It seems like every time I come to Seattle, Mike ends up roping me into painting something. Last time it was on canvas, this time it’s pewter.
We went out to Ernie’s Game Shop, picked up some Reaper minis and tried our hand at painting them today. I was stoked. I found a dwarf that perfectly matches Binwin. He even has a shield with a mug of ale on it. I crimped off one of the horns on his helm to match. I was excited to paint.
Not anymore. If I never have to paint another mini, I won’t be too disappointed. It’s tedious work that requires patience and a very steady hand. And a magnifying glass-lamp-thingy. And sculpy. And paints. And brushes. And Blaeeerrrggh!!
In all seriousness, it was challenging but fun. And it’ll be nice to have a mini I painted on the board the next time we play instead of some random dwarf or a paper counter.
One of these days I’m gonna have to pay to get a professional painting job done on this particular mini. I think it would be worth it for the Binwin mini. We’ll see.
Last year I had the honor of being asked to give a lecture at the Savannah College of Art and design. Myself and Dave Kellett were flown out to Savannah, put up in a wonderful old mansion and treated like cartooning luminaries. On Monday we spent the day in the sequential art department talking to students about what we do, giving demonstrations and answering questions. It was an amazing time.
Since then, you’ve heard me talk about the SEQALAB podcast, which is produced by one of the professors who brought us to Savannah, Jeremy Mullins, and his students. I am addicted to SEQALAB. I listen to every episode, and have gotten to know Jeremy and the SEQA students better through it.
I was devastated to learn that Jeremy lost his life in a hiking accident last weekend. He was only 32 years old.
Jeremy loved comics. He loved his students. He gave of himself freely and eagerly. He was a font of comics knowledge and I will deeply miss getting to listen to him every week, and am saddened we’ll never get to know each other better.
I was telling a friend about Jeremy and he asked “Is there anywhere I can see his work?” And that’s a funny thing because I don’t think Jeremy ever got a chance to really develop his own work. He was too busy helping his students develop theirs. So if you really want to see the great work that Jeremy Mullins did, if you want to see his contribution to the world of comics, you’ll have to follow the future bright careers of Kevin Burkhalter, Ahmad Rashad Doucet, Jarrett Williams, Brett Muller, Pranas T. Naujokaitis, Kel Mcdonald, and his other students.
We all make choices in our lives on how to spend the time we have. Jeremy chose first to help students find their creative voice and put off finding his own. The world is a better place for it, and for him.
Jeremy Mullins, rest in peace. You will be missed. God bless you, your family and your students.
Finally, news for my very patient and loyal readers who have been asking me about Ding!
Ding! is back with an all new direction, all new characters and an all new home. Right here at PvPonline.com as a Sunday feature.
The new Ding! chronicles the adventures of Binwin Bronzebottom the world famous dwarven fighter, and his traveling bard Giacomo. Together they travel the lands, righting wrongs, slaying beasts, bedding damsels and returning to tell their tales at the Black Fox Tavern.
The overwhelming feedback and unabashed fandom Binwin has received from the D&D podcasts I do with Los Bros Pennies-Arcades and Wil Wheaton inspired me to retool Ding! to tell the exciting stories that take place when Binwin isn’t on the clock with Acquisitions Incorporated.
And look! Today, Mike and Jerry have graced us with a brand new Jim Darkmagic comic as well, with hopefully more to come. We’re building a new universe here with endless possibilities and, hopefully, crossovers!
