Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 354

SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER #4 (variant cover). 2017.
Gouache & Photoshop on bristol board, 11 × 17″.

The time has finally come: Shirtless Bear-Fighter #4 is out in the wild. Below you'll find all the reference and research that went into the painting — except, of course, the photos of my lovely wife, who refuses to acknowledge her crucial role in this debauchery.

Sorry, guys — wife said I couldn't post her pic.

I ran out of time on this painting and had to finish the rest digitally (in one flapjack-fueled all-nighter). Below is the unfinished painting. The trade dress and faux wear & tear were already prepped in Photoshop, so all I had left to do was render the details. I used Kyle T. Webster's brushes, mostly his gouache set, including my own modifications.

final image, no trade dress

unfinished original painting

digital drawing/color study

I contracted Manny Mederos to do the logo for me, sending him some of my favorite Men's Magazines covers for inspiration. He gave me back several to choose from and I couldn't have been happier with the result. Perhaps we should do another?

digital layout (with logos by Manny Mederos)

additional reference found online

detail of raw scan

detail of final digital rendering

gouache painting process

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 353

HELLBOY AND THE B.P.R.D.: 1955 #1. 2017.
Gouache and acrylic on bristol board, 13 × 19″.

This issue hits shelves today! (Been a while, right?) Full details at the Dark Horse site. I used the Hellboy bust I sculpted in Sculptris and lit the scene in Photoshop. I threw in some simple geometric shapes to help get a handle on the lighting situation. The DC-3/C-47 model is one I found online. I took some video of the painting process, but, knowing me, it will be years before I get around to posting it.

Wrong gun! (I used my 1:6 scale revolver)

Work in progress

color study in Photoshop (with additional reference)

digital sketch

digital layouts

other reference that went into this cover

Orion for Hero Initiative

ORION . 2017. Ink & watercolor on paper, 9 × 12″.

This portrait of Orion will be auctioned off to benefit the Hero Initiative. Bidding is open until next Tuesday. I also recorded a portion of the inking and painting process, which you can view on Periscope.

Have a great weekend (and for those of you in the path of Hurricane Irma, stay safe)!

detail of raw scan

Guardians (of the Galaxy) for Harvey Relief

Baby Groot Remarque, ink & acrylic marker

The good folks at Mondo are hosting an auction to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, so I gladly contributed a couple of screen prints. The regular version (red logo) has a Baby Groot, pictured above, and the variant (blue logo) features Groot.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. 2016.
Ink(ed by Joe Rivera) on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

Groot Remarque, ink & acrylic marker