Friday, October 28, 2011

10/28/11 - Themed Life Drawing Tomorrow Saturday October 29th

Not actual model.
Fans of Themed Life Drawing (TLD) take note: tomorrow, Saturday October 29th, we will have an early Halloween Treat!

At UK Reynolds Building #1, in room 202B from 9am-12pm, the CCG and UK Open Life Drawing Group will be hosting a costumed drawing session. We will have a male and female model dressed in the theme of 1920's cabaret/circus performers. Admission is $7-8 (cash only). Space is limited. This is an uninstructed open drawing session. Bring your own art materials. Models will hold poses of increasing length. 30-seconds up to 45-60 minute poses. Don't be late - there may be dance lifts in the early (quicker) poses!

See the tab for CCG Themed Life Drawing near top of this page to see previous TLD events!

Parking in front of the Reynolds Buildings, along Scott Street, is usually OK on Saturdays.

Reynolds Building #1, 349 Scott Street
Here's another map link to help you find the Reynolds Building: http://maps.uky.edu/campusmap/?Bldg=101

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

7/26/11 - LEXICON: Creative Arts and Cancer Awareness

There's a special event happening this Saturday! A first time effort and it all benefits a worthy cause! I have cut and pasted this info this from the Facebook event that local comic shop owner Sara Arnett set up. Artists please consider donating some work for the raffle and silent auction.

LEXICON: Creative Arts and Cancer Awareness

Saturday, July 30 · 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Al's Bar of Lexington
601 North Limestone St.
Lexington, KY  40508
Our goal with this event is to promote the wonderfully talented locals and their creative endeavors. Providing a chance for local film companies, actors, writers, and professional and amateur artists to set up side by side to promote their art and make a little money for themselves. Some tables are still available! To reserve table space please Contact Sara Arnett (see Admins) ASAP. There will be a silent art auction and raffle,... (we are asking our guests to donate items or donate a portion of their earnings for the evening). We will be donating the entirety of the earnings of the raffle and the auction to The American Cancer Society. If you would like to donate, please let us know! Feel free to send items for the auction or raffle even if you cannot be there in person.

Friday, July 22, 2011

7/22/11 - Animation Festival In Cincinnati this Weekend!

Don't miss the Nine Nation Animation Festival this Saturday and Sunday in Cincinnati (actually Northern KY)! Cincinnati World Cinema is presenting this collection of international animation shorts curated by Jonathan Howell.
There will be a talk after each night's programming lead by UC Animation Instructor David Hartz. Save if you get your tickets before the event!

W H A T :

  • NINE NATION ANIMATION

  • 2010, Nine shorts plus one bonus film, running time approx. 92 minutes.

  • Genre: animated shorts; drama, comedy, documentary.

  • The films are NR (not rated) but suitable for all audiences, PG and older.

  • Discussion with David Hartz after the film.

  • Social Hour, bar and food catered by Europa Bistro & CafĂ© before the films.
    W H E N :


  • Saturday, July 23, 6:00
    Social Hour, bar & food at 5:00 pm

  • Sunday, July 24, 4:00
    Social Hour, bar and food at 3:00 pm
    W H E R E :


  • The Carnegie Arts Center
    1028 Scott Blvd., Covington KY 41011  
    859-491-2030
      859-491-2030

  • Easy Access, Free Parking:
    Interactive Google Map

    Printable Map & Written Directions

    Printable Downtown Bridge & Street Grid

    Printable Parking Map


  • Monday, July 11, 2011

    7/11/11 - Derby City Comic Con - First Time and Local!

    Saturday July 16th will be the first Derby City Comic Con in Louisville KY! This first time show will have lots of our friends from the LCS ( Louisville Cartoonists Society) and several CCG members as well.
    Where: Kentucky International Convention Center
    221 Fourth Street
    Louisville, KY 40202

    When: July 16, 2011, 10 am - 5 pm

    Tickets: $7
    Kids 12 and Under: Free
    While attending please make sure and stop by say hello to:
    • Jay Chuppe (Western Ky Comic artists and CCG art show participant)
    • Kenn Minter (Near Mint Press)(CCG member)
    • Jenevieve Broomall (LCS member and CCG TLD attendee)
    • Marc Ballard (host of the Lexington Comic Convention)
    Help make this inaugural event a success and ensure that it will be an ongoing annual event!

