Scott Pilgrim rocks!!!!

It's truly an awesome, epic geek movie! From the opening credits to the incredible, video game fight scenes, this movie is sweet! The character casting is brilliant, and even Michael Cera, who takes his fair share of criticism for being the same in every movie, is assume as Scott. Mary Elizebeth Winstead is hot and sassy as Ramona, and was one of my favorite elements of the movie. Edgar Wright is his usual awesome self, directing this geek fest like no one else could! From the gaming sounds and references, to the accurate and authentic comic book surroundings, to even the clothes and hair of the characters, he nailed it! It's just pure fun, and sooooooo good. Could even be my most favorite movie of the summer! Which now bags the question: why is nobody going to see it? The theatre was near empty, and the movie has done dismal numbers since being released. It's a real shame, as this movie should be making nothing but money. Instead, it's not even in the top ten this week. Is it too geeky? Not a well known enough comic book series? Are people getting sick of Michael Cera? Whatever the reason, the world is missing out on a real gem. So do yourself a favor, and before it's too late, go see Scott Pilgrim!!! You won't be sorry.

Take care all!

Harry Potter makes me happy!

Hello again, time for another update! I've been itching to get back on here and update some more, and since I've been reading Harry Potter again, I thought that would work for starters. So, I've been reading Harry Potter! I wanted to start at the beginning and read all the books in order, before the new movie comes out. I've read only a few of the books before, well, skimmed a few of them, and then read the Deathly Hollows entirely. I've seen every movie. But there are some differences between the books and the movies, so I've decided to read them all and fill in the blanks.

And so far, I'm loving the experience! I've finished the first 2 books and I'm eager to read the next one! The Prisoner of Azkaban was an incredible movie in my opinion and I'm looking forward to reading about all the stuff the movie didn't touch on. The things I've found out so far that differ from movie to book, well, no Peeves for starters. He's the Hogwart's resident poltergeist that to my knowledge has never appeared or been mentioned in the movies. There's also the ghost teacher, Professor Cuthbert Binns. He would be very cool on the big screen but so far has yet to appear in any film. There's other things to, like other students who have roles in the books, different settings, even the odd switch up of events, like the ending of The Chamber of Secrets. But none of this really matters, simply because I love the Harry Potter franchise as a whole, and find both the books I've read so far and all the movies I've seen to be equally awesome! They take me out of the moment, and transport me to a place of magic and muggles, Wizards and Witches, half bloods and pures, and phoenix pets and house elves. It's a wonderful escape, this world of JK Rowling's creation, and I'm so glad I have the opportunity to visit it.

To tie into all this, my girlfriend Leeann bought me the Harry Potter lego game for my birthday, and that too is all kinds of awesome! But the real awesomeness is still to come, as myself and the family will be heading to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Orlando in October. This trip will be truly amazing and is the ultimate real world experience for myself and every other HP fan the world over!! I can't wait to see Hogwarts live and in person, and I eagerly await the opportunity to select my very own wand (and my niece Kirsten's) at Ollivander's Wand Shop!!

Enough oozing of ultra geek! For now, I just want you all to know how truly excited I am about Harry Potter, how great it's been to read the books, and how much I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Oh ya, there's also the mind blowing anticipation of the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, in theatres this November!!!! Here's some eye candy to tide you all, as well as myself, over until then!!

Take care all :D

At the point of the knife, I RUN!

Well, well, well. Over a year of non-activity on my blog. It's about time I do something about this. So here is my first post in a long, long time! I turned 35 last week, I've been training for a 10k road race and 1/2 marathon, and I'm finally in my year long sprint to my Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate! So I'm hoping I'll have some great stuff to blog about on here to keep me coming back more frequently and using it. For now, I'm just warming the blog up with this quick note.

Today we, being the lovely Leeann, our dog Oreo, and myself ran for 3.7kms for a little over 20 minutes of running. We run almost everyday. We love it! Tommorow we're hoping to do an epic long run, which for us is anything over 6.5kms. I'm in fantastic shape, and getting stronger by the day. All of this running is for a couple of reason, both of which I'll elaborate on later. But for now, we RUN!

And in 8 weeks, we're off to Orlando for some fun in the sun. Life is good! That's it for now.

Take care all.

Floating weightless..........

I'm sitting here tonight, my first night alone in the new place, having a few drinks. I'm listening to music and building inspiration. A lot has happened since my last post. I had a great comic show this year, did another FCBD at happy Harbor, I got a new job at an old place of work, and I moved in with Leeann. I lost my Grandma, gained a step son. I started a new pursuit in the form of Reflexology, and I'm working with my friend Steve on a new comic book. And I'm getting into better shape, both mentally and physically.

Tonight is a nice release for me. I've been very busy lately and have needed this. I miss Leeann tonight but i know she's having a good time in Red Deer. And I'm connecting with myself and my life again. My mind is flooded with images, sensations, emotions. I'll feed on these tomorrow as creative empowerment when Steve and I have our first meeting to discuss the new book. What he's come up with so far is good. Really good. I'm going to draw the living hell out of it and love every minute doing so.

I'm also incredibly stoked to be going to finally see Alexisonfire in August as part of the Van's Warp Tour. I bought tickets yesterday and can't wait!! I'm listening to their new single as I type this and it's sick. Go out and find "Young Cardinals" if you haven't heard it yet, it's well worth it.

I'm going to float away now, mission accomplished for the time being. Take care all............

A new year, a new (out) look......

