Wham! Pow! Sploosh!

I've been reliving my childhood and adolescence recently working on some illustrations for a comic-book themed kid's book. The images are full-on comic book heroes and villains (like this fishy fellow above) done on comic-book size pages in a slightly retro style.

I'm channeling my inner (and outer, and sideways) Jack Kirby for this job and it's been both fun and a learning process going back to the mindset of my 9 to 16 year-old self who wanted nothing more than to move to New York and draw comics for Marvel (although in a pinch DC would have sufficed). By the time I graduated high school I had stopped collecting comics for a year or two, and soon realized that comic book artist wasn't my path in life - but I have been lucky to work on a number of Star Wars comic-book projects with my pal Ken Steacy in the late 1990's and early 2000s. I've also done some super-hero themed magazine covers and advertising work in the past, but the job I'm finishing up now has been the closest to pure superhero comic work I've done professionally - and it's been fun.

Speaking of fun...

The upcoming Victoria's Ultimate Hobby & Toy Fair is less than two weeks away! Once again I'm invited back as a featured artist - along with the aforementioned Ken Steacy, and Perogy Cat creator and Legends Comics co-owner (voted best comic book store in Canada!) Gareth Gaudin. Despite the name, this show covers a large range of pulp culture interests including toys (vintage and new) comics, movies, video games, fantasy role playing, hobbies, music and tons more. Be sure to stop by and say "hi" if you're in the Victoria area April 1st (no foolin'!) I'll have my prints (hopefully my new ones, and maybe even some large format prints that I've had requests for) and original art (including some of the super heroes and villains from the above project) to show and sell. See you there!

No More Know (or, "Yes Mag 1996-2012")

 

This is the saddest post I've had to write on Glen Mullaly Illustration. I've known about it for a couple weeks now but had to wait until all the behind-the-scenes details were tidied up before I could mourn the passing of two of my favourite magazines, Yes Mag & Know, The Science Magazine for Curious Kids. 

Since the launch of Yes Mag in 1996, followed by sister publication Know in 2005 kids from 6 and up have had a fun, factual source for science news, articles, puzzles and more. For 16 years the publishers have worked tirelessly to create magazines that would engage, inspire, inform and entertain children and young people with science-based content.

Sadly the current owners of the magazine, who bought the two west coast based publications a couple years ago, announced suddenly in late January that they were ceasing production and printing of the magazine immediately.  One issue of each of Yes and Know had been completed and were awaiting printing, but will never now make it to newsstands and mailboxes across North America. 

Below are a couple of cropped details from the two unpublished pieces I had just completed  - one only minutes before finding out about the closures.

 Know Mag "CATS" -themed puzzle page puzzle.

 

  Yes Mag "Outrageous Human Displays" two page spread detail.

I wanted to take the time here to publicly thank the publishers and founders of Yes, and Know, Dave Garrison and Shannon Hunt. This couple put their life blood into these two magazines, starting from very humble beginnings, slowing building the two ventures into multi-award winning magazines. More importantly their work became much loved parts of thousands of children's lives across North America who looked forward to buying, or receiving in the mail the latest issue of these wonderful titles.

 

I had the pleasure of working on Yes Mag starting in late 2001, becoming one of the first illustrators in what had been a primarily photo-based publication, and on every issue of Know (with the exception of three last year) since it had been in the planning stages in 2005. Through over 60 illustrations, two-page spreads, puzzle features (that I wrote as well) and covers I was lucky enough to create some of my favourite pieces for these two magazines. 

Along the way I picked up an AEP (association of Educational Publishers) award for my "Virus" Yes Mag cover (see the left image at the top of this post), had a lot of fun creating the "Know Fun" puzzle and game feature that appeared in every Know Mag, and enjoyed working with some of the top writers and other creative folks in children's educational publishing. Since first working with Yes Mag, I've worked with many other educational publishing companies large and small - and the commitment to quality exemplified by the creators of Yes and Know were surpassed by none. 

Thank you for all your great work, Yes and Know Magazines.

A couple of my Know Mag covers live on as prints from my Etsy shop, and I'm working on putting together a project that might lead to my puzzle contributions from  Know living on in a more permanent form.  But until that time, I'll leave you with a few more glimpses of some of my favourite pieces from Yes and Know over the years.

 

New Stuff!

Busy with work - blah blah - post holiday cold - blah blah- cat ate my homework - blah blah...

Hey! Here's some new stuff o' mine that's on the newsstands (maybe) RIGHT NOW folks!..

The first two are very topical (at least for the GlenMullaly.com world headquarters locale) as a fresh blanket of newly fallen snow covers (sort of) the yard today. First snow this year fell this week, so a winter-themed puzzle spread from the fine folks at chickaDEE magazine is very appropriate...

Now, I was actually kind of slow on the uptake about this issue (Dec) so it may be gone from the stands. But I only got my copies yesterday! So don't blame me.

Next up is one that's definitely for sale as I write this...

The current issue of Owl Magazine features "Seeing Shadows", a fun Groundhog Day puzzle.

This is a companion piece to 2010's "Gawking Gargoyles" Halloween puzzle for Owl that I did in the same style...

Also just finished up or coming out in the next month or two will be my semi-regular Know Mag puzzle spread, a really fun Yes Mag spread (looking forward to that one!), some coloring book work, a some work on a hush-hush advertising job, a smaller not so hush-hush advertising job, and a couple more of illustrations for Yikes Magazine wherein I once again channel my inner five year old for some bodily function fun. So I'll leave you with a preview on that cultured note. Ta-ta...

Merry Christmas!

Only the very best wishes this holiday season!

Holiday Sale!

HI! - I'm CRAZY GLEN from CRAZY GLEN'S ILLUSTRATION EMPORIUM here to tell you about the wacky deals and super savings during our FACTORY AUTHORIZED 2011 FINE ART PRINTS AND ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATION SALE!

Come on down to our lot at the corner of Etsy and Web before the end of the year to partake in prices so low I should have my head examined! Like this little 5" x 7" beauty below - one of our most popular models - with factory paper undercoating and rack and pinion ink: Normally a steal at only $12 - now with dealer rebate... an unbelievable $8!

Or howzabout this find, an 8" x 10" favorite only looked at by a little old lady on her way to church on Sundays. Regular price a stunning $20, but with your trade-in coupon code "HOHOHO2011", this scientific sweetie can be yours to take home for an incredible $15 down, no money a month!

The 2012 models are on their way, and we've got to clear everything out to make room! So don't delay, act today - come on down... and be sure to tell them CRAZY GLEN sent you!

Blast from the Recent Past

I thought I'd share this collage of images from a Know Mag puzzle spread I wrote and illustrated last year. I was recently asked for a client to put together a single image that showed multiple versions of the same characters, so I threw this together and thought it didn't turn out too poorly.

A version of this is available as a print over at my Etsy store dontcha know! And speaking of Etsy - watch this space for news of a holiday sale very soon!

Dive In!

The new Know Magazine hits the stands this weeks with a watery cover by yours truly!