Healthy Body. Sick Mind.

Dirty Deeds

2010-06-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Current view from my office chair.

Dang, that's a great toy.

Hectic Empire Print

2010-06-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

So, I did these prints for the Hustle 2 show. (Check out pictures of the show here)

Anyway, I had a couple left so I put them in my online store. They'll be shipped in a tube with stickers and the first 3 people to order one gets a special limited edition coloring book of doom.

Check out the store here!

Fiend Club

2010-06-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

In 2011 I'm thinking about starting a monthly print/product/book/toy subscription service. You send me money in January and then every month (for 12 months) you get something cool from me. Prints, shirts, toys, buttons... would anyone be interested in something like that?

Hustle

2010-05-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

So, there's a recap of the HUSTLE 2 art show over at Spankystokes Check it out for sure.

Also, check out this awesome bit of motion graphics we had running the night of the show:

Hustle 2 from James Ramirez on Vimeo.

More to come later.

Hustle 2

2010-05-08T11:56:00.001-07:00

Zach Trover, originally uploaded by MAD13.

Shot of my custom, taken by MAD. More shots of the show to share once I get them off the camera.

Big night. Good show.

If you weren't there, you seriously missed out.

Day Job

2010-05-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

Okay. Quick reminder that the Hustle 2 art show is THIS WEEKEND! Be there, dangit.

Oh, and here's this week's Pitch. It comes out every Wednesday.

Any chance to draw Kong and I'm a happy camper.

I should be sleeping...

2010-04-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

I should be sleeping, but I have to take every chance I have to get stuff done...

Anyway, here's some more merch for the Hustle 2 show in May....

These packs will have stickers and buttons. Remember, if you buy a pack, you get a free coloring book.

I should also have some screenprints available, as well as some custom toys and original art available.

Ugh... I should go to bed...

Coloring book of DOOM

2010-04-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'll be giving these away to anyone that buys something from me at the Hustle 2 art show.

I plan on giving one to anyone that buys anything from me online AFTER the art show, so stay tuned. Seriously, the drawings in this "coloring book" are super fun and there's an activity page!

Yo!

2010-04-07T15:05:00.001-07:00

There's a party in my tummy.. well ON my tummy... actually on your kid's tummy (since it only comes in toddler sizes).

Anyway, I made this awesome (well, I think it's awesome) shirt for YoGabbaGabba (best show EVER) and it's now available for purchase.

Buy one here. Seriously.

Uuuuupdate

2010-04-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

A little sneak peek of a painting I'm working on for the Hustle 2 show. I'm composing the whole thing digitally this time. Hoping for a more finished look.... I hope it works out.

I'm also doing a 20" FatCap from KidRobot. Here's the ARM of the Fatcap compared to a Mini-Munny:

Still at the sculpting phase. I hope to paint it this weekend.

Seriously, this Fatcap is the biggest dang toy in the house. It's like the size of a human baby...

The Pitch

2010-03-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

This week's cover for the day job.

Tried my best to have fun illustrating a School Board feature story....

More about the Hustle 2

2010-03-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

Group print for the Hustle 2 show.

May 7th. KC Crossroads First Friday.

You should really be there.

ME x Mad Toy design x Scribe x Nathan Fox x Brian Bullets x Sikenomics
(The flickr photo has tags on who drew what... but I bet you can guess)

What. Up.

2010-03-30T08:57:00.001-07:00

Lockdown

2010-03-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

So, I've been on lockdown the past couple weeks... it's been like this:
Wake Up.
Go to dayjob.
Work.
Come home.
Pet dogs. Kiss wife.
Go to studio space.
Work.
Around 2am go to sleep.
Sleep a couple hours.
Wake up.
Go to day job.
Work.
...
Well, you get the picture.

Don't get me wrong, I love having work to do. I really do know that I'm lucky.

I'm also tired.

Anyway, here's a screengrab of a panel from one of the 6 "history for kids" graphic novels I'm working on.

Snowy!

5 Years Strong.

2010-03-16T13:15:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow I'll have been married for 5 years.

I suppose this is the part where I make the "seems like a lot longer than that" joke...

2010-03-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

I got some great news today... Brobee and Wilbur are very excited.

Stickers... new logos... new prints...

2010-03-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

New Logo.

I'm getting some vinyl stickers printed for the upcoming Hustle 2 art show.

I'm working on some new screen prints too. Will share soon!

Hustle 2!

2010-03-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

So, I'm meeting with MAD, SIKE, Scribe, and Nathan Fox today to talk about doing another HUSTLE show. You can check pics from the last one here.

