Flashes

These are some simple digital sketches. There will be more coming as soon as I can get classes to let up. Hey... at least I posted. That's a big deal for a jerk like me.
Pray for the men who don't have jobs. And the ladies too.

Twoface

This is Mike's villain from last week's freesketch. I know I'm not posting as often as I was... But life is resuming the lightening speed that it was at a while back.
No I'm not excited about not being able to draw or paint for months on end.
However, I'm glad to have work right now.
Pray for the men who are having trouble taking care of their families. Better yet, give some money to a good Church so that they can help those folks.
Bless you all.

Free Sketch: DC Villians

Okay- the theme this week is DC Villains.
I'm following Mike's retrocowboyart.blogspot.com lead with moving to the sketchcards. You might get a pencil, inked, colored, or watercolored card. If you want the original, it's yours if you just send money for postage or if you hit me up for it at a convention. Otherwise, you live with a scan. You've gotta post your request as a response to this posting. And you've got to do it by Wednesday at Midnight EST.
I'll do as many of them as I can get to in a week. If I don't get to yours, try again next week. The free sketch day is random.
I hope somebody requests at least one.

Free Sketch: Thor

This is one of the Avengers sketches from last week. I've had it done since Thursday, but didn't have the time to scan it.

It's a little watercolor done for Dub T on Deviant Art. I hope you guys enjoy it. ;-)

Darker Lines

Do the darker lines help? I like the pastels... but I'm thinking that the darker lines help to solidify the image some.

Sandman

This is the inks & colors of Sandman so far. I've got a plan for this to be a much more complex image in the end. We'll see if I end up getting to do it though.

Hawkgirl Watercolor

This was a Hawkgirl watercolor sketch that I did for some friends who get sketches pretty regularly at conventions. It was one of the first few pieces that I did on hot press illustration board. Although complex, she was great fun to paint. I hope you likes it. ;-)

By the Power of Greyskull!!

This was a sketch that J told me to do at our D&D. I already spoke about how much fun it was.
If you're visiting this blog, then you should also visit Jason's over at crossbetweenthelines.blogspot.com and Mike's at retrocowboyart.blogspot.com

Day at the Beach

This is a Sandman Sketch that I did while Mike, J and myself were doing our D&D a couple of weeks ago. That was one of the best days of summer for me. I already miss it.

You can dance, you can jive,

.... having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing Thing...

That's right, Ben can boogie.

Surfing with the Muncher

I actually watercolored this little monster. It was a stupid thing to do really. It was like a four or five hour sketch because of the watercolors. It's not the first time that being overly ambitious has gotten the best of me. Nevertheless, I still dig the way the negative spaces work in the overall design.

MM2 Wolverine

Yeah I'm posting cards from 2008 right now. I know it seems kinda lame, but I'm working on other things right now. I hope you're diggin' the cards.

MM2 Colossus

This was one of my MM2 Sketchcards. My scanner was down throughout the majority of the time that I was doing these. As a result most of my copies stink. However, the good fellow who pulled it, actually sent me a copy of it.

Grimshaw Vectors

Here's the vector version of the Grimshaw sketch that a posted a while back. I really want to be pencilling this stuff. But my buddy, Tiberius the Scribe, is busy getting settled right now.

Free Headsketch: Avengers

Avengers is the topic for this weeks free headsketch. If you'd like one, please request it to this thread. Requests end Tuesday night at Midnight.

Darksied

Here's Saturday's image a little early. It's from Wednesday's D&D too. Hope you can enjoy it.

It's Been a Good Week

My schedule is usually pretty full with all kinds of things. Mostly making a living teaching. And I mean FILLED STINKIN' UP. However, this week has really been great for me. I got to spend several hours sitting and sketching with two of my very best friends. (Only Matt was missing. Will doesn't draw or write.) These opportunities are really few and far between for me these days. I took my two oldest kids swimming this week too. And tonight, my wife and I got the opportunity to go out to dinner and a movie with Jason and his wife. It was relaxing and fun, and precious time with people we love. I thank God for time like this.
Here is one of the sketches that I did when we did the Dine'n Draw Wednesday.

Planet Hulk

This was a Planet Hulk sketch that I did for a Michael D. at Heroes this summer. It was really a fun sketch to get too.

Free Headsketch Day!

JUSTICE LEAGUE is the subject for this weeks free headsketch! So pick your character and get your sketch. Not all will be watercolor, but some will. Some will just be pen and ink, some will just be pencil. But feel free to make a request and I'll get to it as soon as possible.

The request ends at midnight tonight. Post a response to this post in order to get your sketch. The rules are basically the same as before.

Hermione

This was the watercolor from last week. It doesn't look much like her I know. But it always takes me a few sketches to get someone right. I'm going to post the new subject today. And Some headsketches will be just pencil, or ink or whatever... Not all watercolors.

