Comic Creators For Freedom 2013

I am participating in Comic Creators for Freedom this year. My friend, Lora Innes of The Dreamer, started this in 2009 and it continues to grow and spread the word about the dangers of Human Trafficking. If you are an artist and would like to participate, click the logo above! This year's theme is Awkward School Photos.

The drive kicks off on Dec 2 thru the 14th. 100% of donations go to Love 146 to be used to provide care for survivors of child trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Detroit Fanfare 2013

My last convention of the year is this weekend at the Adoba Hotel in Dearborn, MI! Come on down to Detroit Fanfare and see Joe Foo, Mike Roll, and the rest of the Camp Pencil Point crew! I'll be selling copies of HEART and the Halloween cards!

Grand Rapids Comic Con 2013

Hey all,

My fall conventions continue this weekend with the first Grand Rapids Comic Con show in Michigan. I'll be there with my good buddy Mike Roll. We are at tables 211 and 232.

Click the banner for more info:

Halloween #HEARTcards now available!

Use the promo code: HALLOWEEN to receive free shipping!

http://wheniwaslittle.bigcartel.com/product/halloween-heartcard-set

AADL Comics Forum

Earlier this year I attended Kids Read Comics at the Ann Arbor District Library and I was invited back to participate in a comics forum this Sunday to talk about visual storytelling and how I developed the When I Was Little series. Check it out if you're in the area click for more info:


Comics Forum with Justin Castaneda

DANCON Spring 2014 Poster

Hi all,

One of the first comic shows I will be attending at the start of 2014 is DAN CON in Orland Park, IL. The is put together by Decapitated Dan and his lovely wife, the Phoenix personified Amy Royer.

Dan asked me to put together the show's poster and with a little Photoshop effects assist from Dan, here's what we came up with. If you are a comic artist looking to book shows for your 2014 schedule, I suggest you click on the poster and register to be part of this great show!

Ohio Con 2013

I will be at the Ohio Comic Con this weekend! Come see me at table B9!

OHIO COMIC CON
SEPTEMBER 20-21-22, 2013
FRI-SAT-SUN

LOCATION
Greater Columbus Convention Center
500 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Cincy Comicon 2013

Hi all! A week from today I will be attending the CINCY COMICON at The Northern Kentucky Convention Center. I'll be at table D15 come on by if you live in the area! Click on the logo for more info.

Scratch9: Cat Tails #1

Last year I met ROB WORLEY, creator of Scratch 9. He was gracious enough to support my #sharemyHEART campaign and he asked me if I would like to be part of the new Scratch 9 book. I immediately jumped at the chance because I had so much fun drawing his characters as part of his reward tier for donating.

This Wednesday, Cat Tails issue 1 comes out featuring four pages of art by yours truly, written by Rob, with amazing colors by JOSHUA BUCHANAN. The issue also features art by MIKE ROLL, SHANNON ERIC DENTON, CAANAN GRALL, and JASON T. KRUSE. Get to your local comic shop today!

Here's a look at the cover by Josh along with some concepts I did for Bektah, the mummy cat:

Comic Book Mania! 2013

Hi folks,

This weekend at the Gail Borden Library in Elgin is Comic Book Mania! Come out and enjoy a free comic show from 10am-5pm! Comic friends Art Balthazar, Kurt Wood, and Russell Lissau will be there too!

Kids Read Comics 2013

Hello, I will be at the Kids Read Comics show at the Ann Arbor District Library from June 22 & 23 with friends, Jay Fosgitt, Rob Worley, and Joshua Buchanan. I will also be sharing tables with the Camp Pencil Point Crew: Joe Foo & Miker Roll!

Come on down and enjoy this free event with artists, comic workshops, and panel discussions. Click banner for more info!

35th Annual Superman Celebration

This weekend, I will be attending the 35th Annual Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL. I think this show is a nice way to ease back into the convention season after getting married, having a honeymoon, moving into a new place, and basically being off for a month and a half. I look forward to the weekend as it's just in time for my 30th birthday and the release of MAN OF STEEL!

Hope to see you there!

*logo by Lin Workman

#HEARTcards set three available at c2e2 this weekend!

The big Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (c2e2) is this weekend and I will be there with copies of HEART and now more #HEARTcards! If you know anyone who missed out on the Kickstarter Campaign tell them to come down to the c2e2 Artist Alley table L6A. I will be doing #cardBOREDsketches, selling prints, signing books, and drawing super awesome stuff!

I will be appearing on the Artist Alley Stage where you can watch me draw on a jumbo-tron. My scheduled time is Sunday (4/28) 1:00pm.

Here is the new set of HEARTcards that will be debuting at this weekend's convention:

The Breakfast Club
Scott Pilgrim
Superman

SEE YOU AT THE SHOW!

School Visit: St. Mary School, Manchester, IA

This past weekend I attended the St. Mary's School in Manchester, Iowa to give a presentation on art in picture books and the concept of visual story telling.

It was April Author month at the school and my future wife's cousin was able to set up a speaking gig. I was nervous at first but as soon as I started talking to the kids I felt at home and hopefully I educated the kids with tips on art and story telling.

