Friday night after work Nicki and I attended the summer Broad Avenue Art Walk.

It happens a few times a year (next one will be this fall) and has many of the shops, studios, and galleries on the block participate.

This time there was live music and dancing performances outdoors.

This time at the West Memorials gallery (my day job) we had art and photographs by three artists.

Paintings and folk art by Alex Warble.

Carousel photos by Nicole C. Perugini.

And poster art by Tom Foster.

That’s Tom.

We had a great turnout!

After enjoying some wine and cheese at West we headed east up Broad.

After checking out several spaces that way we came back down to Hollywood and over to a photography studio…

and caught a glass blowing demo across the street.

It was a lot of fun to watch, and we’ll have to go watch her play roller derby sometime!

It started to get late so we headed back across the street.

Then called it a night.

The next day Nicki headed over to Comics and Collectibles for their “Not At Comic Con” day. Picked up my pull list comics, a Joker Toon Tumbler glass, Nicki a Star Wars: Clone Wars trade, took a free shot of Red Bull, entered a Dark Horse contest, and picked up a couple passes to Scott Pilgrim for next week. After that we headed to Micheal’s to pick up some canvases for my upcoming art show and by Books-a-million to do some shopping. Nicki kept me updated on all the comic con news as we drove around. Watched a bit online when we got home (Gail Simone, Buddy Christ, Bender, and protesting Baptists all in one video- only at San Diego!) and some on G4 (not  lot of comic book coverage- much like San Diego). It was a great “Not At Comic Con” day, just didn’t see as many celebs as I normally do in San Diego.

Congrats to my Bushi Tales partner Dave Beaty for getting the chance to sign at the DC Comics booth on Saturday!

Lin

Let’s fix that!

Tim Brown and I headed up on Thursday afternoon, and as usual Timmy and I stopped at Lambert’s Cafe in Sikeston, MO.

Timmy happy! He had the hog jowls- or as I like to call them, “bacon on steroids”!

We got there just in time for the opening ceremony/skit.

It was funny as always!

Artists Alley/Writers Way was jumpin’ as always. That’s writer Josh Elder with Superman (Josh Boultinghouse).

Comics legend and Guest of Honor Carmine Infantino with Nicki Howe.

Me with my Bushi Tales partner and DC Comics artist and guest Dave Beaty.

My Bizarro painting found a good home.

We got to see the unveiling of the new Noel Neill/Lois Lane statue.

Papa Cliff drove Noel to the statue plaza in his Studebaker.

The statue was created in Utah by the same folks who created the Superman statue and now stands just up the street from it.

I got to meet the statue artist/sculptor Gary Ernest Smith.

Down at the chamber of commerce on Saturday Traci and Nicki inducted guest Sam Witwer into the Memphis Star Ward Fan Force.

Sam stars in the Star Wars: Force Unleashed game and comic, as well as in SMALLVILLE on TV, along with co-star Laura Vandervoort.

Laura, who is a martial artist, too- said she’d love to play Kimiyo in a Bushi Tales movie! (Did you hear that, Hollywood..?!)

Both Sam and Laura couldn’t have been nicer, but they both gushed when Trevor Hawkins presented them each with one of his paintings of them.

Friday and Saturday nights in AA/WW we had a showing of Superman II (with producer Ilya Salkind) and Fan Films sponsored by Inked Monkey.

As usual it was hot again in Metropolis- so hot some might have sold their soul for a Big Gulp!

But the heat and humidity didn’t stop the costumers from coming out in force.

The judges had a tough job again this year- tons of great costumes were entered!

The winners! Best Clark/Superman, Best Lois, crowd favorite (Doomsday), best hero (Steel), and best villain (Lobo).

Best group- The Avengers

The Avengers’ secret weapon- Tiny Thor!

And proof that cloning does exist!

Nicki and I had a great time and look forward to being back again next year.

Hope to see you there!

