Feature Artist: Silphy the Blue

While we're waiting on the latest volume of Brutal Blade of Bruno the Bandit, due any day now, let me take a moment to introduce you to our latest pinup artist, Silphy the Blue!
The length of some of the Bruno stories in the last couple of issues has meant that we have had very little space for pinups.  As much as I love featuring Bruno interpretations by different artists, the stories come first.  In fact, the current issue comes in at 4 pages longer than previous volumes, with only one page available for pinups.
I've had a pinup piece from Silphy the Blue on tap for quite a while now, and I'm pleased to say that it will be gracing the pages of the current issue.
I met Silphy at a convention a few years ago, and was immediately impressed by a vivid, dynamic art style with a fantastic sense of color.  Since I'm always keeping an eye out for artists who I think will bring a new perspective to the characters, I knew I had to get something by this artist for Brutal Blade and commissioned something on the spot.  I also bought an original sketch card that currently graces the bookshelf in my studio, but that's just for my own satisfaction.
I think what I like about Silphy's art is that it combines a clear Image Comics influence with a clear line style (possibly coming from animation?) and a good sense of form, with the result being a bold, confident style that has a sense of fun and communicates the artist's passion for the work.  I find it's always best when the artist clearly enjoys what they do, and that enjoyment shines through in Sliphy's work.
We've only got one piece of work by Silphy to share with you (for now...), but you should definitely check out the eye candy at DeviantArt and Tumblr.  Come for the art...stay for the animated cat gifs! 

 Julia the Strange

by

Silphy the Blue

Someday Your Prints Will Come...

Especially if you order the Bruno the Bandit "Wimps" print from DeviantArt.

"Wimps" is my homage to Bruno the Bandit by way of Frank Frazetta, by way of the Sunday funnies.  Despite appearances, no comic strips were harmed in the making of this image.

We gave away quite a few of these posters at Hal-Con last weekend, and reaction seemed to be generally positive.  While messing around in DeviantArt this afternoon, I thought it might be a good way to learn about their print process to upload this image and make it available in a variety of formats. 
So, if you go here, you will be able to order your very own print of "Bruno the Bandit: Wimps" featuring my art and Ian's characters (along with, allegedly, several others) on prints, coasters, mugs, and anything else I could enable with this picture. 
And if you do order one...please let me know how it turns out.  As always, I'd love to read your opinions.

Pinup Pages for Brutal Blade Volume 2

I've received a number of interesting submissions for pinup pages for the second volume of Brutal Blade of Bruno the Bandit.  Thanks to everyone who sent in their work; it was great seeing the character rendered in so many different styles.  Now comes the hard part, figuring out which ones I have room for.
If I decide to use your art, you'll be hearing from me in the next few days by email.  If not, well thanks anyway, and hang in there, because I'll probably be doing the same thing with future issues of the book.  Maybe your drawing will grace the next volume.

02 August:  Edit:  The pinups have been chosen and the artists have been contacted.  We've got some great work for the next book!  Thanks to all who sent me their art; if you didn't make it this time, well...there's always Volume 3.  

Submit to Bruno!

I'm busily picking away at the content of the second volume of "Brutal Blade of Bruno the Bandit", and aiming for an August release.  We've got Hal-Con coming up in November, and I'd like to have two, if not three, books on the table.  I've already got a cover artist lined up for the second issue (long-time Conan fans will find themselves happy once again!), and most of the rest of the content is already done.

One thing I'm missing so far is pinup pages for the book...and that's where you, dear reader, come in. 
I could easily fill the pinup slots with my own art, but where's the fun in that?  Well, aside from getting to play around with art in Ian McDonald's Brunoverse.  Instead, knowing that some of the readers and Brun-atics are decent artists in their own right, I'm putting out a call for pinup page submissions.

Here's the deal....I'm not asking for freebies; this is a paying gig.  However, it's not paying very much, mainly because my operating budget right now amounts to whatever I can dig out from under the couch cushions.  So, I'm offering ten bucks via Paypal plus a print copy of the finished work to any artist whose work I accept for the book.  I wish it could be more, but that's the best I can offer for now, until these things start selling like Ian's work deserves and we retire fat and happy millionaires.

If you're interested, and would like to earn the price of a cheap lunch and see your work in print, please email me a low-rez (no bigger than 150 dpi) jpeg of your drawing before July 15th.  If I like it, I'll email you back and let you know it's been accepted, then arrange payment and delivery of the book. 
How will you know if I like it?  Well, consider the following criteria:

a) Is it in black and white or grayscale (color's a ways off for us)?
b) Is it competently drawn (no stick figures, please, unless you're Randall Munroe)?
c) Is it not overly violent or sexual in content?
d) Is it humorous or at least relevant to Bruno the Bandit?

If you can answer "yes" to all four of those questions, there's a good chance I'll like it.  I'll be sending all submissions to Ian as well to make sure they meet his approval, but I think I'm a good judge of what he'll approve.  I don't know yet how many pinups I'll be needing, but I'm going to guess at least four.  I'll be contacting the successful artists on or shortly after July 15, so get drawing!

A few final notes:
-I plan on putting this offer out on a couple of other forums shortly, but thought I'd make this offer here first for the longtime fans of Bruno to get first shot at it.
-As far as copyright of the work goes, it goes without saying that Ian McDonald holds copyright to Bruno the Bandit, the comic, the name and all associated characters.  However, the artist will retain copyright of the work itself, and will be able to republish it anywhere else after the book is released.  AIM Comics is only asking for first publication rights to the work, and any future reuse of the work will be negotiated separately.
-Finally, even if your work does not make it into the book, I may ask for permission to run your work on this website as "fan art".  Please send me a link to your online gallery, if you have one, along with your submission, so that I can link back to your properly.