TOOMASOOBA

Sweets & Treats

2012-02-06T19:06:00.000-06:00

Hey, you should totally stop by Lilah's Bakery and Deli before March 3rd to see Sweets & Treats, a group show featuring local artists' take on, um, well...sweets. And treats. Below is a peek at Kid Cupcake, who is currently adorning the walls on Olive Street.

Oh, and be sure take a look at the making of my buddy Jeff's piece called "Fresh from the Oven"...dude's got skills!

Louisiana Tourism Industry Summit

2012-01-29T22:34:00.002-06:00

Along with a handful of talented local artists, I was asked to participate in last week's Louisiana Tourism Industry Summit held this year in downtown Shreveport...and I said "yes", of course! While a business conference isn't usually the ideal locale for some TOOMASOOBA action, I'd have to say it went pretty well.

I moved some shirts and prints, made some great connections with people around the state, ate a free lunch and even got to haul in my setup via loading docks and freight elevators like a Van Halen roadie. Oh yeah, and a guy from Belgium bought a shirt and some prints...international, baby. All in all, a good time.

Below are some photos from the day's adventures...take a look!

TOOMASOOBA table photo against part of the Shreveport skyline.

Strange little scribble from the day's downtime.

My official lanyard. I've never had an official lanyard before.

I have my table break-down to a science. And I also have very ripped mannequins.

How Very Puzzling...

2012-01-22T20:02:00.000-06:00

I'm always on the lookout for creative and cool new ways to feature my stable of characters...so to that end, I'd like to unveil the first official TOOMASOOBA puzzle featuring Byron the Boy Robot. Yep, that's right...a puzzle!

This dude is 48 pieces and measures 6 inches by 8 inches...it's a lot of fun (and a little more challenging than it looks). You can pick one up right here in my Etsy shop if you'd like to test your problem-solving skills. The puzzle comes packaged in a protective sleeve with a print of the image as well (bonus!).

By the way, the record for assembly among my group of friends so far is 11 minutes and 35 seconds. Think you can beat that? Remember...start with the corners. That's the key.

A look at an assembled (and unassembled) puzzle!

Keeping it Weird in Austin

2012-01-08T07:00:00.051-06:00

After Christmas, I headed over to Austin, TX, for a few days with some friends for a little getaway — took in the sights, played a lot of shuffleboard, and soaked up plenty of inspiration that already has the gears turning for future TOOMASOOBA artwork. Below are just a handful of pics from our travels...enjoy!

Not sure what's going on here, but I like it.

I never pass up the opportunity to take a photo in front of a Johnny Cash mural.

Parts & Labour, a great indie shop on South Congress featuring TX designers.

The state capital, 3 am. Texas Forever.

Art History #1

2012-01-04T07:00:00.029-06:00

After recently unearthing some old-school Jeremy artwork, I thought I'd begin presenting it on the blog from time to time...so here's the first in a series. Hope you get a kick out of it! Not sure what was going on with the story here, but check out those sweet outfits (and mullets). I used to dress like this in elementary school, actually...and just like that little dude's neon orange tank top, I was one rad kid. Artwork circa fourth grade.

ToomaHUEba!

2011-12-28T07:00:00.034-06:00

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!

2011-12-19T07:00:00.006-06:00

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

2011-12-16T07:00:00.026-06:00

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

2011-12-13T23:32:00.000-06:00

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

2011-12-06T07:00:00.013-06:00

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

Zoom! Bang! Kapow!

2011-11-30T07:00:00.012-06:00

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

2011-11-22T07:40:00.003-06:00

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!

2011-11-18T03:03:00.002-06:00

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

2011-11-14T07:00:00.006-06:00

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

2011-11-10T23:59:00.000-06:00

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!

2011-10-19T07:32:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-28T07:00:00.005-05:00

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!

2011-09-19T07:00:00.029-05:00

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

2011-09-13T07:00:00.010-05:00

(“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

2011-09-09T07:00:00.042-05:00

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

2011-09-02T07:00:00.012-05:00

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

2011-08-29T07:00:00.030-05:00

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

2011-08-27T12:42:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-08-23T07:00:00.046-05:00

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!

