2011 Sketchbook prep

This is one of my favorite times of the year: convention season. I'll spend the next 2-3 months gearing up our annual sketchbook. I'll take scans of commissions, assignments, random drawings and sketch group pieces from the previous year and start cobbling them into what will eventually make their way into the book.

Here's today's example: BPRD's Trevor Bruttenholm

I originally did this one for a Sketchercise over at www.sketchcharlotte.com
It was nice enough, but lacked a certain "oomph" needed to be in the sketchbook. So I set up the dimensions and finished drawing out the piece to fill out the area. I then added the tentacles and the background I had created in photoshop (a take off on the Abe background I used last year).

Here are the before and after pics:

before:




And the after:


Volume 5 will debut at the 2011 Heroes Con (with new artist Henry Eudy!).
Copies of vol 3 and 4 of the Big Dog's Studio sketchbook are still available. Both feature the art of Mark Godby, Terence Hoskins and myself. For more information G-mail me at: BigDogsStudio

Sketchercise #3 - Hellboy Universe: Professor Trevor Bruttenholm

My first take on this theme was Lobster Johnson, but I struggled with his goggles on separate occasions. That slowed my progress to a halt. So the other night I was considering other options, when the good Professor jumped out at me!
I wasn't sure how to illustrate his white hair & beard using just black & white so I just outlined it! I had a happy accident while inking the outline. My Prismacolor .01 pen tip split which gave me some really cool textures. I couldn't have done that with a normal pen if I tried!
Prismacolor & Copic pens on a comic backing board...

(Original artwork available for trade or purchase)

Catching up!

I'd almost forgotten about this site! Another Heroes Con behind me and my creative juices are bubbling. Thought I'd post a few things to show what I've been up to...

Abe Sapien from Mike Mignola's BPRD. This one shows up in the new sketchbook - volume 4. Which debuted at the 2010 Heroes Con.