Beingjakekujava

Nocturne

2011-11-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

Details of the new painting, which I enjoyed working on. Hopefully in a couple of weeks the next one will be posted.

Happy Birthday to Joe Kubert

2011-09-19T04:36:00.000-07:00

85 years old and still making comics, One of the all time greats!

time bomb 1st sketch

2011-08-11T03:42:00.000-07:00

First sketch based on my Etching I produced in college. Strange but by no comparison it happen during the time of Columbia School shootings.

Indian Chief

2011-07-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

Based on a photo that I can't find, back in the college days.

Cindy

2011-07-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

Unused Idea for a painting back in 1995

2011-07-23T06:01:00.000-07:00

Billy Joel

2011-07-20T03:57:00.001-07:00

Done during college, but why did I draw Billy Joel? I have no idea, the only reason that I can come up is for my liking the song, Moving Out.

Ezra Weston Loomis Pound

2011-07-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

On top is a quick sketch that I worked on during college based on a Richard Avedon print.

Gene Colan, R.I.P.

2011-06-24T04:19:00.000-07:00

Woke up to the news that one of my favorite Marvel Silver Age artist, Gene Colan has passed away at age 84. He was one of kind artist, and here's a couple of covers that I loved during his stay in Marvel comics.

Captain America Annual #3

2011-06-18T07:28:00.001-07:00

Here's an panel that used to scare the crap out of me when I was a wee lad.

Rada the mini comic #1 (part 5)

2011-06-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

Rada the mini comic #1 (part 4)

2011-06-09T04:59:00.000-07:00

Rada the mini comic #1 (part 3)

2011-06-06T04:21:00.001-07:00

Rada the mini comic #1 (part 2)

2011-06-01T16:15:00.000-07:00

here's the first part http://beingjakekujava.blogspot.com/2011/05/rada-mini-comic-1-part-1.html

Rada the mini comic #1 (part 1)

2011-05-25T15:42:00.001-07:00

Ah, the good ole days, here's the first part of Rada the mini comic that I worked on 5 years ago. I'm showcasing the comic in parts because it's a pain to put it all on ( pages are mixed up) when it's completed I'll give my feedback, Enjoy!

Creepy's Loathsome Lore,

2011-05-19T03:42:00.000-07:00

Excellent one pager by the master Frank Frazetta,

That Sands that Change

2011-05-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the final story of Creepy #16, which isn't scripted by Archie Goodwill, but by Clark Dimond and Terry Bisson. I haven't seen this Steve Ditko before so I decided to spread some love out to start out the week, Enjoy.

Amazing Spider-Man #4

2011-05-13T16:18:00.001-07:00

Here's is one of the first comic book stories that I first fell in love with. This story was collected in a series called Marvel Collectors' Item Classics #3 and featured the first appearance of the Sandman. This isn't Stan Lee and Steve Ditko at their best, but there are couple of things that I would like to point out.
First is the cover, its one of the first to have a few panels of the story. This might of been Stan Lee's idea, he did before in Rawhide Kid # 24. I still enjoy the cover and if I ever see Steve Dtiko it would be one my geeky fan based questions for him. Who came up with this idea?
Lastly, how Spiderman defeats Sandman, is as Sandman turns into a sand particles, Spidey sucks his body into a vacuum cleaner trapping him until the police shows up. You might think this is a lackluster defeat but it can't be any worse than Spider-man letting the Sandman go and forgiving him killing his Uncle and not having Sandman return the money that he robbed from the bank in Spider-man 3. Sigh, way to drop the ball, director Sam Raimi.

Panel from page 54

2011-05-09T18:01:00.001-07:00

Taking a break from swimming in the Rada's graphic novel lake. Hands need to draw something else.

