Prints and Merchandise site

If you're looking for prints of my work, and merch like T-shirts,  I'll be adding my work to RedBubble!

Johnny Perez RedBubble Print and Merch site

Busted Pipe Threatens to Sink my Studio!

The sun had not even come up yet.  I first heard the cat stepping lightly through the bedroom door to find his usual hiding spot.  I drifted back to sleep only to be woken up again half an hour later to the sound of rain.  I suddenly became startled.

"What is that?" I asked into the darkness.  The sound of water was on the wrong side of the bed, coming from the hallway instead of the window.  I raised up to the edge of the bed to see slightly out of the crack in the door, the tiny reflections of the living room light bouncing off a steady stream of what looked like water falling right in front of my bedroom door.

Let me just say here, that you should get renters insurance.  Luckily I did not need it this time, but I very well could have.   There's no going back in time to do what you should've done that would've saved you from a nightmare.  There are often no signs that something is wrong until it happens.  Until you wake up in the middle of the night to what you think is rain.  Or until you come home from a weekend visit and your house is flooded.

I keep thinking how lucky we were that we were home.  We hadn't finished unpacking every box, or found a home for every single thing yet, so there is a lot of stuff on the floor in various corners and under tables (especially my studio table!)  In moments of shock there is an uncontrollable frozen stare of disbelief as you wonder if you're actually having a nightmare, or if what is happening will just stop.  It didn't.

I must've stared at the ceiling not knowing what to do for what seemed like 30 minutes.  I saw the water start to travel from the hallway to the living room, going past my TV stand, my couch, to the front door.  I yelled for my partner to find towels, and I grabbed what few I saw and threw them to the floor.

"Oh my God, oh my God," I couldn't help but utter every time I looked up at this unstoppable waterfall of red water.  It was RED! At first I thought it must be coolant, and that it must go to the A/C unit, and that whatever tank was up there would run out soon, but it just kept coming.   I ran to the kitchen where the water seemed to be avoiding, to think, which seemed so hard to do  right now.  I knew I had to reach some emergency line for my complex, I had heard one before when we had other issues in our previous apartment.  I listened to all the options, nothing about dialing this or that number for an emergency.  How can there NOT be an emergency line?!  I called again to listen to the options again.  I chose an option. Not helpful.  I called again, chose another option, not helpful.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye...And Hello Again!

After more than a year of using my website's native blog feature, I regret that it just doesn't work for me.  :-(  There are many great features like the custom build of each post, and the use of graphics in navigation, but it was all manually done by me, and it became more of a chore to constantly update links so that it all worked.  There was not a good flow for me, and trying to keep up with updating multiple areas for every post was just too tedious. 

On a regular blog, links to previous posts are automatic, and the job of blogging becomes much simpler when all you have to do is write and share.  I hate to leave behind the work I carved out there, but my intention is to blog more, and make that easier on my time.  Having the automatic features that a blog like this provides will make that happen, and be a huge relief to my schedule.  I will still incorporate some of the navigation features as best I can, and make the transition as seamless as possible.

Some of you may know this blog already, and it certainly feels familiar and easy to come back to for many reasons.  There is a wealth of older work to be seen here from my college days, and I'm happy that it will be available for easy viewing next to my current work. 

Thanks for understanding and I hope you will join me in a sigh of relief from here on out.  I will post links to my posts on my website periodically so that they still get some love and attention, as I put so much into them.  I'm not sure exactly yet what would be the best way to keep them linked, but I'll figure out, because I do want my .com/blog to point here eventually.

My lastest post can be found here: Mermaid, Witch, and Cosmonaut Walk into a Bar...

Share With Your Friends!

New Website & Blog | Follow Me and Stay Connected!

I've been working on my new website for the past year!  You can find it at the picture link below!

I will not be adding to this blog, but you can find my new blog also on my website.  I'm still posting works in progress, some demos and tutorials, and I will leave this blog open to reference old posts.
If you're a diehard fan and would like to stay connected, I'm running a newsletter where I send you personal emails about things I'm working on, and some current events.   I'm also giving away some freebies for subscribing, right now you can get a 12-page digital coloring book, and download it right from the confirmation page!  Color and send it back to me, and I'll feature it in a future newsletter or maybe on my blog.  I hope you'll continue to follow me on this artistic journey! Sign up here for the newsletter.

