Sandman: Overture Flats

Here's an update of a few samples of flats for Sandman: Overture #2 and #3.

A Dream Come True... Part 2

I just received my copy of Sandman: Overture #2 Special Edition and was pleasantly surprised to see that Dave Stewart had given me a shout-out in his Color Process: From Theory to Execution piece. And a page of flats I worked on was also featured. From reader to collaborator in a little under 20 years!

Sandman Overture #2 3D Motion Cover

I've been having a fantastic time flatting pages for Sandman: Overture. J.H. Williams III's inks are amazing, Dave Stewart's colors are outstanding, and of course, Neil Gaiman is weaving another beautiful tale.

A Dream Come True

 

I guess enough time has passed since Sandman: Overture #1 came out to share some flats I did for the very wonderful Dave Stewart. Working on J.H.'s artwork was amazing, and the whole experience really was a dream come true for me.

Sandman: Overture

 

Over 20 years ago I picked up my now much-read and much-loved copy of Sandman: Seasons of Mist. It changed my life - I became a Sandman/Gaiman obsessive - collecting everything to do with the Endless Family. Over the years I've spent thousands of dollars on signed and rare oddities (see hmmm for example); queued for hours for readings and signings, and had brief chats with Neil Himself.

I always wanted to work on the Sandman, but never knew how that would happen, especially after it stopped publishing! When I found out that there was going to be a prequel to the series coming out this year I set about getting myself in there. Imagine my delight this morning to wake up to 2 double page spreads from issue 1 sitting in my DropBox waiting to be flatted for Dave Stewart - I don't even know how to start them!

In celebration of working on the new Sandman I treated myself to a few new goodies - a signed  Number 1 and some lovely figures.

Concept Art From The Sandman Movie That Never Was

A long while ago Neil Gaiman pitched a three-part cinematic adaptation of his comic book SANDMAN to Warner Bros. The project never got off the ground and was then canceled. What we're left with is this stunning concept art by SANDMAN and BEASTS OF BURDEN illustrator Jill Thompson.

This art is up for sale and available for ogling. Gaiman announced the release of this concept art on Twitter: "Some years ago, I had to pitch/explain SANDMAN to Warners. Jill Thompson illustrated the pitch. That art's for sale."

View the entire gallery over at Cadence of Comic Art. Each image is priced from $800-$900. I only wish I could afford even a corner of one of these beautiful pictures,

Sandman Prequel Announcement

Twenty-five years after one of the most celebrated graphic novels of all-time hit shelves, award winning and critically acclaimed author and screenwriter, Neil Gaiman, announced his return to THE SANDMAN. Gaiman made the surprise announcement, via video, at DC Entertainment’s Vertigo panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

Karen Berger, Executive Editor of Vertigo, then revealed that Gaiman is paired with artist, JH Williams III, with Dave Stewart on colours for the series.

THE SANDMAN mini-series will be published by Vertigo in 2013, and I might have a bit of exciting news myself regarding this in the future – stay tuned!

Hmmm...

Just bought this Neil Gaiman signed Doctor Who: Monster Invasion Extreme series card off ebay. Why? Neil Gaiman and Doctor Who, that's why! Don't tell Mrs Saturate.

A Valentine's message

This is Neil Gaiman's Conjunctions as it appeared in StarShipSofa Stories: Volume 2 with a beautiful illustration by Cliff Chiang. I would have posted this last year when it was more timely – but I didn't have a blog then!

My old mate Jouni Koponen has another fantastic version of this for sale over at Neverwhere.net, if you're feeling romantic pick up a copy for the one you love.

