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Brian Van Weelden

@bvwart

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Mildly funny guy trying to make some good art. Sharing both the wins and the losses, because that’s how you get better

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Had a minor surgery the other day, still trying to get lines down while recovering….and watching the Cubs too. by @bvwart

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23 days ago

C2E2 2026!

It’s been a week, so I figured I should recap.

I started going to C2E2 four years ago after I decided to start drawing again during Covid-ish times. I took some really really bad art, not knowing what I was doing, but figured it was a good way to learn. I had some very kind artists give me many pointers, and I’ve just kept going. I’m not there yet, but I love the process of improving.

Fast forward to 2026…and I’m a little better, and I’m still eagerly looking for feedback. This year I was lucky enough to have portfolio reviews with DC, Marvel, Tiny Onion, and IDW!! Crazy…and a great way to get better.

Needless to say, it was pretty terrifying, but they were all very generous with their time and expertise, and my limited vocabulary can’t express enough how much I appreciate their time. A couple of them want to stay in touch, so now the challenge is to keep pushing and turning the growth areas into strengths, and sharing those improvements back to them.

(Side note: I asked one editor about some feedback I received the previous year, and the editor didn’t see those weaknesses anymore, so that’s a huge personal win)

Also, a huge shout out to all of the artists who were also gracious with their time as well. It’s a fantastic community of people who also want to help others.

I love going to these conventions, talking with artists I’ve met before (who seem to remember my Sasquatch-ian size) and also meeting new ones as well. There is so much amazing art being created by so many people. There’s truly something for everyone. It’s such a great community of people and so many of them are willing to help.

So now back to drawing and trying to solve the puzzle of making my pictures look on paper like they do in my head. I’ll start posting actual art here eventually 😉

And sorry I don’t have more pics, I’m really bad about that. And…thanks to my bro and nephews for coming to C2E2 every year too, that’s also part of the fun! by @bvwart

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6 months ago

Laying down some pencils at the airport. Trying to steal as many minutes in a day as I can to make this a reality. by @bvwart

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7 months ago

The gift of original art for Christmas! We gifted sketches to our daughter and her partner by one of my favorite artists @seangordonmurphy as part of their Christmas gifts. I got the Ewok at C2E2 in Chicago and Harry Potter at NYCC.

Thanks to Sean for the sketches, Jake for running the table at the cons and Dave for keeping the line moving in the right direction (Great group of guys!) by @bvwart

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9 months ago

I spent a few days in Cleveland visiting our daughter last week. Checked out a very cool Superman exhibit at the public library.

Jerry Siegal’s writing desk and a Superman sketch, a Gil Kane sketch, various old comics and other cool memorabilia. Go check it out if you’re in Cleveland @dcofficial @clevelandpubliclibrary by @bvwart

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10 months ago

A desk doodle…just screwing around with some different pens, white out, finger prints, etc.

I figure if I have a IG account with the name “art” in it I should actually post some art every now and then.

Happy Halloween, I hope all of your candy is tasty! by @bvwart

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a year ago

New York Comicon Update 6:

Rob Liefeld!

I stopped by the booth of superstar creator @robliefeld (Deadpool, Cable, X-Force, Youngblood, tons more) just to say thanks for his multi-year podcast and congratulate him on the success of his Youngblood relaunch. I shared a story with him that a few months after his pod started our family went through a natural disaster and were displaced from our home for 20 months. It was a pretty stressful and rough time for our family, and the podcast helped bring me a little sanity a few times a week when everything else was insane.

Rob was extremely gracious as I shared my story and it was a great conversation….and even kinder when he mentioned me by name and our conversation in his NYCC recap podcast. (Was pretty shocked to hear my name on the pod when I was listening to it!)

Nice way to close out an amazing first NYCC!

Photo creds: Robservations with Rob Liefeld podcast by @bvwart

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a year ago

New York Comicon Update 5

Portfolio reviews and talking with artists!

I went to NYCC to get better at the craft, and to do that I had to get a portfolio together and ask for help. It’s not easy “putting yourself out there” but that’s what it takes to get better. I talked with a ton of artists, and really appreciated their time, and made sure to enthusiastically thanked all of them. There were a few more that I would have liked to talk to, but I had to be respectful of their lines, the commission work they were doing, etc. Maybe someday down the road.

I took meticulous notes, and have already started studying and working in my sketchbook on the suggestions they provided. by @bvwart

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a year ago

New York Comicon Recap Part 4:

The Ink Pulp Guys! I didn’t grab a pic with them, but wanted to say thanks to @inkpulp @matteoscalera and @ericcanete . First, their podcast is a ton of fun, second I had great conversations with all three guys while at NYCC. Shawn took time to look at my portfolio in the spring in KC, and graciously gave me more of his time in NY. Matteo went way above and beyond towards the end of the day on Saturday and really dug deep on my work. I really appreciate both of them. Every time I swung by to talk with Eric about my portfolio he was busy with commissions and I didn’t want to bug him, so maybe next time. Please take a listen to the guy’s podcast, check out their art, and if you’re in the Atlanta area have Shawn tattoo you!

Thanks again guys! 👊 by @bvwart

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a year ago

New York Comic Recap Post 3:

Meeting new people is always a bit scary. I had never been to NYCC or NYC for that matter, and I went direct to the con from the airport. I bumped into @everythingbatman219 , who I met in Chicago at C2E2 in the spring, and he works at the cons with the great artist Sean Murphy. I mentioned my newness to all of it, and the next thing you know I had a dinner invite in Times Square with Dave and his friends. Pretty cool of him to ask a rando to hang with him and we had a blast. I didn’t grab a pic of any of us, but did grab this pic of one of our plates of food from the family style Italian place we went.

Spent parts of the rest of the weekend running into the dinner crew, standing in a few lines with them, and having a few laughs. Thanks again to Dave, @attheendzone46 @andysweet26 and the rest of your crew. by @bvwart

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a year ago

New York Comicon Recap Post Part 2

Shoutout to @ssnyder1835 and everyone involved with the Black Jacket Press Substack for a fantastic breakfast on the last day of the convention. 2 hours of chatting with fellow creators and Scott.

Thanks to my new friends @stevecleff and @mini_shop_of_horror for taking the time to talk and get to know each other. They are both working on some really creative projects that I can wait to read.

Scott is like “the man” creatively at DC, so the fact he takes time to give back and help creators with their stories is really impressive. My story is already SO much better after talking with Scott about it.

I talked to Scott a few times at the con on top of the breakfast and I’m glad I did. I also won a random raffle at the breakfast and got a hardcover copy of the new Absolute Batman trade. Always fun to win something, right? by @bvwart

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a year ago

New York Comicon Recap Post #1

A week ago I went out to my first NYCC and it didn’t disappoint.

First off, a big shoutout to @dannyearls16 for absolutely blowing my mind. He gave me a ridiculous amount of tips, motivation and straight-up artistic adrenaline. I just met him and spent a lot of time at his table, but if he told me to sprint through a brick wall with a sketchpad, I’d ask how many laps he wants. His energy is contagious, his advice was fantastic, and his art is great. I can’t thank him enough. Please check him out and support his work. by @bvwart

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a year ago