Jennifer Mays - Canson Cutie

Today I finished up this Canson Cutie for Matt, Jennifer Mays of the Maze Agency. I was a fan of the original run of Maze Agency and jumped at the chance to work on the short lived Caliber Press run of the title. It's work I still look back on and like. That and my Mister X work. It was a fun time and I always like revisiting the characters. Thanks again Matt!

Just for fun I went through my flat files looking for the promotion poster that Caliber put out to announce the release of the new The Maze Agency series. I'm pretty sure we had these at the San Diego Comic Con that year and Mike Barr and I were signing them. This is a reuse of the cover for the first issue. The original was done in gouache and color pencil on illustration board. Hard to believe this was almost 13 years ago.

And while I am on Memory Lane, I found this with the Maze Agency poster. I completely forgot about it. I did one of the two covers for the first issue of The Red Diaries. I did the image in the top left. It was done in gouache and color pencil on illustration board. I don't remember who did the other image. It looks like some early Photoshop work had been done on it.

This is Post #835

Torpedo

I have been reading the first volume of THE COMPLETE TORPEDO. I have been aware of the strip by Enrique Sanchez Abuli and Jordi Bernet for a long time. But never read a story. I am totally digging it. There is also the first two of the Torpedo stories with art by Alex Toth. So in a fit of inspiration, I sketched this piece of the main character, the hit man Torpedo. It's actually not very good but it's a first attempt. Check out the book. IDW published it and it's out now.

This is Post #834

La of Opar

Sorry for the really light scan. After years of wanting and then finally getting a scanner that will scan 11" x 17" , I buy a pad of watercolor paper that is 12" x 16". D'oH!

My weekend is going to be filled with looooong hours of work. Two Canson pieces, and priority work from DC. So when I took a break today, I decided to do something fun for me. So I pulled out the watercolor pad and just started drawing. I ended up doing this piece featuring La of Opar, from the Tarzan stories. At least I think that is where she is from. I have never read any but I have had requests for sketches of her in the past. This was drawn with a terra cotta Col-Erase pencil on a 12" x 16" piece of Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor paper. I plan to paint her during my breaks this weekend. Just for fun. :) Have a good weekend everyone!

This is Post #833

Sally Volt

Just a quick sketch with some Photoshop colors of Sally Volt. Sally is a character created by me and my good friend writer J. C. Vaughn. I have had Sally's story in my head for several years but until recently I hadn't had a chance to work on the strip. I told the story to J.C. and in a burst of excitement he wrote several "episodes" for the strip following my ideas. This is a project I really want to launch this year. But first, I need to get several episodes in the can. And since it's rare to get financing to launch a creator owned strip, I will have to continue to work and squeeze the strip in when I can. Wish us luck!

This is Post #832

Odin

This is the second commission done for Alex. And I believe the first time I have ever drawn Odin. (With the exception of the sketches posted here a couple of days ago, of course.) I am really happy with it and more importantly, Alex is happy with it. :)

This was done in ink on 11" x 17" Strathmore Smooth Bristol Board. Thanks again Alex!

This is Post #831

A Wonder Twin

My day has been filled with work that I cannot show but what I can share is a commission I finished up a couple of days ago. This is Jayna, of Wonder Twins fame. Now I do not know the reason she is wearing a Star Man shirt or why she is soaked, but I do know it was fun to draw her. :)

Jayna was done in mixed media on a 11" x 17" sheet of Canson Mi-Teintes paper. Thanks again to Alex for the commission!

This is Post #830

Sketchbook Monday - Odin Days

I'm afraid it's another sketchbook day here. I had a meeting today and because I arrived early I was able to put a few ideas down for an Odin commission I am doing tomorrow. I actually started something for this piece a couple of weeks ago and didn't care for it when I revisited it. So I did it again. Same thing happened with the Jayna (of Wonder Twin fame) Canson piece I did today. I had inked one and after looking at it with fresh eyes, I redid it. These things happen. I hope to share Jayna tomorrow.

This is Post #829

Sketchbook Sunday

Just some randome doodles from the sketchbook that I did today. We spent most of the day out running around and enjoying the nice weather we are finally having here. I hope everyone had a good weekend.

This is Post #828

Yellow - Rough

Here is the rough sketch for the last of the three pin-ups I am doing for my next batch of art from CILM. Drawn in my sketchbook and colored in Photoshop (rather quickly).

Enjoy the weekend folks!

