Just a small piece I made for my printers at JARU PRINTING in State College for an artist colalge project they are doing. Hit them up here to learn more about their store and services!
The “SKINNY BLACK PROJECT” – Pencils and Layouts
So- these are some cropped pieces (to prevent identifcation of the project) of a pencil layout, figure study and final pencils of a project I have dubbed “SKINNY BLACK” after the rapper from the amazing film from Director Craig Brewer, “Hustle and Flow”, which as a relative unknown creator is one of those films I watch to get inspired and fired up to create. So this post is more about how I feel like “D-Jay” from that film, so click on the link, watch D-Jay, and to take one his quotes and change it a bit to suit my artistic endeavours…. “if you can feel my art, you can feel me”.
Pull up a chair for a minute…..
FUBAR Press Pinup – Medieval Zombie Soldier; Final Inks
I was pleased with the final rendering on this pinup- the inks really brought out the gore and anatomy across the bodily destruction I heaped on this poor lout!
Of special interest was bloodstained cloth effect I got with stippling and the organic looks with the contouring on the torn face and entrails. The blood effect on the spear tip also turned out really well.
However, no more chainmail, for the love of god!
Keep an eye out for this piece from FUBAR PRESS!
FUBAR Press Pinup – Medieval Zombie Soldier
So my very cool friend I met at NYCC 2012, Jeff McComsey is one of the leaders of a small press outfit that makes comics about the Zombie World Wars, alternative cool history stuff with loads of violence. This company is called FUBAR PRESS , and we talked for a long time about me making a pinup for them- well that time is now!
They are doing a book about Medieval Zombie warfare, so that was my task to complete- so this is the process of my research into a 3rd Crusade (1189–1192) Christian Knight, and the anatomy I pulled on the large and small intestines. My goal was to really have some large scale physical damage. This included an impalement, torn off face, distended ripped in half jaw and a full disembowelment- along with historically accurate gear and clothing. I think I am on the right path! Enjoy the carnage, inks coming soon!
I’ll post links to get the comic this will appear in when I have more information!
6/27/13 – Nude Figure Studies in Pencil with Model- At Art Alliance of Central PA
Back at the tables for figure drawing, and it was good to be back again in training! We had a really good model for this session, he had amazing muscletone and definition, some really creative poses, and wasnt afraid to hold out until his arms and legs fell asleep! I was really pleased with the last three longer poses, I didnt move, and just drew from whatever angle presented itself, which is always a challenge to go from non traditional POV’s.
Painted Ladies of San Quentin; Page 22- Final Inks- FINAL PAGE & Two Versions!
The hangman’s noose ominously over the head of Jessica Belmont before her execution in 1852… Governor John Bigler later signs over the land the murders were committed over… later in 1852 constructions begins and then ends in 1854 on a new state sponsored construction project… THE SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON- California’s oldest State Prison- which stands til this day in 2013- hello historical fiction at it’s finest and most violent- thanks to Boardwalk Empire and Gangs of New York for the inspiration for this tale of what MIGHT have been the true story of the San Quentin Prison’s murky origins! Thanks to Elijah Holman, Jessica Belmont, The Chinaman- Xi Chou Long, El Alacran & Company and Sheriff Clyde for being such fun characters to, well… kill off violently!
From a layout standpoint, this page was totally changed from pencils #1 at the bottom that I made in January into a totally new page pencils #2. Superstar Artist Tommy Castillo commented to me a critique I asked for at Philadelphia Wizard World a few weeks ago that the hanging was too super-hero-ish. This combined with a comment from another friend about “Where are the crooked politicians?” led to a new layout- less superhero hanging, more ALFRED HITCHCOCK suggested violence without showing so much in panel #1…. The third Governor of California JOHN BIGLER makes his first comic book appearance ever (as near as I can tell) …then I went to prison construction mode (with prisoners working like in the history books!) in the new panel #3. I end with the modern prison shot in panel #4…now from the land side in version #2, not the water side like in version #1- since we never really address or look at that water/peninsula geography in the whole comic- so why now? Exactly! So that is a totally different shot of the jail, and that is the new and revised page 22 version #2!
This comic wasn’t going down easy at the end was it? The last page took the longest and had two different versions, so if you have been following my posts, none of this is a surprise!
From a technical standpoint, this was a nice portrait of Gov. Bigler signing a paper, a study in rope and two very annoying architectural renderings, so the page was less organic than the rest of the story, but very hard to pull off nonetheless. Panel three looks like an old testament bible engraving, and I hated doing that panel, but it really worked in the end so I am glad I suffered through it. I did less inking in the final modern page so Joe Freistuhler had more freedom to run with his only modern colored panel to pull a “Wizard of Oz” and go from sepia to full color at the last minute to show the “modern world” of 2013.
