Werewolf Calendar - Salmon Run

Here is my finished image for the 2012 Werewolf Calendar!
The calendar itself goes on sale Sept. 1st, and is full of really awesome art from a bunch of people! You can find out more information on www.werewolfcalendar.com!


The caption I was assigned to illustrate was:
Depending on the geographic region in which a werewolf or werewolf pack may reside, fishing may play an important role in the hunting and social life of the solitary wolf or family unit. In the pacific Northwest the annual salmon run provides the wild werewolf with an abundance of fresh food and easy meals. The wealth of fish is shared with other species including the grizzly and brown bear whom also visit the streams of migrating fish. Due to the sudden overabundance of food, competition is temporarily suspended among species whom are typically competing predatory rivals. Sightings of both werewolf families and other wild predators sharing a stream peacefully in close proximity of one another have been documented. Fish is also often dried by family groups and saved as a reserve for bitter winter months when food is scarce.


(And here's the sketch for the image!)

Redwing/Saw-Whet/Fetch

"Redwing" 7.5x15-ish, acrylic on wood

Back from an unexpected sojourn, bearing good tidings and birds (and tennis ball with a dog wrapped around it.) For the most part, all I had with me was beer, paint and some scraps of wood, so I made do!


"Northern Saw-Whet Owl"
8x11 acrylic on wood


"Fetch!"
10x11.5, acrylic on wood

Two Things, In Relation

"Avian Postal Strike"
Dozens of owls are deafened by Howlers every year!
Support your local Avian Postal Strike!




Hogwarts Badges

These are the free Hogwarts badges I painted before AnthroCon, for the six folks who's names I drew randomly from the contest's submissions! :]
And oddly enough, yet again no Gryffindors were chosen. Entries were largely either Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw!

(More information on the free badge give-a-way [which has now long since ended,] can be found here.)

One out of Five

"One out of Five"

All God's children are not beautiful. Most of God's children are, in fact, barely presentable.
~Fran Lebowitz

Sofawolf 2011 Shirt Design

This year, I was happy to be asked to design the 2011 Sofawolf Press shirt! I finished it earlier this month, but with AnthroCon creeping up, I figure now's a good time to post it. :]

You'll be able to get the shirts from the Sofawolf Press dealer's table at AnthroCon in June, or online from their website starting July 1st (here's a link, which also has the two previous shirt designs from 2010 and 2009!)


And here's the original thumbnail sketch I did, and a few color variations I made for the fellows at Sofawolf to pick and choose from. I'm glad they went with the aurora one, as that was my favorite of the bunch. :]

Across Thin Ice, Hardcover Pre-Orders Today!

www.NORDGUARD.com | | Nordguard on Blogspot || @nordguard on Twitter
So, in case you missed it, that comic I've been working on for the last two years has finally been wrapped up, off to the publishers, and subsequently, off to the printers (and I am happy)!
The whole Official Announcement can be found over this a-way, but here's the cliff-notes:

-Across Thin Ice, first of the three Nordguard books, is finished. Hurray! :]

-The book will be available in both hardcover and softcover editions. Both will have all 75 full color pages of the comic, and the softcover is 9x11.5" in size. The hardcover is a bit larger, and also has a snazzy map in the front unique to that edition.

-The softcover copies are $19.95, and the hardcovers are $39

-It will initially be released at AnthroCon, June 23rd 2011, and softcover editions will be available online from the Sofawolf Press website starting July 1st 2011.

-Afterward it's for sale online July 1st, the softcover will be available in person at most major comic and fandom conventions Sofawolf Press either distributes to or attends, such as Comic Con in San Diego and EuroFurence in Germany. (The hardcover may or may not be available, depending on if they have sold out of the copies. If the demand warrants it for the hardcovers, Sofawolf will consider running a second edition printing of the hardcover. There will be plenty of softcovers to go around, however.)

-This and all further Nordguard books will be rated for young adults and older due to some violence and language and dead bodies. I'm not sure when the next one will hit the shelves, but I plan to start working on it again at the end of the summer. The good news there is that some of it is already finished! ;]

-Pre-orders for the signed Hardcover Edition have started TODAY! Click here!

The pre-orders will run until either next Saturday, or all the copies have been sold. You can either have your copy mailed to you (which will go out July 1st) or pick it up at AnthroCon with a valid ID.

Yesterday, Sofawolf Press made a short announcement about the pre-orders, with more information on how to get them, including their international shipping information!


I had said it in the official announcement, but I'd like to say it again--thank you to everyone for your patience and interest in the comic, for the moral support, buying Nordguard patches, checking out the LiveStreams, and for all the kind comments and encouragements!


And now, I am off to enjoy this new thing called "spare time," as well as spring, which has finally come after a very long winter! ;]

Acrylic on Wood

"Intent" (11.5"x24")
Lioness, based on a couple photos I took of her at the Denver Zoo.

I am home again after a week and some days absence, and a few thousand miles more on the odometer. I spent some time on top of a mountain, some time in a valley, and most of the time painting and sketching. I did a few acrylic paintings on wooden boards salvaged from a dumpster.

Here's a few photos of painting "Intent"




These two, "Lemmikki Paws" (9"x13") and "Trondheim" (11.5"x24") are based on a some photos I took while learning to drive a dogsled and wrangle the dogs a few years ago.


"Cazador" (13"x14.5")
Jaguar, based on a couple photos I took of him at the Denver Zoo last fall.

Anyhow, I am back again and have a few things in mind to work on for AnthroCon, some emails to get back to, a couple loose ends to tie up, and the time (and stable Internet) to start digging into a few of those Hogwarts badges. Later today, I'll be posting the official Across Thin Ice release announcement! Stay tuned!