Friday, April 27, 2012

2012 PITTSBURGH COMICON REPORT

Last weekend was the 2012 Pittsburgh Comicon! We premiered NEVERMINDS #2 as well as the prototypes for the first set of Drumfish figurines (Alanis Munroe from NEVERMINDS and Firebomb from SENTINELS) to great success! It was also the first meeting between all of the creators behind NEVERMINDS #2. Danielle Aleix St. Pierre, the new colorist on NEVERMINDS, attended the show and was drawing and selling prints all weekend. This was Danielle's first convention ever and she did amazing!
As always, our good friends Al and Glenn got things started Thursday night with their penthouse party. This year they had everyone drawing on tiles that they would auction off at Saturday's charity auction. This year didn't seem as crazy and rowdy as past year. I chalk that up to Scott Derby and Kristin Ross not being there.

Friday was the usual slow day of the weekend, but that didn't stop Jamie Fay and Danielle from sketching all day long and having a commission list. I even did two sketches that day. One was a commission and the other was a donation for the Inkwell Awards ( http://www.inkwellawards.com/ ). They are a great charity that needs all comic creators support. So, Jamie, Danielle and I all contributed something to them. Hopefully it helped. There were a lot of inquiries and admiring of the Drumfish figurines and we took preorders all weekend. We are definitely planning to do another set!  :)
Saturday was crazy busy. I was on my feet selling all day. I couldn't believe how many people were there this year and how much they were buying. It was a nice change from Friday. We sold almost all the copies of NEVERMINDS #2 we had and I almost sold out of my Robins print. Since this is the first time I ever sold prints at Pittsburgh, it was nice to see some good response. We got to chat with many, many fans , friends and new people that I didn't want it to end. After the show, we rushed out to eat real quick and then return so that we could attend the "Make-A-Wish" charity auction. Both Jamie and I had donated art and it was my first time ever having art of mine up for auction. I was kind of excited. Unfortunately, the auctioneer didn't seem to want to be there and when it came to Jamie art, he only said "This is a picture of the Fantastic Four and a bunch of people I don't know. Let's start the bidding at $20." This was kind of an insult to Jamie as his art was on the flier and on the 3-day passes for the show. I yelled out and said "Who's the artist?", at which time there was more information given. Then when it came time for my art to be auctioned, the auctioneer looked at my art and my name on it and said "I'm not even going to try to say this one. This is by Rich somebody.". That totally sucked. But hey, at least it got bid on and sold for $100. Since it was my first time donating anything I was very happy to have helped raise some money. The highlight of the auction was a last minute addition for a dinner with Stan Lee for two people. You had to be ready in a half hour and Stan would pay for dinner and you got to spend private time with him. How cool was that? I still can't believe that it only went for $675 dollars. CRAZY! After the auction, we hung in the bar with friends and then crash after the long day.
Sunday was another great day at the show and we had many people coming back and buying more books (from buying just one the previous day) and more prints. Jamie and Danielle did the "Quick Sketch" and had many people coming around after to have them sign stuff and buy their prints. Very cool. Before we knew it the show was over and we began the long drive back to NYC.
The Pittsburgh Comicon has changed a bit over the years, but it's still one of my favorite shows to do. That's because of the people. Both the creators and fans that attend this convention are amazing! A huge thanks to all for making this show so great!!
Special thanks and kudos to Javier for pimping Neverminds #2 at his table!!!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

ILLUSTRIOUS BITS WEEK 22: MYSTIQUE

Here's my contribution to this week's subject, Mystique (from the X-Men), on Illustrious Bits. I picked the movie version of Mystique to draw because I've never drawn her before. I admit this was a bit of rushed sketch, but it's been a busy week here. I really love the movie version of Mystique and think that they did an amazing job spotlighting her on the original X-Men movie and even more so with the newer "First Class" film.

Mystique (c) Marvel Comics

Thursday, April 19, 2012

2012 PITTSBURGH COMICON APRIL 20-22

Just a quick note to remind everyone that we'll be at the 2012 Pittsburgh Comicon this weekend (April 20-22). If you're in the area or plan to attend the Con, please stop by and say hello! We'll have all 5 SENTINELS graphic novels, NEVERMINDS issues #1 and 2, tons of prints, original art and for the first time at a convention, we'll be showing the first two Drumfish figurines (Alanis Munroe from NEVERMINDS and Firebomb from SENTINELS!) and taking orders for their May delivery. So, find myself, Jamie Fay and Danielle Alex St. Pierre in the center of the convention at tables S053 and S063. See you there!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

ILLUSTRIOUS BITS WEEK 21: DOCTOR STRANGE

Here's my entry of Doctor Strange for this week's subject on Illustrious Bits. With the Pittsburgh Comicon this coming weekend, I wasn't sure I would even try to do a sketch this week. But I had a few quiet minutes last night and was able to draw this. I preferred to draw Doctor Strange in his older look and not the updated current one. I still like the old school, even if it is a bit geeky. :)



