HAPPY THANKSGIVING

To all my American Friends and anyone else celebrating today…

Hi Guys,

Just a quick line to wish all of you celebrating today...

A VERY HAPPY THANKS GIVING!!!

And for those close friends in the USA I wish I could be there to celebrate with you again!

Have a Terrific time!!!

For now it’s back to the drawing board and the pencils to “Worlds End”…

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 27th 2008

Another page from Relentless

Another Page from the Markosia Enterprises Project…


Hi Guys,

I am so impressed with Yelena’s colours, I simply had to show off another page. I was speaking via email to Andy the writer the other evening and he is also very impressed as is Harry who discussed the artwork with me at the Leeds Festival last weekend.

The story is written by: Andy Briggs and Steven Horvath
Drawn by: Me
Digital Paint: Yelena Zomorskaya
Published by: Harry Marcos

Here is page 4 for you to peruse in both the pencils stage and then the digital paint stage:

As I have said before, please continue to let us know what you think of the artwork; we all love to hear from you regarding the work on display here.

For now it’s back to the drawing board and “Hot Wheels”…

Later this week I will be returning to pencilling “Worlds End”.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 23rd 2008

Hot Wheels - “New Direction additions”...

A look at the latest additions to the storylines…

Hi Guys,

By now many of you guys will have already seen the artwork below in previous issues of the Hot Wheels comic here in the UK, but I continue to have folks email me regarding my earlier Blogs where I mentioned about some new look stuff I was adding to the backgrounds of Ian’s scripts.

So here just for you is an addition to the usual monthly sneak peaks at the new background characters and a look at behind the scenes of the Prof’s offices at the Hot Wheels Factory and Diesel DarkClaw’s Headquarters, which can be seen in the Hot Wheels comic, to whet your appetite and bring you up to speed.

Inside the Inner Sanctum of the Professor's Office

Diesel DarkClaw's Headquarters

Inside the Inner Sanctum of Diesel DarkClaw's Office

I am looking forward, as always, to hearing what you think of this latest artwork. The comics will be on sale soon, so don’t forget to order a copy!!!

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 22nd 2008

Hot Wheels - “Volcano Shoot-Out”...

A look at the latest car and the new toy design for Christmas…

Hi Guys,

Here is another monthly sneak peak at the car you’ll see in issue #52 of the Hot Wheels comic, out now, to whet your appetite.

The car this month is called:

Maelstrom – From the story: “Volcano Shoot-Out”

The same gang produces the story as always:

Written by –Ian "Iron Man" Rimmer
Pencilled, Inked and Computer Coloured by –Tim "Thor" P
Edited by –James "Jemm" Hill
With Production Design by –Rob "Ripclaw" Sharp

This time around we have the first eight-page story that we have produced for the Hot Wheels comic. The story also utilises the new toy on sale from Mattel this Christmas, “Volcano Shoot-Out”.

This comic, published by Toontastic, is on sale all throughout November and December, so you have more chance of picking an issue up. The issue is a special and comes in a bag along with lots of surprises for the festive period.

I am looking forward, as always, to hearing what you think of this latest artwork. The comics will be on sale soon, so don’t forget to order a copy!!!

The Next issue will contain two cars again, respectively titled: Rat Bomb and Fast Fish.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 19th 2008

Worlds End Graphic Novel...

The latest update…

Hi Guys,

This Blog is long overdue as I am always being asked by folks how far I am into producing the graphic novel is, so I thought I would say a few words here, to bring you all up to speed.

Well the book is coming along nicely and is not far off being completely pencilled. My planned schedule is to have the book complete at this stage by Christmas and the New Year, when I can begin the task of digitally painting it all, before sorting out the final design of the book itself, in its entirety.

As I have mentioned before, there will be lots of extras in there, unseen by folks before publication and I am really looking forward to the chance to show it all off at the conventions and book fairs next year. So if you already have a copy of the Ashcan or want to order one, you will see artwork in there that will not be in the graphic novel.

As a little thanks to all of you here is a new illo, which I produced for a charity gig in the USA a few weeks back for US Inker, Mark Stegbauer. The picture shows a group of the bad guys about to cause some mayhem at Worlds End.

I would just like to say thanks to all the people that have asked how things are with the book and I just hope we get a percentage of the sales back from you guys that have been following the progress of it all.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 18th 2008

Thought Bubble Festival...