Interview

I had the pleasure of being featured on the Ripple I.Y.T. Soundcloud channel run by my friend and colleague Taylor. Check it out

https://soundcloud.com/therippleinyourthalamus/003-johnny-perez 

We talk art, movies, anime, inspiration and upcoming projects. On a side note im not a big fan of my voice, but hopefully it just sounds normal to anyone else.  Anyone else think their vocabulary changes when in an "official" capacity. Yeah that. LOL, anyway it was fun to do and I try to relax and be informal.  

HotPressed : My Etsy Shop

HotPressed sells original art and prints by Johnny Perez

HotPressed is live with some fresh pickings from my latest work for Dallas Comic Con. If you missed me there, you can find what was for sale here! I've posted all prints by me, and some original art!  Etsy has been a great community to showcase online, so if you have an account, go ahead and give me a favorite! Let me know what you guys like, and what you'd like to see more of.  This is also a good spot to get a private commission! I'll be posting a listing for just this opportunity.

Also be sure and check some of my Con friends in my favorites, and like us all!  They are truly a talented bunch of artists, and I'm honored to be amongst their great company!  The con environment can be a scary place for business first-timers, and I'm glad it wasn't really that hard to make friends. Check out this awesome pic of me in the ZONE!

Sketching out Marko and Alana of Saga

 I'll also be posting work soon that relates to my total obsession with fantasy culture. I'm thinking of doing some character studies and original sketches.  Stay tuned for all of it. Also find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Bookmark me, visit me, tell me about your day.  Thanks!

Dallas Comic Con - Fan Days COUNTDOWN

Super artist team, Andre and I will be taking the October leg of Dallas Comic Con: Fan Days by storm! Literally!  Honestly Storm is my biggest muse, I really can't get enough.  She's shown up in most of my work so far and I couldn't be more thrilled! Of course I'll try to branch out into new characters, but for now, I like this...

Storm - watercolor, ink, gel ink, gouache

Yes I am a little partial to "Mohawk Storm" which is odd because I'm a hair kind of guy. I love to see it flying, I love it when its taking over the character, and becomes a character unto itself.  But I dunno something about the bad-assness of mohawk era of Storm that can't be captured or pulled off by any other character. IMHO.

My Instagram pics of recent Storm drawings (@aztlanean)

After a while though I did incorporate some other characters in this idea I had to make the X-Women a smooth Soul/R&B/Jazz band.  I mean the girls like to express themselves in other ways than showing off mutant ability or kicking butt.  Sometimes, some things are best expressed through song.

And speaking of musical expression, I mean why wouldn't Storm have played in a band while she was out sporting her edgy look?

I drew that in ink, and then colored on my little iPhone. It gives me a good feel for the color scheme I want to use, and it occupies some good time at my day job.  And the guitar, I mean come one, what else would she play?!

There's much more to come now that it's crunch time!

Portrait of an Artist

My computer desktop as I left it circa early 2012.

I thought it was funny this weekend that my computer decided to come back from the dead.  I've been without my beloved for almost 2 years. I gave up on trying to fix it, get it fixed, or thinking about it.  Then a couple of days ago I wanted to say hello to the gray startup screen and watch it try to load.  To my surprise, it did load.  I nearly lost my breath when I saw my desktop from over a year ago pop up on my screen.  I had forgotten the things I'd left out.  I forgot the things I used to look at daily. I'd forgotten my digital memory.

Of course I immediately started downloading data, pictures, music, movies that have been neglected all this time, and found a home somewhere safe in backup. Speaking of... do it. You never know what you have till its gone. That goes especially for the small bits of your life you want to remember, and suddenly can't.  Back up.  Just do it.

Anyway I thought it would fun to share some of the things I'm able to see now again.  And I want to remember this moment that me and Storm (so named because she is a silver Macbook) were reunited. Who knows if she'll stick around, but I hope so.  Until then I won't waste a minute.  So without further ado, using her built-in camera, here is a portrait of an artist over the years as seen through the eyes of my dear friend and computer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me playing once again, today, 2013

and again...

