"Creator Owned Day"

I am by NO MEASURE an actual comicbook professional.

Just wanted to put that disclaimer out there. I am not one. I have a few friends who are, I've done some inquiry here and there but, that is not something that I am doing with myself...well, at this juncture anyways.

Still, having always been a part of, in one way or another, the world of sequential artforms, I do keep abreast of notable news items and dates that are relevant to the field. That brings us to today: Creator-Owned Day.

The basis of this day is that its the day of the year in-which comic professionals (and those trying to BE professionals) celebrate the joy of intellectual properties that they themselves own, as opposed to characters that are the property of the companies one can work for. In the last 20 years there has been a huge surge in the amount of industry folks who've broken away from the security (or restrictions, some would say) of the major comicbook companies, and forged independant books, created, and owned COMPLETELY by the writers and artists.

This day is one in which any creator that owns characters or books is given carte blanche to talk up their books, showcase artwork featuring their characters, or tease fans with art of something they have in the works. It's a celebration of independance and creativity.

In honor of the day, you'll find my contributions below.

I've been slowing building up artwork for a book by Bryce Swan based somewhat on his life called "Dr. Divinity...Bookseller!" It's Bryce's creator-owned book, I'm just the artist he came to, to draw it. I had every intention of showing one panel from a sequence, from pencil stage to ink. Unfortunately, my inks died on me a few brushes into it so, all I have is the pencils, for today.

The second drawing is from a project I am still awaiting copyright to go through on before I can say anything about it. I know I said I wasn't a professional. I'm not. But, it doesn't mean that I don't have ideas in the works for a moment where I'll have time to pursue making my own book. I've two copyrights pending, THIS is an early character sketch of what one may somewhat look like.

Man...these are rough. Ha, ha. They were the only things I had for the day which were even remotely close to "creator-owned" though. Hopefully (if anyone looks at the NON interview posts) these were somewhat of a cool distraction. Celebrate independant ownership and creativity, y'all!

- Conduct Lionhardt

I got you covered

And, as promised, the cover to "finite." It fits the overall theme and actually has two very distinct things about it which hold large importance to me.

Illustrated with two worn-out brush pens.

- Conduct Lionhardt

The Beauty of NOT getting it...

Below are a few "tries" at a cover for my own personal album, "finite." Thought you'd enjoy a look at some images that just didn't work for what I was trying to "get" as a cover.

So, maybe you are asking why someone would wanna post up some artwork on their blog that "didn't get" what they were going for?

Well, for me I think we (and I WHOLEHEARTEDLY consider myself a part of that "we") have this tendency to become overly consumed with only showcasing the BEST of ourselves that we sort of miss out on the gem that is FAILURE. I've found that the most interesting and well remembered points of growth for me have come completely out of the times in which I have personally messed up what I was seeking to do best. Whether a first (or second, or third) take on an illustration, or performing infront of some people and botching up a few lyrics here and there, its these moments that showed me things about myself, things which I wouldn't have been made to see if it weren't for the lack of perfection in the moment.

I think we need to, at times, be seen and show to others that we're basically all human and flawed, that even those of us with some form of a skill or talent can be faulty or imperfect in those things, despite having had times where we "nail it" or "stick the landing."

I suppose its called transperancy to allow for this open viewing but, as a person who's gained (I suppose) a "following" of any sort, it just strikes me as incredibly vain to only place my greatest outcomes infront of you to see. All this, anything I write, say, or draw, comes from dedication and hard work. Part of that PROCESS is, inevitably, messing up and fixing or reworking things till they land on what we call "success."

These images are things I drew well enough but DIDN'T meet what was needed to the convey well idea of the album, well enough.

There's this unique beauty of "NOT getting it." It causes you to get further than you would have if things had just "gone smoothly." I think people don't appreciate those moments as they should. My "misses" are the things that informed the best things I've ever done. I try my best to not take them for granted. 

What did all this failure produce? Well, tomorrow all will be revealed. Until then, just try and see the beauty in failure...as weird a statement as that is.

- Conduct Lionhardt

Belly Drum

I often do some quick warm-up drawings first thing before I launch into work. This one was the last one I did in ink here, featuring Santa and one of the characters from a graphic novel I'll be drawing for Bryce Swan, meeting up and comparing their belly sizes. It made me chuckle and Bryce seemed to appreciate the joke there.

