Last night's book release party at 
You can see
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with me!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Book Release party was a big success!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Fuck Harry Potter!!!
COME TO MY BOOK RELEASE PARTY INSTEAD!!!
It's at:
Tonight, I want to see more people than this at 
Monday, July 16, 2007
Book Release Party!!!
I'm extremely happy to announce my first Book Release Party for my first graphic novel "The Blot."
It will be this Friday, July 20th at
Please come out and help me celebrate a year's worth of hard work in getting this book done. If the book isn't enough to get you out of the house- there will also be beer.
I also have new limited edition giclée prints of these 3 paintings that will be available for sale:
And
So, come on out, have a beer, buy my book, make me sign it... or just come say "hi."
The Blot by Tom Neely
Book Release and Signing Party
3817 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Friday, July 20th 8-10 pm
For those of you not in the L.A. area, I will be at the following comics festivals with my book:
San Diego Comic Con July 25-29 at the I Will Destroy You/Sparkplug Comic Book booth
Toronto Comic Arts Festival August 18th & 19th at the Sparkplug Comic Book booth
Small Press Expo in Bethesda Maryland October 13th & 14th at the Sparkplug Comic Book booth
I hope to see you all soon.
If you can't make it to any of those events, you can always order "The Blot" from my site:
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Process: Group Show at Gallrey Nucleus
I have two pieces in this group show at
Here are my pieces for the show (sorry though the scans are a little washed out): 
The show also includes my pal, and fellow
Thursday, July 05, 2007
When Whaleboy Met Ahab!
My good pal,
He also made toys of Whaleboy, and there's a release party for them tonight at
There will also be a show of various artists doing pieces of Whaleboy art. That's my drawing (above) of when Whaleboy met Ahab.
Go check 'em out at
Monday, July 02, 2007
Spotted this on Spot the Frog
This reminds me that there is another ink blot strip drawn by Winsor McCay. I believe it was from a Rarebit Fiend in which a man is annoyed by an onslought of dripped ink from the cartoonist's brush. I've always loved McCay, but had never seen that strip until I saw the original artwork in the Masters of American Comics exhibit at the Hammer Museum in L.A. last year. It was not a direct influence on my book (I'd already completed the first chapter of The Blot before I saw this McCay strip) but his Little Nemo comics have always been a big inspiration to me.
*Note: Years later, I felt bad about stealing the porn, so, my friend (a cohort in the crime) and I went back one day and left $50 on the cash register when the vendor wasn't looking.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
In Good Company...
I love taking pictures of my book in stores. This picture is from
I couldn't be happier to be stuck between the biography of Milton Caniff and a book of "stacked" pin-up ladies. And to be a shelf above Batman and Bone aint bad either.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Review #1
My very
Sidenote: Rich, also an avid fan of comics, and I would often suffer the embarrassment of "twinkies" when we would both accidentally show up at a club wearing the same Captain America t-shirt.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
The Blot Press Release
Painter and cartoonist Tom Neely's first graphic novel, "The Blot," is like a sad song that breaks your heart while reminding you of life's beauty.
“The Blot" follows a nameless everyman who, while dealing with the fallout from a doomed relationship, is stalked by a mysterious black splotch. As the story unfolds, this shape-shifting blot appears as a harmless cloud of ink, a faceless demon, a source of strength and an inescapable darkness, testing our character in a new way
with each metamorphosis.
With a drawing style resembling the 1930s newspaper comic strips of E.C. Segar and Floyd Gottfredson, and a surrealistic sensibility inspired by painter René Magritte, Neely eschews traditional, representational comic storytelling and finds innovative new ways to tell an ultimately human story about love and loss.
"The Blot" and its characters are an outgrowth of the work Neely has done in his paintings, illustrations and animation over the past several years. He currently lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a freelance animator and illustrator. He earned an M.F.A. in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2000 and has exhibited his paintings in multiple galleries throughout San Francisco, and L.A. Neely's illustrations have been featured in dozens of magazines and literary journals and have been featured in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 American Illustration annuals. His comics have appeared in the Graphic Classics anthologies, Expo 2003, Grind, Scram, Kitchen Sink
and Nickelodeon Magazines.
192 Pages, Black & White and Color, Paperback, $14.95 (US)
ISBN: 978-0-9742715-8-3
Available now from I Will Destroy You
P.O. Box 39963, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Book Release and Signing
July 20th, 2007 at
3817 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
THEY'RE HERE!!!
