Civil War Project: Character Designs Inked

Here are a few of the inked versions of the previous characters.

Civil War Project: Character Designs Pencilled

I'm currently working on a long-term project with a state historical society involving a traveling exhibition about the Civil War. It's supposed to have a graphic novel/comic book look to it. These are the penciled versions of six characters that will be reproduced life-sized (inked and colored).

The Woman and the Dragon

This is the front cover for the Revelation study guide I mentioned in the previous post. This image is taken from the narrative in chapter 12. Being that the final cover was only about 8 inches tall, I would approach the drawing a little differently if I had to do it again...perhaps more of a flat, graphic approach instead of all the detail...perhaps a bit more art nouveau perhaps even hinting at stained glass. Anyway, both drawings were very well received.

John the Revelator

The image is based on the book of Revelation chapter 1 where John first hears the voice behind him and turns to see a bright light. The illustration is being used for a study booklet corresponding to a sermon series. It will be used for the back cover. The front cover will be posted as soon as I'm finished with it.

The Palmyra Initiative

I just finished this commission for a couple my wife and I are friends with. The husband got me a great deal on a new paint job for my Trans Am, and said he'd knock even more off if he and his wife could have a piece of art done by me. I immediately agreed. Their kid was all-to-willing to be the villain in the piece. They haven't even seen it, yet. I hope they like it.

It's brush and ink on watercolor paper. The star field and some highlights are white gouache.

Back from the San Diego Comic Con

I recently returned from the San Diego Comic Con—my first time attending. I had a great time. Highlights included a half-hour sit-down conversation with Neal Adams about my art, being introduced to a lot of creators from a variety of companies and publications, seeing a bunch of really crazy costumes, and spending some time enjoying the wonderful architecture and food in the Gas Light District of San Diego.

I also met some online acquaintances from my last project and some future projects including Elton Pruitt (a fine writer who's appeared in "Negative Burn" and "Popgun"), Caleb Monroe (writer of "Remnant"), and James Powell (my editor on a recent story I drew which is appearing in his latest anthology project). These are some great guys. We had a lot of fun.

"I Saw Mommy..."

I recently sent off the inked pages of the short story I was working on for a future Christmas anthology. The working title of "Another First" has been changed to "I Saw Mommy...." The pages should now be in the hands of either the colorist or letterer. I'll post the publishing schedule as soon as I find out when it is.

Above are some pages from the story. I'm not including any that give away the plot.

Back at it again!

After a long hiatus from drawing comics (since last spring and the advent of the arrival of my and my wife's first child and all the business and crazy schedule that it brings), I'm at it again.

I'm picking up the story I starting before the hiatus (the first page of which is posted just previous to this one). The Christmas anthology in which this story will appear was put on hold, and is now "off-hold" and the editor is out pitching the concept to publishers once again.

Here is a loosely pencilled frame from the story. The mother and daughter are in the kitchen wrapping gifts.

"Another First" page 1

This is a penciled and inked page for the afore-mentioned short story. It's called, "Another First," written by Eric Hobbs and tells the story of a Christmas Eve of a recently divorced family. I might do some re-inking of some of the page before sending it off to be colored.

Character sketches

These are character sketches for a short story to be published in a Christmas anthology (TBA).

Daredevil Submission for Marvel Comics

Page 5



Page 4



Page 3



Page 2 inked



Page 2



Page 1


Above are five pages I completed of a sample Daredevil script. I've included an inked version of page 2, so you can see both versions of that page.

The Double Debut of "Closer To The Sky"

I have good news to report. I received an email from Joe Pruett of Desperado Publishing who sincerely apologized for the mistake in the printing of "Closer To The Sky" in Negative Burn #13. He's certainly done everything possible to make it right. In fact, he will be reprinting the story in issue #16 (hopefully) in the correct sequence with a blurb about the original appearance's mistake. That was very gracious of Joe to do, and Jeremy and I really appreciate his willingness to make right a printing accident that sometimes will happen.

