a new year, then.

much has transpired over the last few months between my grandmother’s death and my father’s hospitalization and continuing rehab.  it’s sometimes overwhelming, but with the much appreciated help of my wonderful family and friends, i’ve managed to keep on moving.  my wife has been especially amazing.

that said, thirteen is the only project that has managed to progress due to its portability.  i carry it with me up and back between the tattoo parlor and home in an awesome new case i grabbed from pearl (art store) in their death throes.  at this point there are only nine pages of pencils remaining.  after i’m through with that, jason and i will decide which sections of each issue should be inked for our next presentation.  we’re also going through the other issues and tweaking things every here and again.

my poor painting projects are sadly neglected.  i wave to them in passing through my studio at home.  hopefully i’ll find a slice of time for them in the near future.

this year is going to be interesting to say the very least.

here’s a two page spread from issue six of thirteen:ties that bind.  can’t wait to ink this insanity.  keep in mind, this is just a photo from my phone.

all fall down

trying to figure out some kind of schedule of deadlines to get myself in line with projects, mostly the paintings.  they’ve been elusive of late.  suppose having my dad in the hospital has been distracting me a bit.

thirteen's hero, wren sadun from issue 6, "All Fall Down"

i’m currently working on pencils for the sixth and final issue in the first run of thirteen:ties that bind.  it’s a double-sized issue that culminates in the showdown between our cast of heroes to be and the evil that plagues the fictitious town of canyon park; ultimately setting the stage for the ongoing series.  i’ve been told by folks that have viewed it that it reads like a movie.  jason and i are very happy with how it’s developing.

my wife jen has written a draft for a children’s story we’ll be collaborating on.  hoping to start sketching for that early in the new year.  not that i’m biased, but it’s pretty awesome.

i tried to make a spooky little doll. (go ahead and laugh).  it wasn’t an abysmal failure, but it wasn’t quite a success either.  next attempt soon.  once it’s done, i’ll post pictures.

worlds without end is still up and available for sale.  see the link in the previous post if you are interested.

worlds without end release

at the moment, worlds without end is available for sale on lulu.com- link below.  it will be available through amazon and borders some time in the next 2-6 months.

i’ve stolen glen’s words here:

3 Years in the making, 63 Channels publishing is proud to announce the new Illustrated novel by 63 Channels owner/editor Glen Feulner & artist Shawn Dubin. to buy, go to : http://stores.lulu.com/63channelspress
Here’s a blurb about the book:
She is a nameless orphan, abused throughout her youth and imprisoned for the supernatural abilities she’s not supposed to have. On her 18th birthday, she uses her powers to escape and make a life for herself in a new world. When she witnesses the destruction of that world she moves on, unaware of the relentless evil forces following and the endless cycle of devastation she will endure.

Here’s what critics are saying:

In Worlds Without End, Glen Feulner and Shawn Dubin have created an apocalyptic multiverse rich in mystery and clouded with an oppressive supernatural foreboding. Feulner’s evocative text allows readers to peek behind a horrific curtain, revealing oblique glimpses in the shadows it casts that would have been dispelled by more concrete explanation. Dubin’s cinematic monochrome illustrations perfectly support that mood, at times shockingly tactile, at others sweeping into imaginative fancies suggestive of the bleakest of fairy tales. Together they’ve crafted an expansive mythology dense with world-altering struggles, twisted eroticism and fantastic powers treading the boundary between sci-fi and fantasy.
- Shaun Brady, Journalist

—————————————————————————————–

I was given the opportunity to review Glen Feulner’s Worlds Without End, and I immediately sat up to take notice from the very first sentence. Here is a remarkably fresh voice in horror: this is a highly original work that brings fantasy and dark dreams to the surface in the form of the most beautifully descriptive prose I may have ever read. I found myself wanting to take my time with Feulner’s work; to savor the fluid movement and the depth of his creations.

As I said, I took notice from the very first sentence, which reads: “She was from nowhere and everywhere; a child of multiple worlds, never really raised but inspired by each piece of contact, no matter how brief.” What a grabber!

Worlds Without End comes in sections. Part One is more of an introductory explanation of who this unique individual is, done in a narrative style. It is interesting enough to hold my attention and it made me want to know more.

But it is in Part Two where the real excitement starts. Switching to a first person account, we begin seeing through the protagonist’s eyes. Glen Feulner has the gift of making the reader feel empathy for the character, and I found myself rooting for her.

