jonmcnallyblog

091. Fannie Firecracker

2012-02-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Fannie Firecracker study, 2012, ink with digital color.

I intend to release new Fannie Firecracker comics in 2012, so I've been gettin' reaccustomed to drawin' the gal. It's been a while! This one turned out pretty well ... Heck, I might simply rework it into one of the panels. "Waste not, want not," as they say.

Looking at her design with fresh eyes, I might try making her feet smaller (and maybe her hands also) to further exaggerate the ample parts of her anatomy. Thoughts?

090. Red Riding Hoodie

2012-01-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

Red Riding Hoodie, 2006, mixed media.

I wonder, does this image sufficiently amuse sans awareness of Coppertone's classic branding?

Concept drawings for Red Riding Hoodie, 2006, graphite.

I sketched these prior to working on the colored image above. The lacy gal at left came along before I decided to insert the Coppertone gag. She's cute, yes, but banal also.

2011-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

Captain Codskale character roughs, 2011, graphite.

Meet Captain Codskale, a Mon Calamari free trader in a Star Wars tabletop game I've been running monthly for a handful of friends.

I imagine the good captain with headgear so I drew a few caps that seem to me both sufficiently odd and vaguely sea-inspired.

Which do you think best suits him—option A, B, or C?

I can't guarantee the final version will reflect the consensus opinion, but I will send the inked drawing to the writer of the comment that most amuses me, found either here or at my deviantART page. (If you comment here, make sure I can contact you directly.)

2011-12-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

Agents of H.O.R.N.E.T. costume concepts, 2010, ink.

These drawings were inspired by the campy concept of a super commando/spy agency (à la G.I. JOE or S.H.I.E.L.D.) devoted to exterminating all manner of monsters, creepy crawlies, etc. As I recall, H.O.R.N.E.T. was an acronym for the agency's creed, to "hunt and obliterate rascals native and extraterrestrial."

Rest easy, citizens.

2011-08-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

Amethyst, Goddess of Gemworld, 2011, mixed media.

Above is my submission to DC FIFTY-TOO, a collection of covers for comics you won't be seeing during the relaunch of DC's entire line of comics this fall. The collection was conceived and curated by Washington-based cartoonist and fine fellow Jon Morris. Thanks for inviting me to the fun, Jon!

As you may know, I have a fondness for Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, the DC fantasy title from the Eighties, hence the subject of my submission. It was tempting to take Amethyst back to her teenage "magical princess" years in my imagined relaunch, but I challenged myself to work more or less within her main continuity.

Here's the write-up that accompanied my submission:

Much time has passed since young Amy Winston was a mere Princess of Gemworld. In her desperate struggles against the tyrant Dark Opal, the Flaw and the Child, and the archsorcerer Mordru, Amy drew upon the planet’s limitless energies, becoming an avatar of Gemworld itself.

Now, a lifetime away from Earth, Amy shields the inhabitants of Gemworld from menaces beyond time and space. She is AMETHYST, GODDESS OF GEMWORLD!

Amethyst created by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, and Ernie Colón. Original Amethyst logo by Todd Klein. Amethyst, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2011-04-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Tatoo, 2011, ink with digital color.

Here's my submission for the current Bristolwhip topic, tattoo.

2011-03-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

One panel gag, 2011, mixed media.

Have you heard about Bristolwhip, your new favorite art collective? I'm very flattered to be in the company of such fine folks.

The gag above is my submission for Bristolwhip's inaugural topic, cyberpunk. Gritty, no?

2011-02-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

I Saw U (On the Bus), 2011, graphite.

If you ask me, one of the best things about public transit is that you can (safely) draw while on the road. Another good thing about public transit is the captive subjects!

2011-01-31T17:46:00.000-08:00

Drinking Deity, 2011, mixed media.

Here's my goofy take on a well-known god of adult beverages and hootenannies. I avoided the usual toga and wreath, hoping instead to imply a party guy displaced in space or time. Can you guess which mid-century comedian inspired his features?

Illo background elements, 2011, graphite.

Here's an in-process look at the background elements. Given how these were to appear in the final image, I inked them with a dead line. I haven't done that in a long while. Oof! I can't say I cared for them as standalone images. I have renewed respect for those folks who do great things with a dead line. Also, it makes me wonder if I lean too much on line quality to make an image interesting.

2010-12-20T16:56:00.000-08:00

Holiday card design, 2010, mixed media.

Season's greetings! I hope 2010 treated you kindly.

2010-11-08T05:37:00.000-08:00

Magical Adventurer Gal, 2010, mixed media.

The "mixed media" here are graphite, a sheet of newsprint, and digital tones and effects.

2010-10-18T05:13:00.001-07:00

Suburban Barbarian Princess Jennifer character turns, 2010, ink.

Here's a character of which I'm fairly fond. Also, here's a lively rendition by my pal Jesse Hamm!

I hope this post finds you well, enjoying the lovely autumnal weather.

2010-07-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

Chuckling Crew, 2010, graphite with digital color.

Here's a sketch of actress Amanda Crew, based on an amusing photograph featured a recent issue of NYLON.

2010-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Nutmeg's Lotus Wash, 2010, graphite with digital gray tones.

The drawing above was inspired by the drawing below ...

Nutmeg's Lotus Wash, 2006, graphite with digital gray tones.

... which was, in turn, inspired by a visit to the Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown Portland.

P.S. If you soon find yourself in Astoria, Oregon, visit the Lunar Boy Gallery, where there’s a group show to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Goonies (which was filmed in Astoria). My pal John Hoffman is a contributor to the show, which runs through July 3.

2010-05-17T19:31:00.001-07:00

A Poke in the Neck with a Sharp Stick, 2010, graphite.

At this year's Stumptown Comics Fest I picked up the first three chapters of Alec Longstreth's epic adventure Basewood. This weekend I was reading the third chapter over breakfast and felt compelled to pick up a pencil.

