New Pin-ups

X-23 and Mary Marvel. Both for sale.

Sketch Covers

I've just started getting into doing sketches on these blank comic book covers. So far I'm digging it, but it really depends on the quality of the paper stock. I learned that not all blank sketch covers are created equal. I loved the Avengers and X-Men stock but that Wolverine was a bear (can a wolverine be a bear?) to work with. It would not take markers nicely and when I tired to erase pencil marks it took ink along with it. Anyway, I hope to keep doing these and I hope you like them. The Black Widow was a private commission but the others are for a sale. Drop me a line if you're interested.

Wolverine Piece for Auction

I was asked if I would be willing to participate in the Jolene Houser Live Art Auction Saturday, April 2 in Denton. Jolene Houser is a comic book artist who was injured in an automobile accident, this art auction will try to raise money to assist with her medical bills. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it out to the show. But I did want to help if I could, so I did this Wolverine piece and am sending to the organizers so they can (hopefully) auction it off. It's ink, markers and white pencil on cardboard and measures 16" x 20" (big enough that I had to scan it in 6 sections). It's a bit of a departure from my usual stuff. I typically like nice clean illustrations, but I wanted to do something a little more kinetic. Hope you like. If you do like, please head out to the auction and bid on it. Even if you don't like, go to the auction, they may have something you do like.

Some Vector Faces

Live Art Show

I had a great time at Comicpalooza last night. Here's a look at my finished Harley Quinn piece, as well as a few progress shots. My biggest fear was that no one would bid on it but thankfully they did and it sold for $95. Thanks to Jeremy from Titan Comics for the winning bid. Thanks also to the Art Love Magic crew (Michael, Mario, David and Deb) for having me out. It was also great to see fellow artist friends Samax, Khalid, Michael and meeting a few new ones as well. It was a fun night.

Check out The Hero Initiative.

Album Cover Illustration

Did this a while back and forgot to post it.

"Chew" Pin-up

A commission piece I just finished. The characters Tony Chu and John Colby from the comic book "Chew" by John Layman and Rob Guillory. This is one of those great looking books that I haven't had a chance to read yet. And after doing research for this piece, I think I need to pick this bad boy up. Seems like printed greatness.

I like how people have posted online who they think should play the characters. I saw a lot of Miles and Sawyer from "Lost", which I have to say I agree with from what I've seen of these characters. I showed this drawing to my lovely wife and asked her who she thought should play these characters and that's exactly who she said. Anyway, I digress. I hope I did them justice even though I wasn't super familiar with them. Apologies to Layman and Guillory if I missed the mark.

A Couple of Cards

Here are some custom cards I did for a friend of mine. One for her son's (and Jack's buddy) birthday party and one for her work Christmas card. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Cents Magazine

My copy of American Airlines Cents Magazine with my illustrations in it came today.

Custom Illustrations

Did this piece for a couple's wedding invitation...
Did this for a good friend (of a hundred years), who is a physical therapist...

American Airlines Cents Magazine

I was recently commissioned to do some freelance illustrations for American Airlines. One of their publications is called Cents Magazine, which is published for American Airlines Federal Credit Union. They did a story on "Surviving Self-Employment: Five money rules to help you stay ahead of the curve". They needed some illustrations to go along with it and contacted me to see if I'd be interested in the job. Well, of course I was. They sent over the story along with some ideas they had and I went to it. Here is the finished results, hope you like it. I had fun working on it.

My basic process for digital rendering

Here is my basic process for rendering an illustration in PS CS4.

My initial sketches are always very, very rough. This piece is for an adult short story: Landlady by Roald Dahl.

 

Then I started with value study by using a big, textured brush. At this stage, I did't worry about colors, because I will add color later with a small trick.

I don't like working with too many layers, so only the backround(usually a grey color), initial sketch, and the painting layer.

At first I had the landlady standing behind the door, but then I changed the composition, because I wanted the viewer to focus on the young man's gesture, expression, and feeling.

Now let's talk about the trick. I added a new adjustment/curve layer at the top. Note: click "RGB", at the drop down menu, choose blue, red, or green one at a time, and adjust the curve to see how it affects the image. By using this function, you can give the image a new color.

Last but not the least, I added more details and the warm lighting effect, to give it more visual contrast.

It's not done yet. I have to refine it later.

Spider-Man Pin-up

Here is a Spider-Man commission I did for a friend's nephew.

Super Hero Designs

Here are some character designs I did recently for ADH Events in Chicago. They had a client who wanted super heroes to represent their company at their booth during a convention. I did trading cards, cloisonne pins, and large banner designs. I got my samples from them today and was very happy with how they turned out. This is the first time I've had comic illustrations turned into cloisonne pins. The backs of the cards have character descriptions and contact information for the company. They're supposed to be emailing photos of the booths. If I get those, I'll update.

Beauty and the Beast

Go back several posts, you'll find the original painting which was done in my first year of school.

I brought it into Photoshop, and added some texture, took away two other characters, because I wanted the viewers just focus on the white tiger and the girl. The vines symbolizes strains of the relationship, and the crow also means something. Apparently they are not a happy couple!

New Vector Illustrations

Here are a few more of the illustrations I did for "Never Marry A Man...".

My Influence Map

On deviantART, fox-orian started an "influence map meme" and they’ve been popping up all over different artists’ websites. I don’t really put the “me” in “meme” that often, but each time I saw one of these, I couldn’t help but think how nice they looked and how cool it would be to do one myself. I know I’m bit late to the game, but I don’t care.

I knew it would be fun to make but I didn’t realize how hard it would be. Man, narrowing this group down was a challenge. Some harsh, harsh cuts were made. I could’ve done one three times this size.

To make it easier, I decided just put in people (or groups) that create. Not creations. For example, Matt Groening instead of the Simpsons. So that helped by eliminating particular movies and TV shows. And I decided mainly to focus on art and only have a few musicians and directors. Mainly it's comic artists and cartoonists.

I turned mine on it’s side to fit monitors better. Hope you like it. Make one for yourself if you haven't already.

New Illustration - Dog Walking

Here is a new piece I did for a client recently. Yes, that dog is wearing high heels. Hey, it was a first for me too.

A Few of New Illustrations

These are of a mascot (named Zoe) for a site called Zen Planner.
This one is of "Jim Healthy" for My Healing Kitchen.

Handy Man Superhero

Just finished up this guy for a client.