Alex Schumacher

New interview and Bay Area event scheduled!

October 8, 2014October 8, 2014 Alex Schumacher

Howdy folks! A quick update with some fun news is on tap for you all today.

Over at Beach Bound Books (great title, huh?), there’s been an interview posted in which I was asked all about The World’s Crummiest Umbrella, how I got into being an author and illustrator, and more. Check it out by clicking on their logo below:

Also, for my Bay Area peeps, there’s been a new signing/appearance added to my Events page which will be taking place in San Francisco. The always awesome Cartoon Art Museum will be hosting an author event for me on Saturday December 13th. I’m so excited to be back in the city and hope to see you all there!

That’s all for now, kiddies. I have to get back to work on the next books. If you would like to follow the progress of my work, or even have a giggle at my little rants, follow me on twitter @AJSchumacherart

Keep drawing, keep creating, and keep dreaming.

Website redesign and contest

September 22, 2014September 22, 2014 Alex Schumacher

Welcome to the all new (in appearance anyway) alexschumacherart.com! The content is still the same for the most part, but I felt as though it was time to change the vibe a little. Spruce up the joint, if you will. So come on in and have a look around. Heck, take off your shoes if you’d like. I simply ask that if you move anything to kindly put it back. Be sure to visit the World’s Crummiest Umbrella photo gallery and brand spankin’ new Events page for upcoming appearances and signings.

Speaking of upcoming appearances and signings, I am pleased to announce that I have been invited to visit Old Capitol Books on November 22nd for a live reading of The World’s Crummiest Umbrella, as well as a meet-and-greet and signing following the reading. More information as well as a link to Old Capitol Books can be found on the Events page. Come on out and say hi! I may even scribble a little doodle in your book if you ask really nicely…

Now, if you think that sounds fun, how does a Contest sound? Does it sound awesome? Well, you’re in luck my friends! Starting this week I will be holding a contest for those who have purchased a copy of The World’s Crummiest Umbrella. Two lucky winners will be receiving original hand-drawn artwork produced for the book, just for being a great fan and supporter! Possibly a piece of art like this:

So, how do we enter? That’s an excellent question. Here’s the scoop: Between now and the end of the day on Friday, October 3rd just post a photo of yourself with your copy of the book on Facebook or Twitter (remember to use the #TheWorldsCrummiestUmbrella hashtag) and you’ll be automatically entered to win! You can also send photos to the email listed on the contact page if that’s what you prefer to do. If you plan to purchase your copy in the next two weeks, but may not have it in time to enter the photo contest, you can send me a proof of purchase and I’ll be happy to include you in the contest. Sound fun? Well get to it!

Happy reading and thank you all so much for continuing to help me share, promote, and get the word out about The World’s Crummiest Umbrella!

Labor Day!

September 1, 2014 Alex Schumacher

Greetings, inhabitants of the bizarre and wondrous dimension we call the internet! I do hope this finds you well and enjoying a lovely Labor Day with family, friends, food, and fun. With the holiday in mind, I concocted a silly little poem (and an even sillier little drawing) to delight all of the kiddies both young and old. Would you like to see it? I knew that you would.

Speaking of the kiddos, have you purchased and/or received your copy of my new picture book, The World’s Crummiest Umbrella, yet? I have been pleased as punch by the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the book thus far. Your love and support has meant the world to me, and I will just humbly ask two favors of you:

Spread the joy by telling everyone you know about the book via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and whichever other social media tools you happen to utilize. I’d love to get the word out to as many folks as possible and I need YOUR help to do so!
When you do receive your copy of The World’s Crummiest Umbrella, make sure to leave a review on the Amazon page for the book. It will help me out immensely and let other visitors know just how much fun the book is for the whole family!

I also encourage you to take pictures with your copies of the book which I will feature right here on my site, just like these two lucky literary fans:

Thank you all, enjoy the weekend, and there’s much more to come so stop by again soon!

The World’s Crummiest Umbrella

August 25, 2014August 25, 2014 Alex Schumacher

Good evening folks!

I couldn’t be more pleased to announce the official release of my first picture book, The World’s Crummiest Umbrella! This is a story I have wanted to share for some time and I am finally able to thanks to the fantastic folks over at Wandering in the Words Press. My editor, who also happens to own Wandering in the Words, Jennifer Chesak has been nothing short of amazing while working with me on this book and I can’t thank her enough for helping me to fulfill one of my dreams.

