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Justice Society of America

This latest batch of commissioned drawings is for a client who has been having me draw DC's "Golden Age" (or "Earth Two" if you're a comic geek like me) Justice Society of America characters.  Rounding out the collection, we have Hawkman, Wildcat, Mr. Terrific, The Spectre and the Atom.  These were fun to draw, as I've always had a fondness for this crew -- having been introduced to them when they made their annual guest appearances in the 1960s Justice League of America comic book.  As of tonight, this brings me up to date with current commission orders.  If no more orders come in in the next few days, I may be drawing some characters of my own choosing and putting them up for grabs on eBay.  I'm having too much fun doing this to stop right now....! 

Roller Derby meets Art Gallery

I have a piece in this show, opening this Friday.  If you're in the Twin Cities area, please stop by!  Erika and I will be attending the opening reception after stopping by MCAD for the graduate show.  

Three more

Jonah Hex and the Golden Age versions of Sandman  and Starman join the list of finished commissions.  Whew....  I've done a lot of drawing today.

New Commissions -- in progress pics

I'm busy plowing through a long list of commissions that I want to get done before the holidays -- well, actually, before the 20th, since that's the day the lovely Miss Erika Loen and I are getting married.  (See how I snuck that news in there without any fanfare?  Clever, huh?)  With Christmas, a honeymoon and New Year's (and her birthday!) all mixed up in there, I don't figure I'll get a whole lot done from the 20th until a little bit into January!  So until then, I'm drawing up a storm, selling art on eBay, promoting my carnival sideshow figures (available now!) and crossing my fingers all our wedding plans go smoothly.

Now -- here's the newest batch of drawings.  Since some have expressed an interest in my process, here are a couple in progress pics of Crystal and Lockjaw.  After digging up character/costume reference on the web and from my bookshelves, I start with a 5.5 x 8.5 sketchbook and work up a fairly tight pencil prelim (first pic).  I then scan that, enlarge it, print it out at 11 x14 and tighten the image up a bit on the printout -- still in pencil (pic #2).  I then lightbox the pencils onto bristol board (not shown) and go on to ink and color (#3).  I'm not charging enough for these, am I?  

And yes -- as a private joke, I scribbled Kirby's cigar into Lockjaw's mouth.  Just in the prelims.  Yeah -- dogs shouldn't oughta smoke -- but damnit, it's funny how much he looks like Jack....

Then, in descending order, we have Doctor Mid-Nite, Aquaman and Aqualad, Golden Age Flash and Green Arrow.  Couldn't resist the boxing glove arrow.  More posted soon -- keep checking back -- and please leave a comment or two.  I like to know someone's out there! 

Flash, Bettie and.... Jaws?

Here's a piece commissioned by a client who wanted a B&W toned image of the Golden Age Flash rescuing Bettie Page from sharks after riding her bike off a cliff!  Certainly a compositional challenge, this came out looking like a vintage comic book cover -- minus the vintage color, of course.

Crimefighters!

My latest drawings -- a trio of crimefighters!  Seated side by side, reading each other's comic books are Ms. Tree and Will Eisner's Spirit.  About to shoot you with her crossbow, is the Huntress.  More drawings posted soon.  Keep checking back!

Lugosi!

Here's an advance look at my wrap-around illustration for the cover of SCARY MONSTERS #69 -- Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN. 

The latest batch....

More commissions!  Above is the unlikely pairing of detectives Ms. Tree and Ralph Dibney (The Elongated Man).  Below we have my take on the lovlier members of the Inhumans family, Medusa and Crystal.  They're followed by another view of Wild Dog (still mighty popular for a short lived twenty year old comic book series), Adam Strange and Blue Beetle.  I have some more to do -- but still room on the list should anyone want something before Christmas....

As always, click on 'em for a larger view.

More custom drawings

Okay -- it's back to business as usual -- here are some of my latest commissioned sketches.   By request we have Jack Kirby's Mr. Miracle chained to a Nazi bomb, Batwoman from some rough pencil sketches by the late great Dick Sprang, Wild Dog, Hourman,  The Escapist, Ms. Tree, Steve Ditko's The Question and Dr. Fate.  I'm having a great time doing these commissions.  If you'd like to get on my list, please contact me for info.

Boy, oh boy!

This is a 3-D ultrasound profile image of the son that Erika and I are eagerly awaiting. Picture from this morning, Nov 5, 2008.  He's set to arrive March 19, 2009.  Can't wait to meet him....

Kitbuilders Monstrous Weekend photos

No -- not here --- HERE.

On my way to St. Louis....

I've spent all day packing and sorting items to take with me to the Kitbuilders' Monstrous Weekend (see Oct. 11 post).  Here are some pics of the boxed sets of my FREAKS AND ODDITIES, bagged individual figures, and all sorts of models kits and such from my collection that'll be for sale at my table.  Hope I can get it all in the Cruiser!  Hope to see some of you blog readers there. 

Today's commissions

Comic art collectors are certainly keeping me busy with all these commissions -- and here's the latest.  One of the loyal few -- my long-time Wild Dog fans -- wanted to see the Wild one teamed up with the Kyle Rainer Green Lantern -- and though I'm a Hal Jordan man myself, who am I to refuse a fan's request?  This image patterned after the cover of "Hitman" #12 -- at the fan's request.   That's followed by the Thing versus Thor  - Kirby style (of course).

Miniature Sideshow Banner

Above is the miniature sideshow banner print (on 8.5 x 11 canvas paper) I'll be including as an extra for anyone who purchases a complete set of my carnival sideshow figures (shown below).  I'm getting closer to having everything set so I can offer these for sale.  I should have some with me at the Kitbuilders show in St. Louis.

Tura Satana gallery show

Above is Mitch O'Connell's poster for the upcoming Tura Satana-themed art show at the Tattoo Factory Gallery in Chicago.  If you don't know who Tura is, where have you been hiding?  My relief sculpt triptych, "Tura: Black and White and Red All Over" will be part of the show. A long shot of the triptych is seen below, followed by close-ups of the individual panels.  Each panel is about a foot square. These are cast in resin, from a polymer clay sculpt mounted in a vintage frame.  I won't be at the show, darn it all -- but Tura will.  If you're anywhere near Chicago on the 30th, please stop by and see what promises to be an extraordinary collection of pieces from a remarkable line-up of artists.

I will get to meet Tura, however, as she will be a guest at the upcoming Kitbuilders' Monstrous Weekend Oct. 24-26 in St. Louis -- and I'll have a table there, showing my sculpts and comic art.  

And yes, it does look just a little bit like Ms. Tree, doesn't it...?

FallCon sketches

These commissioned drawings will be delivered to their buyers at FallCon this weekend.  From the bottom up,  we have Green Lantern vs. Sinestro, Wild Dog and his unwanted "sidekick," Wild Pup -- and maybe my best Ms. Tree sketch ever.....