Marvel Comics and Me

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

Some of my blog readers may know that my dad, Dan McConnell, inked Marvel Comics in the 90s, including X-Men #1 (thepizzahutedition).  I worked on a few Marvel issues a couple years ago as an assistant (either assisting with background pencils or background inks), but never credited.  However, this time assisting Karl Kesel on background inks for Fearless Defenders #4AU I will receive my first credit in a Marvel comic for some of my inking, further establishing me as a “chip off the old block.”  I was hoping to get a glimpse of what the colorist did with the inks and today I was rewarded with this Preview on CBR.  I had a hand in only two of the preview pages there, the rest of the credit goes to the extraordinary talents of Karl Kesel and the colorist, who appears to be unlisted in the preview.  Phil Jimenez, the penciler, had something to do with it, too, and of course the writer Cullen Bunn.  Anyway, check out that preview and I’ll proceed to curb my enthusiasm for being a small part of the corporate machine.

FearlessDefenders_pg1_previewFearlessDefenders_pg5_preview

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“Shaking off the stink” at Stumptown!

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

“Shaking off the stink” is the phrase that comic artist Leland Purvis used to describe what it’s like for illustrators to leave the confines of their studios to interact with the public.  I’ll continue to do that today with the help of my son Acme on Day Two of the Stumptown Comic Fest.  Today Acme will be running our table by himself for a while, and he’ll be selling some of his prints, cards with original art, and a sketchbook that he and I collaborated on.  If you happen to be reading this Sunday morning, come by Table M03 and help socialize my son…and if I’m there, Lord knows I could use a little socialization myself;-)  Here’s the cover of our sketchbook (also available as a print):RPG_SpacePirates_Inks_AMcC

And here’s the original sketch:RPG_SpacePirates_AMcC

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Curious Concepts

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

I’m going to test the limits of my blog this week (but hopefully not the patience of my blog readers:p) in preparation for the upcoming Stumptown Comics Fest April 27-28, Sat-Sunday.  I spent a good part of yesterday rifling through old drawings to put together a little collaborative sketch comic with my son.  Layout is taking longer than I expected and I’m pruning out some stuff, but leftovers may as well end up here.  This is a random page from a 2012 sketchbook.  I think the pen was doing the thinking…

Sketchbook2012_02

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I got a blog…

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

…and I nearly forgot.  I’ve been wrapped up in a lot of scribbling lately, and eventually the results will show up here (and in print!), but for now I offer a random sketchbook page.  Head studies.  Some of these were drawn from photos (can you spot a celebrity or two?) and others were drawn from comic panels by Hugo Pratt, and still others appeared from the mind’s eye.  My studio practice compressed in a page.

Sketchbook_Scan01_2013

“But where’s the life drawing?!” you ask.  Alright, it’s embarrassing, but here’s a self portrait drawn on the Odopod sketch site:

SelfPortrait_OPOD01 Now I feel naked.

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Posted on March 21, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

Just a quick post to say I’m backing a kickstarter project that ends today.  P. Craig Russell has significantly influenced the way I think about comics and I look forward to learning more about his work through this DVD series.  Take a look!

P. Craig Russell’s Guide to Graphic Storytelling Volume 3

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Hard times for a fellow freelancer

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

Pelgrane Press, the publisher of the yet to be released 13th Age core book, posted some unfortunate news earlier today concerning the layout designer for the book:

Chris Huth has produced excellent art and layout for Pelgrane Press including Ashen Stars, Night’s Black Agents and 13th Age. Last week his apartment suffered extensive damage from a fire. (You can read more news reports here and here.) Luckily, no one was hurt, but he and his partner have lost their home and most of their possessions. His computer and software – the tools of his trade -  and all backup drives have been destroyed with very little chance of recovery. Chris is sleeping in friends’ houses while he searches for somewhere to live.

Please go to the Pelgrane site to find out how you can help Chris and what this means for the 13th Age release schedule.  Below is a small sample of Chris’ layout work for the book:

layout_chrishuth13thAgeVignetteDummy

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Odosketch Test

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

Here’s a computer age novelty: an online sketching program that allows you to watch an animation of the creation of your sketch.  Click the images below to watch them move.

ODOPOD_FigurebytheSea_Sketch_smallODOPOD_Water01_Sketch_smallODOPOD_Shaman_Sketch_small

Medusa_01_sketchODOPOD_CapriGirl_Sargent_small

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Post ECCC 2013

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

AAMcC_ECCC2013Photo by Georgia Ball (or was it Scott?)

I spent Emerald City Comicon with my son this year.  With his help I was able to keep abreast of some of the happenings beyond my table.  The next convention that he and I will attend together will be Stumptown Fest and if all goes according to plan he should have some of his artwork and comics available for sale, as well.  At ECCC we both spent some time drawing behind the table.  Below are some 13th Age commissions and you can find some of the drawings and photos by my son at his blog.  My thanks to those who stopped by my table.

ECCC_ForgeBorn_3ECCC_HulkinaECCC_MirrorFighters

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Tableau of Merch

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Aaron McConnell

Here’s a little preview of some items that I will be selling at Emerald City Comicon this weekend.  You can find me at Table 2617 (or thereabouts) on the ECCC Level 4 Show Floor.  The framed image depicting a mantis attack in this snapshot will be on sale in the Krab Jab Studios Art Exhibit “The Gathering” on the TCC Level 3.  13th Age will also be represented on one of the TCC Levels of the Gaming Show Floor.

See you there!

photo_AMcC_Merch

PS. The Diabolist original art in the right hand corner of this image is spoken for, but for the time being you can still request a similar commission.

 

 

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Portland Opera Presents…

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Aaron McConnell

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni.  This version has been updated by the stage director and self-proclaimed “bad boy of opera,” Christopher Alden.  I was invited to the rehearsal the other night (lucky!) and contributed the following drawings.  There are two more productions of Don Giovanni in Portland this weekend, November 8th and 10th.

“Why you take everything so serious, Aaron?”  Good question, Joker.  Funnier drawings by Portland cartoonists can be found here.

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