Friday, October 4, 2013

NYCC 2013 And the Non-Attendance Of Nick Roche

I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps. Unfortunately, I won't be doing much sleeping anywhere in the forseeable future. But hey...

So, I regretfully inform you that I will NOT be attending  the New York Comic Convention next weekend. Yeah. I KNOW. Don't even...DON'T! I'm gutted. It's not been an easy decision (Rarely does one buy flights, pay for a table, secure accommodation and then pronounce, "Nah, don't fancy it.") but it's one that has been made for ultimately good - great, even - reasons.

Nick Roche's sadface, yesterday.
Some of you may be aware that last weekend at the incredible DICE convention here in Dublin, it was revealed that I am to take on my first work for a little company you and I like to refer to as Marvel Comics. Not only that, but the gig is working on an iteration of one one of my favourite characters in all of fiction, and one I had a huge connection to (visually, at least) during my teen years. I'm to be the artist on a Death's Head II one-shot, tentatively scheduled for release in February 2014. Yeah, I know! A dream gig and a company I've always wanted to work with. I'm a lucky sod. But it does mean that my workload has increased somewhat. So, in order to the best job I can - and not just on this project, but on another, equally exciting, all-new concoction already in production - I've had to step back and remain tethered to my drawing board.

I was so looking forward to my trip to the States, and not just because there are no cats there, and the streets are paved with cheese (important to me due to my allergies, and lactose-dependency). Hopefully, I can make it out sometime in 2014. And hopefully you'll come see me too.

For those who had pre-ordered commissions, and would still like them completed and mailed out, please contact me at nickrocheart@gmail.com and we can sort something out. I'm so sorry I
won't get to meet you all in person. My erstwhile tablemate Andrew Griffith will still be doing some amazing sketches and some equally impressive signatures at table CC3 at Artist's Alley. He'll be the impractically handsome one with twice the legroom he was expecting.

Massive apologies then, folks. Hopefully the pay-off will be the cracking comics available from me in 2014. See you then?

Nick

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

DICE PRE-CONVENTION SKETCH LIST!

Stand firm, Rochearounds.

This coming weekend, I'm gonna be at DICE! The Dublin International Comic Expo (https://www.facebook.com/dublincomicexpo) run by The Big Bang comic shop out in Dundrum Town Centre. If you check the link above, I think you'll agree (or be forced to by me) that it truly is a comics gathering of international standing. A host of world class Irish creators standing shoulder to shoulder with the VERY best the world's comics stage can muster. We're very lucky indeed to have it a tram ride away from us.

Anyway, I'll be doing me usual: signing, sketching, and selling. (I also may be doing something very unusual, and vaguely newsworthy, but we'll see how the weekend passes...)
So, very briefly, I'm taking on a small sketch list. And just Head & Shoulders/Bust shots this time, gang. (Examples below; forgive the dodgy camerawork. Pictures are nice though, right?) The images are inked, with a touch of greytone added to make 'em look spiffy. Each piece will be €25, and you can get on the list by replying, as usual, in the comments section below, letting me know your name, your sketch request, and what day you'll be available to pick it up.. There are FIVE SPACES AVAILABLE. Sorry! But, I'll be sketching over the weekend, so come find me and get on my list.
So, come keep me company while I shudder and soak myself gently in my own juices as I share oxygen with REALLY talented folk this weekend. Ta-ra!






Thursday, August 29, 2013

NEW YORK COMIC-CON SKETCH LIST NOW OPEN!

Hi all!

This year, I'm gonna be attending the New York Comic Con for all four days - Thursday through til Sunday. I'm very excited to attend my first non-Transformers convention Stateside.

I'm sharing a table with top Transformers artist and swanky-looking SOB, Andrew Griffith, artist on Robots In Disguise. More details on where to find us in Artists' Alley shortly.

So I'm putting together a sketch list! A very limited one, I'm afraid. Currently, I'm only taking on FIVE A4 (29.7 x 21 cm) Black & White FULL SINGLE FIGURE commissions. Each illustration will be priced at $150. There are examples of what's involved below the text.