2010-04-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

Black Canary, 2010, graphite and ink with digital color.

Above is my submission to the “Canary on the Catwalk” challenge over at Project Rooftop. This was a tough one for me! How to dress a Black Canary?

Personal guidelines, to make things interesting:

Easy to draw
Works against dark backdrop
Little exposed skin
No fishnet stockings

The naked silhouette is plenty of tease, especially when encased in black (ask Batwoman, Catwoman, Black Widow, and Black Cat if you don’t believe me). The yellow corset shape is similarly suggestive.

An element of Dinah’s costume only at the very beginning, the mask adds to the mix of allure and intimidation I associate with the character. It also serves as a stronger link to the “mystery man” tradition to which Dinah belongs.

I went back and forth on the eyes—pupils or no pupils? I decided the lack of pupils presented more emotional distance than I wanted. The pupils show there’s someone there, just behind the mask. I made an alternate version with no pupils, if you care to compare.

Black Canary created by Kanigher and Infantino. Black Canary, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2010-02-08T05:07:00.000-08:00

Setsuko, 2010, mixed media.

Don't mess with The Intrepideers!

The savage swordswoman Setsuko is one of many zany, loveable characters in The Intrepideers, a series of comics by Brett Von Schlosser and Kelly Krantz (first installment) and Tim Sievert (second and third installments).

If you have a fondness for gonzo fantasy, give it a gander!

2009-11-16T18:17:00.000-08:00

Skeletal Minion and Cleric of the Frog God, 2009, ink with digital color.

Think you can escape this batch of dungeon denizens? Think again!

2009-11-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

Wererat Adversary, 2009, ink with digital color.

Behold another dungeon denizen, drawn for an upcoming game of Swords & Wizardry! Downright terrifying, isn't he?

2009-10-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

G-3 (Jun the Swan), 2009, graphite with digital color.

Since the release of the Speed Racer feature film, I've discovered a love for the work of Tatsuo Yoshida.

I could say, "rediscovered a love," although as a kid I had no clue that my beloved Speed Racer and Battle of the Planets (originally Gatchaman) were created by the same person.

Looking at both series with adult eyes, the similarities are clear and wonderful. Both series feature simple yet flashy designs with great colors. Both series feature family units of a kind and hefty helpings of melodrama.

Also, as a person who lost a parent at an early age, I greatly appreciate the mysterious masked figures present in either series, Racer X in Speed Racer and Red Impulse in Gatchaman. Whew, it's powerful stuff.

I'm wary of the CG Gatchman film in the works but I hope, if nothing else, we'll see a fresh release of the original TV series on DVD to coincide with the film's release.

2009-09-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

Goblin Adversaries, 2009, ink with digital color.

As you may know, I have a lasting affection for tabletop role-playing games (RPGs). During the summer I was tickled to discover a number of do-it-yourselfers publishing games which emulate play of RPGs long out of print (especially versions of a certain well-known fantasy role-playing game).

For example, Mythmere Games publishes Swords & Wizardry, a game intended to approximate a simpler, mid-Seventies RPG. Other titles include Labyrinth Lord and Mutant Future, both published by Goblinoid Games. Works like these are permissible under something called an Open Game License (OGL). Neat, huh?

Now I'm itching to test one of these babies! To prepare for play, I'm drawing a handful of characters that I'll make into paper miniatures, hence the goblins pictured above.

Who's ready for fortune and glory?

2009-07-20T05:25:00.001-07:00

Cassie's Wonderful Threads, 2009, ink with digital color.

Summer's a great season for superheroes and superheroines. Something about athleticism and primary-colored costumes, perhaps?

Cassandra Sandsmark, the current Wonder Girl, celebrated the new year (2009) with a new costume. Image above and words below I composed in response ...

... Oh, Cassie. I see you've changed your costume again.

You've conjured a new pair of jeans, donned an armored collegiate sweater, and dropped the bracers, even. There's a colloquial charm in these (arguably) street-ready threads but are they appropriate dress for superheroics?

Consider your predecessor's clothes: Donna's costume in NEW TEEN TITANS was a wonder of economic, elegant design, truly a heroine's costume. Her current starry suit ain't half bad, either.

We'll spare you an all-red get-up; you tried that and, I must agree, it didn't always work. Also, we must control the blue, lest we mistake you for Kara, and temper the star motif, lest you remind us of Courtney. We'll respect your decision to omit the bracers, despite my uncertainty regarding your motivation for that decision.

Just wear it on your next couple of adventures, Cassie. Should it fail to wow friends and foes alike, we'll try something else.

Fondly, Jonathan McNally

Cassandra Sandsmark created by John Byrne. Wonder Girl, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2009-06-22T05:51:00.000-07:00

U.S. Marshal John Jones Is The Martian Manhunter!, 2009, ink with digital color.

For those of you who don't know this character, the Martian Manhunter is a person from Mars named J'onn J'onzz who was beamed to Earth accidentally and is now trapped here.

Being a Martian gives him quite a surprising mix of powers. One of his key powers is shape-changing, which he uses to disguise himself as Earthman John Jones, a detective.

I first saw the Martian Manhunter on the pages of Justice League of America 229-230 (which I picked up on a walk to 7-11 with my grandma). In the story, a Martian armada invades our planet and J'onn J'onzz betrays his race to defend the Earth.

Space operatics ensue—the JLA satellite is destroyed, the Manhunter dukes it out with a Martian champion-general type, etc. Since then I've read lots of stories featuring the Martian Manhunter but that one remains one of my favorites.

The image above is my attempt to depict a Martian Manhunter who's ready for the kind of rollicking space action I just described, as well as some serious police work.

