish up Tim Chandler's latest piece on Monday. Then I managed to finish up some inking for a project called Drastik! On tuesday. I've done some updated art for Gypsy Bandwagon's website (still under construction by my band buddies, Lance and Carissa). I taught two lessons yesteday, and banged out about 4 more chapters of Doctor Incubus! So I'm doing all right, but today I managed to pencil a page of The PLUS for a space they're holding in Negative Burn for me, and I re-inked a Black Canary piece that I did about 3 years ago (I then made the mistake of coloring it on the board, and I haven't been able to interest one person in it since).
Anyway, I get a lot done, but sometimes it seems like I'm paddling in circles. At least I feel like I've made some headway today. I think one of the problems is that I'm going out in the evenings more lately. Monday we took some kids from church to a family fun fest (noboby actually barfed in the car, but there was that threat after all the candy they'd eaten). Tuesday we went to the WNC group of the Southeast Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society meeting in Asheville. Last night I went to jam on my bass at the library (my usual routine, except that Karin had to practice with Celtic Knot, so I went alone). Tonight Karin's playing at Lake Junaluska again. In fact I should probably go load her harp even now.
Anyway, I get a lot done, but sometimes it seems like I'm paddling in circles. At least I feel like I've made some headway today. I think one of the problems is that I'm going out in the evenings more lately. Monday we took some kids from church to a family fun fest (noboby actually barfed in the car, but there was that threat after all the candy they'd eaten). Tuesday we went to the WNC group of the Southeast Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society meeting in Asheville. Last night I went to jam on my bass at the library (my usual routine, except that Karin had to practice with Celtic Knot, so I went alone). Tonight Karin's playing at Lake Junaluska again. In fact I should probably go load her harp even now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
