a mirror image...

it was half past 8 in the Batcave....

Jason Embury — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:03:00 GMT

it's actually half past 9, roughly. Have a completely insane weekend coming up here, not much time for sleep. Have a ton of work to get done (a TON), have a ton of family stuff going on, a back yard that needs mowing...blah.

so, I wrapped up colors on Take A Chance issue 2 on Tuesday, been working on some newsletter comic coloring for an energy company in Canada and that's due next Thursday, and I've got to start really cranking out pages for Dragon Cross issue 6 starting today. That's all the stuff at the top of the list since it's what pays the bills right now, but here's something ELSE coming soon.....

"me and my friend made a comic book and guess how long it took?" well, it doesn't take long because that's all that me and my friend do, is make comic books. So, I'm pretty sure that this coming Monday, June 9th, will be the launch of our NEWEST comic <em><strong>RISE OF THE FLOBOTS: ARCHITECTS OF CHANGE!</strong></em> So yeah, this is going to be an OFFICIAL comic project for one of the absolute HOTTEST bands out there right now period, <a href="http://www.flobots.org">the Flobots</a>! If you're hungry for a GOOD webcomic, if you're hungry for CHANGE in the comic world, they you absolutely can't MISS the debut of Rise of the Flobots. Brought to you by the two newest Flobots, Flobot 13 and Flobot 22. DJ Coffman and myself, are going to be bringing the same voice of change that the Flobots are bringing with their music to the comic scene. These are going to be stories about YOU the people, about a new direction, a new AMERICA, a new HOPE. We've got a TON of surprises in store, an amazingly intricate backdrop of sub-plots that are going to be woven into the stories of REAL people. It's time to leave behind a lot of the archaic ways things have been done before, and just start blazing a NEW trail. Social commentary is about to COLLIDE full force with the energy and creative power of bomb. <a href="http://americawillbe.com">"If you've got a dream and a lot to do, put your hands up!"</a>

More to come on that, but believe me, this is going to be BIG.

<a href="http://americawillbe.com">AMERICA WILL BE!</a>

Online store is LIVE finally! Canvas prints available now!

Jason Embury — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:28:00 GMT

Finally found a good printer to produce my digital paintings on canvas in spectacular fashion. I've spent the better part of 6 months looking for just the right place to produce high quality work, at an affordable price. There are only 2 paintings up in the store now, however I will be producing on average hopefully 1 new painting each month (maybe every other month) for the rest of the year, most fantasy or sci-fi based works, branching out into different color schemes, themes, etc.....

Visit the store now!

So, the store is now live. High quality canvas prints are available on matte canvas, gallery wrapped and constructed with sturdy wooden frames. Vibrant inks, fade resistant up to 100 years. I'm also going to be offering commissions on various themes, genres, etc....so if there's a particular type of painting you're looking for, feel free to get in touch for a custom quote.

Visit the store now!

A sneak peek from some art for the new Rise of the Flobots webcomic.

Jason Embury — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:16:00 GMT

coming soon to a monitor nearest you. art and colors by me.

This was done for the new Flobot webcomic DJ and I are working on getting launched soon for those guys.

Rise of the Flobots: Architects of Change

Jason Embury — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:02:00 GMT

so, my partner in crime DJ Coffman, announced what top secret project X is that he's been working on the past few weeks, and I thought I'd share a link to <a href="http://www.djcoffman.com/tikibar/">what he has to say about our new venture Rise of the Flobots: Architects of Change.</a>

It's going to be something special for sure. The first few stories that he has outlined already are neat little ideas that really pull at your heart strings in some cases, and in other cases just make you mad as hell. Changing society, making people think for themselves, and interpret their world through their OWN eyes is something that we should all be conscious of as artists. It's a responsibility that we have to use our art with a purpose. so when DJ asked if I'd be down to work on this Flobots webcomic, I couldn't resist. Their message is pretty much exactly up my alley, and reversing that downward spiral that society seems to be on is important to me. People dont' like the truth no matter how you sugar coat it, which is why I never sugar coat anything. Lots of times people may not like what I have to say because it's TOO honest. But I always come back to thinking, WHY would you want me to lie to you or tell you something that I don't believe. I've learned there are times to keep my mouth shut, and other times I get too riled up and open my mouth anyways when I SHOULD keep it shut. But bottomline, change only comes when you can be honest about what it is that needs to BE changed, and take the steps to accomplish that.

