/the board//

Batman Bonus

2012-01-27T11:31:00.001-08:00

An extra sketch from last fall, just found amongst my sketchbooks...

Comikaze 2011 - Joker quick sketch

2011-11-06T09:42:00.001-08:00

Joker loves you!

Comikaze 2011 - Marshal Law

2011-11-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

Mad UK character from the 80s - Marshal Law, after artist Kevin O'Neill

NYCC 2011 - Zatanna

2011-10-24T11:41:00.002-07:00

Zatanna, marker & wash

NYCC 2011 - Cable

2011-10-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

Cable - marker, wash, and watercolor

NYCC 2011 - Harley Quinn

2011-10-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Harley, marker & wash

Harley (sketchbook), marker & wash

NYCC 2011 - Venom

2011-10-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

Venom, marker & wash

Venom (sketchbook), marker & wash

NYCC 2011 - Echoes

2011-10-24T11:37:00.001-07:00

Echoes doll, marker sketch

Sucker Punch

2011-10-06T11:09:00.001-07:00

Baby Doll.

Ink, wash, watercolor.

Red Sonja

2011-10-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

This is how I'd envision Sonja. You can't get rid of the chain mail bikini, perhaps, but you can make her bad ass instead of just ass, y'know?

Ink, wash, watercolor.

Dr. Strange

2011-10-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

His power comes from his ridiculous collar. ;)

Ink, wash, watercolor.

Death

2011-10-06T11:05:00.001-07:00

Ain't she cute?

Ink & wash.

Spider Jerusalem

2011-10-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

Spider angry.
Ink & wash.

Conan

2011-10-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

In merc mode! Ink & wash.

Matter Eater Lad

2011-09-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Matter Eater Lad! I dare you to say he's not cool. Go on.

Ink, wash, watercolor.

Fairchild from Gen 13

2011-09-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Ink and watercolor.

Frank Castle Does the Time Warp

2011-09-26T23:15:00.000-07:00

It's just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right.

Punisher, 11 x 17, ink wash and watercolor.

Another Short Hand teaser!

2011-09-22T11:05:00.001-07:00

Short Hand #1 cover teaser!

2011-08-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

My new collab with uber-talented writer Jason McNamara (The Martian Confederacy, First Moon), soon to be released in a very limited edition at APE, San Francisco.

Baltimore 2011 sketches - 4

2011-08-23T14:25:00.001-07:00

This was the first sketch of the show - Cassie from Hack/Slash. This actually might still be my fav of the convention...

Baltimore 2011 sketches - 3

2011-08-23T14:20:00.001-07:00

A young kid at his first convention came up with his dad, looking for a Captain America sketch. His dad wanted him to get whatever he wanted - so, he kept adding stuff - full figure, full color, oh, and how about a motorcycle! I think his dad was wishing he had been happy with a cheap head sketch. lol

Baltimore 2011 sketches - 2

2011-08-23T14:18:00.001-07:00

Emma Frost - the paper crinkling is a result of some very thin paper in the customer's sketchbook. That's a tip for con collectors - try to buy the heaviest lbs. paper sketchbooks you can - our art will look better!

Baltimore 2011 sketches - 1

2011-08-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

The first Warhammer sketch I've been asked to do for years! An Empire warrior priest...

SDCC 2011

2011-07-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

San Diego Comic Con 2011 signing schedule:

Wednesday July 20

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Top Cow 2629

Thursday July 21

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Top Cow 2629

Friday July 22

9:30 am - 10:30 am

Image Comics 2729

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Top Cow 2629

Saturday July 23

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Top Cow 2629

You may find me around Dark Horse 2615 as well, but I'll mainly be at Top Cow. Come get a sketch, and a con exclusive Echoes hardcover!

Solomon Kane sketch card

2011-07-12T01:18:00.000-07:00

Tiny little sketch - 2 x 3.5 inches - done for a big Kane fan.

CBLDF Sketch!

2011-07-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

This sketch will be available as an exclusive autograph card at San Diego Comic Con 2011, courtesy of Things From Another World and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The original sketch will also be up for auction at the convention, to benefit the CBLDF, which does invaluable work to protect the first amendment rights of the comic book industry. More at CBLDF.org!

Catwoman

2011-05-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

Isn't she the bestest?

Thanos...

2011-05-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

...digs the Infinity Gauntlet.

Jonah Hex

2011-01-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

Love drawing this guy... Bit of a resemblance to Kane, though, eh?

Kane first look

2011-01-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

And how about a little teaser from Solomon Kane: Red Shadows, out in April? I'm already working on issue #3, so I can say this image appears somewhere in the first three issues... OR DOES IT? (It does.)

What's in the box, Brian?

2011-01-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Over on echoesthecomic.com we're ramping up to the Jan 26 release of Echoes #2 with some exclusive art previews. Go!

