The Hobbit warmups I did for the past week or so combined into one big piece.

The Sauron piece is a new Valentine’s Day Card that is available RIGHT NOW

So, I don’t have much to say this week, to be honest. I am severely behind on the next Capt. Dan book (shocking, I know) because I spent a lot of my time out and about working on something really big that I can’t share yet. Murph.

So, instead let me share with you this:

HOBBITSES! I’ve recently been re-reading the Hobbit at night before I go to bed and for my warmups this week I decided (inspired by my friend, Robin) to draw some scenes from my favorite kid’s book. Yeah, I said kid’s book. I know a lot of people want to see great big Boris Vallejo pictures based on this book, but it was initially meant as a children’s book. So, I wanted to do some Hobbit sketches with my kid’s book style. I’ve re-read the Hobbit every year since I was 10. I freakin’ love this book. I might work these up digitally once I get caught up on the next Capt. Dan book, just for fun. Is this something you’d like to see? Let me know in the comments.

Well, that’s all I have for you this week, minions. Go outside and have an adventure this week. Keep in mind that you can get a hold of me on Twitter or Facebook or buy stuff from me at my Store! (Don’t forget the Zombie Valentines Card sale going on RIGHT NOW!)

Sorry I missed my update last week. As you know, I spent the last week and a half in Dodge City, Kansas (yes, it is a real place and not just a made-up old west town) with my In-laws, and updating a blog on the ipad is a pain in the buttocks. I did however get 13 pages (YEAH, 13!) of the next Capt. Dan book penciled while I was there, so that’s awesome! So, here I am – a day later than I’d have liked to be this week. Grr.

Oh well. So I know I missed the New Year’s bandwagon by a few days, but bear with me. I’m not much on resolutions, usually. I find them to be a pain to deal with and who needs the extra guilt everyday? Not I, says I. So, what did I do this year? I set myself a resolution. Duh. But, I think it’s one I can keep up and one that my minions may get a kick out of. I decided that every time I sit down to draw, I’m going to start doing warm-up sketches. Fully-inked 5×7 sketches on bristol board that I can take with me to cons to sell. I’ll take suggestions and requests on my Twitter feed everyday, so make sure that you check that out.

For my art this week I figured that I’d go ahead and post my first few sketches.
Featuring Spider-man, The Huntress and The Goon and Frankie!

Dear Mr. President,
Recently the Obama for America campaign ran a design contest “Art Works” that asked designers, artists and illustrators to submit designs and ideas for posters that, once chosen, would be sold through the OFA website to help raise funds for your re-election. This contest provided no compensation to the artists. As a self-employed designer and illustrator, I found the idea of a design contest distasteful, but after receiving the email from one of your campaign staffers which basically told everyone who spoke out angrily about the ‘contest’ to shut up about it, I mostly did. Then the contest kind of faded away (as so many things do in the political arena), and I didn’t think too much more about it.

Today, I was reminded of your campaign’s disrespect for (and willingness to take advantage of) artists when I got an email from Josh Higgins announcing the “winners” (I use that term loosely) of the design contest. Winners who, in the email, aren’t even identified by full name. Winners who, on your website, aren’t even given the dignity of a link back to their portfolio or website. The only incentive these people had for entering this SHAM of a contest in the first place was recognition and the ability to use this to gain themselves PAYING work. Paying work that Art Directors and ad agencies might give these artists if they had a reasonable way to find them. Since you didn’t even link to these artist’s websites, how will any ACTUAL job-creators find these people to give them work? You called these artists “winners” and that’s not true, and you know it. These people were marks to your campaign. Your campaign conned artists into giving you the fruits of their labor for free with the carrot of recognition. They didn’t do this for the signal honor of getting your autograph. They didn’t do this for the heady pleasure of seeing their work on the President’s website. They did it for exposure. Exposure your campaign can’t even deign to give them.

