Stimulating Summer Sale 2016

Ah, the first day of Summer. Big bouncing boobs in bikinis a'bound.

However, it is also a time of slower sales for me. And, on top of that, even though I am hard at work, I've got a bit of a way to go until the next release (grOw/cOmic#6, issue 7). And the bill collector is not going to wait.

So, I'm hoping to stimulate some summer sales in the meanwhile for those who still have not completed your grOw collection!  My loss is your gain!

Use coupon code BASummer2016 at check out, and receive a discount up to 35% off on your entire order over $5.00 USD.  The more you spend, the more you save:

• $5.00 – $ 14.99 — Save 10%
• $15.00 – $24.99 — Save 15%
• $25.00 – $34.99 — Save 20%
• $35.00 – $44.99 — Save 25%
• $45.00 or more  — Save 35%

This coupon code is valid from today until July 4, 2016, 11:59pm EST.

Thank you for your $upport! It takes time a lot of time and effort to produce the grOw series and I appreciate your backing of my endeavors.

What's Next? What's New? What's Naughty?

Here's a quick update on things that are currently going on behind, and in front of, the scenes in "BA-land".

grOw Girls continue to expand!

The grOw Girl images are continuing to be made for reaching the specific goals of my Cintiq Fundraiser. If you haven't seen them, image 8 is now up at my website and my DeviantArt Gallery.  The website versions currently have the advantage of being able to download the images without any text (see link above each image).

The new Cintiq is up and running!
This thing is a beauty! And it is already (if I haven't said so before) making a huge difference — in speed, in ease, in accuracy, and in lowering my wrist/arm fatigue. Each of these will take some time to fully come to fruition, but the borrowing of a friend's Cintiq during issue 5 of grOw/cOmic#5 helped me get a huge leg up.  I hope to write a full review later on with photos. Drawing details is so much easier when I can see my hand controlling the pen. Unlike my other, much older Wacom tablet (an Intuos3), I am not using screen feedback to see if my cursor is properly placed, and then drawing a line that may miss it's mark. While I have gotten good with the Intuos3 over the years of using it, the hand-eye coordination is much better on the Cintiq, and is so much more akin to what I've enjoyed when I'm drawing with pencil on paper.

The next project is fully underway! A new grOw/stOry!

This actually has been in the works now since around April. I have had the pleasure of welcoming a new writer on board who has been diligently reworking the latest chosen E.L. Publication "Tremendous Tit Tale" story. This has allowed me to focus on the last grOw/cOmic, and frees me up to delve quickly into the imagery of this new stOry as it is written. I had taken on the task of rewriting the last 2 grOw/stOries (#13, "New mOOns Rising"; and #14, "SororTITy Study Party"). The crafting of these stories took a lot of work, and THEN, I was able to begin the artwork and production — this added a lot more time between releases.
     Some of you may know this new writer from various forums, but most recently from his herculean, on-going saga of PE, BE, AssE, and all sorts of growth fantasies called "Medicine Show" at LPSG (Link). He goes by "Longbow9" in the Forums and he has been doing a great job of resurrecting a grOw/stOry that I've been trying to complete since 2008 — the reworking of "Lacula".  This new rendition features a whole new take on the secret of the growth, and features BE, lactation, PE, and Ass expansion with an expanded cast of characters! And it's going to be a big one — possibly in the range of the last grOw/stOry, "SororTITy Study Party."

Stay tuned!

The grOw Girls continue to... grOw.

Update, 8/21/13: Image #6 now up!

I had some delays in the progress of getting the grOw girl Fundraiser images completed due to sudden "RL" work. (It's seriously unbelievable how it goes from famine to feast — when weeks of nothing, and suddenly 3 clients pop-up all in the SAME day squawking for immediate work.)  Image 5 has just been completed, and the new grOw girl, Jolene, has been introduced. Suggested by a donor, I liked the name, especially since I looked up it's meaning — "she will increase".  :)

The grOw girls can been seen at my website or at my DevArt gallery.

Cintiq Fundraiser a Success!

