ToomaHUEba!

My good friend Travis Eck just moved to Houston with his wife and kiddos, so the 4AFTER5 boys had a little get-together to say our goodbyes before he left. Trav's signature creation is Hue Snodgrass, a character he's been making comics about since his high school days. The dude even put out a hilarious full-color comic last year starring Hue and friends....you should buy it now, he does good work.

Anyway, I worked up a TOOMASOOBA version of Hue ("ToomaHUEba", that is) as a parting gift for Trav and I think he was pleased with the results. Take a look below.

We'll miss our buddy...but no worries, he will remain an official part of the 4AFTER5 gang. Plenty of jam comics and collaborations still to come, we promise!

"ToomaHUEba" alongside Trav's character design!

Shameless Plug...Holiday Edition!

Need a last minute Christmas gift? Well, my friend, you're in luck! The TOOMASOOBA Etsy Shop is stocked with all kinds of new items — super-soft (and super-sweet) shirts, new eye-popping prints, magnets and more! Click here to check it out and grab something today. Tell 'em Boomabot sent you.

White Rock Local Market

So we headed to Dallas last weekend to take part in the White Rock Local Market — this marked my third show in Texas and the first time to bring a tent. This made me feel very fancy. The weather was great, as were the crowds, and...well, I'll just let the pictures do the talking. Enjoy 'em!

Christmas in Roseland 2011

Last year around this time, Brad Campbell and I exhibited some artwork at The American Rose Center's "Christmas in Roseland"...this year, the whole 4AFTER5 gang is along for the ride! Below are several photos of our holiday-themed pieces on display through December 19th — head out to Greenwood this month to get the full holiday experience!

Official artwork for the "Deck These Halls" show.

Byron & friends representing for TOOMASOOBA.

Trav's "Portraits of Christmas" Series.

A look at some of Jeff's illustration.

Brad's Roofus art.

Boomabot Sighting

Rockin' out onstage with Aevory...take a listen on Facebook! Photo by Chris Lyon.

Zoom! Bang! Kapow!

Back in August, 4AFTER5 was asked to speak at the downtown Shreveport Public Library event "Zoom! Bang! Kapow!" to help celebrate the arrival of their massive new graphic novel collection. Even though only three of us were available to speak, we still had a great time. We got to talk about our work and draw some cartoons with those in attendance and even got to judge a costume contest...totally picked an 8-year-old Captain America as the winner. Enjoy a few pics below!

Show and tell.

I do believe I was drawing a monkey wearing a spacesuit in this photo.

Me, Travis, awesome librarian LeVette Fuller and Brad.

Inspiration Machine #4: Jon Klassen

I recently stumbled across the work of Jon Klassen via Drawn, and it's beautiful and moody and charming and I love it. Visit his website and blog and take in the muted colors and inviting textures...I've spent a lot of time poking through his art, and you should too.

Also, here is a trailer for his children's book, "I Want My Hat Back." It's good stuff:

One More Week @ Lilah's!

So I've had some art on the walls at Lilah's Bakery and Deli this month...and there's only one more week to check it out before it's all taken down on November 26th! If you haven't stopped by for some TOOMASOOBA and lunch (or a killer cupcake), now is the time to do so. Many thanks to Erin Fort of the Noel Community Arts Program and TK at Lilah's for helping hook this up. Y'all rock!

A handful of the TOOMASOOBA pieces on display.

Texas Avenue Makers Fair

The Makers Fair was held again last weekend...and, as always, it was awesome! I attended the first Fair in November 2010 and had a blast — met a ton of new friends, sold a few things and got inspired to get out there and get my art in front of people. Since that time, I've done a number of shows in the region and I really owe it all to the TAMF folks.

Anyway, there were a ton of cool vendors in attendance (like Christy Kirkley, Dylan Hillman and Nathan Treme to name a few), energetic crowds, wandering musicians, performance groups...you name it. I didn't get to step away from my table much to snap photos, but below are a few from the TOOMASOOBA vantage point. Many thanks to April Dahm and crew for making it one to remember. Mark your calendars for the next Makers Fair on March 17, 2012!

Trying to look casual at the TOOMASOOBA table. Photo by Michelle McCrary.