A Review of the Comics Convention…

Hi Guys,

This Saturday saw me attending the second annual Thought Bubble Festival in Leeds. It was the first time I had attended, having missed last year’s event. I arrived early in the morning and spent the early part of the festival looking around, getting my bearings and chatting to old friends and new ones. After lunch I met folks at my table where I sketched and signed in The Royal Armouries Saviles Hall in the afternoon.

The venue is great and is situated in a nice shopping mall area with a car park not more than a few yards away from the front entrance, which made the carrying and setting up of the table very easy indeed. As we were leaving the area’s trees were all decorated and lit up by small blue bulbs – a very pleasant experience to end the day.

Inside the Saviles Hall you enter a foyer area, which contains the reception area, a small café, access to the toilet areas and the entrances to the convention rooms. The main area was bright with high ceilings, which stopped any claustrophobic feelings, with lots of space for folks to move about and browse and chat.

On arriving I took time to look around the hall to get my bearings. I spent most of the morning, until it was time to set up and start sketching and signing walking about, meeting up with colleagues I have known for years and lots of new ones too.

I had long conversations with Dean Ormston, who had some stunning black and white artwork for sale and his partner, Fiona Stephenson, who had some replica Gil Elvgren paintings for sale, Al Davison and his wife, Maggie, whose stall looked great as usual, Dave Windett, who accompanied me on the way home, and Nigel Dobbyn. I also caught up with Liam Sharp, Barry Kitson, who as always had a huge queue for sketches all day, Harry Markos, Ian Sharman, John Anderson of Soaring Penguin and the Comic Creators Guild, Staz Johnson and Colin Mathieson of Accent Comics, and a very brief chat just as he was leaving with Neil Edwards.

I also managed to speak briefly to Mike Carey, the first time in about almost ten years, and Doug Braithwaite as he went to find the Café.

I met Liz Greenfield for the first time – Her stall looked absolutely great with some fantastic stuff on display. I also met a young artist called Wynn Ryder and Autumn Wainwright, who showed me some wonderful hand made comic books, which included some dried flowers and personal hand-written prose pieces in the pages and another artist called Dan Barritt based in Leeds, whose unique style of juxtaposed artwork impressed me.

I also had the privilege of speaking to a lot of other new guys on the block self-publishing their work…I hate the term small-press and prefer to look on them all as self-publishers as there is some really remarkable stuff out there from them.

As usual nowadays there were lots of folks in cosplay fancy dress as their favourite characters, some of which were very detailed and must have taken ages to make and change into.

Many thanks go out to all those of you that took out to visit my tables and have a chat and check out and buy copies of my “Worlds End” Ashcan, Limited Edition Sketch Book, Bookmarks, Posters, Mouse Mats and stuff, and I hope you liked the “Freebies" too. Also thanks to those that asked for a sketch from me.

I would just like to say a very BIG thanks for inviting me along and looking after me whilst there to Tamsin, Lisa and all the Thought Bubble staff, who made my stay a totally enjoyable experience. It really was a fun event with lots going on. I am very much looking forward to attending next year’s event – maybe with a full-blown Wizards Keep stand.

Sadly I was unable to attend the after show party, which I had intended on going along to, but current deadlines loomed and I had to get back to the studio to begin work again…again, hopefully, next time.

Anyhow for you guys out there, especially those unable to attend here are some photos to accompany my above thoughts and musings on the convention.

Nigel Dobbyn Sketches with Dave Windett looking on

Dave Windett Shows off his cover to the latest DFC

Fiona Stephenson with her Beautiful
Gil Elvgren Replica Paintings

Harry Markos at the Mighty Markosia tables

Barry Kitson doing what he does best - pleasing the fans!

One of my favourite comic guys - Liam Sharp

John Anderson with his copy of the Ashcan
Colin Mathieson and the Funsters Gang

Al Davison and his wife Maggie at the Astral Gypsy stall

Liz Greenfield and her Stuff Sucks table

One of the many Cosplayers at the Festival

A shot of one of the many aisles at the Festival

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 17th 2008

Thought Bubble Festival...

See you tomorrow…

Hi Guys,

I hope to see some of you guys at the second annual Thought Bubble Festival in Leeds tomorrow - Saturday 15th November.

I will be signing in The Royal Armouries Saviles Hall between 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Something I neglected to add earlier is, I will also be signing any old comics, as well as the merchandise I am taking, which you may bring along containing my artwork.