This is the most original and creative book I have read in a long time. The elements of horror are there; but this book will appeal to lovers of science fiction as well. The protagonist is able to go through doors in time, some to worlds in apocalypse; others to places dark and haunting. The talent that Feulner possesses (besides the beautifully fluid prose) is that he is able to make all of this believable. It works.

Something truly amazing about Worlds Without End is the artwork. Its distribution throughout the book is generous, and this is a good thing, because artist Shawn Dubin is simply awesome. Beautifully drawn with intricate details, Dubin’s pictures are stunning.

All in all, Worlds Without End shines because of the combined talents of both Glen Feulner and Shawn Dubin. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. Or two.

-Jeani Rector, Author, :”Open Grave” and “Around A Dark Corner”

etsy shop launch

as i mentioned, i went ahead and set up an etsy store ( http://shawndubin.etsy.com/ )showcasing a number of original pieces from dreary and naughty as well as some smaller pieces i put together this year.  check it out.

happy friday the 13th!

and for my next trick…

just got back from new orleans with my wife as we celebrated our second anniversary.  i’d almost forgotten just how much i love that city.  the maison marigny was our home away from  home for four days- a great little place.  we walked from one end of the city to the other and back again a few times over, ate many delicious meals, took in some time with good friends, and saw many spectacular sights.

before leaving:

the art fair was not a bad experience.  sold a bunch of dreary and naughty merchandise, but only one of my original paintings. guess the atmosphere wasn’t right. in the end, a small profit was made.  this left me thinking about getting a table at a horror convention next year to see if i fare better/ setting up a store for myself on etsy.  will update if/when the time comes.

upon returning:

still no word from the first in our line of comic book companies.  preparing to send the presentation along to the next one.

in other news, i’ve just finished pencilling issue four of thirteen:ties that bind.  here we see our hero standing outside the haunted house that issue five takes place inside.  fun coincidence that i get to draw the haunted issue as halloween approaches with fresh images of new orleans burned into my mind.  only two issues to go before i go back and start inking this leg of the series.

halloween paintings will once again commence now that i’m not scrambling to get (other) little cute things finished.

on a lighter note…

it’s my happy-giant-fun-sellout-extravaganza in moorestown, nj this weekend with my friend chuck.  we’ve gotten ourselves a table for the “Autumn in Moorestown” street fair on saturday, october 10th starting bright and early and ending some time around dinner.  i’ll be selling original matted work in ink and water color- sixteen pieces in total.  i’ll also be selling dreary and naughty laser mach prints, books and dolls (if they let me).

here’s a preview of a few of the pieces that will be up for sale.

presentation ready/proof of book received

so, as you can see by the title of this post, i’ve gotten the presentation for “thirteen” printed, stapled and ready to mail.  the folks at the printer’s place (126 s. 16th street, phila, pa 19102) were quite helpful and offered insight for making future projects less stressful.

in other good news, i received my proof copy of “worlds without end” with glen feulner.  once we approve it and get other official book things in order, it will be available for sale.

the presentation will be mailed out tomorrow.  wish us luck!

moving along

earlier this week i finished my donation for inliquid’s 10th anniversary event ( http://inliquid.com/benefit/).  the auction is anonymous, so i won’t be posting my image until after the event out of respect for that.  it’s not my usual style of painting, but fairly interesting nonetheless.

the thirteen presentation is now in the hands of (i hope) able minded printers in center city.  if it works out, i will post their information here alongside a mountain of praise.

issue three pencils for thirteen are five pages short of being finished.

from thirteen issue three

looking into acquiring an agent.

update/rejection letter

got my first official rejection letter from a publisher of books.  full of lots of nice words, but a rejection nonetheless.

a quote,

” The time and effort you have put into your proposal are much appreciated.  We realize you have gone out of your way to create something intriguing and innovative, two qualities we look for when considering new projects”.

back to seeking out publishing houses that accept unsolicited material and possibly some kind of agent.  just keep swimming…

found a printer in town that says they can accommodate the thirteen presentation.  i’ll be heading down to them in the next week and sending that one out post haste.

finished pencils for issue two and started issue three.

once again, if all else fails, self publishing will be up to the plate.

packages sent

i have finally finished and sent a package out to publishers containing both “the untimely endeavor” and “land of broken dreams”.  i’d say that it’s time to start worrying, but as jen reminded me i have to get the “thirteen” package finished and pushed out the door first.

speaking of which, i’ve been moving along steadily with issue two of “thirteen:ties that bind”.  sixteen pages pencilled and counting.  once finished, i’ll get back to a few more halloween paintings and who knows what else…