With mixed feelings I can announce that my longtime association with Sketch Magazine is seemingly over now after 13 printed ‘Inkblots’ columns for issues 30-40 and now 42, my final printed one for the publisher Blue Line Pro (5 later columns were posted online at FirstComicsNews, 2 originally intended for the magazine here and here, so I’ve done 18 in all). The great benefits from the arrangment, initiated by editor, artist and pal Bill Nichols, allowed me to add the position of columnist to my resume and also gave me a format to ‘create’ The Inkwell Awards concept in issue 35. Unfortunately, there were regrets along the way. My column article names were usually altered, sometimes the wrong titles for the actual feature. Attached files weren’t always used. A two-part column was printed out of order with part two first…it took two issues for them to print both parts together to make ammends, minus files. And scheduling was really behind. It took months to years to get particular issues shipped.  One reason for this was due to some personal trauma in Bill’s case, leading to him to drop out as editor, placing John Wilson in charge but only for an issue, and then Bill returned. There might have also been some confusion turmoil behind the scenes with the publisher and staff (my emails were not always replied to and if they were, I wasn’t feeling the love). Anyway, I don’t recall if that’s why my column was skipped for issue 41.  But readers didn’t realize that many of the articles were submitted years before they saw print as I wrote up several of them in 2006-7. The most disappointing aspect of this relationship was that I only got cover hype on issues 30-32 and 39 even though I was the only regular columnist they had which felt like a snub. And the last issue not only changed my title again but the magazine didn’t even lable my column as ‘Inkblots’, only  the generic ‘Inking’.  It’s like they forgot I’d been in ten consecutive issues with that label.

So I may not get paid for typing up articles for Rik Offenberger at FCN, but at least I have full control there. Sadly, between personal issues, work assignments and obligations with running my Inkwell Awards, I haven’t been able to post anything new there for some time.  But I intend to once I have a window because I still had other topics in mind while working for BlueLinePro.  Another plus from this experience is that early on I asked Bill if I could use my columns anywhere else after they debuted in the magazine and he said yes. My hope is that should time ever allow, I would love the compile all of the articles from both Sketch and FCN in order and make all the necessary edits so that they appear as original intended with proper titles and images.  This book would then be sold via the Inkwell Awards so that all sales would go to my official not-for-profit charity.  That way maybe some worthwhile and longterm good would come from this history.

For those who have been used to me being a staple of the Pittsburgh Comicon since 2003, with deep regret I’m sorry to announce that I will not be attending this year’s show on September 27-29 due to financial issues.  I will miss seing my friends there.

I’m back!  Having completed two issues of GF1 (GREEN FORCE ONE): TSUNAMI over Geof Isherwood‘s pencils for Heroes of the North, I was expecting new pages for issue three any day now when the scedule got changed and now I have 2-3 weeks open….ah, the unpredictable scheduling life of a freelancer;-)  There’s still no word on when the series will debut online and I’m regrettably not at the liberty to preview any of the art.

So after catching up on some life loose ends and Inkwell Awards matters (and I’m going on walks!), I decided to update the website.  The Store page is updated with two new prints for sale and many items like most of the discounted trades and my last sketchbook copies now marked as SOLD OUT!  For the Credits page I added Heroes of the North and GF1.  For the Gallery I added in the last commission I completed but hadn’t yet posted.

I will be catching up on some commissions for very patient client Damon Owens.  Hopefully I can knock those off and do the couple of pages for client Danny Best. With only 2-3 weeks free I’m reluctant to open up my commission list yet but should I find out that I’m almost done with the old ones and there’s still time left I will conatct my regulars for a heads up that I can take on a limited amount.  Maybe after GF1#3 is done I can publicly announce that the list is open again.

My non-profit Inkwell Awards is having it’s annual tradition of inviting the public to vote on the b犀利士
allot for their favorite ink artists.  This is only taking place from April 15-30 so please act now! We need your support!

This item “Creator Chronicles: Joe Sinnott” is solicited in the most-recent Diamond Previews catalog for November (although I don’t know the actual shipping date) from Amdale Media. I was interviewed a year and a half ago by Robin Dale at Pittsburgh Comicon on behalf of Joe Sinnott but I’m among many, much more-impressive creators with segments. Check out the first link above for more info!