Oh, I gave him a shape-changing Martian dog, too. :)

J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, created by Joseph Samachson and Joe Certa. Martian Manhunter, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2009-06-08T05:35:00.000-07:00

Suburban Barbarian Princess Jennifer, 2009, ink with digital color.

I drew this for a friendly trade. The colors were added several days after the drawing was handed to the postman.

On the topic of color, a question I've posed elsewhere: Do those of you who tinker with digital color typically use a "channels" method or a "layers" method (or a combination of the two or another method altogether)? Does your method vary according to image type?

2009-05-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Character concept sketches, 2009, graphite.

Displayed in this post are three pages drawn yesterday in my sketchbook. They're all the same fellow, an incidental character.

On this first page, I kind of liked the last in both the top and bottom rows but I think he too much resembles a more prominent character who will appear in the same story.

Character concept sketches, 2009, graphite.

While drawing on this second page, Broom-Hilda popped into my head. I think you can see her influence (or Myer's, rather) in the face at the top right and the inked face in the middle.

Character concept sketch, 2009, graphite.

Here's a final take, with the fellow as he'll likely appear in the story.

2009-04-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from Fannie Firecracker, 2009, ink with digital color.

Stumptown Comics Fest 2009 is a fading memory. Kudos to Stumptown staff and volunteers and thanks to my PNCA comrades, with whom I shared a table.

I was only there half the weekend but I didn't pass up the chance to purchase cool stuff directly from cool folks like Alec Longstreth, Maris Wicks, and Liz Prince. It was nice also to meet Joe Quinones, soon to be beloved by Green Lantern fans everywhere.

Following its Stumptown premiere, the Fannie Firecracker fold-out mini-comic is now available to you, my web community!

Specs, revisited: Eight colorful panels printed on cardstock. Measures 5.5 inches by 4.25 inches folded, 5.5 inches by 17 inches unfolded. Hand-decorated wrapper. Price three dollars ($3) U.S., plus shipping and handling.

2009-04-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

Fannie Firecracker Original art and fold-out comic, 2009, mixed media.

Ready to sell! Here's a first look at Fannie Firecracker, the eight-panel fold-out comic my clever co-conspirator Liska and I prepared for Stumptown Comics Fest 2009!

Liska and I knew early on that we wanted to present our fold-out comic as a small, crafty package. Liska volunteered to decorate envelopes to hold the comic. A great idea!

Cornered by Decorated Envelopes!

We guarantee your copy of Fannie Firecracker will contain:

Eight (8) colorful panel-pages
One (1) hand-decorated envelope
At least three (3) instances of silly innuendo

One hundred copies of Fannie Firecracker will be available for three dollars each this weekend at Stumptown Comics Fest in beautiful Portland, Oregon. Run to Table 2 and snag your copy! See you there!

2009-04-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

Cover design for Fannie Firecracker, 2009, ink with digital color.

Oh, my! Here's a taste of the something I'll be serving at Stumptown Comics Fest 2009! Visit Table 2, where I'll be stationed (at least half the time) with my Intense comrades.

Also, our original work from the Intense collection continues to hang through the month of April at Backspace in Northwest Portland. Stop by said nook and have a look!

2009-03-02T07:13:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from For the Love of Mice, 2008, ink.

Thanks to all the friendly folks who visited Bridge City Comics last Wednesday to help us celebrate the release of Intense! Thanks also to Mike and the Bridge City staff who allowed us to occupy their fine establishment for a couple of evening hours.

During the month of March, original work from the Intense collection (including the page to which the silly panel above belongs) will be displayed at Backspace in Northwest Portland.

Come by the evening of Thursday, March 5, when several of us will be present for First Thursday opening of our show. I do believe our work will be hanging in the rear gallery. See you there!

2009-02-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

My Drawing Space, 2009, digital photographs.

Here's a peek at the li'l corner where I draw. I hoped some of the panel content would be visible in the right-hand photo but I can only see the vaguest hints of pencil drawings.

Event notice! For those of you in the Portland area, I invite you to drop by Bridge City Comics on the evening of Wednesday, February 25. My fellow Intense collection contributors and I are holding a small release party for the book. Maybe I'll see you there?

2009-01-19T06:31:00.000-08:00

Lady Uliya title card, 2009, ink with digital color.

Who can forget watching this on Saturday mornings, huh? Pajamas and bowl of Cheerios recommended for optimum viewing.

2009-01-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

Jessie Bazata, Cover Art for Intense Collection, 2008.

Remember that li'l comics collection I mentioned a few months ago? Well, Intense is here, it looks splendid, and it's jam-packed with entertaining stuff (see November 17, 2008 post for a peek at my contribution to the book).

Fellow contributors include:

Ezra Ereckson
Chris Hazell
Randall Jahnson
Marco Kaye
Jefferson Powers
Gregory Tozian
Kevin Uehlein

Other Intense info:

48 black-and-white pages
Special 20-page mini-comic
Intro by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden

Thanks in particular to contributors Jeff Powers (who collected the material and prepared it for print) and Greg Tozian (who selected the printer and negotiated the job).

Dreaming about your very own copy of Intense? Send an e-mail message to hellouloo [at] jonmcnally [dot] net and I'll reply with confirmation of availability, price, etc.

2008-12-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

Portland Tree Lighting, 2008, digital photograph.

Happy holidays to you and yours!

2008-11-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

Vampirella, 2008, graphite with digital color.

Had I submitted a design to Project Rooftop's Vampirella ReVamp, it might've looked like this. (Click here for entire, footed figure.)

Vampirella created by Forrest J. Ackerman and developed by Archie Goodwin, Frank Frazetta, and Tom Sutton. Vampirella, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of Harris Publications, Inc.

2008-11-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from For the Love of Mice, 2008, ink.

In the previous post I mentioned that I'm joining several cohorts from the PNCA comics intensive to collect stories we conceived during Jessica Abel and Matt Madden's leg of the course. Yesterday we turned in our work for assembly. It was great to see the finished pages—cleverness all around!

