Brenda Starr, Reporter

For Alphababes, week two, Brenda Starr.

AlphaBabes launches!

A is for Aurora

In the tradition of AlphaBots, AlphaBooks, AlphaBeasts and Animal Alphabet, I decided I wanted to do something to get myself to draw, but I wanted to pick something that I wanted to draw, so I combined my interest in drawing women and a love for comics to do AlphaBabes.

Everyone is welcome to submit anytime that they want to, but I'm starting this week with A, which is first represented by Aurora of Alpha Flight. There'll be another drawing for A because my love for drawing comic book women is large enough for two a week sometimes.

I'm trying to do all of these with grey brushpens so like this one, they'll all be shaded, just to make them a little more interesting.

Jet-Pack Jenny

Our buddy and partner-in-crime Stan Ford has a Kickstarter for his creation: Jet-Pack Jenny and he'd asked a few of us to sumbit art for a pinup section. 

This was my contribution...

You can see more of Jet-Pack Jenny and Stan's other work here: http://carpaltunnelpress.blogspot.com/

The Mermaid & the Manatee

I did this drawing for Henry Eudy's birthday, and now that I've given it to him, I can share it. I really like how it came out, although I wish I were better at drawing manatees.

Pop Swap!

I'm going to be at the annual Heroes' Pop Swap tomorrow from 10:00 am - 4:00pm selling sketchbooks, original art, prints and possibly even doing some sketches! I'll also have an absolute ton of trade paperbacks & hardcovers, cds, dvds and other assorted "pop" paraphenalia on sale for CHEAP!!!

A few of the Big Dog crew will be there doing their thing too: Henry Eudy, Stan Ford, Herc Petmezas and possibly Terence Hoskins too! (they'll have mini comics, original art, prints and other assorted goodies too!)It's a regular reunion! You can get just about all of us to sign the 2012 sketchbook! ;)

Last year was an absolute blast and this year should only get better...hope to see you out there!

The People at the Meeting

Because of the nature of my job, I rarely get the opportunity to just doodle my working hours away. However, every once in a while I'll have to attend a slew of boring meetings complete with Power Points and laser pointers and handouts. When that happens, I doodle myself dinky. At today's day long seminar I decided to use the time to do some life drawings of my fellow victims.

 So, here are (predominately) sketches of old, balding white men looking to the left. I made these drawings in pencil, quickly, without erasing or fussing too much about details. Just quick, secret drawings of drowsy employees in the semi dark. Each sketch is only a few inches tall and most were done in only about 5-10 minutes. For those interested, you can get some insight into my very loose and light penciling style.

When I got home I broke out my brush pens and had a go at these poor slobs. Hopefully this will demonstrate a little about inking. Like, a lot depends on picking the right line. My pencils tend to be loose and scratchy, just giving a feel for the form and the shape. When I ink, I try to pick the one line that will best describe the subject and lay it down with as much confidence as I can muster. Then I just try to shade and shape that object as best I can. These are just doodles. Quick, throwaway drawings to keep my mind and hand active. But each little mark is a small step to something better, right? Anyway, hope you enjoyed this little foray.

--- H.

#DeskDoodles - week 5.5

I've been so busy lately I've fell behind, so here is the last week & a half worth of submissions.

Artists (top to bottom): Herc Petmezas, Tom Davidson, Brandon Padgett (me), me again, Collette Kling, Liam, Mark Godby, Stan Ford, Collette again, Stan again...

Here's hoping things will pick back up...thanks to everyone who played along!

Each week I'll be posting new #deskdoodles to instagram, twitter and tumblr with the hashtag: #deskdoodle If you'd like to join in, just gmail me (BigDogsStudio) your deskdoodle and I'll get them loaded!