Unless I make the statement otherwise, all my art is for sale, especially these sorts of warm-ups, just in case anyone was wondering (Which I highly doubt they would, I'm just covering bases anyway. Feel free to inquire).

brush pen and pencil, on thick stock watercolor paper. (No idea why I drew on that paper stock)

- Conduct Lionhardt

Blog is back and, oh, I have an album out

Sorry. It has taken forever to get to a point where I can blog.

I feel like I've been neglecting this place... even though most of what I've been away doing was FOR here. I wanted to make sure that I was in the right frame of mind to blog consistently AND that I had some visual stuff for you guys to see. The format of the blog will remain the same (for the most part) as I seek to make mention of some stuff worth thinking about but on top of the usual banter and occasional interview with people I find interesting, I really just want to share some artwork, if that would be fine. So, expect a few images on here later today.

My time has also been occupied with preparations and work on some music I'm involved with. The process of creation with music is slower than that of art. Art, I just wake up and draw on some boards and a few hours later I can present it. Music...there's mixing and mastering, marketing it to people, finding production to rap on...its all this stuff. Even fast tracked, it can take months or a year to release stuff...unless you do a track at a time and, HONESTLY who wants THAT?

So, that brings me to this final point, I do have a project me and my friend (Jordan Santana) did last summer. He and I go by "The Royal Applebaums" (as much a tribute to the great Wes Anderson film "The Royal Tannenbaums" as well as a tip of the hat to Tribe Called Quest's classic, "Bonita Applebum"). Just an EP of 8 tracks, on production from Swedish producer Error96. We rap about a few things people experience and/or struggle with in this life. It is called simply, "Earth."
I hope you guys enjoy it. (If so, tell a friend to check it out as well)

 I really am looking forward to sharing my thoughts and bringing art and interviews to you all, once again.

- Conduct Lionhardt

The Royal Applebaums "Earth" EP

New song to whet the Appetite...

So, I've been busy making lots of art and stuff to "officially" relaunch this blog in the next week or so but, I didn't wanna leave the few who already do follow out of the loop. In the last week, Verto Records has released a single from an EP I did with Jordan Santana (as "The Royal Applebaums") that will be available on iTunes January 10th, I believe. I've listed the link below and I'll certainly be doing a breakdown of that project when it comes out. Till then, listen to the song, if you like it, share that link with others, and hopefully my next post will be the "all new, all different, Conducting Thoughts!"

- Conduct Lionhardt

http://vertorecords.bandcamp.com/track/aim-high

Connect

Summer means a lot to people, usually for reasons that differ from person-to-person. Some get that break from school or vacation time rolls up. BB Q's and water based social gatherings. It's summer time fun.

For a few friends of mine, it's a season filled with conventions, heading out with their art on displays, selling prints, talking to fans of their work. I know its not something many people know about. But the reason for today's blog focusing on what the convention season is all about at its core: connecting in person.

We're beings that are pretty much hardwired for relationships with others. Connecting, whether through mutual appreciation of ideas or interests, romantically, or through conversations, its kinda something that we need to properly develop and become what we were made to be. At these conventions, artists meet the fans who have connected to their livelihood by buying their books and passing along word of their talents to others. An artist can connect faces to the people who make their talent a viable means of life. Its interesting to observe the way in which many of them are so friendly and eager to hold conversations with aspiring artists, admirers of the craft, or even small kids who are only partially intrigued by what they're doing with that pen and paper. You get a sense that the importance of the conventions are more about that than even the art and, maybe, some would highly agree.

I've found that connecting with people is an easy and extremely difficult thing. Its a joy and a horror, depending on several factors. Yet, despite its duality of tones, we still ALWAYS, in one way or another, SEEK it out. We gotta have it, so-to-speak. Its not always words. Sometimes its actions. Whatever it is, man, do we need it. Just as it makes an artist feel that his hard work and long hours are worth it for every person who comes up and wants to shake their hand, we love when a connection happens. It ignites something that hardly anything else in life can.

...God is all about connection. Just like you enjoy visiting friends, hugging them after years, getting to see the look of the smile you've heard to your jokes via the phone...God longs for that same thing with you. When you can walk up to his table, look at the art he's made in this world and tell Him how much you dig his style or want to shake His hand out of respect.

The Bible tells us we're made in His image so, no wonder we long for connection with people. He made us to have relationship with us. Trippy, yeah, but, when you think of walking over and introducing yourself, showing off your latest creation, sharing a song, or get a greeting or exiting hug from a TRUE friend, take a second to realize that when you connect, that's a trait God shared with us of His.

Think about it...

- Conduct Lionhardt