I think the book should be ready for sharing mid-December. At that point I'll try to tempt you with a copy. In the meantime, please enjoy the first scene from my contribution to the collection (above).

2008-10-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Late-Summer Life Drawing, 2008, graphite.

How I spent my summer ~~vacation~~ (and the first month of autumn):

At the office I found clever ways to stretch and bend. My current patron superhero must be Plastic Man.

I attended some great concerts! In mid-July I saw Aimee Mann with local favorite Blind Pilot at the Aladdin. In mid-August I saw Brandi Carlile at the Oregon Zoo. In September I heard the Oregon Symphony perform Beethoven's Ninth and just last week I saw Randy Newman at the Aladdin.

I saw a pair of music-related films, which I recommend to you without reservation:

Character study, 2008, ink and graphite.

Looking behind: As told in a prior post (July 7), I attended the PNCA comics intensive. Looking ahead: Several students from the class, including yours truly, are collecting content to share with one and all. The image immediately above contains development sketches for my li'l contribution to the book.

2008-07-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

Superman Despises Your Meaningless Existence!, 2008, mixed media.

Holy cow! I can't believe my luck!

I managed to get my hands on the spread pictured above, which features the following items:

a super-rare Action Comics cover
a page of crisp original art
a pristine pair of finger-puppet playsets

Here's a closer look at the page:

Detail of Superman Despises Your Meaningless Existence!, 2008, ink.

What's that? Doesn't look authentic?

Okay, okay, you got me!

These items were created during the second leg of my PNCA comics intensive. Prompted by an excerpt from My Dinner with Andre, we explored visual narrative on and off the comics page. Local artist Daniel Duford guided our exploration.

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Batman created by Bob Kane. Superman and Batman, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2008-06-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Superman, 2008, ink with digital color.

Here's another submission to Project Rooftop, this time for the event Superman: Man of Style!

As mentioned in the previous entry, circus performer and dancer were operative words for my Batman costume. For Superman, the words were football player and athlete.

Looking at the finished design and thinking about Superman's personality, I think the concept now seems natural, even obvious. However, it took me quite some time to stumble in this direction. Not until I read Jemma Salume's comments on her classy design did my own materialize. Thanks, Jemma!

My design's not far removed from Kal-El's classic threads, but I think it feels complete, a closed circle.

Funny that the design somewhat resembles Flash-Gordon-style duds, since I made no conscious attempts to include such elements. The resemblance makes sense to me when I consider that Raymond and company themselves alluded to fashion from contemporary and historical periods to depict their science-fantasy.

In other news, this is day three of my nine-day comics intensive at PNCA. So far it's a blast!

The first three-day leg is taught by powerful pair Jessica Abel and Matt Madden. It's true that I'm prone to hero worship, especially in classroom settings, yet I'm fairly convinced Jessica and Matt are two fine folks, regardless of location. If you have a chance to take a course with them, do so! Otherwise, pick up a copy of their new book Drawing Words and Writing Pictures!

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Superman, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2008-06-02T17:35:00.000-07:00

Personal Batman No. 2, 2008, ink with digital color.

Who says you gotta be grouchy to patrol the streets of Gotham?

In this design I tried to hint at the theatrical roots of superhero couture. Hopefully you see a bit of dancer or circus performer.

The addition of goggles is partly an attempt to afford Bats a more natural, manageable range of expression. Some can work wonders even with white, empty sockets but others, myself included, struggle with their application. I'm inclined to say this troubled application is more evident in comics than in cartoons.

Does Batman need a wider range of expression? Oh, that depends. Referring specifically to comics, I think the scary white sockets work best when Batman appears infrequently, like an an avenging spectre (not the avenging Spectre), or when his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, gets a fair amount of screen time. In my experience (again referring to comics), either scenario is an exception so, perhaps, another design solution'd be helpful.

I suppose only repeated drawing will prove any goggle merit!

Design aside, the grouchy Batman frequently depicted in comics doesn't work for me as a personal heroic archetype. He seems hardly admirable beyond his ability to put criminals behind bars.

Given his origin, the Batman who makes sense to me is much about hearth and home, hence the importance of Wayne Manor and the Batcave in the Batman myth. From his own place of safety, Batman ventures to safeguard all the households of Gotham. Further, he creates his own Bat Family, not (or, at least, not only) because he needs soldiers for his war on crime, but because it's what a person must do to flourish (surely what his parents would wish for him).

Batman created by Bob Kane. Batman, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2008-05-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

Iron Man concept sketches, 2008, graphite.

Featured above and below are precursors to my final submission to the recent Iron Man contest at Project Rooftop (see previous entry).

Iron Man concept sketches, 2008, graphite.

I haven't seen the Iron Man movie. I did see Speed Racer, which elicited from me the same looney excitement I experienced when watching the cartoon as a wee one, thirty-some years ago.

Iron Man created by Heck, Kirby, Lee, and Lieber. Iron Man, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of Marvel Comics.

2008-04-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

M.A.D.I.M.F.* Iron Man!, 2008, ink with digital color.

I hesistated to submit an entry for the Iron Man: Invincible Upgrade at Project Rooftop. The meaning and the appeal of Iron Man have always been for me a tad elusive. Still, I did a bit of research and was reminded that changes in costumes and equipment are a significant part of the Iron Man myth. There's been stealth armor, underwater armor, etc.

M.A.D.I.M.F. Iron Man in Action!, 2008, ink with digital color.

So, rather than focus only on the looks of the basic armor, I decided to draw a nifty new armor for Mister Stark's collection. Inspired also by another Iron Man, I imagined a giant-size armor built to tackle all those fearsome Marvel Monsters! I imagine he's got all the essential giant robot features, like rocket fists and missile fingers ... but I guess I'll have to depict those in future drawings.

