The Penguin

Ten Ton sketch challenge prompt again.  I've never drawn the Penguin, but thought he was creepy enough to try.  I started with a base of reference using nature photos and some images from comic books.  I tried to make him more penguin and less like a man dressed as a penguin.  1 hour painting session compressed into an 11 minute video.  One of these days I'll record audio commentary over one so I can explain a bit better why I did something or how something is not working for me.  For now, you get the silent treatment. :)

Ten Ton Power Girl

Inspired by the weekly Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge.  I don't draw women much or well, so this turned out better than I expected for me.  Still think I broke her spine by twisting her so much and the legs need a lot of work, but I'll let it go for now.

All digital in Photoshop with Wacom Intuos2 tablet.

Rough

Tightened up

Maybe final?

Digital Drawings and 2010

Didn't do much sharable work over the holidays.  But now it's January and like most people I feel compelled to make a better, more productive life out of the next 365 days.  Here are a few digital drawings I did based somewhat on the technique concepts presented by my previous collaborator and now DC exclusive artist, Freddie E. Williams, II in his book The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing Comics. I see a bit of Frank Miller in the first one, but I did a lot more refined and tapered line in the second one, so a lot of that influence got hidden there. 

Done in Adobe Photoshop CS4 with a Wacom Inutos2 9x12 tablet.

Good luck in 2010.

Aquaman

I don't think I've ever drawn Aquaman before.  This one is also for the Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge.  Done 11x17 with HB and 2B graphite.

As you can see, I'm still trying to work through lots of anatomy issues and continue to struggle with hands.  I used the wrapping lines a bit more decisively than in the Green Lantern picture, but still working to get them to help define the forms and not creating too much surface texture.

I've been working digitally more in the past few years with my Wacom Intuos2 in Adobe PhotoShop.  This has spoiled me in some ways.  Mainly, if I draw something too small or just plain wrong I can re-size or add  layer on top and draw over it.  Can't do that in traditional ways as easily.  Unfortunately, the Ten Ton challenges are for traditional media only, so the digital isn't an option.  I supposed I could work it all out digitally, print it, lightbox it, and finish it that way--but that's way too much work for a sketch.  Plus this is good practice for doing convention sketches.  That said, I'd still love to get my hands on a Wacom Cintiq 21ux and do the majority of my work on that. :)

Hal Jordan: Green Lantern

I am trying to participate in the Ten Ton Studios website sketch challenge more.  This week is Green Lantern.

I've been studying Vilppu lately.  He sometimes draws around the form to help define how it recedes or protrudes into space.  I'm starting to incorporate some of that idea into my drawings.  I still have anatomy work and a host of other issues to confront, but study is helping and these practices are extremely valuable exercises, too.

Flash

Flash sketch for the Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge.