One of my entries was selected to be published in #UdonCrew's official Mega Man Tribute book! Hooray! I'll be posting the pieces that didn't make it over the next few days. The book will be available this summer. I won't post the winning piece until much later.

Thank you UDON and Capcom!

Smiles for Japan was a big success. I was able to raise $2500, which went toward both the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund and MSF/Doctors Without Borders.

Over 90 out of the 100 commissions have been completed and mailed. A few people still haven't told me what they'd like drawn yet, but once they do, I'm going to make a collage of all the portraits and upload it here.

If you commissioned me and have received your pic, feel free to let me know!

Donation receipts:

I was going to stop a few pics back, but then realized I was nearing 100 portraits.

I need 7 more to make 100 (that's $2,500 raised for Japan in total)! Please help me reach my goal.

UPDATE: I'm done. Thanks all!



GO HERE TO COMMISSION ME--> [link]

100% of proceeds go to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

Once I'm done, all the portraits will be uploaded here as a collage.

Due to overwhelming support, I've re-opened commissions.



GO HERE TO COMMISSION ME--> [link]

100% of proceeds go to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a non-profit humanitarian aid organization known for providing medical care to developing countries. Currently they are helping the earthquake and tsunami survivors, especially those suffering from hypothermia, respiratory tract infections, and the elderly who have lost their medicine. They're also rounding up basic needs such as blankets, food and fresh water. They're a great group and 85% of their funding comes from donations, so donating to them no matter what the reason is a good idea.



I've finished 36 out of 52 commissioned portraits so far, and they're being mailed out today. Those of you who haven't sent me info on what they'd like drawn yet, please do.

Update: I've raised $1300 for Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund!



I might open up regular commissions in the future. Thanks to all who've commissioned me or considered it.

I was originally going to stop at 20 commissions but decided to keep going. However, this means the cost of mailing out the pieces and Paypal taxes is getting to be a bit more than I can handle, so I've put up two Yokaiden pieces for sale.



Pieces available at my store

Left -- Hamachi and Kyuumon, $150. A bit over $50 will help mailing costs, and the rest will go to Japan Society and will offset Paypal taxes.
Right -- Hamachi and a Yuki-Onna, $100. This will all go to Japan Society and will offset Paypal taxes.

Hey guys, I stopped commissions years ago due to lack of time but I'm opening up temporarily to collect money for earthquake relief in Japan.



GO HERE TO COMMISSION ME--> [link]

100% of proceeds go to Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund

$25 gets you one smiling ink headshot of your original character (or other character of your choice) on approximately 4 x 6" lightweight cardstock paper. The original will be mailed to you once I've finished all the commissions. Comes with a postcard-sized print of my Calvin & Hobbes tribute "Best Friends" that I give out at conventions.

Once you've made this purchase, I'll e-mail you requesting reference pictures or descriptions. Will ship anywhere.

Inspired by Takehiko Inoue's "Smile" drawings on Twitter.

Sorry I don't have more to offer, but I don't have enough free time to do anything more elaborate (assuming I'll get a good amount of commissions)...

--> [link]

Entrepeneur Magazine did an awesome article about dA. I was quoted! And dA quoted me being quoted!

Hey guys, I'll be appearing as a guest at Chicago Comic-Con 2011! Not sure what I'll be doing there exactly yet, but if you're in the area or going to be attending, please check me out!

Thanks to everyone who came by my table at the Vancouver Comic-Con. Always cool meeting people who've known me since my Nameless Manga Translation Site days.

Hey fellow Vancouverites. The Vancouver Comicon [link] is this Sunday and I'm a guest! 11am-5pm  3102 Main St; admission is a mere 4 bucks. I'll be selling copies of my books plus original art. And I have free postcards!

Due to popular demand, my Damien Redesign motivational picture is now available for purchase as a print!



I re-scanned some stuff to get a higher resolution, but unfortunately my oldest pic of Damien couldn't be found, so he will likely end up a little pixelated/blurry in the print.

This is by far one of my most popular pics -- maybe not based on the number of favs or views, but by the number of people who've told me how much it has helped them not lose hope in their artistic abilities.

I'm doing more work for Bongo Comics (congrats to them on finally launching their website)! A story I penciled will be in the Winter Wingding #5 issue of Simpsons Comics coming out in a few months, and I'm working on another one right now. There may also be more Simpsons manga in the future, so stay tuned.

Other than that, I'm busy with personal projects (like improving my art, among other things), computer problems, and raising a shiba inu. Haven't had many chances to do artwork I can upload here, but I'm going through illustration withdrawl so maybe I'll do something.

I've been quiet online as of late! Between moving to a condo and getting a Shiba Inu puppy [link] I've been busy with so much stuff, I haven't really been able to work on art. I did just finish penciling a story for this year's annual Simpsons Comics Winter Wingding, however, and I have more Simpsons work coming up.

