Friday 17 August 2012

First Look: Cover: The Sigillite

So, here's the first of a few new artworks revealed over on the Black Library blog, my cover for Chris Wraight's new audio drama, 'The Sigillite':

(Above)
Malcador, The Sigillite.
Wait... what are those two skulls with the II and XI there for...?

Here's a few close up shots showing the details in more... umm, detail:

(Above)
Strange icons floating above old hands...



(Above)
A flaming 'Aquila' atop a staff, 
great for going to the lavatory at night.




So there you go! Something to chew over until next week, whereupon we shall be riffing on Hot Fuzz and getting all moody in the caves under Calth...

Until then, my friends!


Monday 30 July 2012

Cover: Judge Dredd Megazine: Issue 326

Well, it's been a long time, hasn't it!

I've been away on secondment recently to Holy Terra, drawing some people fighting - but more about that another time...

In the meantime, here's my cover for this months Judge Dredd Megazine: Issue 326 - "Big Trouble in Hondo-City":

 

(Above)
The final cover, I love that tagline...

The brief was as follows:

"..a giant rampaging monster roaring, destruction all around, with... Inaba and Junko small by comparison in the foreground on their hoverbikes, facing him down..."

I gathered a few reference materials*, namely the fantastic 80's kaiju posters by posters by Noriyoshi Ohrai and others...


(Above)
A selection of reference materials, 
which all serve to influence my ideas.


As always, I started with a thumbnail, or thumbnails in this case, which were sent to Tharg for approval/ revisions: 


(Above)
My two initial ideas, 
I don't like top stray too far from the agreed thumbnail, 
that wouldn't be very professional, would it...

Tharg liked the second one, which had more interaction in the image, which always makes for a dynamic cover.

I might add that I didn't use any reference photos this time, as I wanted to keep this a strictly fantastical affair - I just wanted to try painting my way out of any problems on this one...

After that, we jump a few stages (namely blowing up the pic in Photoshop and painting over it in finer detail - and then painting A BIT MORE) on to the final piece:


(Above)
The final image in all it's technicolour glory ;)

So, feel free to go and buy a copy, support your home-grown comic publishers, writers and artists, enjoy the stories and then buy the next issue.

That's that, until next time, where I think I'll be talking about Paris Comic Con...


*Alas, no gurning in this one, sorry Pete ;)


Monday 18 June 2012

Last in, first out...

So, by way of kick-starting my blog, Nikki Sixx OD'ing style, I'm going to start by posting my most recent items first.

First up is a sample from this weekends Dr Sketchy sessions, where we were treated to performances and poses by the stunning Beatrix Von Bourbon and funny Velma Von Bon Bon and others...

(Above)
Beatrix Von Bourbon
5min study
Graphite on paper

I've recently been reading up on my Golden Age illustrators and I'd like to think that their influence is creeping into my work in some small way.

Onwards and upwards!



Wednesday 13 June 2012

Holy Blog, Batman!

Right, the blog has been dormant too long now... time to remedy that...

PROPER POSTS INCOMING!
 (...in the next few days)

Thursday 8 March 2012

Cover: 2000AD Prog 1773

Another week and another cover for The Galaxies Greatest Comic!

(Above)
2000AD: Prog 1773

You know the drill... first some sketches, references (incl. gurning) and painting - Et voilĂ ! You have a cover...!

 (Above)
Quick sketches, using the cover template 
as a guide for placement. I kept the colours 
minimal for effect and also give the droids 
some room to play with design and palettes...

 (Above)
 Let the gurning commence! 
Good reference can be invaluable.
Also, it can look silly.
But it's still invaluable...

  
 (Above)
Many hours later, here's the final result. 
Lots of painting and resizing of Dante's pupils 
to get the right mix of terror and pain...

 
(Above)
Dante, on the cover. 
A brilliant story - I'm proud to be a small part of it.

...and a Very Happy (Belated) 35th Birthday to Tharg and his Droids at 2000AD - Thank you for being the best and most consistently brilliant comic going and long may you reign over us ;)



HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

That's all for now, currently on the drawing board - Jetbikes vs Orks...

Wednesday 8 February 2012