/ Echoes #1 in stores NOW! //

2010-12-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

/ In honor of the release of Echoes #1 - big preview of page 1, lettered & everything! //

Sketch catch-up 1

2010-11-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

/ I have loads of NYCC sketches that I never posted, so I'm going to post a few of my favs... Here's a commission of Hela, Agardian Goddess of Death, of course. //

Long Beach Comic Con 2010

2010-10-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

/ Alan Scott ink wash! //

Echoes #1 cover, undressed

2010-10-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

/ Coming in December! Click the title to link to a special exclusive preview of the first issue from Top Cow! //

We Create...

2010-07-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

SDCC 2010 Signings

2010-07-15T10:19:00.001-07:00

Thursday

Dark Horse #2615 – 4:00-5:00

Top Cow #2629 – 5:30-6:30*

Friday

Top Cow #2629 – 4:30-5:30

Saturday

Top Cow #2629 – 2:00-3:00

*Tentative schedule, subject to change!

/ on the board 46 //

2010-07-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

/ As announced today on Arrow In The Head - my brand spankin new one-sheet teaser for The Nightcrew, new action/horror from Christian Sesma and Paul Sloan! //

/ on the board 45 //

2010-07-07T10:31:00.001-07:00

/ And something else... //

/ on the board 44 //

2010-07-07T09:54:00.001-07:00

/ It's very easy to end up with 'Archangle' when trying to type 'Archangel'. //

/ on the board 43 //

2010-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

/ Someday I'll explain the story behind this one - for now, just go with it. ;) //

/ on the board 42 //

2010-06-03T10:08:00.001-07:00

/ Mysterio. Best look EVER. //

/ on the board 41 //

2010-04-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

/ Thor, filtered via Kirby. //

/ on the board 40 //

2010-04-12T00:19:00.000-07:00

/ And Dr. Orpheus, from the Venture Bros. I did some other sketches at Wondercon that I wish I had good scans of (like Han Solo, Sgt Rock, Felicia, and more) but alas, they exist only has bad iphone pics for now... //

/ on the board 39 //

2010-04-12T00:17:00.000-07:00

/ And an old school Wolvie for the coolest little kid in the world. //

/ on the board 38 //

2010-04-12T00:15:00.000-07:00

/ First of some previously un-posted art from WonderCon 2010 - Moon Knight. //

/ on the board 37 //

2010-03-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

/ Zatanna! #wondercon2010. //

/ on the board 36 //

2010-03-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

/ Delirium, done at the table, ECCC 10. A really unusual and fun request. For some reason people seem to like my Sandman-related stuff... //

/ on the board 35 //

2010-03-11T15:32:00.001-08:00

/ Kitty! #ECCC10 //

/ on the board 34 //

2010-03-11T15:31:00.001-08:00

/ Monet St. Croix! #ECCC10 //

/ on the board 33 //

2010-02-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

/ Cover to Mark Wheaton's newest horror novel, 'Night of the Scorpions'. Get it on Kindle, iPhone, Blackberry etc. right now on Amazon. //

/ on the board 32 //

2010-01-21T10:37:00.000-08:00

/ Almost forgot I did this one... ;) //

/ on the board 32 //

2010-01-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

/ And Canary from this morning. //

/ on the board 31 //

2010-01-14T13:18:00.001-08:00

/ Another Deadpool sketch, from a couple weeks ago. //

/ on the board 30 //

2010-01-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

/ Saturday = Spider-Man. //

/ on the board 29 //

2010-01-08T11:14:00.001-08:00

/ From yesterday. //

/ on the board 28 //

2010-01-07T10:21:00.001-08:00

/ The Lizard! //

/ on the board 27 //

2009-12-31T14:53:00.001-08:00

/ The Black Panther! //

/ on the board 26 //

2009-12-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

/ A very clever dude is compiling a sketchbook of Joker 'mugshots' and I get the first slot, I believe. This was a blast to draw. //

/ on the board 25 //

2009-12-29T11:16:00.000-08:00

/ Dream from Gaiman's Sandman - another fun commission. //

/ on the board 24 //

2009-12-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

/ Special preview of my cover for Mark Wheaton's new, full-length novel, Sunday Billy Sunday, for the Kindle and iPhone. His strangest and most disturbing work so far in the series. An amazing read. //

/ on the board 23 //

2009-11-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

/ Alan Scott ink sketch, commissioned. Flame! //

/ on the board 22 //

2009-11-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

/ In honor of Creepy #2, which hits comic shops Wed, 25 November, this is an unlettered sample preview of my 8-page collaboration with the legendary Joe R. Lansdale. //

/ on the board 21 //

2009-11-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

/ Oh, Slade. You're so serious all the time. //

/ on the board 20 //

2009-11-05T17:37:00.000-08:00

/ Marvel's Thor with some Norse touches, and a few splashes of color for fun. //

/ on the board 19 //

2009-10-31T13:59:00.000-07:00

/ Companion piece to Darkseid commish - a villainous diptych with Baron Karza from Micronauts. //

/ on the board 18 //

2009-10-31T11:54:00.000-07:00

/ DARKSEID IS... (...sketched in ink washes and watercolor for your viewing pleasure). //

/ on the board 17 //

2009-10-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

/ My brand spanking new cover for Mark Wheaton's brand spanking new horror novel 'Bones' - now available for Kindle and iPhone on Amazon for only 99 cents. Color as it appears on web and mobile; black and white as it appears on the Kindle. //

In memory of Bernie Fuchs

2009-09-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

I'm going to break the format of this blog just for a moment to post a few of my favorite paintings by the great Bernie Fuchs, who passed away a few days ago. Click the title to link to a Washington Post article about his exceptional life and career. He was a giant who all of us young illustrators should look to.