So, look out for Negative Burn #16 with a scheduled ship date sometime in December.

The Dubious Debut of "Closer To The Sky"

Our latest story, "Closer To The Sky," hit the stands this past Wednesday in Negative Burn #13. I was so excited as I went to the store to pick up the first issue. I hadn't receive my printer copies yet, so I was eager to see how it looked. We are featured as the lead story in this month's issue, and it looked wonderful. There was a HUGE problem, though. One of the pages was out of sequence -- almost turning the story into complete nonsense. The "pay-off" shot which is the last page of the story was printed as page 2 -- with all of the rest of the pages appearing in proper order. Disappointed is too weak a word for how I felt about that. It totally ruined the story and the joy of getting it printed. Once we knew we were going to be featured as the lead, we carefully planned out each page so that the end would appear on the left-hand side and you would have to turn the page to see the pay-off after reading the whole story. It really ruined everything. My only consolation as an artist is that the printing looks wonderful, and at least it gets my work out. I'm sure many readers or reviewers will be utterly confused.

The Black Coat Pin-up

Fresh from my meetings in Chicago, I've just completed a pin-up of The Black Coat for Ape Entertainment.

Back from Wizard World Chicago

The convention in Chicago was great fun again, though I might say, San Diego's convention being held just before has really been apparent this year and last with a lot of missing or less-than-full-steam booths of companies I was hoping would be well-represented. Hopefully, moving the Chicago convention to June next year should help alleviate some of that and bring some vibrancy back which has been lacking the last couple years.

That being said, I had a great three days. I was on Marvel's and DC's short-list of people getting portfolio reviews (one of around 25 for each company). It was my first year on DC's. I had great feedback from them and a number of the independent companies with whom I spoke. I should be getting a few chances at some gigs as a result.

It was good running into Shane White again this year. He's a really stellar artist who has produced some very fine independent work. Two years ago when I first met him in Artist's Alley, he had just release his "North Country" graphic novel. He's drawing a series now called "The Overman" which sees release in December, I believe. He always offers some great feedback and encouragement. He also gave me a good contact this year on which I'm following up.

Along with all of this, I have a new, short story by Jeremy Nichols to illustrate. It's called "West Side Man," but that's all I'm saying now.

This coming year is going to be a busy one. Stay tuned.

"Closer To The Sky" to be published

Closer To The Sky p10


Closer To The Sky p9


Closer To The Sky p8


Closer To The Sky p7


Closer To The Sky p6


Closer To The Sky p5


Closer To The Sky p4


Closer To The Sky p3


Closer To The Sky p2


Closer To The Sky p1

The pages shown on this and the previous post are from my and Jeremy's recently completed short story, "Closer To The Sky." In it, a girl and her family go mushroom hunting. The girl has bad luck at finding mushrooms but finds something much more interesting.

See it in Negative Burn #13 in stores in August. Negative Burn is a monthly anthology published by Desperado Publishing. We really appreciate Joe Pruett's support of our work and his willingness in publishing this story and our last one, "The Paradox Outlet," in Negative Burn.

Teaser page from upcoming story

Here is a teaser page from an upcoming story (written by Jeremy Nichols) I'm working on. The page is not retouched or ready for print. The art for the whole story isn't done, and I don't have a publishing date, yet. But, I'll post it as soon as I do.

Officially hitting the stands

"The Paradox Outlet" hits the stands on Wednesday, October 25th. It appears in issue #5 of the monthly anthology, NEGATIVE BURN.

Check it out.

Negative Burn #5

I just received an email from the publisher that "The Paradox Outlet" will indeed appear in Negative Burn #5 -- due out in stores toward the end of October. Jeremy and I can't wait to see it hit the stands. We're beginning a new short story soon.

Paradox Outlet goes nationwide

"The Paradox Outlet" has just been picked up for publication in NEGATIVE BURN and will probably appear in issue #5. NEGATIVE BURN is produced by Desperado Publishing and published and distributed by Image Comics.