To advertise it's new cherry-flavored version, Dr. Pepper is hosting a "Dr. Pepper-inspired art" art contest, where the winners get three-day apprenticeships with an artist in New York. One winner will get to work with comic book artist Ronald Wimberly.
Here's a sample of his work:
He has a huge amount of work on display at his personal site and DeviantArt, where there are some desktop wallpapers. He has original art on sale here, including the Street Fighter image you see above.
He also has skateboard decks like this one:
on sale here.
Courtesy of Dr. Pepper, I have a copy of Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm to give away. Sentences is illustrated by Wimberly and written by Percy "M.F. Grimm" Carey, and was nominated for two Eisners in 2008 (Best Reality-Based Work and Best Lettering). Here's the official description:
In SENTENCES, Carey chronicles his life in the sometimes glamorous, and often violent, hip-hop industry; from the first time he picked up a microphone at a block party as a youngster, to the day he lost the use of his legs to gang violence, to his incarceration, and eventually, to his self-reinvention and rise back to the top of his game, becoming a Hip-Hop Grand Master and being placed among the pantheon of the culture. No questions are left unanswered and no apologies are made, resulting in what's sure to be a groundbreaking graphic novel.Here's a live interview of Wimberly and Carey (well, mostly Carey):
Joining Carey is up-and-coming artist Ronald Wimberly (LUCIFER, HELLBLAZER: PAPA MIDNITE covers), who breathtakingly illustrates this gritty tale of righteous redemption. If what you know about hip-hop is the flashy cars and voluptuous women that music videos try to sell, be prepared to experience the real side of the industry that only someone who has survived the rise, fall, and rise again, can tell.
Wimberly gets more of a chance to talk in this interview, which includes footage of him painting (and a cleverly placed Dr. Pepper can).
So, for a chance to win a copy of Sentences signed by Wimberly, simply comment on this post and make sure your comment includes your email. One comment per person, and unfortunately this contest is limited to USA residents. The contest closes Friday, April 24, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, and I'll announce the winner shortly thereafter.
*Previously: Desktop Wallpaper - - Puma's homage to Tommie Smith.
*Buy Street Fighter action figures at eBay.
