Friday, December 29, 2006

eBay Auction - Spider Woman

Hi all. I've put one of my last drawings of the year up for auction. It's a cool maker drawing of Spider Woman. You can check out the auction by clicking here, or go to the store section for more info.

I'm starting an eBay mailing list to let people know of my upcoming auctions. If you'd like to sign up for my eBay mailing list use the contact page to send me your e-mail address.

Happy bidding and Happy New Years Everyone!

Sunday, December 10, 2006

10/19 - Nintendo Wii - a 12 hour odyssey



6:45 – I woke up early to head over to my local target store to acquire the new Nintendo Wii for my girlfriend, Sandra. She had awoken before me as she was eagerly awaiting this new console as well. She is a huge old school Nintendo fan, so this system’s ability to play all the original games is a huge appeal to her.


7:20 – We hopped on a bus over to the target to get the Wii. We were in no real hurry to get there. We just needed to be there by the time the store opened, which would be no prob.


7:50 – We arrived at target expecting a free for all. Under those odds I was pretty sure I’d get one.


7:52 – I found out I underestimated Targets competence. Either A) Their employees really just don’t give a damn/don’t know shit, or B) This Target here in Brooklyn made a last minute decision to pass out tickets for the Wii, like other retail and electronic stores. Unlike the other stores Target told no one in advance. Tickets were on a first come first serve basis and they passed them out promptly at 7:00am, 1 HOUR before they opened. The Tickets were all gone. Thanks Target!


7:54 – I wasn’t knocked off my horse on getting a Wii, I knew there were plenty in the city (Manhattan). To my knowledge when big events like this happen the Toys R Us in Time SQ always has plenty of everything. If it were up to me that’s where I would have gotten the Wii from, but that’s before we ran into the “Girl in Red” …


7:56 - The Girl in Red was another very unhappy customer who was trying to get her Nintendo Wii without having to leave Brooklyn. She came from around the corner on blast to all Target employees. The “Girl in Red” put us on to the Nintendo store here in NY. Thanks Girl in Red!




8:00 – We hopped on the N Train headed to the Nintendo store. We didn’t know exactly where it was, but we had a good idea thanks to the “Girl in Red”, and we also knew Toys R Us was near by there as well.

8:50 – The train took quite awhile. When we came out in Times SQ we were right next to the Toys R Us. There was another special event going on there and the Toys R Us didn’t open to the public until noon. So we moved on headed to the Nintendo store.

8:55- We passed by a Virgin Mega Store. It was opening in a few minutes so we waited to see if they had any systems available.


9:01 - They did not. They had a few games but that’s it so we moved on.


9:05 - When we arrived in the area of the Nintendo store we knew we were in the right place by the huge line wrapping around a New York City block. I took some pics then we went straight to the back of the line.






9:06 - We met a very cool family behind us while we began to wait. There were two parents hoping to acquire a Wii for their son. Actually he was trying to acquire it himself, paying with his own money. Lil’ man had money from his job and for eBay sales. Now that’s what’s up!


9:15 – It was cold! Sandra went off to get me a hat and gloves for our wait.


9:20 - There were Nintendo employees walking up and down the line, checking things out and counting.


9:25 – Feeling much warmer I was better pre paired for the long wait.


9:32 – Nintendo employees called for people with preorders to come to the front of the line. We moved up a little.


10:00 – I stepped out of line to take a walk and see how long the line was. It was really long. News crews were still out filming at the front of the line.


10:30 – Sandra stepped out of line for a walk. We moved up a little.


10:32 – Nintendo employees called for people with preorders to come to the front of the line. We moved up a little.


11:00 - They would warn us at times that they were unsure if everyone online would get one. We continued to wait.


11:30 – Sandra got us something to snack on while we waited. I continued to chat with the cool family behind us. We moved up a little.


11:47 – Sandra came back and we eat a bit. Nintendo employees called for people with preorders to come to the front of the line. We moved up a little.