I am looking forward to meeting some of you guys for a chat.

Hopefully I will manage to remember to take some photos and will sort a Blog ASAP with those and my thoughts on the convention.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 14th 2008

Relentless

First Showing of Pages from the Markosia Enterprises Project…

Hi Guys, I thought for this one I would give you a long awaited look at the new comic book artistically conceptualised and pencilled by me…

Hi Guys, Harry Markos owner and publisher of Markosia Enterprises has given me permission to present here and on the Wizards Keep website a selection of pages from the comic book I have recently completed for them.

Over the weekend, I have just received the first three pages with digital paint added to my pencils on my Markosia Project, passed onto me by publisher Harry Markos. The colours are being added by a new colourist/painter called Yelena Zamorskaya. The pages look absolutely terrific and do not look like her first major work. I have to add that the small jpeg here does no justice to the quality of her work either. The full sized versions are incredible!

There’s nothing here that gives away the true nature of the storylines so the NDA is fine, but it gives a chance to show folks what we have been up to.

The story is written by: Andy Briggs and Steven Horvath
Drawn by: Me
Digital Paint: Yelena Zomorskaya
Published by: Harry Marcos

Above is the first of the pages in both the pencils stage and then the digital paint stage:

Look for another Blog soon with another page to view.

There will be more announcements as and when Harry gives me the nod.

In the meantime we would all love to hear from you regarding the work on display here.

I look forward to hearing back from you soon with your comments as always.

For now it’s back to Hot Wheels and then the pencils to “Worlds End”…

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 13th 2008

Thought Bubble Update...

Tim’s Convention Itinerary…

Hi Guys,

Well this as I said yesterday, this coming Saturday the 15th of November will see me attending the second annual Thought Bubble Festival in Leeds. It is my first time attending and I am really looking forward to being there and meeting you guys.

I will be signing in The Royal Armouries Saviles Hall between 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Don’t be shy, come up and have a chat.

As always I look forward to seeing as many of you guys as possible.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 12th 2008

Thought Bubble...

The second annual Four Day Euro-styled Comic Festival…

Hi Guys,

Well this Saturday 15th of November will see me attending the second annual Thought Bubble Festival in Leeds. This is my first time attending and looking at the convention itinerary; it looks to be a great event.

I will be signing copies of the Worlds End Ashcan (don’t forget these are only £1.50 with a £2.50 voucher, which you can redeem against the cost of the Worlds End graphic novel, when it is released in 2009).

As well as making available a limited amount of Sketch Books, Worlds End Posters and Giclees, Mousemats, Book Marks, Original Artwork, and the usual Wizards Keep “Freebies”.

Also on display will be the pencils to the “Worlds End” graphic novel.

I will confirm the actual times and venue I will be signing at in another Blog ASAP later this week.

Don’t be shy, come up and have a chat.

As always I look forward to seeing as many of you guys as possible.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 11th 2008

Miscellaneous Thoughts...

A little sadness, some happiness and other quick musings…

Hi Guys,

Well I hope all your Bonfire night celebrations went off safe and well.

Like last year there are a lot of Blogs coming up over the festive period, which is only a matter of days away now, before we begin this year’s countdown to Christmas and the New Year…wow!!! 2009 already.

Speaking of time flying, sadly, today is the anniversary of Margaret’s Father, Ralph passing away last year and it really doesn’t seem like two minutes have passed since then and he still, although in everyone’s hearts, sadly missed.

On a much happier note, over the weekend, I have just received the first three pages with digital paint added to my pencils on my Markosia Project, passed onto me by publisher Harry Markos. The colours are being added by a new colourist/painter called Yelena Zamorskaya. The pages look great and do not look like her first work. Look for a Blog soon with some of the first of the finished pages in pencil and some in colour.

I’ll also be Blogging about some of our Christmas Specials, which you will find over at the Wizards Keep and Believe in Dreams Websites. There will be lots of Festive Goodies on display at both websites.
Websites

I also promised (a few Blogs back now) to say a few words about next year’s Bristol International Comics Show 2009. Once more Wizards Keep will be attending and exhibiting. This year organiser, Mike Allwood is running a special Ramada Hotel Convention only from within the hotel itself. So it will a smaller affair this next time around, but with a great line up of guests, publishers and retailers. I would like to take the opportunity to say a great big public thanks to Mike for including us in his invite only list for exhibiting.