So yeah, "me and my friend made a comic book..." and pretty soon, you'll be able to follow along with the stories of everyday people, and their messages of change and hope. I'll end with a little something I wrote up for this project yesterday, that you'll likely be seeing soon once it goes live.

    “Somewhere in the darkness a faint light is being born.
    Somewhere beyond thought a powerful message is being formed.
    Somewhere in the deepest recesses of your mind a lost or forgotten sense of purpose is waiting.
    Somewhere, someone..is broadcasting a message just for you.
    Is your mind open enough to receive the signal?”

This is a story about you, me, your brother, your cousin, and everyday people. About how we've seen enough of the same old crap, and what happens when you awaken yourself to what's REALLY going on around you. Just wait until all of these REAL stories start being told, wait until the hope they inspire starts spreading, and I personally can't wait until all of those stories start being interwoven with the HUGE backdrop and subplots that we've started kicking around too.

So go out and pick up a copy of the <a href="http://flobots.com/">Flobots</a> new album, start spreading the word that the Revolution of the Mind has begun, and get ready for CHANGE!!!

It's good to be alive in such a small world.

Jason Embury — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:13:00 GMT

"I know how to run a business and I could make you want to buy a product, movers, shakers and producers, me and my friends understand the future, I see the strings that control the system, I can do anything with no resistance...."

Today is a day of change I think. I can feel it. All weekend I've been stewing on how broke everything is right now. There is no stability left anymore it seems. Chaos is taking over all facets of our daily lives, not just here, but all around the world. Change starts on a personal level, then moves to the immediate area around you, becomes local, then regional. I'm pretty much DONE with standing still, and as much as I BELIEVE that you need to let things happen around you and accept life as it comes, there comes a point when you need to stand up and BECOME the change that you want to see in the world.

"and it feels so good to be alive and on top, my reach is global, my tower secure, my cause is noble, my power is pure...."

rollercoaster ride? or a mystical game of chutes and ladders?

Jason Embury — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:46:00 GMT

wow, I don’t know if my life is stuck in a proverbial and sort of mystical projection of a game of chutes and ladders the last 2 weeks or not, but it sure does feel like I’m on a huge game board right now, and the Universe keeps letting me climb up one of those ladders only to find myself sliding down a chute a day or two later. It’s been insane.

So I’m back to coloring things today, and REALLY focusing on painting and coloring this week. I’ve started the wheels in motion for my own large scale, undoubtedly overly ambitious, possibly completely unrealistic project the past few days as well. So far so good. I’m still ironing out the best way to present things and utilize the screen space as much as possible. I’m NOT the best web designer when it comes to implementing all kinds of code and stuff to make the most functional site. But I have been able to utilize iframes and some simple navigation and stylesheets as much as I probably can. Now it’s a matter of getting the updating and “look” of everything just right before I start putting up content. I have plenty of content to get started as well, probably a good 4 months worth of material already ready to go. I just need to find those extra few hours each day to fit in, and right now, they just aren’t there.

Been busy pursuing some other avenues here as well, I’d really like to try and shift more of my work online as opposed to being strictly a print industry colorist. I see lots of successful and semi-successful things out there that makes me think I can bring a lot of my own flair too.

for those of you that read the blog on a regular basis, I had been forced to make the decision to leave the coloring duties on Hero By Night last week. It was the RIGHT decision to make logically. One of those decisions that you make with your head and know is right. Well, over the weekend, seeing how upset my kids got when they learned I wasn’t going to be doing the book anymore….I made a decision with my heart. And sometimes, you need to listen to your heart instead of your head. This is one of those times I’ve realized. So thank you ALL, for your emails, phone calls, and kind words. It’s funny to me to have so many people actually CARE about me and to recognize my contribution to something like that. It’s not often that people in the print industry of comics care so much about someone as far down the totem pole as the colorist. Heck most companies STILL don’t include the colorists name on the covers of their comics. the interesting thing being, comics aren’t colored anymore really. They’re painted. So to ignore the fact that someone is in reality PAINTING work on a book, is a disservice to that artist really I think. And I really do appreciate everyone who not only recognizes my work, but goes out of their way to get in touch and tell me what a fan they are of my work. (and a little hint, for all you fans, you may be able to actually purchase prints and paintings of my personal work in a few months if you’re so inclined )

That is all. I need coffee, and I have some Hero By Night pages to color today

cracks in the walls, and holes in the floor

Jason Embury — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:10:00 GMT

Been a pretty shitty week. The digital canvas prints I had done arrived this week, and turned out TERRIBLE, so I got in touch with the printer and they made excuses about this or that, and are reprinting but I won't hold my breath. I'll have to just suck it up, crack out the tubes of paint and my brushes and touch up the canvas traditionally (which is going to take likely as long to do as it took to complete the ENTIRE painting in PS) YAY!

