Tim, W6: Back from the dead to kick in your head!

Hey look who is on time this week!

I really love "the Crow", what a cool character and a cool concept. When I was a kid I thought the (1st) movie was awesome, and then when I was in college, I finally got the chance to read the original comics and holy shit did those kick ass!

 I love imagining other characters who have been risen from the grave to avenge the wrongs inflicted on them. Here is my "Golden Age" 1940's comic book  superhero version of the Crow, who came back to punch crime in the face!  With him I wanted to leave out the traditional "Crow" design elements (the theatrical tragic face paint) that are used for most versions of the Crow, I have always felt that those where unique to James O'Barr's original Crow, and the other characters who return from the grave have other influences in their lives that drive the look of their Crow's persona.

This was such a fun topic for me, I came up with at least two other concepts for alternate Crows that hopeful I'll get the chance to finish soon (it was so hard not to finish my "Crow-nan the Barbarian" Crow for this week).

Most of this was done digitally, which I'm not thrilled with, as I found that I really prefer to layout and design the whole piece on paper, and then color it in photoshop, but, the small part that I drew in ink, is here if you feel the need to check it out timswitalski.blogspot.com

Hey, for a bigger version go to Tim's deviantART page and press the download button in the top left corner.

Week 6: Craig's Crow

I know just enough about this character to get me in trouble with people who really know him. I must admit that most of my knowledge comes from the Jason Lee movie peppered with some art I've seen over the years. Happily researching The Crow and doing the piece has turned me into an admirer. I think the Crow taps into the same vein that appreciates other justice bringers like Batman or Ghost Rider while allowing you to empathize with a truly pained character. Sure it's all sorts of Goth and Emo but it's good Goth and Emo.
I've learned a lot with this piece. Friskett will resist bleach, you can use a hair dryer when your toned paper is being bleached and xylene transfer does not work on cold press, toned paper that well. Perhaps the easiest thing to learn is that the combined smells of Clorox and Xylene gives you a pretty good headache. My intention is this was to be all traditional, mixed media but once the transfer didn't take it quickly got thrown into Photoshop. So it's a pencil drawing on top of a bleached toned paper moon with the rest of the colors in Photoshop. If you would like to see the drawing before anything happened to it check it out here.

Tim, W5: Son of the Bat!

 

"Holy crowbar, Batman!" Yes, Robin is the obvious choice for the week 5 "Supporting Character" topic, I just really felt like drawing him...well I felt like drawing the new(ish) psychotic Robin, Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's bastard son with villain-ess  Talia al Ghul, who was raised to kill by his mommy's  League of Assassins (I read a lot of comics). Even though he has the Joker "on the ropes" (or "in the ropes" if you prefer), Damian, may soon learn that the "Clown Prince of Crime" is no pushover!

And for more crowbar wielding goodness, hop on over to my personal blog timswitalski.blogspot.com to check out the ink work on this bad-bat-boy wonder (and while you're there feel free to peruse some of my other delectable doodles).

To see a BIGGER image check it out here timswit.deviantart.com

WEEK 6 : THE CROW

 If I were to single out any book responsible for getting me involved and interested again in creating comics, James O'Barrs The Crow sits at the top of the heap. If all you're familiar with is the watered down Hollywood version, blessed by the performance of Brandon Lee, then I highly recommend it. A quick bit of history...The Crow was first published in "81" lost in the flood of books being produced during the glutton of black and white independent comics. It wasn't until "92" that Tundra collected the completed version in 3 volumes. This is not a kid friendly comic.
 The story was written by O'Barr after the tragic death of his fiance, killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, and fueled reportedly by a story he had read in the news of a couple killed over $20.00. I had read that O'Barr had hoped that writing the story would be cathartic in helping him cope with the grief...but only made him angrier and more resentful. And if this is true, that anger bleeds from the pages. Gone is all the Hollywood subplots of the buddy cop, the child skateboarder and the Devils Night evil landlord. It's a plain tragic story of a young couple just beginning to start their life together and end being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The character of Erik Draven brought back from the dead by the crow to avenge their death and set things right. It is heart wrenching at times, violent, angry..and beautiful. The artwork is rough at the beginning, as James finds his legs in telling his story, but the prose grabs you..shakes you. Many stories have been told of other characters brought back by the black bird. A native american brought back years later to avenge the slaughter of himself and his family at the hands of confederates. A murdered mother avenging the death of her unborn child.... But it's O'barrs story that taught me the importance of emotional content, how important it is to pour yourself into every piece...every bit of art that you do. So this week our challenge will be to create our own versions.

