On The Slate - Cowboys & Custom PUFFED

Whew! Things have been crazy this week, with NYCC coming up fast! Today we've got snapshots of a lil' warm-up cowboy painting I started. Stuff like this is nice to get my mind set on "draw and paint" mode. More and more, lately, I've been trying to intertwine both disciplines into one form/style/aesthetic. Forcing myself to hand paint as many of my current jobs as possible is helping. Nothing like a deadline to make you lock down a technique and haul ass!

Second, is a customized copy of PUFFED (written by John Layman, illustrated by myself) that I just sent off to a collector in San Francisco. I derive an odd pleasure from drawing all over the books folks order from me. I think it goes back to my childhood, when writing in library books and textbooks was absolutely forbidden. Well take that, Sister Mary Margaret! Look at me now!

"Treat it like boxing -- Stick and move! Stick and move!"
- Dave Gum.

BOOTY & THE BEAST Food One/King Gum limited edition art print

Since we're both on a constant mission to bring you the freshest in freshness, Jim Mahfood (aka Food One) and I have joined forces to rock a brand new collaborative art print.

Aptly titled "Booty & The Beast," this limited edition giclee will be premiering at the New York Comic Con, in two weeks. Food One and I are doing a super-limited run of these, so don't sleep. We're currently accepting pre-orders for all you early birds and those who won't be attending NYCC.

For more details and a look at the sparkly fruits of our inky labor, visit www.hiredmeat.com

"'Course you can but you don't wanna... 'course you want but you can't have it."
- Dave Crosland, aka King Gum

On The Slate - Blotter Doodles and YGG

Today's "On The Slate" features my take on the imaginative inhabitants of Yo Gabba Gabba, plus a look at the sloppy blotter paper I keep on my desk. I think it might be time for a fresh sheet....

"You gonna get money like Barry White!"
- Dave Gum.

The Scribble Alliance - "Don't Hold Your Breath: Nothing New From Brian Ewing"

I woke up today thinking of how many of my friends are these amazing artists. And a lot of them are bustin' their asses to create some of the freshest work on the scene. With that in mind, I'm starting a new segment called "The Scribble Alliance," where I'll give a nod to my colleagues and their latest works. This is a bit spontaneous, but whatever. Let's see where this train goes....

First up is heroic draftsman and rock poster superman, Brian Ewing.


This summer, Dark Horse released his superfly art book "Don't Hold Your Breath: Nothing New From Brian Ewing." This slick, hardcover volume collects nearly a decade of Brian's work, from his punk posters to his epic work with The Warped Tour.

Ewing's art evokes a world of terrifying beauty, where lovely women and delicate creatures are cloaked in thorny symbols of doom and danger. Skulls grin like switchblades and zombies get all pervy. With such a rich and unique visual language, it's no wonder Brian has created art for the likes of Metallica, The New Yorker, Bad Religion, Detective Comics and so many more.

The book is a fine piece of publishing, designed by the artist himself. It's presented with a delicious, spot-aqueous-happy hardcover. Along with gorgeous, full-color plates and photos of finished art, the book is also brimming over with sketches and a running "director's commentary" by Brian and a heapload of colleagues (including Tara McPherson, Dave Johnson, and COOP).

Whether you're a poster art enthusiast or just a random fan of pretty pictures, this book is a keeper. It's an excellent crash course retrospective on the early career of a successful young illustrator, that will leave you hankering to see what he comes up with next.

To read more about Brian's book, visit Dark Horse or Amazon.com . Also, dig this video trailer for the book -- "Don't Hold Your Breath" trailer

"I don't know karate. But I know ka-razy."
- Dave Gum

On The Slate - Hex-a-Sketch!

What, you thought I was fallin' off? Been cooking up all sorts of visual treats in the lab. I mean, hell, I've got a new sketchbook to finish in time for NYCC, right? Enjoy this lil' peek at my Halloween eye candy!

"I am the first black astronaut to walk the bare moon, from my air balloon."
- King Gum.

On The Slate -- Loaded .45 Commission

Today's On The Slate is brought to you by the The El Michaels Affair's "Enter The 37th Chamber."

- Sunday Gum.

On The Slate -- Portraits and Predators

Up early with a lil' Grizzly Bear, Soul Position, and Samurai Champloo.

"Pleasuuuuure, HOOOO!!!"
- King Gum Crosland

On The Slate -- Band Portrait Pencils

Today's installment features in-progress shots of a commissioned band portrait. Lately, I've been trying to keep the energy in my drawings nice and loose. Despite some of the harder lines, what I'm going for here is freedom and motion. I find that this keeps the subject matter exciting and in flux, right up until I lay in the last bits of finished line work.

"We went from 'Do you want more?' to 'What you want NOW?"

- Gum.

Customized Graphic Novels for Sale

For the first time in years, I'm offering most of my library of graphic novels from Image Comics and IDW for sale on my website. As an added bonus, I'lll be customizing each book. That's right, people -- fresh comic books with convention style sketches, mailed right to your front door!

So if you're missing a piece of your collection, looking for a good Easter present, or just wanna help fund my debilitating paint marker habit, visit www.hiredmeat.com and get your order on!

B-Boys, not bullets.

- Gum.

On The Slate -- Customized Books Abound!

I'm just grooving along, customizing some books for orders, and preparing a new web update. Woot!

"... fun, fun, fun, till her daddy takes the T-Bird away!"

- Gum.

On The Slate - CBGB Story Done!

I just wrapped up "NO FUTURE," my short story with R. Eric Lieb for the new CBGB anthology series at BOOM! Studios. I'm super proud of the art I created for this, especially with it being my first sequential work to come out since Everybody's DEAD. And trust me, folks, there's a lot more on the way!

For now, enjoy these sneak peeks, and look forward to more on the issue's release in the next month or so.

"Dynamite! Dynamite!"
- Big Gum Stud