As if that was a great thing, I pretty much may have to just swallow my pride and drop out of the upcoming exhibit I was invited to display at the end of May because I can't freaking afford to get any more work around to put in (the mixed media piece I damn near when into town to get my 40x36 canvas for and some other supplies on Wednesday is just going to be too expensive now to finish) So THAT has me pretty frustrated.

Also, I've had to drop 2 of my books, and one of them is something that I nearly and dearly will miss, Hero By Night. Not everyday that you get to work on superhero books in this industry, unless you work for Marvel or DC, and this was an amazing superhero book. The reviews we've been getting for the last year and a half have been nothing BUT stellar. Looking at major reviews sites, seeing the weeks books reviewed, and watching HBN be the highest reviewed book over stuff like X-men was a great feeling. Knowing how successful it has been online was even MORE of a jolt of cool. We really wanted to see it on it's OWN site, supported by ads, because that's how it could have made the most money, but just knowing that we've had more readers each month than stuff like Batman has been an enormously cool thing to be a part of. All the emails from fans, the interaction on message boards and comments with them, talking to dads and moms and kids and EVERYONE at all the conventions that LOVE the book...it's been a great thing. So yeah, my hands were pretty tied, and I was basically FORCED to make this decision yesterday. Doesn't help that DJ Coffman, creator, writer/artist and all around comic book guru, is probably my best friend. So to the Universe right now, I'm saying, "you damn well better have something better in store for me right now cuz THAT really sucked!" I'm thinking that what that something IS, is for me to focus more on my digital painting and to finally get around to launching my OWN project that I've been working on for a long time. I just don't know if the timing is perfect yet, because I'd like to pay my bills and mortgage this month before I start leaping off a cliff with something that has no guarantee of making me any money right away. I am going to focus more on that though, it's part of my new direction I want to take my work so maybe this was just the final nudge that was needed (even if it felt like getting SHOVED off the cliff instead of jumping of my own free will)

So now, my Dabel Bros. book is on hold as I wait for an inker to be found and get me pages again, hopefully it won't be an entire month, my only other book, Dragon Cross at Big City Comics, is going through some major changes as after issue 5 the co-creator and artist left to pursue other things, and they had to find a replacement and scramble to get things moving. So THAT book has been in limbo for almost 3 weeks now, not exactly sure when pages are going to start rolling in. Billy Dallas Patton is onboard as penciler though, so I AM excited to work with that guy, cuz I love his work, but yeah.....more waiting game.

Yesterday and ilkely most of today, will be spent scrambling myself. I have a lot of bad fortune to recover from here in short order, or things will just blow up by the end of the month. I need to find more work, bottomline. I know this, and knowing is half the battle right. The thing being, I can't wait 30 or even 60 days to be paid for said work. So most of the time I work on 50/50 terms, but the sad reality is that most comic publishers don't PAY on those terms, it's 30-60 days (if that) I've always prided myself on how well I perform under pressure (even though I secretly HATE IT) and now I'll guess I see if I can make magic under some of the most intense pressure I've been under in years here.

I need more coffee, and maybe a shot of Baileys in it today.

----------------
Now playing: <a href="http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/the+cure/track/letter+to+elise">The Cure - Letter To Elise</a>
via <a href="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/">FoxyTunes</a>

new site, new direction

Jason Embury — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:39:00 GMT

the portfolio site has been updated with the start of the new direction that I’m planning on heading in here in the studio. New colors, simpler (I hope) navigation, and a soon to be expanding digital painting section being featured. The first of my new canvas prints is scheduled to arrive today via Fed Ex, so I’m eagerly awaiting that. Hopefully all will be in order, and I’ll be getting another one set up for printing and delivery this afternoon. I’m pricing and comparing canvases this morning for my mixed media piece I need to start. We found this great iron grill at an antique shop last weekend that I’m going to mount on painted canvas and do some nifty double framing kind of stuff with.