If you're interested, follow these simple instructions!

*Reply in the 'Comments' section below.
*State YOUR name, your CHARACTER request and what DAY you will be available to collect your piece.
*Sorry, NO fan characters.
*Once five names appear in the Comments section, consider the list cut off.

I hope to be able to open up a second sketch list for character busts/ head & shoulder shots nearer the time, but for now, this is it. Contact me here or on twitter.com/NickRoche for further info.

Thanks SO much for this, gang! I'm SUPER excited to make this show. Can't wait to chat and talk rot at you in person.

Ta!



*ONLY order if you are going to be in attendance to collect your artwork.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

AUTO-ASSEMBLY 2013 SKETCH LIST

No time to pretty this up, my darlings: The cold, hard sell starts here!

I'm going to be at Transformers convention AUTO ASSEMBLY in Birmingham on the 10th-12th of August this year (Check out autoassembly.org.uk) where I'll be chinwagging and shilling my way with the sort of swagger that's best given wide berth. For the first time ever, I'm opening up a pre-con sketch list. The sketches come in two varieties and two pre-con price ranges:

£15 for an A4 Black & White HEAD/SHOULDERS shot (10 available)
                                  AND
£55 for an A4 Black & White FULL SINGLE FIGURE shot (5 available)

To be eligible for these, all you need to do is reply in the comments section below, state YOUR name, the name of the CHARACTER you want, and an idea of the day you'll be available to collect the piece. PLEASE only order a sketch if you will be able to attend to pick it up, and, you know, pay for it. The numbers available are as stated above. Once they've been filled, please don't send any more requests unless further slots become available.

So go to it! Sorry there's less razzle-dazzle to this announcement. Thanks so much for taking a punt on this. I'll have more to chat about too, including unveiling this year's set of prints!

I love you all in a very real and invasive way. X

Thursday, June 13, 2013

BUY THIS ART PRINT AND BECOME A HERO: UPDATED

UPDATE 29 July 2013: Well, it's all over! With your help, we made 131 Digital Sales! That translates as €1310 for the Irish Cancer Society. (And we flogged the rest in private sales at fundraiser events, etc...) So, you did it, Rochearounds! You added €1500 to the current €8428.32 total on my brother Paulie's NYC Marathon Fundraising page. (http://www.mycharity.ie/event/paulie_roches_event/). And that's from prints alone; I know lots of you tossed him a few coppers (and then some) along the way too. 

Thanks for your patience in me pimping this project across all social media strata, and in waiting for the merch to make it to your homes. (The last batch from this week will be dispatched before Auto-Assembly.) And the messages you sent us...man, why you make my face wet? It's been lovely to have so many stories shared, but heartbreaking that so many of them are similar to ours, and some far, far worse. So, you done a good thing. And with that, on behalf of a Ream of Roches, and Me Oul' Da, 'As The Fella Says', thank you. 

Nick


UPDATE: Due to an absolutely unprecedented demand, we are considering upping the print run from 100 to 150. We're very, very close to selling out the initial 100 - hence this late night, panicked solution - BUT...I don't want to mess anyone around who thought they were getting a more limited edition than they now might be. If anyone has any real concerns about this, please contact me at nickrocheart AT gmail DOT com. Looking at the carefully considered messages and the speed in which this order was filled in under twelve hours, I can't imagine anyone would object to making €500 more for a cancer society, but you're the ones who've parted with their hard-earned cash, so let me know if this concerns you in any way. All prints will still be numbered - now out of 150 instead of 100 - and the Free Print offer still stands to new customers who pay for shipping. But do contact me if you have any concerns, or feel you've been misled in anyway.

And from all us Roches, for your support, encouragement and kind messages, thank you so much.

Nick



Would you like to own this limited edition Art Print, and do something good in the process? Then bear with me while I get a teeny bit personal.

Last year, I lost my Dad, Mick, to Cancer. He was the man who bought me my first Transformer (Hot Rod, natch), supported me as I  mooched around his house long past the time I should have moved out, and even during his stay in hospital last year, would flick through my newly-bought pile of comics, telling me that I was "Much better than these other lads". I never believed that, but it meant the world that he did.

