Sketchbook Saturday & Announcements

Batman © DC Entertainment

So why the zombified Batman? Well, I am going to be doing sketch cards for two different series and I thought I would combine the subject matter into one image for my post. I will be doing 40 cards for DC COMICS NEW 52 trading card set and 20 cards for THE WALKING DEAD trading card set. Should be fun! When the time is right I will provide info for the artist proof cards, for those that might be interested. And after the set is released I will post all my images here.

Also, if you follow me on Twitter, look for an announcement from me on Monday about the guest strip I did for one of my favorite web comics. I wrote, drew and colored a two pager and I am excited to share it. If you don't follow me on Twitter, you should still be able to see the announcement in the Twitter feed on right side of this blog.

This is Post #1653

Marketing Mailer

This is a piece I did for a marketing firm in Los Angeles earlier this year. I have had the pleasure of working with them on several projects over the years. This latest project had a few parts and at this time I can only show one.

The firm planned a big introduction of their new Senior VP Strategy with a mailer. I was contacted to work with them to deliver that message visually. Because the theme of the website has a superhero/sci-fi vibe to it, this type of image was a natural. I worked from several head shots, coming up with a few ideas and trying to keep his likeness in comic book style.

Artwork © 2012 Daily Planet Marketing

Below is the finished mailer. The supporting artwork on the mailer is existing art I did a few years ago for their site. There are two other introduction portraits I will share when I can.

As always, they are a great team to work with and I hope to have the chance to again. To see more art I did for them, check out their website here.

All the art was created in Adobe Illustrator.

This is Post #1652

Digital Sketchbook Thursday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

Just doodling in Sketchbook Pro on my iPad while laying on the couch this afternoon. Rest, rest and more rest.

This is Post #1651

Sketchbook Wednesday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

Just the rough for todays piece over at the 2-Point Perspective blog. Doing this and the final piece this afternoon took a bit out of me.

Back to bed.

This is Post #1650

Sketchbook Tuesday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

I am trying to do as the doctor ordered and stay in bed. Thanks to everyone who sent the get well tweets, comments, and emails. I really appreciate it. Today I was pondering DC Comic's Vixen getting the 1968 treatment. As you can tell I didn't get very far, but it all starts with a sketch. I was thinking of the super talented Diana Ross as inspiration for make up and hair.

The 1968 themed pieces have really stuck a cord out there on the web. It's been really nice to get the recognition of my work on so many sites. And the visits to this blog have gone through the roof. So welcome to all the new visitors. I hope you stick around. Though this is not the best week for me and creating new art because of being ill, we normally have a lot of fun here and there some good stuff just around the corner. In the meantime, there are 1,648 other posts to look at if you have time to kill. :)

Alright, Deena says it's time for me to eat and then back to bed.

This is Post #1649

Metal Men - Jam

Metal Men © DC Entertainment

I designed the layout for this piece last year for Bill. A jam piece of the Metal Men. I did Doc, and rough out everyone else and I posted it here. Well Bill sent me this image to show it is complete. Came out pretty cool I think. Here is the list of artists and what they contributed:

Gene Gonzales - Doc Magnus and layouts
Michael Dooney - Platinum
Karl Kesel - Lead
Scot Kolins - Tin
Phil Moy - Gold
Dan Parent - Iron
Mark Dos Santos - Mercury

 Thanks for sharing this with us Bill!

In other news, apparently I have been over doing it. I normally get sick once a year, maybe twice. But I have had a string of colds since January. Last night after a business function, I was finding it hard to take a decent breath without cough up a lung. Went to the doc this afternoon and was told I have a very severe case of bronchitis that is so bad that I am bed ridden for the next four days. As he said it "or you will be in the hospital by Friday. He said no sitting at my desk, no computer, just bed. Yeesh, such drama. :) While I was trying to get some commissions done, some contracted work and more 1968 themed pieces done this week, I think I will heed his warning. I will be posting but it will be pretty light stuff. Feel free to just come back next week. Won't be much to see, move along.  :)

I'll see everyone on the other side. Well, not THAT other side. You know what I mean. ;)

This is Post #1648

Catwoman, 1968

Catwoman © DC Entertainment

Since Catwoman has been around so long, dressed in clothing that fits the time period (for the most part) it was hard to do a piece that wasn't completely different. Right off the bat (no pun intended) the Catwoman costume from the Batman TV show is a purrfect example of a 1960s outfit.