2011-08-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-15T07:00:00.032-05:00

(“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

2011-08-10T07:00:00.048-05:00

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!

2011-08-05T07:00:00.030-05:00

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

2011-08-03T07:00:00.024-05:00

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

2011-07-28T07:00:00.012-05:00

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

2011-07-25T07:00:00.027-05:00

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

2011-07-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-07-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

(“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

2011-07-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-07-05T16:22:00.002-05:00

(“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.

4AFTER5 Jam Comics

2011-06-28T07:00:00.016-05:00

I've mentioned 4AFTER5 in previous posts, but for the uninitiated we’re a group of four local graphic designers who “pursue our passion for illustration after hours”. Typically we get together monthly-ish to talk shop, nerd out and draw a jam comic or two.

What is a jam comic? It’s the creative process where a group of artists work together to create one complete comic strip. Sometimes a comic will begin with a random panel, which is then passed along to the next artist to expand upon…and so on, until the circle is complete. Other times, we’ll each put our own spin on a random topic and combine them into one strip after the fact.

Over time, the stack of completed comics grew. We thought it would be a great idea to put them in comic book form to make available at our show opening in November 2010...so we did just that.

If you want to see some of our handiwork, you can check out a selection of the comics on fellow 4AFTER5-er Brad Campbell’s blog.

It’s always a blast drawing with these fellas and getting down on some comic makin’...I don’t break out the pencil and paper as much as I should these days, so working like this helps keep me sharp! We enjoyed creating these comics and we hope that you enjoy reading them, too.

A jam comic by Brad Campbell, Jeff Welborn, Travis Eck
and myself. Click above for larger version!

Something is Sketchy Here...

2011-06-12T12:43:00.001-05:00

Just a quick little post featuring some quick little sketches. Will some of them end up as official TOOMASOOBA illustrations? Yep...probably so. Stay tuned!

Shreveport Farmer's Market

2011-06-06T07:57:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth at Saturday's Farmer's Market! We had a really great time and can't wait to get out there again next week (and the weeks after that, too). Check out our Events page to see more TOOMASOOBA summer dates in Shreveport and beyond...come on out and brave the heat!

Rex manning the booth.

Makin' them sales.

State of the Union

2011-05-26T07:00:00.003-05:00

It may seem kinda slow around these parts lately, but I promise that there's plenty happening behind the scenes! I'm currently booking shows for the summer and beyond (which you can keep up with on the new Events page), working on new products (tiny t's coming soon!) and I've also been cranking out some brand new designs (below is a quick peek at one of the little fellas).

If you're in the Shreveport area, come see me June 4th at the Shreveport Farmer's Market...it's their first year to add artists to the mix and should be a blast. Oh, and why not join the Facebook group while we're on a roll here? Okay, that's all for now. Stay tuned for more TOOMASOOBA!

One bad apple.

Handmade Bash Wrap Up

2011-05-11T07:00:00.008-05:00

Whew! It's been over a week since the Bash and after a quick trip to Tennessee I'm finally getting around to a write-up. I've got to admit, I was pretty nervous in the days leading up to the festivities...once we got everything set up and started slingin' some shirts, however, most of the jitters were out of my system (I think I sweated them out carrying stuff on the looooong haul to my booth space, actually).

Had a great time meeting new people, chatting it up with fellow exhibitors, seeing which items moved fast and which ones didn't — I really learned a ton and got some great ideas on what kinds of products to tackle next (and how to approach my presentation as well). That being said, keep an eye out for some kids shirts and other sweet TOOMASOOBA action soon....very soon!

Many thanks to the Etsy Dallas crew for putting on this rad show...I hope to be a part of it again for sure. I'd also like to give a big shout-out to my boy Rex for coming along to hold down the table and work his sales magic while I was running around like a madman (which was most of the time).

Didn't have too much time for photographic opportunities, but below are a few quick pics from my table's vantage point...take a look!

The TOOMASOOBA booth.

A peek at the crowd.

Dramatic shot (kinda)!

The Countdown

2011-04-28T07:00:00.062-05:00

Only two days left until the Handmade Bash! If you're in Dallas, come on out! If you're in Shreveport, go check out the Texas Avenue Makers Fair...I couldn't make it this time because of the Bash, but there will be a ton of awesome artists and crafters (and friends) selling their stuff! You can't go wrong at either of these events! Too many exclamation points in this post, yeesh!