Doctor Strange (c) Marvel Comics

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

NEVERMINDS #2

We're proud to announce that NeverMinds #2 is now available!
We'll be premiering the book at the Pittsburgh Comicon this weekend (April 20 - 22). I'll be in Artist Alley along with Jamie Fay and Danielle Alexis St. Pierre at our usual spot. Please stop by and say hello if you're at the show.
We'll be selling all 5 SENTINELS trades, issues #1 and 2 of NEVERMINDS and I'll also have my "Sketch A Day" Sketchbook and our collab book with Luchador Enterprises, COMICON ON MONSTER ISLAND!
We will also be displaying for the first time anywhere, the first two Drumfish Production figurines! The figurines will be ready and shipping next month (May) and we'll be taking orders at the convention and online here. Check out Alanis Munroe from NeverMinds and Firebomb from Sentinels and place your order fast as we are limiting how many we make and we're already over halfway sold out!
I'll also have prints I'll be selling including some new ones since the last convention I attended and pre-made headshot/bust illustrations and be doing commissions!
And once more, we are premiering NEVERMINDS #2 at the con and you'll be able to get the book there or at other conventions we attend throughout the year. You can also order over at IndyPlanet or you can download the pdf at Payloadz. Check out the links below. Below is a preview of first 6 pages:
If you would like to support us and get your hands on a copy now, head over to IndyPlanet or Payloadz and snatch up a copy!!!
IndyPlanet (physical copy) - http://indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6981
Payloadz (digital pdf) - http://store.payloadz.com/details/1008703-ebooks-fiction-neverminds-2.html
Written by Rich Bernatovech
Art by Jamie Fay
Colors by Danielle Alexis St. Pierre
Back Cover by (pencil and inks) Ross Campbell and (color) Danielle Alexis St. Pierre
And don't forget to pick up #1 as well -
IndyPlanet (physical copy) - http://indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4961
Payloadz (digital pdf) - http://store.payloadz.com/details/928500-ebooks-fiction-neverminds-1.html

Sunday, April 15, 2012

PITTSBURGH COMICON CHARITY AUCTION PIECE COLORED!

Here is the AMAZING colored version of my latest print and contribution to the 2012 Pittsburgh Comicon Charity Auction. The Pittsburgh Comicon host a "Make-A-Wish" charity auction every year and I really wanted to donate something this year. So, I came up with this idea for a collage of all of the male characters that have been Robin in the DCnU. I was lucky enough to get the INCREDIBLY talented, Urszula Mos, to color it for me. Without her amazing colors this would never look so good! I love what she did with it and I'm very proud to have this be donated to the auction!

Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin and Robin © DC Comics

Friday, April 13, 2012

TEMPLAR BANNER

Gearing up for this year's convention season (which starts next week for me, 4/20/12) I decided that since I have so many new things to sell (books, figurines, prints and original art) that I wanted to give an entirely new look to my table. A quick way to do that is to get a new banner made, so I tried to come up with something quickly and asked Luciano Vecchio to color it for me. I decided to draw a character from one of my own comics instead of a big name character and I picked Templar from SENTINELS (in his redesigned colors by Luciano). But although Luciano's colors blew me away and he made my art look sooooo much better, I still was not quite wild about the art I had done. I decided to hold off on the banner for right now and really spend time on it and do something I truly love. Sometimes it doesn't pay to rush. I definitely love Lucaino's colors on this though. He can do no wrong! Thanks for helping me out, Luciano! I still wanted to share this with people so they can see how awesome Luciano at coloring too.



Templar and Sentinels (c) Drumfish Prioductions

Thursday, April 12, 2012

ILLUSTRIOUS BITS WEEK 20: MEGAMAN

I'm a little late with this week's contribution for Illustrious Bits. In all honesty, I almost didn't do this week because I know absolutely nothing about MegaMan (this weeks pick!). But I figured I needed to try and not use that as an excuse to not draw. How else will I get better? lol. I tried to keep a little of the anime feel to him and still put in a bit of my own style. Not sure it worked.

MegaMan (c) Capcom

Sunday, April 8, 2012

PITTSBURGH COMICON CHARITY AUCTION

The 2012 Pittsburgh Comicon is in two weeks and every year they have a special charity auction for the Make-A-Wish foundation. I've never felt confident enough in my art to contribute anything I drew to the auction, but, this year I really wanted to try to do something. So, I decided to draw all the Robins (of "Batman and..." fame, former and current) in their new DCNu costumes and give it to the auction. I'm really hoping to get this colored in time for the auction too and hope it brings some money in for them!

Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin and Robin © DC Comics

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

ALANIS MUNROE AND FIREBOMB FIGURINES!!




Here are the final versions of Drumfish Productions first two figurines that we are releasing. Check out Alanis Munroe from NEVERMINDS (designed by Jamie Fay) and Firebomb from SENTINELS (designed by Luciano Vecchio).
Each figurine stands 6" high and is hand painted. It comes with a stand, which has the company logo and character name on the bottom of the stand. These are very limited edition figurines and anyone interested in buying Alanis or Firebomb, please contact us on asap.
The price of each is $40 (plus shipping).

Alanis Munroe, Neverminds, Firebomb and Sentinels © Drumfish Productions

Monday, April 2, 2012

ILLUSTRIOUS BITS WEEK 19: THOR

Here is my contribution to Illustrious Bits for this week. This week's choice was Thor! I've only drawn Thor a few times and I have to admit, he's not a fav of mine to draw. I always end up making him look a little too weak or young. I decided to try drawing him in profile this time and I think that helped a little for me to get a better feel for him. Might have over did it with the lightning, lol.



Thor (c) Marvel Comics