Daredevil

This was one of the cards that I did for the MM2 sketchcards.
It wasn't great, but it fetched a nice price on Ebay when I caught it there last year. I still have a couple of blanks left too. I may take some of these and vectorize them.

Stallone

Done for fun. And for Zablo.
I'm actually a genuine Stallone fan. Not only do I think the guy made some of the best, or at least most entertaining, movies of my generation, but he's actually freaking brilliant. He can write, direct, paint, and act. Yes, I said Stallone can act. Not just deliver lines. But really act. I don't care if you think so. Z and I agree.

Toobin

This is what I do in front of the television with my wife. I know it's stoopid. but it's fun too.

Another Con Sketch

You'd think that I have like a zillion of these kinds of things hanging around. But I honestly don't. Most folks that I ask to send me a copy of the convention sketch that I do for them, end up forgetting to send it. I remember being excited to actually get the chance to draw Conan. He's an incredibly fun character to draw. I hope to get asked to draw him again soon.

Amethyst

This was a watercolor convention sketch that I did for a fantastic fellow named Darby. It was surprising for me, because I really enjoyed working on it. I had no real interest in the character before that, but I could completely see having some fun with it now.

Old Stuff

This an old page that I pencilled and Keith Barnett inked. I need to do some current stuff. But my schedule has picked up this week and it's difficult to get things done. I'll try to get stuff in next week if possible.

Theme: Harry Potter Movies

Okay, how could I start a thing like a free Head Sketch day without actually beginning it today?
And how could I have a theme that wasn't Harry Potter when the new movie starts tomorrow?

So the first five folks to respond to this by asking for a free sketch and designating the Harry Potter character of their choice will get it. I'll post the sketches to this blog and maybe to Deviant Art too. If the queue isn't full, feel free to send a friend. It's meant to give me some practice, while having some fun.

Something Different

I've decided to do something different today. In fact, I'm planning to do this every week until September, then I'll switch to monthly.
Here's the plan:
Every week for the rest of the summer I'm going to offer 5 free head sketches. The first five people to ask for a head sketch, on the selected day will receive a free watercolor head sketch of the character of their choice from the theme of the week. Some will be tight, some will be loose, but all will be free.
The day that I offer the theme will be random. And it will only be available from the time that I post until midnight or until all 5 slots are filled up. If only one person makes a request, then I only do one head sketch. The request must be a response to the specific post for that week's call.

Since I'm not going to pay for shipping, how will you get the sketch? You can do one of a few things:
1. You can accept the digital image as your sketch
2. You can pick up your sketch at one of the conventions that I attend
3. You can pay for the postage plus a couple of bucks for my trouble and I'll send it out to you

This should be cool and fun. I hope you dig it!

Cavewoman

This was a convention sketch that I couldn't finish during Heroes 2008. I finished it about three or four weeks later. It was done with Mike's Copic Markers. Although her body is a little jacked up, there are some things that I like about it. And the guy that I did it for, Billy, is a great guy.

She Hulk

It wasn't one of the best Masterpiece Cards that I did, but it was fun to do and came out alright. I hope you dig it.

Another Grimshaw

I might paint this image at some point soon.. we'll see what happens. Been raining here. Thus, there's been no time to take the kids swimming over the past few days. Stinks.

Streaking

This was an old drawing that I did for White Wolf Games. I'm working on other things right now. So I thought a quick post would be good for me to keep up my streak right now.

Higashi

This was a commission for a friend of mine that I've had for ages. I normally do commissions a lot faster than the time it's taken me to get this done. But John has such a strong portfolio of sketches, that it's been pretty intimidating to begin. I've begun the painting numerous times. And the last one I still intend to finish as a gift for him. But the commission, which has been hanging around my neck for some time, fulfills the obligation. (Aptly I hope!) And I hope you like it too.

Oh... and this isn't the whole image. But my 11"x17" scanner stopped working last year and I can't see replacing it right now.

Amalgamation

This is an amalgamation of that sketch that I posted the other day and a World's finest image that I've been sitting on for a good while now. Hope you like it!

Grimshaw Sketch

These are sketches of the Doc Odyssey project that Jason, Mike, Matt and myself are planning. This is one of my versions of Grimshaw. I don't think he should look too much like the traditional character he's based on, but it should be clear who the character is too though. The Doc O is just one possibility as well.
My process for illustration is remarkably slow. But I'll probably vectorize the Grimshaw soon.

Digital Sketch

You know, when I look at this blog I notice that it's like the rest of my career in that it has no singular sense of focus. Perhaps a greater emphasis on one aspect or, one genre, or one discipline even would help me out. At this point, that seems impossible for me though. I'm easily bored with my own work.
I did this little digital sketch some time ago. It's not great. But I'm trying to post everyday.

Maybe it's too much with the sketches...