The Thor #127

2011-05-06T19:40:00.001-07:00

Here's my favorite cover all time, by the master artist Jack Kirby. It's one of reasons why I started to read comics ( I had to be 3 or 4 even before I could read I would copy images such like this in pencil or crayon in front of the TV.) I remember little of the story inside but the cover grabs me in by the strength of Kirby's drawing. I know that it's based on Pieta's Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo expect that both figure here are standing. That Colletta's inking is lukewarm is say the least. He simply over inks Thor's arm to the point that it hard to tell if it shadowing or arm hairs. But despite it flaws I still love this cover.

Luaka Bop

2011-05-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du- Hanson, Mmm Bop

Power cord Stein

2011-04-29T04:47:00.000-07:00

10 things I love about the movies

2011-04-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

based on this list: http://cinema-fanatic.com/2011/04/22/100-things-i-love-about-the-movies/

Here's a couple right off the bat.

1. Freaks, the final attack of the Freaks outside in the rain
2. Shaun of the Dead, Singing White Noise while hearing a zombie growl for backup.
3. Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas, white rabbit music being played in the bathtub.
4.Touch of Evil, The opening three-minute, twenty-second shot
5. The Train (1964), Burt Lancaster hearing how art is for the elite by the Nazi commander
6. The Thin Red Line, seeing the dogs pick up the body parts off the dead
7. The Man Who Wasn't There, Billy bob getting hit in the courtroom
8. The Ice Storm- the Nixon mask
9. Superman Returns 2006, landing the airplane
10.Toy Story 1, buzz lightyear, jumping off and realizing he can't fly.

15 minute doodle

2011-04-27T04:53:00.000-07:00

Skid Row Joe

2011-04-26T01:40:00.000-07:00

Skid Row Joe
Last night that's who I found in the dirty part of town
Lost forgotten with no place to go
Tormented with a bitter taste outcast by the human race
A mask of torture was the face of Skid Row Joe.

He walked up to where I stood on the street
Said pardon me Mister now don't get me wrong I don't want your money
Though heaven knows I could use it
But you see this is my home and you see the other bar down the street
Well, that's my home too
I noticed you starin' at me a while ago, you recognized me didn't you
I said, yeah Joe, I know who you are
You was one time a real famous singing star, one of my favorites
He said, well, I guess you heard they took my babies away from me
I said, yeah Joe, I read about it in the papers
Then he turned his head away and I saw the tears fall in the place
And he turned to me and he said you know Mister
This is the only place in the world that I'm not ashamed to show my face
But I'm gonna quit, yes sir, I'm gonna quit
And I'm gonna shave and comb my hair and me a clean white shirt
Then I'm gonna walk up to her door
When she answers I'm gonna stand up real proud and tall
Then I'm gonna get on my knees
Then I'll say sweetheart if you'll take me back
I'll spend the rest of my life makin' up to you for what I've done
I'm so ashamed of myself and this I want you to know
Then I'm gonna take my two little babies
And I'm gonna hold 'em so close to me
I ain't gonna never let 'em go
I guess I should've told him then that she'd already remarried again
But after hearin' what he'd said to me
Why there wasn't no way I could add to his misery
So I said good luck my best to you Skid Row Joe..
By Porter Wagoner

Sugar on my tongue

2011-04-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting years and years
Finally I see that you appear
My friends are here, and they ask of me
'Is this the time that we're gonna see
her put the sugar on your tongue'- Talking Heads, Sugar on my Tongue

Brass Monkey

2011-04-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

Brass Monkey - that funky Monkey
Brass Monkey junkie
That funky Monkey-Beastie Boys

Thor #112

2011-04-22T04:11:00.001-07:00

Oh Thor, your movie will be coming out in a couple of weeks, without Jack Kirby's name on it. In honor of his great run of the book here's an issue that I read last night with your fight with the Hulk. Never seen this hidden gem, felt that I found a pot of gold when discovered. Thank ye gods that it was ink by Chic Stone and not Vince Colletta.

