Monday, January 31, 2011

THE NOW PART 2

So a lot of folks have asked the same question regarding mine and a handful of other Creators comments regarding Original Material.

That question seems to be, " Who is all this aimed at?" Well, at the Fan Collective, and mainly at retailers. Retailers who chose to a large degree what the put on their shelves for the Fan Collective to peruse on Wednesdays. This is a key point, and needs to be our focus. So I would invite YOU as a retailer anywhere on the Globe to reach out to me, or to Steve Niles, or Eric Powell, and ask us what we are thinking. Pick our Brains about promotion. Hell, share with us your ideas on how we can get our product in your store, or more of what's already there.

As I said in part one of this Blog, I am not running down the big 2, or there product, I am just saying thats not all there is. Industries, and companies of all types get stale and die, with fresh, new product, to peruse, sample, and buy. Thats a fact. Why do you think our industry is suffering? Its not because people don't wanna read comics anymore. Its largely because PEOPLE DON'T WANNA READ THE SAME DAMNED ONE EVERY TIME THEY BUY ONE.
But the ball falls squarely on our court as Creators. So I know I have put my money where my mouth is. So hey you. Creator, who is doing nothing but mainstream work ( but secretly have al these hidden away Ideas for new Characters, and books) , when are we gonna see them?

Again if you are a retailer, get in touch, and lets share ideas and talk. That's the main thing is talking Email me DIRECTLY at---shipwreck@cox.net and lets get this party started.

TONYFINGHARRIS

Friday, January 28, 2011

THE NOW




I think thats where we are in Comics. The "Now". Very few care about longevity. Leaving a creative voice that hopefully will be heard for decades after you are dead and gone.

Don't you wanna make a lasting contribution to the Industry you claim to love? Don't you wanna share your Original thoughts, Visuals, and Ideas with your Fanbase? Hell, with the entire industry and beyond? I do.

Like most of us who are working professionals I got into the business with high hopes. Hopes of getting to draw and work on all the cool characters. The BIG GUNS!! So that i could be popular. So that i could be famous? Respected? Revered? Envied? Maybe even hated?

My point is, that your short sight hopefully will get sharper, and interested in the long run instead of the sprint as you get older and wiser. Hopefully you have an original idea rattling around in your head. Maybe even 2 or 3! Or 10. I guess from early on, I was never content to just draw whatever I was offered. I was developing Original material before I ever got mainstream, or Indy work 22 years ago. But I took ANYTHING I could get. All of it. Did my best to provide my Editors with good material, and always strived to get better. All the while, scheming, and biding my time. Planning, and pushing the envelope as far as I could, without burning myself down. I had my share of success, and plenty of failure,, to be sure. But you never know what will work unless you try.

I think what I did was do as much mainstream work as I could get, as high profile as I could get, and then pushed those successes into attention for an Original Idea. A creator Owned Comic, in the parlance of our times.

And I have been lucky, and blessed. People liked what I did, and seem to like what I AM doing with my Original material.

But I am not saying that I dont wanna do anymore company owned work. That kind of work has been good to me, and my Family. But I guess I am saying It's never been enough. Imsaying that It's not enough to be the 435th guy to draw Batman. I know cause I have been that guy. I am always chasing that next new idea. The thing that rattles so loud in my head, that if I dont do everything within me to make it a reality, then I will go insane.

I also think that there is a big difference between the term Creator, and Artist. I know this isnt a popular notion but I don't care, you think about those 2 words and you figure out what you think they mean, and who does, and who does not deserve either title.

If I shopped at any given comic shop, or any outlet for your Comic Book purchases and all they EVER had were Superhero book after Superhero book, and little to nothing else to choose from, I think I would ultimately start seeking my entertainment elsewhere.

Wait! That is what's happening. For a long time now. So why haven't I sought my entertainment elsewhere? I love comics too much to leave. And I DO think that I can affect change, even in the smallest way. By doing new books that are Original material. And that people wanna read. Thats the other main point here. I am not abandoning the Big 2 to forge my own way in the world, and shit talk the mainstream. I have done my share of Creator Owned stuff for smaller publishers, but I have always pitched, and been lucky enough for DC to be open to Original material from me and take a chance. So I am riding the fence really. All I can hope is that with every Creator Owned book I do for DC, Marvel or whoever it may be, if it's successful, it'll make it just a little bit easier for someone else to get in the door. Or just make it easier for DC, Marvel or whoever to look with open eyes, and say , "Yes, I think we are gonna give your book a shot!"