* Mega Atom Drive Invincible Monster Fighter

Iron Man created by Heck, Kirby, Lee, and Lieber. Iron Man, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of Marvel Comics.

2008-04-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Jenn Erik, 2008, ink with digital color.

Here's another contribution to the tribute thread over at the ol' Drawing Board. This one's for forum member Ed Reynolds, who (once upon a time) was nice enough to include me in a self-published comics anthology.

2008-04-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Cyclops Polyphemus, 1998, ink.

I can't remember the last time I saw an exciting depiction of a Cyclops. Was there even a first time?

Surely the horned, goat-legged fellow in The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) is an aberration. As monsters go, the average Cyclops seems rather unremarkable, save for his single eye (or his lack of an eye, if you're the "glass half empty" type).

I suspect my depiction of Polyphemus (above, drawn for an Odyssey study guide back during my teaching days) is the most unremarkable of all, except for its passing resemblance to the Absorbing Man.

The Cyclops Anonymous, 2008, graphite.

I recently attempted to draw a remarkable Cyclops. I leave the remarks to you!

2008-04-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

Batgirl Juggles Her Beaus, 2008, ink with digital color.

She wasn't kidding when she said you gotta be fast to make it into her datebook!

I'm excited by news of the coming Batman cartoon. Looking at the teaser image for that show, I can't help but think of the Sixties Batman TV show, which I adored in my youth. Pondering those shows and old Teen Titans comics resulted in the image above.

Batgirl created by Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff. Batgirl, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

PS: I'm lately enamored with LiveJournal and so, in the present and the immediate future, new content here is mirrored there, as well. At some point I'll decide which tool, Blogger or LiveJournal, I prefer for the long haul.

2008-02-28T06:37:00.000-08:00

Self-portrait, 2008, ink with digital color.

As I was coloring this, my wife told me it'd look good with red pants.

"But I don't own any red pants," I complained.

"Maybe you ought to," she replied.

In other clothes-related news, I'm fairly convinced that Bryan Lee O'Malley's characters are the best-dressed in comics.

UPDATE: I've a crowded schedule, so I'm resting the weblog during the month of March. Meanwhile, I invite you to investigate a few friendly links (see sidebar)!

2008-02-25T06:51:00.000-08:00

Monster Serenade, 2006, graphite.

I think we should acknowledge that deep within each Cyclops and Lizard Man beats the heart of a hopeless romantic.

2008-02-21T06:37:00.000-08:00

Li'l Punky, 2008, ink with digital color.

Last night I hurriedly drew this so I might contribute another image to the tribute thread over at the ol' Drawing Board. This one's for forum founder Shane Glines.

2008-02-18T07:51:00.000-08:00

Fantasy Figures, 2001, ink.

Above find funny figures from a bygone era.

2008-02-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

Sweethearts, 2004, graphite with digital color.

Hope you're spending time with someone you love. :)

2008-02-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

Lovely Cadaver, 2005, graphite with digital color.

A year or two ago I used this image to print some bookmarks. Since that time I've included one or two with this or that parcel. Recent bookmark recipient John Hoffman drew a most Lovely Cadaver and sent it my way. Thanks, John!

2008-02-07T05:21:00.000-08:00

Prehistoric Heroine and Brachiosaur, 2008, graphite with digital color.

This might be alternately titled, Break Doodles with Color.

I like this brachiosaur but I think he oughta be more imaginative or exaggerated, despite his already fantastical anatomy. For instance, I could've made his neck very lo-o-ong. Even as is, I think his neck may be proportionately shorter than a real brachiosaur's neck'd be. Also, a brachiosaur's feet seem to me rather small, so I could suggest that in my drawing.

The overlap of the figures could be improved. As is, the tip of the brachiosaur's tail reads very much like hair from the cavegirl's head. The purple color's the only thing to suggest it's the former.

2008-02-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

Character study, 2005, graphite.

I think she's fit to explore a prehistoric world.

2008-01-31T06:44:00.000-08:00

Red Sonja, 2003, graphite with digital color and effects.

Red Sonja's a potent icon ... but is she a potent character? She does seem to flourish within a breezy style of story (which is how I'd describe the old Roy Thomas tales). I then suspect that she isn't intended for close inspection. What sayest thou?

Red Sonja created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith, inspired by the work of Robert E. Howard. Red Sonja, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of Red Sonja LLC.

2008-01-28T05:17:00.000-08:00

Prehistoric Pals, 2008, ink with digital color.

The BBC brought its dinosaurs to town to present their walking show. Such ingenuity displayed! I was delighted by the human-sized reptiles Liliensternus and Utahraptor; either creature was portrayed by costumed performers, which resulted in natural, convincing movements. Seems like it'd be great fun to run around in a dinosaur costume, pretending to eat the guts out of a faux carcass. Yum!

2008-01-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

Strange doodle, 2004, graphite.

I do enjoy green olives, particularly with cheese and crackers.

This one's called a doodle due to lack of forethought involved and regardless of elapsed time to complete.

2008-01-21T18:03:00.000-08:00

Poor Bill, 2006, graphite and ink.

This bill's just waiting to be paid, not waiting to become a law. He was drawn for a work assignment but didn't get used. Poor bill.

2008-01-17T06:13:00.000-08:00

Personal Batman No. 1, 2007, ink with digital color.

When I was a just a lad, my primary exposure to Batman was the 20th Century Fox show starring West and Ward. Perhaps due to skewed color on the TV set, I long imagined Batman's costume was mildly purple. It's no surprise, then, that I'm occasionally dissatisfied with the canonical gray-blue combo.

So, does this purpled fellow match the Batman in my child mind? Hmm ... not quite. Expect more personal Batmen in future posts.

I'll say one thing about this here hero: I'm not happy with the scalloped edge of his cape, which looks to me more birdy than batty.