 

All those fans out there who have contributed — whether $3 or $200 — have my sincere THANKS for helping out with my Cintiq Fundraiser! Some of you have been more than generous, and you have my humble gratitude! This piece of hardware is going to make a huge difference in my workflow. The last issue of grOw/cOmics is an example as I worked on a borrowed Cintiq (*my friend is very happy to get his back!). 

Once ink and painting started, I definitely noticed an increase in how quickly I was able to complete a page. It was also with noticeably less strain! Over the past few weeks, that "burning" ache in my wrist or thumb or forearm has slacked off considerably. It's not gone completely yet, as this kind of strain takes time to heal; but it has been receding consistently for a while now. An occasional flurry of heavy work (in which using the older Wacom is actually easier for use with layout projects) still causes some fatigue, but no where near previously levels.

There were definitely some things that need getting used to; but I was able to pick up them rather quickly in the first 4 or 5 days, especially after using a non-screened tablet for a few years now. I will have to post a longer review of the Cintiq at another time (getting way past my bedtime now).

Well, your generosity certainly has earned the two grOw girls some serious grOwth to come!  In total, 872 inches (2,212 cm) will be given out to these lovely, willing ladies. I will be busy working on these over the next few weeks. A total of 11 images will be created in all. Oddly enough, I was concerned how Doreen would turn out with only 300 inches of growth.  Ha!  I thought I may have about 4-5 people in the Level 6 range... maybe.  Little did I expect 32 people to contribute so generously!  You guys and gals ROCK!

The amount above my goal will still come in handy — it will help pay the $215 in sales tax, any shipping, and maybe some accessories (such as extra nibs or maybe even the Art pen).

Well... tomorrow, I continue working on Stage 3 of Doreen's growth.

THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!

grOw/cOmic#5, issue 5, Released!

grOwing Appreciation:
Chapter 5: "An Up and Cumming Star"

Available in either PREMIUM or STANDARD Editions!
Or, as part of the Current Series Collection.

Part 5 of a 5-issue series.

Jennie had burst out of the theater, the suns mass ejection energy making her grow to incredible heights. But much to her dismay, the military was still in the area and discovered her —  hell, they couldn't miss her! Fearing for her life, she cried out in terror as the attack helicopters roared towards her curvy, towering figure.

Category: GTS (<150'; Gentle)(includes scenes of 150'-1000'), Breast Expansion (science: huge!), Ass Expansion; Insertion; building destruction; handheld; light vore; sexual situations (mF).

Extra long 22-page issue!

Available in either PREMIUM or STANDARD Editions!

Premium Edition:

For only $1.45 more than the Standard Edition, the Premium Edition features:

• A 300 dpi high-resolution version (2700 x 3525 pixels) of issue 5 (50% more resolution than the standard grOw/cOmics), compared to the Standard 200 dpi (1800 x 2350 pixels). You will be able to enjoy much more of the art, especially if you like zooming in to absorb all of the details of the characters and backgrounds.
• "Art Only" Edition of issue 4: this is the complete comic (also in 300 dpi high resolution, 2700 x 3525 pixels) but with all of the speech balloons, narration boxes, and sound effects text removed so that you can enjoy the art to its fullest in each panel.
• Full page pencil drawings of choice pages. — Included in the Appendix of the "Art Only Edition" are 13 full pages from issue 4 shown in their pencil form, including: some pages with the pencil lines on top of the rendered backgrounds for placement matching of figures.

Standard Edition features:

• Issue 5. "An Up and Cumming Star" in the standard, grOw/cOmic resolution of 200 dpi (1800 x 2350 pixels).
• 5 art-only pages in the Appendix with all the speech balloons, narration boxes, and sound effects text removed so that you can enjoy the art to its fullest in each panel. 

Current Series Collection (1-5) features:

• Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Available in either Premium or Standard versions, as above. (Issue 1 comes in "standard" only).
• Save! If you haven't purchased any of the grOw/cOmic#5 series yet, pick up all 5 current releases for a combined price that will save you up to $6.35 as compared to the separate, normal prices. This savings is for a limited time!

AVAILABLE NOW AT www.bustartist.com !  (Visa, MC, PayPal)

ALSO....

