Aaah, the sultry days of summer! Alas, to spend them in a dark basement toiling away at my craft.



I've wrapped up cards for White Wolf's "Vampire: The Eternal Struggle", a cover for Hinterwelt Publising, and an advertising piece for a local software developer. I've been keeping busy, but things have now tapered off on the commissions.



I am designing a mural/coloring wall for a local non-profit event,  the 2008 "Day for Kids". It has been a fun project so far. It is being sponsored by Bellwether Community Credit Union and in this there is an amusing side story.



Y'see, the credit union wants to incorporate the building's well-known architecture into the mural and so I went to their location and took snapshots for reference from the sidewalk. A week later I arrived for a meeting with the committee overseeing the project. I arrived too early and decided to park in the lot and take a stroll in the playground across the street.

When the time for my meeting came, I went inside and was met by two members of the committee, one of whom was the branch Security officer. She recognized me immediately though we'd never met....

Why you might ask?

Because I met the description of a suspicious character who was seen on two occasions---once photographing the credit union and the other that very day parking his car in the lot and crossing the street with a backpack on his shoulder and wearing dark glasses.

Apparently, I am a very shifty-looking character. Must be all the hours spent in the basement as a solitary prisoner...

Still, there was a bright side to this tale. Witnesses thought I was in my mid-twenties. I am turning thirty-three in November. Clean living, my friends. Clean living.



Now I have to prepare for the 2008 OGC gaming convention to be held in Nashua, New Hampshire. Should be a fun time! It may be the only show I get to do this year!  I'll be there with my buddy, Don Higgins.  Hopefully, things will go well.

Wish me luck and I hope to see you there, if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

Ahh, finally time to upload a new illustration.



This was great fun to do.



The purpose of the image is still hush-hush, but I am happy to display it without the particulars.



I realize that it competes with the other funny dragon piece I already have in my portfolio.  For those unfamiliar with it, here's a link to the image I am referring to...

http://www.mchughstudios.com/cartoonimage3.html

I may replace that one with another new image coming soon or re-visit it. Not sure....hmmmm....



This new piece is better realized and tells a story while the other one already in my portfolio is more of a conceptual piece. Clearly that one inspired this new illustration. Maybe it belongs in a new "sketch" section?

Have to have a good think on that.



Lots to do!

Hope you enjoy this new one!

Thanks for checking in.

---Jeremy

I urge anyone with the desire to protect their copyrights to write to their state senators and congress people.

This site makes it as simple as a click to make their voices heard.

Select a letter that best represents your thoughts .

Select the representatives you want to contact via email.

Send it.



It just does not get any more convenient than that, folks!

Be informed. Be heard.



Easy way to write to your representatives about The2008 Orphan Works Bill

The new version of this horribly structured piece of legislation has been released to House and Senate.

Dear God, this legislation, as currently written, is either the stupidest thing ever committed to paper or is engineered with true malice towards visual creators.



Head to these sites to learn more. These people have been fighting the good fight and getting the word out. Head over and get educatetd!





Illustrators' Partnership website with information about the bill.

http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/index.php



Mark Simon has been devoting much time to this issue as well. Read up!

http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html



MP3 Interview with Brad Holland of the Illustrators' Partnership ( very informative):

http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan/orphan_works_information.mp3





If only five people read it and act upon it, then I'll be happy. Every little bit helps.



---Jer

Aaaaahhhh, sweet spare time.

I just wrapped up a bunch of pieces for my friends over in the UK. This coming week will come with its own struggles, but for now I am left to re-charge the batteries. A long walk maybe? Hit the gym? Sketch for my next round of assignments?

I am at work on my first cartoon-styled commission which I am very excited about. This one is for "Jim Baen's Universe", a monthly e-zine produced by the well-respected publisher.

Can't share details, but it is a dark and satirical piece that I will have to execute with care as it has a rather sensitive subject at its core.

Nothing quite like walking that fine edge between good taste and visual impact.



I am also at work on a book cover for my friends over at Hinterwelt Publishing.  Sci-fi adventure! Gotta love it.  Pair that with some book interiors for Dark Skull Studios and it is going to be  busy over the next couple of weeks!



I am saving up some money from my commissions for a new computer. The new 24 inch Imac is at the top of my list at the moment. A beautiful machine from what I've experienced. I've worked on PC's for years, but most of my digital  art and design training took place on a Mac. It will feel like going home for me. 

The PC I'm currently running is operating with Windows 2000 Pro. I bought it around the time that Windows XP was hitting shelves and giving new users numeorus headaches.

I can't see "upgrading" to the latest Windows Vista after seeing that it too is painful to new users.

Nope, I like pain-free computing and the new Mac Operating System

 ( Leopard) seems like the ticket to an easy ride. The 24 inch screen would give me plenty of desktop real estate on which to sprawl.

I will also upgrade to Corel Painter X which looks like a terrific piece of software. I've been using Version 6 for ages now. Old habits being the last to die, I suppose.

The next detail will be to move my work space to the back porch me-thinks. The basement space in which I currently work is making me look and feel like a cave fish. I swear you can see my hear beating in my chest. Time for some sun on my cheeks. *gollum*



I've been day-dreaming of what my ideal studio space would look like.

I'm thinking of renovating the old garage and turning the back half of it into a big ol' workshop. The rear wall would be mostly glass looking out on a garden and small patio area. Plenty of additional windows will keep the place bright and cheery. A kitchenette, sink, and  a water closet. A good-sized work table and desk for my digital workstation and an area rigged up for painting and drawing. Plenty of wall space to hang art and prints upon. A sound system in the ceiling and a small TV entertainment area would be great. Sort of an Artist/Man lair.

Tis the stuff of dreams, of course, but dreams are gloriously free for the having. ;)



Off to continue my reverie.



Thanks for reading.

---Jeremy