Batman created by Bob Kane. Batman, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2008-01-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

Character study, 2007, graphite.

He acts tough, but I bet he's 25 percent tough and 75 percent acts.

2008-01-10T05:26:00.000-08:00

D.A.W.G. Soldier, 2004, ink with digital color and effects.

A costumed minion, not unlike an agent of HYDRA or COBRA.

D.A.W.G. doodles, 2005–2006, graphite.

Ask Luke or Indy—dressing as the enemy is always a great plan.

2008-01-07T17:57:00.000-08:00

Character study, 2007–2008, graphite.

This mustachioed fellow hasn't a name but he has a purpose.

2008-01-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

Ape-Man-Droid (and Micro-Chimp), 2007, ink with digital color.

Here behold the awesome Ape-Man-Droid—once a proud jungle monarch, now a melancholy misanthrope!

2007-12-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

Seasonal card design, 2007, ink with digital color.

Here begins a holiday hiatus. Lotsa great things planned this season: We'll see the Aimee Mann Christmas Show and travel to cozy Cannon Beach. Warm wishes to you and yours. See you next year!

2007-11-29T06:54:00.000-08:00

Darcy Dare draft promotional piece, 2004, ink with digital color and effects.

The best things produced in this prior period of Darcy development were the things I wrote, not the things I drew. Still, I'm fond of this assembled image, if only because it now signifies to me the sum of work then completed.

2007-11-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

Wonder Woman, 2007, ink with digital color.

I submitted this design for the Wonder Woman Wardrobe War at Project Rooftop. True to form, I learned of the contest only a day or two before the deadline.

A few comments on the design: As always, I favor minimal detail. I'm fond of Diana's various white phases and white works for an ambassador of peace. In contrast, the crested headgear's a nod to Diana's martial roots. I imagine this costume in a League line-up and I think it manages to both blend (align in simplicity) and pop.

I'm excited to see the other entries! Fun!

Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston. Wonder Woman, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2007-11-22T21:08:00.000-08:00

A pair of fruity commissioned pieces, 2003, mixed media.

One bit of wallpaper served as background in the two images above. In one of them the wallpaper's close to its original color range. Can you correctly guess which one that might be?

2007-11-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

DAMNFX. Rendering of plant-eating dinosaur Dracorex, or "dragon king." National Geographic. Dec. 2007: cover.

Dino-philes must snag the December 2007 issue of National Geographic. As the cover declares, there are some funny prehistoric pals to be seen inside!

2007-11-15T06:47:00.001-08:00

One-panel gag, 2007, ink with digital gray tones.

A collaborative cartoon, written by Brian McLachlan and drawn by me. Remember to read Brian's strip, The Princess Planet, beamed into your home every Sunday via Transmission-X!

2007-11-12T06:14:00.000-08:00

Envy Adams, 2006, graphite.

New Scott Pilgrim this week! I'm excited!

Scott Pilgrim and Envy Adams created by Bryan Lee O'Malley.

2007-11-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

Space Siren, 2006, ink with digital color.

Here's her frontside ...

Space Siren, 2006, ink with digital color.

... and here's her backside!

2007-11-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

Hedges, Chris. War Is a Forces That Gives Us Meaning. New York: Anchor Books (a division of Random House, Inc.), 2003. Cover design by John Gall.

I finished reading this book last week and now recommend it to you.

War is appalling. How can war (or, one step removed, war imagery in literature, film, etc.) be also compelling?

Hedges bases his discussion upon the unspoken assumption that meaning in each moment must be created by the individual—and that task of creation can be frequently overwhelming. That said, the following excerpt seems to me a suitable thesis for the book:

"Lurking beneath the surface of every society, including ours, is the passionate yearning for a nationalist cause that exalts us, the kind that war alone is able to deliver. It reduces and at times erases the anxiety of individual consciousness. We abandon individual responsibility for a shared, unquestioned communal enterprise, however morally dubious" (45).

Drawing from literature and his own experiences as a war correspondent, Hedges reflects upon the search for meaning gone awry from which war results and which war, in turn, causes. Hedges asserts that neither meaning so desired nor happiness frequently discussed and pursued are ends unto themselves:

"We are tempted to reduce life to a simple search for happiness. Happiness, however, withers if there is no meaning. The other temptation is to disavow the search for happiness in order to be faithful to that which provides meaning. But to live only for meaning—indifferent to all happiness—makes us fanatic, self-righteous, and cold. It leaves us cut off from our own humanity and the humanity of others. We must hope for grace, for our lives to be sustained by moments of meaning and happiness, both equally worthy of human communion" (159).

As with any good book, I'm left with potent questions. For example, as an artist, what do I hope to communicate via violent imagery?

Link to Powell's listing for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning

2007-11-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Darcy Dare, 2007, ink with digital color.

Architect Eliel Saarinen said, "Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context—a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan."

Darcy's current story, her larger context, is much about legacy so I tried to keep that in mind as I drafted the image above.

Larger context of a different kind: At the dawn of the 21st Century, I drew Darcy Dare in my wife's notebook. Since that time Darcy's appeared in a paper miniatures set (2002) and a short-lived proposal for an animated series (2004).

2007-10-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

Iron Outlaw, 2007, graphite with digital color.

You can bet he's up to no good!

2007-10-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

Blackman, Cally. 100 Years of Fashion Illustration. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd, 2007.

Fashion's a common research topic for me at the library. Recent research uncovered Cally Blackman's 100 Years of Fashion Illustration. The clothes depicted are fabulous but even more compelling to me are the colors and layouts used in particular drawings.

Surprise! Most of my favorite drawings are from the Sixties.

Of the artists whose work is featured in the book, two favorites are Constance Wibaut and René Gruau. The work of both artists seems to span several decades.

Constance Wibaut, Sketches from Paris, 1966.

