Conventional Business, or Strippin' Ain't Easy

So there are two comic book shows going on this weekend, and sadly I will not be at either of them.
The first is Anime Central (or ACEN) in Rosemont, Illinois. I've done this show for the past couple years, and I've always had a good time and met quite a few cool people, My stuff isn't really "Anime", but despite that they've been nice enough to give me a table. Unfortunately, my sales at this show haven't been enough to justify going again this year. I'm hoping to have book two out by next year, so maybe I'll give it another go then, but not right now.

The other show this weekend is Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI. I've never had a table at this show, but I've attended it often and was kind of looking forward to going this year due to some of the celebrity guests, but I'm thinking now that I may skip it. I don't really have a ton of free funds at the moment and I have many a thing I should get done at home (not the least of which is getting a new strip posted, but more on that in a moment). Again, by next year, I'm hoping to have the second collection of Wombat strips published, and at that time, I'm thinking I may have to invest in doing a couple of larger comic conventions.

I'm still planning to do Detroit Fanfare in October. It was the first show I ever bought a table at and the prices are super reasonable. Also it's a lot of fun and I've made several connections at that show, so there's no reason not to do that one. I'll keep going to that one as long as they'll have me back. I'm also still waiting to hear back about the Grand Rapids Comic Convention. It's the first year for that show, and a couple of things have me nervious about wether or not it will be worth my time, but I'm willing to give it a shot. It's a one day show, so worst case, I waste a perfectly good Saturday, best case I get in on the ground floor of a new, local show.

As for the strip. It's not dead. I wish I could say there's a major reason there hasn't been an update lately, but sadly, no. I just need to get off my lazy butt and produce. It doens't always come easy (I'd say it mostly doens't come easy), so the natural inclination is to just not do it, but I need to get past that. I've been trying to spend any and all free time I have drawing, even if it's not the strip...but then I feel guilty for drawing something that's not the next strip and I stop doing that as well. I have a strip half penciled as I type this and I'm hoping to get the pencils done tonight. Either way, I'm thinking that I can use Star Trek this weekend as good goal for getting the strip done (I won't allow myself to see it until the new strip is posted). That also means I have to avoid the internet as I've already seen people talking about it online.

Chicago or Bust, or...Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes

It's been a while since I've posted, but I've got a few things going on, so I thought I should do a post. First off, I've added the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (also known as C2E2) to my list of appearances. Though I won't be there selling or showing any of my own work. My "professional" registration was excepted (it's always nice when the industry itself recognizes your contributions) so I've received my weekend pass to attend as an attendee. As much as I'd like to have one there, tables at C2E2 are a little out of my price range based on sales from other conventions I attend. Maybe after Wombat Vol. 2 comes out (if I keep to my new schedule, that will hopefully be early next year, more on that in a minute), I can justify it, but I just can't right now. However, if you know your going to be attending the show and would like to pick up a copy of Wombat, or commission me for any other work, contact me and I'm sure we can work out some sort of meeting time/place at the show to do such a transaction.

There's also going to be a new show in Grand Rapids in October called the Grand Rapids Comic-Con. I have applied for a table at that one, but as of this posting, have not yet heard back either way. I'll keep you updated on how that goes. Even if I don't get a table, though, I'll likely attend this show as well as it's good to help support a new show, especially one so close to home. If this happens, again, I'm sure we can work out a meeting time/place at the show if you'd like to get anything from me.

As for Wombat, I know that over the past year or so I've been kind of hit or miss (mostly miss) on posting a strip a week. Sometimes it seemed I was lucky if I posted a strip a month. I assure you, it's not from lack of desire to get a strip up...if anything I'd say a lack of will/free time. But I think I've found a way to get myself back into a groove. I've done two weeks in a row now, and I'm well on my way to hitting week three on time, so that's a good thing. I've even got a couple ideas for story lines past my current one. If all goes as planned and I'm able to keep on a schedule this year (even if I miss 1 or 2 weeks), I figure I should have enough strips completed by the end of the year to put out a second print volume.

Also in the works, a redesign of the Wombat Comic website. I feel I had learned quite a bit about coding in HTML while making http://www.neilbryer.com/ and I've gotten even more practice lately thanks to being put in charge of redesigning the website for...um...actually that's a project that I probably shouldn't go into detail about right at this moment...but anyway. I've got a design mapped out that I like for the Wombat and the coding shouldn't be TOO difficult (actually, it'd probably be child's play for an actual professional, but being that I'm kinda learning this stuff as I go, I'm fairly proud of myself for what I'm able to do). After that goes live, I'll likely turn my attention back to http://www.neilbryer.com/ and see what improvements I can make here.

Christmas: Phase 1

So my parents have been divorced for some time now. As any child of divorce can tell you, this means multiple family Christmas's even without a signifigent other's family to take into account, which can be alright. It spreads the holiday celebrations out a bit more than just one day.