Also, I’m weighing options this morning. Every artist goes through times where money is tight, and right now, money is TIGHT. It’s closing in on being dangerously tight, and problematic actually. So I need to get creative here, without getting stressed somehow, and find a way to get some money in here in the next 2 weeks. I’m already lying awake at night trying to brainstorm things to do here, and thankfully I’m not being worn out by it yet, just worn down.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m not terribly high strung or mean spirited. I’m actually a pretty nice guy, who is fairly patient, and helps people out to the best of my ability most of the time. However there is also the part of me that knows when enough is enough, and realizes that being nice doesn’t always equate to being successful. I’m honest and upfront, sometimes to a fault. I speak my mind, and don’t really kiss anyones butt. Which again, doesn’t always equate to the best decision. But you know what you’re going to get with me, and you’ll know where you stand. It takes a lot to earn my respect, and when I respect someone, I usually tend to give them the benefit of the doubt when things happen as they do to all of us. However when something happens once it’s forgivable, when it happens twice, it’s understandable and forgivable, when it happens 3 times it’s starting to become a problem and you’re on your last leg with me, more than 3 times with little in the way of explanation and then I’m close to being done with you.

I’ve run my own business for 5 years now, improving my profits and success each year. I haven’t done that and been able to make a living being self-employed in one of the worst state economies in the country by making too many bad decisions. I’ve changed my company focus numerous times, from web design and graphic design, to marketing and advertising, to illustration, to business consultation and brand management, to comic books and concept art. I always manage to find a way to be profitable and somewhat stable while growing my business. Doing that does not come about by making too many bad decisions from which you can’t recover. When you’ve in a situation where things are not going well, you have to persevere but you also have to look at ways in which you can adapt and improve your standing. So that’s what I’m doing now. And I’m hoping that my next decision is going to be a good one.

Artistic Vision

Jason Embury — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:15:00 GMT

so every one of my books I'm coloring is on hold for one reason or another right now. I spent the weekend away with the wife for our anniversary and also contemplating my future artistic focus. Also spent the latter part of yesterday, and some time this morning doing the same thing-trying to figure out what direction to take. Every move that I've made the last few years has worked out eventually for me, and has met various levels of success. I'm not worried about branching out, or changing directions really. After all, art is art. Whether it's comics, painting, mixed media, writing, whatever. It all amounts to the same thing, expressing your creative voice and telling a story. I seem to be able to do that in a few different mediums, all with varying degrees of competence. Right now, I'm getting togheter some digital paintings for an exhibit next month, working on a mixed media piece (paint and iron on canvas, ) as well, and also picking some pen and ink drawings I have framed to go in said exhibit. Versatility isn't something I'm afraid of, and actually, it's probably one of my strengths as an artist. That, and selling myself. I'm not bad at talking up my work and BACKING up that talk. So I'm going to go with the flow here, speak my mind, follow that artistic voice wherever it leads, and see what happens. I'm not really afraid, I think it's more anxious/nervous kind of excitement more than anything. that whole, starting a new job feeling that you get sometimes. Of course, money is nice too, and I need to be VERY conscious of that, but I think that will work itself out for the best as well. Being timid doesn't ever get you where you want to go. Fortune seems to favor the brave and bold. So holding yourself back isn't a good option, but is a simple trap to fall into. I think in some ways I fell into that trap for a while, and I've been holding myself back. It's time to turn the table, break that mold and get some things done i think.

Holding my breath

Jason Embury — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:10:00 GMT

well, I’m holding my breath collectively with a co-conspirator this morning. We’ve officially jumped into the deep end now with a proposal and there is no going back. I have such a good feeling though, which may amount to absolutely NOTHING in the end, but I am just amazingly proud of the work we accomplished in roughly 24 hours. It’s a complete, polished, professional looking project.

In other comic news, I have 3 pages left to color today in the studio here, and then I need to start inking like a madman the rest of the week here so I can get into colors on my next book by Friday or Saturday. whew…. I’m going to try and maintain my levels of sanity over the course of the next 4 months, but having 4 books going at a time here for the next 4 months is going to be challenging.

Order Hero By Night issue 4 for only .79 CENTS (with FREE shipping)

Jason Embury — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:32:00 GMT

I can't say much more, .79 cents for the full color, 32 page, issue 4 of Hero By Night from Platinum Studios Comics. You can't find a superhero comic ANYWHERE that cheap. It's 32 pages of high quality, (beautifully colored if I may be so bold) compellingly written, superhero GENIUS for less than a dollar. the best part, FREE shipping. If you're like me, you're spending over $5 just to drive to and from your local comic shop. why not get FREE shipping and get yourself a little extra each month. Heavyink.com now offers 20% off of EVERY single book or trade collection at their site, and free shipping on ALL orders. You can start a subscription to all of your favorite titles (like Hero By Night for instance) it's easy to sign up, and it's where I'm buying all my books from now on as well. Check it out, and order your copy of Hero By Night for less than a dollar!!!!

