Pencils down

As a few knew, and even few saw, I was working to be accepted into the DC Comics Workshop in November which is the first step into acquiring a job with DC Comics. The workshop was open to all, amateur artists and professionals alike. Upon acceptance one would work alongside DC personnel among the likes of Andy Kubert and Jim Lee in Burbank, CA. This was an opportunity that would be a dream come true.

I failed. The deadline is tonight at midnight but I already know where I stand because I did not
complete the works needed to submit.  The submission asked for 5 pages and three had to be sequential artwork. DC even provided scripts to use for the sequential art. I did not complete them, therefore my submission would not be accepted. At the time of me writing this there would be no time to finish my submission therefore I fail be default.

I failed however I was not defeated. I failed but I failed forward. I say that because I learned something along the way. I learned about my time. My time was one of my most valuable resources. I learned who had respect for my time and my desire but I also learned who had some of the least. I can't point fingers at anyone and I can't blame anyone because the one who was always in control was me. I allowed myself to be derailed. I decided to sleep all day because I had a headache. I didn't turn my cell phone off. I have no one to blame but myself.

I'm reminded of the quote by David McCollough Jr, "Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”

I realized I enjoyed the process. Let me take this time to be honest for a minute. I tried to acquire a job in the comics industry when I haven't drawn much of anything in more than a year. Everything I did was a learning experience. Every step I took was new, be it setting up a comic page based on a script down to the needing to learn the characters. I'm not gonna lie, I don't read DC Comics, I didn't grow up reading DC comics. I don't really know the characters. Everything was a challenge and I had to work for it but I loved every minute of it.

During my time working I was grinding and I was grinding hard. I applied a lot of pressure to myself and I hated the person I was becoming. I was closed off and angry all the time. I wasn't easy to get along with. I was cynical and petty. I loathed every single day but it was worth it. We can't change and mold ourselves into what we want to be without pressure and chipping away at our old selves.

I'm free now. I'm free from working on a script from characters I care nothing and know nothing about. I'm free to work on my own art that inspires me, works and characters that I love. I passed up on two pieces that I wanted to work on at the time and now I am free to do so.

I have two things to close with.
One, my original script for this submission was gold. I filled up the dialog with words just to establish tone for the characters. It was crudely drawn because it was done really fast. I personally feel I would have had a lot more fun with it. That being said, I'll share it here.

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Secondly, this isn't my end in dabbling with that professional world of comics. I jumped. I had to. But now I know where I am, where my strengths are, and where they aren't. Next time will be different. I promise you this is not the end. "You don't have to be great to get started but you have to get started to be great" I have my own works to work on and I still have a future to strive for in comics and I will be relentless.

"Every Accomplishment...."

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try." - Gail Devers

Good morning folks.
So today I'm glad to tell you about a few things I've got in the works.

Recently I was asked to work on an comic for an online/print magazine called Nerdy Male to provide some kind of comic content. What does that entail exactly? Well, I'm going to create a story but I'm not sure if it will be all created by me or offer some kind of fan related stories. This gives me one of two opportunities.

One, provide a story about characters that you may already be familiar with. It saves me really from the majority of the writing because we are already far too familiar with these characters. In my head that will offer me an opportunity to offer stories based on either TMNT, MOTU, Thundercats, or Dino Riders. These are properties that I grew up with and would love to offer my own interpretation of.

Option number two allows me to offer something completely new. With this comes two offers which I will lay out for you. Atlantis. This story will tell the tale of Atlantis  and it's fall. This story will be completely mythical hopefully be a lot of fun. Secondly is an unnamed story involving mecha. Originally planed for a youtube animated series this one will come to you via print first. It will include a strong female lead. Think Transformers meets Mobile Suit Gundam. If you don't know what Gundam is then you may be familiar with Pacific Rim, aka giant robots.

While these may be on the back burner for the next couple of weeks currently I am working on not only an opportunity but also a dream.




My opportunity, I am working on a submission for the SDCC souvenir book. I have tried to update a current picture however I feel that it will not have the same semblance to me as the original I've done years ago. So I will complete my original digitally and submit for the SDCC souvenir book. If accepted I will offer it as a high quality print.





My dream comes to me from DC Comics. DC is currently offering a talent developmental workshop. I am submitting a 5 page portfolio. If picked I will begin a workshop in November and upon completion of the workshop, if I can make it though, may be offered a job with DC Comics. So here I am throwing all caution to the wind and pouring myself into this project. This will take up my time for the next several days doing the best work that I can do.

While this is just a beginning, unfortunately I don't have a lot to show. Hopefully that will change real soon.

So until next time


-Pat