Of this illustration Blackman writes, "Wibaut's sketches show the clean, spare lines, imaginative cutting and helmet-style hats associated with Pierre Cardin" (230).

René Gruau, Original illustration for advertisement for Dior perfume, 1967 or 1968. Brush drawing, gouache, and collage.

Of this illustration Blackman writes, "Gruau's campaign for Dior perfumes continued into the 1980s and was an ongoing contribution to illustration through a lean period for the genre" (233).

Boy, I love this stuff. Few things're as fun as dressing a figure.

Link to Powell's listing for 100 Years of Fashion Illustration

2007-10-22T18:29:00.001-07:00

Car Wars Submission, 2000, ink.

Several years ago I was invited by Steve Jackson Games to submit a sample suitable for the relaunch of the Car Wars franchise. I was told they wanted a snazzy "animation" look for the new product(s).

As I recall, I had roughly 24 hours to complete and submit the piece. I ran to the store, selected a few promising Hot Wheels, and got to work. Sending the image took some conniving since I had neither home internet service nor a scanner.

Following a few days of aniticipation, I received an e-mail message which amounted to, "Oh, when we said animation, we meant anime."

2007-10-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

Lord Rogan and the Jam, 2007, graphite.

This is the fourth of four drawings I completed for the upcoming second edition of Uresia, a fantasy game setting created by S. John Ross. Once I got to work, this one was quickly assembled.

Studies for Lord Rogan and the Jam, 2007, graphite.

Choosing grannies was tough. I tried to create ones that seemed to me both iconic and true to my own experience (not mutually exclusive qualities, I suppose).

Draft of Lord Rogan and the Jam, 2007, graphite and ink.

Posing Lord Rogan was fun, as was designing his costume. While drafting the costume I tried to channel Tenngren and Kirby.

2007-10-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

Pirate and Parrot, 2002, ink with digital color.

I spy a pirate post!

The image above is an old item of homework for Drawing Class (eventually Drawing Jam) on the Drawing Board. Its background is lifted from an engraving by Gustave Dore which illustrates some editions of Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Pirate tee designs, 2005, ink with digital color.

As the sub-heading indicates, these're proposed tee designs. I imagine green and blue shirts'd be fun, too.

2007-10-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

SBPJ Prepares to Battle Goat Goon, 2005, graphite and ink with digital color.

I imagine it'll be a brief battle, don't you?

2007-10-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

Darkseid and Orion, 2005, graphite.

I drew these Darkseid and Orion heads while reading a collection of the original New Gods series. I love the thinly-veiled references to world mythology and pop culture in Kirby's creations.

To me Orion's helmet loudly barks, "Bulldog!" so I tried to reflect that in my drawing.

The New Gods created by Jack Kirby. The New Gods, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2007-10-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

One-panel gag, 2002, graphite.

I'm fairly certain this drawing (an item of late-filed homework for Drawing Class) is the first I posted on the ol' Drawing Board.

2007-10-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

Prehistoric Running Mates, 2007, graphite with digital gray tones.

I try to be conscientious about use of filler in my weblog. Still, in the immediate future, you may be forced to routinely consume familiar filler while I focus my gaze on tempting targets.

Might I suggest you add mile to your jog or do a few extra crunches to avoid the adverse effects of filler?

Concerned for your welfare, JMc

2007-09-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

Timberlee Stump, 2007, digital photograph.

Portland isn't the only place to call itself Stumptown but I wouldn't be surprised if we use most frequently use the nickname.

In any case, the Stumptown Comics Fest is this weekend! I like the size (modest) and mood (mellow) of the SCF. It's a good fit for our stumpy, bridgey town.

Looks like a fine set of exhibitors this year. Heck, the appearance of either Mike Allred or Peter Bagge alone'd be worth the price of admission (five bucks).

2007-09-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

STAR WARS: Tatooine Manhunt, 1997, ink.

Gamers may recall Tatooine Manhunt, an adventure supplement written by Bill Slavicsek and Daniel Greenberg for use with STAR WARS: The Roleplaying Game. Both the images in this post were inspired by the Manhunt adventure.

In early SW:TRPG supplements, West End Games relied almost exclusively upon Lucasfilm's stock of concept art and photos to decorate the line of books and, for the most part, it beautifully worked. For Tatooine Manhunt, it didn't. Of course, I felt obliged to create original designs for the key characters!

I drafted the above image in 1995. Two years passed before I added ink. S'just as well, because I much prefer the woman's face in 1997 to the one in 1995. She aged gracefully, I guess.

STAR WARS: Tatooine Manhunt, 2001, ink with digital gray tones.

In 2001 I revisited the Tatooine Manhunt story. The two versions make a funny juxtaposition, don't they?

Original STAR WARS characters and situations created by George Lucas. STAR WARS characters, the distinct likenesses thereof, and related elements are trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.

2007-09-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

Friends Discover Something Bad, 2006, graphite.

This is the third of four drawings I completed for the upcoming second edition of Uresia, a fantasy game setting created by S. John Ross.

I'm quite certain this one was the most difficult to complete, due mostly to the requisite figure interaction.

Studies for Friends Discover Something Bad, 2006, graphite.

In most cases I first worry over heads.

The basic design of the elf girl's head quickly materialized. I recall no additional drafts, only tweaks to the original drawing.

The fellow's head required more work. The scene description indicated a senior sorcerer, but a winning design wasn't immediately apparent to me.

For instance, the second head on the top row looks to me more like the Pardoner from The Cantebury Tales and less like a sorcerer. In my visual vocabulary, a sorcerer wears a high-collared cape and a wizard wears a pointy hat; that Pardoner-looking person's definitely a pointy-hat guy.

The final sorcerer design isn't particularly innovative, but it sufficiently serves the scene's requirements. Contrarily, I'm quite content with the elf design, especially her bug-themed costume.

Drafts of Friends Discover Something Bad, 2006, graphite.