Since the 'Oul Fella passed away though, my younger brother, Paulie, has taken up running. Like, out of nowhere. And in that short time he's gotten quite good at it. He made his goal this November's New York City Marathon, and ever since he secured his place, has been working tirelessly to come up with ways to raise sponsorship money for the Irish Cancer Society.

This is my way of helping him raise some sponsorship money, so I hope you'll play along at home.

*I've made a limited-to-100 copies run of this A3 (29.7cm x 42cm) full-colour 160gsm print, which I call 'FASTER'. The print will cost €10, of which every penny will go to the Irish Cancer Society, with additional costs covering postage and packaging. Each copy will come signed by myself, and individually numbered. You can purchase it by clicking through below, and the prices are based on the Irish Postal website's (www.anpost.ie) calculated rates. Please indicate if you want me to dedicate the signature to you, or leave a message of any kind.

*Amongst the options are 'Print For Collection'. So, for example, if you're attending Auto-Assembly, or any other convention of which I'm a guest, you can simply pay now, and I'll hand it over to you in person. Just indicate that this is what you wish to do in your Paypal transaction, or via nickrocheart AT gmail DOT com.

*All customers who order their print shipped will receive an additional FREE SIGNED ART PRINT of my choosing. I have lots of older art prints - some colour, some black and white - that I will chuck in for free as a thank you. Again, please indicate if you wish me to dedicate the signature, or leave a message to you.

*Postage options are Standard (cheaper) and Registered (more expensive, but trackable).

*I'll be making one trip to the post office per week, so please be patient for delivery, though it should be no more than 20 days from your initial order.

*Please contact me at nickrocheart AT gmail DOT com with any enquiries, or if you wish to order more than one print.

*Once these 100 prints are gone, that's it. No more print runs.

So are you in? If so, we could potentially raise a €1000 for the Irish Cancer Society. That's kinda cool, right? I'll be pushing some of Paulie's other fundraising endeavours on Twitter. I can be found at @NickRoche and Paulie is @paulieroche. Also, if you don't fancy grabbing this limited art print, see if you can pop a few coins in the boy's hat over at his My Charity sponsorship page. It's http://www.mycharity.ie/event/paulie_roches_event/ If we manage to sell these 100 prints, you'll see Paulie's totaliser there jump by a grand, and it'll be down to you lot.

I wouldn't have de-cloaked and revealed so much personal stuff if it wasn't in support for The Child's running race, and in aid of a cause that, unfortunately, has affected everyone in the history of ever. Thank you all so, so much.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE COVERS COLLAGE

What it says - the story so far of my More Than Meets The Eye covers, issues #1 through #17 (minus #10, which I was unavailable for). Which one's your favourite? Got some good ones coming down the pipe, so maybe it'll be one of them...

Been a lot of fun working on this. I got to be improved upon and augmented by Josh Burcham on most, but it's been a joy to be brought up to muster by Josh Perez, Joana LaFuente and Priscilla Tramontano, as well as working with series writer James Roberts on some of his excellent cover directions.

Might sling up some of the roughs and thumbnails for these shortly. Until then, enjoy!


Thursday, February 7, 2013

LONDON SUPER COMIC-CON SKETCH LIST OPEN!




Simple as that folks! First off, thanks so much for jumping on the sketch list and coming out and saying hi at the Dublin signings for SPOTLIGHT MEGATRON. Hugely positive feedback so far, and it's massively appreciated. I love doing those signings and getting to talk rot with friends old and new. Special thanks go to Kev & Jay at Forbidden Planet Dublin and Jay, Doc & Christy at Dublin City Comics & Collectibles for looking after me. And if you haven't bout the Megatron book yet, why not give it a spin now? It asks the big question about Megatron's relationship with Starscream, and offers some big answers to go along with it. Plus: Space dogfight.

