Springcon, Freelance Failure, Projects, etc.

Hey internet.

Yeah, I haven't posted in awhile, partly due to lack of new material, partly due to graduation and side projects, partly due to not caring.  I'm going to spare you one of those "I'M BACK!" messages, cause I've been here, playing chrono trigger.

Springcon was pretty fun and amazing.  I sold a bunch of books and was almost taken seriously.  The best part was hanging with Andrew Herbst, Caitlin Skaalrud, Alex Fukui and seeing Jim Keefe, Zak Sally, Tom K,. Barb Schulz and Rob Algeo.  I got to catch up with the same table neighbors from Fallcon, Mark Lone, his hilarious lady pal Kate, as well as Jack Phinney and his crew.  Out of my four hot dogs there was only one bad hot dog.  The MCBA is a gracious and welcoming organization and I can't wait to go back there for Fallcon.

I also drew fun stuff.  The characters from Grotto transformed by sci fi and monster mania whimsy:

I wish I had some amazing story about the freelance gig that I was hired for, but the truth is, it fell through.  I want to post some of the work I did for that project but I'm afraid of getting sued.  I signed a non-disclosure agreement.  It was all very hush hush.  Anyways, it was very confusing and frustrating and I was trying to do a little too much at one time.  All I can say is, don't promise a client a style that they are envisioning in their head that you haven't produced yet on you're own.  Oh, and just because you're given a job it doesn't mean it can't be stripped away if you produce "maybe-better-than-average" work.  A part of me feels like I failed the entire graduating class of MCAD 2011(especially my fellow graduating cartoonists) with this failure, but Jim Keefe reminded me that this stuff just happens sometimes.  So, at least my portfolio site and tenacity got me the notice of a prominent branding company in the first place.

So, now I get to finish up a project that should've been done six months ago.  My collaborator probably thinks I shelved it, and I don't blame him.  It's going to be awesome when I show him how many pages I have done though.  Word.

8']

Informal Graduation Announcement

hey internets,

well it's friday night and i only have one assignment left for the rest of the semester (4 days).  my senior show is up at MCAD.  it's 38 pages of Grotto plus a process book, a web display, and stuff.  come by mcad to check it, OR, check it at ashbyutting.com/comics.html to read the full thing from the comfort of your chair in front of your high resolution monitor( or if you have low resolution click on 'alt view' or simply go to ashbyutting.com/grotto.html).  Yes!  Stuff!  Now for some programming!

I graducamate officially next saturday.

Woohoo, whiskey!

8']

Steampunk

hey internets

Did these today for a pal.

Okay, see you.

8']

Haven't posted in awhile.

Hey internets.

I haven't posted for awhile because I have been fervently working on senior project.  Expect an online version of Grotto Part 2 How Ever Long the Night sometime in the next couple weeks and the print version some time soon after that in preparation.  You'll notice part two is a bit more rendered, as I am better, at er, stuff.  Sorta.  Here is a sneaky peeky.

Also, some character illustrations i've been working on for a Quantum Mechanic storyline proposal which is now a week late.

Vectro Con Dagmar:  Wilder.  Apostate.  Deep Space Nomad. 

Mozis:  Ex-Military.  Teleporter.  Devourer of Pure Galactic Essences.  Dark Knight.

Nero:  Genetic perfection.  Overlord.  Hypernet Wizard.  Techno-genius.

Horu: Wilder.  Monster hunter.  Grandpa. Hibernator.

Hatching ain't dead, my friends.  

This is all for fun.  ALL OF IT.  I sit at my table and drink coffee an listen to NPR and spend hours drawing in laser focus mode while my fiancee tries to revive me for some toast.  It doesn't seem like alot of fun while I'm doing it sometimes, but lately I like my drawing just a little bit more.  I want to thank my patient family for putting up with me.

But I'm not going to end it on that note.  Did anyone know I like to program?  Well, no one is really making games like Final Fantasy 6 or Chrono Trigger any more, so I decided.  WHY THE HELL NOT?  I can tell a decent story and come up with some epic ideas (in no understandable order yet, but I'm working on that), and I love to code.  So below are some meager tests I've been able to slide within the senior project inking schedule.  Click on the pansy boy below and go to an external website and you just might see an old friend walking in place he probably shouldn't (if you're an uber geek like me).

Bon Voyage, Internets!

8']

G2:How Ever Long the Night

Process.  I'm hitting these pages hard this week.  I appreciate all the feedback, thanks, my peeps.  

8']

process and typography

Process.  Bells and stuff.  Why did I confuse, "You use too many lines," with "you shouldn't crosshatch?"  The past couple weeks I've been trying to ink my pages with no midtone.  I guess this is what college is for.  This still needs some work, but you know.  Stuff.

Oh yeah and this.

Typography homework.  Sweet.

BTW, C2E2 was amazing.

Okay.

8']

Chicken Monster.

Chicken monster.