    Friday, May 27, 2011

    5/27/11 - Next Meeting/Workshop with mini Star Wars TLD!

    The Star Wars TLD fun continues at our regular CCG Meeting/Workshop this Sunday, May 29th! For more information see the page tabs for our Meeting/Workshop and Themed Life Drawing  just below our blog banner!

    We will also have a guest speaker talking about a local e-magazine that is looking for submissions from local artists work who use digital tools in their workflow.

    A North Lexiington comic shop is planning for a Comic/Cinema Art Show in July - come and find out more!

    Meet other cartoonists, illustrators and animators living and working in Central Kentucky! Find out about local events and upcoming regional conventions~

    Monday, May 16, 2011

    5/16/11 - Sunday in Louisville: WonderFest and 21c Cabaret Life Drawing

    Gas prices have kept my travel to minimum the last couple of months. But there was too much happening in Louisville this past weekend to discourage me from a road trip!

    First there was WonderFest - a great show that hardly anyone one in Kentucky knows about! This is an internationally attended showcase for commercial and garage kit modelers. Fans of Science Fiction and Horror movies are well entertained with the displays and guests. I talked with some acquaintances from past shows: William Stout and Kerry Gammill. Both of whom are very talented artists and were gracious enough to do a sketch for me.



    I also met some new faces there - Mike Fredericks is the publisher of the long running Prehistoric Times (Bill Stout and Jim Gurney have been featured in several issues) which is a great resource for comic artists, paleo artists and illustrators who need to study the art and science of portraying dinosaurs.

    Next I met the the very nice John Olvevich, who was there for the first time representing his company Glenmarc Industries, Inc. They are the premier supplier of mold making  and resin casting supplies for the garage kit crowd and for many Hollywood special effects studios. He was very interested in mailing connections with sculptors whom he could refer to manufacturers and other customers. If you need to cast something this is company to contact! john had some incredible cast figure samples at his booth from a Chicago area artist, Eduardo Andrade - look for his work to come to prominence very soon!

    Then I stumbled on a sculptors table with some really inspired and naturalistic sculptures of dinos. David Silva was making his first visit to WonderFest and blew me away with the painted samples of his work. David is toy sculptor and concept designer for a toy company in NJ by day and dino sculptor in his spare time. Hope to talk more and maybe see him in process sometime soon! Tip: David recommends Greg Paul's "The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs" as a great reference for the latest on saurian anatomy.

    Next year I need to plan on attending WonderFest all day or even both days - two hours was not near long enough!


    I left about 4:15p to make it downtown to 21c and the Cabaret Life Drawing. It was a small crowd but a fun session. Enjoyed meeting fellow artists Scott McCrory and a  young MICA art student who's name I did not get :-). Wow! Our  model, Desiree, had lots of excellent, if challenging poses! Skylar Smith, the moderator, was her usual calming and generous self! :-)

    A stimulating afternoon and evening for sure!

    Tuesday, May 03, 2011

    5/3/11 Free Comic Book Day in the Bluegrass this Saturday

    Saturday May 7th, 2011
    What Is Free Comic Book Day?


    Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local shop for their participation and rules.

    Watch this space as we try and compile a regional list of events and participating stores! Information is as accurate as possible but may be subject to change.  Please note: quantities are limited for free comics! 

