I've been painting on my iPad

So I've been messing around with the brushes and settings and gestures in Procreate on my iPad, and I'm finding out it's a lot more powerful than I expected. I still have a lot to learn, but this is Marley. He's the first all-out painting I finished there. I added textures in Photoshop to finish him up.

The Wicked Googly

My napkin @ The Wicked Googly, 209 W Main St, Ligonier PA.

Blue & Gray Bar & Grill

My napkin @ Blue & Gray Bar & Grill, 28 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg PA.

Appalachian Brewing Company

My napkin @ Appalachian Brewing Company, 410 Buford Ave, Gettysburg PA.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—April Fool #sketchbookproject

And this would be the second double-page spread from my Sketchbook Project Special Edition sketchbook. The initial Square Kats drawings seem to be fine; it's the coloring in with markers thing that's really turning me off. I think I'll still use the Kats in paintings later though, so all is not lost.

The Audacity of Earning a Living Making Art

I'll be the first to admit I've been slacking in the social media arena lately. I haven't been keeping up with my blogs or my Twitter updates or my Facebook posts. It's hard to post when you don't have anything to show for yourself.

Here's the thing: I haven't had anything to post because I haven't had time to work on anything, and it's killing me. I have a day job, and they're short-handed right now so my schedule has cut drastically into my artwork time (and my sleeping time and my eating time and my breathing time).

And my Facebook page has suffered for it.

I don't really understand what's happening there. When I don't post for a while, I lose followers of the page. I get that. They want a page that's more updated. I'll post things like sketches and finished paintings and announcements about exhibits I'm in or books I've worked on. In between those, if I find news online that I think my followers might be interested in, I'll post a link to that, too. I don't post often, but when I do post something, I turn around and lose a ton of followers! Someone even accused me once of posting spam!

I don't get it. Why do people follow my Facebook page? What do they think they're getting when they hit the "Like" button? I'm an artist and an illustrator and a writer. I want to earn my living by making artwork. If I didn't have to pay the bills, I'd be making artwork all the time. That's what I'd be doing instead of sleeping and eating and breathing.

It feels like a no-win situation. I lose people when I don't post, and I lose even more when I do. When I do post, that means I've had the time to make something new, but that seems to be exactly what's turning people off.

So after much deliberation, I've decided I'm going to keep making art. That's what I do and who I am. And then after I've made the art, I'm going to post it online, in spite of all the people getting turned off over it. I'm hoping somewhere there are people who want to see it and maybe even support it someday. I'm not going to be afraid of showing what I can do.

I'm glad I thought of that, and I thank you sincerely for listening.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Vincent #sketchbookproject

O.K. Here's my first poor attempt at marker art. Markers feel like all the bad things that watercolor and pen & ink have to offer: none of them are very forgiving. I'm also kind of stuck with the colors I have, and I'm not able to blend them very well. I ended up going over the cat fur with a white pencil to lighten it up a little.

So far I'm not liking the markers. I hope I don't embarrass myself with this little side project.

Nickelodeon Cartoons on Acid! (Publishers Weekly says so)

Oh, man.

Publishers Weekly went and reviewed my new book, Twisted: Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol. 1, and it looks like they've given it a thumbs up:

"In stories that last only a few pages and comics that resemble Nickelodeon cartoons on acid, Thompson riffs on zombie, werewolf, and other ghoulish genres, while also finding the horrific in unexpected places...Just the thing for readers who aren't scared of the dark—or for those who are and like it."

Even my dad picked out the "Nickelodeon cartoons on acid" line as a favorite. He should have. That's where I get it from.

Here's a link to the entire review: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-9836699-0-6

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Cover #sketchbookproject

So I went and joined the Art House Co-op and their Special Edition Sketchbook Project. They're going to print at least one spread from each sketchbook they get back in a series of books they'll be publishing documenting the project.

I know. I almost have time for this.

I decided to try out a relatively new medium for me: markers. That might be an idiot of an idea, but I've also decided to draw things that aren't so new for me: Square Kats. Hopefully the markers will be kind.