I would like to introduce, Doreen, the BustArtist Cintiq Fundraiser Cheerleader. She will help cheer you on during my Fundraiser to purchase a Wacom Cintiq 22 HD Touch screen.  For more info, see the Contribution Page of my website.  There is no obligation, of course, but your generosity is greatly appreciated!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 92 completed!

By finishing page 92, I have now passed the 75% mark towards the completion of issue 5 of grOw/cOmic#5, "grOwing Appreciation"!  This was a very detailed page that pushed me into new areas of effects and coloring. I think it turned out great! With only half the day gone, I will now have the other half to get a good jump on the next page, which is also a very detailed one filled with lighting, effects, and special features. As for the preview, you will notice it is more vague than previous ones. This will continue as these last few pages are the end of the issue and the series. As I have done for previous issues, the final previews are less revealing so as not to give too much away.

You may have wondered at the speed I have been able to produce the last few pages. Though you can't see the full detail of each page (yet), I have been able to do much more in less time than usual, as well as put some more details with greater ease. How? Well, in talking to a friend who is also a graphic designer, I mentioned my goal of obtaining a Wacom Cintiq screen. He said, "Oh, yeah!  Those! Really cool. I picked one up a little while back." When my jaw dropped and I asked him why didn't he tell me before, he replied "You didn't ask." After some prodding, and him admitting that we didn't have any current jobs that required him to use it, he lent it to me to try. Needless to say, I did more than try, I USED! This thing is awesome! And, even better, my hand/wrist/arm fatigue is noticeably retreating! Hopefully, I can convince him to let me continue using it for my "current project that is on a strict deadline" (wink wink). After issue 5 is released, I will renew my efforts to complete my Cintiq Fundraiser so that I can purchase one of these beauties.

As for issue 5, due to the above, I think you may notice an uptick in the art!

grOw/cOmic#5, pencils completed!

It's been a while since my last update, but lots of things have been going on.

1)  Pencils for the last 15 pages of issue 5 (and, basically, of the whole series) were completed today!  Whoot!  Tomorrow begins the inking and painting of the final pages of "grOwing Appreciation".  I am, unfortunately, way further behind than I had anticipated (I was hoping for a release late June to early July). I hope, if things go just right, to have a released end of July.

2) The "Wacom Cintiq Fundraiser" is still being worked on, but I am getting close. I finally figured out the reward tier level structure. It will be a 2-tier structure in which rewards will be based on the amount you contribute, as well as how much everyone contributes as a whole. I will have a contribution mascot who will "grow" as contributions go up. She will sort of be like my old NaviGirls. However, what is even better, is that YOU will be able to determine the amount of growth and what kind.  Each dollar contributed will add growth to either breast, butt/hip, or height — and you can even mix and match.  More details to come.

Causes of the delay since my last post were a combination of creating many, many Poser "set ups" for the last 15 pages of issue 5, working on the Wacom Cintiq Fundraiser (and mascot), and general "RL" work. There are so many Poser-assisted panels in this issue due to the many dramatic camera angles, and more GTS to normal human size interactions. Maintaining proper proportions is key.

So get ready for a new stream of color previews over the next few weeks, leading up to the release of the final chapter in grOw/cOmic#5. I will focus on this issue more than the Fundraiser for now, to make sure there are less delays.

grOw/cOmic#5, page 82 completed!

Another great, quite detailed page has been completed! Lot's of action, smoke, motion blurs, fire, dust — just a lot of "wow"! With the completion of page 82, this is the last of the first set of pages for issue 5 that are currently drawn (the first 7 of 22). You may remember that I ran out of drawing paper, and had some issues ordering more. In the meantime, I had started on the ink and painting of the drawn pages. Well, now that I have finished all of them so far, it's time to go back to good ol' pencil and paper and complete the other 15 pages for this issue.

I will also be drawing, inking, and painting the new "donation girl" for my Wacom Cintiq Fund Raiser. ;) Stay tuned!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 76 completed!