Here is an excerpt from the press release on the publisher’s site:

Wandering in the Words Press is thrilled to announce the release of The World’s Crummiest Umbrella by illustrator and author, Alex Schumacher. This delightful work of children’s fiction will please kids, and adults who are still kids at heart. It’s now available on Amazon.

You can read the rest of the release here. When you’re done perusing the wondrous site full of literary goodness, hop on over to Amazon where you can get your very own copy (or two, or three) of The World’s Crummiest Umbrella. If you’re curious as to what the book is about, here is the blurb from the back cover:

Once there was a boy who received the world’s crummiest umbrella. It was a gift from his mother, and he couldn’t believe she would do this to him. The umbrella was huge, multicolored and had a heart on a spring that popped out of the top. Ugh! The boy knows he’ll be the laughing stock of the entire school.But the boy soon learns that some gifts, even crummy ones, are not what they seem to be.

So, now that I’ve jawed your ear off about it, go buy the book for the child in your life and/or read the story for yourself. Once you do, help me spread the word by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any other social networking/media site that you can possibly think of. Be sure to leave a (hopefully favorable) review on the Amazon page as well. All of the above would be appreciated more than you know.

Thank you all and enjoy The World’s Crummiest Umbrella!

Drawing on dogs… For inspiration.

July 28, 2014July 28, 2014 Alex Schumacher

Not actually drawing on them, though that may be funny too. As they are, dogs are hilarious, disgusting, oblivious, and wonderful for observation and zany ideas. Fun and whacky drawings like these help to keep the creative juices, and sometimes slobber, flowing. Enjoy and/or be horrified how closely some of these may hit home.

Cats can be funny too I s’pose… It’s just far less common. A cat in a situation like this though? Hi-Larious!

I know I’ve been teasing at it for some time, but the publisher will be ordering the proof for my first picture book and we will be one step closer to getting those babies in your hot little mitts! More news to follow so stay close, visit soon and stay gold.

More ‘doodles and more’

July 19, 2014July 19, 2014 Alex Schumacher

Here are some more random lunchtime doodles sketches. Some are funny, some are twisted but hopefully they’re all at least (mildly) entertaining. Let me know how you’re enjoying these silly lunch doodles about lunch! I’m always open to suggestions and requests also. Shoot me a message using the form or the email address provided on the About/Contact page.

Weenie roasts are fun… Unless you’re the weenie.

And the dish ran away with the spoon… Which really pissed off her husband the fork.

A thieving ham is no match for the family pooch!

Here is a quick piece I whipped together to celebrate the World Cup final. Of course, no one is happier than the soccer ball once it’s all over.

My little pal Noah asked for a Steamboat Willie sketch and I was so taken aback that the character/film still resonates with his generation that I gladly obliged. Here is a great picture which his mom took and sent to me.

If anyone is interested in a personalized, one-of-a-kind commission like the one Noah got please feel free to contact me!

Next week I should have a very exciting announcement regarding my first picture book, The World’s Crummiest Umbrella being published by Wandering in the Words Press! Stay tuned for the awesome news.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wet, Hot American cartooning

July 6, 2014July 6, 2014 Alex Schumacher

A big ole’ American howdy to everyone on this weekend of The U.S. of A’s birthday! Did everyone enjoy a few days of food, family, friends and FIREWORKS? I know I did. Just for the hell of it, and because I’ll be in a food coma for the foreseeable future, I’m posting some random recent doodles. A wacky character design for a new comic series (though the writer decided to go with a more traditional look)…

some figure/line-of-action studies…

And a rat riding a huge rocket in honor of our Independence Day.

Enjoy folks and I hope everyone had a happy and safe(ish) 4th!

Memorial Day catch up

May 26, 2014May 26, 2014 Alex Schumacher

Howdy folks! Here’s what’s been going on at studio Schumacher the past couple weeks…

Last weekend was the great Big WOW! convention in San Jose which just seems to grow exponentially every year. It’s wonderful to see as there has been a definite void in Northern California cons since Wondercon moved to Anaheim a few years ago. I was there on Sunday squatting at booth 410 with my cartoonist pals Betsy Streeter and Bridgett Spicer. It was a lot of fun and I’ll definitely be attending again next year. Thanks to everyone who came by and hope everyone had fun.

