The Cloud Farer

Wandering in the wandering colors of the wondering clouds.

Publishers Weekly reviews Jane and Mizmow!!!

Here it is:

Jane & Mizmow

Matthew S. Armstrong. Harper, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-117719-4

In his first solo outing, illustrator Armstrong (Rhino, Rhino, Sweet Potato) offers a charmingly illustrated story, full of physical comedy, about a girl’s bumpy friendship with a monster. Jane is waifish and shaggy-haired, while Mizmow is a pudgy, furry owl-like creature with rabbit ears. When they first meet, after Jane shakes Mizmow out of a woolen cap, she loves him immediately (a cartoon heart appears above her delighted face), though Mizmow unexpectedly licks her, gobbles her up, then spits her out. After this opening interlude, which unfolds in wordless panels like a cartoon storyboard, Armstrong introduces some perfunctory and generally unnecessary text to describe the duo’s episodic misadventures, which culminate in a big fight (“Mizmow is mad. Jane is more mad”). Mizmow is mischievous—much of the book’s humor revolves around his heft and large appetite for red autumn leaves and books—with Jane playing straight man (and getting catapulted through the air on more than one occasion). It’s a humorous account of an unlikely friendship, but the bland prose saps some of its magic. Ages 3–5. (Oct.)

Reviewed on: 08/22/2011

You can also read it on the Publishers Weekly website too... if you like :)

It doesn't get much bigger than Publishers Weekly. This is incredible! As a long time reader of PW it blows my mind to see my own creation reviewed. Woot!!! I have to disagree with their point on the writing. Its very important young readers are able to read a picture book made for them. Thus the simple sentence structure. Besides "Mizmow is mad. Jane is more mad." is a funny couple of sentences and still makes me giggle. But really... this is a great and wonderful review full of so many nice things about my little book. Many thanks to PW for such a positive review. Thanks for choosing Jane and Mizmow to review!!!

Jane and Mizmow will be available in finer book stores everywhere Oct 1st 2011.

Transformers: Slipstream

The evil Decepticon Slipstream! She is like the Catwoman of Transformers. Which would make Arachnid the Poison Ivy of Transformers I suppose. When asked which aspect of Starscream's personality she represented her response was an emphatic "Don't ask!"

Transformers: Warpath

BAM! POW!!!

Summer Drawings

the Moon Guardian and the Frostsaber

WoW!

Thus my first ever World of Warcraft art is unleashed . . .

Trans-CARS-mers

The last video game I worked on (Cars 2) is out and doing rather well in the reviews. We just had a screening for Cars 2 I took the family to. Its a really fun spy, speed racer-y kinda movie. I liked it quite allot better than the first Cars film.

Last night I dreamed of Transformers... but they where Cars... and then this cartoon happened.

Unicorn City

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My pal, fellow Avalanche employee, super artist, story overlord and all around swell guy Bryan Lefler has made a fantastic independent film named UNICORN CITY!!! Aaand he was kind enough to ask me to do some promotional art for T-Shirts and Posters and stuff. Which I was only too happy to do. Bryan asked for the same layout as my Oz-some piece I posted a while back. It was a fun challenge.

My idea was to draw the characters as maybe they see them self's. Or maybe if there was a Saturday morning cartoon of Unicorn City it would look like this... I wish there was. (^_^)

You can find out more information and watch the wicked rad trailer over at the Unicorn City website.

Chrono Trigger

WELCOME TO THE ONE HUNDREDTH POST!!!

Chrono Trigger is one those games I just have to play every few years. This time it was on my trusty DSiXL. What can I say that hasn't already been said. Character designs by Akira "Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest" Toriyama. The best characters, music and story of the 16 bit era. Damn! I love this RPG.

Robo

Crono

Frog

Here is a 1280 x 1024 Desktop for my fellow Chrono Trigger aficionados.

I had so much fun drawing these guys. I'd love to draw the rest of the cast one of these days.

Magus: "If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh."

Super Girl #3

"We don't do it for the glory. We don't do it for the recognition... We do it because it needs to be done. Because if we don't, no one else will. And we do it even if no one knows what we've done. Even if no one knows we exist. Even if no one remembers we ever existed."
— Kara, Supergirl


This one is my favorite of the 3. It just turned out so nice. Up, Up, and away! Thus concludes Supergirl weekend!!!

Super Girl #2

Supergirl: Saturn... Is, is that further away than Earth?

Zaltar: Silly question! Do they not teach you anything in School? Did you not study Sixth Dimensional Geometry?

Supergirl: Well of course they do. I, I know the equations... I... I... I just can't see them in my head.

