Category: Blog

A year ago, I brought in a full-time assistant, Jen Troy, to help out in the studio. She’s been amazing: There are a bajillion tasks she’s been helpful with, both in the production of the strips, shipping your Sheldon orders to you, keeping up the sites, and more. But she’s mainly been my Jill-Of-All-Trades on the documentary film: If there was a task on the film that needed help, Jen was there to do it.

Anyway! When Jen took a vacation to New Zealand a while back, and mentioned she was going to the location where they filmed Hobbiton… I asked her to write up a travelogue for you guys! Because let’s be honest: How many of us are going to get to go to Hobbiton? Knowing Jen as I do, her write-up is pretty awesome: She’s genuinely geeking out. So without further ado, here’s Jen….

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Welcome to… Hobbiton! I recently visited New Zealand and took the Hobbiton tour. It was really fun and I couldn’t help but geek out! Here is the sign outside the Shire’s Rest Cafe where I joined the tour.

The group boarded a vintage bus that drove us onto the farm and to the Hobbiton film set. Once off the bus, our guide brought us into the Shire. Guys, I was in the SHIRE. Here is a photo of just one of the many Hobbit holes I got to see. I think our guide said there was thirty-three holes in all, but don’t quote me on that. The props and production design was amazing to look at.

We were given a chance to see them up close and farther away. It was so lovely to see the Hobbit holes tucked away into the greenery. Yeah, it was TOTALLY that green.

We made our way up the main hill towards… Bilbo and Frodo’s home! Do you recognize that tree? Just below it is the door to the Baggins’ home.

This is as close as I could get, but they left the front door open so we could see the paneling inside. I was told that this is the only Hobbit hole that has some interior walls.

Then we made our way down towards the rest of Hobbiton and the Green Dragon Inn. Here is the view from the top. I know… it’s SO pretty.

We walked passed the Mill and over the bridge…

To the Green Dragon Inn! As of December 2012, it is now a fully functioning pub. With our tour, we each got a complimentary drink. The cider was delicious.

It’s pretty dark inside. Check out the detail.

They even gave us our drinks in appropriate mugs! Apparently a potter in the area makes them, but he can only make twenty a day so please don’t swipe them.

Here are a few Hobbit holes next to each other for your delight. Many homes had their laundry drying on the line.

Finally on our way out and back to the bus, I passed this sign. I didn’t want to leave!

For whatever reason, those library “Read” posters always get me. I’ve done a few of these, before:

THIS ONE

AND THIS ONE

…and if you were in the mood for more loving jabs at the Scottish, there’s always THIS ONE.

As production on my film winds down, over the next month or two, I’ll be slowly ramping back up to a full schedule for Sheldon, again.

Alongside that, I’m going to try to incorporate more and more color strips into the mix. I can’t guarantee it all the time, but it’s something I’d like to do more of. There’s a vibrancy in color that black-and-white just can’t match….and I’d like to see more of it.

For those that don’t follow me on The Twitters, you may have missed this little announcement: For this week, and possibly next, Sheldon is going to update sporadically…if at all.

After 13-14 years, I need to break the ol’ update schedule to power out illustration work for my film, “Stripped”. Basically, there are animators waiting for me to finish up some illustrations, so that they can animate them for the film. And since I’m the logjam in the work getting down, the strip will have to cool its heels for a few days

It’s a bummer, I know…but it’s only for a short bit! In the meantime, hit the “Random” or “Five Years Ago Today” buttons: Let the old be new again! 🙂

In the 9 months since the new Sheldon site launched, we went through and replaced each strip with larger, brigher, more confident, 900-pixel version of itself. That doesn’t sound like it took much doing, but Lordy did it: Even though a majority of the strips are the same size, and could be modified by a batch-action in Photoshop, a good third of them had to be done by hand.

So! Along those lines: Please let me know if you see any weird cropping, off colors, odd sizing, or anything unusual with the larger strips.

Note: We already know these 18 strips, so feel free to ignore these ‘uns:

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Thanks so much and enjoy the archive!!

I’m in Seattle all weekend at Emerald City Comicon at booth #1105! Come get a free Drive sketch!

Guys! I’m in Seattle all weekend at Emerald City Comicon at booth #1105!

We’re starting a little Flaco-centered storyline, today, called “Go to Bat.” Haven’t seen much from the little guy, in a while, so this should be fun.

I’m parting ways with my my favorite piece of drawn art: A really large, pen-and-ink drawing of the entire Sheldon cast. Rarely are all of them in the same piece together! And I’m not kidding: This is my favorite drawing that I’ve done in recent years. I love, love, love how it came out: The inks and gray washes just look awesome.

The cardstock measures 17″ x 11″ inches and the artwork measures approximately 17″ x 9″ inches. It’s drawn in lightfast, archival inks on acid-free, vellum Bristol stock. There are no mistakes or corrections in the artwork itself, so it will frame up especially nice.

This original art will be shipped for *FREE*, anywhere in the U.S.A! (And just a flat $5 to any point outside the U.S.A.)

Also!
For the lucky Sheldonista who snags the artwork: This piece can be signed and personalized at the winner’s request. This could include a personal note like: “To the coolest person I’ve ever met, with thanks for saving my life from sharks that one time: I totally owe you forever. All my love, Dave.” Something like that. Or maybe something totally different! Maybe you’d prefer it to say “a T-Rex” instead of “sharks”. TOTALLY YOUR CALL.

— Dave

A note to PR people everywhere: Oh man maybe it’s time to find a new catchphrase.