Sketchbook Sunday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

I did plan on today being a Sketchbook Day, but didn't plan on yesterdays Sketchbook Day. But with yesterday's Sketchbook Day, I tried to make today a non-Sketchbook Day. But events and headache have conspired against me and I really don't want to rush or burn through a piece of art for someone. Thus, Sketchbook Sunday. Oy.

This is Post #1700

Sketchbook Saturday

Art © 2012 Gene Gonzales

We interrupt our regularly scheduled CCS so that we can bring you this special Sketchbook Saturday in living color. CCS will return tomorrow. Thank you.

(Oy, this will kill the hits here)

This is Post #1699

IVY RAVEN - Conventionless Convention Sketch

Ivy Raven © Terry Moore

I have had more than a few requests for Terry Moore's Katchoo and Francine from STRANGERS IN PARADISE. I have even inked a Terry Moore convention sketch of Francine, but this is the first time I have drawn a character from Terry Moore's ECHO series. And so I present FBI agent Ivy Raven. This one is for Matt. Thanks Matt!

We are down to the last three. Hellcat, Dr. Nightshade and one to be announced soon. (In other words, we haven't nailed that choice down) :)

Ink on 11" x 17" Strathmore Bristol Board

This is Post #1698

HEROESCON 2012 - Advance Sketch List

It's almost time for HEROESCON 2012!

My advance sketch list is officially open. I will work on this list leading up to the convention. Especially the more complicated pieces. There are a few changes to the process this year so please look over the details provided below :)

Prices:

Inked sketches: single figure, on 11" x 17" Bristol Board: $50.00

Acrylic painted: single figure on 12" x 16" (approximate size): 150.00

Canson pieces: single figure on 11" x 17": 125.00.

Payment: Here is the big changes this year. There will be three options for payment:

PayPal: You may pay in advance for your request using PayPal. Please contact me first with your request before you send money. Paying fees for PayPal is not a bother, so if this is a convenient option for you, please use it.

Credit Card at the Con: I will be accepting major credit cards at a convention. I have signed up with Square (www.squareup.com) in order to do so. Fast and secure. I can take Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

Cash: You can pay for the art when you arrive. Please come pick up your commission as soon as possible so I don't have to worry about keeping it safe and sound in the madness that is artist alley. :)

Special Note: I will be doing inked sketches at the show and will bring materials to do color work. But if you really want a color piece, I would suggest getting on the list and allowing me to do it in the studio. I am terribly slow doing color work at a show. :)

Please send your questions and requests to gene_gonzales(at)mac(dot)com with "HeroesCon Sketch List" in the subject line of your email. This will really help me keep track of everything.

This advance list is only for those attending HeroesCon 2012 in person. I do request that if you are on my list and are not going to make it, please let me know. And if possible, please pick up your artwork as soon as you can when you arrive at the convention. Or pay for your spot on the list, whichever applies.

I may ask for reference if I don't know the character or if I can't find it on the web at the show.

You can email me links to references before the show. I can alway print them out and take them with me.

An advantage to getting on the list early gives me some time to think about your request(s), bounce ideas around in my head, maybe doodle ideas in my sketchbook, and most likey show up at the con with your finished piece. There is a finite amount of requests I can take. I do not know what that number is because I don't know the requests. So sign up early and often. And there is no limit to any individual. 1 or 100, that's fine. Well, 100 will require more time, but I'm up to the challenge. :)

I may post some of the finished pieces here on the blog ahead of time. But that will only be done with the permission of the person commissioning the piece(s) and if they have paid in advance.

If you have any questions about the sketch list, please ask. And even if you are not getting something but will be at the show, please drop by and say "hi".

Other Convention Stuff

I will have other original art at the show, some you have seen here on this blog.

This was a lot of information to cover. If anything is confusing to you, let me know and I will do my best to clarify. And please excuse any typos. :)

Here we go!

And Thanks!

THE PERSUADER - The Fatal Five

The Persuader © DC Comics

This is the final of the Fatal Five portraits for Travis. Because of my love for the Legion of Super-Heroes these pieces have been fun to do. Thanks again Travis, for the commissions and your patience.

For those of you who are counting, you may notice that there have been 31 Conventionless Convention Sketches posted. Well, there are still four more to go. Yeah, a couple came in that I just couldn't turn down. I will be posting them over the next four or five days. Also, tomorrow I will have a couple of announcements to make so I hope everyone will be here for that. :)

Mixed media on 9" x 12" Canson Mi-Teintes paper.

This is Post #1696

EMERALD EMPRESS - The Fatal Five

Emerald Empress © DC Comics

This is the fourth of five of Fatal Five portraits for Travis. The Emerald Empress is probably the most sadistic of the Five in my opinion. She not only will kill to get what she wants, but she feels the need to subjugate those that oppose her. And she does take great joy in both. Thanks again Travis! And thanks for your patience!

There was a gap of a few weeks between the Fatal Five portraits because sometimes getting the paper color I need is difficult. In local stores, customers put their hands all over the paper and/or bend them, leaving creases or folds. I have gone through 20 sheets of one color and still not find one that isn't damaged. If I order on line, the same thing can happen in the handling and shipping of the paper. The paper is of a lesser weight than say bristol board and is more susceptible to creases so there isn't much I can do except reorder or wait for a store to have some new undamaged stock. A lot of times I buy a full sheet but can only get one 11" x 17" out of it or even one 9" x 12". That is only around 25% to 50% of the sheet. I use the rest for testing colors. Canson does have some colors mounted on illustration boards and those are more durable and great to use. I use those when I am going to paint on the paper, but the color selection is limited.

Mixed media on 9" x 12" Canson Mi-Teintes paper

This is Post #1695

FINESSE - Conventionless Convention Sketch

Finesse © Marvel Entertainment

This is another one for Matt. I'm afraid I have never heard of Finesse before this request, but he says she is from the Avengers Academy comic series and may be the daughter of Taskmaster. In other words, she's a badass! :)

Thanks Matt!

Ink on 11" x 17" Strathmore Bristol Board

This is Post #1694