Dirty Boulevard

2011-04-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

"Pedro lives out of the Wilshire Hotel
he looks out a window without glass
The walls are made of cardboard, newspapers on his feet
his father beats him 'cause he's too tired to beg" Lou Reed- Dirty Boulevard

Surrender

2011-04-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

"Oh, the city's alight with lovers and lies
And bright blue eyes.
Oh, the city is bright, it's brighter than day tonight.
(Surrender, surrender)
(Surrender, surrender)" U2-Surrender

Brothers

2011-04-19T02:55:00.000-07:00

When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. / Say something once, why say it again?
-David Byrne of the Talking Heads

Don't Give Up

2011-04-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I’ve changed my face, I’ve changed my name

But no one wants you when you lose- Peter Gabriel, Don't Give Up

Maps and Legend

2011-04-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Maybe he's caught in the legend,
maybe he's caught in the mood.
Maybe these maps and legends
have been misunderstood, been misunderstood- Michael Stripe of REM

Blue Lament of Brain Eno

2011-04-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

Black sheep of the family

2011-04-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

Old man

2011-04-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

"Old man take a look at my heart I'm a lot like you were." Neil Young

Inverted rejected panel of Rada comic

2011-04-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a rejected panel of the comic the colors are reserved from the original piece.

Melvin the Monster covers

2011-04-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

Here's some great cover about a oddball monster boy who just wants to be good

Lee Marvin

2011-04-09T14:00:00.001-07:00

Art deco colored

2011-04-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

Been on a colored marathon and here's the first of a series that i have been coloring. Old image that I felt needed something more.

Dream panel

2011-04-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a negative image of a Kafka dream in the graphic novel. Think I like it more than the actual panel.

Fantastic Four #70

2011-04-04T18:34:00.001-07:00

Here's a panel of the Thing walking in New York sewer system trying to get rid the cops. I chuckle then wonder if British kids who read these reprints would think this is how they look like.

Rejected Panel

2011-04-03T13:09:00.001-07:00

Couple more pages completed from the graphic novel this weekend, here's a panel that wasn't good enough for the final cut. I thought the boot was too stiff and the background was "meh".

Inverted rada back cover

2011-04-02T13:11:00.001-07:00

Reversed the colors on the back cover, giving it a Kurbick's 2001 time travel quality.

Odd couple

2011-04-01T17:41:00.001-07:00

Here's a panel from the second page of Fantastic Four #65, Thing and Johnny Storm awoke from the same nightmare. Question of the day, why are they sleeping in the same bed? Isn't there enough bedrooms in the Baxter Building that they don't need to share?

Back cover of graphic novel

2011-03-31T18:34:00.000-07:00

Rada and Nero color cover

2011-03-30T05:02:00.001-07:00

Spend a mini vacation in Green Bay to see the family, decided to color the cover the graphic novel during some free time. A mixture of markers, watercolors and word paint job on the computer. Will post the back cover at the later date.

Charles Caldwell - Remember Me

2011-03-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

Always a big fan of bluegrass blues, here's a great artist Charles Caldwell. Sadly his only album midway through the sessions, Caldwell was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he doggedly continued recording. He died in September 2003 at the age of 60

Doggy Bait

2011-03-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

panel from a Rada comic

2011-03-18T18:57:00.001-07:00

taste of ditko

2011-03-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

Was looking for inspiration for a dream sequence for the graphic novel, found it from a panel of Ditko's Creepy comic. I love how he uses liquid paper for the background.

nurture your muse

2011-03-16T15:28:00.001-07:00

Juillian's cowboy friends

2011-02-03T15:25:00.000-08:00

Renoir

2011-02-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

'75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking

2011-01-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

Saving up my Christmas money I decided to buy the '75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking by Paul Levitz. The size is 18.4 x 13 x 3.5 inches, 720 pages and I haven't even got into one third of the book, but i have seen I have enjoyed deeply. Taschen did not cut any corners in the production of this work. The body paper stock is cover weight to avoid any bleed through with a smooth matte finish. Many of the images were reproduced from published books which were famous for showing through cue to the low quality of the newsprint. The reproductions are so accurate that you can actually see the show through of the original comic. This is actually a good thing. The layout is extremely clean and just about every printing special effect was utilized in dividing the Ages.

