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