Lin

Nicki and I did a bit of “speed tourism” and fit a ton of sightseeing, con-going, visiting with friends, birthday celebration, and even a bit of a family reunion all into one week.

We flew to Phoenix for Cactuscon (Phoenix Comicon) where we met Stan “The Man” Lee and ate at Alice Cooper’s restaurant Cooper’stown, drove up to Prescott Valley to Dave and Micah’s for the night, hiked in Sedona, stopped in Jerome, visited Glenn Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, had ho’made pie at the Thunderbird Restaurant in Utah with my folks on Nicki’s birthday, oohed and awed at Kaibab National Forest, ran into two fellow Memphians at the Vermillion Cliffs, saw a dust devil in Cameron, and were blown away by the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

We even managed to get engaged between all that!

I popped the question as Beetlejuice after emceeing the art auction at Cactuscon on Saturday night- which also happened to be our 1yr 9mo anniversary!

We went down to the Hard Rock with Dave and Micah after the auction and had some celebratory drinks and dinner.

It was a great night!

Pics from Cactuscon’s Preview Night and our flight to PHX up next…

Lin

Yesterday was a busy day. It started off with me working on some cartoons for our vet’s new web sites, then we walked down to the A’Fair down in town square here in Hernando.

Started it off with a footlong corndog and a lemonade for breakfast. Man that was good! Bought a bag of pork rinds, some Banana Butter and Piña Coloda jams, and some cool flattened wine bottles that are wall art and a cheese cutting plate. We decided to try the new Italian restaurant Vennie’s Place for lunch and decided we’ll definitely be back for dinner soon.

Then after lunch we adopted a new kitty- Harley! (Named after Harley Quinn from the Batman rouges gallery- she’s got a white face and black mask, and is very mischievous!)

We got her at the DeSoto County Animal Shelter‘s adopt a pet booth- same shelter we got Zayne and Jarael from.

We saw Harley (then “Tillie”) with her sister “Millie”, a cute gray cat with markings similar to Zayne’s. I thought about adopting Millie, but decided to walk and talk about it some more with Nicki. I thought, “Ok, if she’s still there after lunch when we’re ready to go back home I’ll get her.” Well, when we got back I saw Millie being adopted by a little girl (with her face painted like a cat) and her mom. I went over to the trailer and saw that Tillie (our future Harley) was still there.

She came over to the window and then began to play. I didn’t feel bad about breaking up the two now and knew she was perfect for us. Apparently a lot of other folks felt the same way because they stayed busy filling out adoption papers, doing shots, and micro-chipping many of the animals there.

We took our Harley home and she and Jarael started chasing each other all over the house. She’s a real cutie and a great snuggle-kitty. So far she and Jarael have gotten along really well and are respecting each others’ space.

Well, except for when Harley trespassed in Jarael’s “escape pod”  and Jarael had to dish out some kitty smack down.

Later we left the kids at home and headed to downtown Memphis for the “Escape From The Asylum” art show at Marshall Arts, just down the street from Sun Studios.

It’s a Batman themed art show by artists John Bullock, Jamond Bullock, Patrick Fabor, Tony Brown, and Joseph Boyd.

John A. Bullock and his Jokers.

Digital Catwoman by Tony Brown.

DaMarco checks out one of Patrick Fabor’s Scarecrow drawings.

Nicki with Jamond Bullock’s Harley Quinn painting.

Poison Ivy Pumps by Joseph Boyd.

We had a great time looking at bat-art and talking comics with everyone.

Although I felt a bit overdressed with my bat-hat.

More pics from the show on my Facebook page.

Show continues through May 29th.

Now if you will excuse me I have a new kitty to go play with.

Lin

Got some cool news. I was interviewed for a new SIVAD/TN horror hosts video this week.

Jerry Lawler, Adam Shaw, and some of SIVAD/Watson Davis’ friends and co-workers were interviewed, too. It was a lot of fun and painless. As soon as I hear anything about its release I’ll pass it along.

