Look, I know I've been promising you people some Dead Duck merch for months, I've had my pal Marian set to model a Zombie Chick t-shirt (the pics turned out AWESOME!), and I had an account all set at Cafepress. But two things have come up: 1. Cafepress is proving itself to be very difficult to work with. and 2. Upon the suggestion of a friend and fellow DA'er whose opinion I value very much (You rule, Kyle), I'm jumping ship from Cafepress and giving Zazzle a shot. So it may not be until the beginning of '08 before we see any real Dead Duck merch, unless some serious time opens up for me. I've been fortunate to have gotten a bunch of cartooning gigs (mostly of the caricature and family portrait variety) to keep me busy for the rest of '07, plus I'm frantically working with Ape Comics and Recycled Paper Greetings to seal the deal on each of those professional alliances, so things are a wee crazy. However, if you guys are interested in what all I've been up to lately, let me point you towards these two entries from my website's blog. Things are going decent in the world of Jay, and I'm all about sharing it with you...

[link]

[link]

So there ya have it. More news when there's some to report. Much love, my friends, and talk to you soon!

Jay

I'm trying, FINALLY, to get my Dead Duck online shop up and running, along with the long promised and awaited Zombie Chick t-shirt that I've been telling you guys about for months, but I'm having a royal bitch of a time figuring out how to navigate Cafepress.com. I have an account there, a shop, and have prepared my first products (the aforementioned t-shirt), but now I'm stuck. Can any of you guys help me work this out???

Jay

Please, PLEASE read my blog if you have any interest in something very big happening in my career!!!!

[link]

Love you guys!

Jay

Here's the recently promised sneak preview of my new Dead Duck and Zombie Chick adventure, "Four Score and Seven Bullets Ago!" And for those out there who think themselves American history buffs, trust me, you never saw this comin'! Count on seeing the complete story whenever Ape Comics gives me the big ol' opposable thumb up on getting Dead Duck published. And check back here soon for (finally!) news about new Dead Duck t-shirts and how you can get one of your own!

Jay

[link]

First off, many, many thanks to all of you who offered your kind support, advice and encouragement after my last entry. It meant a lot, and I'm in a better state of mind now.

I did want to update you guys with some Dead Duck news. My friend and fellow DA'er Marian has sent me photos of herself displaying the new Zombie Chick t-shirt, which I'll be posting here very soon along with ordering info.

I'm also 99% finished with a new Dead Duck story concerning Dead Duck and Zombie Chick in their bungled attempt to deliver the spirit of a supposedly assassinated Abe Lincoln. It's funny stuff, and possibly my darkest Dead Duck story yet. Plus, I introduce a new character to the Dead Duck stock players.

What's interesting is that I wrote this script a year ago exactly, and it should have been the second one showcased after "Burn Baby Burn, Witchy Inferno". But for some reason I wasn't real pleased with how it was turning out, so I shelved it in favor of my Punch and Judy script that came together so much better and funnier. But a couple weeks back I dug up the old Lincoln script, polished it up in some parts that needed it, and now I'm almost through drawing it with a coloring job to come. Not only is this shaping up to be the funniest Dead Duck story yet, but it'll be in full color! So that's kinda cool!

Because things with Ape Comics are still working themselves out, I'm hesitant to showcase the full story here jusy yet. However, you can count on a nice sneak preview as soon as it's completed. As I'm VERY busy with my wedding plans right now (just a few weeks to go!), that might not happen until early November. But still, it will happen. So thanks for being here for the ride, and stick around to see what happens!

Jay

No real news to report. Well, kinda, I suppose. I just e-mailed Ape Comics editor in chief, asking what the latest is on their discussions of Dead Duck. He wrote me back pretty quick, saying they're still interested, it's just taking a lot of discussion to decide how to handle the comic, since there's nothing else out there like it (according to him). I suppose that's a good thing. He says Dead Duck will be discussed during their next teleconference, and he'll keep me updated. So that's where I am.