Writing this wasn’t easy for me. As a staunch liberal, a supporter of your 2008 campaign (I was a volunteer AND donated money), and a working artist, seeing your 2012 campaign’s complete disregard for the artistic profession (a profession that your candidacy greatly benefitted from in 2008, as I recall) hurts me personally and professionally. This “contest” (and all others like it) only serves to further the idea that artists and designers aren’t true professionals and that paying them for their work is largely irrelevant. It hurts more since, as the President, you are spectacularly influential. Your example shows the rest of America that it’s ok to benefit from the work of a talented designer or illustrator, but it’s not necessary to pay, or even properly credit, said artist for their artistic contribution. People are going to see this as the President’s tacit approval for ripping off creatives across the board. This is not “change we can believe in”. This is the prelude to a very bad time in America for artists, designers and illustrators. A time that you could help prevent just by giving the people who worked so hard for you credit on your site (since paying them is obviously out of the question). Please do the right thing by these people.

Sincerely yours, Dane Ault – Monkey Minion Press

Doc Letter

This second letter is by my wife, Ashlie.

Dear President Obama,

I am writing today in response to the choice made by your campaign to run a contest soliciting free poster designs. As a supporter of your last successful campaign, I am appalled at what is being done in your name. As a thirty-something American who isn’t totally ignorant about the state of the economy and the jobless rate here in Oregon, I am outraged that this contest preys on people looking for work by paying nothing. As a craftsperson married to a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, I am personally insulted that your campaign calls this contest “Art Works.”

So you understand where I’m coming from, let me tell you a story about us, Mr. President. My husband and I are in our thirties. We’ve been married for more than seven years and both have college educations that we are still paying for. We’re normal people with some pretty normal goals and plans for our futures. This fall, after signing a mortgage on a very modest condo, my husband quit his job with a local ad agency and went freelance. It was the next step on a path leading to his dream and our long-term goals. Times are harder than we originally planned, however this isn’t a poor me or us letter.

We are young, tough and smart. We have savings and plans and my husband is excellent at what he does. We are going to succeed. But this is where you and your 2012 campaign comes in and sort of crashes the party.

Designers and illustrators depend on people understanding that art has value. Not just historical or museum-type value, but real, honest to goodness, yea-I-get-to-eat-now value. By creating a contest where people do real work for no return, you are telling the world that Art has no monetary value. You are saying that even really good artists, people who create work that is excellent enough to stand for the President of the United States, should be the starving kind.

Worse, by calling this contest “Art Works,” you are letting us (artists, graphic designers and the people who depend on them to bring home the bacon) know that you understand that Art indeed works for you. You know that the art on those posters can create an instant rapport with those you are trying to reach and communicate with. It can crystalize an idea more clearly than ten speeches. But you know who that art didn’t work for, Mr. President? All the artists and creators who provided you art in that contest. They got nothing for the real work they provided. Not only did they all work for free, but your campaign couldn’t even be bothered to pay the winners. They don’t even get credit in a way that will help drive other (hopefully paying) work to their inboxes.

Mr. President, every single day my husband and I are working to convince people and businesses of the value that our work, creativity, and yes- ART provides. This entire contest episode has left us with a bad taste in our mouths and a very poor idea of you. While there is no way to change the contest (and I doubt your campaign will suddenly do the right thing and pay a decent wage to those artists who have certainly earned it), there is one thing that can and should be done. It would be easy and cost you nothing.

Mr. President, please make absolutely sure that the artists whose work you will be making so much money from get proper credit. A name and home state doesn’t cut it. Please ensure that the dubious “honor” of working for you for free at least allows them the hope of future paying jobs. Provide proper credit by announcing their full names, email addresses, or perhaps a link to a website so that the Art can Work for them too.

Letter to Obama

In other news, this week, I started a new tumblr page at http://monkeyminionpress.tumblr.com/. There’s not much there, yet, but I’m working on it.

As far as art goes, I only have this picture of a kitty playing with a 20-sided die I drew for The DoubleClicks for a concert poster. Let me know what you think! That’s all I have for this week. Next week, I’ll be in Kansas for the holiday, but I’ll try to post something, provided the internet cow doesn’t wander too far east. Since I won’t see you before I leave, have a happy holiday, Minions!