Zaltar: Most great artist have that trouble Kara. Only use your imagination. Saturn and Earth are in OUTER space, but we, we are in INNER space.

Supergirl #1

Ethan: You just flew over my head, true or false?

Supergirl: True.

Ethan: Like Superman.

Supergirl: He's my cousin.

Ethan: What's with the Halloween costume?

Supergirl: This is not a costume. These are my clothes.

HAPPY THANKS GIVING ONE AND ALL!!!

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I woke up Monday and thought I want to do a nice Thanksgiving card... for Thanksgiving. This was what popped into mind. I made myself laugh... but I scared myself a little too.

I'm thankful for: #1 my soft cuddly baby boy with razor sharp teeth 2# my mega clever girl who can pass Ico all by herself #3 my lovely talented wife who's made me a better man.

Now if I can just catch a showing of Charley Brown Thanksgiving I'll be set.

Batman

Geek Commandment # 12

Thou shalt acknowledge that Batman beats everyone, ever, anywhere at fighting. That's right, he beats everybody. Even Optimus Prime. Even Darth Vader. Even Chuck Norris. He'd find a way. He's the frakking Batman.

~ Doctor Smashy

Miss Martian Manhunter

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"I don't want you hurting any more Earth people. That wouldn't be nice." ~ Miss Martian

Megan aka M'gann M'orzz is pretty cool character. I'm intrigued by the mystery surrounding her origin.  Ancient Mars history being of great interest to me whenever it shows up in stories.  

I didn't know about her till recently.  I was just thinking it might be cool if Martian Manhunter had a kid sister or something... a quick google search and BAM!  the DC geniuses already had one.  I've been reading some Teen Titan stories with where she shows up, she seems to be a minor guest star who definitely deserves more screen time.  

Just a reminder we are moving to: www.matthewart.com  if you get a sec please redirect your reader  :)   thank you.

Venture Brothers: Dr. Mrs. The Monarch

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“Yes, I belong in here, I just have a deep voice.” ~ Doctor Mrs. The Monarch

She started out with the birth name Sheila. But then learned the ways of evil and became Queen Ethera! Then she joined the Mighty Monarch and became the even eviler... Doctor Girlfriend!! She broke up with with the Monarch and became Doctor X-Girlfriend. But then, their union approved by the Guild of Calamitous Intent she became the even evilest... Doctor Mrs. The Monarch!!!

Venture Brothers: The Mighty Monarch

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"I love the Monarch because he has too much passion. The Monarch has as much hate inside him as all other villains combined. The Monarch can’t fake it. He’d rather risk his career in arching, then to not arch Dr. Venture. " ~ Dr. Mrs. the Monarch

Just a reminder... moving to matthew art soon: www.matthewart.com

Venture Brothers: Henchman 21 & 24

Venture Bros is the funniest, most well-writtenist show on TV. (writtenist is a word... now)
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"They both have that rare combination of expendable and invulnerable that makes for perfect henchmen." ~ the Mighty Monarch

Starting out as faceless throw-away background characters they've become two of the most interesting characters on the show.



Reminder: we are moving to www.matthewart.com soon :)

the Legend of Zelda: Link

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"its dangerous to go alone take this" with those words I started the greatest adventure of my life. One of them any way...

or

I firmly believe without a shadow of a doubt: the kitten is far and away the superior weapon. I mean... just look at that thing!!! yikes!!!

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! I've finally got my new and improved Matthew Art dot com site up and running... soon I'll have to just post over there as I am not organized enough to maintain two blogs... check it out!!! It has all kinds of Matthew Art goodies... I'm adding more and more and soon it will be a fully armed and operational battle station!!! erm... website.

www.matthewart.com

thats matthew art not mat the wart... but, whatever ^_^

Princess Leia and Lord Vader

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I thought about putting in a word balloon on this one... but I couldn't choose one...

"You are part of the rebel alliance and a traitor, TAKE HER AWAY!!!"

"Darth Vader, only you could be so bold. The imperial Senate will not sit still for this. When they hear you attacked a councilors ship on a diplomatic mission..."
(nah, too many words won't fit in a word balloon.)

I'm writing these from memory, may be inaccurate... how bout:

"Your not going out like that young lady. You march right back up there and put a bra on!!! TAKE HER AWAY!!!"

Really truly though folks... Carrie Fisher said that George said there are no bras in space and she was just walking around tapped up the ENTIRE movie. Also there was digital nipple removal.

Do you think George Lucas knew that Vader was Leia's father when he filmed this? I don't.

Any body else have any funny captions???

I guess this was Star Wars week... :) If I knew that before I started posting these I would have announced it as such or something... ^_^

May the force be with you.