/ on the board 16 //

2009-09-10T12:01:00.001-07:00

/ Snake Eyes commission - ink and wash. Never drawn him before - fun. //

/ on the board 15 //

2009-09-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

/ Sketched this guy the other day (project development - tell ya about it soon) and quite enjoyed it. //

/ on the board 14 //

2009-09-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

/ Sketches I did for a proposed 28 Days Later one-off that didn't come together in the end. //

/ on the board 13 //

2009-09-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

/ This is the cover for Mark Wheaton's brilliant new novella, Last Tuesday, exclusively on Amazon for the Kindle. I had a blast designing this image, very interesting challenge. Pick up the book! Click the title of this blog entry to be taken directly to the Amazon page. //

/ on the board 12 //

2009-08-31T11:42:00.001-07:00

/ A character sketch for an undisclosed property in development... quite enjoyed this one so thought I'd sharrr... //

/ on the board 11 //

2009-08-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

/ Live sketch last night - one of the best likenesses of Shannon that I've managed so far, I think. This is only a partial of the complete page, too - she was composing lyrics and music in her head while I was sketching, and we wrote it as poetry beneath the drawing. Makes me ponder doing an art-and-poetry book with her. She's quite the poet. It would be a wonderful collab... So consider this a teaser... //

/ on the board 10 //

2009-08-26T10:27:00.001-07:00

/ First of some looong overdue updates to this poor blog. This is a recently completed commission; ink wash and a touch of watercolor. I enjoy using tricks of shadows and anatomy to make Carter seem more 'hawkish' - eg, dropping most of lower face into shadow and letting the lower portion of his mask create the subtle illusion of a hawk-like open-beak scream. //

/ on the board 9 //

2009-06-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

/ A Deadpool commission - drawing the giant ridiculous fantasy Uzi was a highlight. :) This was done in ink, wash, soluble graphite, and a bit of watercolor. //

/ on the board 8 //

2009-06-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

/ A Doctor Doom commission recently completed, in ink, ink wash, and soluble graphite. //

/ on the board 7 //

2009-06-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

/ A few 'snapshots' from a 3-page story I just finished - it will be appearing in an upcoming monkey-themed anthology. Publication details to follow - stay tuned. The talented and insane Jason McNamara (First Moon, Martian Confederacy, Continuity) wrote this 3-pager. //

/ on the board 6 //

2009-05-18T18:44:00.000-07:00

/ I spent most of last week doing underdrawings and layouts, so I didn't have much to post here. This week should see more updates, since I'll be bringing a lot of these prelims to finish. This here is a commission done in ink, soluble graphite, and watercolor. //

/ on the board 5 //

2009-05-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

/ Did this commission today - another Punisher with ink and wash. Apparently drawing crazed vigilante vets is a strength of mine. //

/ on the board 4 //

2009-05-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

/ Another flashback - a page from The Cleaners #3 - one of my favorites. Which is rare, because I shortly hate my pages after completing them. //

/ on the board 3 //

2009-05-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

/ recently on the board - this Punisher commission I did for my friend Jason in Portland (@FrnkCastle on twitter). Soluble ink, graphite wash. Quite enjoyed this one. //

/ on the board 2 //

2009-05-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

/ This page was done as a sample for a project that I cannot name, so don't ask. But it's representative of a new mixed media technique I'm exploring. //

/ on the board 1 //

2009-05-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

/ This is actually a case of was on the board, but I want to share. This is artwork from The Cleaners #4, and you're seeing it for the very first time here. //

/inaugural//

2009-05-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

/ The board is essentially where I live my life - and where most freelance artists do. It's a large angled rectangle on legs, often covered in white melamine. Attachments for storage of art supplies usually jut awkwardly from one edge or another, and a swivel lamp clamps to the top. I sit in a simple wheeled office chair in front of this contraption, and I try to earn my living.

This consists mostly of drawing pages for comic books. Sometimes there's a commission thrown in, or some odd illustration job. Mostly I use pencils, brushes, inks, quills, charcoal. I digitize this artwork on a scanner that sits to one side. I communicate with the outside world on a mac that sits to the other.

The board is where I live and work. The board is a blank white universe, each day imprinted with a new vision, then wiped clean to make way for the next.

/the board// is where you can see what happens next. //