Unstable emotions...

My editor suggested i really push the expression in this panel. Well, he couldn't be more correct. If you haven't worked with James over at Oni, YOU SHOULD!

CUT! End scene 2: Pencils

Well, that was a HUMP to get over! I think on the last two pages, where i get to use black again, things start to click for me. I do see progression in my tech design throughout, which is good. Maybe by the time i'm done with this book my tech will look like I'm good at it ;)

EDIT. I fixed the first panel on the last page, so he is no longer the son of the hunchback and the elephant man. You'll see the fix in the inks.

Sometimes doing comics is like fighting a silent war while the world around you sleeps. My friend Brunner has inspired me to do a lil shout out. It's been a real challenge trying to get a graphic novel done around a family and a full time job. So any little bit helps. Brunner has really helped me keep the steam going into the late night. Thanks homey!
Shawn

2 more

Two more penciled pages for BloodRed. This book has been slow coming lately. With the health issues i had, family stuff going on, and all this sci fi tech! Each page has a new environment. I need to design everything from a simple light post to a subway system. Designing future tech has always been a weakness of mine, which is partly why i chose to do a book on Mars. Strikes and Gutters.
Also, the flashback pages with no blacks force me to draw more than usual. No where to hide info in the graphic shapes that I'm used to.

Kalibak The Cruel!

Here's a sketch i just completed for Top Shelf's Brett Warnock.

Brunner saves the day...AGAIN!

A few years back i did a short story with B. Clay Moore for Negative Burn. It was a VERY well writen crime vignette , with some nice insight into our protagonist. When i was done, i was happy with what i did. Strikes and gutters, y'know. Now when i look it at, i see more gutters than before, a lot more. So Clay tells me he wants to print it in the back of the new HD series. I cringe. He then tells me we need it colored. BINGO! I call up my close friend, cartoon maestro, Chris Brunner. He colors it and blinds me with his magic. Enjoy.
Some of this is still a work in progress...

I Don't need no hook for this shit!

New Jay Z album, means new quotes! I do think that this line really sums up what we're doing with BloodRed. No flashy images, no gimmicks, no hooks, just straight story. Here's a double page spread. Let this bitch breathe!

The KickStand Kids

Don't waste your time here kiddies, go look at some TRUE talent.

http://kickstandkids.blogspot.com/

SERIOUSLY!

Blood is Back

Here's to hoping i'm on the up and up as far as my health goes. It had slowed me down quite a but, but now i'm moving forward, regardless. Here's the first two pages of the next scene, penciled.

Fall is upon us...

I love the autumn. This year it inspired me to draw Wolverine against an autumn Japanese backdrop.

Spidey Vs Rhino

A sketch i did for my Editor at SPX. I'll be posting more, now that my health is back.

More Red

The scene continues...

Red Tone!

Here's the layouts for the red tone. I think i hit some nice moments with it. I can see that i still have some figuring out to do as far as the placement goes. I'm sue i'll get it before the books is over ;)

Back from the grave...

Breakdowns...SCENE 2. I think things will move steadily from here on out!

DOMBOTS!

Robot champagne bottles!!!!!

Back with some quickies.

I've been away for a little while now, what can i say....life. Things are lookin good from here on out though, i should be consistently workin on BloodRed from here to finish, with no gaps. So here's some new concepts. They're not pretty, but i was in get it done mode. Wipe off the dust and here i go.
-S

Digi Pencil

I saw Kelsey Shannon using this little diddy on his Blog. It's a Photoshop tool preset that acts like a pencil. I did a QUICK sketch to get a feel for it. It's pretty fun.

The kinks in my armor

After feeling pretty good about my inks, i decided to do some color work. Color is, BY FAR, my weakness. So here's igoo in color.

Don't forget about lil ol me!!

BOB Rocket. 90 mins, maybe a little more. I think I'm starting to get more of a balance with my line work and shape work. Things seem to be clicking for me now. Strikes and gutters as always, but more strikes these days, which feels good. Have i told you how much i love this character, and can't wait to do this book? Have i told you how lucky i feel to be working on two incredible projects with two great writers. The sun is shining on me these days.

Zandor

I am trying to do these 90 minute inked sketches. I saw Canete doing this on his Blog, and i'm a hank ;) I need to work on my inks, certainly my weak point these days. So this is a good way to keep the inks flowing and keep me moving forward.

Ink sketch

I need to do more of these. Lately i feel as though my inks are hit and miss. I think i'm on to something now, i juet need to pull it all together. Not there yet, but getting there. Iggo.

Quick Color

Threw some markers down over some inks. The inks bled into the marker a bit, which caused some muddiness and smearing. The smearing seems to have added a neat effect though.

Hi Tec See

Here's some 2 min poses from a model session. I did these with a Hi Tec C pen, which i LOVE drawing with. I was happy with most of these.

Pacing exercise

While working on this short story, i thought I'd take a step back and really pay attention to the pacing of the story. Sure i pay attention to it always, BUT it's an instinct of mine that i trust and follow. For academic purposes, i thought I'd try this. I wrote and outline, word doc. Then i broke the outline down into pages, in layout templates. I titled each page with the purpose of the page, and wrote down the necessary beats for each page. These beats were loosely going to become my panels. I then blocked in my panels on another template page. Now i can see how panel count and panel size affect the pacing of the story. I think this would be even more successful over a graphic novel, where you can have GIANT MOMENTS vs. tiny moments. All in all, this was interesting.

A Boy and his Robot

Classic icon.

RISE, FRANKY JR., RISE!

The second round went much smoother. Let's pretend the first round didn't happen. Oh the suckiness!

More Designs...

...for my upcoming short. The rest of the fam.

Messin around with Toth

I'm going to be playing around with some old Toth designs. Here's my first take on Franky Jr. A bit Rusty, but it'll loosen up...i hope.

Gangsta Bitch!

Some goons for my short.

The Butcher

I'm starting a short story for my school's anthology. Here's the main character, The Butcher

Watercolor

So it's finished. Strikes and gutters, though i feel i'm getting a better handle on this medium.

Watercolor 2

I used Holbein Watercolors on plate illustration board, which forced me to work differently. I think i discovered some nice things. For a sketch/ study, it had its moments.
S