Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Fun_SixInJapanese

Continuing a veritable Rocktober, Sunday's Yale-A-Palooza yielded an incredible array of talented Yalies. The standout was without a doubt one Richard Miron. He sounds incredible live, like a youthful Death Cab for Cutie, packing a 90s nostalgia because of how closely he sounds like this guy. Everything's alright when he hits the mic.

Unfortunately, I missed most of the festival because I went apple-picking again this year, whose rain date landed right on the festival. I can't say those delicious apple donuts were worth it; I missed a bunch of bands I really wanted to see and sketch. The apples were huge though.

The day prior, I went to JE's Great Awakening and eagerly scarfed my kabobs and Klondike bar so I could sketch. This is the lead singer of Great Caesar and the Go Getters. Unfortunately it was only him and the saxophonist, but it was still a fine show.

The Sandy Gill Affair followed, but fell victim to its common curse: bad audio. The lead singer couldn't be heard, his accompanying vocalist blared, and none blasted louder than the piano. I really wish they had checked their sound better. Problems with audio killed them at Battle of the Bands last year, and allowed a mistake like the Laura Z. band to win.

You could be the greatest band on campus, but if no one can hear you, that's it.

Reuxben

Monday, October 6, 2008

Fun_RokSta

There's been a ton of rock recently, which means rock sketches.

To start, a couple Sundays ago,
Person L
Hit the Lights
Chiodos
and
MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK

came to local club Toad's Place. I tore the shrinkwrap off of my new My Chemical Romance sketchbook, and this is the best I could muster in the murky mosh pit. This was my first time at Toad's, and the first thing I thought was: MAN this floor is sticky!

It was a great show all around. I'd never heard of the first band, only vaguely the second two, and was right at home with the headliner. But I couldn't recognize lead singer Justin Pierre, though! His hair was outrageous...ly kinda normal.

Anyway, each band put on an incredible live show, especially Hit the Lights, and I have acquired a taste for Chiodos, which sounds like what Pierce the Veil had hitherto owned in my ears.

So is that it?

No. So much more rock to come Wednesday as Yale-A-Palooza and JE's Great Awakening yield more rock-centric art, including this incredible jazz trio, above. I wish I had caught the band's name. Anyway, these guys rocked. And they are Yalies. So, ten kinds of insanity there.

Reuxben

Friday, October 3, 2008

Herald_QC.Acolyte

Last change: Dracht finally tracks down Ben.
Now change 5!


Now we get to the good stuff!!

Easter Eggs: Change 5 in the Acolyte's staff smoke.

Fun Facts: I created Quarters Crisis after being confused by Japanese TV, but rather than have suited villains, I thought secret society. Eisner inspired the shared panels. Also, I closed pencils at a record 12:30am! I don't know if I'm getting faster or what, but that's amazing for me.

Oh, right...jack kelly's "soccer" offends the international pastime.

My hatred for jack kelly is only eclipsed by my hatred of agreeing with him.

Reuxben

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Fun_DosMujeresUnHombre

A Spanish homework sketch of Frankie from Quarters Crisis; she's only two weeks away!

In other news: I've finally broken into the YDN! I was blown away first just to see my artwork so huge on a page and then secondly, to see how perfectly it tied in with the article it shared space with. I don't know if that was planned, as this comic's been floating around for weeks now, but in any case, it was excellently juxtaposed. Seeing my name all huge wasn't too bad either.
This is the sketch that lead to this. I've been in print at the Herald for over a year, but seeing my stuff in the YDN gave me that giddiness I haven't felt in a long while.

Again, this opinion series, Sick Little Suicide, will aim for every other Wednesday.

Also, I just hit 200 here:


On top of the world,

Reuxben

Monday, September 29, 2008

Fun_Zero_Preview

I'm auditioning this to-be-named series for the YDN. [UPDATE: Got the job! Title's "Zero Like Me"] The guy's name is Zero and the girl's name is Nyao. She's a crash-landed alien.

This second one is based on a true thought. Enjoy the margin's scratch work.

Note: these are post-exposition samples, presented out of order just for the audition.

Reuxben

Friday, September 26, 2008

Herald_QC.Joytopia

Last change: Ben discovers the phony bill crumples out infinite quarters.
Now change 4!


Dracht's back and now things start to pick up.

Feedback: The upper right poll will gauge how we're doing.

Easter Eggs: Change 4 on screen, Triforce on deck.

Fun Facts: In Japan, we went to a Sega theme park/arcade called Joypolis, which I kept calling Joytopia.

They have excellent exit signs in Japan, and so does JE, actually.

Oh, and jack kelly grants us "awkward" this week.

jack kelly is a tactless idiot.

Reuxben

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Fun_Bender

Bored at a meeting of the illustrious, crusty-ous Yale Record, I drew Ben from Quarters Crisis.

