Reference

Lately I've been forcing myself to use more and more reference photos to add an extra layer of realism to my comics and illustrations. While I love to just make stuff up when I draw, when it comes to people they tend to all look similar (as in, they all end up looking sort of like me....my number one model).  This year I asked for people to send me some reference photos of themselves acting like zombies, and now they are mildly immortal because they are in The Salamander King #2.

This is my good friend (and one time room mate) Cat:

She's cuter in real life, I swear. And, here she is in SK #2:

And, here we have her friend Eric who I don't know but is a sport for doing this:

And here he is in the comic:

You can also see the top of my niece's head, but the drawing didn't end up looking too much like her and I don't want you to think less of my drafting abilities by showing what the photo actually looked like. And, as a side note, I'll be sending FREE comics to everybody who graciously sent in their photos. 

Roller Derby Color Variations

Here are some of the other color combo's I tried for the Rose City Roller poster. I'm also working on a T-Shirt version of this image, which is harder than I thought it would be since it has to be 4 colors max.

and

and

 

This is the one they liked the most.

Roller Derby Painting

Well, I had to call it "done" on the Rose City Rollers painting. At least, for the physical painting. I'm not quite sure I'm sold on the background colors, so I've been changing them in Photoshop endlessly. I'll post whatever the final color scheme ends up being.

I must say, I'm thoroughly enjoying acrylic paint.  The next painting is going to be my first mock theater poster, and I'm 50/50 on whether it will be "The Tempest" or "Little Shop of Horrors".  I have what I think are good ideas roughed out for both, so it will probably depend on how fast I can find a friend to pose for reference photos to be my Prospero or Seymour.

Gearing up for Stumptown...and CAPITALISM!!!

The comics are being printed, so now its time to gear up for Stumptown capitalistically! Oh, and FINALLY redesign my website, but I'm really dragging my heals on that one.  In addition to having The Salamander King #1 and #2 for sale, I'll be offering the following prints for sale:

 

I'm having 20 of each made, archival quality that will last longer than you do.  If you are unable to make it to Stumptown this year but are interested in one of these prints, let me know and I'll make some available on etsy prior to the convention. Otherwise, I'll put whatever remains after the show up on etsy in May.

So...close!

Ugh, all I have left are some sound effects and I'm done! I'm really tired of lettering.  I think from now on my motivation for becoming a FULL ON PRO is going to be splurging on hiring a letterer. Or better yet, striking a deal with an art program and making it some sort of internship so that I don't have to pay them at all! Also, I got my new business cards today from overnight pritns and am officially 10% more professional (feeling) because of that.

Special thanks to all of my friends and family that made it to the Stumptown art opening. I just found out that Paul Pope (indy comic icon extrordinaire) will be at this years Stumptown comics fest!  If you haven't read this guy's stuff you're an uncultured uncooth philistine.  His brushwork alone can melt steel. If you're nice and find yourself at my house I'll loan you some of his books (except for Josh, who has had my copy of Omega -drawn and signed by Mr. Farrel Dalrymple who's brushwork rivals that of Mr. Pope's- for almost a year now). I will point out, to any youngsters or sensitive types, that Paul Pope's books are adult orientated.

Oh, and this is a panel of Izzy getting tough. Tough as any 9 year old amateur entomologist can be.

Derby Time

With the comic all scanned in and ready to be assembled, its time I focused my laser-like artistic focus back onto what's really important: Pretty Girls on Roller Skates! Or, PGRS for short.

I just finished the line art and scanned it in to the computer so that I can digitally paint the image if I totally goof up on the acrylic painting. I'm going to try the same charcoal and acrylic method that I did for the squid painting.  This one won't be nearly as dark since Roller Derby makes me think of flashy bright colors.

On a side note, this poster is for the May bout which features Portland's traveling team Wheels of Justice vs the dreaded Seattle team, The Rat City Rollers. I just found out yesterday that my friend Heather, I mean SoulFearic ACID (of the Break Neck Betties) just made the Portland traveling team! So go watch a bout and cheer her on.

Coming Soon...

As of this morning I am finished with all artwork for issue #2! Now for scanning and bordering and lettering and ballooning and all the other stuff that I find tedious.  Below is the drawing for the cover, I was going to add some slick graphic elements, but it ended up looking cluttered so I'm just going to use the drawing by itself.

Also, just a reminder to you Portlanders (and Vancouverers) that tonight is the opening for the Stumptown Comics Fest gallery show downtown at the PCPA's Art Bar at 1111 SW Broadway. There will be drinks and snacks and more nerds than you can shake a stick at.

Note: please don't shake sticks at comic nerds, it brings us out in a rash, induces asthma, and triggers all sorts of scary high school flash backs.