I'd never suggest arranging heads then drafting bodies, but that's what I attempted for this drawing. As you'd expect, the technique was problematic, as evidenced in the second, awkward draft above.

Declaring this one finished was a relief. Whew!

2007-09-17T19:08:00.000-07:00

Suburban Barbarian Princess Jennifer, 2007, graphite with digital color.

The surroundings I imagine for SBPJ are spare, but planes of blue are, perhaps, too spare. Someday you'll get a real background, SBPJ.

2007-09-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

One-panel gag, 2007, ink with digital gray tones.

A collaborative cartoon, written by Brian McLachlan and drawn by me. Read Brian's super-duper strip, The Princess Planet, now beamed into your home via Transmission-X!

2007-09-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

Child of the Sea Dragon, 2006, graphite.

This is the second of four drawings I completed for the upcoming second edition of Uresia, a fantasy game setting created by S. John Ross. Since it depicts only a single figure, I think this drawing was, perhaps, the fastest of the four.

Drafts of Child of the Sea Dragon, 2006, graphite.

The far left sketch was my favorite of three or four thumbnails. The far right sketch came next, then the sketch of the hand-held game (on a separate sheet of paper). Using Photoshop, I combined the two sketches, moving the game into a reasonable hand-held position. A soft print of the merged sketches I used to render the final version.

2007-09-06T05:56:00.000-07:00

Granch, 2007, graphite.

Any Amethyst fans out there?

This summer I've enjoyed the original Amethyst maxi-series. The story's fun fairy-tale fare and the art's by one of my long-time favorites, Ernie Colón (with letters by John Costanza, also a fave). All the fun's bound to rub off on me (and from me onto a couple of things sitting in my sketchbook).

Wait, maybe that's ink from the newsprint.

It's interesting—although Colón had significant comics experience prior to this series, I think I see marked improvement from issue to issue of Amethyst. I admire Colón's ability to draw engaging adventure mags like this and humor mags like Richie Rich.

Excerpt from Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, Vol. 1, No. 5. Credits: Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn (writers), Ernie Colón (artist), John Costanza (letterer), Tom Ziuko (colorist), and Karen Berger (editor). Copyright © 1983 DC Comics Inc. Used here only for review and discussion purposes.

Amethyst created by Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn. Amethyst, Granch, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2007-09-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

Nathan, Jean Elson. The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2004.

Last week I finished the most haunting book I'll read this year, The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll, a biography of mysterious photographer and children's book author Dare Wright.

Dare created art to survive, to make sense of a world both enticing and terrifying to her. Using fairy-tale and childhood imagery, Dare explored "living in the world" in each of her books, as well as in her personal photographic portraits.

I'm uncertain whether I read Dare's most famous book, The Lonely Doll, as a child. Despite lack of foreknowledge I found Dare's own story arresting (albeit upsetting and sad, too). I'm certain I'll be thinking about her story and her approach to art-making for a long time to come.

UPDATE: In 2008, a film based on the life of Dare Wright begins production, with Julian Schnabel in the director's chair.

Link to Powell's listing for The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll

2007-08-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

Impulse, 2007, graphite with digital color.

Project Rooftop declared this Wieringo Week, in honor of well-loved artist Mike Wieringo, who died on August 12. Mike and famed scribe Mark Waid co-created the DC Comics character Impulse, otherwise known as Bart Allen, a member of the Flash family.

Above is my would-be Wieringo Week entry (would-be because I drew it a few days after the deadline). My drawing was inspired in part by Dean Trippe's swift design.

To me, the pseudonym Impulse immediately implies a need for protective gear. True, it might also imply a person who wouldn't wear protective gear.

"Nah, I don'need protective gear! I got mad reflexes!"

Yeah, Bart, you need it and, as the ar-teest, I'm gonna make you wear it. Trust me, it looks cool! Besides, the elbow and knee pads create mild interest in an otherwise non-descript body glove.

I did consider some white lightning bolts on his shoulders, maybe like Crime Syndicate member Johnny Quick. Three points to halt that consideration:

Such details would look muddled on Bart's body.
For the sake of repeated drawing, I want minimal detail.
The helmet bolts sufficiently communicate lightning speed.

Ah, the helmet! Obviously, the anchor of the costume is the Jay Garrick-style headgear. Somehow I think the helmet makes Bart look particularly impish. I wondered if the two sets of bolts on the helmet might be too much. Still, the red set balances the lack of detail on the body (and Buck Rogers long ago convinced me red lightning bolts on yer helmet're a-okay).

UPDATE: As stated above, I didn't expect my design to considered an official entry, given its submission date. I'm tickled to be wrong! Thanks to Dean and company for the inclusion.

Impulse created by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo. Impulse, the distinctive likeness thereof, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics.

2007-08-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

Demon Girl Digs the Slime, 2006, graphite.

This is the first of four drawings I completed for the upcoming second edition of Uresia, a fantasy game setting created by Übermensch S. John Ross. Mister Ross is surely one of the nicest guys I've never met and it's a pleasure to contribute to his projects.

I think the four Uresia drawings are fairly representative of my current approach to drawing, a combination of good old-fashioned pencil work and Photoshop tweaks.

For me, interaction among figures requires planning. However, given the types of figures in this drawing (a cute girl in a dress and a dashing blob), the drawing quickly came together.

Drafts of Demon Girl Digs the Slime, 2006, graphite.

After completing the second in the above row, I forwarded it to S. John for a look-see. He suggested some adjustment to make it clear the slime's eyepatch is an eyepatch. An excellent suggestion! I scanned and printed the top half of the drawing, drafted some eyepatch decoration, then inserted the decoration into the drawing.

2007-08-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

Collected Dandelion drawings, 2005, graphite.

Collected Dandelion drawings, 2007, graphite with digital color.

Every figure I draw must be named, it seems.