    Central Kentucky Free Comic Book Day Events

    Danville
    • Comic Cosmos - 1560 Hustonville Rd # 101, Danville, KY 40422-2460 - (859) 236-3031
    Lexington
    • A+ Comics - 123 Southland Drive, Lexington KY 40503 - (859) 276-1118
    • Come out and get some FREE comics....We will have sales going through out the store too. Come on in and join us!!! =)
    • Collectibles Etc,115 N Locust Hill Dr #106, Lexington, Kentucky  -  (859) 269-6633
    LEXINGTON'S BEST COMIC BOOK STORE
    is bringing you LEXINGTON'S BEST FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!
    GET KEYS for our TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY. UPDATED WEEKLY through MAY 6th.
    Check out www.facebook.com/collectibles.etc/les.etc/ to see which books are this week's KEY books.--FIRST--
    WE are going to open ONE HOUR EARLY @10:00 AM
    10:00 to 2:00 ~ We will focus on KIDS ACTIVITIES
    1) Show up
    2) Get Free Comics
    3) ONE DAY SALE. SAVE on almost EVERYTHING in the store.
    4) Special Guests!!!
    5) BLANK COMIC BOOKS (while supplies last)
    --Buy a BLANK #1 MARVEL Comic and have LOCAL Artists create your own personal VARIANT COVER. $5.00-$20.00
    --THEN--
    2:00 to 3:00 MARK KIDWELL will be signing the (sold out) '68 #1!!
    (he's got some free comic day image stuff too)
    --LAST--
    3:00 to 8:00 ~ LIVE ART SHOW. Watch an artist start with a blank page and finish with a piece of art. Then buy their art. And those meddling kids from BOUCOUP POP will be recording an in store podcast!
    •  Heroes Realm1624 Old Paris Road, Lexington KY 40505 - (859) 268-0097
    • Saturday, May 7 · 9:30am - 9:30pm Come meet Mike Holman, R. D. Hall, Scottie Watson, and Billy Tackett, as well as take advantage of our massive sales, and FREE COMIC BOOKS!! 1,000s of COMICS REDUCED TO $1.00!!!!!
    Sorry no free comics! But to honor Free Comic Book Day we will have 20% off all full price Graphic Novels! Get Coupon here or at our Facebook page - coupon valid Saturday and Sunday only!
      • The Comic Interlude -393 Waller Ave # 10, Lexington, KY 40504-2914 - (859) 231-9237
      Here at Comic Interlude we are going to be having the following deals available to all on Saturday May 7th, 2011:
      -Buy one get one free on ALL Trade Paper Backs
      -Buy one get one free on ALL new comics (new comics being books currently on our shelves excluding this weeks releases)
      -50% of on all backstock in the store
      We're going to be carrying all of the gold level retailer FCBD items and we will have extended hours on Saturday. We will be open from 10AM to 7:30PM and are happy for any comic readers new or old to stop on in and join us!
      Live art all day! Three chances to see artists draw and paint live! All are welcome and commissions are available. Previous live art pieces have been taken to Half Price for their Comic Book Legal Defense Fund auction. So come in and bid, it all goes to an essential cause!
      11 a.m. - 3 p.m:
      Half Price Books
      Sir Barton Place
      2321 Sir Barton Way
      Lexington, KY 40509
      (859) 264-0848
      3 p.m. - 6 p.m:
      Collectibles, Etc.
      115 N Locust Hill Dr #106
      Lexington, KY
      (859) 269-6633
      6 p.m. - 10 p.m:
      Movie Tavern
      133 North Locust Hill Drive
      Lexington, KY 40509-1532

      • (859) 266-4645

      Monday, March 28, 2011

      3/27/11 - Upcoming Comic Events

      With spring and the coming of warm weather several
      local comic events come into sight!

      Well we have almost made it through the tumult of March! Here are some upcoming regional comic events to keep your eye on as we move into spring and summer!

      Saturday April 2nd 2011 - Kenn Minter book signing - Lexington KY - Morris Book Shop - 6:00 - 8:00 pm

      Sunday April 3rd 2011 -  2011 Gem City Comic Con - Dayton, Ohio 45435-0001 - Student Union at Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy - 10:00 am -5:00 pm

      Saturday and Sunday May 14-15th 2011 - WonderFest - Louisville KY - Crowne Plaza Hotel - 10:00 am -5:00 pm both days

      Saturday July 17th 2011 - Derby City Comic Con - Louisville KY - Kentucky International Convention Center

      Friday, March 04, 2011

      BEAUCOUP POP is LIVE!

      Hey folks! I'm part of the quad-headed beast that is Beaucoup Pop. Check out our Episode 0 available here. Warning: saucy language!

      And be sure to check out www.beaucouppop.blogspot.com for all updates and show notes.

      Get it! Dig it! Lurve it!

