Heads up! "The Runaway Mummy" is front and center on this month's Scholastic SeeSaw Flyer. You can also get it with "Goodnight Goon" in the "Petrifying Parody Pack." Both are paperback.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Scholastic, Oct. 2010
Heads up! "The Runaway Mummy" is front and center on this month's Scholastic SeeSaw Flyer. You can also get it with "Goodnight Goon" in the "Petrifying Parody Pack." Both are paperback.
Time to Draw!
One of my promises to myself once grad school was over, was that I was going to take more time to draw. This morning I sat outside for two hours and worked on this drawing of the burnt out Kimball Theater in Yonkers.
When I first went there, it was no longer a theater, and had become a huge used furniture store. A few years later the junk stuffed store caught fire and now, as if it were on a movie set, it's just a facade.
I'm happy with the drawing, but I see lots of room for changes...
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Astronaut #9.5
Here's a new version of the caveman. Better, but I like the face on the first one. I think I should move on.
Astronaut #9
"Now me just have to invent fire!"
Finally, another astronaut. I like the idea of a caveman going into space, but I didn't push this far enough. I'm going to do this one again.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Interview and Pirates!
Last October I was still teaching full-time and some things slipped through the cracks. Author Michael P. Spradlin interviewed me for his blog, and I never linked to it. Today I shall make amends!
Interview
Michael’s most recent book is the very salty Pirate Haiku
And, here's a drawing of a pirate I did. He's stealing a pickle. Because that's what pirates do. They steal.
Interview
Michael’s most recent book is the very salty Pirate Haiku
And, here's a drawing of a pirate I did. He's stealing a pickle. Because that's what pirates do. They steal.
I'm Back
Wow! Has it really been so long since I last posted? Where did the summer go?
Honestly, I know exactly where the summer went. I drew an entire 112 page graphic novel that I hope to show soon. I was either at the draft board drawing or with my family doing fun things like going to Ocean City (NJ), visiting the USS Intrepid and every nature center within an hour’s drive.
In the meantime, the Goon is still saying goodnight…
The Mummy is still running away…
And George is still furious…
Honestly, I know exactly where the summer went. I drew an entire 112 page graphic novel that I hope to show soon. I was either at the draft board drawing or with my family doing fun things like going to Ocean City (NJ), visiting the USS Intrepid and every nature center within an hour’s drive.
In the meantime, the Goon is still saying goodnight…
The Mummy is still running away…
And George is still furious…
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
"Furious George Goes Bananas!" Live! Behind The Scenes!
As promised, today we wander deep into the black-box jungle for a behind the scenes peek at the talent swinging onto stage in this season’s simian smash, “Furious George Goes Bananas!” Live!
Produced by The Chatham Community Players, it featured the primal playacting of performer Chris Furlong. His hair-raising rendition of the hirsute hero moved the audience to laughter, tears, and eventually further from the stage. His chest-beating bravura brought the house down in a furry and ferocious tour–de-furiousness!
As writer/director/illustrator/producer/stage technician, Michael Rex, said of his star “He monkeyed around real good! He’s a top-shelf trooper!” On the flip side, Rex denies having said, “He got the part because he had the suit!” while stepping out for an early morning donut break.
More on the fur suited Furlong! He’s been swinging around on stage for many, many years and is now goes bananas as a Teaching Assistant at the NJ FILM SCHOOL!
This pic shows the massive sets that Rex and co. slaved over for their two show run of “Furious George Goes Bananas!” Live! In the inset, is thesp Furlong having a rare, out-of-mask experience.
Produced by The Chatham Community Players, it featured the primal playacting of performer Chris Furlong. His hair-raising rendition of the hirsute hero moved the audience to laughter, tears, and eventually further from the stage. His chest-beating bravura brought the house down in a furry and ferocious tour–de-furiousness!
As writer/director/illustrator/producer/stage technician, Michael Rex, said of his star “He monkeyed around real good! He’s a top-shelf trooper!” On the flip side, Rex denies having said, “He got the part because he had the suit!” while stepping out for an early morning donut break.
More on the fur suited Furlong! He’s been swinging around on stage for many, many years and is now goes bananas as a Teaching Assistant at the NJ FILM SCHOOL!