On the art front this week, I want to share a drawing I did recently. It’s of Jean Grey as Phoenix. I don’t do a lot of large-scale drawings anymore, but every so often I get an itch and need to scratch it. This is 11×17 drawn in ink. she’s not quite done yet, I might color her. I’m trying to start doing more sketches to take to shows, so if you have a character request, let me know (in the comments, perhaps?), and maybe your idea will make it onto the blog.

Be sure to keep checking out my new webcomic, Urban Wild, which updates bi-weekly.

PS – The last day for (as close as I can get to) Guaranteed Before X-Mas Delivery of stuff is Monday, Dec. 12. I’m mailing every other day in preparation for the holiday rush, so PLEASE get your orders in soon, so you don’t have to be mad at me when your posters/books don’t get to you before X-mas and your kids are all disappointed (that’s happened).

So, I wanted to start this post off with something cliched like a Black Friday Deal or something, but thought better of it (that’s coming further down, I promise). Instead, I want to talk about you guys and gals and your awesomeness. As I mentioned in past posts, I recently decided to take MMP full-time. (2 months ago this week, actually) This wasn’t a rash decision and it wasn’t something I could’ve done even a year ago and it’s largely due to you, the Minions. Since I made the choice to strike out on my own, you guys have been awesome with your support, and I wanted to let you now how much I appreciate it. Without you I’d be back in my cube at my job, killing time until I got to hop a bus and go home. Brain dead and soul-weary, I’d be forcing myself to try to get ‘extra’ work done for our convention appearances, and it would be lacking. Since I moved to MMP, though, I’ve completed 4 new prints, which beforehand would have been a 4-6 month long process at least, started a new webcomic (which goes live on 11/29), and begun production on the next Captain Dan Book (not to mention all the awesome freelance projects I’ve been able to take on and other items we’ve been making).  And it’s all due to you. So, in keeping with the season I’d like to say Thank You to all of you.

And now, for the commerce! Last week, we released our Pirate Gift Pack and today in keeping with the holiday sales season, we’re starting our “Black Friday Shipping Sale!” It’s easy, just go the either our Store or our Etsy shop and buy a Large Print, a Pendant (or Keychain) or a book and I’ll cover the shipping (if you live in the contiguous US) and I’ll cover half of your shipping if you live outside the us or in AK & HI. Because I’m nice like that. All you need to do is place the order, the shipping is already fixed for you. So go ahead, you know you want to.

This week, I also want to share some arts with you. It’s been a while. Again thanks to you minions, I find myself with some spare time at night, so instead of rotting my brain in front of the tube, I’ve started doing some sketches and original art pieces again. Most of these will probably start appearing with me at conventions for sale, but if you happen to see one you want, let me know and we can work something out. This one isn’t finished yet, but it’s almost ready for inks. There are some problems with it that need to be addressed before I do that, though. But I wanted to show you something I’ve been working on. So that’s all I have for you today. Go out and have a nice weekend and I’ll see you again next week! – D

Sorry I’m late this week. I’m getting prepped for Portland Comic Book Show this weekend and I lost all track of time! I’ll try not to make a habit of it. If you’re in the area tomorrow, you should definitely swing by and check out the show. I’ll be there at tables 123 & 124 hawking my wares and sketching all day. I may have some special guests stop by and lend their sketchery as well, so make the trip!

So, remember last week when I mentioned a “special announcement” for this week’s blog? No? I am disappoint. Go back and re-read it. I’ll wait.

All done? Good.

So, this week, I am proud to announce that beginning Tuesday, 11/29/11, I will be the official illustrator of a webcomic called Urban Wild from Craigmore Creations! Ah! How cool is that!? Urban wild follows the adventures of Lorry the Raccoon and her woodland friends as they make a living in the urban jungle. I’m really excited about this! Most people don’t know this, but when I was in college, in addition to Graphic Design and Art, I also wanted to study Conservation/Game Biology. I took some classes, but opted not to go for the second degree because of the additional math requirements. Science, and animals and biology in particular, has always held an interest for me. So this project really marries a lot of my interests into one awesome package.

