Hey!
Well, the school year is ending. My year 11 pupils have walked off into the sunset to seek out their ill-gotten fortune and it's just a case of wrapping up a couple of days next week - which means - more time for artwork! YAY! So, I've got a few irons in the fire at this time, but I decided to get cracking on a short tale called Boyd and the Bill Hook - just to get my chops up again... Superold is still in the pipeline as well as some other bitties floating around. Anyway...
Boyd and the Bill Hook page1, pencils:
Inks:
Show us yer buns. How childish.
Hey everyone. Well, as you may have noticed, I've been somewhat absent for a wee while. The last few months have been spent preparing for and actually getting married. A very intensive lead up to it, but a wonderful day for sure. Victoria is now Mrs Brok and I couldn't be happier. What with that and the old day job, it's been well nigh impossible to update things round here, but as the school year draws to a close and the dust settles, my mind is returning to the business of making cartoons. Time to pick up the ball again! So stay tuned for my latest explorations.
In the meantime here are a couple of pictures!
Me and the boys:
The happiest day ever (note the Han Solo and Princess Leia cake):
Me saying goodbye to my year 11 pupils:
And I must mention the passing of three heroes.
Frank Frazzetta, Al Williamson and the mighty Ronnie James Dio.
Rock on.
Hello all. Here are some pages I have pencilled for a Wolverine story as a try out for the mighty Marvel comics. Working on inks as we speak.
Enjoy!
Hola. So, a little while back Freddie E. Williams II did a crit of some of my comics pages.
Well. I went and reworked those pages and I posted them onto the 'comics' part of this site. Check 'em out and let me know what you fink. Innit.
Salud!
Hiya folks. Here are images from the development of a book illustration I've just finished. Unfortunately, due to deadlines I didn't have time to scan in the background work that I did - I just had to crack on with it! Anyway, it's an American adventure seeking chickadee and her jolly, English, ex army butler chum.
Enjoy! Oh and feel free to leave a comment - it looks good to prospective clients!
Ciao babies.
Hey, If you - like me - think that there just isn't enough music that delves into the wonderful, cosmic world of comis, with their wild philosophical musings, poignancy and outright wonder - THEN let me draw your attention to a band from Preston, UK called THUNDERBALLS. The combo derives their inspiration from the far out landscapes of JACK KIRBY'S FOURTH WORLD, GRANT MORRISON'S deranged explorations, ED BRUBAKER'S gritty noir, JAIME HERNANDEZ'S human drama, JEFF SMITH'S touching fables and other suff too!
They have songs entitled 'FINAL CRISIS', 'THE BALLAD of MISTER MIRACLE' and even one called 'LEMON'. That one's not about comics but, come on. LEMON. Lemons are cool. Rumour has it that they are currently recording their debut alboom which is to be called 'THE MAGIC SAUSAGE'.
Check these guys out, maybe even befriend them. Believe me when I say that they aint no bland music by numbers. Neither are they ridiculous teenage wannabe's. They're just fun and kick botty.
I should know, I'm in the band.
I've been asked by a few folks to do some portrait type thingies of guitarists ( as well as other people ) in my style so here are the first three for your perusal. As a result of the interest I've recieved in this sort of thing, I am going to start selling limited edition prints of a series called 'Guitar Heroes'. I'm starting with some obvious ones but will be including more esoteric folks too. Anyway here are three you may recognise.
Jimi:
Eddie:
Satch:
So if you want one or if you'd like me to draw someone specific, lemme know!
SALUD!
The new year is here and I have resolved to be more attentive in updating my blog. I aim to give you all more in the way of opinions about stuff as well as more in depth process gubbins. The last six months have been ultra busy and I want to keep that going. Hey, I'm getting married! There's a lot to do for that. I have a lot of artwork to make and I want more people to know what I can do. I want to excercise more and I want to meet more like minded people - maybe even collaborate on something...
Well, to kick things off, I'd like to direct you all to a review of some of my comics pages by DC comic's Freddie Williams II. He was very gracious in doing this for me (over the Christmas hols) and has included it as content on his Youtube page. I just want to send him a big heartfelt thanks for that - and also the CGS folks for making it all possible. Cheers fellas... Here's the link:
Tell you what, I learned a heck of a lot from this... Okay then, love to everyone espesh Vic, Andy, Aidan, The Lyths, The 'balls, Vencidos, and all you folks who love a bit of creativity. Also, my pupils - keep working, it's worth it. See thee anon.
Howdy! just a wee update, folks. The first six pages of my thrillling tale 'SUPEROLD' are up in the COMICS section of this site - with words and everything! CHECKITOOT!
I hope you enjoy it.
A few of you lovely folks have asked what I use for the work that I do so you are. Enjoy!
First off, the basics I tend to use Windsor and Newton A3 Bristol Board to draw on and tend to use the classic Pentel 0.5 clutch pencil with blue lead. I have recently purchased a derwent electric eraser which is AWESOME! Of course I still use a regular putty rubber but the fine tuning you can do with the electric is pretty special.
Recently, for the purpose of expediency I have been using the Pentel brush pen which is outstanding as well as the Copic brush pen - also brilliant. I find that they are easier to grip than brushes which makes inking less crampy. Of course you can't get the deep black application that you do with brushes but that's easily compensated for in Photoshop. I also use Sakura Microns for some ink work but not much. As for brushes, I use Windsor and Newton Series 7 which are about as good as your gonna get. I also favour proline spot brushes which have shorter bristles than the series 7's. I find I can paint in a more intuitive and dynamic manner with these. The series 7's are for when I want spot on line value.
I discovered Copic Ciao markers which are fantadtic. They glide over paper and you can get great line value especially on larger work. I still use ink nibs for a lot of my stuff. You ca't really reproduce the feel of nibs with fancy hi-tec pens so you have to keep 'em in play. The best black ink in my opinion is Higgins Black Magic. How much more black can this ink get? That's right - NONE MORE BLACK! because I can't always get my hands on it easily, I often use Daler Rowney Artists Ink which is pretty darn good to. The white is fab for corrections and generel painting duties.
I have a cool old artists drawing table which I bought from a friend. I rely heavily on the slide rule for working out perspective on my artwork. I love my table. I often have bits of reference stuck on it. I have an ikea movable strip light and a regular lamp for lighting things up. You need two to cancel out the shadows, folks.
Again from ikea - I found this little set of drawers into which you can fit two piles of A3 sheets side by side - absolutely IDEAL! checkit -
Ooh, nearly forgot. I got my hands on some refillable Pentel brush pens - surprisingly good and in different sizes. Also, here are my set squares and circle templates (indespensable) and my funky electric pencil sharpener - nothing if not fun. Oh God. I just admitted that sharpening pencils constitutes fun to me. Shoot me now...
And finally. I have around me things that make me feel creative, such as my Darth Vader Clock, A picture of Wonder Woman (from the show), Lots of reference stuff and overseeing everything - John Travolta. Helps me STRUT! Artistically that is.
That'll do for now, yes? CIAO BABIES!