Oh, and thanks to some hard work by the super-talented Samantha Krause, the little fellas below will also be available at my table on Saturday. Sweet. Hope to see y'all out there!

Boomabots!

Gettin' Ready for the Bash

2011-04-21T07:03:00.005-05:00

Tired of hearing me go on and on about the Handmade Bash yet? Well, just a few more posts about it...I promise! I participated in my first art/craft fair last fall in Downtown Shreveport, and, not knowing what to expect, really came out of it hooked on the concept — had some fun, met new people and got TOOMASOOBA in front of a lot of eyeballs. Shoot, I even earned a little walking around money as well.

That being said, I’ve been working really hard these past couple of months prepping for the Bash – this will be my biggest event by far and I really want to knock everyone out with great products and a snazzy presentation. I’m pretty pumped, I’ve gotta say.

You’ve already caught a glimpse of buttons and socks and whatnot in previous posts, but here are some “behind the scenes” photos of print and t-shirt preparation. Take a look!

Slicin' and dicin'. I have these printed with archival inks and paper
and then cut them down and package by hand.

The prints in all their glory. For this show, I made eight copies each
of six different designs...limited editions, suckas!

Decided to package the shirts differently than how I've done it
in the past...way more professional this time around.

Shirts en masse. Turned out pretty nice, if I do say so myself.

IndieGenius Bazaar

2011-04-13T07:00:00.042-05:00

Last Friday night my boy Trav and I headed to Dallas to catch Guster at the House of Blues (it was pretty rockin’, for the record) and I found out IndieGenius was having an event the next day. I’d always wanted to swing by and this seemed like the perfect opportunity, so I dragged Travis along on our way out of town.

Was it worth the visit? Heck yeah. There were a ton of independent artists and handmade designers showcasing their wares — it’s always an inspiration to see fellow creators out there, and I even got to meet some of the folks who will be at Handmade Bash in a few weeks (Dowdy Studio and Signifying Not, great to meet y’all!). It's been fun hunting down these events and shops and artists in the Big D, and I really hope to be a larger part of "the scene" in the future. It seems like I'm in Texas every other weekend for this or that anyway, so I might as well do something productive with my time. That three-hour drive from Shreveport ain't no thang.

Anyway, here are a few pics from the Bazaar...if you’re in the area and searching for a unique shop to visit, IndieGenius is most definitely it.

Summer Ortiz of Signifying Not...her work is dang cool.

Dylan & Pamela Dowdy...and the awesome Dowdy Wagon in action.

The bazaar from afar.

Stuck On You

2011-04-05T07:00:00.019-05:00

I’ve always been a fan of buttons and pins — on bags, on jackets, wherever you can stick ‘em — so last December I decided to order some up in the TOOMASOOBA style. Most of my illustrations are pretty simple to begin with, but I wanted to create a few images designed specifically to “pop” on the one-inch circular format.

After a bit of time in front of the computer, I came up with the dudes you see below — a cat, an owl, and a...thing with a mustache. The “collector’s set” turned out pretty rad, if I do say so myself.

You can grab some for your very own at the upcoming Handmade Bash, or at my Etsy shop shortly thereafter. Keep an eye out…and be careful when pinning them on!

Buttons, buttons and more buttons.

Sock It To Me

2011-03-28T07:00:00.018-05:00

In early 2009, I bought some rockin’ socks from Portland-based Sock It To Me. I liked them so much that I shot the company an email: “Hey, I like funky socks. I’m a graphic designer. Maybe we can work together.”

As luck would have it, I ended up speaking to the owner and she was looking for new designs to fill out the Spring line. So, long story short, that’s how several of my illustrations ended up gracing footwear carried in stores across the U.S. and Europe! Pretty sweet.

I’d been playing around in the early TOOMASOOBA style when this all went down and the experience really flipped a switch in my head. If these designs worked well on socks, why not on prints and shirts and other cool items? Hooking up with SITM really got the gears turning and helped shape the direction that I’ve taken with my work.