Shared Worlds Critter Corral

Check out this collection of flash fiction from some huge names – Neil Gaiman, Lev Grossman, Scott Westerfeld, Michael Moorcock, Gene Wolfe, N.K Jemisin, my old mate Larry Santoro, and tons more – based around a fantastically monstrous illustration by Las Vegas artist Jeremy Zerfoss. It's fun, quick to browse through, combines big genre names, cool artwork, and... monsters! Here's Larry's contribution:

The Smiling Blue Balloonga

The Blue Balloonga (Baloonosaurus Caeruleus Rictus) appears to be grinning. He is not. He has no mouth. He just pretends. He is incapable of mirth. He is just made that way. The mouth you think you see, the nose holes on his cheeks, they are not mouth, teeth or nostrils. He is just pretending. Mostly, the Baloonosaurus lives in airless space where breathing is not only impossible, it would be dangerous! In further fact, the Balloonosaurus is generally unable to be joyous, or even pleasantly disposed, poor Balloonga. In addition to no mouth, nose, ears, teeth or hair, he also has no feet. You might not know that. He is shy and pretends to have mouths and (and feet) because he is just trying to please. He tends to hide behind large objects, mountains and such. Full-grown Balloongum (plural) frequently take refuge behind minor satellites and larger asteroids. Mars's moon, Deimos, is said to have a small colony of lesser (and redder) Balloongum in permanent residence. Poor things, they must continue to migrate around the moonlet to avoid being seen by telescopes and visiting NASA probes. This group is all but unique among the creatures; most of the larger, and bluer Balloonga are sad and lonely wanderers and sometimes visitors here and there.

The Blue Balloonga is a deep-space born critter with no animosity in his, her, or hus heart. Yes, there are three kinds, boy, girl and not-boy-or-girl. The fact is, they have no heart, just a little windbag at their centers that keep them inflated. Which is, of course, not difficult in the vacuum of space. How three-gendered beasties become born at all remains a mystery to science as they are shy and always alert—note the large and always open eyes (which are real)—and are always ready to duck behind whatever mountain, or satellite from behind which they peer.

Shared Worlds Critter Corral

Murder Mysteries

Just dug out another gem from my collection – a limited edition block print of a wood engraving for Neil Gaiman's Murder Mysteries by the fantastic Gerorge Walker of Biting Dog Press. I've actually just received another extremely rare (so rare that there's only one in existence – and it's mine!) Neil Gaiman piece done by the BDP which I'll stick up at some stage soon.

Dave McKean portrait of me

I met Dave McKean at a seminar a few years back and he gladly signed my Absolute Sandman Vol 1, which I had carted around all weekend in the hope of meeting him – have you ever try carrying one of those Absolute books around for any length of time? I also managed, at a later date, to get Neil and Amanda to add their srcibbles to it too! Dave also did a quick-as-you-like portrait of me in my copy of Dustcovers: The Collected Sandman Covers 1989-1996 – so this is now one of my prized possessions.

Dustcovers is one of my go to books when I'm out of ideas on a project – it's full of astounding images that invigorate the creative juices. Actually, 100 Best Album Covers by Storm Thurgerson, is another great go to for me as well.

Jouni's Friction

 

Here' a great illustration by my good friend Jouni Koponen for one of my all time favoutite SF shorts – Will McIntosh's Friction, which appears in StarShipSofa Stories: Volume 3.

Jouni also designed one of my favourite interpretations of a Neil Gaiman story: A Study in Emerald. You can download a PDF version of it here.

My Sandman

This is one of my numerous Neil Gaiman sketches – it's probably my favourite. It's inscribed in my The Sandman: Endless Nights. I have an unhealthy appetite for Gaiman signed stuff, much to my wife's and bank manager's displeasures.

The Dangerous Aphabet... a proposal

I've been trying to upskill by teaching myself to program iOS apps recently - its a difficult skill to teach yourself. Here's a little proof of concept that I put together of one of my favourite kids' books The Dangerous Alphabet by Neil Gaiman and Gris Grimly. I sent it on to Neil's assistant Fabulous Lorraine and Gris, who thought it was great, but, obviously, with publishing rights etc. this is as far as it can go.

Gallifrey Touchy-Feely Books

Having a bit of fun with some Dr Who themed art. My kids would have loved this series of books as young 'uns! Head over to my Deviantart page to have a better look. Neil Gaiman twittered that he thought it was fun. Stephen Moffat, however, remains silent on the matter!