Honestly, I wanted to draw Frankie but I felt guilty ignoring the guy who's supposed to be the main character.

Frankie's more fun to draw, really.


Also, I noticed this over at deviantART the other day:
The search brings up exactly 1701 (our founding year) entries for Yale!

Boola boola,

Reuxben

Monday, September 22, 2008

Fun_Ponder

This is a stylistically experimental drawing of Frankie from Quarters Crisis.

I saw a photo on the plane to Yale of a singer and her stickered, beat up, well traveled luggage and thought, that's pretty cool. So that's this piece's theme: a break from the road.

Personal note: I have a cold, but fortunately, the worst of it passed this Saturday night.

Boogers,

Reuxben

Friday, September 19, 2008

Herald_QC.Quarters

Last change: Ben decides to lay low at the mall but bumps into a rude cloaked figure.
Now change 3!


Eleven panels penciled by 1 am. Yosh!

Feedback: You can now rate each week's Quarters Crisis in the upper sidebar.

Easter Eggs: DF stuff, Change 3 and "Yale" in bushes, plus plant monster returns.

Fun Facts: Sadly, I learned the cut off hand/coin technique from Tintin. The Darling Find stuff wasn't originally in. The currency's called Apples (not Berries).

SLS: I've learned my YDN debut's postponed, but I'm still excited.

And we close with jack kelly's "lol" for the lose.


The poor dope doesn't even know how email addresses work.

Reuxben

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

YDN_SLS.Eve

Why.
Dee.
Enn.

Yes.

I quit the Herald.*

Appropriately, Adam and Eve kick things off for my YDN comics, Sick Little Suicide. So welcome. The plan is alternate Wednesdays, but it's premiering this Friday because they need landscape on weekdays.

I got an email late Tuesday asking if I'd comics for today's paper so I blasted this one out, no time for jungle-y design. But they do have the original Red Bull.

And I'm finally qualified for IvyGate reviews beyond this, so we'll see what happens.

*Kidding.

Reuxben

Monday, September 15, 2008

Fun_TheProfessor

This is a drawing of Professor Gerow, who led that wonderful summer session in Japan, an experience of a lifetime.

I sketched him during our final class dinner, the night before flying back (the Olympics' opening day). I had the fish carcass. It wasn't as good as the fish at Nikko, or even at our first dinner at the restaurant, but still good. The meaty kabobs were great.

That night I opted out of karaoke to go buy some Maximum the Hormone.

I wish I could return.

Reuxben

Friday, September 12, 2008

Herald_QC.Bump

Last change: Ben finally stands up to bully Dracht but doesn't stick around to chat.
Now change 2!


This comic came into the office really late because those rats at JE ate up my comicsing time...

Easter Eggs: YOMM ads plus squared floors. Change 2 in panel one.

Fun Facts: The first panel's based on a picture I took in Tokyo after visiting NHK "Stajio Paak" but before eating at MOS Burger. Did you know that Kabuki onnagata bite their sleeves to indicate weeping?

Also: You can now rate each week's comic on the sidebar.

And speaking of rats, jack kelly offers "guess who" this week.

Reuxben

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Fun_ShootMeInTheSmile

This is a quick drawing of Frankie Paupunk from Quarters Crisis.

I drew it during the Ex!t Players' recruitment show. They had not one, but TWO, recent grads perform. Meanwhile, the Purple Crayon's master, Benji, attended his own group's show, but didn't himself perform...What. A. Rip. As I walked to the Crayon's premiere, I kept thinking, Man, it sucks Benji's not around anymore. And then BAM! I see him at the door and think WOW! One last show! How cool! But no. No show. Dang.

At least my fears that this year's Crayon would, well...suck...have been assuaged. I'm glad my favorite improv group still owns the poop out of Ex!t, or anyone else (I saw the ending of Just Add Water, and it was sad).

Oh, this is also an experiment to see if I can post from a cluster, so hopefully there's an image here.

Reuxben

Monday, September 8, 2008

Fun_BulletsForChulaVista_Design

This is yet another futile T SHIRT design for that [wonderful] lump known as Jonathan Edwards College. Specifically, the students of that college.

I cannot fathom how much those people [rock]. These sacks of [smiles] robbed me of my time, my sleep, and my ink. As you can tell from my illustrious history designing shirts for these [people], I was stupid to try again, even after being specifically invited to apply before they even announced the design contest.

After conservatively sending just sketches for feedback on what they were looking for (and lobotomizing the part of my brain screaming, "Why the crack are you wasting your time on these [cool] people; have you not learned anything?!!"), I get an insulting email that refuses the sketches as if they are actual submissions. I guess it's easy to get confused, even after including a specific request for advice on which version I should pursue. This guy goes to Yale.

