The Return of Dr. Sketchy's!

So I've been a little busy. I'm currently juggling three comics projects (it had been four!), and that's left little time to add anything to this blog. My apologies for going so long between posts. I'll do my best not to let that happen again. I appreciate all of you who stop here to see my art and the other "cool stuff" that I post, so I don't want to leave you with nothing new for such a long time.

Today I took a break from work and attended the local Dr. Sketchy's session. I hadn't gone for months, so it was a real treat to be an "art monkey" once again! I wasn't the only pro in the crowd -- Steve Fastner was there, too. I didn't get to see any of his sketches -- but I'd bet they were sweet! For those of you unfamiliar with the work of Fastner and Larson, check out their website HERE.

Our model today was the lovely Ophelia Flame -- she gave us some great poses and was a joy to draw. Below are some of my drawings from the session.

First up are a series of four two minute figures. That's just enough time to get a quick, rough pose down on paper -- no details, just the basic structure. We did several five minute poses -- but I didn't care for the results, so I'm passing on posting those here.

Fifteen minutes gives me enough time to get a near finished drawing done -- though it's a race to the finish, and I feel the pressure to "get it right" as the clock ticks. I especially like the legs in this one.
For this pose, we got thirty minutes total -- with a very short break at fifteen. At the break, I had a black and white drawing mostly done -- so I spent the next fifteen adding color. I'd have liked a little more time to refine this -- but am fairly pleased with it. It did win me a bag of art supplies from Sketchy's sponsor Dick Blick -- so I guess I did something right.

And for those concerned about such things -- she is wearing "pasties" -- so all "naughty bits" are covered -- OK?

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More commissions!

Though my schedule is crammed full of comic book work, I managed to sneak a few more commissions in this week.  My recent Orion Vs. Darkseid piece must have caught the eye of the client who requested I draw a Jack Kirby-style Orion.  I tried to push the Kirby look a little more this time -- using more of his patented "squiggles."  I wasn't completely happy with the pose in my initial pencil sketch, thinking it a little stiff -- so when I transfered it to bristol, I reworked the legs.

I think this gives the figure a stronger line of motion, and makes for a better drawing -- judge for yourself -- the inked version is shown below, followed by the full color finished piece.

I'd drawn Golden Age comic book hero Doctor Mid-Nite for a previous client -- but this this time I was asked to add a new element.  Doc now has a sidekick based on the original (pre-Barbara Gordon) Bat Girl - dropping the (few) Bat-elements of her costume.  From initial sketch to finished piece, I moved Mid-Nite Girl (?) over a bit, so the figures weren't touching.  I'm quite pleased with Doc's jaunty running pose!

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Darkseid Vs. Orion

I haven't done many commissions lately -- being busy drawing the Return to Perdition graphic novel and inking a special project -- but I couldn't resist this request to draw a Kirby-esque confrontation between Darkseid and Orion.  In this moment, it seems the older generation has the upper hand -- but obviously, there's more to the story....

For those who like to see the process, I've included scans of the (not quite finished) pencils and the inks as well as the final color piece.  The pencils were drawn at a smaller size and then enlarged in Photoshop, then transferred to a larger board for inks and color.

Artists and Models -- 1937

I noticed the other day that TCM had Artists and Models scheduled, and so I set my DVR to record it.  I assumed it was the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis movie of that title -- which is about the comic book business -- and has lots of fun comic book content ("The Bat-Lady!") -- but I was mistaken.  What was shown was the 1937 Jack  Benny vehicle with the same title.  I'd known about this film -- having a piece of sheet music from it in my collection, but had never seen it.  I bought the sheet music, because it featured Benny (one of my favorite comedians) and also artwork by the great cartoonist Russell Patterson. If I had any idea what box it was stored in, I'd dig it out and scan it and include it here, but I'm not in the mood to go tearing through my storage closet right now.  

Anyhow -- turns out that the '37 Artists and Models is not a very good movie -- despite being directed by Raoul Walsh and having such talents as Jack Benny and Ida Lupino in it.  But it is of interest to artists and art fiends, because it features appearances by Russell Patterson, John  LaGatta, Rube Goldberg, McClelland Barclay, Arthur William Brown and the great New Yorker panel cartoonist Peter Arno.  There's also a bizarre musical number featuring puppets designed by Patterson, including "Esky,"  the Esquire magazine mascot. 

So that you don't have to suffer through this lousy movie to see the cool parts, I took some screen shots, and am sharing them here.

The titles have Russell Patterson images throughout.

The artists on stage at the Artists and Models ball.

John LaGatta.

Russell Patterson

Rube Goldberg

Goldberg with Jack Benny

McClelland Barclay

Peter Arno's drawing

Benny and Arno

Arthur William Brown

Benny and Patterson

Benny and LaGatta -- Brown in background

Benny and Barclay

Patterson-designed puppets musical number

Esky!

That's all, folks!

SCARY MONSTERS A-GO-GO!

Another Scary Monsters wraparound cover illustration done!  This is pencil, ink and Photoshop -- not a bit of paint, this time.  All images are from the ultra low budget flick,Monster A Go-Go!

My "Wolfmen" cover  for Scary Monsters #72 has been nominated for a Rondo Hatton Award -- you can see the ballot HERE.

Podcast interview

Kurt Parsons interviewed me for a podcast on his website.  There are also interviews with other cartoonists, including Gene Colan.  Check it out HERE.  That's all!

(Link fixed -- thanks to Jim Keefe!)