Though there's not much to these sketchpages, there are a few things that I like about them. Again, it's the effortless quality of my sketches that tends to be missing from my finished work. But I'm really working on getting that fixed right now. We'll see how the coming weeks change it. Thanks for checkin' out my stuff.

Clark

I think I'm gonna make a vector of the Clark there... And put to good use an earlier version of Superman that I completed quite some time ago.

More Sketches

I told you guys that I'd be posting more sketchbook pages. I know the image size is weird, but I didn't think you'd want to be reading my complete thoughts on the world so I cropped that jive out. Thus, you just get the sketches. I hope you enjoy. ;-)

Aquaman in Vector

Gee Whiz!!! This thing took me forever. I thought I'd post it early this morning, but I just kept fiddling with stuff. And the fiddling was interrupted, and the interruptions were interrupted, and the fiddling became frustration, etc. etc. etc. You know the story.
At any rate, I still haven't been able to decide which one I like better: the one with thick outlines or the one with a consistent line weight. Please feel free to offer your opinion... just be sure to decide what you think before you look at the opinion of anyone else. Thanks for taking the time.

Old Con Sketch

This was a convention sketch that I did in 2008 for Jeff Tsang. I might end up vectorizing it like the Deadpool, Wolverine, and Aquaman. We'll see what comes of it. I hope you enjoy it.

Sketchbook

I'm not much a fan of my own work to be quite honest. In fact, there's not much that I like in my own finished work, though I admittedly take pride in those pieces and parts that are successful for me. One of the things that I like are my sketchbook pages. The rough, ragged and unfinished thoughts of images are probably more representative of how I'd like to be working than how I actually finish an image.
I hope you can enjoy it. I know it's kinda weird.
I'll probably be posting more of this kind of thing soon too.

Aqualines

Yes, I've returned to the Aquaman sketch from some time ago. Although it might look like I just added bubbles, the entire image is actually now vectorized. I should be posting colors and shadows by tomorrow. Thanks for taking the time to view it.

Gambit Sketchcard

This was a card that I worked on Saturday during Heroes Con. Although it's not perfect, it was a fun sketch to do at the convention. And the whole con was really a blast. The most surprising thing is that I didn't spend the whole weekend working... I actually got out and relaxed with some friends a little.

Wolverine Vectors

I know, I know, I know.... It's been forever. But I'm really going to be getting on this blog regularly. At least for the summer. Well, as soon as I return from vacation that is. In the meantime, this is the most recent piece that I've finished. It's a vector image of the Wolverine sketch that I posted some time ago. I hope you enjoy it. There will be a detailed image forthcoming soon as well.
Oh yeah!! I'm just about finished with Higashi's Star Wars painting too! I'll post an image of that when it's done too. Yes... it's mighty productive for me.
Thanks for taking the time to view my work. Critique and comments are always welcome.

Aquaman needs bubbles....

This is the Aquaman sketch that J said I should post. It's loaded with imperfections, but it has some promise I guess. It's based on the marker sketch that I posted earlier this year on the blog.
Thanks for taking the time to check it.

Look it's a "bub"

Yeah... I know.... Wolverine. Everyone does him. So what could I possible add to it. Nothin'. But I wanted to post and this is the only half decent sketch that I can muster right now. I've got a couple of other things that I'm trying to get to a place where I can scan them for you guys to view. But stealing 15 minutes to do something like this is just getting harder and harder as the weeks roll by.
Thanks for checking this one out though.

Here's the background for the Thundarr. I know it looks weird and crummy right now. But it'll look cool when I get done. I've got a new sketch for Thundarr's pose that I like more now too.

Hey there you massive throngs of fans. Here's the Thundarr sketch for this Illustration. I'll post the background soon. I've also got some sketches for the Doc Odyssey project that we're working on too. But I don't have time to scan everything tonight. As you might be able to tell...I'm pretty busy right now. I, quite regrettably, wasn't able to make it to MegaCon this year. I miss it desperately. But it's cool to not be poor right now.

The Monkeys

These are the apes that Thundarr, Ariel and Ucla the Mok will be battling in the Thundarr drawing. Hopefully they'll all come out okay. I was initially planning to make them all robot monkeys... but I'm not so sure that I'll do that now. Thundar and the Mok should be coming to you shortly. I hope you enjoy.

Well, my scanner is kinda botched after all. So I'm posting an old image for now. yay.
This was just a pencil sketch for the MM2 sketchcards. It's a little raw, but it came out okay. I hope you enjoy it.

Simple Markers

I've been doing some sketches with slim tipped markers in my sketchbook. They don't look superb or anything, but they're fun and kinda lively. I hope you guys can enjoy them. They're really fun to do.
Most of the things that I'll be posting for the coming weeks will be simple sketches like these. I'll post some more of the Thundarr image as it progresses too.
Obviously... I got the scanner to kinda work. It's a pain still though.