Fil n Mantis Proofs!

Woohoo!  the comic book proofs came in.  So we are a go for the print run.  Everything is aligned, the cover is correct and everything is in the right order.  It means I actually will hit my Dec 2013 deadline I promised.  And that means a ton to me.  Here's a quick flip through

Spaced out!

Some sample page images from my Instagram feed.  I am near the end goal as I wrap up the final act of the comic book.  What a strange, hard, fulfilling, and magical adventure thus far.  I will have a postmordem when it is all said and done.  My mistakes, my surprises, etc.  Just thought I'd give the folks who don't follow me on instagram a few pics.

A time lapse video and a kickstarter

 That's right.  3 whole videos, for Free!  Just to promote my kickstarter and storyline.

There is only 38 HOURS LEFT!

We are already funded as so many people believe in the project, but there's still time for you to get in on it.  Art books, art prints, originals, You can be a faceless drone or there's still one package left to be an actual Evil Alien Henchman IN THE BOOK!

SPACED OUT LINK!

I try to give away most of my artwork here, to inspire and help bring a smile.  Please give a chance and click on the link if you haven't already.  I'd love to hit a stretch goal and add 10 awesome pages of concept art at the back of the book.

Don't forget, I'll be at Booth F-08 at San Diego Comic Con this July 18th-21st.

SPACED OUT LINK!

A comic page disected (animated GIF)

I still want to promote the Kickstarter project but also give you something else to look at and see.
Here is an animated gif of a page broken down from thumbnails to finished.  Hope you like.
Head on over to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2dbean/spaced-out-the-story-of-fil-and-mantis
We're at 93% with 6 days left!  Come on over and see what I've got cookin up!

1/2 way through Kickstarter and 72% funded!

That's right.  We are getting there and still there's time for you to help support the cause.  

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2dbean/spaced-out-the-story-of-fil-and-mantis

So here is what the support and funds get to do.  During the campaign I am going back and tweaking and fixing making the art and storytelling tighter.  Hopefully you can tell the difference.  I certainly can.  So please, head on over and support, tweet, facebook, and send out word to any and all!

The website for Fil & Mantis is here as well http://filandmantis.com/

I'll have more as the days draw closer on the Kickstarter and campaign.

 

Fil and Mantis website

The Bounty Hunter Ug here wants you to click on the new website for the Spaced Out project.  Concept art, Bio's of the characters, links to the kickstarter, and more are all here http://filandmantis.com/

The Newsletter of Brett Bean #2!

The Newsletter of Brett Bean #2!
Click above for the full Newsletter

Check out this artwork and more at the clicky!

Also a free tutorial on How I am making the art for the kickstarter!   Come join us for more aliens, bounty hunters, metaphors, and shenanigans over at the kickstarter!

SPACED OUT! THE STORY OF FIL & MANTIS

The Kickstarter video and already at 50% funded!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2dbean/spaced-out-the-story-of-fil-and-mantis

A good friend took the images and ran with it adding his own words.  I thought it was so funny I had to share!

The Kickstarter is LIVE! Spaced Out!

Hello all across the internet!  My official first ever Kickstarter is now underway.  I am beyond excited and happy to be this far along the adventure.  Please oh please won't you join me? 

SPACED OUT!

To be whisked away to learn more about the project, me, the video and lend some support in any way that you can.  Helping out on kickstarter is always appreciated but even if you only tweet, Facebook, or just plain yell it to someone I'd be enormously grateful.  I've been working on this in my off work hours for months and months and now that I am more than half way done I'd like to share it.  So head on over, more info aplenty.  C'mon, let's make it a quickstart!

THE STORY OF FIL & MANTIS

As always, thanks for joining me on this crazy ride!