I did two presentations where I talked to kids from Kindergarten through 6th grade. I told the kids how my love for drawing lead me to writing and illustrating children's books. I also spoke about where the concept for the When I Was Little series came from.

Towards the end, I had a Q&A session where I answered questions about art, hobbies, and self-publishing. I was literally blessed as a gesture of thanks and well wishes as I wrapped up my last presentation for the day. I felt honored. I had an incredible time and the kids were well behaved and asked a lot of great questions.

Thank you to Mrs. Palmer, Dawn Gaffney, the students, and faculty of St. Mary's for hosting me and allowing me to speak about art and books at their school. Also thanks to Nicole who "held my hand" through the weeks of prepping on what I was going to talk about.

I look forward to more wonderful opportunities likes this to share my art and stories and to encourage kids to find a passion and pursue their own goals.

Oh and just a reminder, I will be at the C2E2 convention this weekend at McCormick Place. Artist Alley table L6A!

Bodie Troll

Hi all,

This Thursday BODIE TROLL #1 comes out written and illustrated by amazing cartoonist, Jay Fosgitt. Bodie Troll is an all ages comic about a grumpy troll named Bodie.

Jay asked me to do a pin-up for the series and I was super excited that it got put into issue 1. So get to your local comic shop and pick yourself up a copy this Thursday!

I will be attending c2e2 with some familiar faces and Jay will be there with copies of issue 1 as well. So stop by the weekend of April 26-28 and say hey!

oh and btw here's my print I did for the book:

c2e2 2013

The big Chicago Convention c2e2 is three weeks away April 26-28th at the West Building of McCormick Place. This show is always a great time so come see me at Artist Alley table L6A along with friends, Joe Foo, Mike Roll, Victor Dandridge, Jay Fosgitt, and much more!

One thing I am excited about is this year they are doing an Artist Alley Stage and they asked me to be a part of the line up!

So here's my time for that:

Post: Dan Con 2013

On March 17 I attended Dan Con at the Orland Park Civic Center. Since we moved to Orland, the convention was literally down the street from our new apartment. This was only my second year attending the show but it felt like a show I've been a part of since it's beginnings. It's because Decapitated Dan and his lovely wife, Amy, make you feel so welcomed at their show. It's about the creators and the artists. You get a sense of comfortableness, like you belong there.

My only complaint really is that it's short, it being a one day con. Luckily Dan has divided the show into two seasons, Spring and Fall. And its not like the show takes a while to really get going, the numbers in attendance are pretty big. It's almost you wished it would go on for a bit longer just so you can interact more with the fellow creators and the crowd in attendance.

I had a great time this year and I debuted my new convention banner. Nic had to step out for the day to attend to some wedding stuff but overall I handled it pretty well. I didn't draw as much as I would have liked to but people were really into the WIWL prints and books, which I can't complain.

They had a raffle in which I offered up these horror movie sketch cards and an exclusive Dan Con print I did just for the show.

I had a great time and I got to visit with my friends Dave and Rene from INSTANT PRESS COMICS! It was a great start to my convention season and I look forward to next year's show!

Dan Con 2012

This Saturday I will be at Dan Con Comic Con at the Orland Park Civic Center from 10am-4pm! Click here for more info! I will be attending with friends, Dave and Rene of INSTANT PRESS COMICS and Lee O' Hanlon! See you Saturday!

#HEARTcards 2.0

Hi all,

I recently finished a second set of #HEARTcards I labeled as, "Meanings". Again these are some of my favorite movies that I spun into cards about love and friendship. This new set includes:

The Princess Bride
Peter Pan
Back to the Future

Get them for your loved ones this Valentine's Day!

Check'em out: http://wheniwaslittle.bigcartel.com/

#HEARTcards

Hello!

I hope everyone had a great holiday. I have been quite busy since the winter and been trying to come up with new products and art for y'all. Since Valentine's Day is coming up, I recently designed these #HEARTcards that share expressions of love and friendship based on some of my favorite movies:  

Say Anything
Love Actually
Shaun of the Dead

If you got the time, please check'em out!
http://wheniwaslittle.bigcartel.com/product/heart-cards-set-3pk

Also if you know anyone who missed out on the Kickstarter campaign or the Holiday sale. HEART is going for $14 now throughout February. If you use the discount code: VALENTINE you get free shipping on the book until the 14th of Feb.

Spread the word, February is #sharemyHeart month

Thanks

Announcing the 14 'til 14 Sale!

Hi friends,

It's been a busy new year for me with the launch of the #cardBOREDsketch box blog, but I wanted to share a bit of news that I posted on there this afternoon:

Starting today, the 14th of January, I am kicking off the 14 'til 14 Sale which will allow you to purchase a signed copy of HEART for only $14! And as as special  bonus, until the 14th of February you will get free shipping on it! All you have to do is go to my store and add a copy of the book to your shopping cart, and when prompted enter the code: VALENTINE and you receive *FREE SHIPPING! See I told you 14 was a great number!

*note: the free shipping only last 'til the 14th of February after that, you will have to pay shipping BUT the book will still be on sale from now and all of February.

I will have some new stuff to show you when Share Your Heart Month comes rolling along so please stay tuned and thanks for following me wherever: twitter, instagram, blogspot, etc.

- Justin