      : Justin

      Friday, February 25, 2011

      EYAO IV

      Hey folks! Wanted to share with you the piece, "Peter", I have in at Eat Your Art Out IV “The Dark & Cryptic Origins of Nursery Rhymes” currently showing at Meltdown Comics out in L.A. If you're by some chance in the area, please go check the show out. There's some really amazing work on display there and it's all for sale, so if you dig on something, buy that shizz!


      Much thanks and love to my homegirl, Jane Dope who got me a spot in the show.

      : Justin

      Tuesday, February 15, 2011

      2/13/11 - Woodland Art Fair Application


      FYI Lexington and area artists! The summer arts event in Lexington! A Lexington tradition that has an improved layout the last several yeas, thanks to Joe Artz!


      AFB Art Fair @ Woodland Park
      Entry Deadline: March 31, 2011

      LAL is now accepting artist applications via ZAPPlication for 2011's AFB Art Fair @ Woodland Park.
      Using ZAPPlication, artists are able to submit images of artwork and booths as well as applicant information 24 hours a day. There are more than 10 categories for entries, including 2-D and 3-D mixed media, ceramics, glass, fiber/leather, drawing/pastels, graphics/printmaking, jewelry, metalwork, painting, photography, and wood.
      The deadline to apply is March 31, at 9 a.m., and the application fee is $25. Artwork will be evaluated on the criteria of technique, craftsmanship, design, originality and presentation by jurors Stacey R. Chinn and Jennifer A. Reis. Acceptances will be announced through ZAPPlication in early May.
      http://www.icontact-archive.com/cBWhbqpdMOdjp69viPKyyzOf6J6T8CQY?w=1

      Sunday, February 13, 2011

      2/13/11 - Great Poster by Cricket Press's Sara and Brian Turner

      If you want to get your event noticed in Lexington there is one sure fire way to success - get the poster design and screen printing talent of Cricket Press behind your cause! The Kentuckians for the Commonwealth group realized this when they wanted to get the word out about there Lexington Loves the Mountains events - Culminating with tomorrow's rally at the capitol.

      Monday, February 07, 2011

      2/7/11 - Editorial - What is the life and work of an artist worth?

      Editorial:

      Originally the illumnai were
      to be made as a screen.
      What is the worth of an artist? And who decides? Can an artist achieve full recognition of his or her contribution and value to society during their lifetime? Does society in general, even care, about artists, their work, their lives or their dreams? Recent trends in society tend to say no, that they don't care. For instance the file sharing phenomena of the last decade - at first it seemed like a a backlash against the perceived greed of the recording industry. Now it seems that people just like to get what they like for free regardless of the harm this inflicts to the creators of said desired items.

      Bronze illumine.
      Let's move this line of thought along to examine the "hometown" perception of the work and life of a particular fine artist.

      What would you think of a NYC raised star art student who attended a top private east coast college, graduating with flourish and having a great many opportunities open to him who chose, of all places, to come and work in Lexington at the University of Kentucky Art Department? Furthermore he not only starts his career here but he stays on year after year, raising a family of two sons with a wife who patiently and regularly asks "...when are we going to go home - where you will be acknowledged and appreciated?" This artist does not go home but instead immerses completely and with no regrets into the day after day process of transforming himself into the artist of his dreams but also, amazingly shares this mission and passion with each student who passes through his tutelage, bringing or starting many of them along on the journey as well.
      Do you even believe that this is a true story?

      If you watch PBS much you have probably seen the series where a team of traveling experts travel around the country to town hall type meetings to discern not politics but the value of  individuals either acquired or inherited antiques and collectibles. I think the series is Travelling Road Show or something like that. In many cases participants in the process much to our (the viewers, and the TV  show subjects) delight it is often discovered that an item in question is really quite valuable, quite rare and definitely worth preserving. I suppose that something equivalent to the Road Show treatment needs to happen for the cultural community of Lexington - for we collectively possess items that we clearly don't know the significance of!

      Let's not be poor caretakers and guardians of this legacy of untold value and benefit ...act now.

      Friends of Tuska Meeting
      6:30 PM,Wednesday 2/9/11
      147 Old Park Avenue 40502
      (Corner of Park and Central)

      Come out and be prepared to be amazed by the artistic and intellectual endowment to our community from an artist who lived, worked and taught his entire professional career right here in LEXINGTON! Doesn't that kind of commitment and love deserve better?


