Get Ready for Wizard World Chicago 2009...

Check out the Wizard World website, I have just been listed as a Wizard World Guest as a Comic Creator!
I will be in Artist's Alley.
My table number is still To Be Determined, but I will let you know as soon as I find out! The show will be August 6th through the 9th at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Anyway, check out their guests page HERE or go straight to my listing HERE.

Wizard Logo © Wizard Entertainment.
Headshot & Art © J. Anthony Kosar.

Blog gets a Facelift...

Hey Everyone, How do you like the new look? I have been working hard customizing this blog. I have also been working on an online store where you can purchase signed prints, Halloween masks, publications I have worked on, and more. The store will hopefully be up and running in the next week or so, so keep posted.

P.S. As the links section is continuously growing too big for the sidebar, I added a section for all my artist friends' blogs under BLOG LINKS in the above menu, which I will continue adding to as time goes on.

Caricature of "Yours Truly" by Richard Wilson-Leigh (aka Mack)...

Yup, that's me! This is a caricature of "Yours Truly" by Richard Wilson-Leigh, better known as Mack. Mack is a friend, colleague, and classmate from the American Academy of Art. He's a very talented artist and all around nice guy.

Here's what he said:

"Here is a quick sketch I did of a fellow artist Anthony Kosar.
He is one of the most talented individuals I have ever met,
and have had the privilege to spend 4 years of college
learning from and with him. Hope you enjoy it."
~ Richard Wilson-Leigh

Thanks Mack! You can see more of Richard Wilson-Leigh's work on his blog: Infinite Possibilities.

Caricature © Richard Wilson-Leigh.

Cover Art for Buckaroo Banzai Comic...

Hardest of the Hard 7.3" x 10.85" Gouache on Illustration Board

Here it is,... my first comic book cover for Moonstone Books.

This painting is the Variant Cover for . . .

Buckaroo Banzai: Hardest of the Hard
The Ballad of Lady G (Part 1 of 2)

. . . scheduled to hit comic shops and book stores in September 2009.

Here is the entire painting without the logo and some details of the painting (click images to view larger):

Art and Details can also be seen on my website: HERE

Story: Earl Mac Rauch

Art: Shawn Van Briessen, Mark Stegbauer
Colors: James Brown
Covers: J. Anthony Kosar (Above Images); David Easterly (Below Image)

Moonstone Books - 32pgs, color, $3.99
Release Date: September 2009

"In this wild and wooly rockin’ adventure, find out the secrets of the woman who likes all things that are pointy. What was she like before this exquisite and bad ass bass player joined the Hong Kong Cavaliers, and how did she join up? Join Buckaroo as he uses stealth, a Gatling gun, Reno’s head, and some squishy mutates to extricate her from her trouble, as well as mop up a sloppy mess! What is her hush-hush all-seeing connection with the World Crime League? Was it a love connection at first sight with Perfect Tommy and Lady G? And remember, as always, the watermelon is optional. RETAILER INCENTIVE: if you order 5 copies or more, you receive one FREE variant J. Anthony Kosar cover edition! One variant per store limit." ~ popculturezoo.com

Here is the other cover by David Easterly.

Top Illustrations © J. Anthony Kosar.

Blue Cover Illustration © David Easterly.
Comic Book © Moonstone Entertainment, Inc.

SATANIC PANIC Mask Production Line...

While I was at Zagone Studios a couple weeks ago pitching concepts for their 2010 line, which I have begun sculpting, I took some pictures of my SATANIC PANIC Mask as they are being produced, . . . I still love seeing this process! Look for the SATANIC PANIC Mask this Halloween at your local costume shops! I'm not sure which shops around the country will be selling them, so keep your eyes on the lookout!! Here is some press on the mask:

"The mask, which you can see in all its badass glory . . .
was sculpted by J. Anthony Kosar, a young kid who's got
a helluva lot of promise if his website’s any indication."
~ Johnny Butane (DreadCentral.com)

Read the entire article from DreadCentral.com - HERE
Read another article from Fangoria.com - HERE
Read another article from TheHMA.net - HERE

Click HERE to see the Mask Making Process.

