It’s coming together nicely, though I’ve also been distracted with various freelance projects. I recently completed a storyboard project for a client, which consumed two and a half weeks of my time. It was a lot of valuable time to dedicate to something other than my schoolwork, but it paid well, and I’m starting to think about practical financial options for when I graduate.

But here are some pages I’ve been working on. Klaus told me at our last meeting that I’ve made a breakthrough, which I totally feel to be true. Lately, I’ve been able to knock out a penciled page within four hours; something I’ve never been capable of before. It’s exciting to finally feel like I can do the things I want to. Though the road ahead is a long and hard one.

Outlaw Page 2 | Thesis Project

Outlaw Page 8 | Thesis Project

Outlaw Page 9 | Thesis Project

Outlaw Page 11 | Thesis Project

Outlaw Page 12 Pencils | Thesis Project

The end of this semester marks a huge change in my growth as an artist and illustrator. It’s a jump that I never would have imagined possible. This whole year, I’ve felt like I was ramming my head into a brick wall. That I was getting no where and only injuring myself and my wife by being in grad school, racking up debt, and living in New York City (which I find to be a very hard place).

But very recently, I’ve seen light at the end of the tunnel. I’m starting to enjoy the images that I’m making. And, most importantly, I’m beginning to understand how illustrative and comic making processes works.

If there’s anyone to thank for this leap, it’s Klaus Janson, who I’ve had the privilege of meeting with every other week. He’s been incredible, giving me resources, advice, and feedback on my work. It’s been great to talk to him about the business of comics, since he’s been in the industry for so long and know all of its ins and outs. Simply getting to meet with him one on one has been worth the sacrifice of being here and going to school.

I feel like I’m moving forward. And that is something that I needed desperately. We’ll see if it pans out.

Outlaw Page 1 | Thesis Project

Here are some pieces that I’ve been working on this semester for my Thesis Project, titled “Outlaw”. It’s a short graphic novel, based on the Icelandic Saga of Gisli (about 66 pages). I’ve finished the script and thumbnails for the first 24 pages. This is the first page of the book.

The story is broken up into 3 issues, and I’ll have the first one finished before the end of next semester. It will have a little color and be completely lettered. I’m hoping to shop it around to various publishers (both comic and book publishers). With a 24 page comic, at least I’ll have an awesome portfolio piece to help get my foot in the door.

Outlaw Concept Sketch | Thesis Project

Outlaw Concept Sketch | Thesis Project

Outlaw Concept Sketch | Thesis Project

Here’s my reworked punisher pages.

Punisher | Comic Sample Portfolio

Punisher | Comic Sample Portfolio

Punisher | Comic Sample Portfolio

I’ve also been hard at work on my Thesis project. At the beginning of this semester I thought I would do several small comic short stories (6-8 pages each). But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do a longer, more cohesive story.

I took a viking literature class my last semester of undergrad. We studied various icelandic sagas and epics. I thought it would be a lot of fun to drawing vikings, swords, ships, and battles. So, I’m writing and illustrating a graphic novel based on the Gisli Saga.

It’s a story about a man who’s forced to kill his brother in law, which leads to his outlawry and eventual death. The story will take place in 3 parts, 22 pages each.

Here are some concept sketches for my book:

Concept | The Saga of Gisli

Concept | The Saga of Gisli

Concept | The Saga of Gisli

I hope that’s normal.

Weekend before last was New York Comic Con. I got to meet several of my favorite artists, including Sean Murphy, Kristian Donaldson, and Nathan Fox. I lugged my portfolio around, and begged reviews from them and others. I got some great feedback and encouragement.

I had the last 6 pages from my comic, Ezekiel as well as these pieces in my portfolio:

Punisher Sample | Comic Portfolio

Punisher Sample | Comic Portfolio Punisher Sample | Comic Portfolio

When I first met with Klaus, I told him one of my goals for this year was to have a competitive, professional, comics portfolio. He said he had an old punisher script lying around, so we started our conversation there, with me drawing 6 pages from the Punisher. It’s been fun, though I’m having to redraw a great deal of it.

Northlanders Sample | Comic Portfolio

This is a page from Northlanders. I think I’m going to be drawing a viking comic for my Thesis Project.

Sample | Comic Portfolio

Sample | Comic Portfolio

Sample | Comic Portfolio

After getting feedback from some people the Friday of Comicon, I decided it would be worth my time to create a couple portfolio booklets to drop off at Marvel and DC Comics. They review your stuff, and if they feel like you’re good enough, will give you a portfolio review the next day.

Sunday, Marvel seemed to think I was worthy, and I got a portfolio review from Bon Alimagno, Marvel Comic’s Talent Coordinator. He was very gracious (I know he was exhausted from the con), gave me great advice, and told me to email him in three months with new work after I had processed all the advice I got at the con.