I'm beyond stoked for the whole thing and can't wait to give full details.

More on this as it develops....

Day Job

2010-03-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

Had some fun at the Day Job this week.

I had been feeling pretty stale but after a chat with the Corporate Design director and a couple days without any pressing freelance deadlines I'm feeling pretty good.

For now.

2010-03-08T13:50:00.001-08:00

Little sample of a screenprint I'm hoping to have done in time for a big art show I'm taking part in.

I actually hope to have 3 or 4 new art prints for sale in the next couple months.

New Day.

2010-03-05T21:34:00.001-08:00

Things are good. Lots of work. Soon I will be able to share some of my latest projects (graphic novels, big art show in May, personal project). I'll also be updating my store with new prints and pins and maybe even a t-shirt or two. Exciting, huh?

Comics!

2010-02-13T16:56:00.001-08:00

comic-screenshot, originally uploaded by ZachT.

Screenshot of something I'm working on. It's still a WIP, but it's getting there. Not my usual style/project, but it's fun to try and grow...

trooper warm-up

2010-01-11T22:07:00.001-08:00

trooper warm-up, originally uploaded by ZachT.

This is my warm-up for the day. Still getting used to the cintiq/photoshop workflow, but I'm really starting to dig it.

Custom 10" MAD*L

2010-01-10T18:56:00.001-08:00

Custom 10" MAD*L, originally uploaded by ZachT.

I just really liked this photo and wanted to share.

Custom 10" MAD*L

2010-01-10T18:54:00.001-08:00

Custom 10" MAD*L, originally uploaded by ZachT.

Another custom 10" MAD*L. I did this one for fun. It's all stencils and spraypaint. Fun stuff.

More photos at the flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ztrover/

Custom 10" MAD*L

2010-01-10T18:53:00.001-08:00

Custom 10" MAD*L, originally uploaded by ZachT.

This is a custom Mr. Monoska 10" MAD*L I did a while back for an art show. Sarah (my wife) made the felt Fez. We set him up for a photoshoot this afternoon. Yeah, that's what I do for fun.

Wilbur... again

2010-01-07T17:42:00.001-08:00

4, originally uploaded by Sarah Rae.

Just had to share another great photo of my dog.

Dang he's cute.

pitch-10-8-09-cover

2010-01-07T17:40:00.001-08:00

pitch-10-8-09-cover, originally uploaded by ZachT.

I don't talk much about the Day Job... I'm the Art Director for The Pitch (pitch.com). It's an alt-weekly (we're part of the Village Voice). Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's stressful, but it's nice to have a consistent day job that's creative in nature.

Old West Slaptrooper

2010-01-07T17:38:00.001-08:00

Old West Slaptrooper, originally uploaded by ZachT.

This is the kind of stuff I do to warm up...

Mini-Comics

2010-01-07T17:37:00.001-08:00

minicomic-screenshot, originally uploaded by ZachT.

I've been pretty obsessed with making comics lately. Someday I'll release them on the masses...

Cintiq test 2

2010-01-07T17:35:00.001-08:00

Cintiq test 2, originally uploaded by ZachT.

I've been super busy lately with some graphic novel work and the day job... but I got a wacom cintiq 21ux and have been playing with it... trying to get it under control. Fun stuff. I can't wait to share the GN stuff I'm working on...

Wilbur.

2010-01-07T17:33:00.001-08:00

1, originally uploaded by Sarah Rae.

This is my lovely dog Wilbur. Today he got the photo-shoot treatment today while my wife was taking photos for work. He really is something special.

Ask. Imagine. Investigate.

2009-11-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

Seriously, we got season one of Fringe on DVD and can't. stop. watching it.

2009-10-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've been making lots of random stickers in my down time (my life consists of waiting, punctuated with moments of extreme stress. This is how I entertain myself)

aaaaaaand a photo of my grumpy Boston Terrier:

2009-09-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Lots of new art to post, but instead I'll show off my little studio mates.

Workin' overtime...

2009-08-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

Check it. I updated my flickr with some new sketchbook pages.

Go there now.

Knocked down. Beaten. Black and Blue...

2009-08-02T23:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my drawings reflect my mood...

...sometimes it's just a funny monkey...

Either way, I haven't gotten any real art work done. I can't seem to stop drawing on the chipboard....

2009-07-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, so every year at the Pitch we do a local music event called "music showcase". This year I got MAD from Mad Toy Design to do the artwork.

So, we're selling these t-shirts for $5 each.

You can order online over HERE!

I have a feeling we're going to need to do a second print run...