5 Great Comic Covers

2011-01-18T17:41:00.000-08:00

Brant Parker

2011-01-17T06:48:00.001-08:00

Brant Parker is one of my favorite newspaper cartoonist, co creator of the The Wizard of ID. His early work on the strip is a wonder to behold, style was simple and direct with minimalism which equal the artwork of Charles Schulz. I think his work is undervalued and I wish we have more cartoonists like him in the modern market.

Jack Kirby

2011-01-16T17:41:00.000-08:00

My all time favorite artist, Jack Kirby. Wish I had meant him before he past away in 1994.

Steve Ditko

2011-01-15T17:36:00.000-08:00

Here's another favorite, Steve Ditko. The man is still alive pushing (88 years) still drawing doing what he loves.

Annie's Awesome Foursome

2011-01-14T04:52:00.000-08:00

Storyboard ideas from Alex Toth making Little Orphan Annie into a Superhero group. Very strange concept which never got off the ground, I wonder why.

Alex Toth Doodles

2011-01-13T16:47:00.001-08:00

Here's a couple of pages from one of my heroes, Alex Toth. The man could draw.

Complete Calvin and Hobbes

2011-01-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

A gift for myself starting the new year (which is half off at Barnes and Nobles). My favorite comic strip when I was a kid. I had some of the books but now heres the whole collection also including the separated stories he worked on the trade paperbacks. Since it has the strip in chronological order, its the first opportunity to watch how Bill Watterson's artwork and style evolved over the years. The total collection weighs about 22.5 lbs, which makes it a bit awkward to handle each book weighs about 7 pound so try not to drop this on your foot. It would be ideal if the slipcase had round cuts on the top and bottom corresponding to each book so one's fingertips could pry out the books with ease.

Scooter picx

2011-01-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

Last year I painted these images for my friend Mark's scooter. It was a fun experience for the most part expect the covers had to sanded down or it would soak up the paint.

Color image of Rada

2011-01-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

Doctor Doom Remix

2011-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

Larry Lieber worked on the top image from a Marvel Villain Team Up Annual #1, the bottom was redrawn by me, such an odd image of Doom pondering that I made him sad.

lead ball

2011-01-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

manta ray

2011-01-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

jake and the tin man

2010-12-31T17:04:00.001-08:00

Diablo

2010-12-31T04:48:00.001-08:00

color illustration of Dr Doom

2010-12-30T16:51:00.000-08:00

The image on top is my take on a panel of Larry Lieber story panel of Marvel Villain Team Up Annual #1. I like the way he draws DR. Doom.

I'm still here

2010-12-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

This is one bad film that I saw last weekend, the downfall of Joaquin Phoenix who retired from acting to become a hip hop artist. It might be an elaborate hoax, scenes in the film seem stage (crying out his failures in New York park or your friend defecating in your mouth) but who really cares. Why would you spend two years on life a making this with little or no point. I used to like his acting and thought he played a wonderful Johnny Cash in I Walk the Line, but now I hope he gets helps. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Does anybody have any Zipatone?

2010-12-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

I would like to try it on this page, the problem is they don't make it anymore. So if anyone has some can they please contact me?

inisde look at progress on the rada comic

2010-11-21T06:51:00.001-08:00

Page 26, Rada enters a stomach

Fiverr part2

2010-11-20T04:24:00.000-08:00

Woman wanted a flock of seagulls dancing, not sure why maybe for a gift for a friend.

Fiverr part 1

2010-11-17T16:57:00.000-08:00

Starting today I'll be writing about art that I did for the site called Fiverr. What is Fiverr? You may ask. Well its a site people share things they're willing to do for $5 or for trade. I posted myself as an artist for a site and did a series of images. Some were fun like the on top. This was requested from a radio dj, who wanted his face and his friend on the famous photo of Sid and Nancy for the early 1980's. For return I received a couple records for the illustration. Overall a fun job.