Overall it was an incredibly encouraging experience, and I hope that I continue to improve.

But comics aren’t all I’ve been doing. Here are some illustration pieces I’ve done in the past few months:

Metamorphasis | RPC Women’s Ministry

Go Free | Blake Mankin

Putting Kids Away | Ithsmus Magazine

Yes?..

I’ve finished my book project (though it has yet to be printed). The show is on starts on the 23rd, and the Opening is the 27th. I’m thankful that it’s finished. I’m ready to move on to another project.

I learned a lot during this whole ordeal. I’ve discovered a lot about my process, how I need to work when attempting to illustrate a comic book. But I’ve also learned that there are a great deal of things I need to work on.

Ezekiel | Book Project

Maybe everyone know this, but I’m beginning to realize that drawing comics well, like doing anything well, requires a great deal of patience and hard work in a ton of different areas, especially figure drawing. This morning, while drinking coffee, I was comparing drawing comics to dunking in basketball. There’s no simple solution to drawing well, just like there’s no simple solution to dunking on a basketball hoop 10 ft off the ground.

I imagined a 10 year old kid asking Michael Jordan how to dunk. How do you answer that? “Lots of practice?” There are so many different factors, leg strength, coordination, concentration, familiarity with the game. Dunking is icing on the cake of hard work, training, and practice. Comics are the same way. Drawing comics well is the icing on a cake of hard work, study, determination, and a crap load of practice in a variety of different areas, specifically anatomy.

So this summer I’ve been kicking my butt when it comes to figure drawing. Someday I’m going to compile a list of all the drawing resources I’ve used, how I’ve used them, and exercises I’ve done. Mostly though, I’ve been working through Andrew Loomis’ Figure Drawing for All Its Worth. Not only have I’ve read every single page, but I’ve been copying all his drawings (some multiple times).

In high school I used to think that copying anything was cheating. That someone who was truly skilled in drawing drew from his head. So, I was too arrogant (and probably lazy), to work out the figures and forms from my drawing books. But now I realize that the only way to draw something well is to know it deeply, intimately, and that can only be had through meticulous study and practice.

I thought I’d post some of the anatomy studies, as well as some jet planes.

*some of the drawings contain nudity*

Ezekiel Comic | SVA Book Project

I start by thumbnailing my page spreads lightly in pencil on an 8.5 X 11 sheet of paper. The pages are 5 in by 7.5 in. At first I use a 2H pencil, drawing in the light shapes without any details. Then I add additional detailing using a 2B pencil.

Ezekiel Comic | SVA Book Project

After I’m satisfied with my thumbnails, I scan them, lay them out on an 11 X 17 document in photoshop, change all the line art to a light blue, and print it out on an 11 by 17 sheet of plate finish bristol board. This allows me to focus on my shadows and light.

Ezekiel Comic | SVA Book Project

Inking is my favorite part. Right now I’m using Speedball Super Black India Ink, a Windsor & Newton Series #7 size 4 and size 6 brush, a Hunt 102 Crow quill, a toothbrush, and a Bic White Out pen. If you’ve never bought a Series #7 brush, definitely get one. They can be a little expensive but they’re absolutely wonderful.

I will scan my pencils and print them out using a similar process as my thumbnails. You could draw directly on your pencils, but when you ink on the blue line there’s no graphite to clean up. I take my time during the inking process, usually moving from dark to light. Once I’ve covered the entire page, I will go back into it either adding minute details with my crow quill, creating light with my white out pen, or creating a splatter effect with my toothbrush.

A few awesome things happened. My wife received a teaching position at the Excellence Boys Charter School in Brooklyn. She is going to be surrounded by incredible teachers, who care a great deal about their kids; and she will also be working towards her Masters Degree (something which the school requires and helps pay for). Although she’s a bit intimidated, she definitely has was it takes to educate and love on these kids.

I also received my first paid, printed editorial illustration job. It’s a cover illustration for Isthmus | The Daily Page in Madison WI. Carolyn Fath, the Art Director there was wonderful to work with, and I was really excited about the opportunity. I’ll post the illustration here when the magazine gets published later this month.

Collect Calling | KillScreenDaily.com

I also had another illustration on KillScreenDaily.com. They just had an awesome gaming party at the MoMA, which I’m very sorry I was unable to attend.

Ezekiel Comic | SVA Book Project

Ezekiel Comic | SVA Book Project

In the meantime, I’ve also been hard at work on comics. My story is coming to an end, though I’m not finished yet. Here are the latest two pages, I’m very excited about them.

My wife and I flew back to the promised land in May. Texas is a beautiful place, and it has been our great pleasure to traverse the countryside, visiting friends and family along the way.