Here's the cover and the first page pages:

On Deck 7 skateboards now awaiting your bid

My skateboard for the Montana Skatepark Association is available for your bid: http://www.montanaskatepark.org/ondeck-boards/nora-thompson/

I posted progress reports as I painted the deck, and you can find the lot of them here.

Go. Bid. Help raise a little money for some free public skateparks.

So looking forward to ParaNorman

Soooo looking forward to August 17. I think I'm growing a stop-motion fetish. Don't you just want those maquettes to play with for yourself?

You don't become a hero by being normal.

ParaNora. That's what they meant to call it. Para. Nor. A.

http://www.paranorman.com/

Now accepting credit cards!

So when the nice people at the Frick asked me if I would be able to take credit cards at my book signing tomorrow (see details below), I had to honestly tell them "no."

But.

A day and a half later I bought myself an iPad (geeky dance around the room) and got busy with Square. Square is a tiny little thing that plugs into your ear bud jack and you swipe cards through it. The reader is free; the app that goes with it is also free.

And it's really fun (and easy) to use.

I've inventoried everything that I'll be selling (hardcover and paperback books, prints, posters and bookmarks) and added images and prices for each. So all I have to do is touch the product that someone is buying and the app starts up a tally.

Oh. The details about tomorrow:

What: Book signing (along with my new buddy Stacy Innerst)

Date: Saturday, April 14

Time: 1:30-2:30 pm

Location: The Frick Art & Historical Center, in the museum rotunda

And! It's Friday the 13th! It doesn't get any better than this.

I've got a book signing!

Now I went and did it.

This Saturday, April 14 between 1:30 and 2:30 in the afternoon, in the rotunda at the Frick Art & Historical Center, along with my new buddy Stacy Innerst, I will be signing copies of my book Twisted: Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol. 1. I will also have prints and posters from the book on hand and free bookmarks for each book purchase.

So, in case you missed it:
What: Book signing for Family Day at the Frick
When: Saturday, April, 14 from 1:30-2:30
Where: Frick Art & Historical Center
Why: Because I'm a starving artist. Oh, and the Frick is exhibiting Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children's Book Illustration. But mostly because I'm a starving artist

Please don't let me be embarrassed with nobody in my line and everybody in Stacy's.

Please.

So looking forward to Frankenweenie

So so so looking forward to October 5. I want a Sparky dog stuffed animal doll. The stitched one. With a removable tail.

http://disney.go.com/frankenweenie/

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 5 It's Aliiiiive!!!

I've finished the skateboard for On Deck VII, and here he is. I still have to attach the hanging hardware, package him up and send him off, but the creative part is complete.

I've decided to call it Bruce after the shark in the movie Jaws. I haven't decided whether the brusher's name is Bruce or the brushee, and I don't think I will.

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 4

Another day's work on the skateboard for the Montana Skatepark Association's On Deck exhibit and charity auction. I've finished up the teeth and started on the bubbles. Almost finished now.

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 3

I was a little stuck on what color (or colors) to make the toothbrush, so I started mixing colors I was already using and came up with this purple.

I'm not sure if I like it yet or not. It's a nice contrast to the yellow shirt, but something feels a little off for me. Not sure what. I do need it to be darkish so when I add the lighter bubbles later they'll show up against the dark background.

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 2 AKA "The Great White Turd"

I've made a little more progress on my On Deck skateboard for the Montana Skatepark Association's charity auction.

I wasn't completely sure what colors I wanted to use for the toothbrusher's clothes except maybe that he should be wearing jeans. I grabbed some of the dark purplish blue I had used for inside the mouth and added a little white and Unbleached Titanium to lighten it up.

His shirt ended up yellow, and I'm thinking it's just because sometimes I tend to think in a primary color scheme.

The hardest part for me is always mixing a convincing flesh tone along with shades of it that don't make it look dirty. I started his skin, but then let it sit for a couple of days before I finished it. Just a little bit of nervousness about it, I think.

