process

Redrawing 2011

| Aaron McConnell

I’ve never cared for the term “Sketch Dump” which may be why I’ve never done one on this blog, but I wanted to wrap up this year with a look back at some of my sketches, and with the hope that a little reflection will help me set sail on a productive drawing year.  I have no idea how my work is perceived by others, but to me it sometimes feels like I’ve got different drawing brains that kick into gear depending on the subject.  I’m hoping to get a little more focused in the coming year.  We’ll see… I know it’s important to step out of your comfort zone to keep developing, too.  I went for some variety here, so I hope you find something that strikes your fancy.  Happy New Year!

 

Last month of Sketch Challenge 2011 starts now!

| Aaron McConnell

Yeah, I’ve taken this Sketch Challenge seriously.  It’s been a terrible distraction, but also a great inspiration and I’ve really enjoyed playing in the sandboxes of my peers.  This week we’re celebrating Jonthan Hickman and Dustin Weaver’s S.H.I.E.L.D: Architects of Forever.  Dustin works at Periscope, and he’s almost always down there when I make my rare appearances.  I do most of my work from home, but I rely heavily on the studio in other ways, and picking Dustin’s brain and looking over his shoulder as he plows through page after page of dynamic drawing has really helped me out with my own efforts.  So, anyway, I wanted to do a SHIELD piece and I knew I couldn’t get away with doing it the “Weaver-Way,” so I took liberties with the Tesla character and his muse?/guardian?/dove woman.  I drew her sort of morphing into her dove form.  Something about it reminds me of Osamu Tezuka’s  Phoenix, and that has to be my subconscious at work because I know Dustin is a huge Tezuka fan.  HUGE.

If you can make out the signature at the bottom right of the drawing you’ll see that I credit Dustin as well as the legendary Jim Steranko.  This is my lack of willpower at work, Dear Reader.  I told myself I wasn’t doing a Steranko send-up when I went into this, but as you can see, I failed miserably.  The conversation with myself sounds quite a bit like the conversation that Tom Waits has with himself on Nighthawks at the Diner, you might know the one, he ends up “taking advantage of himself” or “making the scene with a magazine.”  For me it started with, “Why don’t I just put a little op art behind Tesla?” and before I knew it I’m drawing clocks and shadow dudes.  But in my own defense, I realized I had to put the shadow dudes in because… well, let me put this little diagram together for you.  Take a look…

See?!  Am I crazy or does it seem that we may find out who Steranko’s shadow men are after all these years.  I guess that still doesn’t explain the bike wheels, but Hickman and Weaver’s SHIELD isn’t over yet.  And I’m enjoying it, if you can’t tell.

Here’s the thumbnail of my drawing (pre-Steranko brain seed).  There was something that I liked about this little Tesla sketch so I ended up scanning/enlarging it to the 11×17″ board.

Now, it’s time for you to be wowed by Dustin Weaver artwork.  Go here:  http://dustinweaver.blogspot.com/ or here: http://dustinweaver.tumblr.com/ .  Lucky you! 😀

 

The Mentor

| Aaron McConnell

Introducing Michael the Mentor, another character in the S.A. Williams’ Ronin Revolver project, currently on Kickstarter.  Learn more about the character and the story at Ronin Revolver Kickstarter.

And more bonus material tracing the development of the character illustration:  The first sketches of Michael and a thumbnail color sketch.

The [Dear] Creature Emerges…

| Aaron McConnell

Periscope Studio is sketching to the tune of Jonathan Case’s Dear Creature this week.  Want to know more about Dear Creature?  Want to preorder a signed copy of the graphic novel from Jonathan?  Go here!

I met Jonathan Case back in 2006 when I first moved to Portland and attended the Stumptown Comic Fest for the first time. I bought the mini he was selling, which was the first handful of Dear Creature pages (known at the time as Sea Freak), and I’ve watched him develop it with assured persistence over the years at Periscope. His drawing/storytelling skills and his confidence in his work are an inspiration to me. I think people will be blown away when they discover this book.

Here are some preliminary sketches for the piece I’m working on. Tune in tomorrow to see the finished art.

Check the Periscope Tumblr for interpretations of Jonathan’s Dear Creature.

Carving Away

| Aaron McConnell

Fortunately for my work schedule, I won’t be tempted to do the Periscope  sketch challenge this week due to my ignorance of the theme.  I did spend Monday traveling home from a family trip to Crater Lake, so I’m refreshed and working on what I should be this week.  Here’s a little teaser panel from the Gettysburg Address graphic adaptation I’m working on with writer Jonathan Hennessey.  By the way, it has been brought to my attention that amazon has the book available for pre-order with a release date of September 2011.  I can assure you that the book will not be available next month.  Fall of 2012 is the projected release.

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.