Besides being there, where I am is a pretty depressed place. My commissions and art jobs are at an all time low. If it wasn't for my crappy day job, I'd be all kinds of fucked. It's gotten to the point where I'm hounding old clients, like magazines and colleges, asking them if they have any assignments for me. I've gotten a bit of luck from that, but nothing to quit my day job over. I scrounged up one job for this Friday, where I'll be drawing caricatures for an elementary school carnival. Thing is, I had to cut my standard rate in half to get them to hire me. But man, I need the money. It's still good money, mind you. But I should be making more for my work. My fiancee, whom I love dearly and respect her opinion above all others generally, is really frustrated with me for taking the job for so little. I tried to make her understand that I just plain needed the money, and that this gig could potentially attract future clients who will pay my standard rate. But all she saw was that "You don't believe enough in your art..." and that I'm giving in. That really hurt. Nobody really understands how hard I work for my art. I don't like having to suck it up and take a pay cut or a lousy gig just so I can work. But man, that's life. I'm lucky that I can make any money at all as a cartoonist, and I'm proud of what I do and the skill I have in doing it. And yes, I do think I'm worth more than I'm making for this latest gig. But I have to look at the big picture. We're getting married at the end of October. We're hurting for money, and she says she supports my wanting to be a cartoonist. As it stands, I'm paying the bills, and I never come up short when we need to spend money on something. But I'm doing my best, and if I have to swallow my pride once in awhile to land a gig, I think that takes more strength and courage than turning away work when I need the money. Pride doesn't pay the bills, feed us or allow me to do what I love to do professionally. On top of all this, the stress of our impending wedding, some serious health issues with my mom and grandma and my fiancee's own job prospects have worn me thin and left me with a less than stellar outlook on things. It's not like it was when I was younger, ready to kill myself if some big tragedy befell me. But I tell ya, sometimes, sometimes man, it sure as hell feels that way.

Jay

Over at my website's blog, I tend to post, at great length, all the wacky stuff that's happening in my so-called career. I have a bunch of news about this and that over there, plus some potentially big news slowly growing regarding Dead Duck and Zombie Chick. So if you don't mind reading a lengthy blog, check this out!

[link]

Oh, and if you feel like replying and find that, for whatever reason, you're unable to post a response on my website's blog, feel free to drop a note here as usual. I don't care where ya reach me, as long as you do!

Much love all,

Jay

This guy.....
[link]
Look, I've had plenty of people ask my permission to use my artwork for related projects, and generally I give them permission so long as they site me for the original creation. But the key here is, THEY ASKED ME FIRST. I was in my boyhood comic shop today, shooting the shit with the guy behind the counter, and while showing me his Deviantart page and perusing my own, we found this guy and his misappropriated usage of my work. Again, I don't give two shits if he gave me credit. He didn't ask if it was okay. You look at this piece, and without reading the write-up beneath, first thing you think is that he created the drawing, not me. That is NOT going to pass without me having my say about it. I've worked too long and too hard on my art to have people casually use it for their purposes without getting my blessing. Create your own shit. I guarantee I won't use it. And keep your damn hands off mine.

Jay

I guess I'm through making promises of things to come in my career and with my postings on DA. Truth is, I don't know when I'll be able to showcase my Dead Duck merch. I only have the one t-shirt for now, and I have yet to send it to my friend and fellow DA'er Marian to model for me (though it will be coming soon, Marian!). It's gonna happen, but just not yet and I can't say when. There's also some potential business happening with Dead Duck that I'm not ready to discuss yet, but I doubt it would affect the sale of Dead Duck merch. Regardless, count on seeing something....eventually? My apologies for leaving you guys waiting for so long.

Y'know, I wasn't going to mention this, but I figure what the hell. On the topic of false promises, I entered a contest with an unnamed DA member to draw their character. I won. This was, like, at least last fall if not last winter. Grand prize was a bunch of neat stuff, including fifty bucks. Now I like stuff. And you tack fifty bucks onto the bargain and you've got a good prize, especially for a cash-strapped cartoonist like myself. Well, the moral here is, I never got the goods. The person didn't pay off. Now, I'm not trying to sound greedy. But all I know is if I have a contest and promise a pay off (financial or artistic), I come through. So this person is a prime example of what I don't want to be: a guy who makes promises and doesn't come through. So linking this diatribe to the previous run-on paragraph, I promised Dead Duck merch and you shall get it. I'm not THIS person.

UPDATE!! I just ordered a new Zombie Chick t-shirt and sent it out to my friend Marian in Scotland with the report that it will get to her within the week. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean I'll have any photos of her modeling the shirt by next week, but at least the ball's rolling and we should have something to see eventually!

Much love, muh peeps.

