Action Lab: Dog of Wonder Issue 4 Beginning to End Part 3: Inks

Here it is, part 3 in the process of creating the cover for Action Lab: Dog of Wonder Issue 4's cover(part 1 and part 2 are linked here and here).
These are the inks.  The process I go through when inking is pretty typical it seems according to what I know of how others work.
I work on Strathmore 500 series semi-smooth Bristol paper.  This paper allows me to both use a nib pen and a brush without bleeding off of either, and it holds a line very nicely.  As far as inking goes I use a Sumi ink.  It is a VERY dark ink but stays nice and thin through a nib so it won't clog it.  I use a Windsor and Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Hair sable brush and/or a Raphael 8404 Kolinsky hair sable brush.  I usually use a size 1, but a W&N is a little larger, so I kick up to a size 2 on the Raphael...sometimes.
Anyway, please go to your local comic shop and order this for me!  I would be ever so grateful.  There are only 1,500 copies of my cover, LET'S SELL IT OUT!!!

Pen...just Pen

In the interest of Inktober, I decided to post this little piece up.  I am working on a little intro comic for a book series a very good friend is writing.  This is the character in the intro.  I did this entirely with a Pentel Slicci 0.25   I hope you enjoy it!

Hellboy: Inks!

So, I inked my Hellboy pencils.  I think this came out pretty well.  I am a fan of a LOT of what I have going on here.  I really like the monster emerging from the darkness of the cabinet.   I like the panel where Liz is lighting that monster on fire and Hellboy is reaching for the syrup.  I LOVE the last panel.  I think the overall set up of the first three panels works well, too.  

If I would change one thing, I would close the top panel and open the last one.  The change of envrionment from one room to the next in the last panel needs to show itself visually as a different space.  I think it's semi-succesful with the cleanliness of the room compared to the kitchen.  Had I opened and made that panel bleed then closed the top panel.  The first environment would be closed panels and the new one would be a large open panel.  I think that would have worked better, thoughts?

Denver Comic Con and Comic Book Classroom

Eventually, I want to talk about these a lot more.  I hope that day comes soon, so keep an eye up here, but these are a series of pages for comic book lessons for Denver Comic Con and their non-profit beneficiary, Comic Book Classroom.

Page Layout Lesson: Poor Layout

Page Layout Lesson: Good Layout

Page Layout Lesson: Excellent Layout

Setting as Character Lesson

Ink Test

Hadn't sat down with a brush to ink for a while....so I decided i'd practice before hitting MMD #3 hard....not too bad, I thinks.

Guess who's back, back again....

It's been a while...I think over a month.  Let's update you.  First off, I had an AMAZING time at Denver Comic Con this year.  We did a lot of stuff, had a lot of fun, did a few interviews...one on geeky faucets, one for Rino District Radio, and one for MTV Geek (still haven't seen this one online yet, and we may not....).  I finished my first quarter teaching at the Art Institute in Denver, and had LOTS of fun doing that.  I have three classes next quarter.  I also moved to Thornton, CO from Frederick, CO.  Only about 15 miles closer to Denver, but a world away.  Anyway, I am working on some random images and back to another issue of Magicians Must Die.  You'll see that in October!

The Running Man, inked

I did these inks last night and was fairly disappointed...then I looked again this morning, still a little disappointed, but I do see some good in there. I left the arms fairly high contrast, especially to let them stand out and away from his body.  That worked.  On the other hand, the hatching I did on his back and biody, didn't quite create the planes of the form correctly...need to work on that, otherwise, the energy is still there and the gesture of the running is still very much alive.  Not too bad...

Can-Am Spyder

Today's sketch is of a Can-Am Spyder.  It's a three wheeled road bike by the same people that make Ski-Doo snowmobiles, and if you looked at the early models, it was like looking at a Ski-Doo Rev chassis on the pavement.  They have diverted a bit since then and made them more unique unto themselves, but I digress.  This sketch is in preparation for an upcoming post-apocalyptic story I am about to start on.  There are four rules to the story: 1) 5 pages long 2) dinosaurs 3)main character is me 4)motorcycle...and yes this counts.

Today: An Airplane, Tomorrow: The World(?)

So, With these daily sketches, I figured I'd put them up no matter what, success or failure, I am just trying to get better at the stuff I'd need to draw to be successful...today, fail.  Tomorrow, who knows!

daily Sketch #1

In an effort to really nail down my style, my anatomy, my skills and such, I have decided I am going to be doing a small 4x5 sketch every day, usually while waiting for my new baby to fall asleep. This came from the Five C's of Cinematography.  The section that talks about consistency scene during shot selection.  I am going to be doing sketches from life and from pictures and such...whether good, bad or indifferent, they will be here.  As I go along I'll also be posting other work so you can see how it's effecting my work and hopefully improving my aesthetic.  Enjoy!