This pic shows the massive sets that Rex and co. slaved over for their two show run of “Furious George Goes Bananas!” Live! In the inset, is thesp Furlong having a rare, out-of-mask experience.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
"Furious George Goes Bananas" Live! The Opposite of Avatar!
On Saturday, June 12th, I had a dream come true. With some fantastic help, I put on a play of one of my books at The Chatham Playhouse, home of the Chatham Community Players, in New Jersey. I had done many shows there as a child, and cut my acting teeth on that very stage!
We performed an awesome, amazing, and exhilarating version of my latest book, “Furious George Goes Bananas!” It was as if the illustrations walked right off the page and onto center stage!
We went all out on the production! No prop was too intricate! No costume was too outlandish! No spectacle was too elaborate! The following shots are from the first of two packed performances.
Which is the book?
Which is the stage show?
I dare you to tell the difference!
Here, in an early pivotal scene, the Man in the Funny Hat lures George with a pile of bananas! Such authenticity!
Midway through the story, the drama heats up, and George gets furious at a construction site! Such vision!
In the penultimate scene, George is taken advantage of by a scientist! Such pathos!
Laughs! Heartache! Whimsy! Histrionics! It had it all!
Stay tuned for more!
We performed an awesome, amazing, and exhilarating version of my latest book, “Furious George Goes Bananas!” It was as if the illustrations walked right off the page and onto center stage!
We went all out on the production! No prop was too intricate! No costume was too outlandish! No spectacle was too elaborate! The following shots are from the first of two packed performances.
Which is the book?
Which is the stage show?
I dare you to tell the difference!
Here, in an early pivotal scene, the Man in the Funny Hat lures George with a pile of bananas! Such authenticity!
Midway through the story, the drama heats up, and George gets furious at a construction site! Such vision!
In the penultimate scene, George is taken advantage of by a scientist! Such pathos!
Laughs! Heartache! Whimsy! Histrionics! It had it all!
Stay tuned for more!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Live Action Preview...
Here's a shot from the past weekend. The "Live Action Furious George Goes Bananas" went over very well, and was lots of fun. I'll more pics in a few days, as I have to get them sorted. We had a full gorilla costume, and made a few additions to it to make it look more like George in the book.
Today I'm banging out a cover for my next book, which I hope to announce soon.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Furious George Live!
Heads up! I am doing a "live" version of "Furious George Goes Bananas" this Saturday at the Chatham Community Players in my home town, Chatham NJ. The show is coming together very quickly and will be a little rough around the edges, but I do know that we've got a guy in a gorilla suit! What could be better? Shows are at 11:30 and 1:30. I'll also be doing a "live" reading my first book, 1997's "The Painting Gorilla." (Sadly, it went out of print about two years ago.)
Please stop by for the show and to say hello. I'll also be siging copies of "Furious George."
Monday, June 7, 2010
Furious George Review #4
Betsy Bird, who Forbes Magazine called “the most powerful blogger in kids’ books,” wrote an incredible review of “Furious George Goes Bananas” back in January. I was waiting for the book to come out to post the review, however, Betsy’s gigantic Blog is migrating, and the review is not currently available. However, she kindly put up a copy at Amazon.
“There is no feeling in the world quite like returning to a picture book you loved as a kid, only to discover how weird or disturbing that book was all along. A lot of adults experience this when they first have kids of their own and want to read them the books they used to love. The green elephant in Babar. The unapologetic nudist in In the Night Kitchen. And then there's Curious George. That happy little monkey has long since had his adventures adapted into movies, television shows, spin-offs, and even iPod apps. But when you go back and reread the original stories you may find yourself more than a little perturbed by what he experiences. Michael Rex sure was…”
Read the rest here…
Thanks Betsy!
Forbes
Betsy’s Blog
Saturday, June 5, 2010
More Peaches...
Here's another drawing of my caveman character, Peaches. He just got some new sneakers and he loves them! Just a goofy watercolor/ink with brush test.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
BookPage Interview
I was recently interviewed by BookPage, which is a free review journal with a circulation of 400,000. As you can see, they inteview the author/illustrators in a really fun way. It was great to be asked to do this, as it shows strong support for Furious George. This is a scan from the actual paper, you can click it to see it larger. I think the link will be up soon.
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