BTSB's!!

Contrary to blogger evidence, I haven't been artistically loafing. In addition to plugging away at the ol' graphic novel, I have been working on some submissions/applications to the likes of Dark Horse and Marvel to be a penciler. This entailed crossing into the darker, sexier, infinitely more popular land of drawing beautiful women with impossible bodies kickin' some butt. They are great fun to draw, and I thoroughly enjoy checking my "cough" proportions with my wife. She approves every engorged bossom or firm bottom that I draw. The script was downloaded from the Dark Horse website...so don't blame me if you are a little confused about what's going on (and I didn't do any lettering...since that is the letterer's job).

More Comic Progress

Here is another peak at the ol' neverending story. I have finally found a method for lettering and word balloon making that I like, so I have been busy giving my character's their voices. I am actually having more fun than I thought doing this step because it really makes me feel like the page is DONE. I can't wait to get paid for this stuff, and then I could buy a computer comic font that I like and type this stuff up instead of doing it all by hand.

Happy Anneversary (to me)

I can't believe its already been a year since I got married. This being the "paper anniversary" and all, I had it pretty easy and drew this for my lovely wife. She doesn't like snakes when they touch each other/overlap, so that's why they are in the clouds. Thankfully next year is the "comic book anniversary" followed by my personal favorite, the ever popular "Nintendo anniversary".


Obviously I had the most fun drawing the snakes. When I make custom art for people I find its important to make it for them, but to also make it interesting for me to draw.

Happy OCTOBER!!!

SUMMER STINKS!! Lets here it for the Fall! I am soooo happy that that the endless hot is over and the wonderful crisp of Autumn is here. This is a charcoal drawing I did for my pumpkin party invite. Hope you enjoy it. I'm also thinking about making/selling greeting cards through my etsy account, so if I can get a deal on printing look for these soon. Go Capitalism!!

Page 7

Well, I no longer have a home Internet connection (we moved) so it takes a lot more motivation to post things. I am currently working on the final drawing for page 10 (and storyboarding page 32!!). Here is page 7 for your viewing pleasure. I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to manage the lettering. I may have to do it the tedious old fashioned way....with a pen! On this page Izzy (the heroine) is explaining to the viewer that the sinister looking Mr. Soot is actually OK, even though he sports a roguish set of mutton chops.

Captain Ferdinand Poses for his Mother

I think I am going to start chronicling the many adventures of Captain Ferdinand. I have been wanting to do smaller charcoal drawings while I have down time at work, and I think this idea will be an excellent outlet for practice. Ideally this would be a weekly adventure, but I know me...so this may be a bi-monthly adventure.

Next week: "Captain Ferdinand Jousts a Plum, Mistaking it for the Head of the Black Knight!!"

Capitalism, the greatest monster of ALL!!

Well, I was inspired by my friend Josh and decided to create an etsy account to sell off some of the old (and some of the new) artwork that has piled up in my portfolio. I have added the link in the top left corner of the site, it is also here:

3redheadstudios.etsy.com

Page 5 question

I just wrapped up page five! Unfortunately, I can't decide whether I like the image with a motion blur connecting the girls path or not. Anybody looking at this should give me their two cents about it (the ol' wife says she may like it more or may not...not helpful).

Comic

Well, I've been drawing up a storm when I get the chance. I am currently working on page 4 of my comic. Here is page 2, which I think I am going to keep as is (I'd show page one but there are some edits I need to do). I am happy with my decision to re-draw the comic in charcoal. I feel way more confident working in black and white than I do working in color. Kazu Kibuishi once said that making a graphic novel is like working on the worlds slowest typewriter, something I am finding painfully (and joyfully, I suppose) true.

Comic Book Cover

Here is the cover I've been working on for my comic book (look for it to be rejected soon!).

Done?

Well, I think I'm done with it...at least for now. I think I am going to play with coloring it digitally, but I imagine it will look best as is.

Progress shot

Well, visiting family comes first so my progress is a little slow as of late. This week has been spent with Ash's family and and next week is dedicated to my family, so who knows when I'll finally finish this thing. I am mostly pleased with my progress though. Working with charcoal has its own rewards and punishing punishments (especially with the paper). I am enjoying slowly building up the glowing quality of the boys night light and the dramatic shadows it allows for. Unfortunately I am going to have to lose the glow on the dragon's neck, which I fell in love with and can't bring myself to darken up.