Instead I went with a flat black. No shiny leather or spandex. Or latex. I thought about her being agile like a cat or dancer. So the outfit ended up more like a dance unitard with a few open spots. Big belt and rope filled out the rest. I didn't put ears on her head, since I was trying to keep this "real" world. But the necklace works.

When I did the Death, 1968 piece I was thinking Twiggy but felt like it looked more like Marlo Thomas of THAT GIRL! Here I was thinking Emma Peel, but I think it's a mix of Natalie Wood and Lisa Loeb. :)

Ink and Copic Marker on 9" x 12" Strathmore Bristol Board.

This is Post #1647

Riddler, 1968

Riddler © DC Entertainment

Ink/watercolor/Copics on 9" x 12" Bristol Board.

This is Post #1645

Arrrrggg!

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

This piece is getting closer to completion. :)

There has been a lot of positive response to the Conventionless Convention Sketch proposal. Look for details very soon.

Ink and digital color.

This is Post #1644

Death. London, 1968

Death © DC Entertainment

After setting aside yesterday's post, I came back to it and realized I have done a version of the pose of Death before. Arrggg! Bound to happen. So here is my new approach. This is the finished line art for this blog and I will be adding color for the 2-Point Perspective blog. I've always like the idea that Death would fit into whatever time period she is in. And Death dressed in mod fashion in London is just too cool. Psychedelic colors to come.

I have gotten a few emails about sketches since I announced I am not going to be in Pittsburgh. Which made me think that maybe in the next week or so (when I am caught up on some stuff) doing a Conventionless Convention Sketch deal. Any interest out there?

This is ink on 9" x 12" Strathmore Bristol Board.

This is Post #1644

Sketchbook Wednesday

Artwork © 2012 Gene Gonzales

The rough for a piece I am doing for the 2-Point Perspective blog. And I'm going to be late with it. Sigh.

This is Post #1643

Sketchbook Tuesday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

Arrrrggggh!

This is Post #1642

Sketchbook Monday - Arrrrg!

Artwork © 2012 Gene Gonzales

Just a little something I was working on this morning.

This is Post #1641

Sketchbook Sunday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

Jungle girl sketch today. :)

This is Post #1640

Sketchbook Saturday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

Pirates and kitty cats, must be a sketchbook saturday.

Happy St. Patricks Day. All of you be safe out there.

This is Post #1639

Sketchbook Friday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

Just a warm-up sketch this morning. It's gonna be a full day!

This is Post #1638

Sketchbook Thursday & No Pittsburgh for Me

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

I was going to wait until next week to announce this (because I was hoping I wouldn't have to) but I will not be attending the Pittsburgh ComicCon this year. Not work related...well, not my work. I will need to be around the house during that weekend.

I am going to be posting more than a few Sketchbook days in the coming weeks. I had a back log of commissions that I finally got under control but I still have two rather large commissions and one smaller one. Everyone has been patient, thankfully, but I am the one who hates to keep people waiting. I am also working on a guest comic strip piece that I will talk about when it's done. Which should be in the next week and a half. If you know what I am talking about, please do not mention what it is. Some people (Spazzy) were privy to the conversation (Spazzy) and that's fine, but until I am done (Spazzy) I would rather keep this one under wraps.

Who knows, when those things are done, maybe I will set up a table here at home. And put my banner up behind me and do some Conventionless Convention Sketches. :)

This is Post #1637

Robin (Damian Wayne)

Robin © DC Comics

This is the first time I have drawn Damian Wayne, aka Robin. I don't read the books but from looking at the previews and covers, he seems like a well adjusted, overall nice kid with terrific manners. Sort of a, dare I say, role model. Does that sum it up? ;)

Actually, he reminds me of a male Hit Girl. Not sure who came first but again, I don't read the books.

This was done in ink and Copic Markers on a 9" x 12" Canson Mi-Teintes board. I had to shoot this with my iPhone in order to get something close to the paper color. My scanner was way off with the subtle tan color board and I couldn't correct enough in Photoshop.