12:00 – We weren’t expecting to spend the day in line, but I knew it would be worth it, having played the system at work. Sandra was a little less convinced by now, never having played the system, but was still ready to stick it out.


12:35 – Nintendo employees called for people with preorders to come to the front of the line. We moved up a little.


1:05 - Two of the employees started to pass out Mario and Yoshi key chains, a scary omen…the consolation prize.




1:30 - Still online clinging to the knowledge that NYC was getting plenty of Wii’s and that the Nintendo Store of all places in NYC would have the most, we stuck it out. We moved up a little.


2:00 – Sandra went across the street to eat and sit inside a warm spot for a bit. We moved up a little.


2:30 – I went across the street to eat and sit inside a warm spot for a bit. They moved up a little.


3:00 – Nintendo employees called for people with preorders to come to the front of the line. We moved up a little.


3:20 - We finally made it around to the storefront. By this time they had cut the line off well past us so we knew we were in the clear. YEA!


3:30 - The inside of the Store was awesome. It's interior was very cool. It had a clean and sleek setup. Cool gear, games and memorabilia, and plenty of consoles were hooked up to flat screen TV’s for customers to play. Check out this pic of the inside. You can visit the site here.




3:32 - The store was closed for Wii purchases only, so there was no insanity at all. Everything was very orderly. They were splitting the line and serving people on the bottom and top floor. We were pointed to the stairs to the top floor.




3:45 – Still on the stairs going up.


4:00 – At the top of the stairs. I was excited cuz I though I was so close, but we learned the line wrapped around the whole top of the floor. Still a good wait left. Lil man was excited too.




4:15 - The big windows allowed us to look on the people still waiting in line onside behind us, as well as the new and on lookers. A friend from college was ahead of me. Sup Playa!




4:30 - It was one of anything per person, not household, so parents and kids were waking out with their own Wii’s. Sandra bought an extra system to flip at a later time. (My man Mike got the pleasure of owning it.)


4:40 – We did it! The Wii was ours!



4:43 - Since I could only get one game and one extra controller, after our purchase we headed to Toys R Us to get some extra supplies.


4:50 - The setup at Toys R Us was a disaster. A DISASTER! It was awful, lol. They didn’t shut down the game area to Wii customers only, so there were a tremendous amount of people their buying any and everything. There were big bins full of random crap. You literally had to reach in and hope to get lucky with what you come up with.


5:00 - After getting the supplies we waited in a line that did like three figure 8s back and forth though the store. It was dark and uncomfortable. I probably could have just picked up a Wii and put it in my Nintendo bag and walked out. It was that sloppy!


5:30 - We were both happy to get the hell out of there and head home.


6:15 - When we got home we were tired and glad to be back. We took the time to rest and chill for a bit.






7:00 - We hooked up the Wii and started playing. Man it’s such a fun system! From Bowling to Tennis, the new Zelda to the Old Zelda (yea, we got both) it’s hot to death!


Of course this will cut into my work time but it’s well worth it. I was getting little use from my Xbox, and my PS2 is now my DVD player. I don’t plan on getting a PS3 anytime soon if ever. I’ll most likely get the Xbox 360, but probably not before I get my HDTV!
That’s it for now. I’ve got to do some work so I can go play the Wii. Peace.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

10/18 – NYC Big Apple Con Part2

I got up on this Saturday morning, in no hurry mind you, and got ready for the Con. I had some coffee and eggs, watched the news, and then got my prints and supplies ready. I think the con started around 10 and I aimed to get there at 10:30, but I walked in at about 11:30 or so. I was running late but I didn’t care, lol. I was tired and moving slow, so I was just happy I made it there. I was excited to go mind you, but more for the opportunity to just chill and draw then anything else. It’s always dope to draw around other artists. I went to up to the table and dropped off my stuff. I hadn’t eaten much and since it wasn’t too busy I rolled out to grab something to snack on. I figured it would be best to go now before it got busy.

