30 Dec 2018

**Sorry about posting this article late. It’s the follow-up to our earlier article. ~B

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Inkwell Awards Announces Artists For David Finch Spotlight Challenge

(New Bedford, MA/USA—December 26, 2018) The non-profit Inkwell Awards, devoted to promoting the art of comic book inking, has released the list of 24 artists participating in its fourth annual Sinnott Inking Challenge Spotlight. This year’s Challenge features artist David Finch‘s take on DC’s iconic Batman. The artwork will be auctioned afterwards for fundraising.

The artists (in alphabetical order) are:

Gerry Acerno

Kenneth Branch

Brett Breeding

John Beatty

Keith Champagne

Kevin Conrad

Marc Deering

John Dell

John Floyd

Scott Hanna

Tony Kordos

Jay Leisten

Criss Madd

Mark McKenna

Andrew Pepoy

Joe Prado

Rodney Ramos

Victor Olazaba Serna

Bill Sienkiewicz

Andy Smith

Mark Stegbauer

LeBeau Underwood

Keith Williams

Walden Wong

According to founder/director Bob Almond, the Spotlight Challenge, which grew out of its original Joe Sinnott Inking Challenge, showcases other contemporary, fan-favorite talents on a more limited scale with veteran published inkers who may or may not have participated in other challenges. The previous three pencillers were Jim Lee, Neal Adams and Erik Larsen.

“We are thrilled to have such a positive response from such a great group,” Almond said. “We realize schedules are tight and ever-changing so we are grateful to those able to step up for this one.” He added that the list may change somewhat if schedules change but there will be 24 participants in total. “If there’s one thing we’ve learned during our decade-plus operation, it’s flexibility.”

The Challenge Spotlight furthers the inking advocacy’s dual mission of promoting the artform and educating the public. Blue-lined art files featuring a tightly pencilled David Finch Batman pinup are sent to the artists to finish and/or embellish in ink. Each inked page will be signed by Finch and the inker, and include a certificate of authenticity signed and numbered by Almond. All pages will then be auctioned off at a later date as a fundraiser. Fans will be able to see the difference in the pencilled and inked versions to better understand how much inkers contribute to the artform.

“On behalf of the Inkwells,” said Almond, “our sincerest thanks to DC, David, Erick Korpi for setting things up with myself and David, the inkers, and all involved for their cooperation, support of our program, and appreciation of ink artists.”

24 Dec 2018

<Copy/pasted from my Facebook page>

To celebrate the 501(c)(3) non-profit INKWELL AWARDS 10th anniversary just before the year ends here is the 11”x14” anniversary limited print on 100lb. cover stock! It is the first time spokesmodel Ms. Inkwell co-creator RANDY GREEN has rendered the character since he designed her with me in 2010. We were also fortunate to get Inkwell special ambassador and multiple award winning color artist LAURA MARTIN to do her palette magic on it. Asst Director and artist MIKE PASCALE handled the copy and design. All related parties, including me and senior live spokesmodel HAILEY SKAZA-GAGNE have signed the signed & numbered Artist Prints limited to only ten (pictured) which comes with a certificate of certification. There are also unsigned but numbered regular prints limited to 50. These will not be offered for sale once they sell out. If you find us at a show Hailey, myself and spokesmodel KATHY DENISE TAYLOR can sign the regular editions.

I hoped to have these for sale earlier as an option for holiday sale but all participants had assignments and obligations to fill up their time. At least it was finished in 2018, unlike the 6th and final Sinnott Inking Challenge/Anniversary album as mentioned a few days ago. Thanks to all involved, and especially GOOGLEPLEX COLLECTIBLES who turned these around and shipped them quickly! They came out GREAT!! Owner Dean Morris has been my vender, a supporting vender of the non-profit and is producing something special for us in 2019! #googleplexcollectibles

*Regular numbered version = $10 donation +s&h
*Limited numbered/signed version w/ CoA = $20 donation + s&h

These are available immediately and will soon be added to our website store or straight from me (at shows or to ship) dmralmond@gmail.com. Our next show will be the GREAT PHILADELPHIA COMIC CON! April 12-14! #greatphiladelphiacomiccon!

While supplies last! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Bob Almond

24 Dec 2018

<copy/pasted from Facebook> I’d like to apologize for the 6th (and intended to be final) JOE SINNOTT INKING CHALLENGE book which dually acts as a 10th anniversary album. It was delayed in 2017 for our anniversary in 2018 and it missed the June host show release. With only days remaining the completed sections put together by many gracious and supportive members and associates have barely been collected and developed beyond a proof. The buck stops with me and I apologize to not only anyone looking forward to seeing it but all the Challenge artist participants, the authors Cliff Meth and Tim Lasiuta, the various folks who fed Mike Pascale celebratory statements, Michael Netzer who painted a cover portrait of Joe Sinnott and Joe and Mark Sinnott themselves. We are making plans to try to get the book produced for 2019, preferably early on, through contacts. It will be something special so it’d be a shame if it were to languish in limbo indefinitely. I’ll report any updates here and please contact me if you can help or know someone that can!

Bob Almond

dmralmond@gmail.com

15 Dec 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (New Bedford, MA/USA—December 14, 2018) The non-profit Inkwell Awards, the only organization devoted to promoting the art of comic book inking, announces its fourth annual Sinnott Inking Challenge Spotlight focusing on the pencil art of a legendary comics creator. This year features artist David Finch‘s take on DC’s iconic Batman. The artwork will be auctioned afterwards for fundraising.

“With the ongoing success of our original Joe Sinnott Challenge, we expanded the program to include the Spotlight Challenge in 2015, with even better results,” said Bob Almond, founder and director of The Inkwell Awards (AKA “The Inkwells”). “For this event, we showcase other contemporary, fan-favorite talents on a more limited scale with veteran published inkers who may or may not have participated in other challenges. Our last three pencillers included Jim Lee, Neal Adams and Erik Larsen.”

The original Joe Sinnott Challenge, which features pencils by the inking legend inked by various professionals, semi-professionals and amateur inkers, began in 2010 but is being postponed for next year due to scheduling reasons. “Our annual Inkwell Awards show has been moved up two months due to a venue change and Joe’s own schedule is full so we thought it best to take a break,” said Almond. “Plus it gives us more time to focus on the Spotlight.”

The Challenge Spotlight furthers the inking advocacy’s dual mission of promoting the artform and educating the public. Blue-lined art boards featuring a tightly pencilled David Finch Batman pinup will be sent to just 24 artists to finish and/or embellish in ink. Each inked page will be signed by Finch and the inker, and include a certificate of authenticity signed and numbered by Almond. All pages will then be auctioned off at a later date as a fundraiser. Fans will be able to see the difference in the pencilled and inked versions to better understand how much inkers contribute to the artform.

The list of participating inkers will be named later. “On behalf of the Inkwells,” said Almond, “our kindest thanks to DC, David and all involved for their cooperation, support of our program, and appreciation of ink artists.”

Much kind thanks to Inkwell venders Theresa and Kate from the Kubert Art Store for their annual donation of boards towards this program.