Got a few of my paintings professionally shot this week, too.

Bela

Bride

Vincent

Looks like I’ll have another shot in October. Working out the details. As soon as I have the dates I’ll post them here.

Going to have to buy a new compressor- mine died from my last show!

Type at ya later,

Lin

Lots of great events happening this weekend paying tribute to Watson Davis, also known as SIVAD- local horror host of “Fantastic Features” here in Memphis back in the late 60′s and early 70′s.

I’ll be a part of a horror art show at Adam Shaw’s studio (2547 Broad Avenue)  this Friday, March 26th from 6-8pm.

Fellow MSCA members Adam Shaw, Greg Cravens, Kevin Williams will be showing their SIVAD and horror tribute art, as well as comic artists Dean Zachary and Jim Hall- and artist/wrestler/former Memphis mayoral candidate Jerry “The King” Lawler.

Beast Wishes!

Limb

Here are a couple of his new projects that are coming out soon-

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #7 (OF 7)

On Sale FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Written by JAMES ROBINSON; Art by MAURO CASCIOLI with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY!

This is the big one! After the catastrophes seen in issues #5 and #6, a hero loses control, leading to an unexpected ending that will fundamentally change the lives of the World’s Greatest Heroes forever. This issue launches a major storyline in the DC Universe and is not to be missed.

TITANS #23

On sale MARCH 17

Written by EDDIE BERGANZA

Art by ANGEL UNZUETA with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY!

Spotlight on Red Arrow! As Roy Harper lies in critical condition after the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #5, his fever dreams show him the perfect future life he wants for the Titans. Unfortunately for him, it’s a life the Titans will never see.

Be sure to stop by the Bushi Tales table at the Pheonix Cactuscon this May to see what else Dave has been up to.

Hopefully he’ll be able to announce what else he’s got lined up soon.

Congrats, Dave!

______________________________________________________

Lex Luthor For Sale

If you’d like one of my paintings now’s your chance!

I originally did this to show at the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL a couple years ago, and ended up donating it to the HERO Initiative art auction at the Phoenix Cactuscon. Noel Neill (the ORIGINAL Lois Lane) was kind enough to sign it for me before the auction (she starred with Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns).

Well, it’s back up for auction- this time on ebay by Brandon Ladd Burkey, owner of Crossroads Entertainment Co., LLC. and the guy who bought it in Phoenix. Minimum bid is $200 and apparently you get one of my sketchbooks, too.

Best I remember this one is approx. 2′x3′ and it’s airbrush acrylic on canvas.

______________________________________________________

PHOENIX OR BUST!

Speaking of PHX, it’s official- Dave and I have been listed as guests for this May’s Phoenix Cactuscon. We’ll be there with Micah and Nicki and are looking forward to checking out the new con digs!

Oh- Noel Neill will be there, too!

Hope to see you there-

Lin

Where did the year go..?!

I had some great times and some not so great ones, but made it through and am really looking forward to 2010. Lots of plans and projects in the works- so stay “tooned”!

Thanks to Nicki for helping me with my new websites, and special thanks to everyone who has visited here or ComicWhore.com. Hope you keep coming back to check them out. Also, big thanks to everyone who came out to my art show at Adam’s, stopped by my table at cons this year, or visited the haunt.

Hope to see you all next year- cheers!

Lin

The second part of the interview Wonton and I did with Shawn Pryor and Jon Carroll for The Black Box podcast is now available. We talk more about digital comics, distribution, web comics, Jetta, Bushi Tales, my B/W art show and Comic Whore site.