By the way, a few little pieces of trivia...

You may have known that the crew on the set of the movie Jaws referred to the three mechanical sharks they used as "Bruce," but did you know that Steven Spielberg named it after his attorney? Also (from IMDB):

"In addition to the well-known nickname of "Bruce", Steven Spielberg also called the shark "the great white turd" when he really got frustrated with the troublesome animatronic fish."

Bruce is also the name of the Great White in Finding Nemo.

Skateboard for On Deck 7: Progress 1

The Fed Ex man delivered my skateboard safe and sound-like at my door for the On Deck 7 charity auction happening in May. The deck is due back in Missoula by April 1, so I decided it might be a good idea to get this puppy rolling.

First I sanded off the finish, filled in the holes I wouldn't be using for hanging, and then I primed it. Once the gesso dried I transferred the sketch on over.

I painted inside the mouth first, and decided to use Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Alizarin Crimson and Crimson on this part. I'll also use these on other parts of the board, along with Yellow Oxide, Unbleached Titanium and Titanium White. I'm also using some Burnt Umber to mix with the Ultramarine to make black when I need to.

I honestly can't remember what was going on when I came up with the idea for this one, but I can say I've spent the last couple of weeks enduring yet another root canal. Not sure, but I may have dental work on my mind.

Skateboard sketch for On Deck 7

I had this idea to paint on a skateboard even before the Montana Skatepark Association said they wanted me to paint one of theirs. I finally got the sketch finished after weeks of just thinking about it.

The next step will be sanding off the finish on the deck, filling in the holes I don't need, priming the board and buying the hanging hardware. Not the most glamorous part of the job, but all necessary.

Montana Skatepark On Deck 7

2011 Deck

The Montana Skatepark Association has emailed to let me know I'll be painting them another skateboard for their seventh On Deck exhibit!

How it works:

Montana Skatepark gets blank skateboards that didn't quite pass the flawlessness inspection test and sends them off to artists to do with as they wish. After the artist is finished doing what they wish, the board gets sent back to Missoula and is exhibited and auctioned off, online and in person. Proceeds go toward building free skateparks in Montana.

I was able to participate last year, and I blogged the progress of my deck painting along the way. I already have an idea for this year's board, and I'll post the sketch for it as soon as it gets out of my head and onto some paper.

I've caved. I'm on Pinterest. #caved

Alright. So I gave in and joined another social networking site. This time it's Pinterest. One just leads to another and then to another and so on and so forth.

The first thing to do is adjust to the new landscape. Learn the lingo. Start pinning your favorites. Start following other people and their boards. Start repinning what they've pinned. It's all a mad spiral.

I've got a board on there just for The Rots, and here it is. It's not much yet, but give it time. It'll get there.

And so it goes.

Smokin' Joe's

My napkin @ Smokin' Joe's, 2001 E Carson St, Pittsburgh PA.

Another Square Kat idea: Patrick Leprechaun

My next Square Kat painting will be for St. Patrick's Day, but I'm not sure if he'll actually be finished by St. Patrick's Day. I'll do my best. His name is Patrick and he's a bit of a Leprechaun, as you can see.

Sketchbook Project Limited Edition #sketchbookproject

Alright. Now I did it. I went and signed up for another Sketchbook Project, this time the Limited Edition version.

I'm such a sucker.

But I have a plan: I'm planning on filling it with Square Kats that I would like to eventually paint and include in a calendar (or two). So really, it will be totally useful in the future.

For the actual Sketchbook Project sketchbook, I've decided to use some of my new Pitt Artist pens. Well, some of them are new just because I haven't used them yet (although I bought them to try out almost a year and a half ago), and the rest of them are so new I haven't received the order I placed for them in the mail yet.