Jay

I'm getting the run around like you wouldn't believe from my model, and not in that old fashioned Playboy cartoon cliche way with the photographer chasing after the sultry model around his studio. The girl who said she'd pose for me in the Zombie Chick t-shirt has canceled on me two or three times now, and I've been trying to be understanding and schedule to best suit her needs. But as of now, it looks like she may not be able to help me promote me line of Dead Duck merchandise. So where does that leave me? I already bought a shirt in her size that's too small to fit most other girls I know (my model is a rail-thin dancer), so tossing it on another model is gonna be tricky. However, I may have a decent alternative.

Have I mentioned that I found Zombie Chick's voice?

Oh yes. And it's in a very inconspicuous place. Not within any professional voice or acting circles, but within the modest midwest surroundings of my day job at Thomas Township Parks and Recreation. A friend of mine is a lifeguard there, and has the most distinct voice you could ever hope to endow a cartoon zombie chicken with. When she came back from college to work this summer and I heard her speak for the first time since the previous summer, I knew she'd be perfect. Now, this isn't to say I have any animation plans for Dead Duck, or anything on the horizon in lieu of radio commercials or whatever, but I simply must capture that voice. It's pure vocal inspiration, and will help me in creating future episodes of the life (or death) of Zombie Chick and her partner Dead Duck. And if the day ever arrives when an animated Zombie Chick might become a reality, I know just where to turn to; my friend Allison. Count on getting a sample of Allison reading some Zombie Chick dialogue very soon.

Now, what, you must be asking, does this have to do with an alternative to Jay's model dilemma? Well, Allison says she'll be my replacement model. Not a bad option, as she's already knee-deep in Zombie Chick iconography already. Now hopefully the shirt fits. One way or another, count on a promo for the shirt WITH MODEL by next week.  
  
And what of the Chicago Con? I'll keep this brief. I spoke with a bunch of comic book companies, almost entirely independent, and I was given the brush off for the most part. But one company, APE COMICS [link] decided interest in my work. The co-publisher gave me the e-mail address of his partner and encouraged me to e-mail him my Dead Duck portfolio, which I did as soon as I got back to Michigan. Bottom line, most companies are very insistent that cartoonists should NOT submit to them via the internet due to their bulk of incoming submissions, and would prefer their work sent via snail mail. However, having been given this seemingly privileged and rare entry into submitting my work to their company, I'm led to believe there's genuine interest in Dead Duck. Now this is a company that's growing fast.  They're already making a name for themselves with their series TEDDY SCARES, and they had an impressive booth at the con. So it's a thin chance, but I'll take it. More news when I know something myself. Less news if nothing comes of it at all.

Jay

It's taken a little longer than I'd originally planned to showcase the first bit of Dead Duck merchandise that I've got ready, and I'd planned to have something to share by this time. The model I'm using to display the first item has had scheduling conflicts, so we won't be able to meet until next Monday, meaning it may be another week until I can show you guys the product in all it's glory. However, I can tell you this much...

The first product is a Zombie Chick t-shirt.

No, not the biggest news since "Darth Vader is Luke's father", but at least you guys have an idea of what's coming out. So hopefully in a week, possibly two, I'll have my product ready to show and sell in the manner I originally intended.

On another note, my fiancee and I are heading down to Chicago this Saturday to attend the Wizard World comic convention, which I understand is the second biggest con in the nation (after the ever-so-holy San Diego Con). I've done some research, and there seems to be a lot of great industry people and companies that will be in attendance. So for the five hour block that I'll be at the con, I plan on showing my various portfolios to anyone who cares to see them and who may hold sway over a positive career boost for me.

I have three different portfolios that I'll be showing; my Dead Duck portfolio which showcases all three of his adventures, pin ups and ads that I've used him and Zombie Chick in. I'm also bringing my caricaturing portfolio which features several celebs that you guys have seen on my page. And lastly, I'm putting together a pop culture portfolio which will consist almost entirely of artwork that you guys got to see here on DA before anyone else anywhere else. We're talking superhero stuff, sci fi stuff, cartoon characters and my ever-popular and ever-controversial piece, "The Last happy Meal." So hopefully my work will warrant the attention of someone in a position of authority, and finally allow me to post here as a full blown cartooning professional. I dunno. Maybe I'm a pro now, minor league at best. But I'm ready for the big time! Put me in, coach! I'll win the big game for ya! Actually, I hate sports, so that's probably a dumb analogy. But it sounded good when I typed it.