MY BOOK HAS ARRIVED!!!
The Boxes were inspected by my intern, Barky, and everything is fine. Boy, are there a lot of 'em- 3 palletes worth... 142 boxes that need to be crammed into every available space in my house... I gotta start selling these things or else start making furniture out of the boxes.
All that's left is to wrap the belly-band aroud each one as I go: 
I must say, it looks beautiful! I couldn't be prouder of this book. I've read through it twice, and I have no complaints (although I found 2 mistakes that I doubt anyone else will notice).
You can order them now from
If you want me to sign it to you and maybe doodle something in there, send me an e-mail telling me what you want.
They aren't in stores yet, but hopefully will be soon.
I'll be having a book release party on July 20th at
Then I'll be debuting them at the
Now, what are you waiting for?
Thursday, June 14, 2007
It's Coming... (part 2)
I just got word from the printer that the books are being shipped to me today!
Friday, June 01, 2007
Big News from the Big Island!
Anna and I went to Hawaii's Big Island last week. We had the most amazing time of our lives there.
I was so overwhelmed by nature, the experience and everything, that I proposed. And she said yes!
WE'RE ENGAGED!!!
So, to celebrate, we poked hot lava with a big stick!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Billy Reynolds at Black Maria Gallery
Here's a joke I loved to tell when I was a kid:
Q: What's grosser than a dumpster full of dead babies?
A: A live one at the bottom trying to eat it's way out. 
We both went through the same MFA program (two years apart) and studied under the same teacher,
The first time I met Billy, I went to his apartment to see his work. It honestly scared me a bit... I wish I could paint like this guy- His painting technique is impeccable. He's like some perverse modern day Vermeer, setting up scenes and painting from life. But his subject matter doesn't exist in the real world, so, he sculpts models and builds elaborate miniature rooms, furniture and stages for his strange beings to inhabit. He then lights them and paints from "life." The end result is stunning.
He's not afraid to push his imagery into strange, perverse and often frightening realms. He doesn't make pretty art to hang over your couch- he makes paintings that would make people wonder about you if you did. But Billy's paintings are as beautiful as they are disturbing, and you should hang them over your couch because great art should provoke something in you.
Which brings me back to my dead baby joke... Billy's work reveals the darker ideas that lurk in everyone's head, the thoughts you don't want anyone to know about... His paintings are simultaneously grotesque and beautiful... perverse and funny. The imagery makes you uncomfortable, as he dazzles you with his painting technique. And you find yourself wanting to linger in this perverse world. He gives you a view into his twisted mind, but with a tongue in his cheek. As the narrative thread of his work unfolds, Billy manages to reveal himself to you a little bit at a time... and maybe even make you confront some of your own perverse nature... You may be disturbed, but there is great beauty in that feeling. And then you find yourself laughing uncomfortably along with the artist.
Anyway, enough of my babbling... Go see for yourself
He has an opening this Saturday at
Billy Reynolds
Peristalsis
May 19th - June 10th, 2007
Opening reception - Saturday, May 19th from 7 to 10:30 pm
3137 Glendale Blvd (in Atwater Village)
Los Angeles, CA 90039
323-660-9393 & 818-613-9090
DON'T MISS IT!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
IT'S COMING...
My first graphic novel, The Blot, is at the printer now.
I hope to debut it at
It will be available for order through my website in July.
And I will be having a book release party at
More details soon.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
A.P.E. this weekend
I'm heading up to San Francisco for the
I'll be hanging out at the
I'll have two mini comics with me:
"tuesday." which is the first chapter of The Blot, which will debut this summer.
"S'supermini" which is a collection of super-hero gag-comics and random drawings that I did at San Diego Comic Con last summer. 
I'l also have postcards to promote the upcoming release of The Blot.
Come by and say "hi".
Thursday, April 12, 2007
so it goes...
Today is a very blustery day in L.A. While having my morning tea, I read the news that one of my favorite authors, Kurt Vonnegut, died last night. I went to my studio, put on an audio-book of Slaughterhouse 5, and got to work on the last few pages of my book. While large branches fell from the trees and the backyard furniture was tossed to and fro by the wind, my dog nervously hid under the drawingboard at my feet all day.
I finished my book.
I think I can officially call my self a graphic-novelist now.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Vonnegut.