I miss this.

		As evidenced by the last 3 pictures I took just now,  I've missed recording my antics, hairstyles and apartments. Something has been returned to me. :)

A New Leaf

First I must apologize to my blogger for neglecting you so long. *meaningful embrace*

Many changes have come about in this artist's life. I have been keeping up on my  reading, mostly Julia Cameron author of The Artists Way and other books concerning art as a spiritual path. These books have changed the way I think about inspiration and plain motivation, not to mention my identity as an artist. As the Nike slogan says, "Just Do It," and I do. 

Focusing on my creativity has been at the forefront of my art career of late. I don't have the best track record when it comes to procrastination, but I've made strides. I have tried pouring energy into many outlets, but perhaps now focus needs to be coupled with prioritizing. 

With focus comes isolation. I do have a roommate currently but I've become better at dissolving the world around me to get down to breaking bristles. ( I just made that artsy phrase up.) Isolation has put friendships on hold. Romance has been shown the door. Patience has been  invariably thin for anything obstructing the view between myself and the guy in the mirror.  

I find it worth mentioning that I still value all of the people that have come and gone and maybe some on the sidelines.  I continue to learn from the lessons you offer, whether in person or in spirit. I still want to make you proud despite everything. 

With isolation comes some necessary soul searching. I have grown accustomed and rather fond of the silence. In it are all the seeds for future growth. Inside curiosity is bred. 

"All this time I was finding myself, I didn't know I was lost" so the song goes. 

Dallas Comic Con 2013

Me with my Samurai Jack watercolor.

The con has been so fun this year, a completely new and different vibe than being a guest.  Behind the table as an exhibitor gives me the chance to talk to my audience, see what they think and what they're into. I can honestly say I get it now when artists say they connect with their audience.  The talent has been amazing, our booth neighbor Chad has been so nice. He gave us some freebies and of course we returned the favor!

I think we made some fans, that was probably the most awesome feeling so far. I really missed walking around and seeing everything there was to see.  My inner geek was going mad thinking I was missing some amazing costume somewhere.  I went out to get food and drink, and realized I was probably better where I was.  It was SO crowded!

We learned a few tricks of the trade, namely, DO commissions. I mean its money while you wait for someone to buy  a print, AND people get to see you work, which makes them even more interested!
Getting to meet so many people and talk art, favorite characters, pop culture, and celebrities was amazing! 

I can't wait to do it all again in October!

Erykah Badu aka DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown

I had the great pleasure to finally see one of my "divas" in action this week. A friend and I went to see Ms. E. Badu herself drop beats and spend records for our enjoyment at the Prophet Bar in Deep Ellum. It was an early birthday present for me and I was so excited. We had been talking about seeing her for months and we just knew that we couldn't miss her next appearance now that I had moved to the area, I planned on being a firm supporter.

The night began simple enough with a jam session with local DJ, and then some live music from the band. They were amazing and it was such an experience to hear her music in a live setting and feeling every nuance of the melodies. When Lo Down Loretta Brown arrived we sat back and listened to her spin her favorite artists and mix influential beats. It was an evening with a friend in a harmonic discussion of music. "I just play what I like, I dunno what ya'll do" she stated on the mic. Toward the end of the evening I could hear her music coming in to play, and I will admit to waiting to hear the artist play with her own material.

My favorite song, "I Want You", began, and my friend and I began to lose it. Then as she began to appear to leave as the night was drawing to a close, an excited scream came from the back of the crowd as Nazeled Hazel made her way to the front of the stage and grabbed the mic. Our perseverance at the from of the stage was about to really pay off. We stood in disbelief that we would hear the songstress not only belt her famous soulful melodies, but also funk out the song to an approving audience. If you want RaDiO you are in the wrong place, was the anthem of the night. I couldn't stop moving, I couldn't take my eyes off the spirit of creativity I was witnessing.

Ms. Badu is indeed a creative spirit and a major influence on me and my art and it was a great honor to be in the presence of hers.