A Festus-avus Miracle

Growing up in my home as a kid, my parents watched a lot of westerns...a lot. And personally I was never interested in the older black and white films other than a handful...It wasn't until the first time I saw a Leone film that I fell in love with the genre. My parents watched shows like HIGH CHAPPAREL, BIG VALLEY, BONANZA and GUNSMOKE. Marshall Dillon never struck me as a true cowboy...or even that rugged. His cloths were always spotless and he was clean shaven, hat always perfect....But then there was Festus...his deputy. Festus for me, was the epitome of a rugged cowboy. And although he was used more often for humor sake on the show...and in most cases watching Dillons back..deep down, personally I always thought, "He looks more like the sheriff." His cloths were worn and faded...his mug unshaven and his hat looked like he'd been on the plains..weathered. Much like his features. If I were in a showdown or gun battle...I'd want Festus watching my back. Always thought he should of had his moment to shine..So this one is for you Festus. Now...back to inking a commission piece...Follow the link to Chelzo Studios to see my progress.http://www.chelzostudios.com/

Week 5: Algebreic!

Whew.. What a week! I was really looking forward to drawing something silly for once - thank goodness for the RBMC! I'll take any excuse to do some fan-art.

This is Marceline the Vampire Queen from what is hands down the best cartoon on televison right now - Adventure Time. If you haven't seen it by now you are really missing out on some great animation, smart, wakadoo writing, and all around awesomeness headed by genius nice-guy Pendalton Ward. The show follows main characters Finn and Jake on their various adventures through the post-apocalyptic land of Ooo.

Marceline is a 1,000 year old vampire who sometimes yucks it up with Finn, Jake and the gang on their various adventures. Unlike traditional vampires, she only drinks the red out of objects. She is moody, mischievous, and an all-around rock star... And I LOVE her.

Week 5: How Industrious

Now, I may be in the vast minority here, but I've always preferred Batman Returns to the original Batman movie.   Michelle Pfieffer's mental breakdown in her apartment, the Penguin's origin as a little boy taken in by a carnival's freak-show after being abandoned by his parents, and the whole thing being set in a Gotham Winter.  If you haven't seen the movie in a while, you've probably forgotten that Christopher Walken was right in the middle of all of it.  At a point in his career where he could still come off as extremely menacing, he played Max Schreck: a crafty businessman trying to fulfill his legacy and pass on to his son a new power plant that will secretly suck electricity from the homes of Gotham's citizens.  Rewatching the movie, I never felt that Christopher Walken, or Batman Returns, got the praise that it deserved.  My idea was to draw a picture moments after he pushes Selina Kyle through that window.

Once again, everything is digital.  Looked to some Hugh Ferriss architecture for the buildings.  Wanted to get away from my standard body shape and tried exaggerating the proportions while still looking a bit like Walken. Also, was struggling a little bit with my lines being too thin.  So I layed a copy of the lines on top of themselves and that seemed to do the trick.

Go to my personal blog to see the process: Still-Reaching

Twitter: NeedYourDisease

Week 5: You look like you could use some surgery

When I should be watching the news and learning about world events I tend to watch a fair amount of cartoons. This character comes from a cartoon called, "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" which is unfortunately no longer on. The show follows Flapjack and Captain K'nuckles in their search for the fabled Candy Island but more often than not they goofed around the town of Stormalong, a town build on a pier. Sure, as I am typing this all out it sounds less entertaining and more kiddy show but hang in there. Stormalong's resident Barber/ Surgeon / closet Dr. Frankenstein/ barbershop quartet member, Dr. Barber was there to occasionally bring the show back to the absurdly menacing. Check out this clip, (I think what adds to the clip is that it's someone filming their tv. Gives it some good creep.)

The image was drawn on toned paper that streaked and splattered with bleach, toned with watercolor and then splattered again with ink.