This is Post #1636

Catman - Marriage Proposal Commission

I've been holding on to this one for a while. I was contacted by Bill back on September 30, 2011. He wanted to commission a Catman piece to go with his marriage proposal to Gloria that he planned on doing sometime after the first of the year. How could I say no? :)

Catman © DC Comics

Above is the final art, done in acrylic on 11" x 17" Arches watercolor board. And below are some of the process steps involved to make the finished piece.

Congratulations Gloria and Bill!

This is Post #1635

Black Cat

Black Cat © Marvel Entertainment

I thought I would share a head shot of Black Cat, both the rough sketch and the finished inks. This is part of a larger piece that was commissioned.

Pencil and ink on Strathmore Bristol Board.

This is Post #1634

Digital Sketchbook Sunday - Bull-Dog

Just a doodle I have been working on in Sketchbook Pro on my iPad2.

This is Post #1633

Vampirella Tribute - Commission

Here is the final art for the Vampirella tribute commissioned by Jose. This image is on two pieces of 11" x 17" Bristol Board. As you can tell from the inscriptions, Jose felt strongly about the passing of his favorite writer and artist of Vampirella. I hope I them justice with this Jose. Thanks again!

This is ink on two 11" x 17" sheets of Strathmore Bristol Board. (22" x 17")

This is Post #1632

Vampirella - Work in Progress 5

Last work in progress detail. I will present the entire piece tomorrow.

This is Post #1631

Vampirella - Work in Progress 4

The inking is done on the double page Vampirella commission. There are two small, but important details left to add and I am in the process of confirming that right now. But in the meantime here is a detail of the piece.

Ink on Strathmore Bristol Board.

This is Post #1630

Vampirella - Work in Progress 3

More work on the Vampirella commission. The final image will be on two 11" x 17" sheets of Bristol Board.

This is Post #1629

Vampirella - Work in Progress

Just a detail of the pencils as they were this morning. I'm farther ahead as of now but I am too lazy to do an updated photo. :)

Pencil on 11" x 17" Strathmore Bristol Board

This is Post #1628

Batgirl - Mini Canson Cutie

Batgirl © DC Comics

My day was filled with floor plans (commercial work), Vampirella roughs (share tomorrow) and Batgirl. I originally had Supergirl in the rough of the above image, but decided to let Batgirl shine alone. Also, one of the reasons I normally don't do multiple characters as a Canson Cutie, is because I pick out the best color paper to use for a character. This color wouldn't be my first choice for Supergirl. Nor my second or third. But I like it for Batgirl.

This is mixed media on 9" x 12" Canson Mi-Teintes paper.

This is Post #1627

Digital Sketchbook

Just a little idea I had. I love the idea of Babs riding a Bat-Vespa. :)

Photoshop sketch.

This is Post #1626

Batgirl - Stephanie Brown

Batgirl © DC Comics

Once again, my take on Stephanie (Batgirl) Brown. A lunch time sketch that got out of hand. Hey, at least I got back to work and didn't color it! (Yet?) The first time I drew her I thought her costume was a bit clunky, but this time I finding it the opposite. Except for the thigh pouches. Never have been a fan. :)

I will be putting Ms. Brown on eBay tonight for those that might be interested.

Ink on 9" x 12" Bristol Board

This is Post #1625

Vampirella - WIP: Commission Rough

This is the beginning of another commission. Actually it's a two part commission and I will be sharing the progress of it as we go. Both parts will be tribute pieces featuring Vampirella. At this point I have taken the four inch tall concept art I did, scanned it into Photoshop, enlarged it and now working out the figure digitally in blue lines. This will be an inked piece when finished, it's just easier to work out the rough stuff like this. More tomorrow.

This is traditional pencils and digital lines in Photoshop.

This is Post #1624

Erza Scarlet - MegaCon 2012 Canson Cutie

Artwork © 2012 Gene Gonzales

This commission of Erza Scarlet is for Patrick. This is another late, and last MegaCon commission. I am very lucky for everyone's patience with these. I am not familiar with this character but gave it my best shot. I hope you like her Patrick, thanks!

Mixed media on 11" x 17" Sky Blue Canson Mi-Teintes Paper.

This is Post #1623