Leigh's Art and Musings

2012 Kittens – Wrapping Things Up

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:47:29 GMT

Quickie update – all the X-Men kittens have been adopted! Except for Marie. We cracked and decided to keep her. Because, like my sister says, it’s not as if anyone would want a tiny, stunty-growth cat with really big eyes and a really cute face. -_- Pics coming soon.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Flowers in the Attic

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:21:19 GMT

I’m live-tweeting Flowers in the Attic at 7pm PST this Friday because VC Andrews is FUN! It’s currently streaming on Netflix so if you’ve got an account, feel free to join in.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Marie – Follow Up

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:29:56 GMT

Marie is doing much better! Dr. Case told us she has elevated white blood cells, but all her other tests – FIV/FELV, FIP – were normal. We have her on a 10 day run of antibiotics, and she’s perked up quite a bit. She’s more active, she eats more, and she’s putting on weight. What a relief! We’re supposed to bring her back to the vet’s for follow-up testing next weekend, after she finishes her antibiotics, and I’m anticipating a good report. Here’s a recent picture:

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Womanthology Space Issue #3

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:09:16 GMT

Womathology: Space #3, containing the story “The Vesta”, which was written by the super-talented Jennifer De Guzman and illustrated by me, is going to be released tomorrow! Just in time for the holidays and everything! Spread the word! It sounds like it’s going to be an all around amazing issue. Check out some of The Vesta’s art.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Kitten Update!

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:52:02 GMT

Jean and Wanda got adopted over this past weekend! Two down, eight to go! Kurt and Ororo topped 3lbs and are currently at the spay/neuter clinic. I added some new pics to the gallery, and I resorted the images so the newest pics are at the top. We’re a bit worried about Marie – she’s still very tiny, only 2.5lbs, while the other kittens are at least 3.5 to 4 lbs. We took her to the vet yesterday. Physically she checks out so far: no heart murmur, lungs sound good, she eats, etc. Our vet’s running a full blood panel on her (the results should be in sometime today). Hopefully there’s nothing wrong with her and she’s just a slow-growing kitten! Our vet said it’s possible she just has a very high metabolism. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best. She’s a sweet little bug – it’s pretty much impossible not to love her – she’s very cranky, like a little old lady cat in a kitten’s body – but when she wants attention she’s completely purry and adorable.

(see how cute?!)

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

50K!

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 02:48:10 GMT

Finally hit 50K on my novel project!

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Super Secret Mariah Project!

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:35:55 GMT

Some art from a SUPER SECRET PROJECT I’m working on with Mariah Huehner.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Kittens Growing

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 15:24:50 GMT

The kittens are officially too old to lock in the bathroom at night. Now we get to give them free range of the house while we lock ourselves in the bedroom. Siiiigh…

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Incident Report

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 15:30:05 GMT

2:42 am

Adult humans reported to the scene of a jail break. Six prisoners had escaped from their cell. The escape was most likely engineered by Jumbo Size Black Kitten. Prisoners were located playing on the couch in the living room. All six prisoners were successfully detained, fed a good meal, and put back to bed.

Adult humans are cranky and tired.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

All the Kittens

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:37:06 GMT

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

A Tale of 10 Kittens

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:28:13 GMT

Click through to read about the kittens!

Sketch of the Day: 30

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:49:19 GMT

“The Vesta” – Page 1 Colors

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

What’s Up, Pussycat?

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:04:05 GMT

Okay, here’s the deal: my SDCC 2012 con report is super late because I picked up a really nasty bug while bopping around the convention center. This bug left me sacked out on the couch for two weeks watching Buffy, Frontline, Nova, and MTV’s Teen Wolf (as the mood took me) while my body did its level best to forcibly evict my lungs and launch them into space. Seeing as it’s pretty difficult — some might say, damn near impossible — to draw while hacking up one’s lungs, I spent the NEXT two weeks playing catch-up between my day job and pencilling Jennifer De Guzman’s Womanthology story, “The Vesta” (she’s posted the first page of pencils on her blog – check it out!).

I expect to spend the remainder of the month painting the pages (XOXOXO Painter 12!), so there won’t be much in the way of a con report until September, when I can take some time to, oh, I dunno, eat and breathe and fun stuff like that. To make it up to everyone, I’m going to start my Sketch a Day personal challenge again, starting tomorrow. Yay, pretty pictures! Sketch a Day was really fun and motivating for me, and I’d like to see if I can keep it going for a full year.

In some additional good news, @LadiesMaknComix has posted a review of the Frostbite graphic novel, and they said they think it’s awesome! Yay, thanks so much, guys!

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Crimson Pact, Vol. 4

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:43:15 GMT

The fourth volume of Paul Genesse’s Crimson Pact anthology series, featuring my short story “Return to Sender”, has hit the shelves. “Return to Sender” caps off my friend Gloria Weber’s inter-connected shorts, “Crimson Mail” and “No Mail”, which were published in the first two Crimson Pact anthologies. When a scheduling conflict prevented her from completing the trilogy, she passed the torch on to me. Many thanks to Gloria for letting me take her characters and spew my own issues all over them.

Here’s a brief excerpt,which I hope you enjoy. “Return to Sender” was a lot of fun to write.

Return to Sender
by
Leigh Dragoon (that’s me!!!)

“We need to talk.” The sentence glowed up at me from my phone.