Anyway kids, that's the news. I'll talk to you all again soon with news from the con and finally, the first of my new line of Dead Duck merch.

Oh, and for those still interested, I'm re-posting the FAQ's for my commission services below. I could use the work, and you guys know I can produce. Hire me if you dare. You won't be sorry.

Jay  



BLACK AND WHITE SINGLE CHARACTER DRAWING: $40 ($10 per additional character)

FULL COLOR SINGLE CHARACTER DRAWING: $50 ($10 per additional character)--this will include the original black and white drawing and a high quality color print out.

I'm up for drawing my characters, your characters, caricatures of you, your family/friends/celebrities, greeting cards or I'm up for most other suggestions.

NOTE: There will be an additonal fee for shipping and handling, which will vary in cost and depend upon where I have to send the completed art to.

NOTE PART II: I do not currently have a Paypal account, so check or money order is the accepted coin of the realm. It should also be noted that all payments will be due in advance. No offense to my pals out here at DA. I just can't afford to take risks.

For anyone who is interested, either send me an e-mail at : fourpanelhero@hotmail.com

By this time next week, I'll be unveiling the first in hopefully a considerable line of Dead Duck and Zombie Chick merchandise, and I'll be doing it right here on DA. So keep checking back to see what the first item will be!

Jay

I'll make this quick. I've got some new stuff in the works, and need to know who amongst you would be interesting in buying some Dead Duck and Zombie Chick merchandise sometime soon? I'm trying to get a feel for the audience right now, but like I said, plans are in the works. Hit me back and gimme an idea of who'd I be selling to.

Jay

I promised you guys a look at Dead Duck's origin way back in March, and though I've had the pages done and ready to share for all this time, various factors have kept me from posting a sneak peek here. Well, it's almost five months later, and assuming you haven't all give up on me yet...


Wanna take a little peek?

[link]

Hope this makes up for the lost time. Let me know what you think.

Jay

To begin, I gotta thing for anthropomorphism. Not a kinky thing, like the Furry community, but a thing in which my creative subconscious develops ideas for humanistic animal characters without my actively intending to do so. I don't necessarily set out to create, say, Banzai Beaver (one of my oldest characters dating back to 1986), but as I walk down the street, for god knows what reason, my creative subconscious puts it together, taps me on the shoulder and says "Hey. We just made it happen." This may be in part due to my earliest childhood memories and creative influences. The Muppets, the collective Hanna Barbera pantheon, and countless comic strips from Garfield to Bloom County certainly entertained me in my developmental years and probably warped my imagination towards developing my own characters of a similar bent as their own.

In fact, just the other day, as I was driving around in my work truck, an idea for a new anthro character struck me funny: A rapping vermin of the squirrel/chipmunk variety calling himself Busta Nutt. This tickled me in a way a 32 year old in a beat up pick up driving across a soccer field probably shouldn't be tickled. The concept stuck with me, funny as ever, until later that night, while surfing the proverbial web, I came across this. And then suddenly, Busta Nutt just wasn't so funny anymore.
[link]

WHAT.......THE............FUCK.

Did I neglect to mention that I've been a loyal follower of The Chipmunks since I was barely tall enough to monkey with the knobs of my grandma's record player while listening to the original Chipmunks Christmas Album? We're talking circa 1974/75 here, roughly the same time period I succumbed to the magic of Jim Henson's Muppets. So you came imagine that the brain children of Ross Bagdasarian Sr. (The Chipmunks creator) were relatively sacred to me throughout my childhood, and to now witness my prepubescent cartoon idols as CGI hip hop douchbags of depravity leaves me considerably less than happy.

Now, I had heard earlier in the year that a live-action Chipmunks film was underway, with Jason Lee as David Seville, their father figure and manager. I actually approved of Lee's casting, and thought it might be fun to see what a big budget blockbuster Hollywood film of the Chipmunks would be like.

As the man once sent and was oft repeated, be careful what you wish for. You might just get it.

At exactly which point did the urbanization, nay, the hip-hop-ization of our collective modern pop culture get so fucking out of control? Was it when they remade the 1950's TV show the "Honeymooners" with an all African American cast? or was it when the news broke last week that the 1980 golf comedy "Caddyshack" would be remade with a similar racial twist under the new title of, I shit you not, "Who's Your Caddy?" No. It was when Hollywood big wigs, trying to latch on to some kinda demographic whom I'm not even sure wanted this concept anyway, took a stupid little 1950's cartoon that at one time remade all genres of music by speeding up the soundtracks, and instead went and blinged them out all ghetto fabulous. It would be like if they made the Fat Albert movie (which I genuinely enjoyed) and made the cast a bunch of upper class white Republican kids from the Hamptons.  

