Panels Galore!

This panel sample comes from David Petersen's Blog. He is the artist for Mouse Guard. He is a nominated artist for the 2011 Eisner Cover Artist and his book is also nominated for Best Anthology. If you're not reading this book then you are crazy! It's beautifully drawn and the mythology he has created is amongst the most fantastic worlds ever dreamed. Go, NOW, and pick up a graphic novel of Mouse Guard! Seriously, get going....
He has provided this sample on his blog site to explain his process and thought for square format. Strathmore even has a 12X12 bristol pad made available to comic artists... Even though this format has only been used in his books and the Muppets. Great horizontal layouts though! It provides a unique cinematic feel, the dynamics are balanced and the eye isn't pulled through the book with traditional comic format. *I'm not knocking it ,but his book IS nominated!

Check him out!
http://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!

J.

WOW! Simone Bianchi rocked this...

So, here I find myself on the blog spot once again... Twice for the month, that's a record. Seriously, I am trying to make a weekly effort become a daily effort. So bear with me and follow the white rabbit!
Simon Bianchi is by far one off the best illustrators that Marvel has under it's roof. It is no joke to ink-wash art work! What a great piece he produced for this X-Force cover. 
BOOM!
Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view! *I hope that they make this into a poster!

Nuff' said!

J.

Snow White My Way!

My-oh-my haw the time does pass...

I have been noodling around with this illustration for the past 10 weeks. Sketches, inspiration, re-sketch, upside down double checks, and "Hmmmm, she sure needs more hip to match them boobs!" And, hurray! This is the finished pencils...

NOT FINISHED YOU SAY! Correct, this think needs ink-spiration! I am currently slapping on a coat of higgins and will most likely kill a pen or two as well.

AND THEN?! Holy (Top) Cow! I will get color pumped into the damn thing if you demand it! Since this is to be the creme-d'crop for my studio pieces. All-in-all, I'm pleasantly pleased with the progress thus far. Now, I need to get those deadline demons under control.

Enjoy!

J.

My Influences...

So, I was wandering around a few deviant art pages of a few of my favorites and came across J.Scott Campbell's and an "Influence Map" he had. His artists were selected based on his childhood and teen years when he was trying to find his niche.
 I felt compelled to create one for myself. This self indulging experience actually made me think "What made me the artist I am today and how profound was it on my style?" I spent a decent chunk of time on it so that I didn't feel like I cheated myself and the vision(s) I had sought out to discover.
Please, open this up and take some time to think to yourself... "What made me ME and when am I going to contribute to the next Influence Map made." Also, at the bottom of the page is a link... Download the PSD file... Fill in the blanks!


Browse, NOW!
'Nuff said (Stan Lee)
J.

http://fox-orian.deviantart.com/art/Influence-Map-Template-174550753

Nexus Returns!

Hey! It's another piece from the semester that hell created!
*(Nexus is copy written by Mike Baron and Steve Rude)
BUT! I DID NOT STEAL THIS ART!
My assignment was to separate the "inked line art" from the back ground, working through channels, and color the image... SO.... Color separation anyone? It's not as hard as it looks, but it is a process that I think has contributed to my arsenal of comic creation.
Exciting! Riveting! Couldn't move from my seat! (That's what I believe that movie voice guy would say.)

Take a peek!

J.

*Original art : Steve Rude (Dark Horse Comics)

Munny, munny, munny, munny...... MUNNY!

Ok.
Like Aaron Lewis once said, "It's been awhile...", but I'm back and chock full of art... CCS has been the monster under my bed for a lil' bit and I plan to show something for it... Damnit!
This, ladies and gentlemen, was my 80's Rocker Munny for Image 2 this semester (line art ONLY). Lots of fun and learned a ton of Adobe Illustrator technique. I will post the color later... With all the other finished (color) work from the last 4 months!
So, I hope y'all like it... Thing ate up hours of my social life!

Great to be back (hold your applause)!
J.

Behold! Lions and Bees and Muscles! Oh my...

Well, lookie what I found while cleaning... A USB drive with my review work. Damn thing was so small it got lost in a pocket of time that just so happens to be inside my back pack, but not a glimpse of the future anywhere next to it. So, this was my second piece for a class Winter semester and got tore upside and down during critique because I lacked a cool counter in my coloring. Needless to say, I found a touch of purple and some cobalt in to the shadows actually adds a richer dark that the deep earthy colors I had. Ahhh, a sigh of relief when she said the warms and cools felt more balanced out.
The whole idea was based on a "dual portrait" with out showing a face and one must be "inferred". I choose Samson and Delilah from the Babylonian version of the Bible depiction. Great story and tons of imagery to play with. That being said, you can figure out Samson, but Delilah was more of the elements around the central image. He went to great lengths to be with her and once was love turned out to be treachery. What a bitch! (Note: Check out Wikipedia for a quick lesson and story of Samson; click link.)

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson

Enjoy the view!
J.