When I came back I set up shop and started to do some sketches. I did quite a few and had a good time just drawing. It’s been awhile since I’ve just sat and drew something for fun so that was real cool. I had my prints on the wall and the originals on the table.



Khary had a nice setup and was doing pretty well as always. He was pretty booked with sketch commissions and sold a few pages while I was there. Cha ching! A few people who we knew stopped by to say what up, and there were others who came by just to give props. I did two quick pencil sketches for some fans before I bounced out early around three.


Before I took off, while I was standing out side, I saw Travis Charest taking a break. I didn’t want to bother him, but his line was insane upstairs and I was about to leave so I holla’d at him. I only talked to him for a few moments, but he’s a big inspiration to me so it made the whole con well worth it.

Two of the sketches I did at this con will go up for auction on eBay soon. One is of Batman, the other is a drawing of a woman titled “The Hot Chick”. Both were done using pen and ink, as well as markers for shading. Each one is in a 5x7 frame, one black one mahogany. Each will start at $10. I’ll put up more info in the store section when they are ready for auction.




When I got home from the Con I did some more work on the freelance animation gig I’ve mentioned from time to time. Still high off the buzz from the talent at the con I really got into what I was doing on it. I can’t show you anything yet, but hold tight…wait for it. ☺

Wes

10/17 - NYC Comic Con - Part 1

On this weekend (Fri - Sun) Khary Randolph was holdin' it down at the NYC Comic Con across from Penn Station. He was kind enough to offer me a spot with him at the table so I had a chance to go. I headed over to the con late Friday night just to check out the lay of the land. My younger sis Alesha, a talented young artist in her own right, was with me as she had just arrived in town. When we got there Khary met us down stairs. My sis went to go grab some food, and Khary and I went back in. I picked up a badge and we headed upstairs to the back where his table was (In the Artist Alley area). Khary had some customers waiting as always, so I went to check out the rest of the con.

By this point it was late, so a lot of spots were already closed. I took my time as I walked around. I saw a lot of stuff, but most was uninteresting to me. There were a few things here and there but noting jumpin’ out to grab me. Translation, my money stayed in my pocket, lol.

I did however run into actor Scott Schwatrz in the Cleb section. Adam West was still there with a line of people waiting. Bruce Leroy was gone already, but even when I did see him the next day I kept walkin’, lol. I like the Last Dragon but felt no need to holla at him.
Since It was late and the only line was for Adam, I chilled with Scott for a while. I'm glad no one was waiting for him (for my own selfish reason which I'll explain right now) as it gave me time to really talk to him. He's a great guy, and I happen to love him in Ocean’s 11 and 12. I'm looking forward to 13. Talking to him I also learned more about his work, which was real cool to me. He’s been in other movies I like, tho I never realized he was in them, ha! I gotta go back a re watch a few things. ;)





After that I went back to Khary’s table and chilled there for a bit. Near by were amazing artists such as Travis Charest and Cully Hamner. Trav was doing sketches with a long line of people waiting for more. I wanted to holla at him but he was very focused on the sketch he was doing. Cully was choppin' it up with a young artist. The conversation veered off from art and onto comic related movies, which is not uncommon. I had to laugh as Cully’s views seemed to stun the youngster, but the more stunned he got, the more questions he asked. After the good laugh I gave Cully props on his work and told him I'd holla at him tomorrow ( Tho I never did get a chance to go back and see him).

My sis hit me the she was back from getting food, so I headed out. On my way out ran in to the awesome artist Afua. I passed her my badge so she could run in for a sec. While she went in I said goodbye to my sis who was in town for a friends birthday. Her hotel was right by the con and her other friends were arriving soon. Not long after she left Afua came down with Cully and gave me back the badge. With my badge in hand and my mind buzzin with inspiration II bounced home to get ready for the next day.