Issue 182

Hello,

I went to Los Angeles last week to attend Lightbox Expo, and to spend some quality time with a few friends I don't get to see very often. I'm very happy to have met so many new people at the table I had at the show and super grateful to have sold a bunch of books and stickers. The trip was paid for after the first day! Lightbox Expo was incredible, so many inspiring artists and experiences. I'll be riding this creative high well into the new year.

Here's 5 things I thought you'd find interesting this weekend.

Enjoy!

STAYING IN THE LOOP:

• Patreon: Lightbox Expo Recap: LINK​
• Podcast Episode 179: Help! My Client Never Paid!​
• Podcast Episode 180: The Human Touch​
• My final Inktober 2023 Drawing: LINK​
• Recent sketchbook page: LINK​

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1) Disney Lorcana

From the Special Projects Unit

For the last couple years I've been working on a bunch of Disney illustrations for their new card game Lorcana.

This project has repeatedly taken me out of my comfort zone. To the point that I don't know why I was contacted in the first place. Sometimes, I wondered why I agreed to this job!

As you know, I don't typically paint my art, I just slap cell-shade style color on everything and call it good.

However, I've been learning SO MUCH from looking at everything the other Lorcana artists have made over the last couple years I've been doing these. I've also gotten a lot of great direction from the art directors.

I guess that's why I said yes to this, I wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone and do work that made me scared.

These are the first 5 that have been revealed and there's more to come!

Disney Locana: LINK​

PATREON: If you want to see ALL the sketches, reference material, and prelim drawings I'm doing that go into the creation of drawings like these, become a patron today.

If you sign up this month I'll give you any of my digital artbooks of your choice. Just DM after sign up and I'll send you a download link.

You also get a 15% discount in my shop, and at the end of the month some patrons get all my working files to learn from and pick apart. Sign up here: LINK​

2) Expired Mansions​
​From the Architecture Desk

I found this incredible photo album on Flickr of abandoned mansions and castles around Europe. They are the work of photographer Benjamin Wiessner. There's not much online about this guy that I could find in a cursory search, but there's plenty of photos of vacant, decrepit buildings and awe inducing locations attributed to him.

I love urban (and in this case sub-urban) exploration. Creeping through abandoned places, piecing together why these ghost homes were vacated fills my mind with stories and things I want to draw. When I can't do it in person, I live vicariously through people like Wiessner who generously share the wonders they see with us.

Check out 75 more expired mansions in his Flickr album here: LINK​

3) DWJ's Grungergetic Vader Short Story

From the Comics Division

Possibly my favorite creator from the last 10 years, Chicago based comic artist Daniel Warren Johnson is getting tons of heat (the good kind) right now because of his Transformers book that he's doing for Image/Skybound.

We are just one issue into the Transformers story, and it is dynamite already, like ALL of DWJ's books, but I wanted to direct your attention to a short comic that might have missed your gaze: "Annihilated" from the Darth Vader: Black, White, and Red series that came out earlier this year.

​Felix Comic Art posted the original scans from DWJ's story on Twitter, and it's a great tribute to the greatest villain in Star Wars.

DWJ does artisanal comics which means they look just as good (if not better) as raw scans versus fully colored and printed.

You can see more of Daniel's work on his website: LINK​

Youtube: LINK​

IG: LINK​

4) Alex Braun's Magic Paintbrush

From the Illustrators Division

Wanted to point your attention to a new up-and-comer I found on Twitter, then had the pleasure of meeting briefly at Lightbox: Alex Braun.

It was the gecko archer that initially caught my eye and I had to see more, and BOY was there more. I love the DnD world he's building out, the dinosaurs, the colors and rendering. I think he found a magic paintbrush or something, becasue his work is beautiful. Good stuff. Keep an eye on this guy.

Website: LINK​

Twitter: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

5) On your art's purpose

From the Inspirational Thought Unit

I saw a recent IG post from an artist I follow who had been off of instagram for a bit. Essentially, he was off the platform to recalibrate and get back to making art for himself and not for likes and attention. He points to social media as being an unhealthy place for young artists because of the focus on likes as a measure of self-worth, the problem with comparisons, and a false sense of community.

I applaud this artist (Jake Morrison) for taking a life moment to step back and come at his work in a healthier place. Reminds me of this quote:

Count this as your reminder for the day to stop making art for the algorithm and make art for people, and for you.

The artists I most resonate with aren't instagram artists (though they might post there), they aren't witty on twitter, or youtube click-baters. The artists I love are the one's who I've met in person and/or have spent hours with their work in my hands and mind.

Figure out how you can provide that experience for people and I think you'll lock in a solid following for your work and be happier as a creative person.

That's all for this week. Thank you for reading this newsletter and hope you have a great weekend!

-Jake

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