I know it's been a while, but this can happen often between issues. There are a number of items that take place between issues before the ink and painting can occur, which leads to the previews. The replacement drawings pads have finally come in, so that I can now continue pencil drawing the rest of the issue. Seven of the 22 pages (yes, 22!) are already completed. While waiting for these to show, I continued working on the issue by inking and painting some of the 7 drawn pages. Here is the preview to the first page of issue 5 ("An Up and Cumming Star") which is page 76 of the series.

My Wacom Cintiq Fund Drive is also shaping up. Currently, I have the web page up explaining it fully. I just need to finalize the donation end. I am planning on having a 2-tier reward system.  One will be individual, based on the amount of each contribution. The other will be based on the grand total raised, and will most likely be a "fund raiser girl" who will grow as the donations grow.  ;)  Thank you to all who gave great input on this process!

A Review, a Dilemma, and a Question

On Tuesday of this week, I went into Manhattan to the "Wacom Cintiq 13HD Release Party" at TekServe on 23rd Street.  They demonstrated, and allowed hands-on experience, of the new, smaller Cintiq line of screen tablets by Wacom. It also featured a demonstration and Q&A by Joe Quesada (CCO of Marvel Comics & comic book artist), which was cool. He used some techniques that I use.  :)

The new 13HD was quite nice! Sharp and responsive, it gave a lot of power in a little package. However, it was a little too small for my normal workflow. Clicking tiny buttons in Photoshop was a chore. It seemed better for those on the go.

But they also had the other, larger models. And the ones with touch capabilities. Now, these are sweet!  I've have wanted one for a long time, but was always scared to even consider purchasing one without being able to try it out first. (Sure... you can return it. But for restock fee of about $400!) Of course, there was also the cost of these beauties.

Well, this Presentation gave me the chance to try them all out. And I loved them. Sure, it will take a bit getting used to, but not as much as my Intuos3, which I have been using since 2006. When I got that, I went from digitally inking and painting with a mouse!

The Cintiq 24HD was the flagship, of course. Huge, solid — a battleship of a digital screen tablet.  But I actually gravitated towards the slightly smaller and more maneuverable Cintiq 22HD Touch. It was lighter, it rotated like a drawing pad (the 24 does not... too big), it was easier to grab and hold.  I fell in love.

While $1000 less that the 24HD Touch, the 22" is still a hefty $2699.  Right now, more than I can layout.  The benefits are incredibly valuable, however. As I tested out the 22", I was able to comfortably draw without my oft-appearing "wrist-ache" from holding the pen too tight. This comes from the slight "disconnect" I have by moving my hand down near my lap on something I see up on screen. After a productive day, it is not unheard of for me to sit in front of the TV with ThermaCare heatwraps wrapped firmly around my wrist for the next 8 hours. This is also why I continue to draw the grOw/cOmics in pencil first, and then scan in.

I discussed this with some friends, and they suggested I start a donation pool for those willing to help. No obligation, of course, but donating would help me raise funds to get this immensely helpful and productive piece of digital hardware. My friends suggested even a few dollars spread out amongst a lot of loyal fans could actually raise enough that I could pitch in the rest. The payback would allow me to produce the grOw/cOmics more productively, with less chance of injury, and with a quicker speed due to the natural drawing feel of the device. I also know that I seemed to get a better line quality when drawing on the Cintiq, which makes it easier to guide my hand visually as I normally do when I draw with pencil on paper.

I am not sure how I would set this up — maybe through PayPal. I am also not sure of the "response" to this would have — positive or negative backlash. I've seen other internet artists do this — some even for a new car! — but I couldn't do that. Any donation pool would have to be connected to my work. Don't get me wrong — I TRULY APPRECIATE all the support my fans give me already by purchasing the grOw/cOmics and grOw/stOries. Your support is the only way I could pull it off, as this is a one-person operation (plus the proofreading skills of my wife) — drawing, writing*, layout, inking, coloring, website creation, billing, credit card set-up and fees, etc., etc. (*I have hired a few writers in the past to help with the grOw/stOries.)  I couldn't pay the bills and spend so much time creating grOw without this support. Some have already asked me about donating further beyond the purchase price, but I've always declined in the past.

What is your take on the donation pool? Do you have a suggestion on this? I am all ears.

Thank you.