I plan on doing some original pieces soon to sell on Etsy.com.

Fellow Vancouverites! I will be at our local con, Anime Evolution, as a special guest this weekend!

My panel is called "Mangaka Myths", wherein I'll talk a little about my experience being a manga artist and clear up some common misconceptions (mostly about OEL manga artists). It's on Sunday, from 12:30-1:30.

I might also show up at the "AE Comic Jam" on Sunday from 2 to 4.

An original artwork of mine will be available at the charity auction (which I haven't done yet...)

Zuko's Story is now out! Check for it in stores, but keep in mind that most comic stores get their shipment of new comics in on Wednesdays, so you may have to wait tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered a copy: hope you enjoy!

I had to go to three different stores before I was able to get my copy. Some photos of the book here: [link]

If you liked the story, be sure to send all the praise to the writers, fellow deviants and veteran Airbender comic writers ~yaytime and ~AliWildgoose. Though it's a prequel to the movie, they made sure it fit into the original show's universe so that it can be a prequel to the show as well. You can read more about their process at this interview with ~yaytime here: [link]

The cover art I did for The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko's Story (coming May 18th) has gone up online!


preorder the book here

Illustrated by me; written by fellow dAers and Airbender fanatics ~yaytime and ~AliWildgoose!

I'll post the artwork here in my dA account soon.

Remember, a free preview of the book will be available in the Del Rey sampler on Free Comic Book Day (May 1st) so don't forget to go to your local comic shop that day.

Had a peek at the front page comments and was happy to hear from people who were pleased with my less feminine portrayal of Samus. Thank you! I'm glad I'm not alone.

I'll probably do a second pic, because inspiration struck.

ETA: aaand it's done

Here's some very interesting news for Houshin Engi fans. If you've read the Houshin Engi manga and have seen the anime, you're probably fully aware that the anime is completely awful. Apparently ShomeiTV will make a new (and hopefully more accurate/better) HE anime if they get 10,000 signatures from fans by March 31st [link] .

Normally I don't pay any attention to online petitions and I think this one is kinda iffy, but HE is my favourite manga and it deserves a decent animated version... Might not hurt to try?

The petition is in Japanese, so ~DokuganBAKA made a handy tutorial on how to sign it.



In other news I've finished the artwork for The Last Airbender Movie Prequel: Zuko's Story. That's 100 pages penciled and inked in 105 days! Right now I'm waiting for M. Night Shyamalan to approve my sketch for the cover art.

Hey guys, Christmas is around the corner and I have a few things to update.

First off, deviantART is reaching 100 million deviations. They gave special mention to Simpsonzu in their article about it: [link] and I'm not sure if it's coincidence, but today I also received Senior Member status! [link] ...I had no idea what I meant. I was hoping it meant I had been turned into a handsome Spanish gentleman, but I read the article on it and some people explained it to me so -- thanks, deviantART! I now have a backtic before my name.

Last week, I was given the okay to go by Paramount and so I began inking my pencils for the Last Airbender prequel manga -- virtually nothing was changed from the writers' (~AliWildgoose ~yaytime) vision of it. You can see a preview of it in Del Rey's freebie for Free Comic Book Day (May 1st). Totally free! Make sure to get your copy!

Reviews for Yokaiden vol 2 have been coming in [link] It's also been included in numerous 2009 manga gift guides.

I'm a Guest at <A href="[link]>Anime Evolution</a>, August 13-15 2010, here in my hometown of Vancouver.

I'm excited about AE2010, however, because the other guest will be Little Kuriboh of Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series fame. I love his work. The con is flying him all the way from England, and I'm envious. I hope someday a faraway convention will invite me and pay for my airfare!

ETA: Mind you, I've been to Anime Evolution several times...just never as a guest or with a table in the artist's alley. I've also entered their mascot contest five times and never won or placed!

If you have yet to convince someone that Yokaiden is totally worth getting or if you prefer to flip through a comic before buying it, now there's an online preview at Yokaiden.com.



But wait, there's more!

I've posted some character design and concept sketches online, too. --> [link]
If want a "behind the scenes" look or are an aspiring comic artist yourself wanting to see how I work, be sure to check it out.

Also on my LJ are my thoughts on how hard it can be to pace an OEL manga. [link]

Above: Insert illustrations for the book that didn't make the cut

I've been very quiet lately, but thanks to everyone who leaves such nice comments about Yokaiden [link] on my dA. The second volume came out on November 24. Go out and get your copy now! Or request it as a Christmas gift! Photos of the book found here: [link]

Also available is the crazy coyote figure from PatchTogether  - [link]
I've requested better photos of the figure, which are coming soon.

All I want for Christmas is some nice Yokaiden fanart. Please?

The weather's been completely miserable this month in Vancouver. Nothing but rain. I can't remember the last time I saw the sun. What about where you live?