Cut to several hours laboring on this [happy] project, and not on homework or a comic, until 4 am, then sending an email asking if they'd extend the noon deadline for me to ink. I get an unqualified "that's fine" at nearly 10 in the morning (keep the timeline straight).

I get a few hours sleep since there's church. Afterward I scarf food as fast as I can, open the green light email, then ink for several hours straight. Just before I send the final, I think, you know what would be a wittily bitter message to accompany the image? "This is the part where you give the job to Chittenden."

I greatly respect his colors and whimsy, but the man does every single freaking shirt for JE. Even if he has million-dollar designs, which I frankly do not think is the case--The Game, Rise and Return--why the [joy] does he get every single design job for anything ever by what feels like default? He will probably punch through the hospital wall and name my firstborn child. And everyone will applaud him. So yes, he got the job, a decision which I learned was decided IN THE MORNING, the same time period where I was given the okay to begin inking, as if they were still considering other options. Before sending in the design, I figure I might as well go to dinner and even bump into one of the very chaps involved in the vote, who tries to hawk IMs of all things in my face. No, I don't want to join IMs, do I look athletic? Yes, this same guy goes to Yale.

Recap: the original deadline was noon; they decided "this [Sunday] morning," by definition before noon; that same morning they give me an extension; that evening I go to dinner and endure a frivolous chat with a known voter, submit the piece, and then read the email telling me I wasted my life, complete with cutesy diction as if that makes us square.

This is insane. First: why would you specifically lead me on that I even have a shot at winning these rigged contests--is it because you suspect I greatly dislike you "popular kids," whose names are plastered everywhere when there's some election going on? Second: I try to be as humble and unimposing as possible until I'm licking the grimy dirt off of your shoes, but what the crack (of his!) beat this design? Third: Gloves are off--this college's students have ruined my Yale experience in so many ways I can never forgive them. I don't have a list of people I hate, but if I did, it would now be populated (with asterisks because hate is a strong word).

But don't worry--I get my design used on a banner. YES! SWEET! THAT'S WHAT I SPECIFICALLY SPENT ALL MY TIME AND EFFORT ON. Screw a shirt that will be worn by everyone in the college for years, that will allow me to feel like I actually, tangibly contributed something substantial to this college, like I'm an actual college member, like I actually put aside my disgust enough to serve JE.

No, I won't get anything that I can look at later on to trick myself into thinking that maybe these were "bright college years" after all. "I" get a banner. It will probably get blown over and people will walk on it. It will wear out and join crumpled Heralds in a dingy alley.

Reuxben

Friday, September 5, 2008

Herald_QC.Bully

Welcome to Yale Herald Comics Series 3: Quarters Crisis.

While studying in Japan this past summer, I couldn't understand some TV show so I created my own plot after that first, curious episode. That story sprawled into Quarters Crisis.

Easter Eggs: Lang '51-'07 is my re-dedication to Mrs. Lang, my late AP physics teacher, one of the greatest human beings I've ever met.

Fun Facts: Okyto High is an anagram of Tokyo [University], where this story was born (and originally set). I pronounce "Dracht" Drawkt.

That rat, jack kelly, returns too, it seems, with "reroll." Does he really think that new signature is hip? Geez.

Well, thanks for visiting, and try the new poll feature I've added atop the sidebar; you can now rate the current week's comic. Pretty neat.

Reuxben

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Fun_Intro2008

This is a preview panel from my upcoming comic, Quarters Crisis, debuting this Friday in the Yale Herald.

Now, some info:

Name: Reuxben
Stats: Yale, Literature, JE '10, California.
Updates: Friday, Monday, Wednesday
Inspiration: Rock, Eiichiro Oda, Toshihiro Ono, angst.

Namesake: An old high school academic team coach typo'd my name, then thought it funny to freshly misspell me every tournament. This was my favorite version. It also provides an excuse to misspell my name. The X is silent.

Goals: Entertaining you, contributing to Yale's having the best comics in the world, training to draw for a living, preserving my sanity.

Good comic: Darling Find
Art-intensive intro: Retrospective2008
Cheery comment: IvyGate

Me Online: TCBN, deviantART.
Me in Print: Quarters Crisis (Herald), Zero Like Me (YDN), Sick Little Suicide (YDN), Record, Penny Dreadful, etc.

Thanks: for visiting!

Reuxben

Monday, September 1, 2008

Fun_FrankieMyDear

This is another Frankie sketch, from Quarters Crisis, drawn at Bradley airport.

We've officially begun production, and the first panel is fully penciled! Look for Quarters Crisis Fridays this fall, Yale Herald!

Right, so I'm posting from that hideous monstrosity, Swing Space, which reminds me: neeeed home Internet.