My name is...um... Rio and I.... um... dance upon the sand...

2009-06-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

More sketches on chipboard... Yay for Jenny bringing the stuff to me (instead of recycling it). The white is some gel ink pen from the scrapbooking store while the black and red are both Pitt brushes.

This is what I do while watching TV. I'll have to post photos of my cool little lap desk sometime.

If anyone wants one of these, just drop me an email at ztrover at gmail dot com. I'm always up for a trade!

See... I told you I wan't totally illiterate...

2009-06-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

So, Harper (the awesome music editor here at work) let me write a review of the Rancid show I went to this weekend.

READ THE REVIEW HERE.

Remember that I usually deal with pictures and not the words...

Give 'em the Boot....

2009-06-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is how I spent my 30th Birthday

Rancid @ The Uptown. Kansas City. July 12, 2009

To every generation...

2009-05-17T22:24:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a while. It seems like if I can't update from my phone (twitter and facebook) I just don't have time to update. The day job has been weirdly busy... heck, my weekend was strangely busy. Nothing to report, really, just a lot of running around.

Anyway, tonight I've been drawing for fun (crazy!) and watching old episodes of Buffy. I swear I almost forgot how fun it was to just draw and not think. Granted I'm not making any "important" art, but hey, I like it.

There's a couple more "drawing-for-fun" drawings here.

LDB

2009-05-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

In other news... I have some new art up at the Li'l Depressed Boy site.

Calavera!

2009-05-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

I've been asked to participate in a really cool comic anthology called "Mekano Turbo"... so I decided to start playing with the characters...

I don't know if I can call these sketches a success but I'm getting there... I think.

For the real deal, check out the Calavera Comics stuff here.

Run Rudy Run

2009-04-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted. Lots of things have been happening... art and work and comics and dogs and fun. The past couple weeks we've been fighting with a leaky roof and working on Scooters.

This summer should be interesting since our loft is 2000+ square feet and we only have one small window A/C unit... can't wait to start the sweating. We'll probably go to a lot of movies just for the A/C.

Anyway, on with the fun stuff...

So, I decided to paint a mighty-mugg like myself... I'm still not done, but this is what he's looking like so far. Fun, huh? I have one of Sarah in the works too.

Also, I have started drawing in this neat little Japanese style moleskine (the pages accordion out so it's one long piece... totally fun).

I've started a flickr set with the pages. You can find it HERE.

New Sketchbook.

2009-04-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here's the cover for the new sketchbook....

That's a vinyl sticker I made. Man, I love my plotter.

This is where the set lives. Check back weekly. I want to update every Wednesday.

Some insight into my insides.

2009-04-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

Wanna see inside my loft?

Oooh, look... a close up of some of my toys...

More at my flickr.

2009-04-02T09:19:00.001-07:00

New sketchbook pages uploaded HERE.

Actually that was the end of my current sketchbook and now I'm starting a NEW ONE.

I swear my life is a little better... happier... calmer... when I keep a sketchbook.

The Set Up (You Need This)

2009-03-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

A collection of comics that I've been doing about my life.

This should be available by the end of April. Right now I'm planning on 32 pages of mini-comic awesome-ness, with a screenprinted cover but if it grows out of control I'll probably print it via BLURB.

2 points and a gold star go to the person that knows what the title is referring to.

Mystery Grab Bag Tube Thingie

2009-03-12T21:11:00.000-07:00

To break in the new Big Cartel store, Sarah and I decided to take some of the stickers and prints and buttons that I have made and put them into a mailing tube and sell 'em cheap.

We have 48 mailing tubes filled with:

1 - random 4.5"x6" print gocco (signed by artist)
1 - random 12" sticker
2 - random smaller stickers
1 - random 1" button
1- sticker applicator
1 - True mystery item (don't worry, it won't be anything live)

Here's the link to the item in the store.

Check out photos of all the stuff here

Print Gocco and Vinyl sticker fun!

2009-03-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

So, Sarah got me a print gocco for Christmas and I'm just now getting around to really using it. It's REALLY fun to play with. Check it out:

I made 18 of these monsters in this colorway.

Of course I made a monkey! I did 18 of these too.

Oh, and I'm really hitting my stride with the plotter. I've been a sticker making fool lately.

I am selling these (and a bunch of other fun stuff) at my Big Cartel store.

Update.

2009-02-17T14:37:00.000-08:00

I've updated my current sketchbook. Check it out HERE!

Happy Made-Up-Holiday-Invented-To-Make-You-Buy-More-Stuff!

2009-02-13T16:04:00.001-08:00

It's easy to be a jerk about Valentine's Day when you're happily married.