Mask © J. Anthony Kosar & Zagone Studios, LLC.

AWS Awards Dinner in NYC!

On Friday, April 24th, 2009, the American Watercolor Society held their Awards Dinner for their 142nd International Exhibition and Travel Show at the Salmagundi Club in New York, NY.

My painting Never Known, Never Forgotten received the Dong Kingman Award. I was so thrilled, honored, and humbled to be there amongst so many amazing paintings and so many unbelievably talented artists! My painting received great feedback, and everyone was so nice. As they presented me with my award, the AWS president, Jim McFarlane commented about my age, which was a huge compliment since I was the youngest one there. Here are some pictures from the event:

Above: Dong Kingman Jr. presents me with the Dong Kingman Award
in memory of his father, Dong Kingman.

Above: AWS President Jim McFarlane and I.

Above: Dong Kingman Jr. and I.

Above: Awards Dinner Attendees, including
Dong Kingman Jr., view my painting.

Above: Discussing my painting with Michele Izzo
(AWS Vice President Treasurer/Awards).

Above: Discussing art and my painting with artist Jada Rowland.

Above: Artist Stephen Quiller and I.
Mr. Quiller was the recipient of the Nicholas Reale Memorial Award,
and also was the Juror for the Richeson 75: Small Works
2009 Exhibit I participated in - HERE

Above: Paul C. Jackson and I.
Mr. Jackson received the Margery Soroka Memorial Award.

"Never Known, Never Forgotten" © J. Anthony Kosar

Visiting the Society of Illustrators...

While in NYC, we visited the Society of Illustrators. A recent friend of mine, George Fernandez, set up lunch for my father and I to have in the member's dining room, something that is exclusive to members.

The current exhibit there was The Line of Fashion. It was really interesting to see as, according to one of the signs on the walls, fashion illustration is completely lost due to the camera and photography. It was great to see all the other work in the hallways and in the dining room as well. Getting to see all of these classic illustrations by the masters was a learning experience in itself. The food was amazing too!

While there, I picked up a few books and I had a chance to learn about membership, which is definitely something I am going to do in the very near future. Thanks again George!!

Images © Society of Illustrators

Trip to NYC...

On Thursday morning, the 23rd, my father and I left for NYC for the AWS Awards Dinner that took place on the 24th. (more info in one of the following blogs).

As we were only in NYC until the 25th, we had little time to sight see, but managed to get in a few destinations. We saw the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Native American Museum, Central Park, and Times Square. It was a great trip! My father and I had tons of fun, and it certainly was a special time spent with my dad.

Alice COOPERSTOWN...

Well, when I was posting about my trip to Sedona, I forgot to post my little adventure to Cooper'stown, Alice Cooper's restaurant. Before leaving Arizona from the Pheonix airport on May 2nd, I couldn't leave without first paying homage to one of the greatest Shock Rock icons of all time. It was fun! My sister and I had to order and eat in a hurry, take pictures, then off to the airport. Unfortunately, that isn't really Alice next to me in the picture (that one is cardboard!). Oh, and by the way, Alice's new CD Along Came a Spider ROCKS!

2 Paintings in Hellenic Museum Show this Fall

Second Thoughts 8.5x11 Gouache on Illustration Board

Out on a Limb 14x17 Gouache on Illustration Board

Two of my paintings pictured above have been selected for inclusion into the Neolaia/Pathos: new.youth.passion exhibition at the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center. The show will run September 10, 2009 to January 10, 2010. The Artists' Reception will take place on September 10, 2009from 6-8 pm. Both of these paintings have been prepped for museum quality limited edition signed and numbered giclee prints. More information on edition size, price, and official release date will be available in the coming weeks. Check back for updates.

Artwork © J. Anthony Kosar.