I reached over and turned on the secondhand lamp perched on my nightstand. I winced away from the glare.

It figured. Six months without a peep, and as soon as I let my guard down, my ex-boyfriend messaged me.

I stomped to the apartment’s galley kitchen and tossed the phone down on the table. We need to talk. About what? As far as I was concerned, Matt and I had said everything we’d needed to right before I’d pointed my sky-blue Corolla west on I-80 and sped out of Ohio. I’d blocked his number once I reached Sacramento, but technology could only do so much against a determined mage.

I opened the cupboard, shoved aside a half-empty bag of flour, and reached for the burgundy-and-white box of Kosher salt. Just as effective as sea-salt but much cheaper. I’d have to weave protections to block any further messages, at least until I could change my number and maybe get a new phone.

The box felt too light. I peered inside. Empty.

Great. Just . . . great.

How had I missed running out of such a basic component? Salt and spring water formed the core of my magic. They were immutable, therefore incorruptible, and they lent that strength to whatever spells used them for a foundation. No matter what was done to them, they reverted back to their true selves every time.

I glanced at the microwave. Three-fifty AM. There was a 24-hour Wal-Mart a few miles from my apartment. I scooped my keys and wallet off the counter, shoved my feet into my sneakers and grabbed my jacket.

I crammed my left arm into the jacket and was groping behind me for the other sleeve when I opened the door and there he was. Matt. My ex, the professional demon hunter, who hadn’t wanted my help before, and I damn well knew wouldn’t need it now.

“Hey, Veronica,” he said. At least he had the decency to look embarrassed. “I just want to talk.”

I thought about slamming the door in his face. Better yet, walking past him, getting into my car, and driving to a bar.

Instead, like an idiot, I let him in.

Oooo, will Matt get a bittersweet come-uppance? Will Veronica crack, take him back, and make him waffles?! Buy it and find out what happens next!!!! (Seriously, buy it, I get royalties on this one)

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Almost There!

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:03:33 GMT

At long last, I’ve almost completely shaken off this case of con crud, and am feeling like something resembling a human being once more. Starting next week, I’ll be posting my convention highlights.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Con Report Forthcoming

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:58:02 GMT

No con report yet – I’m pretty sick. I picked up a really nasty case of con crud, totally lost my voice. Been lying on the couch in a haze, watching the suck-seasons of Buffy and knocking back Nyquil shooters.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

We’re Here!

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:29:14 GMT

We survived a detour through California’s agricultural heartland, intensely bad traffic outside San Diego, even worse traffic inside San Diego, craziness with the convention shuttle buses, and a magic treasure hunt to find our badges. But we are NOW HERE! Up bright and early, heading on over to the convention hall to check out the Lego “Hobbit” figures. Archaia signing at 10am. Wish me luck!

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 Signings!

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:24:55 GMT

Here’s my current signing schedule for SDCC 2012. There will be three Fraggle Rock signings and one for the Vampire Academy graphic novels. Here’s the current schedule:

Fraggle Rock signings @ the Archaia booth (#2635)

[Official Archaia schedule]

Thursday, 7/11
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Table 4

Friday, 7/13
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Table 3

Saturday, 7/14
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Table 3

Vampire Academy Graphic Novel Signing @ the Penguin Booth (#1117)

Saturday, 7/14
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

For the Vampire Academy signing especially – please do come by! I’m a huge VA geek and I would love the chance to yap with other fans about Richelle’s books. I’ll probably drag along my sketchbook and see if I can doodle up a few more VA chibis.

I will update/tweet as I get more information.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Harvey Award Nomination!

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:41:06 GMT

Fraggle Rock has been nominated for a Harvey Award for “Best Original Graphic Publication for Younger Readers”! Please consider taking a moment and voting for us!

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Good News, Everyone!

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:07:10 GMT

I’m going to be in the forthcoming Ship issue of Womanthology: Space, which will be published by IDW. Womanthology is a collection of stories produced by all women writers and artists – more info here at the original Kickstarter. I’ll be providing the art for a story written by Jennifer de Guzman. Here’s a rough sketch of the main character:

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

The Crimson Pact – Volume 4

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:20:41 GMT

As mentioned in my friend Sarah Kanning’s excellent post, my short story Return to Sender is going to be in the forthcoming Volume 4 of Paul Genesse’s The Crimson Pact anthology series. Return to Sender is a sequel to two flash stories, Crimson Mail and No Mail, written by Gloria Weber. Bunches of thanks to Gloria for trusting me with her characters! I had an incredible amount of fun writing the story. I’ll update as soon as I know the official release date for Vol. 4.

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Kindle Comic – Page 1 – Colored

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 05:49:15 GMT

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Vampire Academy: Frostbite – Recommended by Previews!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:21:04 GMT

We’re on Diamond’s Recommended Titles for Teens list!

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

‘Wherein I Am 12′, or ‘Self-Marketing Is Hard’

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:47:17 GMT

Here’s the Kindle edition on Amazon

Mirrored from Leigh's Art Blog.

Manga Studio Pencils

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:40:35 GMT

The first page of the short comic I’m working on in Manga Studio EX 4. I’ve been using the pen tool for sketching, as opposed to the pencil tool – I just like the feel of the pen tool more. I love being able to work on different layers! Each layer is assigned its own pen color, which makes it really easy to remember what’s on which layer.