New comic.

2009-02-11T13:08:00.001-08:00

New comic. Check it out here:
http://www.lildepressedboy.com/archives/2009_02_11_archive.html

2009-01-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

No art today. Instead I'll share an awesome photo Sarah took of our Boston Wilbur.

2009-01-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Today has been good so far. Sarah and I went and saw Nathan Fox at his signing at Elite Comics and then had lunch with MAD. He brought me this really cool toy/speaker. Check the photo:

Go HERE to get your own. You really should. It's a super cool thing.

Okay, back to work.

Yeti!

2009-01-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

So, while I sit here and re-load my ipod (stupid thing spazzed out and it's brand new!) I wanted to make sure all my friends were reading my wife's blogs over at Apartment Therapy.

This is my current favorite post where she talks about our awesome orange TV stand and it shows off my Gama-Go yeti toy.

The post is HERE.

Oh, and I fell asleep while watching Any Given Sunday this evening.

It's been a long day.

Cleaning out my desk.

2009-01-16T09:02:00.001-08:00

So, we moved our office and in the big move/clean up, I found some original art that I would like to have a proper home, so I'm selling 'em. Cheap.

This one was originally drawn for a rollerderby poster but never used.
8.5x11
India ink on bristol paper
$20 shipped.

There are a few more here:

I'll be adding more later, I'm sure.

We love the things that hate us.

2009-01-15T14:02:00.001-08:00

I've updated my sketchbook at Flickr.

Check it here.

2009-01-13T14:41:00.001-08:00

Work in progress. Why am I posting it if it's not 100% done?

Because I want to.

That's why.

I like to share with you people.

I care... that's why I share.

Sheesh.

Wanna fight about it?

One lab accident away from becoming a super villain.

2008-12-10T12:09:00.001-08:00

Pages from my current sketchbook.

Here's the FLICKR set if you want to see the rest.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ztrover/sets/72157610942540153/

2008-11-26T10:17:00.001-08:00

First of all, this came in the mail today. It's huge and I love it.

My office is getting overrun with mini-figures..

(Yes, that's a High School Musical cup.)

In other news, I have Friday off and that's awesome. I just hope I can make it through today.

2008-11-24T12:51:00.001-08:00

I was just drawing in the margins of a meeting agenda this afternoon and decided to post the doodles....

Exciting, huh?

I need to draw more...

2008-11-13T14:12:00.001-08:00

This is me.

I'm very tired.

The move is wearing me out.

Next time I talk about moving, I hope someone hits me in the head with something heavy until the urge passes.

Random Photos...

2008-11-12T13:47:00.001-08:00

Here are some random photos from the past couple weeks...

Yes, I paid $1.61 a gallon for gas on Saturday.... sadly, it won't last, but it was nice to NOT pay $4 a gallon.

Wilbur is ruining our sofa with his weird lounging.... good thing he's cute (ad we don't care about the couch)

This is Lola trying to ignore me... actually she tries to ignore me a lot...

I took this right before I packed them all up. Seriously, there are 15 boxes of toys. Ugh.

More toys.

A shot from the art show last Friday. Go to http://flickr.com/photos/ztrover/sets/72157608982703240/ for shots of the show.

Okay, time to go home and pack some more. Moving Day is Friday and we're really not prepared.

2008-11-07T13:18:00.001-08:00

So, tonight we're having another art show at the Pitch Art Space. If you're local, you should definitely BE THERE.

I'm so busy, I shouldn't even be posting, but I am too excited to not post these covers from a series of children's books about machines that I illustrated. Published by ABDO/Magic Wagon Press and they're available for pre-order at amazon.com (just go to amazon and search for my name)

This puts me just over 50 kids books published....

VOTE or...um... something...

2008-10-29T08:38:00.001-07:00

Vote? Wait, what? You say there's an election going on?

Huh.

With the addition of TIVO to my household, I can effectively avoid all news and just watch old Huckleberry Hound cartoons and Episodes of Chuck.... my life is bliss.

Anyway, here's this week's Pitch Cover

Colors by S.Steven Struble
Check out his comics at www.lildepressedboy.com/
and show some love at his messageboard
www.kris-korner.com/forum/index.php?board=49.0

2008-10-21T12:14:00.001-07:00

Busy busy busy.

So busy, in fact, that I can only update with sputtering sentence fragments....

Day job good.

Current freelance coming to an end.

We're moving.

I'm Hungry.

New Art Show.

