Mike's recent blog entries

[Rae Rodriguez]

I have to say, despite the fact that I'm on LJ quite a bit I probably would've missed out on the Batgirl meme if it were not for Mike's blog. Yesterday's post on Spidergirl began a discussion between my boyfriend and I about her costume. That led me to begin drawing my own version (which I'm still working on). Today's was about Superboy. Knowing myself, there's always a chance that I might just become a meme sheep and sketch him, too.

Anyway, let me get to the point. I love blog entries that inspire me to draw things, entries that say "Draw your take on this." It's good exercise. So thanks for those posts, Mike, because I need the practice. :o

[Mike Wieringo]

Well, I'm just thrilled that anything I did would inspire you to draw...! :)

[Erik Burnham]

LOVING the blog.

Love the art, and Rae ain't alone in drawing inspiration - pun noted - from your one-offs.

As others have noted, a positive place online. Sorely needed.

-E

[cartoonin99]

I will concur with the sentiments on your blog, Mike. It is nice to be able to go to a site that is a place of positivity and done by someone who obviously loves his job. I have been a member of your current blog and the one before that for a while now and gladly am able to visit it at least 3 or so times during the week.

Oh, by the way, my parents moved to Apex, NC recently and I told them to keep an eye out for you. :D

Thanks again for your work and influence.

[Rae Rodriguez]

It is nice to be able to go to a site that is a place of positivity and done by someone who obviously loves his job.
I couldn't have said it better myself. :)

[astrosapien]

Well, I'm just thrilled that anything I did would inspire you to draw...! :)

Mr. Wieringo, I've gotta let you know that you've been inspiring me to draw since I started collecting comics 10-ish years ago.

I started collecting at about the time of the Revelations arc that capped off the Clone Saga, and being a newbie to everything yours was the first style (along with Steve Skroce) that jumped out at me and had me wanting to draw for a living.

While opportunities haven't arisen for me just yet, I perservere, and to this day your work is something I will constantly look to for inspiration, even if my style has developed into something a little less cartoony than it used to be.

So thanks for all of that. It's been greatly appreciated!!

One thing I'd like to ask, if you don't mind, is how did you break in to begin with? I know people always say to get to the conventions, it's just a little harder from Canberra Australia... :( Any advice on how people might get round a few little hiccups like being born on the wrong continent?

[Mike Wieringo]

LOVING the blog.

Love the art, and Rae ain't alone in drawing inspiration - pun noted - from your one-offs.

As others have noted, a positive place online. Sorely needed.

-E

Thanks, Erik...! I'm glad you've been enjoying the blog...! I certainly enjoy doing it.

I will concur with the sentiments on your blog, Mike. It is nice to be able to go to a site that is a place of positivity and done by someone who obviously loves his job. I have been a member of your current blog and the one before that for a while now and gladly am able to visit it at least 3 or so times during the week.

Oh, by the way, my parents moved to Apex, NC recently and I told them to keep an eye out for you.

Thanks again for your work and influence.

There's so much fun to enjoy about comics... and so much wonderful stuff being done. It's not just in the direct market, either. You can find a lot of great stuff online as well. Comics aren't confined to your local comic shop. So there's no need to dwell on the negative when you can find something to enjoy if you look hard enough.

I'm not sure how far Apex is from Durham.... I'll have to look it up on a map.

One thing I'd like to ask, if you don't mind, is how did you break in to begin with? I know people always say to get to the conventions, it's just a little harder from Canberra Australia... Any advice on how people might get round a few little hiccups like being born on the wrong continent?

I have to tell you that going to conventions and showing my portfolio is the way I got my initial contacts which led to some of my first work, astro. I went to COMICON in San Diego a couple of years and was able to get to know some of the editors that went to the show-- and then follow up with mailed in subsequent submissions... and by then they knew my name from the shows and were willing to look at the packages. But that was all before the internet.

You'd probably be surprised at how many comics editors (as well as art directors from other mediums/forms of entertainment) are prowling the web looking for talent. I would say you should put together a nice web site featuring your art. If your work is good enough to get noticed, I'm sure you'll get emailed about it from someone. In the MEANTIME, you should begin posting samples of your work on various boards like DIGITAL WEBBING (http://www.digitalwebbing.com/forums/) and PENCIL JACK (http://www.penciljack.com/forum/index.php?) and THE DRAWING BOARD (http://www.sketchbooksessions.com/thedrawingboard/index.php). There are usually writers looking to meet good artists to collaborate on projects they want to get published. Then together you can submit to publishers like ONI, SLAVE LABOR, DARK HORSE, IMAGE, etc... Starting small and getting published by one of the independent publishers is a good way to get noticed by the editors at Marvel and DC as well. So despite the fact that you live in Australia (which has it's own comics community, doesn't it? Gary Chaloner is Australian, I believe...), the web can bring you together with other creative folks. That's the beauty of technology...!

[Val]

Bah!
Mike's blog is the worst blog ever!
:p

...you all know I really do respect Mike and love his work, right?
Just want to make sure.
I can hear a few people out there now "This Val guy is a real jerk!"

I don't particularly care for blogs, myself.
I've always found that voluntarily giving up personal info on a regular basis to all the stalkers and creepazoids of the world is too much for me to handle.
But Mike's is one of the few I do check out... for the art, of course.
:)

[cartoonin99]

Apex, NC is about 10-15 min from the Raleigh/Durham area. Depending on traffic, of course. :)

[Mike_Norton]

Bah!

But Mike's is one of the few I do check out... for the art, of course.
:)

Ditto... Brian Hurtt's and Ringo's are the top of my list.

Mike!

[Mike Wieringo]

Thanks, Mike..!

Y'know.. I don't think I'd ever heard of Brian Hurtt 'til your post. I did a Google search on his name, and found his blog. I bookmarked it... that guy's awesome! So... thanks for the tip on a new stop in my web travels, man.... :)

[Mike_Norton]

Thanks, Mike..!

Y'know.. I don't think I'd ever heard of Brian Hurtt 'til your post. I did a Google search on his name, and found his blog. I bookmarked it... that guy's awesome! So... thanks for the tip on a new stop in my web travels, man.... :)

Brian's awesome, man. He does Hard Time for DC... good stuff.