Kickstarter

Hello backers! I wanted to remind everyone that I will be appearing at this year's
"Spectrum Fantastic Art Live!" in Kansas City, Missouri, May 17 - 19th.  If you are attending, it will be your chance to get your copy of the sketchbook and signed print before anyone else does!

If you think you might attend, please send me a Private Message through Kickstarter so that I can get a general idea of how many "Book of Wizards" backers will be there to pick up their sketchbook and prints.

You will need to know what your Kickstarter nickname is in order to pick up your copies because my checklist will have those names on them. 

Thanks! See you there!

-Sean

Good news! Sean Andrew Murray: Sketchbook Collection Volume 01, the fruits of the successful 15k stretch goal, is printed and it looks great!

There are approximately 100 pages worth of sketches collected from my personal sketchbooks from the past 7 years.

Everyone who pledged over $50 will be receiving a physical copy of the book, and if you pledged $10, $20 or $35, you will be receiving a PDF version of the book (working on that).

Now, because of shipping costs, my plan is to send pledger's copies of the sketchbook along with the main book and the prints all in one fell swoop in the early Fall (September hopefully). IF you would like your copy earlier, you can find me at Spectrum Live! in Kansas City, May 17-19th. I may be able to make other arrangements if you really really want yours earlier... if that's the case, send me a PM and we'll discuss. 

If you pledged under $50, or if you know someone who was not a pledger but would like to purchase a copy of the sketchbook, it is available on my Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/seanandrewmurray

Thank you everyone for your generous pledges, and I can't wait to hear what you guys think of the sketchbook and I am so excited that we are getting closer and closer to the "Book of Wizards" being completed! Cheers!

-Sean

Whew! At long last, the sketchbook has been sent off to the printer. It took a while navigating all the new stuff I am having to learn about book publishing/printing. But hey, now I will be more prepared to get it right the first time when it comes to getting the main "Book of Wizards" printed.

Here are the details: The sketchbook (entitled "Sean Andrew Murray - Sketchbook Collection Volume 01") is a collection of sketches from my sketchbook from the past 6 or 7 years. I tried to choose the best pages, but also choose pages that will give you some insight into how I work and think. Many of the sketches represent ideas that relate to Gateway, and many of them are the early sketches that eventually have developed into pieces for the "Book of Wizards".

It is nearly 100 pages long and will be available at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live in early May.

IF you happen to be attending SFAL, please stop by my booth and pick up your copy of the book, I will mark you off on a list that I will have with me. You can also pick up your prints at this point too!

If you are not attending the show, then my plan is to send it when the main "Book of Wizards" is done, since it will be more cost effective to send everything in one mailing. I will also make a PDF version available only to pledgers if you can't wait. 

Let me know if you have any questions. Work on the main book continues apace. I am STILL aiming for late Summer, but it's possible it could slip into early Fall (August/September).

Speaking of which, since San Diego Comic-Con is out (3-year waiting list for booths!), and Dragon-Con is looking like it isn't going to work out (long story), I have now put in my request for a booth at the New York Comic-Con, which is in Early October. I feel good about this decision and I think it will be a great venue for the public unveiling of the book. More info on this as soon as I get confirmation of the booth. They have a strange system where you apply for the booth and wait on pins and needles to hear whether you get one or not. 

Below is a peek at the cover for the sketchbook. More updates soon!

Hello all. Here's the latest news:

1. The Sketchbook is currently being designed by the great Josh Siegel, and it should be sent off to print in short order!

2. I have purchased a Showcase Night table at IlluXcon 2013 in Allentown, PA, Sept. 11 - 15. I will be there with prints, the sketchbook, and if all goes according to plans "The Book of Wizards" itself! Woohoo!

3. More Wizards being created every week! Below is one of the latest ones, enjoy!

OK, sorry it has been a while since you have heard from me, but things are coming along apace with Gateway. Here is what I have to report:

- Final Illustrations for "The Book of Wizards" are about 50% finished, with new ones being completed every week, and getting faster.

- Plans are underway to have the sketch-book printed and available around April of next year, maybe sooner. I am in the process of choosing the sketches I want to include in the book, and getting them all cleaned up and ready to be printed.

- I have purchased a table at Spectrum Live! on May 17 - 19th. Spectrum Fantastic Art Live is a major convention of Science Fiction and Fantasy art, organized by the publishers of "Spectrum" which is an annual juried competition of the best in Science Fiction and Fantasy artwork. I plan on having the sketchbook, and lots of prints available for purchase at the show, plus perhaps a sneak peek at the main book as well... who knows... :). If you are going to be there, I will have everyone's name on a list, and if you want to pick up either your copy of the sketchbook or your print(s), I will be able to fulfill those rewards at that time.

- Early discussions have begun with several of the writers who will be contributing to the Gateway Anthology. There are some pretty damn awesome folks lined up for this, and I will announce who they are sometime in the near future.

Below you will see some of the latest wizards to be completed. So much more exciting stuff ahead. The next 6 months are going to be thrilling and scary all at once.

Thanks again for all the support! More updates to come!

-Sean

The plan is still to have "The Book of Wizards