Morning musings

Jason Embury — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:26:00 GMT

yesterday was a crappy day motivationally, until after dinner. Today, I'm completely jazzed. Been working away at wrapping colors on a book due next Wednesday, I'll likely be done a few days earlier at my current pace. Been inking pages here as well this week, and been burning some midnight oil to fit in some super secret project that DJ and I are pitching, I mean working on as well. ahem... needless to say, this project is pretty fun to be working on, and hopefully one day in the near future, we'll be able to start sharing a whole new universe of stuff with people. We're both pretty jazzed about the possibilities, and if I'm being totally honest....it's pretty top notch stuff. So today I have 2 more pages to get to from the Big Badz mini, if not 3, then I have a page to ink, and 2 more pages of pure AWESOME to start coloring, and a new website to start setting up too and doing graphics for. I'm glad that I'm energized enough today to tackle this stuff.

As Gerard so wisely pointed out yesterday to me, all I needed was to have my tummy start rumbling for honey and I would be sure to find my way again, just like Pooh bear. Sorry, you have to have had little kids in the house at one point to understand the Winnie the Pooh references I guess :D

Lost in the shuffle.

Jason Embury — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:55:00 GMT

Been a strange couple of days here. I'm getting myself ahead of deadlines here this week, not sleeping well though. My thoughts have been greatly distracted by exploding planets, spaceships, dark alleys and lights in the night sky. Probably too much comic book information to process or something. Today is one of those days as an artist, where I'm questioning everything I've ever done, everything I'm trying to do, and everything I am doing right now. Not a good feeling as any artist will tell you. I keep coming back to the conclusion that I'm either destined to keep spinning my wheels and getting by comfortably, or that I'm destined for even greater things. However it's that unknowing, nagging feeling of uncertainty, that is hanging over everything like a giant rain cloud right now. Most days I'm firmly convinced that it's the "destined for something greater" route that I'm on, but days like today, I can't help but think that the path I'm walking on that is being obscured by heavy mist is in actuality the path that winds round and round itself with no beginning and no end. I know that's not the case, but I'm having a hard time processing it today. It's an overwhelming feeling really, and something that I can't really explain well, you either "get it" or you don't. All I know is that really good coffee seems to help, as does losing yourself in your work. I just wish ALL my work was easy to lose myself in. Back to hunching over the ol' Cintiq and hoping for a miracle today.

workin' for the weekend

Jason Embury — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:04:00 GMT

lots to do this weekend, and if I manage things properly I might even be able to help the wife paint the lower level of the house too. Although I took a good day and a half off here this past week moving furniture around to accommodate our new TV in the upstairs family room, and putting together a big ass bookcase for the wife too. While I'm not 16 anymore, it's nice having a younger brother that lifts weights and IS almost 16 to help out :D Otherwise 300 lbs of bookcase would have surely put me in the emergency room just looking at it in the box. K, covers to color today, and a book to jump into yet as well. Sadly, I'm going to likely have to be sending out a notice to all the publishers I've worked with in the last year or two on covers, with the news of me having to raise my cover rates. It's not obnoxious by any means, but I also am going to start offering a pretty good rate I think on digitally painted covers as well. We'll have to see if that means my cover work dries up, or if it means that people will actually start paying more. I'm going to be optimistic and say that I think it's going to be the latter here. Also, I'm trying to find time to write a review on my Cintiq 20WSX that I got about a month and a half ago now. The short is that is amazing!

Nothing too deep to think about.

Jason Embury — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:29:00 GMT

Not really a lot of deep thinking here to blab about this morning. I've got one page to go on an issue I wanted to wrap today, then I have some more high rez to upload. I have to start the Hero By Night #5 cover today too which should be good fun. The best news is, I was supposed to have jury duty this week, but when I called last night, there are no juries being put together today or tomorrow at least, so I don't have to go until at least Wednesday if then. The kids have started their spring break here, so hopefully there won't be a ton of fighting and stuff going on. Opening day for baseball is today, so I may sit them in front of the TV at 1 and tell them to watch the game and behave. Despite feeling like crap last week, I still have my deadlines under control pretty much here I think now. Lets hope that stays that way and that I can get a bit ahead to give myself some much needed breathing room here. rambling thoughts today really, so it must mean it's time to get back to work and start having some fun here.