2017 Howard M. Shum Awards

As the Year of the Rooster sets upon the horizon, I look back at 2017 to proclaim all that is best in the arts that I follow:

Film - “The Florida Project” Directed by Sean Baker. I didn’t know there were lower class people who lived in cheap motels in Orlando on the outskirts of Disney World. I still don’t quite understand how spending $35 a night which amounts to around $1,000 a month can’t get these people into apartments. It’s about a young mother and her young daughter as they struggle to live in this world. The film is both funny and sad. It may not sound like it, but it is a riveting film with amazing performances by Willem Dafoe and many first time actors.

Director - Luc Besson “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” I love auteurs. I love when auteurs get to do what they want. I love when auteurs give us things we haven’t seen before. I love when auteurs ignore sophists and other people who have never created anything. I love Luc Besson.

Actor - Gary Oldman “Darkest Hour” One of the best make up work I have seen and a great performance by Oldman as Winston Churchill.

Actress - Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" A determined woman looking for justice for her murdered daughter. McDormand does a fine job of playing her as mean and unlikable while still having the audience on her side.

Supporting Actress - Brooklynn Prince “The Florida Project” This film does not work if you cast the typical overacting kid actors seen on Disney and Nickelodeon TV shows. Young Brooklyn has excellent natural acting skills. I’m curious to see what she does next.

Supporting Actor - Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" It’s very bold to have a racist character and give him redeeming qualities and not be a racist film. People, good and bad, are multi-dimensional. To have it any other way is simplistic and lacking of ambition. This film is not lacking.

Screenplay - “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” Screenplay by Martin McDonagh. I like watching and reading things were I don’t know what is going to happen next, but these plot points must have some logic to them. Things can’t happen just for the sake of being unexpected. McDonagh’s stories surprises me and that’s a good thing.

Cinematographer - Roger Deakins “Blade Runner 2049” Everything he shoots is just beautiful.

Television Show Drama - “Twin Peaks“ 18 episodes, all directed by David Lynch, and all written by Lynch and Mark Frost. This is true visionary art rarely seen on television.

Television Show Comedy - “Nathan For You” It’s strange in that a lot of comedy shows these days including critically acclaimed ones aren’t that funny. I don’t mean that their jokes fall flat, but that they aren’t even trying to be humorous. Nathan For You does not have that problem. It’s hilarious and smart.

Television Actor - Kyle MacLachlan “Twin Peaks" MacLachlan returns in three roles each played well.

Television Actress - Tatiana Maslany “Orphan Black” On this final season she continued to play multiple roles (oftentimes acting with herself) each with distinct voices and mannerisms. Few actors could be able to do this on a competent level let alone at an extraordinary one as Maslany.

Live Band - The Regrettes. Living in Los Angeles, I get to see live music a lot. I saw the Regrettes four times in 2017. They put on a fun and energetic show without being repetitive.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Billie Eilish

Here’s a drawing I did of singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. Check out her amazing music!

Blair Hiesl

Here’s a drawing I did of model Blair Hiesl.

Martha Hunt

Here’s a drawing I did of model Martha Hunt.

Rainey Qualley

Here’s a drawing I did of singer-songwriter Rainey Qualley.

Watch footage I shot of Rainsford performing live “I Wanna Dance w/ Somebody”, “Flowers in a Vase”, “Intentions”

Samara Weaving

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Samara Weaving.

Abby Foster

Here’s a drawing I did of Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader and Miss Illinois Abby Foster.

lovelytheband

Here’s a drawing I did of Jordan Greenwald, Mitchy Collins, and Sam Price from lovelytheband.

Watch footage I shot of them performing "broken"

Laker Girl Alyssa

Here’s a drawing I did of Laker Girl Alyssa.

Krysten Ritter

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Krysten Ritter.

Watch footage I shot of The Regrettes performing "Lacy Loo"

Rubina Dyan

Here’s a drawing I did of model Rubina Dyan.

Ella Mai Weisskamp

Here’s a drawing I did of model Ella Mai Weisskamp.

Wolf Alice

Here’s a drawing I did of Joff Oddie, Joel Amery, Ellie Rowsell, and Theo Ellis from Wolf Alice.

Watch footage I shot of Wolf Alice performing "Don't Delete the Kisses"

Wolf Alice "Bros"

Wolf Alice "Sadboy"

Wolf Alice "Space & Time"

Francesca Eastwood

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Francesca Eastwood.

Reed Morano

Here’s a drawing I did of cinematographer and Emmy award winning director Reed Morano.

MaCall Manor

Here’s a drawing I did of Los Angeles Rams cheerleader MaCall Manor.

The Uncanny Rick and Morty

Here’s a drawing I did of Rick and Morty based on John Byrne’s Uncanny X-Men #141 cover. Rick and Morty is the most creative and fun show on TV!