So it goes.
Friday, March 30, 2007
NEW WEBSITE DESIGN!!!
I've finally got the
I've changed the entire design and streamlined everything.
The "art" section has been cleaned out. Whereas it used to archive all of the artwork I've made since my first show in 2000, it will now focus on paintings that are relevant to my current body of work. You'll find 20 new paintings in this section that I haven't posted on the site before.
The "comics" section has been cleaned out so that it will focus on my upcoming graphic novel and future comics work. A full list of published comics can be found in the bibliography of the "etc" section.
The "etc" section now contains an updated biography, bibliography, exhibition history, exhibition photos (coming soon). The "etc" section also contains links to my two animated films, and a mention of my illustration work.
Though I'm proud of the work I've done in animation and illustration, I have decided that my website should focus on my more personal artistic pursuits in painting and comics. However, I continue to work as a freelance illustrator and animator and whenever I do something in those fields, I will post about it here on the blog.
So, check out the
Thursday, March 29, 2007
THE END IS NIGH!
I can't believe I'm this close to the end of my book.
I have only 14 pages (out of 180) left to ink!!!
As soon as I finish it, and get a lot of it scanned, I'll start posting more info and sneak peaks.
Monday, March 26, 2007
A couple of posters...
I did these posters for Green Door Recording Co. this week. (the blank white and yellow space is so they can add whatever dates they need)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Music is my friend...
Here's a random post about music... since I've been pretty much a hermit in my studio working on my book, sometimes music is my only friend (except when Anna comes over to distract me).
Music is very important to my creative process. It inspires me, drives me, or just entertains me when I'm working on something kinda tedious. Pictured below is the little stereo in my studio along with all the c.d.s I've been listening to this month while inking my graphic novel. 
The c.d.s include: Deathspell Omega's Kenose, Eric Satie's Piano Music & Melodies box set, Xasthur's Subliminal Genocide, Don Caballero's World Class Listening Problem, Penderecki's St Luke Passion and Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima, Shostakovich String Quartets, Painkiller's Execution Ground, Corrupted's Llenandose de Gusanos, The Bee Gees box set of their first three albums, Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation and Rather Ripped, Charles Mingus plays Piano, The R&B Years 1947 box set, Eye Hate God's In the Name of the Suffering, Scott Tuma's The River, Jesu's 1st album and Conqueror, Brian Eno's Ambient 4 & Here Come the Warm Jets, Bright Eyes Lifted and 4 Winds ep, and Trollmann av Dotoppberg... and on my iPod, I've been listening to a bunch of other stuff including the complete Norman Granz Jazz at the Philharmonic, a lot of ISIS, Converge, Willie Nelson, and Modest Mouse... I could go on and on...
I have also listened to 3 good books on tape: The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth, Picasso's War by Russel Martin, and Ulysses by James Joyce.
While on the subject of music, I've begun recording a soundtrack for my upcoming solo show at Black Maria Gallery. It's a lot of fun to be making music again. I haven't done that in years. It's a great distraction from my drawing schedule. The end result may be a big, noisey mess that no one would ever wanna listen to, but it's still exciting to be working on something different. Here's where I make my music:
Friday, March 09, 2007
I did a Groovie Ghoulies album...
I did the artwork for the next
Here's the cover:
I'm really proud of what I did for it. It's completely different from anything else I've done. It's also completely different from any of their other covers. I've always been a fan of
Here's the back cover and spines: 
There's more artwork inside the booklet and throughout the layout of the c.d. packaging. Here's one image that I particularly like from the booklet:
The album is supposed to hit stores on April 16th.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Friday, March 02, 2007
group show
I'm in 
Oh yeah... they mispelled my name on the website... it's "Neely" NOT "Neeley". You'd think after 5 years they might know. Oi!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Nick Cross' Waif of Persephone
Nick Cross is a very talented animator who you may know from his work on Ren & Stimpy. He has just released his latest film,
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Charity By Numbers
From Press Release:
Charity by Numbers, a benefit art auction for The Alliance for Children's Rights, features vintage paint-by-numbers pieces reinterpreted and transformed by a jaw-dropping lineup of leading underground fine artists including Mark Ryden & Marion Peck, Tim Biskup, Gary Baseman, Todd & Kathy Schorr, Camille Rose Garcia, Michael Hussar, Shag, Christian and Rob Clayton, Shepard Fairey, Andrew Brandou, Gary Panter, and many more*.
