Faces - ManBat

Just a quick one for today. Hope y'all enjoy!

D

Random

Just some miscellaneous sketches

Faces - Beast

Kudos to whomever designed this version of the Beast. I like this design MUCH better than the version used throughout the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Here, he looks cat-like rather than just having ambiguously beastial features. Because they decided on a certain animal, I feel that now a much larger range of emotion can be achieved with the character's face.

Actually, when I was little and first getting into comics, the characters of Beast and Logan (Wolverine when not in his costume) confused the hell out of me due to their similar hair, ESPECIALLY when they were on the same team. I would think, how did Wolverine suddenly turn blue and (even more) hairy?! Is it a clone? How, Jim Lee?!?!?! HOW?!?!?!

I think this is my favorite out of the sketches so far.

Faces - Two Nightcrawlers

...and Nightcrawler, too. Waiting there for me, yes I do...

Yes, the first attempt (the dark one) is a mess. I feel like I was looking too much at too many artists' takes on this character, which is why he looks so... combined. First of all, I used that silly middle-of-the-face shadow, as if light sources are constantly hitting his face at equal distances from the left and right. I don't have a problem with this, its just that most of the artists who have pulled this look off are old-school rough layout pencilers and brush-only inkers. Like old John Romita, Jr. style. However, since I usually pencil tightly and use a brush pen which can achieve very fine detail, I don't think this look is conducive to my style.

I like the second attempt better, but still do not feel that I have captured the essence of this character's face yet. His face is still too long and narrow and structured. Too 'model-ish.' Even though he has fangs and pointy ears, he does not read as an elf to me. The general shape of his head needs to be more egg-like and less square. However, I do like the texture of the hair more on this one than the first.

I'll have to keep trying with Nightcrawler until I get him right. Alicia, wanna show me how it's done? :)

Impending Doom Acrylic Sketch

Was just playing around with some acrylics and cardboard and created this little apocalyptic scene. Originally, behind the wall of fire, I intended to put a pile of lawnmower gas cans. However, because this piece was immediate and suffers from lack of planning, the composition and colors didn't reflect the chaos that I wanted. I am happy with the way the two characters are painted as well as how they are interacting. (The bird figure is laying pill eggs that the sea monster is trying to catch. Should he catch them, his body will be restored and he will have a better chance of escaping the insanity and doom.)

After this piece was scanned, I did a slight color adjustment on the background in photoshop.

Faces - Darby Crash

This one is a departure from the rest, just because I felt like doing something different and because this sketch is serving as a study for an upcoming illustration. This is Darby Crash, co-founder of classic punk band The Germs. This was the first time I have shaded a drawing with a pencil in years, and I'm pretty pleased with the results.

I worked from a photograph, but slightly exaggerated the facial features to give the drawing more character. Which, to some, may make it seem like I worked from a photograph even more.

Don't be like that.

Faces - Commissioner Dolan

This is another quickie, this time of pipe-gnawing Commissioner Dolan from Will Eisner's 'The Spirit.' I drew his face a little thinner than his current incarnation as drawn by Darwyn Cooke, but the square jaw and squinty irritation are there. His facial structure sort of reminds me of a less exaggerated Popeye, not to mention the pipe.

Faces - Kid Flash

I think i'm going to go back and add some color to these, maybe just some white colored pencil highlights. I'll definitely be doing this on upcoming sketches as well. I'll have to adjust the levels in Photoshop, too, so the paper reads better as being an almost-midtone grey.

Faces - Doctor Octopus

DORK!!!

Man, with a name as cool sounding as Doctor Octopus, I think Marvel really missed the boat on this guy in terms of his look. He looks like he's in a custodial one-piece with a turtle-neck underneath.

Yes, I know all those early villains had a bright, colorful, amusement park funhouse look to them, but most were eventually transitioned into something a little darker and scarier. This guy still has that really mod, 60's vibe about him. Sure, the second SpiderMan movie did a good job interpreting him for the silver screen, but in comics he still sticks out like a sore thumb as being too hokey and unthreatening.

Faces - Namor

I've decided for the next little while, my daily sketches (not all, but at least one of them) will be devoted to practicing faces. I'm starting off with guys, then doing a week of girls, and then maybe a week of freaks, monsters and robots. The purpose of these sketches is to become proficient in drawing all sorts of faces. For instance, in my week of guys, there will be a young guy (boyish), an old man, etc., with varying facial features such as an oval shaped head, round head, square jaw and pointy jaw. Same goes for the girls.

Each sketch will also be limited to about 15 minutes and will serve to help me become more aquainted with my brush-pen as my inking skills need work too.

Here's Namor.

I'm Back.

And yes, my head feels much better now, thank you. I've just completed a few large projects and am looking forward to once again updating my blog on a regular basis. Look for more sketches, comics stuff and personal pieces rollin outta this blog on a daily (well, no promises... let's say 'weekly,' -- just to cover my ass) schedule.