We hung out with my parents and sister in Sugar Land, were able to attend my sister’s graduation from A&M University in College Station, spent Memorial Day on the river in Wimberley (they have a fantastic rodeo), spent a week in the beautiful hill country of Boerne, TX with Jess’ mom and step dad, and just got back from an amazing weekend in Austin filled with old friends.

It’s so good to be home.

Creature – Inks | Penny and Sparrow

In spite of all our travels I have still been making artwork. So, here’s the revision to the album cover I did for a friend. He wanted a little less darkness in the piece, something that offered more hope. These are the inks.

Creature – Colors | Penny and Sparrow

Here are the final colors with Type. If you like the typeface I used for “penny and sparrow” it’s called “Nilland.” A nice font I’ve used a lot recently (and it’s free).

Greg Kasavin Portrait | KillscreenDaily.com

Here’s another portrait I did for Kill Screen. Greg Kasavin is the former executive editor at GameSport who recently transitioned to game design. Currently he’s working on a project called Bastion at Supergiant Games, which looks pretty fantastic.

Check out the article: http://killscreendaily.com/articles/profile-greg-kasavin
Check out Bastion: ttp://supergiantgames.com/?page_id=242

David Lee | Tom O’Neal

Tom O’Neal is my dad’s best friend (I’ve called him Uncle Tom since I could talk). He recently commissioned me to do an illustration of an old friend of his, David Lee. When Uncle Tom was a kid, he went on a trail ride with several other kids and their dads. Seeing that the boys were getting a bit rowdy, David Lee grabbed a snack, and cracked it’s head off like a bullwhip. Needless to say, the boys were angels after that.

Ezekiel Comic | SVA Book Project

Here’s page eleven from my up and coming comic Ezekiel. I’m hoping to knock out 28 pages this summer, to be ready for the Book Show in September. I’ve learned a lot drawing comics, but I still don’t feel up to the task of doing it professionally.
We’ll see what happens.

Moral issues aside (I’m not into supporting a pornographic magazine with my artwork, and will be very hesitant if my piece gets chosen), I decided it would be a good exercise to knock out an illustration.

So, I read the story.

It’s well written, but very strange and depressing. The main character has MS, but attempts to hide it by riding around his apartment complex on an office chair, being pulled by a dog. Waking up in a puddle of his own vomit and urine, he decides he should check the mail, in order to find his SSI check. On his way to the mailbox, he discovers a young boy who’s attempting to avoid a truant officer. They talk, he attempts to protect the young boy from the officer, and the story ends when the man’s girlfriend shows up at his apartment with sandwiches.

Not exactly encouraging or uplifting, nor can anything morally or intellectually valuable be gained; but there are a few clever jokes I guess…

Hot Damn Sketch | Playboy Magazine Submission

I usually start off by drawing several boxes on a single sheet of paper. My sketches start off fairly loose, but when I find one I like, I try to tighten it up a bit. This was 5” X 5”. This stage is all about setting up a nice composition.

Hot Damn Pencils | Playboy Magazine Submission

Once I find a sketch that I like, I scan it, blow it up to proper size (in this case 11” X 11”, print it out in a light blue, and go in to refine the pencils. I add detail and focus on lighting and shadow.

Hot Damn Inks_1 | Playboy Magazine Submission

After my pencils are finished, I scan them and convert them to blue lines, and print them out. Then I begin to ink. This is my favorite part of drawing. I love the feel of a brush on a nice piece of bristol board. The textures you can create are wonderful.

Hot Damn Inks_2 | Playboy Magazine Submission

At this point, I had shown my work to a few friends and gotten some feedback (mostly my classmate Rafa, we’ve decided to keep each other accountable to creating awesome work). The chair’s handle was too long and out of proportion, the boy didn’t really look african america, the woman’s hand was way too small for her body. I also added detailing and grit, and made the dog’s fart more pronounced.

Hot Damn Illustration | Playboy Magazine Submission

I added my colors, though I like the black and white much better. I was under a pretty tight deadline, and didn’t feel like I did a very good job. When I get some free time, I may go back into the colors.

My book project has taken up a great deal of my time, but I have managed to put a few other things in there.

Jason Rohrer as Child | KillScreenDaily.com

I’ve had the fantastic opportunity to do some work for Kill Screen Magazine. They’re an awesome group of people dedicated to looking at video games as pieces of artwork.

This is a portrait I did of independent game designer, Jason Rohrer.

Jesse Schell, Gamepocalyspe | KillScreenDaily.com

Here’s another portrait I did for Kill Screen. Jesse Schell is a game designer and entrepreneur who has a great talk on the future of video games and how they will affect our lives.

It’s a Creature | Timber Music

I have a few friends who are incredibly talented musicians. They’re working on an EP right now, in the meantime, check out their website.