Xyris at the Wormhole

Finally got a video of our show, so everyone what we really sound like.

Carter Ink

Tattoo Shop Wall Illustrations by ~xaqBazit on deviantART

Here's some pictures of what turned out to be "wall illustrations" after I had planned to do a single mural for them. It worked out better this way though, I hope I can get some better pictures soon. I used pencil to draw them out and about 6 black sharpies to finish all 3 (they are just not made for an unsmooth wall) and two white paint sharpies, both water and old based though neither work for whiting out comics AT ALL! They work great for doing highlights on wall illustrations. I didn't get paid but rather exchanged the work for 1/2 off on the tattoos that I'll be getting soon. They all took me about an hour each to finish.

I based the top figure off a sketch I had in an old sketchbook, ghost rider and an old character design from middle school. I drew him on a separate day and decided against going back in with white sharpie even though he was designed to be lit from his mouth.

The middle figure is based a few different characters and illustrations from princess mononoke and some artwork by Marko Djurdjevic, a comic artist, specifically a drawing he did for an RPG and his design for the demons in Thor.

The last figure is based on a couple different mcfarlane action figures (series 22 skullsplitter, series 21 Raven and series 25 hellspawn) Alex Ross' Green Lantern design for Kingdom Come and a poster I have for Olivier Coipel's run on Thor.

I briefly talked tattoos with the guys at the shop and they asked if I had considered interning to become a tattoo artist. It wasn't an invitation (I don't think) but it was an interesting talk. I wouldn't feel at all like my education at SCAD went towards something other than comics, it already has. But as a profession I have considered, very seriously, becoming a tattoo artist. I feel like I will have so much to offer the comic industry in the next few years and yet I feel the same about the tattoo industry. They seemed to have plenty of free time, but they just opened, so I would have time to work on a graphic novel but I wouldn't be able to do a monthly book anymore. For me to get into it though I would have to wait till my fiance got done doing her pastry externship and we would have to save up some cash considering I wouldn't get paid for it for at least 6 months to apprentice - if i could find a place that was looking to apprentice someone. And I know with tattooing that my drawing skills are only half the work, but I feel like they are a sold half, as humbly as I can feel that. It would be a more solid paycheck once I got going but I've been told my skills lay in storytelling and while that would come in handy in tattooing it's more focusing on a single image, like illustration and I feel like my speed advantage would be lost. I may get lazier and rely on reference more as many tattoo artists do and would probably draw less. So much of school has been getting me to draw a bunch and draw accurately, and that I would lose some of those skills the less I drew and that scares me. But it may be a easier more secure lifestyle and in no way less rewarding, and I would still have the option of graphic novel. I don't know, we'll see but its interesting and intriguing to think about.

Xyris is a Go!

I'm a drummer again! And more seriously than ever, I've messed around with Justin and Nash, recorded and edited jams and even created a cd with Dan and Justin in "Comfort and Chaos," played a few bits and recorded like two songs with Tyler in "Instrumetal," talked and met and had to eventually leave before we started a dream theater inspired band in Co, played a practice that I was not asked back in "Die like able" in Ga, and now am officially the new drummer for Xyris, with Carlos and a guy I met from work named Phil. They are right up my musical alley, and headed toward the stuff I want to be doing, heavyier prog-based music. We played a few of their songs and I caught on fast and even jammed a few with suprizing sincapation. We should be playing shows after a few more practices, I need to get a carpet so that I can map out my drums for shows. Were practicing in a place called "5 below" where you can buy 3 hours with their amps and drum kit, studio etc for 30 bucks. No big transport needed, no need to annoy neighbors etc. I'm scared for my drum set, it's a piece of crap and I don't know how it will sound live, or if I practice on another kit and play on mine if it will feel wierd. Anyway for not drumming for close to 6 months, except for a few times, I was very in shape and rather pleased with myself. I can't wait to play a show with thee guys! Hear them at their website or their myspace here
http://www.2activedesign.com/xyrisband
http://www.myspace.com/xyrisband
ps: they say I can do whatever I want with the drums, considering my style is not that far out what they're lookinbg for.