You can pick up my designs online (here, here, here and here) and I’ll also have a boatload of Bring-It Bot and Astro Cat socks available at April 30’s Handmade Bash in Dallas. Swing on by if you can!

A quick peek at some men's and women's socks

2011 Spring Bash

2011-03-16T08:00:00.045-05:00

I'm proud to announce that TOOMASOOBA will be a part of the 3rd Annual Spring Bash in Dallas on April 30th! The Bash is one of two annual fairs put on by Etsy Dallas and I feel honored to be a part of it. In the coming weeks, I'll share glimpses of items I plan to offer at the show along with other fun stuff. More details soon...now I better get to work!

A photo from the 2010 Spring Bash

Impromptu

2011-03-11T16:11:00.023-06:00

I was able to include a TOOMASOOBA piece in the new Artspace exhibit called "Impromptu" -- the show features a ton of talented regional artists working in a variety of styles. From the Artspace website:

"IMPROMPTU is a spontaneous opportunity to showcase the artists in Northwest Louisiana so that the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and his staff may experience the rich talent and professionalism of our Arts Community."

So there you go! Take a look at some pics below and swing by the gallery if you happen to find yourself in downtown Shreveport with time to kill. Show runs through April 23, 2011.

My piece, along with my buddy Travis' spin on Captain America.

On the left you'll see my favorite of the show, by Rachel Stuart-Haas.

My friend Tony Reans created this sweet Raygun painting.

Sketches by JJ

2011-02-25T15:00:00.011-06:00

Although most of my art is created digitally these days, I still take time out to put pencil to paper -- for projects like this or just for the simply joy of sketching. It's an important part of my process, and often provides ideas that are carried over into final TOOMASOOBA illustrations. You can see specific "Before & After" examples on this page, if you'd like.

Anyway, here are some recent sketches that I thought I'd share!

Click above for a larger view of these critters.

Shop Tooma

2011-02-17T07:00:00.027-06:00

What's that you say? You didn't know there was a TOOMASOOBA Etsy shop? Well, shoot! Check it out here, or click on the widget to the right. Shirts, prints and stickers are currently available...more cool stuff coming soon. I promise!

Fun Fact: My sister and bro-in-law are the shirt models.

Creative Kick in the Pants

2011-02-16T08:46:00.006-06:00

I took a trip to Dallas this weekend to hang with some friends and also to do a bit of "research" on the local art scene. Turns out there are some pretty rad shops and art + craft groups in the area -- if you're in the Big D, be sure to stop by We Are 1976 on Henderson and keep an eye out for anything Etsy Dallas and ArtLoveMagic is cooking up!

Anyway, we stopped by ArtLoveMagic's Underground 2011 event on Saturday night and it was a blast. Tons of folks doing their thing live, selling art and chatting it up...it's always awesome to see fellow artists, illustrators and designers working their magic and to be a part of that energy. I headed back home Sunday afternoon full of inspiration and ready to get cracking on work of my own. Always a good feeling.

To the right are a few quick pics from the event...check 'em out!

More 4 (AFTER 5)

2011-02-02T08:00:00.005-06:00

Well, the 4AFTER5 show is officially over and we're marking this one down in the "success" column. Sold some pieces, met some new folks, and got to share our art with Shreveport. On the exhibit's last official day, our friend (and film whiz) Matt Weeks got some footage of our pieces and interviews with us 4A5 dudes.

It was a long (but exciting and rewarding) day, and we're glad to have gotten a video record of the exhibit. When the piece is all edited and whatnot, we'll be sure to share!

Travis in the hot seat.

Tinker Fan Art!

2011-01-24T08:00:00.008-06:00

Jeff Welborn and I recently had the opportunity to teach a cartooning class for Camp Forbing's Winter Program and it was a lot of fun! We did some "draw-alongs" with the kids in our respective styles (Jeff did step-by-step superhero art, and I focused on some TOOMASOOBA-esque cartoons).

There were a couple of young gals who, by the end of the session, were obsessed with all things Tinker. It's really cool to see your work connect with an audience and I was honored that they liked it so much. Below you can see some of their art...I better watch out, looks like I've got some competition!

Art by McKenzie (9) and Grayson (9) - Click to view larger version!