KOTOR Kitties

Our recently adopted kitties Zayne and Jarael were recently mentioned on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic author John Jackson Miller’s webiste “Faraway Press”. JJM is a former Memphian and is a comics/writer guest each year at Midsouthcon. He’s written for things like the Comics Buyer’s Guide magazine, comics (Star Wars, Iron Man, Indiana Jones), role playing games, and does a web comic called Sword & Sarcasm. If you get the chance to catch one of his panels do, or if you see him running around with his short box of comics at a con stop and pick up a few issues from him. Be sure to tell him Lin and Nicki sent you!

I got the blues for Christmas!

Friday night Nicki and I attended the First Annual Broad Avenue Holiday Art Walk. (That’s a George Hunt original behind us.)

Artist George Hunt had a showing at my day job West Memorials.

George and his wife were on hand (that’s George and me above), as well as several other folks like Greg and Paula Cravens and there sons Gideon and Corey (Paula had a photography show here in October), and Jim and Christina Hall.

We all enjoyed some great art, delicious eats, and some cool blues in the gallery.

Nicki and I walked down the street and checked out a few other participating galleries and studios. It got a bit cold outside so we headed back up the street to my work, talked a bit more with friends, and then headed home.

Had a great time and can’t wait for the next art walk- hopefully it’ll be in the spring.  Until then, I guess this Friday night’s art show at MSCA member Adam Shaw’s studio will have to tide me over. It’ll feature some of Adam’s art as well as others at 2547 Broad Avenue here in Memphis.

Type at ya later,

Lin

We inducted local Star Wars comic artist Jim Hall into the tribe this weekend.

SMT/Suspicious Mind Trick members Tim Brown, me, Nicki Howe, and Traci Brown (Rhonda Platania and Mike Peltonen not pictured) made local artist Jim Hall and Honorary Member of the Memphis Star Wars Fan Force.

Jim was signing copies of his latest comic “Star Wars: Purge- Seconds To Die” at Comics and Collectibles here in Memphis.

Jim had some original comic art on hand for folks to check out.

He also had comic scripts there, too- so Tim, Traci, and Nicki finally got to see a John Ostrander script in person.

SMT president/Memphis Star Wars Fan Force Chapter Rep Nicki “Darth Sunshine” did the honors of presenting Jim with his official certificate for his wok on Star Wars comics Purge and X-Wing Rogue Squadron.

The first Honorary SMT Member was Billy Dee Williams. Since then Star Wars comic writers John Ostrander and John Jackson Miller, comic book artist Dean Zachary, and fan Anakin Grayson Wade have been inducted here in Memphis.

Speaking of Honorary Members, Dean Zachary (artist on Star Wars:KOTOR) stopped by the shop to check out the signing (and talk about Wonder Woman with Nicki). He and Jim both have been doing comics here for years now for Dark Horse, DC, Marvel, and more!

Congrats to Jim, and welcome to the tribe- MTFBWYA!

We’ll have a Blues Christmas on Broad Avenue!

Time for another “first annual” Broad Avenue Art Walk-

This Friday, December 4th from 6-9pm, George Hunt will be the featured artist at West Memorials (my day job- 2481 Broad Ave.). His show “Blues on Broad” will be part of the First Annual Broad Avenue Holiday Art Walk. George is well known for his great blues/jazz/Memphis themed paintings. (Imagine if Picasso had grown up as the son of a southern share-cropper.)

Works by more than twenty local and national-based artists will be featured at studios and galleries in the area including Odessa (2613 Broad), T Clifton (2571 Broad), MetalWorks (2537 Broad), Splash Creative (2574 Sam Cooper Blvd.), Wilmot Originals (1615 Broad), and Studio 2557 (2557 Broad).

The walk occurs in the area bounded by Sam Cooper Blvd. and Broad Ave., between Hollywood and Collins Street just off Sam Cooper Boulevard. In addition to the all the art, participants can enjoy food and drink specials at The Cove (2559 Broad) and Broadway Pizza (2581 Broad), as well as music by blues band Darren J. and Blakkat Bone and refreshments at West Memorials (2481 Broad).

For more info click here.

Type at ya later,

Lin