Patti Smith

Another recent (hugely enjoyable, and entirely digital) commission, the legendary Patti Smith.

Heath Ledger as The Joker

A commission. Practicing my all-digital stuff, think this is the best one so far.

3 Motown legends & a writer chap

This is the last huzzah of the 10 minute portrait project. I was commissioned by Neil Roche to draw 3 of these for his boss' 50th birthday, and because it would be the last batch I'd be doing for the forseeable future I wanted to go out with a bit of a bang and decided to throw in a fourth one free, and to tone them digitally (rather than just present the inks alone).

So they started life as quick pencil sketches, 12cm x 9cm like all my other 10 minute portraits. You can see at this point that one or two things aren't quite right (Marvin's left eye in particular), but rather than keep working at the pencil stage I scale them up in Photoshop, print them out in faint blueline and ink by hand with my Pentel brush pen, refining things like this as I go. These are then scanned back into PS and the tones and texture added digitally. I try to achieve a hand-painted look, almost like watercolour, which I think works quite well.

Anyway, they are from the top: Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Wilbur Smith & Bobby Womack.

Groucho in space!

A recent commission - the brief was the 3 words in the title of this post, the rest was left up to me! The result is a blend of certain influences I've been absorbing lately: Plague of Frogs-arc BPRD, John Carter, Moebius and The Creature From the Black Lagoon. Colour-wise I wanted to try something slightly different, at least in terms of the palette used, hence the hazy pinkish cast which is supposed to evoke the strange light on an alien world.

Joel Fleischman

For my girlfriend's cousin's boyfriend, who incidentally I used to be in a band with, work with and live with. Did you follow all that?

Bob Dylan commission

The third of my latest batch of commissions - to go with Jimi and Marilyn. Really pleased with how these turned out.

Jimi Jimi

Another commission - part of a set of 3 (Marilyn, Jimi and Bob Dylan).

Marilyn commission

The hair's not quite finished yet...

Hellboy commission - coloured

Quick colour job on this, going for a muted Dave Stewart-inspired palette.

I just cannot believe any of this voodoo bullsh*t

 Keith David as Childs in Carpenter's The Thing. First of a batch of new commissions:

1. Pencil roughs with quick tones added in PS
2. Inks
3. Inks with finished tones

Another satisfied customer

Hellboy commission

A very friendly chap contacted me through my Deviant art page today and requested a commission - his idea was himself  and Hellboy bursting through a door brandishing guns in a typical action pose. I then suggested the above - as if he was posing for a fanboy photo with Hellboy at a convention. He was up for that, so here it is!

Christmas round-up

Done as a few xmas pressies for various friends and family. Particularly enjoyed the Lansbury/van Dyke commission.

Preacher commission (with greytones)

 

Spent all day on a new Durham Red pin-up, then toned this up (without the wacom I might add) in about 20 minutes. Guess which one I prefer?

Jesse Custer

I was recently contacted by one Ryan Ballard to take part in this. It's a wonderful and totally generous project, and I'm honoured to be rubbing shoulders with other participants like Rufus Dayglo, Simon Fraser, Jim Mahfood and my old partner-in-crime Kev Levell.

This is a quick sketch I did last night, worked up from a sketchbook doodle. I'm trying out a few ideas, and my final contribution will probably involve either Jesse and the lovely Tulip or just Tulip on her own.

Being commissioned to take part was a great excuse to re-read the comic (it's been at least ten years), so I picked up the first hardback collection and have been thoroughly enjoying it. Now I'll have to buy the entire series! (damn).

Will you deliver Spain from bondage?

Death is the road to awe

Some 'Fountain' sketches

 

 

 

Been commissioned to draw something from Darren Aronofsky's staggering 'The Fountain'. Another of my favourite films from recent years. I'm planning to combine these images (along with some other elements) in to a sort of Drew Struzan Star Wars-style movie poster.

Flip 'em the bird JC

 

Another commission. Really enjoyed this one!

And a wee bit more

Now for the inks...