TOOMASOOBA in Nashville

2011-01-11T14:30:00.004-06:00

Talula Gallery

In December 2010, I headed to Tennessee to visit some friends and to check out the local art scene. East Nashville is home to eclectic galleries and shops that specialize in unique artwork...and I wanted to be a part of it, dang it.

I stopped by the awesome Talula Gallery, took a look around and dropped off a stack of bookmarks for folks to pick up. The owners were cool and, long story short, Talula is now carrying TOOMASOOBA prints in their store!

If you just happen to be in Nashville, swing by and grab one (or two or three)...check out their website for location info and hours. Tell 'em Jeremy sent you.

ToomaBot

2011-01-03T10:59:00.004-06:00

Fellow 4AFTER5-er Travis and his wife recently had a baby boy named Jonas, and he asked myself and some other dudes to help decorate the room, robot-style! Trav gave us cool little blank figures to customize, and we had a lot of fun with it.

To the right you'll see my contribution -- I think I did a good job putting a TOOMASOOBA spin on the little fella. I also chose the color as a nod to "My Name is Jonas" on Weezer's Blue Album. And he has a fancy little hat. You can never go wrong with fancy little hats.

You can see some other figurine awesomeness here and here. Thanks for the chance to snazz up the space, Trav!

Framed!

2010-12-27T13:00:00.003-06:00

So my good friend (and child psychologist) just moved into a new office in Dallas, TX, and wanted to spruce up her space with some bright and fun artwork for the kiddos. I felt honored when she asked to add some TOOMASOOBA-ness to the walls and was happy to fix her up with a couple of prints.

I should have my Etsy shop set up in the next few weeks with all kinds of awesomeness such as this...in the meantime, enjoy the photo!

Lewis and RoBoy, just hangin' out.

4AFTER5 on the News

2010-12-22T08:00:00.008-06:00

The 4AFTER5 crew was featured on KTBS-3's November 29th broadcast. See some art! Learn about our methods! Listen to us stumble over our words!

The show runs through January 7, 2011 at Artspace in Downtown Shreveport and features the work of Jeff Welborn, Travis Eck, Brad Campbell and myself. More info can be found here.

Spreading the TOOMASOOBA Word...

2010-12-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

Boomabot at Minicine

Fall 2010 has definitely been a successful period in TOOMASOOBA's short history! I'd been toiling away in semi-seclusion since TOOMA's inception, really trying to shape the direction and overall vibe of the work. Shreveport's first ever indie arts & crafts show called "Maker's Fair" seemed like a great place for the public debut, so I jumped at the chance to exhibit. Held over two Saturdays in October and November, it was a success all around -- sold a number of prints, shirts, plush, etc., and met a ton of new friends in the local arts community!

Our 4AFTER5 group show opened at Artspace on November 18th -- after planning the exhibit for well over six months, it was rewarding to see it all come together. There were plenty of congratulatory high-fives to go around, let me tell you. Want to see some photos from the opening? Click here.

Meanwhile, Brad Campbell and I were honored to show some illustration work at the American Rose Center's Christmas in Roseland over the holidays. And on December 11th, I took part in "X-mas Under Da Ground", a one-night film/art/music event at Minicine in downtown Shreveport.

All in all, a busy (but awesome) couple of months! I already have a few cool opportunities in the works for 2011, when I hope to spread the TOOMASOOBA love far and wide. Keep an eye on this here page for some sweet announcements, will ya?

Welcome to the TOOMASOOBLOG!

2010-12-20T13:57:00.002-06:00

Hello friends! Yowza, TOOMASOOBA has been chugging along for over a year now -- and things have really begun to pick up steam as of late.

Attending Shreveport's Maker's Fair and participating in several recent art shows has really helped raise the profile and gotten my silly illustrations out to the public...the feedback has been positive, and I appreciate everyone who has expressed interest along the way.

Now, instead of using the Facebook fan page exclusively for updates, I've decided to start an official TOOMASOOBA blog...so here we are!

The new year will bring many new and exciting developments to the TOOMASOOBA universe...Stay tuned to this page for all the latest. Oh, and while you're at it -- don't forget to join the Facebook group and check out the Toomasooba website!