CampBlood Comics

In case you didn't already get the news, my new web comic site is up and running. It's called "CampBlood Comics" and in addition to focusing on horror comics and related art, there is an exclusive webcomic there titled, "The Mystery at CampBlood"! The webcomic will be updated weekly (on Wednesdays) and it follows the adventures of two unlikely heroes, Buzz and Chucky.

It's a story for all ages (no graphic violence or nudity) and meant for anyone with an open mind who enjoys humor, mystery, and the supernatural.

Feel free to stop by and follow the story as it develops while getting the scoop on what's going on in horror comics at CampBlood Comics!

http://www.campbloodcomics.com

webcomic: "The Mystery at Campblood"
http://andyswist.com/campbloodcomics/mystery/

Blood Money: support a starving artist!

Hey everyone! Just letting you know that I've got goodies for folks that donate money to a starving artist (errr... that would be me).

Every donation gets a "Thank You" from me which consists of a professionally printed post card featuring my Sookie, Bill, and Sam paper doll art. You can easily cut and fold along the guides to make nifty paper mini figures! Sound cool?

Well, if you donate $10: I send you an envelope containing the post card along with an additional oversized card with Pam, Laffy, Tara, Jason, and Eric! There's even artwork to make your own Merlott's bar or Fangtasia club. I'm digging thru my records now and sending folks who have already donated, and a big thanks to everyone in advance for their support.

Check out the photo above and see for yourself. When you click the donation button on my site, it usually includes a mailing address/ contact info. If not, you have to make sure and write in your address or the address you'd like for me to send it. All cards are sent US Mail.

BTW- Did I mention it makes a fun gift idea? ;)

Big announcements- lissenup!

First and foremost: the winner of last month's contest is MissFlax! Don't you feel lucky? So send me and email with your address and I can send you that lovely Anya picture when it's ready (unless you've changed your mind already)?

I've just started watching Buffy season FIVE now. Since when did Buffy have a younger sister (Dawn)? Ha! This is amazing stuff. I remember that Dawn is important, but as I was never an avid fan back in the day... it's still a mystery to me at the moment. Also, I think I love Willow more and more. I didn't gravitate to anyone really for a while. But ever since I saw what had happened with the whole Oz relationship... it melted my heart. *sigh*

Next big announcement: I'm going to be at MoCCA (The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art) Fest this Saturday and Sunday. I'll have a table there with all sorts of goodies, so please stop by if you can. "The annual two-day event attracts thousands of comic art lovers and creators from around the globe to celebrate the world's most popular art form in the heart of New York City." Why not check out the site and see all the good stuff for yourself? http://www.moccany.org/content/mocca-festival

Finally: I'm starting my own web comic! That's right. It's not quite ready yet, but it's a fun supernatural horror story called, "The Mystery at Campblood"! Is anyone excited? Any ideas what this is about? I will admit that it features characters Buzz and Chucky from the popular site http://www.campblood.org/, and is loaded with supernatural goodness (or "badness" as the case might be)! More about this coming soon. I'd love to hear any comments if you care to share them. If not, that's OK. I'm still going through with it.

March madness

Last month in honor of Valentines Day, I held a caption contest for a Holiday inspired cartoon. The prize awarded was a 4x6 sketch of the winner's choice of True Blood characters. The winner was DeeDee, and can you guess what character she picked? Here's a clue:

Well, seeing as this month is St.Patricks Day I suppose it's time for another contest.
This time I'm going to pick a person completely at random that's posted a comment. The winner will get a 4x6 sketch of their favorite BUFFY the Vampire Slayer character!

Why BUFFY? Well, I happen to be watching them all on DVD right now. I'm having a heck of a time trying to figure out who my favorite character is. I'm torn between Giles and Willow. But really, I love them all. Right now I'm on season three, or is it season four? It's the season that they go off to college. Anyways, I love this show and hope you all do too. You do... don't you?

However, you can only post ONCE! Be fair: one chance per customer.
(Lissen up, DeeDee: I'm barring you from this contest so someone else can win, OK?)
So rub something Irish, and hope the luck transfers with your post.
The contest starts now until March 29th! Happy St.Paddy's and good luck to you!