At the “Fun Booth” with the 4 Non-Non Blondes (L-R): Jen, Betsy, Bridgett and yours truly

By the end of the day we were all a little loopy and the idea of zombie toast came up sooo… I drew it.

As of this weekend I have finalized all interior art as well as the cover for my very first picture book, The World’s Crummiest Umbrella, to be released soon by Wandering in the Words Press. It will be available to purchase through the website as well as on Amazon. Check back here as I will be announcing the exact release date very shortly. There are some other exciting picture book/children’s literature projects in the works so this is only the beginning.

I have also been diligently working with my agent on animated series projects and pitches though there isn’t too much that I can share at this point. We are talking to a few networks you may have heard of though… I’ve already said too much. Just know there is a lot of thrilling things in the works which I hope to be able to share with all of you lovely people very soon. Thank you for all the support and love throughout the years!

On a final note, I hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day. While we enjoy our beers and BBQ let us take the time to remember what this day is actually about. Thank you to all the service men and women who bravely gave their lives defending our freedom.

It’s almost spring…

April 30, 2014April 30, 2014 Alex Schumacher

… And I just cannot believe how fast 2014 is cruising along already. I know there has been a lapse as far as updates on this site as I focused for a bit of time on some music and songwriting (check out my music site here), but rest assured I have not been resting on my laurels on the cartooning and writing front. Here’s a bit of a rundown on what’s been happening lately here in the studio and beyond:

First, I can’t believe I haven’t shared photos on this site from my trip to LA a couple months ago! My agent booked me some really amazing meetings with some of the best animation houses on the planet and I couldn’t be more grateful. There was lots of confidential (and awesome) stuff going on in theses buildings so there are unfortunately no interior pics that I can share. While there I met some wonderful people, talked about some potentially very cool things and I look forward to sharing more as the journey continues and hope to have some news for y’all soon! In the meantime, here’s the photo tour:

A little victory drink… It’s not every day I have meetings with BIG studio execs!

If you haven’t had the chance to check it out already, my guest chapter for Betsy Streeter’s Neptune Road is live right now! This is a great sci-fi comic series and I am very proud and humbled to have been asked to take part. Click on the image below to read the chapter with accompanied by my artwork…

Next up on the boards is the release of my first children’s picture book, The World’s Crummiest Umbrella! I’m very excited to finally have the chance to bring this story to families everywhere and none of it would be possibly without Wandering in the Words Press. They are great supporters of artists and truly believe in the people they partner with and their work. The book will be available soon and I’ll be sure to break the news here first as soon as I know!

Thanks for the continued love and support y’all! I truly appreciate it and creating wouldn’t be worth it if there weren’t at least a few folks to enjoy it with me.

Happy New Year!

January 6, 2014January 6, 2014 Alex Schumacher

Hi there folks! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and that 2014 is going great for you so far. This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for my professional life ever. To kick it off here are just a few of the projects that will be available soon:

First off is Neptune Road, a science fiction comic about people (read: misfits, hackers, criminals, lost children…) living on Neptune. The comic is an experiment in collaborative cartooning devised and written by my badass cartoonist pal Betsy Streeter. Each episode is drawn by a different artist and will be presented on this page from time to time. Each episode is self-contained, within a larger story arc. I have been commissioned to provide the artwork for episode 5 which will be appearing in early February 2014. I’ll update with an exact date of release when I have one. See more on Betsy’s Neptune Road page.

Next up is a project I’ve had on the shelf for some time and will see the light of day early this year thanks to Jennifer Chesak and all the amazing folks at Wandering in the Words press! You may be asking yourself, “which project are you talking about”? It’s my first children’s picture book! I don’t want to reveal too much before our actual promotion campaign begins but I’ll share a teaser image to whet your appetite. I snapped this pic whilst working on this illustration the other day:

Last, but definitely not least, I am gearing up to pitch several animated series which I have been developing over the past year with the help of a talented, extremely knowledgeable and all around swell fella who happens to be an agent in LA. Of course, with the industry being the way it is this labor of love may amount to absolutely nothing. However, this is a very exciting time for me and as well connected as my friend is I hope to have some exciting news for you in the very near future! If nothing else we’ll have some great new properties to pitch in other forms of media.

Happy 2014 everyone!