Charity by Numbers will open with a private reception at
Saturday February 10th from 6 to 9 PM,
followed by a public viewing of the pieces from 10 to midnight later that evening.
The auction will be held on eBay from February 10th and end on Saturday, February 17th @ Midnight Pacific Time.
8522 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.287.2340
----------------------
*The "and many more" includes lil' ol' me and other great artists like Souther Salazar, Saelee Oh, Kent Williams, Jeff Soto, Dave Cooper, Kaz, KozynDan, Calef Brown, Mark Todd, Esther Watson and about 80 others...
I saw the show last night, skeptical that it would be gimmicky and silly, but I was really surprised to see a lot of great pieces in the show. My favorite is Eric White who "un-painted" his paint by numbers.
Here's my before: 
and after:
UPDATE: I went to the opening and it was so packed full of people, I thought I was stuck in line at the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. Couldn't see much through the crowds, but lots of the pieces were already sold at a set price before the auction began. Mine sold within an hour of the opening. YAY! Others can be bought
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
What I'm up to...
I'm working hard to finish my 180 page graphic novel "the blot."
I'm about halfway through the inking now, and hope to have the book debut at one of the conventions this summer.
Below is a step-by-step of how I ink a page. (click to view larger images)
This page is the title page for chapter 3.
Pencils:
Title inked, then the rest of the inking begins:
The inking is complete...
Now it's time to add the ink blots:
And the finished page:
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
New Year...
2006 was a rollercoaster year that started off bad and then got worse... but then suddenly everything got good, then really good and continued to get better and better. I think I'll look back on 2006 as one of the most significant years in my life. A year that I started nearly broke and looking for work, but ended up being my most successful year of freelancing yet. Mona left me and it felt like the end of the world, but then I realized how much better my life is without her dark cloud hanging over me. I thought I'd lose the house in the break-up, but was able to keep it and improve on it by adding a painting studio. I was rejected for the Xeric Grant for comics self-publishing, but I received a publishing offer from one of my favorite comics publishers. I had two successful art shows- Survival of the Fittest, a group show I curated, and Igloo Tornado's debut show at Black Maria Gallery. I got a dog, Barky, the sweetest little girl I could ask for. And I found new love with Anna and we are ridiculously happy.
Anyway... 2006 may end up being one of the more significant years of my personal life, but 2007 should be one of the best years of my professional life. I have a solo art show coming up in September at Black Maria Gallery. I am finishing my graphic novel, and will debut it at some of the comic conventions this summer. And lots of more stuff, too...
Also, I will be completely redesigning and updating my website very soon. So check back later this month.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Scot Nobles in group show...
Scot Nobles, my good friend and fellow Igloo Tornado artist, is in a group show at Gallery 825.
2006 Open Show
825 Gallery
825 N. La Cienega Blvd
La, Ca 90069
Opening reception is Saturday December 16th from 6-9
Show runs through Jan. 19
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Go see this show!!!
Two of my favorite artists,
Go see it:
Errant Days in a Wayward World
Kathleen Lolley, Andy Kehoe, and Kevin Titzer
December 8th thru January 8th
Opening receptions Friday, Dec. 8th 7-9 pm
Harmony Gallery
5911 1/2 Franklin
Hollywood, CA 90028
Friday, September 15, 2006
Igloo Tornado at Black Maria Gallery
This show is amazing. I have to say, I think that all four of us are at the top of our game, and each artist is presenting their best work to date. I'm really proud of this show. I'll post more pictures next week. But you can check out some pictures of the installation at the
Our show opens this Saturday! See the postcard below for info...
Friday, August 04, 2006
September 16th will be here fast...
I have an art show with the 
I have a lot of painting still to do.
I suffered my first ever art related injury the other night when a flimsy folding chair I was standing on decided to jump out from under me... I flipped through the air and found myself falling headfirst towards the concrete floor of my studio. I managed to save my pretty face by landing on my outstretched left hand, which jammed my arm straight into a part of my torso where it wasn't meant to be, leaving me with a horribly sore back and shoulder... I'm lucky I didn't break my arm or anything... Ironically I'm working on a painting of my main character all beaten and broken apart.
Moral of the story: when working on a 7 ft tall painting, don't stand on a flimsy, plastic folding chair from Ikea.
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