So for today’s art post, you guys and gals are getting an exclusive art preview! Yay! Let me know what you think! And remember to check out Urban Wild when the new season starts on 11/29!

Thing one: I recently quit my dayjob to work full-time at Monkey Minion Press. So, I am now a full-time minion. Which is both freeing and scary. Freeing because it means no more 1.5 hour-long commute on the bus every day, no more office, and all my time can be devoted to MMP and making new things to give you all. Scary because now I no longer have an excuse not to get new things done. Scary because I now have to rely on my ability to drum up work and new customers to pay the bills. But, if I didn’t think that I had the support of my minions, I would never have taken this step. So, I know we can do this, you and me.

So, since I quit my job, like I said, I’ve had time to make new stuff. New STUFF! And I gotta say, I’m pretty proud of the new stuff (If you follow me on twitter or on Facebook, you may have seen this). First up, October 30, 2011 is Women of Wonder Day (formerly Wonder Woman Day). As in years past, I decided to do a drawing for the charity auction. They opened up the rules this year to allow more than just Wonder Woman, but drawing Wondy for this just seemed right.

So, that’s it for this week. I’m going to try to start updating this thing at LEAST weekly, so check back next Friday, and see some more new stuff and a Contest.

Just messing with you, folks. You came here to read about what happened during my time at the big poppa Con, so let me regale you with tales & legends of my travels. (I’ll skip the vacation part of the trip, but let me just say, the Chula Vista Nature Center is kinda awesome and right next to the Motel 6 in C.V. where I stayed.)

Ok, so Preview night started off without a hitch. Ashlie and I were able to get in and set up with 2 hours to spare. It was FANTASTIC. I’ve rarely had a show start so easy. (Which you know if you are a regular reader of my con wrap-ups.) We got all set up and found ourselves next to Chet Phillips and his wife, who were both super awesome people to be next to, and Chet’s Art is GORGEOUS, go buy some. On our other side were the gentlemen responsible for Red Moon, which is gorgeously drawn, and while I didn’t have much interaction with them, they seemed like cool dudes with a beautiful book. Anyway, preview night: it was ok. Slower than last year, it seemed that there weren’t as many people there for Wed. night as in previous years, but it was good to be there. It amazed me how many tables in Small Press were empty on preview night, too.

Thursday started off ominously as we got to the show about 15 minutes late (actually 45, I found out later, but more on that later). Chet told me that I didn’t miss much since most of the fans there that morning were just kind of running through Small Press to hit bigger booths. Eh. We got unwrapped, caffeinated and set up as people started making their way back through the small press area. Made some sales, talked to some people, had some fun chatting with Chet and his wife. Thursday was really slow sales-wise, when you think of it as the first full day of the show, but considering the fact that it was Thursday, it wasn’t really surprising. Thursday night Ashlie, Christina (Ashlie’s sister and our minion for the show) and I went to dinner with our friend Matt, whereupon he visited on us his knowledge and insight and we had a great time eating some Thai foods. We then went back to the hotel and slept the sleep of the just (and tired).

Friday, Ashlie and I got to the hall at 9am. Awesome, we were on time (or so we thought). Just as we got into the hall and were congratulating ourselves on getting there on time and talking about how we should do this EVERY morning, the con-voice comes over the intercom: “Attention exhibitors, the Exhibit Hall is now open to attendees.” WHAAAT?! the show isn’t supposed to start until 9:30! WTF? So, I hurry to my table (from Hall G to Hall B is a long way to speed-walk when your physical condition is most suited to sitting, let me tell you), and get unwrapped just in time for the deluge. There were a LOT of people there, yo. It was awesome. At one point in the morning an nice yung lady from LucasFilm animation stopped by my table and asked if I had any sample sheets she could take with her (mental note: I should have some sample sheets made up for future cons), I didn’t but she gave me her card, so that’s pretty cool. The rest of the day went by without a lot of incident. Sold some stuff, ran out of some stuff – Good times. Ashlie’s TMNT Hats were big hits, which was neat, and I have a LOT of photos to post of people wearing them. Friday night we went to the Famous Kansas City BBQ (which, apparently, is where the bar scene in Top Gun was filmed) which was delicious (if a bit sloooow) and saw the Worst Cartoons and Spike and Mike’s Animation Gauntlet panels after dinner (always a must-see).