As usual- I’ve included the pencils, line work and final inked rendered page for review and analysis below.
ON A FINAL NOTE…..
The project on my end is done, all 22 pages for a full length comic with a wrap around 2 page cover! I cant believe I’ve been drawing this for over a year now, the end of a mini era for me! Personally, this comic stands as my PhD Thesis in comics creation, but of course, I want to keep getting better. Ill be taking a break from sequentials for a bit to do some pinups and freelance work, but of course, I’ll be back at it before you know it doing something totally different, and no doubt better than this project as I have learned SO MUCH from this process- from storytelling, to anatomy to general art skills! Thanks to everyone who made this project possible- especially my wife Crystal Lenox and Son, Blaine Lenox, who let me have the time I needed to complete all of this work!
Thanks, and I hope everyone checks this story out when it is 100% done and included in my next anthology- UGLI STUDIOS PRESENTS #2 later this summer!
6/13/13 – Nude Figure Studies in Pencil with Model- At Art Alliance of Central PA
Shaking off a few months of self imposed rust (cough cough – 22 inked pages of Painted Ladies of San Quentin done in 23 weeks!!) to get back an anatomy/figure drawing session with our new model, Cristen, at the Art Alliance.
I was really bummed with my first few quick sketches, but the last hour long pose of her in a reclining resting position turned out really well.I was really happy with the hands and torso. In addition I caught some really nice skin shading to go along with my Patrick Nagel inspired hair. I also think I did Cristen’s tattoos justice as well!
Painted Ladies of San Quentin; Page 21- Final Inks
The classic “Hero riding off into the sunset” marks the last image I’m doing of Elijah Holman for this story- great character, fun story arc. I’ll miss the old white haired bastard with his long beard and two six guns as he leaves us passing the Lord’s judgement on the Villain, Jessica Belmont, who with a tad of exposition we show her in chains with her hair cut short looking up at the hangman’s noose that meets her on the final page after this penultimate group of images!
From a layout standpoint, this really ends up being a farewell pinup at the top of the page leading into two images at the bottom moving the story into the final phase of ending the narrative. At the same time it leads into killing the last living villain before the reveal of San Quentin Prison at the very end, it’s simple and powerful, and the image of Elijah seems very “Old Testament” in my opinion. There isn’t a huge “explosion” with this guy at the end, and the artwork conveys that calm sense of his being and how he chooses to end the conflict that has engulfed him and his town in a non tradition “action hero” way.
From a technical standpoint, big alterations on the horse and Elijah’s anatomy from the pencils- see the changes? And lot of tweaks on Jessica in the final two panels- from the butt and chains to the hands and especially her eyes… now they are looking up- foreshadowing a noose!. I was happy with the back lighting on the top panel with the contours on his clothing and stippling on the horse, and really pleased with the shading on Elijah’s face. The striped prison jumpsuit looks cool too, in my opinion, from the stippling.
On one minor note, I made her prisoner # on her shirt my Son Blaine’s birthday, so there you go little dude, an Easter Egg for you!
As usual- I’ve included the pencils, line work and final inked rendered page for review and analysis below.
One more page to wrap- lets get it done!
Commissions Wizard World Philadelphia – June 2013
Two nice commissions I did for two awesome fans in Philadelphia at Wizard World last weekend….
#1- A Dragon’s Head
#2- the LIZARD from Spiderman
Really pleased with both pieces-! See the work, and the fans with their pieces below!
Wrap Around Cover Art: “Painted Ladies of San Quentin” – Final Colors
As we hit the home stretch of completing my “Painted Ladies of San Quentin” project, and with it, my second anthology book- “UGLI Studios Presents #2” with Brian Allen, and Joe Freistuhler, this completed wrap around colored cover just came in from Brian, who did an amazing job.
First of all, Im lucky to know this guy for two big reasons.
#1- As a fan of his art, I’m blessed to have him work his magic on my pen and inks- this piece has been waiting for color for almost a year now, and he knocked it out of the park with the antiqued look I asked him to achieve.
#2- Brian is a great friend and it has been great working with him on this anthology comic, while I’m excited to see it wrap up, I’ll miss the experience. I’ve learned alot from Brian about everything from the business of art, to the highs and lows of the convention world and lots of small tech tips from pens to networking. For all of that- I am eternally grateful as well!
So check out my pencils, inks and the final colors Brian Allen added on the wrap around cover part of this upcoming comic from UGLI STUDIOS!
And hit up Brian on facebook here and see what other wild stuff he is up to!
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