Painting Elephant

Speechering

A lot of times I don't know why I do what I do. Only that it needs to be done. It is a different kind of living. One that I am only now getting used to. Following signs. When you put yourself aside, and become receptive to whatever the universe has in mind, things move pretty quickly. In this case, a chance encounter leading towards a whole other world of possibilities.

A while back, I decided I would like to start talking to kids in schools about making art for a living. The only people that came to talk to MY class were a cop, the marines, and the weather guy for one of the local TV stations. It bothered me that there were so few examples available to me of life paths other than working for a paycheck. Especially for doing what my heart desired, which was making comic books and art. This has not been an easy journey for me to get where I'm at today. I want to change that for the next generation. I want kids to realize that it is possible, and help them find a way to make it possible for themselves.

Today I went to speak to the art classes at Cavazos Jr High. I have a lot of other schools lined up. More than I expected really. But for now... it simply needs to be done. Of course this is a new experience for me. And there is a bit of a learning curve I've got ahead of me. Working with large groups of kids. Public presentations. It is a different scale and format than I am used to.

The last time I spoke to a school was Ralls High school about 6 years ago. A rather disheartening and unfortunate experience. This time seemed to go much better. I had 5 quality portfolios to show this time, lots of experience, and a touch more wisdom. I understand the artist mentality fairly well. The obstacles, motivations and tools for success. But I still didn't know what to expect with this. I stumbled through my background, passed around a sketchbook from my first year of college *shivers* and then all my recent portfolios and comics. Then I just started talking. You can never tell with these things ... but I think I saw some of them light up with inspiration. Especially this group of boys in the front row. That look on their faces like they've seen the future. I can only imagine though. I may never know. Sometimes all you can do is plant the seeds and give it to God. And do my best to provide the resources for them to grow if they're ready.

What drives me, is that I can imagine that lost little kid in me out there in the crowd, seeing that this is possible, and lighting up with inspiration. Suddenly having a vision of what this could look like and simply "knowing" at a very young age that this is how it will be. I wonder if that will happen for any of them? Only time will tell.

Friday I talk to Atkins Jr High.

-Will

Lubbock Sketch Club

2007 was a very busy year for me. Both professionally and in my personal life. I was able to do quite a bit this year that before I could only imagine possible. When we had our first Sketch Club sketch night back in October of 2006, we only had 3 artists. The last three sketch nights we've had nearly 50 each week. We've published 2 sketchbooks this year showcasing the Sketch Club talent (both books are in their second printings!) and we're about to print our third book. We participated in dozens of public events, and drew with thousands of local kids and their families. We were even featured in an episode of Texas Country Reporter. And of course, we now have a WEBSITE chock full of information... http://www.ElSketchoClubo.com/

But while 2007 was amazing, It will only get better and better in 2008! In a couple of weeks we're starting our AFTER-SCHOOL program at our classroom (provided by the Hope Shalom community /Asbury methodist church at 20th and Ave T) Its a weekly program every Wednesday from 3-5pm. Based on the formula we've established with our Sketch nights we will be drawing as a group, and teaching young artists to fall in love with the process of learning to draw. Over the next year we will gradually introduce drawing fundamentals classes and art technique classes to the program. Our long term goal with the Sketch Club is to make Lubbock and the world a better place and help artists live up to their fullest potential - this starts by reaching out to the community through programs like this and providing opportunities and resources for kids, giving them access to mentors and professional techniques, and then the venues to become successful using that.

FEBRUARY

The Sketch Club presents: the Lubbock Comics Group Starting Saturday February 16th we will be meeting every Saturday afternoon to learn to make comic books. Our first project will be going through Scott Mcloud's "Making Comics" book as a group and applying it to creating short-stories. This is as close as you can get to a comic book art school as you'll get in this region. If you have ever wanted to make comic books as a career, THIS is your chance to learn how to do that.

ILLUSTRATION and COMIC BOOK art classes at LHUCA I will be teaching an Illustration class in February on how to create an illustration from concept to finish. The entire process from thumb nail concepts sketches, to design/composition, to paint and finishes. I will also be doing a series of classes on how to create a comic book from start to finish. This is a demonstration class series, designed to be a perfect compliment to the comics group. We are still working on the final details for these classes, but they will be affordable and convenient. More information will be posted when its available, If you are interested please let me know.

MARCH

STAPLE Expo Several Sketch Club artist are getting Tables at the "Staple" indy comics expo in Austin, Saturday March 1st.

FIRST FRIDAY ART TRAIL The Lubbock Sketch Club artists will be on the First Friday art trail in March (3/7), featured at Hard Tops Gallery. Getting our fine arts on. We will be taking submissions for the show in February. We hope you'll join us.

APRIL

SKETCHBOOK 4 Scan Date is Saturday April 12th at our regular sketch night

COMIC BOOK ANTHOLOGY 1 The comics group anthology is a collection of 5 page short stories by local creators. Designed to promote local creators, and give them a venue to get experience and exposure with their work. The anthology will be a quarterly publication.

Lubbock arts Festival April 17 - 20, 2008

MAY

Friday May 2nd First Friday art trail at the Science Spectrum. LIVE art show (with a DJ!) and Sketch Club gallery showcase.

Saturday May 3rd Lubbock Comic book Expo - If you haven't heard, the Sketch Club, in conjunction with the Science Spectrum of Lubbock, Star books and comics and Metropolis radio will host the first ever Lubbock comic book expo. Visit our events page to find out more about it. The info is at the bottom of the page. http://elsketchoclubo.com/events.htm

ONGoing events

As always, we will be meeting every Saturday night from 7-10 pm at Freebirds on the South Loop 289. Anyone is invited, children under the age of 10 are recommended to bring an adult.

Our Figure drawing group meets every Wednesday from 7-10pm. visit the figure drawing page for more info... http://elsketchoclubo.com/figuredrawing.htm

And something new this year, it looks like we may be doing regular events and presentations with LISD schools.

-Will Terrell

Indiana Jones caricature

I just realized its been a while since I posted any artwork. I've been working too much I guess. Here is a commission I did recently for a friend from grade school that I hadnt seen in ages. -Will

The Goblin Chronicles

My new book Goblin Chronicles is going to be on store shelves in a few weeks. We're getting the order numbers in for issue one of the 3 issue series. I worked on this most of last year with Collin Fogel and Troy Dye. Issue one looks like it did fairly well. The numbers make the book the third highest selling comic the publisher has ever made (according to ICV2.com's top 300 listings), as far as initial solicitations go. In fact, it sounds like the first print run wont be too far from selling out with enough reorders. Hopefully that trend continues for the other two issues, and especially the trade paperback. The issue will be on store shelves in February.

www.thegoblinchronicles.com<>
-Will