I'm very busy

But then again, I think we all are. Never-the-less I'm still going to tell you about it.

As you man know I'm working on my 'creator-owned' book called Flying Fortress. I've been penciling this book for over 2 years and I'm in the middle of our fifth issue. With the wrapping up of that issue, I'll be pushing my very first trade paperback collection as it should be in print by the end of May. Very exciting stuff. I've also recently been hired to pencil another series called We Ourselves. It's a story about the Irish revolution as if it were still going on to this day. Exciting stuff. What's not as exciting is that each of these books needs to be finished by the end of May. Not too much of a tall order because I know that I can do it. Fortress is already 7 pages in, but I still have to help ink, and fully color and letter the book. We Ourselves, thankfully, is a book I'm only penciling. I think it's great that I only have to handle one part of the production instead of most, if not all of it.

I ramble... Over the past several months I've been kicking around ideas for a new book. I don't want to give too much of the story away, but it will be based in WWII. It will be based in and around D-Day and what the soldiers of that time went through on all sides of war. I plan on making it a very literal rendition of what it's like in the infantry. I served in the infantry for 2 years before being sent home for medical reasons. I never went overseas and I'm both happy that I didn't go, and a little upset that I missed out. Not sure why, fully. This book is currently planned on being done as a web comic and formatted for the iPad and other e-readers. There are still months worth of work before I put my first stroke on page 1, but it's something else I'm working on.

I've also been tinkering, over the past few days, to start doing a daily sketch again. Nothing too crazy, but I'd like to keep my chops up with warm-up drawings every morning. I've tried it in the past, but hadn't really had my heart in it. I think things have changed in my mentality towards creating. I really enjoy it now. I love the process of drawing. It's taken many years, but I learned to love it. Back when I first started out, I hated the process, I only wanted a good final product. If something wasn't turning out right I would toss it. Now I erase, and fix and explore. It's much more enjoyable for me to work, so I think a daily sketch would be a good challenge for myself. But, do I start it while I'm slammed on these two books? Do I need it if I'm already drawing so much?

On top of all of this, I have a full time job. It's the best job I've ever had. I'm a stay-at-home-dad. While my awesome wife goes to work everyday to bring home the proverbial bacon, I kick it with this tiny person who's not even 2 years old yet. If you don't have children, I don't think you can fully understand what a challenge it is to stay at home with them. My days are filled with watching PBS, feeding him cheerios and changing diapers (though I think potty training has started). What few moments I have to draw are best taken when he's asleep. Though, it's not always easy as I stay up till 2 or 3am most nights and during afternoon nap-time, I like to indulge in one myself. On the days I do dare to draw while he's awake I'm on constant guard. If I leave the desk for a moment, chances are Elliott will have climbed into my chair and started 'helping' me draw. If I do get some scribbles in, I'm in constant threat of being barraged with toys or, even worse, drinking cups that tend to be hurdled at me when he wants a refill.

One more thing. I'm going to post more of my artwork here again. It IS my blog after all. That's what you're all here for, right? So, would you like to see daily sketches, or do you want me to post more of what I do on my comic pages each day? Comment below and watch the magic happen!