This weekend, I've been at my sister's house with her family and my mom and grandfather (and his lady friend). It's been fun, I've played some games with her kids, we've decorated cookies, and we opened presents last night. I recieved numorus things that I appreciate very much and I believe all of my gifts went over very well. And while most of the family is watching football and/or taking naps, I figured I'd take a moment to update this blog.

Tomorrow, I head back home and celebrate Christmas with my father and step-mother (a.k.a. phase 2).

Next week is the end of the year. I'm hoping to get another Wombat strip up before the end of the year. I have one partially done, I just haven't had time to do it. I guess I can state now that one of my main resolutions is to work harder on the strip and do better about meeting my weekly deadline (which I've failed on most of this past year). If I'm able to  get back in the habit of doing one strip per week, I believe I'll have enough by the end of the year to put out a second book. So I'd like to do that.

Another of my resolutions is to update this blog a little more often. Something I hope will be easier to do with the help of one of my christmas gifts (a keyboard for my iPad on which I'm typing this update now). And yes, with that, I hope to make the updates more entertaining.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the others. See you

A Pint and Pretty Face, or...Hang Him From The Highest Rafters!

So I've received my first commission since my site went live. Granted, the project was from a friend that probably hasn't even looked at my site yet, but still. I don't want to go into any specific details about the project right now as it is a gift and I'm not sure it's been given yet. I'm still getting used to actually charging for my artwork and it felt weird to recieve a check in the mail today with "for art" written in the memo line.

In other art news, my buddy, Anthony Snyder, is having a gallery showing of some of his original illustrations. They're being shown at the Water Street Coffee on Oakland Drive from now though the end of November. He does horror based cartoon illustrations (think old "Tales From the Crypt" or "Vault of Horror"). Anthony, our friend Mike and I spent a little over two hours last Sunday morning hanging his art in the art in the cafe and I have to say it went fairly well. We figured out early the best way to get them hung somewhat on level with each other and the process was less like an episode of the Three Stooges then I thought it would.  And if that wasn't good enough, one of Anthony's pieces sold while we were still there.

On the horizon, I've got the Detroit Fanfare convention coming up in a couple weeks. I'll be there selling the web comic as well as art prints and sketch cards. I like to work on cards while I sit at the table, but I often have a tough time coming up with topics, so if you have any ideas of what you'd like to see, feel free to leave your ideas in the comments. Also, at Detroit Fanfare ill (Hopefully be attending the Shel Dorf Awards. They're a fan voted award ceremony that I was lucky enough to get a nomination for last year. They haven't announced the nominations for this year yet so I'm still hoping I get in there again (if you haven't yet, I ask that you go to www.sheldorfawards.com and nominate "Wombat - www.wombatcomic.com" for Web-Comic of the Year).

The site is going well. I'm starting to get actual artwork up. I'm happy with the design but open to constructive criticism. Also, fell free to let me know if you find things that don't work right.

- Neil Bryer

Be Gentle...It's My First Time.

My first blog post...yes.

Well, ok, technically this isn't my first blog post. I've been quasi-bloging for the past three to five years in the form of a web-comic (www.wombatcomic.com sorry, I'm a self promo whore, you'll learn that about me). No, what I mean when I say my first blog post is that this is my first post on my new Blogger page, which I've started in hopes of connecting to my website (different website, www.neilbryer.com). Hmmm...perhaps I should go back (queue the "How I Met Your Mother" theme...no wait, I hate that show).

I started posting my web-comic in 2006 (which technically makes the strip six years old now, though I've missed a week here and there...and there...bringing the number of strips currently in my stable just over enough for four full years of weekly strips). I first posted the strip, along with a short commentary to my MySpace page. Yes, I, like everyone else in 2006 had a MySpace page. Tough even then, when it was still considered "cool" to be on MySpace, I always felt a level of shame when someone would ask for my URL and I'd have to reply mySpace.com. So, I eventually registered my own domain and started up www.wombatcomic.com.

After some time I decided it to be a good idea to have a separate site, one where I could highlight my artistic endeavors beyond the web-comic. So, I registered www.neilbryer.com. I quickly coded up a "coming soon" front page and there the site has sat for...well...probably a year or two now, as it likely still would, if not for...

I've recently been made aware of upcoming changes to my employment (that I probably shouldn't go into at this time). This has prompted me to get off my but and get this site up and working. I'm hoping that it can, at best, help me obtain work in the field of my choosing (illustration and/or graphic design which what I went to school for) or, at least, get help get me some free lance work from time to time to supplement my current income.

So, that's where we are at the moment. I'm hitting a sharp learning curve and getting the new site all prettied up and am just starting to work on the functionality side of it, including this blog (which you're hopefully reading on my website, not through blogger. When I get this completed and up and rolling, I'm hoping I can use what I've learned here to improve the wombat site.

Anyway, I think that's enough for now. 

-Neil