Abby McDade did some busking by my booth that afternoon...
violin and TOOMASOOBA make a good team.

Jeff's son Logan acted as my mini-salesman for a bit that day. What a pro.

Yuletide Preview

I know it's a bit early to bust out the seasons greetings (though I admit I am currently rocking out a Christmas playlist in iTunes), but I couldn't resist! The 4AFTER5 boys and I are already preparing for a holiday-themed show that will go up after Thanksgiving, so below is a little sneak peak of one of my pieces — "Santa's Little (Big) Helper".

Last year, Brad and I showed some work at the American Rose Center and we're happy to have the whole gang involved for 2011. To see all of our art, swing by "Christmas in Roseland" in Greenwood, LA, this November 25 through December 18...it's a fun time with lights and carols and the whole holiday thing! Hope to see you little elves there.

Upcoming Shows, Yo!

The holiday season is fast approaching...that means eating unhealthy amounts of candy corn, napping while the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade plays on television and taking in multiple viewings of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, among other awesomeness. I love it.

And this year, it also means a ton of TOOMASOOBA action! Check out the events page at toomasooba.com to learn more details about what's in store for the next couple of months. Indie craft fairs in Shreveport and Dallas, solo and group art shows...all kinds of excitement. Come on out and say hello!

Before & After #2: Lewis

Most of my designs begin with a sketch. Sometimes the finished illustration remains faithful to the drawing, and sometimes it ends up very different. Today for “Before & After” we've got a look at the evolution of Lewis, the TOOMASOOBA arcade game master!

New Toomatoons!

Been busy designing some new critters here at TOOMASOOBA HQ, and I think they're looking pretty cool. Take a look below for a sneak peek at Buckley, Lolly and Jasper...more coming soon!

Creature Feature #3: Mr. Darcy

(“Creature Feature” is a regular blog staple that puts the spotlight on a TOOMASOOBA creation and information on how it came to be!) 

Silly Little Story: Mr. Darcy juggles many interests -- he loves his garden, he is president of the local vinyl records club and he earns his living as a crossing guard. Mr. Darcy is also trying to build a time machine. Mr. Darcy is a very busy man.

Behind the Scenes: I originally created Mr. Darcy as part of a button set...I needed a few simple and bold designs that really stood out on a one inch "canvas", and I felt this guy really fit the bill. With the later addition of ears and a fancy hat, he ended up being featured in the Impromptu art show last spring. And no, I'm not exactly sure why I named him after a character from "Pride and Prejudice".

Shameless Plugs: Pick up a Mr. Darcy Shirt or grab some buttons featuring his face!

Journal Comics

Several months ago, the 4AFTER5 crew decided to try our hands at drawing some journal strips. In the tradition of James Kochalka and other online illustrators, we each recorded (in comic form) a moment or experience from our day...it could be funny or run-of-the-mill or, well, whatever. And we gave it a shot for one week -- not too long, really, but a fun experience nonetheless.

Click here to read the seven comics created by yours truly!

One of the strips "starring" myself and my good buddy Jonathan.

Inspiration Machine #3: ReGeared

I first met Rachel Spire of ReGEARED at the 2011 Spring Handmade Bash in Dallas and took to her work right off the bat. She creates furniture, clocks, art and more from reclaimed gears and other old bike parts. I do quite a bit of mountain biking in my spare time and I love unique decorative pieces, so I had no choice but to buy something from her booth immediately! I'm looking at a bike gear clock on my mantle as I type this entry, as a matter of fact.

If you're into outdoor sports (or even if you're not), visit the ReGEARED Etsy shop and website and pick up something awesome! It will inspire you to get out there and hop on your bike, I promise.

Sketch Up #1

I've featured some TOOMASOOBA sketches in the past, but this is the first official entry in the "Sketch Up" series of posts! My doodling rarely happens in one designated spot, so often I'll take a pair of scissors to whatever scraps or important papers I've been drawing on and compile them into one location for future reference...below is a glimpse at a stack of sketches hanging around my office.

