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! 

Princess Aura

For quite some time I was very active in the segment of the model building hobby known as figure kits -- or sometimes resin kits -- or even "garage" kits -- as the models in question are often created by hand in someone's garage -- casting a small scale figural sculpt in resin using silicone rubber molds.  In recent years, my teaching and comic book schedule has mostly kept me away from the modeling table.  However, upon getting my hands on this amazing kit, I couldn't resist getting back in the swing and building and painting it right away.  This is Princess Aura as portrayed by Ornella Muti in the 1980 film version of  "Flash Gordon."  The kit was produced by Charlie "Mad Dog" Dunton and sculpted by Chuck "2 Bit" Needham.  For my money, there's no better sculpted kit ever produced in the hobby.  It features an amazing likeness and an eerily life-like like quality.  The pose and anatomy are spot on -- and the attention to detail is stunning.  It was a pleasure to assemble and paint, and I'm thrilled to finally have this one on my shelf.