Oh, and the Freshman Bazaar was fantastic; I hope we get a bunch of great new artists. People loved my posterboard, and non-comics people would clearly be staring at it but then just continue walking on--even some cops checked it out! Ha! I even met a fan!! How freaking cool is that?!

Reuxben

Friday, August 29, 2008

Fun_RussiaNarita

I drew this girl at Narita Airport, based on a picture I saw here as well as some photos I took in Japan's controversial Narita Airport.

In other news, I'm frantically trying to orchestrate Comics Club's direly needed resuscitation while doing the same for Herald Comics.

I want my computer to work again. These stupid macs are driving me insane.

Reuxben

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Fun_DeadAgain

[Scanned Update!]

I'm finally back at Yale. I greet this year with the usual mixture of giddy excitement, crippling anxiety, and irrational fear.

In print this semester:

Yale Herald
Quarters Crisis

Yale Daily News
Sick Little Suicide

Let's go.

Reuxben

Monday, August 25, 2008

Fun_Terri

Well, I'm now on deviantART, as of last Saturday.

FallenAvalon, a fellow DA Yalie, helped me out so I decided to try my hand at her original character, Terri Endbright. Visit her today!

So the DA is mainly to attract non-Yalies here and to display my best stuff neatly; less talk, more rock.

Blogspot will remain my primary site, still updating Friday, Monday, and Wednesday. So if you visit one of my art sites, make it this one.

Wednesday: finally back at Yale!

Reuxben

Friday, August 22, 2008

Fun_BigKappa

This is a piece I began on my first weekend in Japan. Today, it is finally complete! It's a kappa eagerly spotting his favorite food, a cucumber.

This is one of the biggest, time-spanniest drawings I've ever done, and my hand hurts.

Reuxben

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Fun_CallMeMeg

[Scanned Update!]

Here's fan art from Disney's Hercules.

Who is it?

"Megara. My friends call me Meg. At least they would if I had any friends." --Meg

Reuxben

Monday, August 18, 2008

Fun_SkirtJacket

This is a drawing inspired by Cake's "Short Skirt, Long Jacket," for perspective practice.

Easter Eggs: I was playing with a logo for JE, my residential college (Jonathan Edwards), on her hat.

"She is fast, thorough, and sharp as a tack," --Cake

Reuxben

Friday, August 15, 2008

Fun_BenGwen

[Scanned Update!]
This is fan art of Ben and Gwen from Ben10, my favorite show after Avatar. Gwen's supposed to be super enthusiastic, Ben reluctant, to pose for a picture.

Here's some detail on the picture, which took up about an entire sketchpad page, rare for me.

Also, this is our 100th post this year! Coincidentally, I remodeled the sidebar for more convenient browsing.

Finally, the last in-post ad, please check out:


Thanks for bumping by,

Reuxben

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Fun_LadyLucky

[Scanned Update!]

I drew this girl before watching Kung Fu Panda on the 14 hour plane ride from Japan. Fun costume design practice.

Too bad for US Women's Olympics last night, man. Good luck to the girl from Brown!

And don't forget to check out



Bump bump,

Reuxben

Monday, August 11, 2008

Fun_ShoeGhost

Back from Japan, sadly, but the
Japan tag'll still accompany artwork started overseas, like these train sketches.

Stat news: 1988 and 2k over the weekend; thanks for the support.

Moleskine (mini-notebook) sketches are now tagged.

Also: If you'd like to "bump" me over at


then thumbs it up,

Reuxben

Friday, August 8, 2008

Fun_SafeToBeScary

Director Kurosawa Kiyoshi spoke to us after a screening of his incredible film, Cure, and I sketched him during the talk (the first try's chin is up top).

I happened to sit directly to his right during the post-talk dinner, so I finished the sketch later that night.

Ok, must reluctantly fly back to California tomorrow. Goodbye, Japan, I'll miss you.

Also: Go, USA!

Also, also: in an effort to passively aggressively get the word out on my artwork, I've joined
More passive aggression to come!

Reuxben

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Fun_Fireworks

I noticed some fireworks when we went off a couple of Saturdays ago to look at explosions in the sky.

Friends.

Reuxben

Monday, August 4, 2008

Fun_TrainMan

I saw this man reading manga on the train.

Reuxben

Friday, August 1, 2008

Fun_VoicesInMyHead

Director Hiroki Ryuichi came to speak to us, Master's Tea style, after a screening of his quite lovely film, Vibrator.

Relax, the title refers to the hum of a truck engine and the pitter patter of a woman's heart/cell phone.

After the film we dined with the director, and I sketched.

His actress friend came by during dinner, so I started sketching her, too.

After an awkward series of events, Mr. Hiroki asked to see what I drew over dinner and gave jovial chuckle when he recognized himself, complimenting me in Japanese!

His movie made me want to cry, his compliment made me want to fly.

Reuxben