Deep Ellum Outdoor Market

So last Saturday, my right-hand man Rex and I packed up on short notice and headed to Dallas to take part in our first ever Deep Ellum Outdoor Market. Despite heavy winds and light crowds, we had a great time. Got to meet and talk shop with some really cool Dallas designers like Fur Face Boy, Durty Laundry and Sleepy Dan -- Check out their work, it's some pretty sweet stuff!

Thanks to the DEOM organizers for having us out!

And Now, Time For A Shameless Plug!

Hello, dear reader...have you perused the TOOMASOOBA Etsy shop lately? There are a lot of items online these days and even more will be added as the holidays approach. So keep checkin' back for some cool stuff (new shirts, onesies, activity puzzles and more)! Do you have any ideas for TOOMASOOBA merch you'd like to get your hands on? Drop me a line and I'll see what I can do.

TOOMASOOBA Shirts in Action!

Occasionally, I’ll spot a photo online or a shot will arrive to my inbox of someone sporting TOOMASOOBA gear. I always get a kick out of seeing these pictures and I feel all warm & fuzzy inside when I see that folks are enjoying the shirts. Here are a few of those images below...if you have any of your own, send 'em on in!

Logan rockin' the RoBoy at camp.

Keegan in a Tinker shirt...along with her great take on the character!

Matt Weeks caught at the copier wearing Winthrop.

Creature Feature #2: NinjaCat 5000

(“Creature Feature” is a new regular blog staple that puts the spotlight on a TOOMASOOBA creation and information on how it came to be!) 

Silly Little Story: Part Ninja. Part Cat. Part Robot. All Awesome.

Behind the Scenes: Sometimes I’ll begin a piece with a vision in mind, and often it will morph completely into something else...or sometimes I’ll get frustrated and start on something completely different! This image was born out of that frustration and came to me quickly. NinjaCat is an example of a “happy accident” and I’m quite fond of him.

Shameless Plugs: Grab a NinjaCat Block Print or a Sticker Set featuring the 'Cat and his friends!

Inspiration Machine #2: Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Jarrett is one of my illustration heroes! I first came across the work of this MA-based writer/artist almost ten years ago and have been following his books ever since (I've even had the opportunity to chat with him via email and phone several times...pretty cool). I was first drawn to his expressive, energetic painting style and use of color -- not to mention the fun stories he cooks up.

"Punk Farm" and "Goodnight Monkey Boy" are a couple of my favorites, and he even has a great graphic novel series for kids called "Lunch Lady"...another thing I admire about JJK is that he does a ton of speaking engagements for kids and schools all over the place. Dude is unstoppable!

Want to see more of Jarrett's work? Of course you do. Take a look at his website and the Studio JJK blog for some good stuff!

Lights...Camera...Boomabot!

By no means do I consider myself an animator, but last year I decided to take a stab at adding some movement and music to characters in the TOOMASOOBA universe. The animated short that I’m most proud of is featured below…behold, “Getting to Know Boomabot!”

Booma is one of the earliest TOOMASOOBA creations and I guess I’d consider him the mascot of my little world. I also chose Boomabot for this project because the herky-jerky movement I’d envisioned for him lends itself well to my lack of fluid animation skill.

As an added bonus, you can click on the image below for a look at the mind-boggling pre-plan session it took to make this thing work properly…that’s a lot of work for 46 seconds!

The timeline.

Eden's Closet

TOOMASOOBA shirts, prints and greeting cards are now being carried at Eden’s Closet! If you’re in the Shreveport area, swing by the shop on Mansfield Road and say hello to Chrissie and company.

In addition to doing shows, I've been trying to concentrate on getting the goods into retail locations as well. Keep an eye out for more news on where you can pick up TOOMASOOBA in person!

Before & After #1: RoBoy

Most of my designs begin with a sketch. Sometimes the finished illustration remains faithful to the drawing, and sometimes it ends up verrrrry different. “Before & After” is a new regular blog feature that showcases the evolution of TOOMASOOBA art…this time around, we’ve got RoBoy on display!

Farmer's Market Wrap Up

Five Saturdays in two months…whew! When it was first announced that the Shreveport Farmer’s Market was opening their ranks to artists this summer, I thought it sounded like a great opportunity – even though I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

I figured that participating would be a good chance to get TOOMASOOBA out in front of a crowd, experiment with my booth presentation and product offerings and to generally see what worked and what didn’t on a consistent basis (not to mention wanting to get my pack-in/pack-out methods down to a science…that part can be brutal). The Market provided all of that…but also a whole lot more.

