Star Wars Sketch cards and Collectors Expo Wrap Up. ...And 100th Post

   Yes, that's right, 100th post, and for me, that's something. (I'll post more about that at another time)

Getting right to it, I just thought I'd say a few words about this past CECE convention in Chicago. I was there all 3 days, although Sunday was short for me as I had a plane to catch. It was a really good show and I had a great time seeing friends and people I haven't seen in awhile or have even met before. I sat next to John Czop who I haven't seen in ages and the Tosers were behind us. (These show pics were supplied by Harris from Nonsport Update, Thanks Harris!) It was a fun section. The second pic Randy Martinez stopped by and chatted for awhile. It was cool meeting him and Denise Vasques, and all the other artists were very friendly as well. The Celebrity dinner and presentations were very cool too and I'm so glad I went. I can't recommend this show enough, you have to attend.

   A special thank you goes out to Paul and Diane (and Cherie).  True class acts and some of the best people I have the honor of calling friends. They really know how to treat their guests and make you feel like your not just another name on a list. Most conventions I'm stuck behind my table the whole time, I don't eat well, I don't get much sleep, and I'm a waste product by the time it's over. This show is different and they make sure you eat and they go out of their way to get you what you need when you need it. On top of that, what they do for charity work is down right moving. The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation work they did and auction they had set up was inspirational. Thank you for being such good people.

  Speaking of the Charity Chest auction, here are the Sketch cards I did for the Treasure Chests. Working with Topps, they were able to get the OK to do official Star Wars images on the sketches. Seeing as how I've never done any before I thought this was a good time to start.

  So for all the emails asking me to post them, here are the 9 Star Wars cards I did for it.  

Hope you enjoyed them.

Later

WM

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Warren Martineck

Chicago CECE Convention Next Weekend.

This is a reminder that I'll be attending the (CECE) Chicagoland Entertainment Collectors Expo being held on Sept 9th-12th 2010. I will have many items for sale and will be taking commissions all weekend. I'll be selling items like prints and sketches and will also be making available Sketch cards from my personal collection. All from many of the sets I've worked on over the years.
Specifically, where & when I'll be: (times may vary)
Friday Sept 10;
  Con; 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Saturday  Sept 11 -
  Charity Celebrity Breakfast 8:00 am - 9:00 am (Tentative)
  Con; 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
  Charity Celebrity Dinner 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm (Tentative, I may do just the dinner or the breakfast)
Sunday Sept 12
  Con: 9:00 am - (between 12:00-2:00 pm)

Contact me now if you have any questions or want to pre-order a commission, I'll take as many as I can handle with the time and the work load that I have before the con.
Email:  artwork@warrenmartineck.com

Thanks to those who have contacted me already and hope to see the rest of you there.

Later
WM

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Warren Martineck

CECE Promo Card Development #1

  As I think I've mentioned in an earlier post, I will be attending the the Chicagoland Entertainment Collectors Expo (aka; CECE & the Nonsportcard Expo) for this years 10th Anniversary show. I did this show back in 2003, had a great time, and I'm really looking forward to returning for another go. (Gas up the van Cherie!)

  One of the aspects of the show is you get to design or supply them artwork and they will print up your own promo card in advance of the show to be given away when the show is open.
Here is the one I did for the 2003 show.

It's not often I get to post about jobs I'm working on or that are in development because more often than not, the companies won't let you show any artwork, post or talk about details until stuff is officially announced. But with this promo, I thought I'd post about the whole process while it's happening... because I can.
  So I need to get some full color artwork done, "non licenced" and something original of my own creation, and sent in by the end of July so they have time to print up the cards. I'll probably also need to come up with some kind of description and/or bio for the back of the card. I hate writing those things.

  At this point I have no clue what I'm going to do.

...and that's about as much time as I'm putting into it right now as I need to get back to work and finish this comic first. But I will be posting further about this as I progress and keeping this up to date.

Later
WM

p.s.  Not that I'll do whatever anyone chimes in with, but if there are any suggestions out there, feel free to add your $.02. (email or post)

p.p.s. I thought I'd also post the Promo card I did from the Philly Show.  "Cap'm Blood"

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Warren Martineck

The Boston Comic Con Report.

Time for a little review of this past weekends Boston Comic Con.

Having the name "Comic Con" attached to your title is a hard thing to live up to, especially when your only 3 hrs away from New York and there are really big Cons with that in the title. It wasn't as big as the New York Comic Con but it wasn't a small local con either and it's only in it's 3rd year. I have no clue of the numbers that came through the door, but I do know I was busy all weekend. Although Saturday was busier than Sunday, I did equally well for both and was very happy I attended this year. I noticed an large number of costumed patrons at the show and I'm not sure if it had something to do with it being so close to Halloween or from the popularity of it from shows like Dragon Con and San Diego. I was a bit surprised there was little fanfare, reviews, or news about the show before or afterwards. Not even a mention on Newsarama which usually over-covers these types of shows to death.

Other than the last few hours on Sunday, I basically sat at my table drawing all weekend chiseling away at my sign-up sheet and sucking down Diet Pepsi's. Being a comic convention I did more comic sketches than PSC's but it was expected and welcomed. I met a lot of new fans

(which is the whole point of getting out of the studio) and the

commissionees all seemed very happy with what I sent them home with. I missed some and a couple were unrecognizable but here are a few of the commission pics I took, a Clint Eastwood "Hand Em High", and a Jonah Hex.

I also did a color Dark Phoenix

PSC for Bob Almond to go towards the Inkwell Awards funding of a scholarship for the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in which I attend a few long years ago.

More on this card and how you can get your hands on it in an upcoming post. Bob and I go way back and it's always good to see him and his family and he was only 2 tables over.

Although I didn't get out of the artists room I was set up in, (There were artists everywhere, this room, that room, down the hall, in the hall, and filling up the entryways) I sneaked out every once and awhile to catch a stretch and visit with buds I haven't seen in awhile Like Norman Lee and Mark McKenna. I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to but I got to talk with Walt Simonson for a bit . (Thanks to Jan for taking the pics and yelling at me to smile more.)

Norman Lee and I...

...and here's Mark McKenna who created a great childrens comic called Banana Tails that my son just loved.

The info I got on the next Boston Comic Con, in which yes I have signed up for, is that it's moving to a new and larger place next year. The Westin Boston Waterfront in April. It's much bigger and when you've got names like Jim Lee and Mike Mignola already signed on, you need a big place.

So there it is. A great show and I'm happy to be writing about it now. I've had a good and successful time at the past couple of shows and I've got the convention bug again. So it looks like I'll be hitting up a few more shows this coming year and hopefully hitting places I haven't been to yet.

Until then,

later

WM

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Warren Martineck

Boston Comic Con This Weekend!

Yes, it's the Boston Comic Con this weekend and I will be there both Saturday and Sunday. Much like this past Philly show, It's been a few years since I've done any shows in the Boston area.

From looking at the list of confirmed artists, I'd say this is going to be a big show and I'm really looking forward to it.

Hours:

Sat 24th:

10:00 am - 5:oo pm

Sun 25th:

10:00 am - 5:oo pm

I'm hoping to get to draw some extra stuff before hand to bring to the show, but at the least I will be taking commissions and have books and limited prints for sale also.

Commissions: I'm also accepting Pre-Orders of commissions for the show. Just email me and I'll have it before the show or at least have you at the top of the sign up sheet.

Hope to see you there.

Later

WM

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Warren Martineck