I recently finished an illustration that was a lot of fun, and thought to share:

The slogan that appears is derived from a good natured private joke that a close friend of mine likes to tell. Even if you don't know the whole story, it's hard not to smile. Oh, and what a great conversation starter, too!?
Why not buy a T-shirt, mug or magnet and make that smile last a bit longer?
http://www.cafepress.com/wahrdrobe

True Blood Valentines

I thought it would be appropriate to make some fun Valentines Day e-cards with some of my paper doll art for folks to use. Sorry there's only a select few characters at the moment. I'll try to add some more, but no promises! Just click on the card you want to open a larger version and drag it to your desktop, or right click on the image and "save as" to your computer.
































I'm also going to hold a contest here for the best caption to this True Blood valentine cartoon.
If you think you've got a clever caption for what Tara is saying to Sookie, then post it in the comments section to this post. I'm going to pick my favorite, and if it's yours I'll sketch a portrait of your favorite True Blood character on a 4 x 6 card and send it to you! Contest starts now until midnight, February 21st 2001.

BTW: I've done lots of other valentines in the previous years that have been posted on Campblood.org so why not stop by there and check them out? They're all horror-related and campy fun!
http://www.campblood.org/Features/Valentines2007.htm
http://www.campblood.org/Features/Valentines2006.htm
http://www.campblood.org/Features/Valentines.htm

Be sure to check out all of Campblood's amazing movie reviews, news, and fun while you're there! http://www.campblood.org/

Barney's Newest Addition

I've been hard at work these past couple of weeks preparing things for the new windows at Barneys Department Store in NYC. Today was my first day at the Madison Ave store, and got to help take down the Christmas windows. Did anyone see them? It was all based on Saturday Night Live skits! (Photos: Pamela Skillings)

It was kind of bizarre holding a giant-sized Christmas ornament shaped like heads of characters like "Pat", and "Mango". There was even some very nice and appreciative people there from SNL to take what they could of the displays which was a nice gesture.

Well, then it was time to install the new ones based on designs by Simon Doonan for the New Year. All I can say right now is that it involves LOTS of fortune cookies. It's a lot of fun, and I'll try to snap a few pics to share for any curious folks out there. I'll be there until about Wednesday this week and if you pass by in the daytime, chances are you'll see me gluing my heart out. Barney's stores across the country are in the process of doing the same, so if you have one near you check it out.

Happy Holidays....

Christmas is only a few days away, and then it's New Years! Of course, let's not forget Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and who knows what else. It's like the Holiday Olympics this time of year and I just hope everyone is enjoying themselves a little more, and experiencing a little less of the stress from it all.
I'm doing alright myself (thanks for asking), and thought that it would be a good time to share with you a little drawing I made recently on a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. I haven't been there in years, and I forgot what an amazing place it is... and I didn't even get to the second floor! I spent the entire afternoon gawking at the ginormous Christmas tree they have set up. There were hundreds of angels covering the tree and all around it (what looked to me like) Victorian figurines of various shepherds, kings, commoners, more angels and what-nots everywhere. It was a bit of a cluster-fcuk actually, but in a beautiful way. You could pick a different spot and view an entirely different scene. In the dead center there was the classic "Birth of Jesus" creche scene, and I tried sketching that, but there was just way too much going on that all I could manage to do was capture the layout and positioning of the characters. The highlight of it for me was the donkey and a cow peeking around a corner thru the brush at the baby. Awwww... I would have also put a couple of kittens in the scene, but that's just me.
Here are some pics of the (what they are calling "Neapolitan Baroque") tree that I stole from various online sources. Funny how there are all these pictures when there's a huge "NO NOT TAKE PHOTOS" sign in front of your face. Hmmmm...






























Anyways, there was also this lovely statue not far from the tree of "The Holy Family" and I sketched that, too. I was able to get pretty close, and got lots of good detail. I figured it made a nice Christmas card, too... so I scanned it in and digitally added a watercolor background to give it a more "umph". Here is the final product:

Hire Me!

Do you know anyone that needs an Illustrator or Graphic Designer? I'm ready, willing, and able to help!

