Tyler comic fans and animal lovers will get a unique chance to meet the creator of a new comic series and the dog that inspired it as animal rescue activist and comic book artist Blake Ovard visits Ground Zero Comics on Wednesday, May 21st.
Mr. Ovard is a professional artist and animal rescuer who has won numerous awards for his realistic pen and ink stippling art of wildlife. In addition to authoring and illustrating such children’s books as “Whose Feet Are Those?”, “Flamingos Everywhere” and “Tugg’s Doggie Rulebook”, his art has been featured in gallery exhibits, art festivals, stamps and hundreds of newspapers and magazines around the world.
His latest endeavor is “Tugg: A Hero Among Us”, a new comic series inspired by a four-month old puppy Blake found wrapped in a blanket and staked to the ground beside a busy six-lane highway in the hot Texas July heat. Blake and his wife nursed the dog back to health, named him Tugg and decided to chronicle his life as a real life super hero dog.
Blake created and developed anti-bullying and self esteem programs featuring Tugg for schools and created therapy programs with Tugg for various local elderly care facilities. Tugg received the Award for Canine Excellence, Companion Animal by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Blake and Tugg were featured guests at Dallas Cowboys Stadium’s Rally Days celebrations for the last two seasons, and helped team owner Jerry Jones present the award to the 1 millionth visitor to Cowboy’s Stadium. Tugg has also been featured on T.V. and in newspapers, was the “celebrity guest dog model” at the annual Fashion Group International show in Dallas, and has been a spokes-dog for charitable organizations ranging from cancer research to children’s advocacy groups.
Black will appear from 3pm until 6pm at Ground Zero Comics, located in the Loop East Shopping Center at East Fifth Street and Loop 323. Blake has graciously agreed to offer free sketches to anyone making a donation (either monetary or supplies) to the East Texas Nicholas Pet Haven for their dog park and shelter.