Oh and here's a cover I did for the Day Job.... a very proud moment for me. *sigh*

2008-10-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

So, the show was a success. We had over 1,500 people show up throughout the night and it was a really great, excited crowd. We had a great DJ and people were totally into watching the live art. It was all around awesome.

Lots of Merch was sold. I sold my canvas and one of my customs. One of Scribe's toys got stolen on the night but I found out today that it was recovered (KC is too small a town to get away with something like that). We ran out of drinks at the end, but I wasn't prepared for that many people.... I'll know better next time.

For MORE photos of the actual event check out the following sets:

http://flickr.com/photos/sikestyle/sets/72157607743047711/

http://flickr.com/photos/crspy420/sets/72157607755635038/

http://flickr.com/photos/madtoydesign/sets/72157607730570452/

Now, the tricky part is what do I do for the next show?

2008-09-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, first of all...

Seriously, if you're in the KC area, you HAVE to come to this. It should be a really good show.

I am doing a custom MAD*L for the KC Hustle show and the 2 mighty muggs are for a personal project...

Also, here's some new arty stuff...

Acrylic on 12"x12" Canvas

Acrylic on maple skatedeck

Man, I need to quit taking pics with my sidekick...

2008-08-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

No new art today. There will be some new stuff in the next couple weeks, but for now I wanted to share that I just purchased a handful of 10" white Mad'ls.

Here's one next to a coke can to show just how HUGE this thing is.

Now, what shall I do with them.... Hmmm....

2008-07-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

A little preview of the coloring on a little something I'm working on... and below is the line art.

2008-07-06T20:44:00.001-07:00

It's been busy...

Among other things, in the past few days I went to Warped Tour... here are some photos .

Anyway, I got to hang out with my ever-awesome pal Nick, I got some cheap merch, a nice sunburn and paid too much for gatorade... and then we got to see the most amazing thing... Angelo from Fishbone came on stage during the Aggrolites set and they did (among other songs) Party at Ground Zero. I seriously had the biggest smile on my face for the rest of the day (until it started storming).

Immediately the next morning, my wife and I went to Western Nebraska to hang out with my family for the 4th holiday. It was awesome. There was a cook out and some fireworks and we went and saw Wall-E.

All in all, a nice little vacation.

So, after a weekend of fun at my parent's house, we're back home.

I have actually had some awesome freelance work fall in my lap that I'm not ready to talk about right now, but I'll share the good news in a few days (once all the contracts are signed and I'm allowed to talk about it).

Sorry for the cliffhanger.

Okay, time to work...

Wiggle While You Work.

2008-07-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

I've been drawing a comic or two a week since January. The plan being that I'll compile the pages into a comic and then use a p.o.d. and give the book to family and friends for Christmas. The book is going to be called "WIGGLE WHILE YOU WORK" (10 points to the person that gets the reference).

I'm not going to show many of the pages online, but I wanted to share the comic I made today.

2008-06-27T15:30:00.001-07:00

I just uploaded an entire mini-moleskine worth of art to my flickr page. Check it out here.

2008-06-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

Available NOW from Tiny Meat!

2008-06-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Why is there a drawing of a classy monkey? Why not?

Healthy Body. Sick Mind.

Dirty Deeds

Hectic Empire Print

Fiend Club

Hustle

Hustle 2

Day Job

I should be sleeping...

Coloring book of DOOM

Yo!

Uuuuupdate

The Pitch

More about the Hustle 2

What. Up.

Lockdown

5 Years Strong.

Stickers... new logos... new prints...

Hustle 2!

Day Job

New Day.

Comics!

trooper warm-up

Custom 10" MAD*L

Custom 10" MAD*L

Custom 10" MAD*L

Wilbur... again

pitch-10-8-09-cover

Old West Slaptrooper

Mini-Comics

Cintiq test 2

Wilbur.

Ask. Imagine. Investigate.

Workin' overtime...

Knocked down. Beaten. Black and Blue...

My name is...um... Rio and I.... um... dance upon the sand...

See... I *told* you I wan't *totally* illiterate...

Give 'em the Boot....

To every generation...

LDB

Calavera!

Run Rudy Run

New Sketchbook.

Some insight into my insides.

The Set Up (You Need This)

Mystery Grab Bag Tube Thingie

Print Gocco and Vinyl sticker fun!

Update.

Happy Made-Up-Holiday-Invented-To-Make-You-Buy-More-Stuff!

New comic.

Yeti!

Cleaning out my desk.

We love the things that hate us.

One lab accident away from becoming a super villain.

Random Photos...

VOTE or...um... something...

Wiggle While You Work.

See... I told you I wan't totally illiterate...