Cheers,

Bean

Comic Page Directors cut

So, This comic has taken a bit of time I'm putting together.  Getting close enough to run a kickstarter campaign but a ton of great freelance and jobs have made the personal project slow at times.  Only so many hours one can devote creatively....  Since it's taken so long and I haven't worked full time on this comic the style and my general design sense has changed since I started.  I am now going back through the first 3 pages and directors cutting them up.  Here's s sample of the way I am changing and hopefully "fixing" the issues I see I want to fix.

8 months Ago

&

YESTERDAY

Hopefully you can see it too.  Getting there.  I ave about 6 fully unique stories in my head so hopefully after this one, if successful, I'll just keep going and transition into doing this on a regular basis.

Evolution of a page

So after I jot down a few notes in my handy dandy notebook this is how I make a comic book page.  Photoshop for the thumbnails and thoughts.  Manga studio for the lines then back to Photoshop for colors and wording.  That's how I'm building this up.  Page 45 of a planned 85 pages for this story.

On another note, and of course if you are still reading this, I want to make some online videos and tutorials this year.  I of course do not have software to edit so I am adding a donate button to any of you online folks who want to contribute.  All the contributions will go towards software and upkeep for tutorials.  I plan on doing some traditional ones and digital.  So here's the button.
This is my way of trying to keep it all free for the art community.
 If you have the means and the desire, click away.

If not, no worries, I still heart you

Either way, the tutorials will happen, this is just a way to hopefully get it all done faster.
Here's to an awesome 2013!

Cheers,

Bean

So What's Next?

 So much is happening that I'm just going to type it all out here.  I really started this blog for me to keep track of myself and then all of you decided to join me.  And I thank you for it.

 So We had an amazing Designer con

It was a one day event in Pasadena Convention Center.  We met lots of great new friends and found some amazing art and toys.  Please check out Cody Williams and his Yetis at these cons.  You won't be sorry.  I have 2......  And he's a great guy, so win win.  http://www.yetisandfriends.com/

We had a wonderful APE con as well.

I got to hang out with some old friends, meet some new ones and even shake hands with some people that have somehow been influenced by my art.  It's very nice and humbling to know that I've helped a fellow artist out along their journey.  They do all the work but man, it's nice to know I helped in some small way.

The very next day after Designer Con, Julie debuted her Jewelry line.  A smashing success at the Patchwork Indie faire.

She did amazing and I am so proud of her.  Her art has come a huge long way and she puts in work hours that are astounding at times.  And then on top of all of that, has to deal with me all the time.  Hard, hard work.


AND ONTO THE FUTURE!

Next up is CTN Animation Expo! Nov 16th-18th in Burbank CA.  It's probably my favorite convention out of them all.  I will have a booth with originals, prints, art books, and myself.  I will be doing a couple demos that weekend as well as a guest panel with the amazing artists; Torsten Schrank, Jose Lopez, John Nevarrez, Tony Siruno and then lil' ol' me on Saturday.  It's always a good time if you can make it.  Link to the panel http://m.guidebook.com/guide/2806/event/678916/



Other news:

- I am still hard at work on the original graphic novel and on goal to get a kickstarter happening the first week in January.

- I got to be a lead Designer on Slugterra which airs on Disney XD.  Go check that out so there will be a season 2 with even more cool slugs!

Well, that's about it.  Thanks everyone who visits, tweets, instas, shows up, facebooks, talks, buys, and supports this crazy journey I call a "career".  It really does mean a lot to both Julie and I.  So stop on by, say hello so I can keep putting names to avatar faces and I will see you online or in person.


-Bean

Fil n Mantis: a short story

So I am starting to wrap my head around my graphic novel and I did a quick 2 page

comic to explore the look and feel and how far to push certain ideas like blur/animation feel, lettering, colors, and sizing.  Alot of work to do but I learned a ton.  Here's the 2 page results.  Obvious flaws aside I am very happy and hopeful. 

I hope to get all of this together and do a kickstarter on making it happen so I can concentrate on this and little else.  Just thought I'd share with y'all what's happening in the old noggin.