If you're not familiar with the Sketchbook Project, here's a rundown:

1. I order a sketchbook from the Art House Co-op and pick a "theme" (my theme is Pictures and descriptions)
2. They send a sketchbook specifically for me, with a bar code on the back identifying me and my sketchbook
3. I draw in said sketchbook (this seems to be the part that's taking the longest)
4. I send the sketchbook back to the Art House Co-op (in Brooklyn, NY)
5. They scan all the pages of my sketchbook and include them in their digital library and post them on their site
6. The sketchbooks are cataloged as a permanent fixture of the Brooklyn Art Library, available for patrons around the world to enjoy (hopefully)
7. Every time someone "checks out" my sketchbook it will be logged through the bar code on the back, and I will receive an email that it was checked out
8. At least one full spread from my sketchbook will be included in a series of art books along with other Sketchbook Project sketchbook pages from other artists
9. That's it

They limited the number of sketchbooks for this project to 5,000, and all 5,000 sketchbooks have been grabbed up.

I'm thinking I must be crazy, for a couple of reasons (not the regular reasons this time). First, do I really think I have time for another Sketchbook Project? Not really, but the lure of getting my illustrations in a book was too much to pass up. And second, those Pitt Artist Pens aren't the cheapest things in the world. And I went and bought a crapload. But they were on sale. With free shipping if I spent enough money.

Yeah, I must be crazy.

The Rots @ DV8 (Part 3)

DV8 had the opening last Saturday of the exhibit where my drawing "Leonard the Clown" is hanging. It was really crowded, and it was nice to see that, of the ten people who were invited to show there, I personally know two of them (besides me).

I took a few pictures, but I was trying to be subtle, and I don't know that the people there really wanted to be photographed. So here's one of the photos I took with a couple identities skillfully hidden. Notice my drawing is squeezed between a cabinet of things to buy and the food table. Hopefully somebody noticed it there.

An addendum to "Cupid Square Kat"

I thought I needed to add a little to that last post on the Cupid Square Kat, mainly about being rejected by the goodness and decency people over there at Zazzle.

Within 24 hours of rejecting my design for postage stamps, Zazzle awarded two (here's the first, and here's the second) other Cupid Square Kat designs Today's Best Awards.

Here are the designs that won:
Cupid Square Kat Premium Magnet
Cupid Square Kat Poster.

Crazy, I know.

Cupid Square Kat

Here's Cupid Square Kat's official photo.

He's caused quite the stir over at Zazzle. I tried putting him on postage there, and they sent me an email saying he was rejected because the

"Design may be considered violent, profane, deceptive, abusive, menacing, harmful, or threatening"

Seriously.

The Rots @ DV8 (Part 2)

I finished my drawing for the 10th anniversary exhibit at DV8 Gallery in Greensburg, and this is it (you can click on him to see him bigger). The exhibit opens this Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 pm. Here's a locator map to find it: http://bit.ly/zPRcuy. If you missed the sketch I posted earlier last week, here's the link to that.

And here's what DV8 looks like from the outside so you don't drive by it:
Actually, that's almost a total lie. They just changed the spilling coffee cup on the front to a standing-up frothy espresso cup just a couple weeks ago. But you get the idea.

The Rots @ DV8

I've been asked to participate in the tenth anniversary exhibit at and for DV8 Espresso Bar and Gallery in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. They hosted The Rots' first exhibit back in 2007 (has it been that long?). Pictures from that show are on The Rots' site under "gallery" at the top of the page and then "shows" on the left. They're only exhibiting ten artists (for their tenth anniversary), and I'm honored to be one of them.

I'm drawing a new piece just for the show (which is hanging Sunday, so I need to get a move on), but the sketch itself is a few months old, I just never had a reason to finish it. Now I guess I do.

Here's the sketch. His name is Leonard.

Cupid Square Kat progress report #3

Getting into the home stretch here with the Cupid Square Kat painting. I can't let it go too long, because I'm painting with acrylics, and they tend to dry up too quickly to linger.

This first image shows a newly painted diaper and bow. I thought the color of the bow really helped. He seemed a little drab before I got that part finished.

And then here he is with the heart and arrow finished. This is just the photo I took when the painting was still on the easel, so the colors are a little off. I'll take "official" photos as soon as I'm satisfied that he's actually finished, and then I'll post them here.

