Friday, December 30, 2016

Mike Vosburg Interview: Comics, Art & Los Angeles Life!

 Mike Vosburg is a legendary artist. He's one of our favorite customers, for good reason! He's been innovating & elevating artistically for 50+ years. We sat down with the penciling & inking icon for a few exclusive questions that goes deeper than comics.





Do you remember the first piece of art you made?

I remember as a youngster I was always doodling…but it wasn’t until I was
in sixth grade that I met a friend who go me into drawing my own home made
comics. We’d trade them back and forth and had our own little company.
It taught me the basis of storytelling and was great fun.


Favorite comic book art you've ever done?


My Lori Lovecraft series was certainly my favorite; I’ve always preferred
doing my own creator owned projects. There really isn’t much of
anything I was overly fond of in commercial comics that I did.




Tell us about your role in the Chronicles of Narnia Movies.


It was a very low time in my career as  all my regular avenues of work had seemed
to have dried up. I met another friend  serendipitously and he suggest I drop
a portfolio off at the film he was working on. A couple months later I was working
on The Lion,Witch and Wardrobe, and my connection to the series kept me
working for years. It was the first time I worked storyboarding on a live action film.
They were very happy with me, and I was ecstatic working for Walden and their
folks. 


Favorite place to eat in Los Angeles?


A local place on Foothill called Everest. When I walk in everyone calls me Mikey.


Comics is very low on my list of favorite things. Much prefer film, sports, movies,  books,etc.


Best moment of 2016?

Traveling in Arizona and stopping in Jerome and visiting Taliesan in Phoenix.


What are your plans and goals for 2017?


Keeping enjoying life and doing what I do as well as I can.

Anything else you'd like to add?


I am really thankful that I live in sunny Southern Calif. and that I’m in a vibrant
city surrounded by lots of super creative folks. What a fun and exciting life.


Check out more updates from Mike at his blog!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Burbank's Convergence of Aerospace & Entertainment: The Story of Lockheed

 A big part of Burbank history was the presence of Lockheed as a major aerospace manufacturer. From before WWII and in to the 1980’s, the company had a large presence in Burbank. At its peak, in 1943, Lockheed employed around 94,000 people. Part of the property occupied by Lockheed is the current home of the Empire Center, a retail hub. The large signs locating that center have various airplanes gracing their tops. Younger people may not know why that theme for the signs came about. Consider it an acknowledgment of the Lockheed history.  





Today, Burbank is home to major entertainment studios and hundreds of other businesses that are part of the media industry. While there are still some smaller aerospace companies here, that industry is largely gone.    


During WWII, the then "relatively new” entertainment industry and Lockheed were connected by a very vital project.   


Lockheed and other companies in the area were a big part of the wartime effort to supply the planes needed to fight the war. In February of 1942, a Japanese submarine fired upon an oil facility in nearby Santa Barbara. Concerned that the enemy could enact further attacks on the West Coast and endanger the manufacturing of military hardware, the Army Corps of Engineers took action.



The goal was to protect Lockheed from being located and attacked. The “bright idea” was to camouflage the facility so it would not be visible from the air and subject to attack. To accomplish this, set dressers, painters and artists from the local studios were hired to create coverings that would show a rural landscape of trees, fields, farm houses and other imagery.


Imagine a massive manufacturing facility covered by canopies with rural scenery painted on top, complete with the placement of small farm buildings and trees to create a full three dimensional appearance.   That is exactly what occurred. From the air, there was no visible evidence of a wartime manufacturing facility. Someone in a plane flying a few thousand feet above would essentially see rural farmland, of no interest to an enemy wanted to attack production facilities. 




So, we have the economic engine of Burbank from decades ago being assisted by the world of entertainment, which is of course a major part of the business base in the Burbank of today. Interesting convergence, isn’t it?


For more of this history, you can check this link:
www.militarystory.org/how-the-military-hid-the-lockheed-burbank.html

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Roger Black & Waco O'Guin Talk Brickleberry, The Damn Show & Yucko The Clown - December 2016 Interview!

 We caught up with the legendary Waco O'Guin and Roger Black for a rare, exclusive interview! Creators of The Damn Show, Brickleberry & Yucko The Clown; Roger & Waco are busy working on new television projects to end out 2016. This hilarious duo let us in on a few secrets about their characters, personal life & shows. It's a must see!