So, I'm gonna be at the London Super Comic Con on February 23rd & 24th. I'l let you know where exactly near to the time, but it will be very close to Liam Shalloo. Anyway, I'm doing a sketch list for anyone coming to the show. If you want a head &shoulders shot like Shattered Glass Rodimus and Prowl above, that'll be £15 per sketch (one per customer) and for a full-figure image, a la Springer and Impactor up there, that'll be £70. Sketches are fully-inked and shaded, and are A4 in size.

I'm taking up to 15 slots for the Head Shots, and a maximum of for the Full-Figures. Either way, I'm going to cap the list at midnight Irish-time on Thursday 14th of February. So get your orders in on the comments list below - Your name, Character name, and day your available to collect your picture (Saturday; Sunday; No Preference) and it's first up, best-dressed, so hurry! Also, PLEASE only request a sketch if you're going to be there. It's a bummer to work on an image only for the person the pic is meant for not to show up to pick it up.

These are a lot of fun to do, and even more fun to hand over in person to see the gratitude/apathy/horror on the recipient's face. So go for it...NOW!

Friday, February 1, 2013

SKETCHY DETAILS

Hey gang!

Just wanted to set up the sketch list here for the Spotlight Megatron signing this Wednesday, February 6th in Forbidden Planet and Dublin City Comics & Collectibles.




Basically I'm taking names here for sketches I can work on in advance and present to you on the day. It'll be inked (with added grey shading) HEADSHOTS ONLY at €10 each. Above are examples of what to expect.

I'm gonna be taking on 20 advance sketches altogether. So it's first come, first served here. Reply in the comments section with the name of the character you'd like (doesn't have to be Megatron, or even a Transformer!), the shop you'll be popping along to, and an applicable real-life identity for yourself so I can ascertain who the eff you are. PLEASE only sign up for a sketch if you're coming along to the shop. Any uncollected sketches on the day will be flogged off to the nearest rube. And obviously, no cash, no sketch, no hat, no swim.

When the 20 is filled up, that'll be it! I'll be handling a TINY number of sketches in-store, so pop along and get on that list, but because the day is so hectic, I wanted to get these up and running first.

So set me to task, gang! GO!

Friday, January 25, 2013

MEGATRON ONLY NEEDS ONE SHOT...

Wow, I seemed to remember all my social media log-in details this week, huh...?

Guys, the lovely specimens that run Forbidden Planet Dublin and Dublin City Comics & Collectibles (yup, them again) have decided to host a split signing session for what promises to be the best Transformers Spotlight that month, SPOTLIGHT MEGATRON! It's writted and drawed by me (and coloured by fellow Eclectic Mick, LEN O' GRADY), a rare enough confluence of happenings to make this worthwhile hootin' & hollerin' over. I'll be at FP on Crampton Quay at 1pm till 3pm, and heading over to Bolton Street to DCCC for a 4-til-finish jaunt. (And that means that everyone can head out to Big Bang Comics in Dundrum at 6pm for Will Sliney's FEARLESS DEFENDERS launch party. Wotta day!) I'm signing primarily, but get there early to climb aboard what should be a swiftly-filled and limited sketch list.

What can I say about the issue itself? Well, not much. It's very self-contained, so it's a good oneshot for those unversed with IDW's current AMAZING Transformers output. It's set a few years in the past and focuses on Megaton's restoration as ruler of the Decepticons...but is there anything left to rule? It's 22 pages of bad guys being bad, and boy, are villains fun to write. And draw. Other spoilers? Hmm...Aerial combat. That's yer lot.

So please go to the links below for the respective shops. And for those who can't make it to the Dublin signings, please let your comic supplier know how much you want this sucker. As I say, it's a rare writer's credit for me, so it'd really help to show your support to the retailers and the publishers. Hopefully I'll be around for more conventions and signings throughout the year. I'll definitely be at London Super Comic Con, so more about that soon.

Oh and I'm on Twitter, for now. We'll see how long my interest is maintained there. Do keep me accountable, won't you? Go to twitter.com/NickRoche; I'm @NickRoche, which is handy.

See you on the 6th!

Forbidden Planet Dublin Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fpdublin
Dublin City Comics & Collectibles Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DublinCityComics
Big Bang Comics: http://www.facebook.com/TheBigBangIE



Sunday, January 20, 2013