This is Post #827

Stargirl - Sketch Card

Quick post tonight. Long work day, then saw Avatar 3D at the IMAX theater (we loved it) and now about ready to crash. :) Stargirl was done earlier today with Copic Multi Liners and markers, and white Prismacolor pencil on a Strathmore Sketch Card.

This is Post #826

Cyan - Rough

This is the second rough idea for my "color" themed pin-ups for CILM. Just a little piece from the sketchbook with some Photoshop colors added. I bumped up the saturation a bit too much and change the actual cyan color a bit. Note to self: "Don't do that."

This is Post #825

Magenta - Rough

Today I finished The Project That Shall Not Be Named (there may be some revisions though) and immediately I jumped into some other projects. One minor one is I am in the process of doing three new images for CILM and I wanted a theme. After sketching this girl in my sketchbook I decided to give her a bit of color. When it came time to name the file, I had my theme. This is the rough image for Magenta. I don't know if I will do her completely digital or traditional. The next two will be Cyan and Yellow. Since I will be doing a color theme, I will need to change the color of her shirt, but this is a good jumping off point for the pin-up.

Tomorrow, more commercial work, this weekend I will be doing some commissions.

This is Post #824

Sketchbook Tuesday - Jennifer Mays

Loooooong day. I've got one more 8-12 hour day to go and I will be done with the "project that must not be named". Little Harry Potter joke there. :)

Above are some designs for a Jennifer Mays Canson Cutie I will be doing for Matt. I tried to give him a few different looks for Jen, (a) comedic, (b) sexy, (c) mystery from which to choose. He has chosen the iconic & sexy "B", which I think is a great choice. I like drawing sexy seven days of the week. :) Thanks Matt!

This is Post 823

Sketchbook Monday - Designs

These are some poses I have come up with for a piece of art I am working on. It will be used as promo material for a book. It will be done on Canson paper with white highlights. The three figures were an attempt to nail down a physical attitude for the character based on a description paragraph. One figure was selected and with some clothing modifications and a much different face, we are on our way. :)

Since these are so rough and out of context, I feel it's okay to share the sketches here. They were done in blue Col-Erase pencil in my sketchbook, color and highlights were done in Photoshop.

This is Post# 822

The Human Bomb - Sketch Card

One of the nice things about following the SUPER DC CALENDAR 1976 is I am drawing some characters I wouldn't have thought to draw before. Today we have the Human Bomb. He wears the suit because contact with his skin on anything will create an explosion. The first time I saw this character was in a Justice League/Justice Society crossover in the 1970s that introduced the Freedom Fighters. The Human Bomb was a member of the Freedom Fighters that occupied Earth-X, a parallel Earth where Nazi Germany won WW2. It was a pretty cool two part story. Later the Freedom Fighters got their own series.

This image done with Copic Multiliners, Markers and white paint.

This is Post #821

Dr. Fate - Sketch Card

According to the SUPER DC CALENDER 1976 today is Kent Nelson, aka, Dr. Fate's birthday. So here is my tribute done in Copic Multi Liners and markers on a Strathmore Sketch Card.

Today has already been very productive: Finished and uploaded a job for DC, three concepts for the Jennifer Mays Canson Cutie sketched, scanned and emailed to Matt, scanned two commissions and packed them up to be shipped to Hungary today, and completed the sketch card for this here post. I will take a break shortly to go to a meet up of the Inkslingers. This is a group of comic book and comic strip artists who live in the Tampa Bay region. They meet up once a month and I was invited for the first time last month. But between my work and the meet up being three days before Christmas, I completely forgot. This time, I set iCal to send me email alarms 4 hours before and 1 hour before the meeting. I will not miss it. This should be fun. I will report on the meet up tomorrow.

When I get back this afternoon, I will have to chain myself to the drawing table. I have 14 illustrations that I need to complete by Monday afternoon. :)

This is Post #820

Kid Flash - Sketch Card

I had said yesterday that I got the inspiration for today's post yesterday but held off for today. :) Once I knew what I would do for today, it helped me to decide what to do for yesterday. The connection is the TEEN TITANS and the reason for Kid Flash is because it is his birthday according to the official SUPER DC CALENDAR 1976 hanging on my wall. I just might start following that calendar from time to time for ideas. Anyone that has the calendar will be able to guess what is coming up on certain days. There are plenty of days that don't have any special meaning so there will be room to do other things here. But for now this could be fun!