What is your favorite show that you've created or worked on?

Between our show Stankervision on MTV and Brickleberry on Comedy Central, we would have to say Brickleberry. We had a lot more creative freedom on Brickleberry and loved the characters. Roger and I got to do a lot of voices.

Which social media has been the biggest outlet for Damn Show?

Probably Youtube for The Damn Show. We have had over 60 million views on there! Facebook has been a great social media outlet for Brickleberry. We have over 500,000 likes now.


What is it like being Yucko The Clown? 

Roger: The costume is really smelly. BUT it's pretty cathartic to say anything to someone and people not take it too serious. That's why I decided to dress up as a clown. 

Favorite spot to eat in Los Angeles?

Waco : Tallyrand in Burbank. It's the best breakfast joint in Los Angeles.

Roger: Katsuya in Studio City. Love their Crab Hand rolls! 


What is something that fans don't know about you that they probably should?

Waco : I use baby wipes.

Roger: I collect comic books, and cried at the end of the Notebook.


What was the best moment of 2016?
The Brickleberry comic books came out this year! We were super excited to tell more Brickleberry stories! 
 
What are some goals & plans for 2017?
Waco and Roger: To get another kickass show on the air!


   


Make sure to check out The Damn Show Youtube ChannelBrickleberry's Facebook page & stay tuned for Roger & Waco's newest endeavors!

Friday, December 2, 2016

The Art of Jov Interview! December 2016 Exclusive

 One of our favorite customers is Los Angeles freelance artist Jov. He's had a busy 2016 with bookings & online sales. "The Art of Jov" has garnered an online & in-person following using his Instagram as a digital portfolio for the world to see.




Who are your biggest inspirations?

Oh, man... too many to name but right off the bat: Jim Lee, Joe Madureira (Joe Mad!), Kim Jung Gi, James Jean and Jeremy Fish
 

Do you remember the first time you created art as a kid? When was it?

Besides at school... I remember when I first saw a sketchbook. I was 6 or 7 years old. It was my Uncle's sketchbook and when he would leave the house, I'd sneak in his room and check out his work. He would tag, come up with characters and from then on... I was mind blown. I would constantly check out that sketchbook and even trace whatever he drew. I would even draw really light like him, so you won't see any previous lines after erasing. I would also use any pocket change my parents would give me and buy Bazooka Joe gum. Rip them open, throw away the gum, read the mini comics that came in them and copy each panel.


What's your favorite piece that you've done?

I have a few that when I look back... I tell myself, "I can't believe I did that." To name a few, it would be: Link from The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past, Voltron and any piece that I used just INK. Those are special because finishing it without any smears is an achievement in my book. 
 


Favorite spot to eat in Los Angeles?

LEO'S TACOS in Eagle Rock! It's a taco truck that posts up Tuesday - Sunday. I've been going there since 2000. Even my daughter and dog dig it. 
 

Favorite spot to have fun or relax in Los Angeles?
Nothing beats home. I'm a homebody. Movie or music playing in the background while drawing or hanging out with my daughter and dog. But outside of home? I'd say you'd find me at a bookstore (Skylight Books), Wacko, Little Tokyo in L.A., Amoeba Music, Comic Book shops: Secret Headquarters or House of Secrets and at the movies; preferably where you can choose your seats. 
 

What was your favorite moment of 2016?

A lot of memorable moments happened in 2016... but to choose one and to sum it all up... my event bookings doubled! Which means more business and each of them were successful. I am truly blessed and grateful.
 

What are your goals in 2017?

To be in more conventions selling my artwork. Starting 2017 with my first convention at Silicon Valley Con. I'm super stoked about that. 



Click here to visit Jov's online shop!

 

Anything else you'd like to add?
I would like to thank you for giving me your time, thank you for the people what will be reading this. Also, many thanks to my constant supporters. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them. Live, Love, Be Happy, Stay Positive and Kill It everyday! Lastly, please check out all my artwork and where I'll post up... here:

www.instagram.com/the_art_of_jov
www.facebook.com/theartofjov
www.theartofjov.bigcartel.com