Charcoal!!

I have re-discovered a long lost medium! Aparantly its called charcoal and involves drawing with burnt sticks!! It is absolutely wonderful to draw with. I decided to take a brief break from my children's book and do a big charcoal drawing for the fun of it. And I am having a LOT of fun with. The drawing is 22 x 30, so it is going to take some time. But, I am about half way done in two days of intensive drawing.

Vote for MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

This is my design for a T-shirt for www.threadless.com, all 5 people that look at this blog should join the sight, and vote for me(in a week hopefully, once the site clears it for voting). It's called "Tyranosaurus Rex in Sheep's Clothing". If I win, maybe I'll send you a t-shirt!

Busy Day

Well, it seems the bottle opener was a great success, since I just finished my 4th children's book painting. That makes me....ONE QUARTER OF THE WAY THERE!!!!

Character Sketch

I found out that publishing companies recomend illustrating a popular fairytale as part of the application process. Made sense to me, so I started sketching up a design for my version of "The Emperor's New Clothes". Not quite enough foppish arrogance, but its a start.

Studio Improvement!

As a struggling artist, I find it important to make your studio environment as inviting as possible. That way, you WANT to spend all your freetime there, and hopefully while you're in there you create somehing. That said, I have installed the official Three Redhead Studios bottle opener conveniently located next to my drafting table.

Dog Art

Now, whenever people ask: "Why on earth would you get an art degree? Isn't that just for chumps?" I can laugh in their face and point to my success as a DOG ARTIST!!! For the second year I was asked to design the artwork for the pint glasses for the Pug Crawl....this year the theme is Pugstock. Get it? Its like Woodstock but for pugs. Oh success, you taste so sweet.

Sweden and Helsinki

I thought I'd share some of our travel journal from our recent trip to Sweden and Finland, who knows how long it will take to finish gluing everything in.

beer time

When I get back home from an exotic arctic adventure, the first thing I do is sit back and enjoy a cold, crisp Slingshot ale.

Slingshot is out and it is a milestone for me, since it is my very first REAL commercial product that I worked on. The little man running, the hat, and the slinghot on the neck were drawn by yours truely (about 40 times, since the art director liked seeing his options).

So, when you're at the grocery store, choose Slingshot! At 6.2 abv, it'll get ya drunk!!

Temple of DOOM

Ash and I leave for Sweden in a week! This is the title page for our travel journal (which Josh bound for us). I am not sure what to title our adventure, the wedding invite was "Engagement with DANGER!!" so I imagine it will be something along those lines. If anybody can think of a good name I'll bring you back a smorgesborg. I would like vikings in the title, something like "Mike and Ashley in THE VIKINGS REVENGE" or "Mike and Ashley in THE VIKING CONSPIRACY" or "MIKE AND ASHLEY vs THE VIKING'S!"

MacTarnahands!

I've decided to draw with a pen more (like Kuyler and Josh) and am having a lot of fun with it. Unfortunately I'm going to hell for drawing a dead man in this fashion, but it cheered me up during a boring day at work.

children's book

This post is for Kuyler, its a sketch for my children's book project. I plan on it being in color, but I am forcing myself to take my time and plan out each image...like an adult. I wasn't planning on doing such a rendered sketch, it just kept growing. The final will have the boy and dog making eye contact.

Tried a new style of coloring for the comic, a little more painterly. Feel free to leave thoughts.

Trip to the coast

Went to the coast for the long weekend with some friends. Was able to do two sketches before my friends noticed (nobody I know likes to be drawn).

More pages...

Here is another page from my graphic novel project. I am not too sure about the colors, so if anybody has any thoughts please feel free to chime in since I would like to use this site as an opportunity for an online critique. I guess I'm worried the color is too flat.

Here is page one from my upcoming graphic novel, which should hit shelves around 2032. Supplies are limited so you might want to preorder now....

Death in a Field (after Bergman)

I just wrapped up my latest woodcut that I am submitting to a show at Oregon State. I did the drawing for this right after I watched "The Seventh Seal".

Here is a color study of a character from a comic book that will most likely never see the light of day...at least not light outside of my studio.

Day One

I finally found a way to have a sketch dump without having to befriend a web developer or sit down and learn dreamweaver!