Watch footage I shot of The Regrettes performing their new song Red Light:

Scarlett Johansson

Here’s a drawing I did of Scarlett Johansson.

Caleb Swanigan

Here’s a drawing I did of power forward for the Portland Trailblazers and fellow Boilermaker Caleb “Biggie” Swanigan.

Gal Gadot

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Gal Gadot.

Jasmine Daniels

Here’s a drawing I did of model Jasmine Daniels.

Tips for Professional Artists attending a Comic Book Convention

I was asked to give a few tips to professional artists attending their first comic book convention:

• Signage is important. If you’re in artists alley, you should get a banner stand so people who are looking for you can spot you and people who don’t know who are will now be aware. Label the costs of your art and comics.
• Bring bags. Whether you are selling art, prints, and/or comics you should have something for your customers to place their items.
• If you are going to draw commissions, have your art supplies ready to go. I have a separate set of supplies I use at shows and at my studio. Not all studio supplies are suited for drawing at a convention.
• Have business cards with your website, social media, and contact information. I don’t have them out because people take free stuff regardless if they actually want it. I only give cards to people who specifically ask for one and people who buy stuff.
• If you have a smartphone or tablet, consider getting a credit card reader from places such as PayPal and Square.
• Properly display your work. If you have comics, affordable countertop displays can be bought that stand you books upright. If you have prints and/or original art, use a portfolio or if you have the space attach them to grid walls.
• If you are selling your own comic book, prepare a short pitch to tell your potential customer of what the book is about.
• Bring hand sanitizer. There’s a lot of germs floating around comic conventions. Don’t get sick.

Check out my San Diego Comic-Con 2017 video:

Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen - Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke

Here’s a drawing I did of Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke as Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones.

Stella Maxwell

Here’s a drawing I did of model Stella Maxwell.

Check out my horror short film I did for #MyAnnabelleCreation #contest

Monster art by Martin Egeland and me

San Diego Comic-Con 2017

The best thing I saw at San Diego Comic-Con this year was the Blade Runner 2049 immersive interactive experience although the time to get in was way longer than I expected. Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford stopped by the space (which I also got on video). The immersive VR ride with motion chairs was cool. It simulated being in a flying car and chasing a replicant.

Check out my video and see Sean Galloway, Jim Cheung (drawing), Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg, and Pierre Bernard Jr.

Angourie Rice - Spider-Man: Homecoming

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Angourie Rice as Betty Brant from Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Tanya Mityushina

Here’s a drawing I did of model Tanya Mityushina.

Ellie Rowsell

Here’s a drawing I did of Ellie Rowsell from Wolf Alice.

Watch footage I shot of The Regrettes performing The Ballroom Blitz

TJ Leaf

Here’s a drawing I did of new Indiana Pacer power forward TJ Leaf.

Taylor Howard

Here’s a drawing I did of model Taylor Howard.

Watch me draw Mari Takahashi (Smosh, Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X).

Natasha Barnard

Here’s a drawing I did of model Natasha Barnard.

Check out my video of Los Angeles honoring Adam West with the Bat-Signal.

Kaitlin Olson

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Kaitlin Olson.

Magic Giant

Here’s a drawing I did of Zambrick Li, Austin Bisnow, and Zang from Magic Giant.

Check out footage I shot of them performing Set On Fire live

Roger Moore

Here’s a drawing I did of Sir Roger Moore as James Bond. 007 is one of my favorite movie characters. A huge influence. Saluté

Murielle Telio

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Murielle Telio.

Chris Cornell

I was lucky enough to see Chris Cornell and Ben Shepherd perform acoustic a few years ago. I stood about eight feet away and heard the best modern day rock vocalist in an intimate setting. Soundgarden and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are my favorite bands so it’s sad to hear Chris passed at such a young age.

Someone tried to tell me something

Don't let the world bring you down

Bernie Wrightson and Jessica Cook

I was recently commissioned to ink the late, great Bernie Wrightson.

Here's a drawing I did of actress Jessica Cook.

Danielle Knudson

Here’s a drawing I did of model Danielle Knudson.

Alexandra Daddario

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Alexandra Daddario.

Lindsey Pelas

Here’s a drawing I did of model Lindsey Pelas.

Xenia Deli

Here’s a drawing I did of model Xenia Deli.

Delilah Belle

Here’s a drawing I did of model Delilah Belle.

Melanie Collins

Here’s a drawing I did of sports reporter Melanie Collins.

If you like comedy, comic books, and cosplay watch a new video I shot last weekend at WonderCon:

Brianna Stone

Here’s a drawing I did of model Brianna Stone.

Rachel Cook

Here’s a drawing I did of model Rachel Cook.

Stefanie Martini

Here’s a drawing I did of actress Stefanie Martini.