Batman's Ego

2010-11-15T17:36:00.000-08:00

I picked up a couple of Darwyn Cooke's comics on ebay, which came in the mail Monday. Batman Ego was the first that I read which was also the first issue the Cooke ever published.

Here are some of my thoughts.

Pretty good, the art remind me of Bruce Timm's Batman's Adventure cartoon, Art deco buildings fill Gotham city with a splash of German Expressionism.

Although Darwyn Cooke hates the how deconstructionism has destroy superhero comic in today's market, he begins with this idea using self-involved psycho-babble dialogue between Bruce Wayne and The Batman. The rest of the book is dedicated to Batman talking to Batman, asking questions such as why not kill The Joker? This gets a little dis interesting but overall it's a solid read and one of the few writers who can understand the idealism of being a hero.

Sherlock

2010-11-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

Always been a fan of Sherlock Holmes and just finished the series today, decided to rave about the TV program. In this modernized version of the Conan Doyle characters, using his detective plots, Sherlock Holmes lives in early 21st century London and acts more cocky towards Scotland Yard's detective inspector Lestrade because he's actually less confident. Doctor Watson (played by Martin Freeman who's staring in the the upcoming role of Bilbo Baggins in the next two Hobbit flicks) is now a fairly young veteran of the Afghan 'peace-keeping' fights, less adoring and more active.

Sherlock is co-created and written by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffa from the Dr Who, they add wonderful dialog such as, "I'm not a psychopath, Anderson, I'm a high functioning sociopath, do your research, homes. Apart from the dialog the plot is thick with detail leaving me wanting me more after three episodes. Lets hope they do another season it will be a shame for this show to die off.

rejected cover for graphic novel

2010-11-09T18:42:00.000-08:00

Too much going on, thought it could be sharper will try again later when story is completed.

characters for a epic journey

2010-11-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

Almost finished with one third of the Rada the cat graphic novel, this was the first page where I did a rough draft brainstorming various characters and objects that I wanted to use in the story. I do like God as a childlike beam of light but haven't found a space for it yet.

Lament for Pattie Smith

2010-08-11T15:33:00.001-07:00

Keep falling

2010-08-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

felix

2010-07-26T04:47:00.001-07:00

Before and after

2010-07-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

The painting on top was started in 2007, I got stuck and it didn't feel finished until I retouched it last week, which is what you see on the bottom.

Dance yer self clean.

2010-07-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

Dogma Hurley

2010-06-18T04:49:00.000-07:00

I was a big fan of Lost and overall was pleased on how it ended. I would like to see a comic on the further adventures of Hurley and Ben, hell I would even consider drawing it.

Kayak

2010-06-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a shirt design for my girlfriend who got me interested in the wonderful world of kayaking. We have been wanting to go kayaking the last two weekends but having terrible luck with the overhaul of rain. I have a fondness of rowing backwards in the river which is want the goat is doing.

Walter white

2010-06-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

Big fan of Amc Breaking Bad, lead star Bryan Lee Cranston. Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at the beginning of the series. He breaks down and turns to a life of crime, producing and selling methamphetamine with his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) in a desire to secure his family's financial future. Now that Lost is over, this might be my favorite show for the time being.

fingertip.fini

2010-05-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

fingertip. rada ring

2010-05-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

fingertip. black hood

2010-05-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

fingertip.hanging nero

2010-05-24T04:12:00.000-07:00

fingertip. pumpkin time!

2010-05-23T04:09:00.000-07:00

fingertip.clown kid

2010-05-22T04:10:00.000-07:00

fingertip.where the wild thing go part2

2010-05-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

Fingertip.Where the wild things go

2010-05-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

Fingertip. Light Bulb Mouse

2010-05-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Fingertip. Jim

2010-05-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

Fingertip. Fishing with Rada

2010-05-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

Fingertip. dress up time!

2010-05-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

fingertip. Smoking skull

2010-05-14T16:17:00.000-07:00