Then there will be the usual Hot Wheels Promo Blog later this week too, with a story with a difference this time around.

Many, many thanks from my family and I, as well for all the very kind well-wishing, which I have passed on to my Mum over the past coupe of months or so since her operation. Thankfully she continues to progress slowly along the path to recovery and asks me to say thanks and give you all a great big hug for all your kind thoughts and prayers!!!

Well that just about rounds up this Blog, but I will be back this week with some of the above reading material.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 10th 2008

Gun Powder Plots and Cold Nights...

Bonfire Night, Fireworks Fun and more…

Well as the nights draw in and get ever colder, I thought I’d just wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Bonfire celebration tonight.


For those of you from places outside the UK who maybe haven’t heard of the celebrations here, or wonder why they take place, here is a brief rundown of the events, which lead up to us having a night of bonfires and fireworks.

In 1605 a man called Guy Fawkes and a group of thirteen fellow conspirators got together and attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London with 36 barrels of gunpowder, which they placed in the basement. The object of the exercise was to kill King James I and the king’s leaders.

The reason they wanted to do this was quite simply that, when Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of the Catholic religion. James had, after all, had a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James did not turn out to be more tolerant than Elizabeth and thirteen young men decided that violent action was the answer. It is important to remember the split from the Catholic religion and the creation of the Protestant religion was instigated when King Henry VIII had decided to remarry and the Pope had refused to give permission for the marriage to take place so Henry being Henry decided he would be the leader of the church in England and set up the Protestant religion.

Catholics had been forced to practise their religion in secret. There were even fines for people who didn't attend the Protestant church on Sunday or on holy days. James l passed more laws against the Catholics when he became king.

The group of young men led by Robert Catesby, plotted to kill King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament, the place where the laws that governed England were made.

Guy Fawkes was one the group.

The plot was very simple, the next time Parliament was opened by King James I the young men would blow up everyone there with gunpowder. The men bought a house next door to the Parliament building. The house had a cellar, which went under the Parliament buildings. They planned to put gunpowder under the house and blow up Parliament, the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. Nowadays these conspirators would be known as extremists, or terrorists.

To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored them in the cellar, just under the House of Lords.

As the group worked on the plot, the young men realised that innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack, including some people who even fought for more rights for Catholics. As a consequence of this some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of them even sent an anonymous letter warning a friend of his, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from Parliament on November 5th.

This warning letter was given the King, his forces made plans to immediately stop these conspirators.

Guy Fawkes, who was to light the gunpowder, was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed.

It's unclear if the conspirators would ever have been able to pull off their plan to blow up Parliament even if they had not been betrayed. It has been suggested that the gunpowder itself was so old as to be quite useless, but this kind of questioning is irrelevant as Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators were caught before trying to ignite the powder, and so we'll never know for certain.

Even for the period, which was a notoriously unstable time, the Gunpowder Plot struck a very profound chord with English people. The traditional searching of the cellars of Parliament before the opening of each new session was instituted in 1678.

In fact, even today, the reigning monarch only enters the Parliament once a year, on what is called "the State Opening of Parliament". Prior to the Opening, and according to custom, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster.

On the very night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, on November 5th, 1605, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. In celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of England should have a great bonfire every year on the night of the 5th of November and this event is still commemorated annually in England by fireworks and burning ‘guys’ (effigies or manikins usually made from old clothes with papier-mâché heads) on bonfires.

Some of us English folks have been known to wonder, in a tongue in cheek kind of way, whether we are actually celebrating Fawkes' execution or honouring his attempt to get rid of the government.

So there you have it and for a little fun here is a link to a virtual firework display I found on the Internet created by Woodlands Junior School in Kent, so you can have your own display, even if you are unable to attend an event yourself:

Virtual Fireworks Display

Please take time to look at the other wonderful stuff on the school website.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 5th 2008

Now these are what I call “Pumpkins!”

Scary Seasonal Sculptures…

Hi Guys,

I hope you guys had a great Halloween, the other day.

Whilst thinking of something to write between the Halloween Blog and my next for tomorrow I came across these pictures yesterday.

You can check out more of the sculptor responsible for the marvellous works of art here:

Ray Villafane

Aren’t they just incredible?

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 4th 2008