On Saturday, we got to the show at 9am once again, thinking that maybe yesterday’s early open was a fluke. (We tried to be there early, but the Geeks in the Trolley prevented that by not clearing the doors when they got on, thus delaying our trip in)  NOPE. turns out that the Con opened early every morning. No reason why, but it did. Grr. Saturday was busy. Like busy, busy. Remember how I said that we ran out of some stuff? Well, I had to go get more prints. Luckily, I was able to get some printed and picked up pretty easily thanks to SD’s red line trolley. Neat. got back to the show just as it hit the crazy part. PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. I will never get used to the sea of humanity that is SDCC, no matter how many years I go. It’s nuts. Saturday was also the day I learned my second box of copies of “Captain Dan Takes a Day Off” (available now!) weren’t going to be there in time for the show. So that was fun – dealing with the Createspace guy while trying to talk to customers and fans. On Saturday I also met a really cool dude and awesome designer, Adam Levermore, who is someone I’ve been a fan of and didn’t realize it since he created the Serenity travel posters and BSG Propaganda posters. He was a really nice guy and we chatted for a while. Saturday was also Mythbusters signing day at the con and a gentleman who stopped by and bought our Muppet Busters prints came back to show that he’d gotten the autographs of ALL 5 Mythbusters on his prints. That was pretty awesome! Saturday night we went to dinner with my buddy Spencer, and talked to him about his new revolution in digital comics. Spencer is a very cool dude to hang out with, so dinner was way fun.

Sunday was busy, too. Although some of that may have been the loss of our minion, Christina, as she had to leave for the airport that morning to go back to DC. Sunday was largely uneventful for the majority of the day. We ran out of some of our prints again, but at that point I wasn’t willing to make another print run, so we took orders, and finished out the awesomeness that was SDCC. In the last few minutes before closing time, a couple of people came to the booth to buy some stuff, they were very nice and very complimentary (which I always appreciate). Once they were done with their purchase, they walked down the aisle and brought back a friend of theirs, a tall, bearded, red-haired gentleman in an Avengers Baseball Cap. While they were showing him what they got and pointing out my Keep Fighting print, I recognized the guy. The man standing no more than 5 feet from me was none other than Geek-god, Joss Whedon! I almost freaked. I looked at Ashlie and whispered “That’s Joss Whedon!” I asked him to come closer and, not wanting to make a big deal of him being there, just shook his hand and said, “Thank you. So much. For everything.” It was awesome.

And thus ends my SDCC adventures. It was a lot of fun, and I hope that I get to come back next year. To everyone who stopped by the table, thanks so much!

Next show – Kumoricon in Portland, OR!

I’ll be at my Small Press Table, n-14, all week long for the show. I’ll have my new book, Captain Dan Takes a Day Off, which is a cross between storybook and a graphic novel for kid’s about PIRATE MONSTERS. Cool, yes? We’ll have that, our first book, The Zombies Next Door, some awesome crocheted geek hats (including a hand-made Captain America hat) and of course, my art prints, buttons galore and our zombie greeting cards.

Regarding art prints: there most likely will not be room for all of my prints to be on display at SDCC, so a few designs (read: Our Star Wars prints) will not be out on display. I will still have them with me, you’ll just have to ask for them specifically.

Once again, I’ll be doing quick FREE HEAD SKETCHES in sketchbooks and on my personal sketchcards on PREVIEW NIGHT. These will be first-come, first-served and one per customer. For the rest of the weekend, I’ll be doing sketches as requested, prices will be posted at my table. Also, every copy of Capt. Dan Takes a Day Off sold will be signed/personalized (and maybe sketched in) by request for free.

I think that about covers it. We leave for Sunny SD on Saturday, so I maybe slow in responding to questions after that. See you when I return!