If you missed the first posts on his progress, you can see them here, here and here. You can click on any of the images to see them biggie-sized.

I'll try to get him on some stuff at Zazzle ASAP.

Cupid Square Kat progress report #2

Let's get moving on this little guy, how about.

Started painting the background, and I still wasn't completely sure what colors I wanted to use. I didn't want to go with the standard red and white Valentine's day thing, but I knew the heart would have to be red, so whatever colors I decided to use would have to work with the red without overwhelming it.

Went with a bluish purply. I knew the wings needed to be an off-white color, so I went ahead and painted them in, too.

The next part wasn't so easy, and I hope I didn't totally blow it. For the cat, I decided to go with a pinkish color even though I understand (seriously, I do) that cats pretty much don't come in that color unless you've got some serious issues going on there. The problem was, he was starting to look like an internal organ.

I thought about it a while and decided it might still be O.K. if I toned the pink down a little. Maybe desaturate it. So that's what I did.

Then I added some more shading and highlights and started messing with his eyes.

And then a little more eye messing. I think I'm satisfied so far, but there's still a lot of details to go.

I'll post some more progress photos later this week. (You can click the images to see them bigger.)

Cupid Square Kat progress report #1

After I sized the sketch of my Cupid Square Kat, the next thing I needed to do was get that little guy transferred to the board I'll be painting him on. But before I did that, I had to clean and prime and gesso the board to get it ready. So here's that blank canvas waiting for an idea.

And here's Cupid Square Kat drawn on it and ready to get a little color. You can click on the image to make it bigger if you can't see him.

Cupid Square Kat in the making

I decided it was about time I followed up on the holiday Square Kat thing I started last Halloween and, of course, the next holiday coming up will be Valentine's Day. So here he is, my Valentine's Day Square Cat Cupid.

I'm noticing that my Square Kats seem to be following a pattern of being a little stabby. Hopefully they'll grow out of it.

Wasn't there a windmill in Frankenstein?

Don't know. Can't remember. Not sure if I ever even saw the movie. I'm thinking I didn't. But I did see Frankenweenie, and there was a windmill in that one. I think. Maybe.

Anyway, I've been doing some drawings with colored pencils lately, and here's the one I finished today. I'm must have a soft spot for Frankenstein (Here, here and here). Such a misunderstood soul.

North Country Brewing Co.

A paper towel @ North Country Brewing Co., 141 S Main St, Slippery Rock PA.

Sharky's Café

My napkin @ Sharky's Café, 3960 Rt 30, Latrobe PA.

Square Kat #2: He Who Shall Remain Nameless

O.K. Having a little trouble finding a name for this Square Kat, but it will happen eventually. The first one was a little easier to figure out for some reason. Of course, I'm open to suggestions.

Leo's Pub and Grille

My napkin @ Leo's Pub & Grille, 202 N Diamond St, Mount Pleasant PA.

Ligonier Tavern

My place mat @ Ligonier Tavern, 137 W Main St, Ligonier PA.

The Rots wormed their way into an art exhibit

Somehow, somebody out there either has a sense of humor or has absolutely no idea what they're doing. I'd like to think it's the sense of humor thing.

Earlier this year I entered Orangatang into an legitimate art exhibit, and somehow he managed to get accepted into the show. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts holds a Regional Juried Art Exhibition each year at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Ligonier. This is their 16th year.

The image over there to the right shows Orangatang in situ at the opening, taken just to prove he was actually there. No Photoshopping or anything. Notice how I couldn't get even one person to look in his direction. They were too busy drinking. It was an open bar, after all.

Buster the Great

Here's a new Square Kat for you. His name is Buster, named after an all-black cat my family had while I was growing up. Yes, he had an attitude. He would hide under the open stairs to the basement and wait for anybody who walked down to swat at their ankles through the stairs. And somehow we never cut his claws. In hindsight I suppose that was a mistake on our part.

Buster, to the relief of most everyone involved, isn't with us anymore.