In work news, I managed to get some of my commercial work done today and I finished two inked commissions. I had only planned to finish one I had started last weekend, but I got in a groove and started and finished the second one for the same person. This just means I will be working late into the night on my commercial work, but at least that pair is done. Next up on my commission list are two inked pieces for Alex and I need to do some roughs for a Canson Cutie Jennifer Mays for Matt. Hang in there guys, I'm getting there! :)

Have a good weekend folks. You will find me here when I am not working. :)

This is Post #819

Wonder Girl - Sketch Card

Another long day that isn't over yet. I sat down at my computer at 6:15am this morning and with the exception of 45 minutes on the treadmill and dinner, I haven't gotten away from it. I did managed to whip out this sketch card while I ate lunch. I was looking for some kind of inspiration and an idea of tomorrows sketch came to me. So today's card is linked with what I hope to do tomorrow.

I'm about half way though the 35 double page illustrations I am working on that are due next week. I have been buried in those and a couple of other immediate projects. I have commissions to do as well, but luckily everyone is extremely patient and they were all commissioned in December, so they are not too late. I haven't gotten to the point where anyone has been waiting months and months and I don't ever plan to do that. Commissions are typically something I work on in the evenings, after the work day is over. Unfortunately, my work days have become work nights as well. And work weekends. But that won't last much longer and all will be calm and nice. And warm! Today we got over 70°! I had the windows open and was really enjoying the breeze that came through the house. See, things are getting better. :)

Back to work. I've still got a 3-4 more hours to go.

This is Post #818

Supergirl - Sketch Card

It was only a matter of time, wasn't it? :)

The Maid of Might was done with Copic Multi Liners and Markers on a Strathmore Sketch Card.

This is Post #817

Solomon Grundy - Sketch Card

I really should have done this one yesterday. :) I decided to do some warm up sketches before digging into one of the projects I am working on. Solomon Grundy became the subject to draw after I was flipping through an old issue of STAR & S.T.R.I.PE that Grundy was in. The first time I saw this character was in a JLA/JSA crossover back in the 70s. JLA 91 was the first part of that tale and the first Justice League comic I bought. I knew most of the JLA heroes but the JSA characters were brand new to me. A very cool first issue to buy as a kid.

This is Copic Multi Liners and Markers on a Strathmore Sketch Card.

This is Post #816

Dagger - Sketch Card

Another busy day and only enough time to do this card. But I am having fun with these. The subjects are random and I have no direction. Nice change from the rest of the day. Though I might start working on a theme with these. Maybe do all the JSA, or JLA, or maybe some "teen team action in the far-flung future". Hmmmmmm. Anyway, this was done with Copic Multi Liners and Markers on a Strathmore Sketch Card.

This is Post #815

Mera - Sketch Card

I have put in a rather long day so just a sketch card for today. I started this earlier today without knowing who it would end up being. For some reason Mera came to mind and so here she is. This was done with Copic Multi Liners and Markers on a Strathmore Sketch Card.

Good night everyone! Hope you all had a good weekend!

This is Post #814

Gambit!

This one is a commission done in ink on 11" x 17" Strathmore Bristol Board. I think it would be pretty cool to color. Might have to do that at some time. :)

This is Post #812

Sketchbook Friday - Scarlet Witch

This was done for fun in my sketchbook with Copic Markers and Multiliners. I wanted to play around with using a dead line for this piece. A dead line is one has little or no variation in thickness and thinness. It can be tough to pull off because if done badly it can kill a piece. Make it flat and uninteresting. But if done well, it can be very cool. I tend to work more with the thick and thin lines but I am always interested in doing something different.

Today I started working at 6:30am and just finished as of this writing at 7pm. Thankfully my commute only involves trying to get around the dogs while going to work in my studio. There have a been a lot of these days this week. I am producing 35 pencil drawings, some are double page spreads for a project I can never share. And I mean "never". It's an interesting situation that I will gladly share if you ask me about it at a convention. At least I will be paid. Deadline looming on that one. Plus, I have my DC work, and some artwork for buddy/writer Kevin Breaux, for which he has been beyond patient. (Map tomorrow Kevin! Really!) A few inked commissions I took on in December that need to be done in January (Got another one done tonight! Woo!), another project for Gemstone Publishing coming up and a bunch of little things that will keep me busy this month. January is a bit nuts, but I am glad to be busy. Really glad.

Now if it would just warm up. We live on the Sun Coast of the Sunshine State and they have called for the chance of snow here this weekend. Here. Snow. I know it won't be anything like up north but come on, when we moved to Florida three years ago, I swear the chance of snow was not in the brochure.

