Robot Comic #24

The moral of the story is NEVER TRY TO MAKE FRIENDS.

I guess if I'm going to be realistic and honest here on this blog (I generally have a more difficult time with the former) I should mention that there may be fewer comics than usual in the coming weeks. I have officially started coloring the third Zita book. Coloring these books is a long, zombifying process. It's gratifying, though, because hey, when you get to the end you have a book! But when I start to smell the graphic novel finish line I tend to work longer hours and leave less time for extra creative pursuits. Sadly this means fewer Robot Comics and Journal Comics.

But I'll keep the updates coming! Travels and signings coming up, and I've been meaning to scan and post some of the cool odds and ends from my sketchbook.

Right, okay, back to work...

Great hibblety jibbits! It's newspaper format!

JOLLY CONTEST WINNERS

Thanks to everyone who entered, spread the word about Legends of Zita, and left such kind, wonderful comments! This was fun. I wish I could send books to everyone.
With the help of the “True Random Number Generator” on the website “random.org” (what is this fuss about true randomness?!?) I’ve drawn our Jolly Contest Winners. And so without further ado...
The paperback copy of Legends goes to...
ELIZABETH BUTINA!
and the grand prize hardcover copy with art goes to...
Mellcia!
If you could both get in touch with me (benhatke by way of gmail or the address at this link) we can work out where to send your books.

New Robot Comic tomorrow!

Jolly Raffle Contest Time: Legends of Zita the Spacegirl!

It’s been a long wait (for me at least) but in just three short weeks Legends of Zita the Spacegirl will be released. I’m excited! And I kinda hope you guys are too. . .

Before the first book was released I raffled off a couple advanced copies, along with some original artwork. Not only was the whole “online contest” experience fun, but I think it helped spread the word about my little books. So I’m doing it again. Here’s how it works:

The AWESOME FIRST PLACE WINNER will receive a HARDCOVER copy of Legends of Zita the Spacegirl. They will also receive a small original watercolor (pictured below):

ohmygoshwhatmoredoyouwant?!?

The STILL PRETTY GREAT SECOND PLACE WINNER will receive a PAPERBACK copy of Legends of Zita and a bit of concept art.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment in the comments section for this post. Be sure to leave some kind of name! “Anonymous” can’t win.

Wait, what’s that? You want to increase your chance of winning? Mentioning the book, linking to this blog or Zitaspacegirl.com or otherwise spreading the word via social media (twitter, Facebook, Google+, blogs, etc) is worth TWO extra entries. (three entries is the maximum).

The contest closes ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. Entries will then go into a randomizer. Afterward I will post the name of the contest winners!

Final note about the prizes: due to my travel circumstances I am away from my author copies. The winners will have a choice of receiving an UNSIGNED copy from the publisher, close to or slightly before the release date (September 4th), or waiting until after September 15th and receiving their book SIGNED and DOODLED IN by me...

Painting Gravagna

This past weekend I celebrated the fact that 11 years ago I managed to talk an implausibly beautiful and intelligent girl into marrying me. I was a boy who had little to offer beyond vague aspirations toward being an “artist,” or maybe an “adventurer.” She was nineteen and a sophomore in college. On paper it looked a little rash.

But our friends came from far and wide for the wedding, some even arriving unannounced and camping on my parents lawn. They celebrated our rash vows. And you know...

...everything turned out okay.

For this 11th anniversary I gave Anna this painting of Gravagna, our beloved little village. (It’s the biggest landscape I’ve ever painted). For the rest of you I offer Chesterton’s essay “In Defense of Rash Vows."

Creating this painting was an interesting and sometimes challenging experience. Most of the work was done in late afternoon sessions, over the course of about 3 weeks, on a hillside about a mile or so from the village. Each day I wrapped the painting in an old sheet and walked to the hilltop to contend with the sun, snakes, and curious passers by. And the wind. Oh, the wind. A large canvas is really not much different than a sail...

But there really is no substitute to painting a subject from life. You learn more. Spend time really looking at a subject and, if you’re lucky and attentive, you might start to really see it. And that always feels like a miracle to me.

As one of my favorite teacher’s told me, “You can teach your hands to do anything. Art is in the eyes.”

Robot Comic #23

This one exists because Anna asked for a comic where the Little Robot meets a Porcini Mushroom. I don’t make a practice of doing comics requests, but come August 4th I’ll be 11 years married to this lady. I think she’s got some pull. And by “pull” I mean, of course, that in the runaway freight train of my life I think we all know who the conductor is.

(hint: my job is being all filthy and shoveling coal into the thing).

'Till next time!

Oh you like newspaper format?