| Aaron McConnell

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;).

Portland Opera’s Hansel and Gretel

| Aaron McConnell

The good folks at the Portland Opera invited cartoonists back to another drawing session.  This time we watched the rehearsal of Hansel and Gretel.  In comparison to Pagliacci, this one seemed to move a lot faster, or rather the performers were moving faster around the stage.  Hansel and Gretel were especially spritely.  Very entertaining to watch, but a greater challenge to sketch.  I tried to follow best I could while sketching down details, but don’t be surprised if you find some inaccuracies in my brief retelling and the actual opera.   The Portland Opera puts on very entertaining shows and I encourage anyone reading this to catch Hansel and Gretel while it’s playing.  There are 3 more shows, tomorrow’s matinee and Nov 11th and 13th.  I found it truly inspiring and certainly entertaining.  I’m a novice to opera, but I’m getting bit by the bug, and the Portland Opera knows how to scratch it.

Civil War for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

| Aaron McConnell

I was working on one Civil War comic and now I’m working on two.  I may not be drawing much else for a while, so I’m going to blog some of my sketches for these projects.  Here’s the first.  This is one of our main characters (in a way) for the adaptation that Jonathan Hennessey and I are currently working on.  His script called for a panel of the character looking up toward the ceiling and the iconic Nina Simone photo sprung to mind.  I updated the hair and removed the bling to make her more modern, but hopefully the Simone spirit is still there.

The next sketch is from the other Civil War project.  Here we have an antagonistic paymaster, and the following panel in sequence…the reaction shot.  There was an image reference for the paymaster (and that hair is not much of an exaggeration), but I added a little extra Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher.  (I’ll line up with everybody else to watch DDL play a nasty, dangerous man, and I’ll sneak him in my comics whenever possible;)

And one more sketch to celebrate one Mr. Frederick Douglass, the original Man!  Forget that Old Spice knock-off.  Fred Douglass is where it’s at!

BONUS PHOTO!  “Douglass, you Dawg!”

(Actually that’s his wife Helen Pitts and their niece Eva.)

Portland Opera, The Best!

| Aaron McConnell

I participated in a unique event put together by the Portland Opera www.portlandopera.org on Sept. 2oth.  Local cartoonists were invited to draw during the rehearsal of Pagliacci and Carmina Burana.  What an experience!  Sometimes the life of the cartoonist is the good life.  I did some sketches and a two page comic recollection of the evening.  I didn’t get a chance to give Carmina Burana any attention in my comic pages since we had just a couple days to put our drawings together, but hopefully the rehearsal sketches give you some idea (although I mainly sketched the performers who were standing still … the elegance of  the dancers will make you swoon and they move much faster than my pen!)

Maryhill Museum Comic Show Announcement

| Aaron McConnell

 

I posted this image the other day, but now it has some color on it.  The Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, WA ran a limited edition of giclee prints that will be available at the opening reception of their comic book art show.  It’s going to be a great show.  I love the opportunity to see original work by comic artists; it’s like a behind the scenes glimpse of work I’ve experienced only in the printed form.  Always enlightening!  The reception is September 18th!  Mark it on your calendar!  Plan to attend?  Let me know by posting a message here or sending me an email within the next 2 days and I’ll get you some free tickets.  No joke!

Here’s a link to the Maryhill website and show announcement:  http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/comics.html

Grit!

| Aaron McConnell

Here’s a recent commission of Arthur and Mordred in the last days day? of Camelot.  I discovered a plethora of really marvelous illustration done for Arthur and Pals.  Arthur Rackham, for one, depicted this very scene, although not quite as gratuitous and over-the-top in its depiction so maybe I get some points for that?  Or maybe I get slapped.  Does anyone know if this scene was drawn in Mad Magazine at some point?  Dad?  Below are the pencils for those interested.

Strange and Stranger

| Aaron McConnell

Here’s something.  A sketch of Dr. Strange after the unique visionary Steve Ditko.  I’ve depicted Strange using his powers over the mists of deep space that exist within shadows, dontchaknow? 

The following sketches are based on characters that my son created.  He drew a couple pages of comics involving these characters.  My son has a wonderful  imagination and a such natural skill.  You can get a little taste of his handiwork at his blog http://acmebytes.blogspot.com and he loves to receive comments on his artwork.