neurotic-elf

Draw Into The Shadows: Internationally Acclaimed Transmedia Project Holds Portfolio Reviews At Bristol Comic Expo
by Barry Nugent


"In order to build a credible portfolio of work and prove you can put out work professionally you have to have a crack at doing it non-professionally to professional standards. Unseen Shadows creates a platform on which you can do that." - Steve Penfold (artist on Fallen Heroes, Unseen Shadows: Reverend: Wrath of God, Moon and OMEN in Overload)

Unseen Shadows unseenshadows.com/ is currently inviting submissions from artists (pencillers, colourists and inkers) for a number of stories.

I will be reviewing portfolios at the Bristol Comics Expo (12th -13th May) www.bristolexpo.co.uk/ from the Unseen Shadows table throughout the weekend. If you cannot make the show this year, or would like to send submissions in advance for discussion on the day please send an email to barryATunseenshadowsDOTcom but please do not send any files over 5mb by email ( I realise that this may mean the images will be in low res but that's fine). If the files are bigger than this please send a dropbox or largefile transfer link.

"The Unseen Shadows "universe" is truly interesting and I'd like being involved within it, watching it expand. Working with some really nice and talented people is also a great incentive." – Valia Kapadai (artist on Unseen Shadows: The Immaculate Abortion of Dina Leigh).

The stories in progress at the moment cover a wide variety of subject matter, and it is originality and quality that I'm looking for rather than any specific genre or art style. I would rather have something unusual, challenging, inventive, creative, and inspired than another version of something that is already out there. The writers who are currently scripting the stories will be working closely with me to select the artists we need.

"Barry is a gentleman, absolute pleasure to work for. And as an artist, working for Barry not only provided an excellent work environment, a stable of the finest writers from the small press scene, but the opportunity to invest in and expand on one of the most interesting and diverse comic universes." – Rob Carey (artist on Unseen Shadows: Band of Butchers)

There are no page rates available for Unseen Shadows work. Creators are offering their skills for free at this stage in the hope of this becoming something bigger and, of course, for love of the material.
All money taken from sales is put back into the company for further development and promotion. Right now consider this a way to reach an international audience as part of an already very successful transmedia project.

"I had so much fun working with the professional and inspirational team on the last exciting story!" – Vicky Stonebridge (colourist on Unseen Shadows: Band of Butchers)


What do you need to show me?

I need to see sequentials as well as pin ups (unless you want to be purely a cover artist – which is fine, but let me know that).

What formats you work in – traditional media, digital etc.

Whether you work in colour or black and white.

If you are submitting to be an inker or colourist then we need to see copies of the underlying pencils as well as your work.

Finally one of the most important things is to let us know the length of story to which you feel you can realistically commit. Unseen Shadows has comics projects of all different lengths from short stories to graphic novel length books.


I appreciate that indie artists are showing incredible dedication by working on their comics alongside day jobs and other commitments, but if I like your work enough to publish I will work with you to agree a schedule that suits all parties.
As an indie creator myself I appreciate that making submissions can be difficult and nerve-wracking. I will look at everything I receive, and although it may take time, respond to everyone. The important thing to remember is that your work may be great, and I may personally love it, but it sometimes will just not be what I'm looking for right now, but I will keep your details on file for when I need that just that style.

"It has been an absolute pleasure, even when I pulled the diva move of wanting to change the look of a character halfway through drawing a series I was met with nothing but complete understanding and cooperation. The team are absolutely amazing to work with." – (Cormac Hughes artist on Unseen Shadows: Stolen)

If you would like to see examples of some of the Unseen Shadows projects to date, to get a feel for the type of styles that have been used, and the levels of technical expertise needed, have a look at these previews www.facebook.com/pages/Unseen-… the preview from the Fallen Heroes Comic Adaptation unseenshadows.com/comics/falle…. Don't feel constrained by what you see. The Unseen Shadows universe is vast and I will be needing lots of different styles in future.

"I'm actually returning for a third tour!  Haha, anyway. It was a huge learning curve, in which I learnt what I can and can't do in terms of sequential pages and learnt how to streamline my work flow and style into a far more professional sense and style. – Gat Melvyn (Colourist on Unseen Shadows: Fallen Heroes #1, #2 and Unseen Shadows: Wrath of God)

Have a look around the website to explore some of the other transmedia elements that are being developed.

If you have any questions beforehand please get in touch at barryATunseenshadowsDOTcom

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Take a look at some of these links to see some of what we've already achieved here at Unseen Shadows:

Tales of the Fallen Reviewed on Ain't It Cool News unseenshadows.com/2012/02/02/t…

Jonathan Ross Provides A Special Introduction for 'Tales of the Fallen' unseenshadows.com/2011/10/20/j…

Fallen Heroes becomes an Amazon Number 1 bestseller! unseenshadows.com/2010/08/18/f…

Fallen Heroes is the Number one Download Title for Free Comic Book Day fallenheroescomicdotcom.wordpr…

Fallen Heroes 1 Sells out at Kapow fallenheroescomicdotcom.wordpr…

Fallen Heroes Sells out Twice at Cardiff International Comic Expo fallenheroescomicdotcom.wordpr…

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HAPPY NEW YEAR fellow deviants !!


Let's just hope 2012 will be a much better year than the previous one !!



I personally have high expectations for 2012. I might also make some huge changes in my life . Maybe.
One thing will remain stable, my love for drawing. My love for comics.

Speaking of which, I have a few great news to share !!