      Learn more:
      • David Tabatsky
      •  “It's been an honor to be brought into the Tuska world - one I see full of infinite possibilities as a learning center, a museum, a central point of community energy, and as a historic landmark of Kentucky art history. I've been deeply moved by Tuska's work - not only his absolute mastery as an artist of multiple media, but maybe even more by how he shows and teaches us the human condition. His work must live on. It would be a crime to...."

      John Tuska's motto - translated from Italian:
      One life is not enough.

      Sunday, February 06, 2011

      BIOGAMER GIRL #1

      Hey folks! Justin here, and the first issue of 'BioGamer Girl' hits this week featuring cover art by yours truly. Visit the site up and order a copy! You'll dig it.

      I'll post the cover here soon, so watch this space.

      : J3000

      Tuesday, February 01, 2011

      2011 February 01 - Postmortem Report on Xombie Nation! CCG Meeting/Workshop

      Thriller Stage Show Halloween 2010
      photo by Jennifer Miller
      xombieNationCCG_TLD_Misty_Jan30_2011_00009Xombie Nation! was held last Sunday for the first time. We started out with an incredible dance routine by the mysterious Silent Hill zombie nurse. While still in shock and awe from the fantastic improvisational dance we moved on to nearly an hour of expressive and challenging poses by our model and muse. Here is a link to a flickr group set up expressly for sharing and commenting on CCG Themed Life Drawing (TLD) work: artwork and photos. This was our pilot run at having these sessions - I want feedback from our artists! Look for another CCG TLD session in February!

      Billy talks about how he got started...
      "Creepiest Artist in America" and famed Zombie artist Billy Tackett and his wife Heather closed out the January meeting with an hour-long talk about business strategies for freelance artists. Many gems of wisdom from Billy and Heather's "school of hard knocks" were eagerly taken in by the assembled audience of cartoonists, illustrators, teachers and students.

      The couple shared excellent marketing and branding strategies and explained how to actually make money on the convention circuit! Keep your naming simple and logical - cool names will often just cloud your branding and folks won't know why your studio name doesn't match your website name! The concept of keeping a common style and appearance throughout your marketing materials was brought up several times. They even set up an abbreviated con table presenting some of their better selling  merchandise. Billy advised to used your art and design skills to make your booth/table reflect your art aesthetic and branding themes.

      Examples of some of Billy's artwork
      translated onto merchandise.
      Thanks Billy and Heather! I hope you will come back and visit us again soon! Check out Billy's excellent website for his schedule of appearances and upcoming publishing project!

      Justin Stewart was awarded the inaugural annual award for "the local cartoonist who contributed the most to the local artistic community."

      The 2010 CCG Stewie Award is named after Justin and will be awarded annually at our Holiday Dinner. Justin was not available to attend that function this year so this announcement had to wait till now. Join me in congratulating and thanking Justin for all his work with Live Drawing Events and his assistance with this years UP! Fair! We are proud of you, guy! Nominations for the 2011 CCG Stewie will be accepted in November!

      Friday, January 14, 2011

      Fangirl Confessional: Episode 23 is here!!!!

      The fine ladies at Fangirl Confessional let me sit in on their show and it was a blast! Hope you guys give it a listen and dig it.

      Fangirl Confessional: Episode 23 is here!!!!: "Hey there wonderful peeps!  Just dropping by to let you know that the latest episode with special guest Justin Stewart is now ready for..."

      Wednesday, January 12, 2011

      2010/12/20 - Pencil Sketch - Live Art! Tron Legacy - Movie Tavern

      2010_Dec_20_TronLegacyLiveArt_MovieTav
      Olivia Wilde from Tron Legacy - pencil sketch from movie still -
      HB lead  in Staples 1.3mm mechanical pencil
      Finally got over to one of Justin Stewart and Quarantine Comics Live Art events at Movie Tavern. The theme was Tron Legacy and I had been anxious to see this - being a video game player from when the first movie came out back in the '80s!

      Thanks to Justin and Movie Tavern - had a great time and want to come back for more!

      PS: If you want to attend one these contact Justin on his Facebook page - here is a link to the next happening Green Hornet Live Art! this Saturday 1/15/11 (link to FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117941404944537).