Announcing!…

…A New Website!  But before I give you the link, I’m going to build up a little anticipation with the following process art from The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation.  This is how the magic happens;)

GAAGA_170_PencilSampleGAAGA_170_INKSampleGAAGA_170_RGB_Color

Now that I’ve revealed all my secrets, please go to graphicgettysburg.com to learn about the graphic novel with videos, visual annotations, essays, recommended reading and more!

Obligatory Photo Evidence

IMG_6192

It’s the “Stack of Pages” post!  If you follow blogs by comic artists you’re probably familiar with this trope.  Something a bit irksome about these IMO, probably the fact that maybe that’s just a stack of blank pages under the top one, but let me offer my assurance that I’ve finished drawing all 221 pages of The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation .  I’m working on revisions and some color improvements, but the book is still on schedule for the June 2013 release.

Also, I don’t think I’ve posted since I saw Spielberg’s Lincoln.  What an incredible movie!  Apart from the extraordinary performance from Daniel Day Lewis, it also evoked the time period in an utterly convincing way.  I was transported to the the time/place with its light, props, costumes, etc. and consequently swept up in the drama.  Seeing the photos (mostly by Mathew Brady) brought to life on screen after spending a good amount of time looking at them over the past couple years was such a treat.  The movie really energized my final push to complete the GN.  There are many parallels, unplanned of course, and I think/hope that anyone who loves Spielberg’s Lincoln will enjoy the graphic novel that Jonathan Hennessey and I have been working to create.  Expect less ornate wallpaper, but still…I’ve made an effort to bring the subject to life with authenticity in the panels.  In addition, our graphic novel brings the reader to the present day from the movie’s end.  As much of a sequel as you’re likely to see;-)

 

Gettysburg Address GN Inks

Here’s a drawing of Andrew Johnson being congratulated after narrowly escaping impeachment in 1868.  ”Mama said there’ll be days like this, there’ll be days like this my Mama said.”

Gettysburg Address GN Inks

A moonlit Devil’s Den.

Gettysburg Address GN Inks

More preview art for the only thing I’m working on this month.

Gettysburg Address GN Inks

Gettysburg’s National Soldier’s Cemetery

Gettysburg Address GN Pencils to Inks

A weary post-war Lincoln.

Gettysburg Address GN Inks

I’ll attempt to lively up my blog with some previews from the Gettysburg Address graphic novel I’m working on this month.  Descriptions, if any, will be minimal.  This is the capture of Jefferson Davis.

 

Key Players in the 54th Regiment comic

Here are some snippets of finished art from the comic I recently illustrated about the 54th MASS regiment.  Frederick Douglass makes a “cameo” in the opening pages as he is recruited to recruit volunteers for the regiment. 

 The main character of the story is William Carney, a 23 year old volunteer who plays a crucial role in the attack on Fort Wagner in the climax of this historical retelling.    

The young Colonel Shaw, at 26 also gets the spotlight in the book.  I tried to draw him youthful in this portrait, but hardened.  He’s seen a lot of death by this point.   Things haven’t really changed much have they?  Sending the kids off to do the dirty work …  BUT ANYWAYlet’s not go there right now!  Let’s talk about the anonymous paymaster that I based on Daniel Day Lewis:D  This time he’s in full color!  Sorry to pigeon hole Mr. Day Lewis, but have you heard?!  He’ll get a chance to redeem himself from this disgraceful casting as the Paymaster when he plays Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming Spielberg production.

I’ve finished the art on a book that won’t be available until Spring/Summer 2011, but I wanted to post a teaser here.  I posted some pencils for this project a while back and I’ll post some of the end results of those sketches in the coming week.  Here’s a dramatic scene near the end of the book.  This is Colonel Robert Gould Shaw at the top of Fort Wagner, S. Carolina leading the 54th MASS volunteer infantry and under heavy fire.  This historical event was depicted in the movie Glory (in case this reminds of something you can’t quite put your finder on;).

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.