The anthology "Bayou Arcana volume 1: Songs of Love and Redemption", in which I'm involved, drawing a story by Jimmy Pearson, got mentioned last week in the Guardian, as well as in a few more other newspapers and blogs from all over the world !!


"Bayou Arcana" will be published by Markosia in May, it will be officially launched at the Bristol Comic Expo (along with the other comic I'm illustrating "White Knuckle" by Cy Dethan), but you preorder your copy now through the Markosia e-store

www.markosia.com/wordpress/tit…

You can join our Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/groups/bayoua…

***

By the way you can still preorder a copy of White Knuckle www.myebook.com/index.php?opti…, by emailing me or Cy and enter the competition for an original painting by me

***

The cover for another anthology in which I'm involved, drawing a story by Ollie Masters, is also revealed and it looks AWESOME !!

check it out: whittlewaffle.blogspot.com/201…

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Last but definitely not least, I just got an awesome "gift" tonight, I got my very first nomination for the Eagle awards (as Valia Kapa), in the "Favourite Artist: Fully-Painted Artwork" category !!!!


I don't stand a chance, not even being in the final nomination list, and I have no clue who added me to the list, me but it's so cool !!
I'm super excited just by being there, among some of my favourite artists !!


You can vote for your favourite artists/comics here:
www.eagleawards.co.uk/survey/i…


Take care and keep being creative !!


~v~

Hello fellow deviants !!


A free preview of the first eleven pages of White Knuckle, out in May 2012 from Markosia, is now available on MyeBook.

Take a look.

Myebook - White Knuckle -
www.myebook.com/index.php?opti…

(Any suggestions and critiques are always welcome, needed and appreciated !!)



"Unforgiven meets Harry Brown - and strangles him."

Forty years ago, Seth Rigal was a man to be feared – a serial strangler with a string of victims. Now nearly seventy and tormented by a lifetime of monstrous violence, Rigal lives on the verge of poverty and quietly waits for the death he knows he deserves. Tortured and confused, still tormented by the drives that made him a killer in his youth, Rigal finds himself almost unconsciously stalking the daughter of his final victim – only to have his precious anonymity snatched from him when he accidentally saves her son's life. Seth Rigal, formerly known as the Gripper, just became a local celebrity.

The bodies won't stay buried any longer.


Story is written by the wickedly talented Cy Dethan, art by yours truly and letters are by Nic Wilkinson.

We have a White Knuckle Facebook Page where you can keep to update with what's happening as the book progresses, see previews of artwork and find out about the things that will happen for the launch.

Pre-orders will officially open next year but if you want to put your name down on the list now (no payment required until they open) then email cy[AT]cydethan.com.

Why would you do this? Well, the first 20 people to do so will have the opportunity to be drawn into the book as part of the Gripper's case files, and everyone who pre-orders will have the chance to win a piece of original art by Valia of the characters in the book.

All pre-orders get their copies signed by the whole team, of course.

We are hoping to be able to get some more goodies for those who pre-order as well - so watch this space for news!

Pre-order price will be £10 instead of £12.99 (+ postage of £2 UK or £4 rest of world or free to collect from the launch at Bristol comics convention in May 2012)


WHITE KNUCKLE

Writer: Cy Dethan www.cydethan.com
Art: Valia Kapadai
Letters: Nic Wilkinson
Publisher: Markosia www.markosia.com

**MAY 2012**










Take care and keep being creative !!


~v~

..but unfortunately, for some of us (especially here in the tiny Hellas) it doesn't feel like Christmas.

I truly hope things will get better, even though it probably won't happen any time soon.
Until then we'll keep fighting, keep being creative and patient and we won't let go.

If you'd like to take a quick glimpse of the Greek reality, you can check the latest short comic, written  by Elias Katirtzigianoglou and illustrated by myself.
It is on the Comixiade website: www.comixiade.org/site/archive…




On a more positive note, and as some of you might be already ordering gifts for you beloved ones, I thought it'd be nice to remind you about "Not Another Christmas Carole", a novella written by denlm, for which I had done some illustrations last year.



I'll copy Denise's latest journal:

"Not Another Christmas Carole" takes a playful poke at Dicken's weathered tale of a man short on one kind of holiday spirit, and haunted by too many others. It's funny, romantic, teary, nondenominational, has marvelous illustrations by popular dA graphic artist, Valia Kapadai—and is on sale now for as little as $5 in e-reader format. A perfect stocking stuffer.

Check it out on Amazon.com and lulu.com, in hard cover, soft cover, color illustration, black and white, and three digital formats to suit any tablet.

If you order your copy on lulu.com before December 6, enter the code "SLEIGHRIDE" and get free shipping!

Color Soft Cover: www.lulu.com/product/paperback…
B&W Soft Cover: www.lulu.com/product/paperback…

Synopsis:
Jasper "Kat" Petty has a case of Grinchitis. Most folks suffer a Scrooge-moment now and then, but for Kat, it's a virulent strain that has hung on for sixteen years.

In high school, young Petty had dreams of being a novelist tucked into one pocket and a national writing award stashed in the other. But that was before his Da died, leaving the family in financial chaos. Forced to give up college and take a blue-collar job, he now watches his friends start families while he struggles through a string of "Caroles" who love him and leave him in short order—nearly always at Christmas.

Enter: Chi, a comic devil who may or may not be God himself. The silver-haired eccentric with the wisecracking mouth and cockeyed view of living and loving shows Kat how to drop his prickly barriers and take one last shot at fulfilling his dreams—with of all things? Another Carole.




Take care and keep being creative !!


~v~