VCA Commission - A Couple of Time-Traveling Adventurers!

Spidey with Spidey - Miles Morales, Vertically Challenged

Dip Pens, Cartooning, and Inking

Last week my wife and I visited a local antique mall and spent quite a bit of our Black Friday searching every booth for treasures. Success! The last booth I checked, near the checkout counter on my way out, included a box of old-school dip pens on the bottom shelf of a dusty display case. The cashier unlocked the case and set the box out for me to explore.

I bought the five dip pens pictured and a marble-barreled U.S. Senate mechanical pencil by Sheaffer. I headed home, got a bottle of India Ink and started experimenting with the dip pens.

Off to a messy start, I dripped a puddle on Space-Rover's ear, then got the hang of it and started inking the sketch below. The handwriting and illustration were both done with the dip pen. The nib has great flex to allow line width variations for illustrating. I wrote a couple of pages of text in my Field Notes Dime Novel edition and it has good control and consistency - the steel nib produces text comparable to a medium nib by standard fountain pen sizes (like Lamy or Kaweco). I enjoyed the drawing experience with these pens and I'm looking forward to creating some complete pages using only my old dip pens!

I'm always amazed and appreciative of past creators who penned documents, inked drawings, and completed entire books with pens like these. I would encourage every artist to try out a dip pen. It's a great way to experiment with old-school tools and techniques. You may find out you enjoy drawing with these. If so, and time is the only deterrent to prevent using one more often, there are many great fountain pens that offer the flex nib and line variance options with internal ink reservoirs or refillable cartridges. The best of both worlds!

Space-Rover: Out and About on Planet Earth

Space-Rover and the Prickly Planet, the second book in the series, has been mailed to supporters of the Kickstarter project and I'm starting to hear back from those who have received their copies! Part of the fun of Kickstarter projects is creating the rewards that go to backers. The images seen here are some of the sketch cards that were produced as inserts for backers. Blue pencil and brush pen ink on bristol sketch cards. I enjoy drawing these and admit that they often prompt ideas for new adventures and future books.

Some backers also receive the exclusive mini coloring book with additional sketch card pages. Others requested custom caricatures of themselves, drawn in my Vertically Challenged Artwork format.

If you missed the project, you can order the books via Amazon and have them in a few days!
Book 1: The Fantastic Adventures of Space-Rover!
Book 2: Space-Rover and the Prickly Planet!

Ramone Cologne, Fountain Pen and Field Notes

Ramone Cologne is back after a long break in my artwork schedule! I've missed this little skunk and his adventures. Ramone returned this week with this sketch from my new Lamy fountain pen in the Field Notes Dime Novel edition. A children's book is in the early stages featuring a new side of Ramone Cologne that's never been featured in any of his previous comic books and comic strips. Hope to share more artwork and details soon.

New! Space-Rover's New Book is Funding on Kickstarter: Space-Rover and the Prickly Planet! Needs Your Support

If you're a fan of any of my past artwork or other books, please check out the new project for Space-Rover and the Prickly Planet! Book 2 in the series. A $15 pledge gets you a signed copy of the book when the project is successful, and there are other rewards that are new to this project. Thanks!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1510900017/the-fantastic-adventures-of-space-rover-the-prickl?ref=nav_search

Commissioned Paintings - Vertically Challenged...You!

Here are some of the commissioned paintings I've enjoyed doing recently: Vertically Challenged commissions of pets, kids, and Space-Rover.

If you've imagined yourself as a superhero or space-explorer (and let's be honest, we all have), you can get that vision in painting with a Vertically Challenged Artwork commission.

Email me, facebook message me (https://www.facebook.com/VerticallyChallengedArt/) or check out my booth at an upcoming convention. The next convention I'm attending is the Oldham County Comic Con, Saturday, November 12: http://www.oldhampl.org/oc3.html

Commissioned painting of various horse events for an Equestrian Federation's charity auction.

Space-Rover is my newest children's book, available here: https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Adventures-Space-Rover-1/dp/1518637116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478785733&sr=8-1&keywords=space-rover+rick+mcgee

Vertically Challenged Artwork appearances with Fans and Cosplayers

A collage of fans, cosplayers, and Vertically Challenged Artwork at conventions and book-signing events in 2015-2016.

CASA Superhero Run 2016

I'm glad to once again be part of the annual CASA Superhero Run in Lexington, Kentucky. It's a pleasure to provide the artwork each year for shirts, banners, and reward plaques for runners. This is a fantastic event every year for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) organization of Lexington. I've enjoyed participating as a runner each year, when runners dress up as superheroes for the 5K and kids' 1K. Check it out at http://www.lexsuperherorun.com/

Lexington Comic and Toy Convention This Weekend - March 11-13, 2016

I'll be at the Lexington Comic and Toy Con part of this weekend for one of my biggest conventions of the year. Follow the map below to visit my table and see new Vertically Challenged Artwork, my newest children's book The Fantastic Adventures of Space-Rover, and the Vertically Challenged comic book. Looking forward to reconnecting with friends and fans from previous years!

Rick McGee, Vertically Challenged Artwork, Booth 1104

 

New Children's Book Project on Kickstarter: The Fantastic Adventures of Space-Rover

I've launched a new children's book series campaign on Kickstarter. Check it out and see some cool rewards you can get for backing the project. Including original artwork, space-ray blasters, sketch cards and posters. Signed copies of the book start at the $12 support level and there are several other levels to choose. Help me spread the word. I'm looking forward to sharing the adventures of Space-Rover with you!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1510900017/the-fantastic-adventures-of-space-rover-book-1?ref=nav_search