By Justin Gerard
Today I am shipping out the first batch of sketchbook orders!Â
The response has been amazing. We sold through the first 50 in 3 hours! Of the original 250, we are down to about 45 left.Â
The first 50 drawings are individually numbered (using fancy roman numerals) and I will be shipping them out in the order received. Â So Fernando from Spain, (who somehow managed to order before the blog link was even up), you will be getting numeral I. Congratulations!
If you came in just after 50 don’t give up hope. Thanks to my somewhat curious numbering system (pictured above), there are a number of extras who numerals aren’t *exactly* standard that will be shipped out as well. Â
The sketches feature a lot of dragons, dwarves, elves and vikings.  Why?  Partially because all of these characters are interesting to draw. But also because I was watching Day[9] livestream Skyrim while I was drawing these.  You heard it right, the future is now; I don’t even have to play video games anymore.  I can just watch other kids playing video games while I work.Â
Along with the fantasy creatures, there were also a fair number of monsters that managed to creep in as well. Â
Like the were-rabbit. Â
Note: XXXX is not a real roman numeral. Someone will be getting this as a bonus…
 And some old friends from previous posts.
Thanks again for all the orders and support! You guys are all awesome. I look forward to getting the books in the mail and I hope you enjoy them as much as I’ve enjoyed making them.Â
These drawings are sensational, Justin. I'm jealous.
Awwww… and I thought they were really wrapped in leather. 😉 Seeing these sketches makes me want to cean up my sb. ^^
Wonderful sketches, Justin!!
I'm jealous too. I bought one of these in person and instead of a drawing Justin wrote “Always shave your”
Just like that. Didn't even finish the sentence. Hmph!
WOW, these drawings are AWESOME! I hope I ordered early enough to get one!
Man, these look great! Looks like I missed the boat on the orig. drawings, but I cannot wait to get my copy of the sketchbook. The printing looks like it turned out fabulous – full color rocks!
Also, that little pot for putting your shavings in is a great idea. It took me a minute to figure out what that was. At first I thought it was your morning oatmeal:)
And as usual this post is making me want to go draw – probably Vikings or castles or something.
-Will
Scott!
I'm sorry, you looked like you were in a hurry. Something about getting your nails done and blowing up a hotel or something. I don't know, so I just scrawled a quick note.
Find me at Spectrum and I promise a real drawing!
Markus,
I wish! One of these days though, I'd love to make a collector's edition wrapped in leather.
Will,
Ahh yes, the old pencil-shaving-pot trick. The oldest trick in the book for working with oversized pencils. I did all of these in 3 days. (I literally did nothing but these drawings and it was such a blast. I love just doodling like this, not worrying about anything, just taking an idea and going for it.)
What you see in that pot is the remains of the 6 pencils that were burned through for these sketchbooks.
Well my nails WERE pretty unkempt.
I like that pencil-shavings pot almost as much as all the sketches! I do a similar thing with a small Nescafe jar – it lets me sharpen pencils while out and about without having to find a nearby trashcan.