With WonderCon now over, it’s time to set our sights on San Diego Comic-Con — and one of our favorite artists, Patrick Ballesteros, has already been hard at work at creating new pieces for the con. This year, you’ll find him at #DD-08, where he’s sure to have new exclusives, prints, mini originals, and more in his signature style.
For those looking to take home an original piece of Ballesteros’ art, his commission requests will open on Monday, April 3 at 10am PT. There will be at least 25 spots open, and more may possibly open later. To reserve a spot, be sure to e-mail [email protected] at 10am on Monday. Ballesteros’ commission spots are now closed.
[UPDATE June 2]
We’re Richmond ’til we die. Whether or not we’ve seen the last of AFC Richmond, Ballesteros is celebrating three seasons of our favorite series about footballers with big hearts with several new prints. All will be available at San Diego Comic-Con, but a small quantity will first be releasing on Patrick’s website on Sunday, June 4 at 10am PT. Once that limited quantity is sold out, the rest will then be available in July at SDCC.
He pays tribute to the season with “No Place Like Home“, a love letter to this team and everyone in that world. It’s all aboard the “Believe” bus to head “somewhere over the rainbow” in this 11″x14″ print which will be available for $30. Again, you’ll be able to snag at either San Diego Comic-Con, or you can try to score by making a play to get it online on June 4.
But Ballesteros has more room on his roster. This season has been full of plenty of great moments, from Uncle’s Day to Piggy Stardust. He’s captured just a few of them in three new 5″x5″ prints on linen paper — “Na Na Na Naa”, “Best Mates“, and “Don’t Worry“. All three are open editions.
[UPDATE May 28]
Level up your art game with three new prints from Ballesteros, celebrating the 8-bit world of one of the most classic video games of all time (and the new film). This triptych set, titled “Power Up Triptych“, is an open edition but will be available at San Diego Comic-Con this summer. All three 6″x8” pieces can be combined to form a continuous print, with a rainbow road raceway connecting them.
Get the complete set for $30, or you can pick up an individual “level” for $12 each.
[UPDATE May 24]
Following the success of his “Mr Williams’ Opus”, Ballesteros is stepping up to the podium with another piece celebrating the work of one of the most beloved (if not THE most beloved) composers of all time, John Williams. In this new version, “Mr Williams’ Opus: Prelude“, Ballesteros covers films throughout Williams’ career, spanning from the 1970’s to the 1990’s.
It’s a celebration of some of cinema’s greatest movie moments, and the music that made them memorable.
This 11″x14″ print will be an open edition, available at both San Diego Comic-Con and online, for $30.
[UPDATE May 19]
As it’s Friday, we think you deserve a treat — in the form of a new “POPCYCLE PACK” print from Ballesteros. In this series, a crew of original characters are touring the globe, visitinga different pop-culture inspired popsicle stand every month leading up to July.
In the latest print, “Showdown in San Diego: Battle of the Pops“, the crew has made it to San Diego, but it’s anything but easy riding just yet thanks to an oversized kaiju stirring up some trouble. This 8″x8” print will be available at SDCC, though it’s not exclusive to the con, for $20.
[UPDATE May 18]
If James Gunn’s latest film didn’t inflict enough emotional damage onto you, then Patrick Ballesteros’ latest San Diego Comic-Con exclusive print is here to twist that emotional knife a little deeper.
In his latest piece, “Better with Friends“, Ballesteros celebrates Rocket Raccoon and his best Batch 89 buddies as they play forever in the sky. This 8″x10” exclusive is limited to just 75 pieces, and each comes signed and numbered by the artist.
Maybe pick up two so you can give one to your own best buddy, because as Lyllah says, everything is better with friends. Get it for $25 at Booth #DD-08 in Artists Alley.
[UPDATE May 10]
May is AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month, and Ballesteros is celebrating with two very different prints, each of which headed for a different curated art show — and which will eventually make their way to San Diego Comic-Con as well.
Up first is “Where’s the Beef” (which you can find at The Very Asian 2 Art Show at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland through June 24), an ode to the recent A24 and Netflix masterpiece. Rather than focusing on our differences, isn’t it a better feeling when two people can find some kind of connection amidst the chaos? This 8″x10″ print is a limited edition of 150, and only a small number will be available at the con as well as on Patrick’s website patrickballesterosart.com now in limited quantities for $25.
Next is “Anak of the Batok“, which celebrates the artistry and beauty of the work of 106-year-old Apo Whang-od, the oldest tattoo artist in the world and one of the last remaining mamababatoks in the Philippines. The word “Batok” refers to the indigenous body tattoos of the Philippines, with mamabatoks decorating the body with traditional designs using bamboo sticks and thorns. It’s a celebration of Ballesteros’ love for both pop culture and his pride of Philippine artistry, and you can find it now at the Break the Monolith art show at Thumb Print Gallery through May 27. Just like “Where’s the Beef”, this 8″x10″ print (LE 150) will also be available in limited quantities at SDCC, and on patrickballesterosart.com now (also in limited quantities) for $25. Each print comes signed and numbered.
[UPDATE May 4]
As one of our nation’s finest poets once said… It’s gonna be May. Okay, NSYNC were neither poets and those weren’t the actual lyrics, but Patrick Ballesteros is celebrating a brand new month (and May the 4th, at that) with the reveal of his first San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, which is all about a different “Mei”.
You’ll turn positively red over this 14″x16″ print “It’s Gonna Be Mei“ on fine linen paper, featuring one of the best Pixar films of recent memory. All your favorite characters are in attendance, along with a few of our other favorite Canadians (we see you, Wolvie and Deadpool).
You’ll be able to snag this signed and numbered exclusive at #DD-08 for $27, but you might have to let out the inner bease (figuratively, of course — there’s no running in the exhibit hall) to ensure you snag it, as it’s limited to 175 pieces.
[UPDATE April 26]
Ballesteros has been busy getting ready for San Diego Comic-Con, and he’s got the first of several pieces heading to the con this year, celebrating some of our favorite TV dynamic duos (and trios).
WHISTLE! U[ first is “For Grandad“, a new 5″x5” print on fine art metallic paper that showcases a friendship three seasons in the making. You’ll be able to grab it at Booth #DD-08 for $12.
There’s also “Stronger Together“, another 5″x5” fine art metallic paper print, which will also be available for $12. This is the way.
[UPDATE March 30]
If you missed out on his WonderCon goodies, he will be launching a WonderCon Post Sale on Friday, March 31 at 8am PT with all new goodies, and a few sold out items from the con as well.
Additionally, you’ll be able to snag the latest addition to his PopCycle Pack series — where a series of original characters visit a new pop-culturified popsicle stand every month between now and July. In the new piece, the intrepid group visits the infamous Pescados y Palettas de “SIN AMOR” — and you can pick up this print on Friday as well.