I am also here for anyone who wants to commission me for a sketch, too. It makes for a unique and fun gift idea, too. I can do pet portraits, a sketch of your favorite super hero, villain, or anything else you can dream up.

Right now (for a limited time) you can donate $20+ and I'll make a "digital portrait" of any photo you email to me. Just click on the "donate" button at the right to make the donation, and send me a picture. It's that easy! Note the digital image I create will be a 4x4 inch square jpeg file.
Here's one of me:

Christmas Woodie

I'm here to tell you all about a very talented artisan and friend, Blake Paris. He hand crafts a variety of housewares, decor, and things and sells them from his ETSY shop, "A Touch of Paris".
http://www.etsy.com/shop/touchofparis

I have to say that the wooden bowls and lamps are my some of my favorites. They just look quite handsome and unique. It's no chandelier, but check these out:
How about THIS one?








Or THAT one?









Or THIS one?










Or THAT one?










If you are looking for something special, tasteful and lasting check out his wares.
There's options for almost any price point.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/touchofparis

Happy Shopping! :)

Ahmond

Just wanted to post about my friend and talented musician, Ahmond.
I did the logo and artwork for his album "A Boy You Once Knew" and now he's come out with a new EP called "Monster & Minstrel".

If you like music artists like Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Grizzly Bear, or sophisticated indie folk art in general I highly recommend for you to check it out! Heck, just go and have a listen just to hear something new:
http://www.myspace.com/ahmondband

Download the new EP here:
http://www.ahmond.com/monster.html

Paper doll extras and MORE...

I've updated my website so that you can easily find my paper dolls and download what you need including my True Blood stencil art! Yeah!

My Extras this time are for Bill, Jason, and Laffy:

Bill's hair has been soo bad last season that I had to make ridiculous wigs to make his normal "do" amazing. Of course, Bill needs a pair of sexy boardshorts and sunglasses so he can properly hang poolside with the Queen. I had to throw in that nice gray shirt he barfed on, too. That was just too funny. *sigh* Poor Bill!

Jason has his "Rambo" gear complete with chainsaw to battle his mindless neighbors, and I've been itching to add a pair of those funny silky gloves he wore from season 1 when he was all into those S&M games (remember that?)!

Lafayette gets his fighting gear on, too... but his is more fashionable in a lace tank and sleeveless vest. Just look how he waves that shotgun, too! Work it Guhrrrl-friend!

OH! And there's a new episode of Andy's Unicorner on Campblood's House of Horrors! I talk about some new web animated series as well as a fun game to play with your friends: Werewolves of Millers Hollow! It's FUN!

The Blonde Vampire Viking Commeth!

Well, I am truly sorry you all had to wait extra long for this Eric paper doll. I tell you, Eric just won't do anything until he's ready to do it. He's the boss and no matter how much I beg and plead... he just wouldn't come out until tonight. I think he had his hands full handling Bill Compton. ;)

I hope you all like the Eric paper doll. I've tried my best to include outstanding outfits from the novels (the silk boxers, silk pajama pants, red bikini briefs, pink spandex, etc.) as well as some of my favorites from the HBO series (the bloody haircut barber thing, the track jacket, and classic tank top).

There is still LOTS more cooking for Eric's doll as well as the others. More fun outfits and accessories... and some more dolls, too! So please check back or feel free to write me or leave a comment and let me know what you're doing with these crazy creations. And PLEASE feel free to go crazy and make your own clothes, additions, etc. Draw some bloody tears or even give him angel wings? The sky's the limit! :)

Much love and thanks again to all of you for your exciting comments and support. It really means a lot to me, and I really appreciate it.

True Blood

It's no secret that I'm crazy about Sookie Stackhouse books and the HBO "True Blood" series!
Last Halloween I made pumpkin carving stencils of Sookie, Bill, and Lafayette and wanted to make an illustration out of it.

Well, earlier this week, I DID! And here it is!

If you're a fan of True Blood, too I suggest you check out a great site called, "Loving Ture Blood in Dallas"! It's chocked full of bloody goodness, and even kind enough to give me a shout out and post my art!

A big huge warm fuzzy hug to Dallas and all the readers there. :)