TONY HARRIS

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

TONY HARRIS ORIGINAL ART

Hi all! been a bit. But mainly cuza holidays, and getting back into the swing of drawing interiors, after a break from it. Mainly doing covers, and commissions. But I forgot how much I missed telling stories until I started drawing THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE WHISTLING SKULL. for DC Comics!! we call it SKULL, or WHISTLING SKULL for short.

Anyway, I am selling my own art now, and as we speak, my amazing freind and VERY talented designer is putting the finishing touches on WWW.JOLLYROGERSTUDIO.COM that will go live in a few weeks, where I will continue, ( thru monthly updates to sell available originals there at the site) But for now, i will list the work here that is available for purchase!

Here goes. A few points. I am not putting up jpegs of pages or covers here. Just too many. But I will when we move it over to Jolly roger. Here, I will list the art, Book Title, page #ers etc... for pages, and I will send Jpegs of Covers upon SERIOUS inquiries only. All payments must through paypal @ stacieenv@yahoo.com first come 1st served. Shipping is additional as well as insurance. Email ALL INQUIRIES to me @

shipwreck@cox.net

COVERS

MACHINA DELUXE VOL. 2 PEN/INK COVER $2500

MACHINA DELUXE VOL. 4 PEN/INK COVER $3000

MACHIN DELUXE VOL. 5 PEN/INK WASH COVER $2000

MACHINA VOL.9 TRADE PEN/INK COVER $3000

MACHINA VOL.10 TRADE PEN/INKWASH COVER $4000

EX MACHINA COVERS 48,49, AND 50 ONE LARGE ILLUSTRATION
MEASURING 20X32 PEN/INK $4000

WAR HEROES #1 PEN/INK COVER $900

WAR HEROES #3 PEN/INK COVER $900

WAR HEROES #5 ( FORTHCOMING) PEN/INK COVER $900

SHADE #1 PAINTED COVER( FORTHCOMING) $4000

SHADE #2 PAINTED COVER( FORTHCOMING) $4000

JLI:GEN LOST #1 COVER PRELIM/MARKER $250

JLI: GEN LOST #1 COVER ROUGH/MARKER $50

JLI: GEN LOST #2 COVER PRELIM/MARKER $400

JLI: GEN LOST #5 COVER PITT PENS $500

JLI: GEN LOST COVER ELEMENTS ON 8.5X11 PAPER
(WANTED POSTERS)
BOOSTER GOLD-COPIC/PITTS $50
FIRE-COPIC/PITTS $50
ICE-COPIC/PITTS $50
CAPTAIN ATOM-COPIC/PITTS $50

PREDATORS MOTION COMIC ILLOS
FOR DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

BG ELEMENT $50 ANIMATION PAPER

PRED DOG SMALL- $50

PRED DOG LARGE- $100

HERO PREDATOR FULL FIG-$500

HERO PREDATOR FULL FIG2- $500

PREDATOR MONTAGE - $200

PREDATOR MONTAGE2- $200

LARGE PREDATO MONTAGE- $300

PAGES

MACHINA 49

PG.1--$225
PG.2--$300
PG.3--$300
PG.4--$150
PG.5--$150
PG.7-$100
PG.9--$300
PG.10--$250
PG.11--$200
PG.13--$350
PG.14--$400
PG.15--$175
PG.17--$200
PG.18--$800
PG.19--$400
PG.20--$200
PG.21--$150

MACHINA 50

PG.1--$500
PG.2--$300
PG.4--$400
PG.5--$200
PG.7--$100
PG.8--$200
PG.9--$125
PG.10--$200
PG.11--$275
PG.12--$100
PG.15--$150
PG.16--$250
PG.18--$250
PG.19--$100
PG.20--$375
PG.21--$350
PG.23--$350
PG.26--$200
PG.27--$300
PG.28--$275
PG.29--$350
PG.30--$350
PG.31--$350
PG.32--$275
PG.33--$200
PG.34--$100
PG.35--$400
PG.36--$400
PG.37--$400
PG.38--$400
PG.40--$800
PG.41--$800
PG.42--$400
PG.43--$200
PG.44--$200
PG.45--$1000
PG.46--$400
PG.47--$100
PAGES 24-25 DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
FEATURING MANY ALTERNATE
GREAT MACHINES ALL ON ONE PIECE OF
BOARD $3000

ALL ART IS PENCILLED INKED, PAINTED AND WASHED BY TONY HARRIS