Free Realms and another NYCC update

This is a page from Wildstorm's Free Realms.  Although I never had a chance to read the comic, I love the artwork.  This is by Red-J (Jon Sommarvia).  I made a few changes to the placements of black, especially in the last panel, to help with keeping values on the same planes.
Also, I am writing this three days before I am in NY, so I'll update on my progress with my phone as soon as today comes around.

X-Men and in New York at the Comic Convention

This is another inked page by me.  The original pencils were done in 2004 by Kelly Goodine (kego44 on Deviant Art).  It was a 7 page sequential about the X-Men in the danger room.  I picked the page with the most characters and what I felt to be the best depth.
Also, I am in New York at the Comic Con right now.  I am wandering mostly, but you can follow my twitter feed (@jpeteranetz) to keep tabs on me while I am there.  I may get the opportunity to sit with CCP Comics and Rock Comic Con.  I'll tweet it if it happens.

Red Zombie: Nuts to YOU!

Nate was very proud of himself for this page...a zombie ripping some scrotum...good for you.  I really liked the opportunity this page presented to get some major depth and to really capture the rip.  What do you think?  What a great way to end such a wonderful zombie story of revenge.
And, in two days I leave for NY.  I believe I am ready for the convention, and I am DEFINITELY ready to make my mark in the comic community...BRING IT ON COMICS WORLD!

Portfolio Inks: Red Zombie

Over the years, I have been given a lot of advice about portfolio presentations, and how to do this and that, what to include, what NOT to include.  Most of that has been advice about full artistic portfolios.  Inking portfolios are a bit different.  You want to include a series of images over different artists to show your versatility so an editor knows you can handle many types of projects.  This piece as well as the previos Red Zombie posts will be included to show my ability to ink over a sequential series, but I'll also have examples from Jason Sobol, Kelly Goodine, and Red J.

Inks for NYCC

 So, I am heading off to New York for the Comic Convention next week with two portfolios, one of my sequential work, and one of just my inking.  I think the inking portfolio is looking pretty strong, especially with entries like this one...check out the eyeball reflection on panel 5...pretty sweet huh?!  I was pleased with that panel, as well as the directional focus from panel 2.  It needed a little something something.

Legacy Action Comics: Red Zombie p.7

This is a nice tranquil scene of a zombie coming upon a house.  Look at the unsuspecting people near the house preparing, and enjoying the nice fall afternoon...

More Red Zombie

This is the sixth page of my inks over Nate Hamel's pencils.  This will be published by Legacy Action Comics (twitter: @legacyAC) in their second issue as soon as all the other artists are finished with their stories.  I was hoping to have it by the time I went to NY next weekend for the New York Comic Con, but alas, it is not to be.  Also, I'll be at the con Friday afternoon and Saturday.  Follow me on twitter: @jpeteranetz to find out where I'll be when.  I'll be wandering around mostly, and getting reviews from editors, and networking as much as I can, but I have a couple of offers to sit at a table or two for a while, so I'll let you know when and where on my twitter.

ThunderCats, ThunderCats, ThunderCats...HO!

YAY! MORE INKS!  This is a pin up that may be turned into a print by Jason Sobol.  Jason is one the more talented artists I've seen in the Denver area and was gracious enough to allow me the opportunity to ink some of his work...at least give it a shot.  He is very particular about his inkers and when I asked to try he was skeptical...then he saw my Red Zombie work...suddenly he was less skeptical.  Thanks for the opportunity Jason!

Final Inks for Red Zombie

This is the last of my five pages for the Denver Comic Convention portfolio.  Nate Hamel was nice enough to give me this chance...AND, I get to do the rest of the story!  How cool is that?!  VERY!

This is the first page of the story.

Inking Portfolio: Page 3 AND a DCC update

This is the final image of the first round of my inks for Red Zombie as drawn by Nate Hamel.  I did a lot of playing on this page as well, but I wanted the truck to feel heavy and like it had some weight to it.  Almost like it was overbearing and overwhelming the car below it.  Nate did a good job making it feel like the car was in a hole below the truck and I just emphasized that with the black around the car.

Also, I don't know where my table is at the Denver Comic Convention yet, but I do know I'll be on two panels:  Local Artist's Spotlight with Zach Howard, Leila Del Duca, and Stan Yan at 10:30am on Saturday morning.  I'll also be doing an Educating with Comics panel that is going to be moderated by Michael and David Uslan.  They are producers of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.