Throughout June and July, I had an opportunity to meet a ton of new friends and got to talk shop & bond with fellow artists. I was also able to line up an art show for November and get my work into a local store! Overall, a positive, rewarding experience.

Many thanks to Noma Fowler-Sandlin and crew for making it happen. You can be sure to find me at the Farmer’s Market next time around (and hopefully in the fall, too, when it’s not a million degrees outside). I posted some photos previously, but here are a few more for y’all. Enjoy!

Photo by Chris Jay.

Photo by Neil Johnson.

Photo by Kimberly Brookins.

The Gypsy House

Earlier this summer, I met a couple of gals from the town of Winnsboro, Louisiana. They'd just opened a store called The Gypsy House featuring kid’s products and clothing (they even offer tons of art classes and camps, too). Pretty cool…and cooler still, they asked if I would like to sell some TOOMASOOBA merch on their shelves. My answer? Heck yes! So a couple of weekends ago, I hopped in the car for a little road trip and set up the goods.

Jennifer and Mary Marr are really passionate about art and about bringing some new and fun stuff to their small town – if you happen to be cruising through the Louisiana countryside, stop in and say hi. I’m proud to be a part of The Gypsy House, and may even be teaching some cartooning classes there in the near future!

Prints, buttons and greeting cards now at The Gypsy House.

Co-owner Jennifer Allen posing outside of the shop.

Met this fella on the open road…not the most pleasant company.

Creature Feature #1: Tinker

(“Creature Feature” is a new regular blog staple that puts the spotlight on a TOOMASOOBA creation and information on how it came to be!) 

Silly Little Story: A gaming enthusiast, Tinker is currently designing a board game of her own...so far, it pretty much seems like a rip-off of “Candyland”. She’s working on it.

Behind the Scenes: Thought I'd kick off this feature with an oldie but a goodie! Gals seem to like this design the most (maybe not surprisingly). While teaching a cartooning class at a local day camp, the little girls went nuts over all things Tinker -- drawing her, asking questions about her, and on and on. It’s fun when an image or character connects with an audience, whether they’re kids or grown-ups, boys or girls. Lets me know I'm doing something right!

Shameless Plugs: Click here for a Tinker youth t-shirt or perhaps here to grab your very own Tinker 5 x 7 Print.

Camp Forbing

Last winter, my buddy Jeff and I taught a cartooning class at Camp Forbing here in Shreveport. I’m guessing we were a hit, because they asked us back during the summer program last week! We arrived at the arts and crafts cabin bright and early, met the counselors and got paper and pencils ready to go. The morning consisted of sessions for three different age groups…Jeff and I each did a “draw-along” with the kiddos, answered questions and helped them with their work.

All in all, about 100 campers came through…whoa! Though it was tough keeping the train on the track at times, we found it really rewarding to see the budding artists’ creativity and talent and enthusiasm shining through.

The day was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to doing it again sometime -- if you’re reading this and have a class or group of young students who want to do some drawing, drop me a line!

Working on a pup cartoon.

Jeff rockin’ the rock star drawing.

A few snaps of art by the campers.

Inspiration Machine #1: Argyle Academy

(“Inspiration Machine” is the first of several new monthly features I plan to begin on the blog...to find what else I've got up my sleeve, check back soon!)

It should come as no surprise that I love art featuring simple lines and oddball characters, and Mike Lowery (a.k.a. Argyle Academy) delivers on both counts. I’ve been following Mike's work for a long while now and his energetic style and sketchy lines never fail to make me smile and want to pick up a pencil.

Mike teaches at SCAD and in the past several years his work has been featured all over the place -- children’s books, print patterns, clothing, you name it. All the while he continues to churn out original craziness like this.

Be sure to check out his blog and website and shop. There used to be more comics and some videos featuring his drawing process online (some of which involved coffee used as watercolor paint, if I remember correctly) but I can’t seem to find them at the moment...ah well, Mike is awesome at any rate! Hope you dig his stuff as much as I do.