Have a good weekend everyone. Stay warm and stay safe.

This is Post #811

Iron Man 2 Sketch Cards 54-73

This is the last of the IRON MAN 2 sketch cards I did for Upper Deck. Thanks for the feedback and thanks for your patience. The ability to show these cards came at a perfect time because I am working on three different projects that I can't share here. And another commission that is a gift, so once again, no showing here yet.

Doing these cards gave me a great opportunity to play with my Copic Markers. Some cards are more successful than others but all in all I learned a lot and I'm happy with the results.

I will be receiving a few more blank cards from Upper Deck that I will be able to keep. Whatever I draw on them will still have to be reviewed and approved, but it will be fun to do some more cards that I can keep. Or auction? :)

Quick note: Joel Adams has started the Joel Adams Sketch-A-Day art blog. As the title states, he is doing a sketch a day for 2010 and he is off to a strong start. Joel does some great work and if you want to see what he is doing check it out!

This is Post #810

Iron Man 2 Sketch Cards 33-53

Here is the third batch of sketch cards I did for the Iron Man 2 Card set coming from Upperdeck.

As artists, we had to stay away from the movie versions of the characters, (legal stuff, I really don't know) but we were allowed to draw any character from the Iron Man comics or that had any interaction with Iron Man. That pretty opened up the entire Marvel Universe. Which was much better.

I have one more batch to show you tomorrow. By then you will be sick of these. :)

All these are done in Copic Markers, Multi Liners and white paint.

This is Post #809

Iron Man 2 Sketch Cards 19-32

The rest of my Iron Man 2 Sketch Cards have been reviewed and only one was rejected. It was a shot of Tony Stark in a tux, so no biggie. :) Take that one out and the one I messed up and I end up with a total of 73 cards to be inserted in the set. Not bad for my first venture into this arena.

Since there are a lot of cards, there could be a temptation to share them in a painstaking slow manner. I will not do that to you kind folks. But I will show the cards over three days starting with some "puzzle" cards first.

I saw Sean "Cheeks" Galloway do some cards like this and I thought it looked like fun. Later I realized this could drive collectors crazy. D'oH!

These were all done in Copic Markers, Multi Liners and white paint. More tomorrow!

This is Post #808

Black Canary - Sketch Card

I thought I would do an early sketch today to warm up. This is Black Canary done in Copic Markers, Multi Liners and some Primacolor pencils on a 2.5 inch x 3.5 inch Strathmore Bristol Board Sketch Card. As you can probably tell I took a different approach to the line art. It's sketchy and looser than I normal draw but it still looks like my style.

I have some cards that are made of watercolor paper instead of Bristol Board. Maybe I will give those a try next.

This is Post #807

Sketchbook Sunday

Any guesses as to what character I am working on for my next commission? This is a tough one, I know. ;)

This is Post #806

Poison Ivy - Sketch Card

Recently I finished up 75 sketch cards for the Iron Man 2 set from Upper Deck. I will share those once I get them approved. I had such a good time working on those little head shots that decided to do another one today. I had purchased some packs of Strathmore Artist Trading Cards months ago and I am finally doing something with them. I have a pack of bristol board, watercolor board and acrylic canvas. From time to time I will play with these and post them.

This one is done in Copic Multi Liner Black pens and Copic Sketch Markers.

This Post #805

A New Year!

This is the beginning of the 3rd year for this blog. Every so often it hits me that it has been 7 days a week of posting for the last two years. I know I wouldn't have been able to keep up the daily posts if I were doing it alone. I think we have a great group of people here and I am very grateful to all of you who make this blog a part of your day. Not every piece I put up here is a home run, but I think showing the good with the not-so-good is part of the fun. And it's all part of the continuing process of learning. At the least, I hope I have provided some entertainment.

So for 2010, I am going to continue the attempt at doing a 7-day a week art blog. But I am going to try a shake things up here in the third year. I am working on several ideas that will change the look and the content of this blog sometime in the next couple of months. And perhaps increase the level of interaction. It's kind of ambitious and it's likely I will fall flat on my face. But then, I thought the idea of doing a daily art blog for one year was real ambitious and that I wouldn't be able to do it longer than 3 months. So you never know. :)

Thanks again everyone, for your time, your comments, and your kindness. My hope is that everyone has a happy, safe and successful 2010.

This is Post #804