Super Sunday!

by DMC on February 7, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized

Yep, Super Bowl Sunday is here! Today the largest television spectacle in the world will take place. Great football, halftime concert, and the best commercials known to man!

While every Sunday should be “super” for Christians, as that is usually the day that we participate in corporate worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we know that sometimes life can get in the way and take the “super” out of our Sundays. However, I believe today will truly be super for all of us!

There will be a Christian based Super Bowl commercial featuring Tim Tebow and his mother. The theme is Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life and the ad was created by Focus on the Family. Look at God! Jesus continues to make His presence known at this global event. Starting with Tom Landry, remember my first Christian comic was “Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys”. Then continuing with the likes of Kurt Warner, Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, all who are outspoken about Jesus Christ. Now we can add Tim Tebow to that list, not as a participant in the game, but in a commercial! Jesus has transcended the game into the advertisements! I can just see the growth, this should be a yearly thing, there are enough Christian athletes, financial people, advertising people, and television people to make this happen. Praise God for using Focus on the Family to kick this thing off!

So let’s be encouraged and stand firm in our faith because today is truly a Super Sunday!

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Today is a good Day!

by DMC on January 31, 2010 at 11:50 am
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We get to eat some meat! We will break our “Daniel Fast” today after church. Three weeks of no meat, desserts, alcohol, coffee, etc. The best thing about it is that God grew us during this period. Wifey and I spoke at a marriage workshop yesterday and that is a huge stretch for us. We’ve served in our church’s marriage ministry for over 10 years, mentoring pre-marital and married couples. This entails use working couple on couple and in small groups where both of us are comfortable, but public speaking in front of many people has never been our thang.

We had to trust God and allow him to use us in a way that we weren’t comfortable with, which made us rely on him even more. In addition to us there were two other couples who God used to impart wisdom on how to divorce proof your marriage in today’s times. The workshop was a success!

My family is healthy and intact, God has used us to minister in a way that is new to us, I’ve seen some more inspiring artwork which has gotten me pumped to draw the next page of the book, and I get to eat meat! What more could I ask for?! I’m praising Him now and I’m ‘bout to go to church and praise Him some more!

Halleluiah!

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Haiti Quake

by DMC on January 24, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized

In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti I encourage you to give whatever you can. I’m sure you are well aware of all of the organizations you can give to in order to provide monetary support as well as the various ways to do so, which include texting from your cell phone, so I won’t go into those. I simply say give!

If you don’t have money to donate then consider other ways to help like donating time. Many local churches are doing things to provide support so this may be a viable way for you to contribute. Remember every little bit helps!

I’ll also add this…remember to pray for everyone there. You may not know anyone from Haiti personally, I know I don’t, but we should still try to personalize it. I’m a member of a very large church and our pastor asked the congregation if they knew anyone who had been affected by the earthquake. Many people came forward and this put a “face” on this tragedy for me. It just makes it far less removed when the family member of a person affected by the quake is standing right in front of you.

So continue to pray, and give whatever, whenever you can!

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What’s in Your Library?

by DMC on January 17, 2010 at 12:02 pm
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I want to take a moment out to talk about some books that I find helpful during this process. Now let me just say that these books work for ME. The reason is because in addition to offering me useful information they also inspire me. I get geeked and excitied about drawing when referring to these books, and I believe that’s the key.

For the most part, in instructional books I look for a few things:

  1. Subject matter that will help me strengthen my weaknesses.
  2. Clear language and instruction, it’s important to explain techniques and terminology clearly.
  3. Examples that demonstrate the lessons they are teaching.
  4. Inspiration, I don’t know what it is for sure that inspires me but I believe it’s the art examples inside the book. However, it could be the design of the book…or both.  I have other comic drawing books that meet my first three criteria, but they don’t inspire me.

Here are the ones I’ve used the most:

How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way – This book is by Stan Lee and John Buscema. I purchased it when I was about 13 or 14 years old. Good thing I bought the hard cover ‘cause I’m still using it 30 years later. This book covers everything on how to draw comics, including inking. The chapter on composition has helped me the most. It has extremely clear examples of bad and good composition right next to each other.

Understanding Comics – This book is by Scott McCloud and is actually drawn as a comic book.  It provides a history on comics/sequential art but it has helped me most with story telling. I really like how it breaks down time with regards to the gutter between panels…good stuff.

Drawing Crime Noir for Comics and Graphic Novels – This book is by Christopher Hart. If your project has scenes at night, in dark seedy areas, with a criminal element, this is a must have. The rendered examples are outstanding! I’ve never been good at shading so the chapter on shadows has helped me immensely.

Vanishing Point – This book is by Jason Cheeseman-Meyer. I had been looking for books on perspective to help me with my environments. Finally I came across this one…thank God! It breaks down every type of perspective you need in very clear, understandable language. I use the chapter on two-point perspective the most.

The complete Idiots guide to Creating a Graphic Novel – This book is by Nat Gertler and Steve Lieber. It provides everything you need to know about creating comics. It focuses more on creating the book as a whole rather than drawing it. The chapters on scripts and publishing have really enlightened me.

I’ve always been one to use books to learn stuff on my own. When you have a moment, take a trip to your local book store and just hang out!

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Christian Comic Arts Society

by DMC on January 10, 2010 at 2:16 pm
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I went to the local meeting for CCAS last night. This was my second time attending as I’m trying to make it a priority for 2010. It was fantastic! There is something to be said for people getting together with common interests. It was iron sharpening iron as everyone there has a desire to use their creative gifts for the Kingdom of God.

With that said, I went in looking at it as a sort of support group that would provide, in addition to the word of God, encouragement, tips, techniques, knowledge, etc. on comics and specifically the Christian comics arena. It turned out to be just that and more! Wow, this group was diversely talented with a wealth of knowledge that everyone was willing to share. But that’s not all, in addition to providing support to one another, it’s also a Ministry.

The group tries to provide a Christian presence at many of the comic conventions across the country. What a way to fulfill the great commission!

Mathew 28: 19-20 says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The comic book industry is fairly dark where the product is concerned and a presence at these conventions gives us the opportunity to allow our light to shine. As more books are created specifically for the advancement of God’s Kingdom, we will be able to win more souls for Christ as well as provide encouragement and great entertainment for walking Christians and the rest of the world!

Kudos to CCAS, I’m proud to be a member!

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