Welcome to the still being improved blog of Richard V. Barkman!! As it's now 2009 and it's been far too long since I've posted on here (again), I figured a change in the scenery would be good! So what have I been up to you ask? Well, not what most people who know me would expect. I haven't really done much drawing lately, as my focus for it just hasn't been there. Instead I've been traveling a bit, going to the Dominican Republic just before Christmas for a nice all inclusive vacation. It was beautiful there, and the down time was definitely needed.




While I was down there, I took a lot of time to evaluate my life and come up with a focus for the next few years. I'm tired of being in the rut I'm in, as it's stifled my creativity in a huge way. I'm not overly happy with my day job (I work in the decal industry doing everything from bus wraps to window displays) as it has no future unfortunately. So I have decided to do something to give myself a future. This fall, I am looking into going back to school. My pursuit? I want to be an Acupuncturist! Now why such a change or a departure from the norm you may ask? Well, a few years ago I injured my shoulder really bad (doing decals) and was on the brink of needing surgery. Instead, I got to rehab my shoulder, and part of that rehab was the use of Acupuncture. And it worked amazingly!! I've seen the results first hand, and have been intrigued about it ever since.

I also believe that "alternative medicine", as Acupuncture seems to be labeled as here, has a huge future. And I want to be a part of it! I want a job I'm happy with, one that gets me excited to get out of bed everyday and go to work. And I want to learn as much as possible right now! So I'm looking forward to pursuing this further. And as soon as I have everything sorted out, I'll post it here!!

Now, as for my artwork and my pursuit of greatness in the field of comics, I'm still plugging away at it. But not like I have been in the past. Comics are a passion of mine, but I really can't see myself turning them into a career. I enjoy drawing as a hobby, but have found over the past few years that whenever that hobby becomes a job that I don't enjoy it like I should. So I will continue to draw and create when the time allows it, and when I get things drawn that I'm stoked about I will also post those here! So welcome to 2009 everyone, and for myself, I'm looking forward to a fresh start for my new future!!

Take care all.

An Update!

Hello folks! Since it’s been so long since I've updated, I thought it would be most appropriate to give you some excuses and something to tide you all over. Problem is, I have nothing! No excuses, just that we haven’t been doing much so there hasn’t been anything to tell you. But I do have something, and that's to tell you that today the drive for next spring starts.

I have secured a table in Artist Alley for next year’s Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo down at the Round-up Center. I will be located at table A36 with my good friend Richard Grzela of 14u Comics. There will be some new books from our collaborated efforts, original artwork and pin-up’s for sale, and for all you who have been waiting a long time for it: issue 2 of The Sorrow! FINALLY!!You heard it here first! So mark down April 25-26, 2009 on your calenders and make the trip on down to check out us, as well as a number of cool guests that will be there. Check out the Calgary Expo site for more details. Thanks, and as always,

Take care all!

Some San Diego pics, and my first MLB game live!!

Hello sports fans! I'm back with a quick but necessary update to this blog o'mine! Since I'm still experiencing scanner issues I have no new artwork to post, but I do have some cool pictures from my recent trip to San Diego and Dallas to share with you!!!

This year I attended the San Diego Comic Con for the 6th year straight, and although it was the most busy it's ever been I had a blast!! I attended some really great panels, met some awesome people both famous and aspiring to be, and brought home some cool swag! I got to party a few nights down there, mingled with friends from Edmonton and Calgary that I met up with, and even managed a trip to the beach. And I ate healthy and worked out!!! Crazy, I know. Some of the highlights of the trip for me were seeing the new Sideshow Collectibles 14 inch Darth Vader (finally), getting to scope out the new 25th Anniversary GI Joe figures, meeting Gerard Way outside the Eisner's shortly after he won for Umbrella Academy (in the washroom of all places, long story), and finally meeting Missy Suicide, founder of the famous Suicide Girls website. She was so nice and a really cutey in person! I also really enjoyed hanging out with the Edmonton bus crew for a few nights of debauchery, and I found it was really cool to see Calgary artists Riley Rossmo (Image's Proof) and Fiona Staples (Wildstorm's Authority: Hawksmoore) signing at the Image and DC Comics booths. Way to go you two! It was an awesome trip and I hope to get back down there again, maybe behind a booth myself! ;)



Darth Vader!

The Suicide Girls!

Squeak, Yours Truly, and Missy Suicide!

GI Joe goodness

I also got to spend a week in Dallas with my good friend Neil Erasmus the week after Comic Con! Neil is one of my closest friends and has been down in Dallas for a few years but unfortunately hasn't been able to make a trip back here to visit. And until this year I really didn't have a chance to go down to see him. But we more then made up for not be able to see each other with an incredible week long visit! Neil took me all over Dallas and really spoiled the hell out of me! I got to go to Six Flags in Arlington and went on a bunch of crazy rides (I think I'm getting too old for some of them!), I got to see the Kennedy Memorial in downtown Dallas, popped into several comic book shops including the famous Titan Comics, and spent several awesome days lounging in the family pool. And we needed to as the temperature was over 100 degree F everyday I was there!!! But the true highlight for me was getting to go to my first ever Major League Baseball game, which pitted the Texas Rangers versus my favorite team the Seattle Mariners!! And although the Mariners blew it and lost (they've had a rough year) the game was an awesome experience and I'm so greatful for being able to attend it!


Neil and I at the game!

It's bloody hot here!

Titan Comics

Drowning in the pool!

The Superman Ride at 6 Flags

Well, that's the update for now. I have some artwork to load, and with any luck will have it up in the next week or so. I just have to keep praying to the scanner Gods and sacrificing imaginary goats and with luck my scanner will work!

Or I could just get a new one. But where's the fun in that? Take care all!