All I'm really saying here is that these ain't my Chipmunks, and they shouldn't be yours either. Boycott this piece of shit hard, like Michael Bay's Transformers hard (Hiring once original voice actor from the old cartoon ain't good enough. Bring 'em all back or lose my business, Hollywood).

Angrily yours,

Me

   



  

My friend and fellow cartoonist Adam Talley has a comic book he self publishes, called "Pleasant Life" [link] and he's recently brought me aboard to be the guest artist for a Halloween Special issue. I'm already three pages into it and it's looking sweet. It comes out in October and I'll have a limit amount of issues that I'll make available to purchase here on Deviantart and on my website (jayfosgitt.com). They'll be autographed, which may or may not be an added incentive to buy, but it'll give me a chance to practice my signature, at least. Just wanted to give you guys the heads up. More news when that ball drops and its voice changes (It's a puberty joke, y'see)...

Jay

I gotta say, you guys are really an incredible group of people. When I posted my last journal regarding my soon to be expired account on DA, the best I hoped for was some advice as to whether or not I'd lose all my work and messages if I let it lapse. What I received was an influx of very helpful advice that put my mind at ease and assured me my page would still be in tact (albeit with a few less flashy features). And then I received two e-mails. The first was that fellow DA'er had bought me a one month subscription. This really surprised me, and I was and am still genuinely touched. Then a day later, I received an e-mail that another fellow DA'er, bought me a year's subscription. Again, total surprise, and so very, very touched by the gesture. These two people and all you other guys who have befriended me on DA are wonderful folk, and I'm so appreciative to have you around. It goes without saying that I owe them both some personal art requests, and I'll be getting right on that. And just as importantly, this is a total sign of karma for me that I need to pay it forward and take care of some other Deviant out there in need of a subscription. DA has proven to me that we take care of our own, we support one another, befriend one another, and just enjoy the art our community produced. I'm just happy to be here, guys, and more than happy that you are too. Love you all!

Jay

It seems that my DA account expires in fifteen days, which means I need to front the cash to keep it going another year. Problem is, I'm a little short on funds right now, and not positive I'll have the green in under fifteen days. So my question is this: will I have ANY account if I let the fifteen days lapse, or will I just be obliterated and have to start from scratch (i.e. whole new gallery and brand new friends list)? How screwed will I be? Somebody gimme the facts. I'm hoping to keep my DA account active, but we'll have to see where my finances can take me. I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything here, but I've got a shitload of new stuff to share. Hopefully I'll still have an account here to do it with after fifteen days passes!

Jay

Some really cool stuff has happened to me lately. If you wanna know more, click this link and read my website's blog. Hope ya dig it as much as I did!

[link]

Jay

Love, Jay

It's been too long, and I surmise that by now I've lost what little audience I'd accumulated due to my lengthy absence. I apologize for being away so long. My computer got its ass kicked by a virus, and my fiancee just got it back up and running again. In the meantime, I've noticed a hell of a decline in commissions, so I'm just mentioning again that I'm still here and ready to draw you guys stuff if you're interested. Related info and such resides below. In the meantime, it's good to be back. Hope to hear from some of you guys. Let me know you're still out there, giving me justification for posting all this kooky shit.

Jay
______________

COMMISSIONS:

BLACK AND WHITE SINGLE CHARACTER DRAWING: $40 ($10 per additional character)

FULL COLOR SINGLE CHARACTER DRAWING: $50 ($10 per additional character)--this will include the original black and white drawing and a high quality color print out.

I'm up for drawing my characters, your characters, caricatures of you, your family/friends/celebrities, greeting cards or I'm up for most other suggestions.

NOTE: There will be an additonal fee for shipping and handling, which will vary in cost and depend upon where I have to send the completed art to.

NOTE PART II: I do not currently have a Paypal account, so check or money order is the accepted coin of the realm. It should also be noted that all payments will be due in advance. No offense to my pals out here at DA. I just can't afford to take risks.

For anyone who is interested, either send me an e-mail at : fourpanelhero@hotmail.com

Hope to hear from any of you guys and add you to my growing list of hella cool clients!