I had fun with the Mirage Studios crew -- Dan Berger, Mike Dooney, Jim Lawson, Eric Talbot, and Steve Lavigne -- this past weekend. We all travelled up from Massachusetts to do a signing at Steve's store "Shellback Artworks" in Wells, ME.
Here's a sampling of photographs from the event. (Of course, I followed my usual bad habit of not getting the names of most of the people I took photos of. Sorry!)
There was one gentleman who drove a LONG way to come to the signing -- I can't remember which midwest state he was from, but I think he easily took the prize for "most miles driven to get to Shellback Artworks". He brought with him a nifty vintage VW van toy, which we all took turns signing. Mike even did some "Turtleizing" of it, adding some shell texture to certain areas.
I think this next person's name is David, and after talking with us for a while and getting some things signed, we posed for a photo with him. Then he went to the local Wal-Mart and got it printed in a large format, brought it back, and we all signed it.
Cool idea! I had no clue that you could get prints done like that at Wal-Mart.
Here's Eric signing the photo.
Chris Parlon and his girlfriend Katie, who were also at the grand opening signing, showed up for this one as well.
We signed this dude's yellow shoulder bag…
… and the back of this pizza box (which had previously held some of our lunch).
I have to draw particular attention to the thing Jim Lawson sketched on this box -- something that, in all the years of the TMNT, with all the references to pizza and surfing, has NEVER been done before (as far as I know): a Turtle surfing on a piece of pizza.
Genius! Jim, you're too much.
Here's Jim in the act of creation -- I was fortunate enough to be sitting next to him at the signing, and thus caught this moment for posterity.
Mike took it upon himself to, um, enhance the image of infant April on the cover of this fan's copy of TMNT Volume 4 #22.
Here's Steve posing with one of his store t-shirts which we all signed. I don't know where the shirt ended up.
It was great to have Eric with us -- I hadn't seen him in months. He brought with him some blank stickers with the die-cut shape of a skull and crossbones (the result of a printing error) and invited us all to draw something on them. Here's a photo of Eric working on one…
… and here are five COMPLETELY different approaches to using that space. Can you guess who did which?
All in all, a fun time! -- PL
Incredible. I wasn't able to tell the five sticker sketches were the same shape at first glance.
ReplyDeleteLooks like an awesome time, Pete!
ReplyDeleteSo, stickers: I can figure Eric, Mike, x, x, Jim pretty easily but the missing two are tough.
None of them look particularly "Bergery" so I guess he's the odd one out? Guessing Pete & Steve.
I hope everyone sees how fun this place is. And keep in mind these photos only show the first floor. The second floor has Original TMNT art! My jaw dropped when I saw the Shredder splash page from TMNT 10, the cover from RTNY 2, and the original cover painting for TMNT Tournament Fighters for Sega Genesis, just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteThey also have a ton of great comics, art supplies, and toys. As well as art classes from Steve Lavigne!!!
So do yourself a favor and make it a trip, enjoy the TMNT stuff at Shellback, go for a swim at Ogunquit Beach, and then get yourself a lobster at Mike's Clam Shack.
Very cool, I am really impressed by your turtle head sketches haven't seen one in a while (especially the one on the shirtas it looks so cool). I believe I have two of yours in the two issues of volume 4 that were sold on the old ninjaturtles.com website.
ReplyDeleteany chance theres a copy of Tales 70 and TMNT v4 29 at this place??? haha. last two and i have them all!!
ReplyDelete