Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 381

PLANET OF THE APES: URSUS #6. 2018.
Ink(ed by Joe Rivera) on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

I've been a little behind on posting, so this is me trying to get back in the swing of things. This book has already hit stores, full details here! The last of the 6-issue mini-series, I highly recommend picking it up (and not just 'cause we did the covers).

I used all kinds of reference from screenshots to internet pics of toy figures. I had already sculpted an ape head for the previous covers (using the 3D program Sculptris), and it proved useful once again to get a novel point of view.

Hope you enjoyed this series of covers. We're big fans of the movies, so these were a joy to work on.

My cardboard boomstick

inks by my Pops!

blue-line print of pencils

pencils over digital sketch

digital sketch and color study

digital layout

Adventure Time Auction!

ADVENTURE TIME. 2015. Acryla Gouache on cover, 7 × 10.5″.

Just 1 day left to bid on this sketch cover. All proceeds go to benefit Hero Initiative. Make it rain, folks!

Planet of the Apes: Ursus No. 6

PLANET OF THE APES: URSUS #6. 2018.
Ink(ed by Joe Rivera) on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

Out later this month! Full details here.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 380

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

This collection is out today, and includes our one-shot from February, Burning Season. Full credits and details here. I did more 3D work than usual, sculpting a turtle in Sculptris and lighting it in Photoshop. The figures are from Anatomy 360. Here's a hourly breakdown on the cover:

layouts: 7.25
3D turtle: 3
pencils: 9
color study: 2.25
print and prep: 1.25
paint: 29.75
Photoshop: .5
= 53 hours

Lots of 3D models!

digital color study

digital pencils

digital layouts

#Hellboy 'Burning Season' out tomorrow! Mignola, Roberson, Stewart, my Pops, and me! #gouache pic.twitter.com/V4VPo3ej84

— Paolo Rivera (@PaoloMRivera) February 20, 2018

Planet of the Apes: Visionaries

PLANET OF THE APES: VISIONARIES. 2018.
Photoshop and Procreate, 2750 × 4175 px.

You may have seen me post this cover on social media, but here's a more official look. Although not out until August, you can also get an extended preview of the upcoming graphic novel here.

Man vs. Ape!

by Dana Gould and Chad Lewis

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 379

VENOM #1 (Variant Cover). 2018. Ink(ed by Joe Rivera)
on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

Venom #1 is out today!!!! Full details here. I'm afraid the original art has already sold (but we've still got plenty of other work available). And if you're worried that this isn't enough Venom, rest assured that I've got another cover to be revealed soon(ish).

Brooklyn!!

The 3D models are from Anatomy 360, and the architecture is from Google Street View (which just happens to be near my old neighborhood in Brooklyn).

inks by my Pops!

blue-line print of pencils

pencils over digital sketch

digital color study

digital sketch

digital layouts

Amazing Spider-Man #800

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800. 2018. Ink(ed by Joe Rivera)
on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 378

PLANET OF THE APES: URSUS #5. 2018.
Ink(ed by Joe Rivera) on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

Ursus #5 is out next week, but here's a peek at the cover (and the reference that went into its creation). Full details here.

Only famous monuments survive in dystopian futures

inks by my Pops!

blue-line print of pencils

pencils over digital sketch

digital sketch

digital layout

Black Hammer: Age of Doom #11

BLACK HAMMER: AGE OF DOOM #11. 2018. Ink(ed by Joe Rivera)
on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

If you haven't been reading Black Hammer, it's definitely worth your time. With a great story and great art, it's a superhero drama that is at once sad and exhilarating. This cover won't be out for a while, but was nonetheless revealed recently. Will be sure to post again when it hits shelves.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 377

GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS SPECIAL. 2018.
Photoshop, 2750 × 4175 px.

Just one more week to go for the God Hates Astronauts Kickstarter campaign! I provided 4 pages for this awesome collection, and they can be yours by pledging. $10 gets you a pdf of the book, and $20 gets you the fancy hardcover. It's already hit the goal, the artwork is completed, you just need your copy!

I get tons of 3D reference from Sketchfab

digital pencils

digital layout

CINDY MOON / SILK

CINDY MOON / SILK. 2017. Ink & watercolor on paper, 9 × 12″.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 376

THE VALIANT #3 PAGE 5. 2014. Ink(ed by Joe Rivera)
on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

images found online, plus Google Maps 3D

inks by my Pops

blue-line print of pencils

digital layout

Spider-Woman Portrait

SPIDER-WOMAN. 2017. Ink & watercolor on paper, 9 × 12″.

detail of raw scan

Joe Rivera at Daytona Comic Con

HARLEY QUINN. 2015.
Ink(s by Joe Rivera) & watercolor on paper, 9 × 12″.

My Dad will be at Daytona Beach Comic Con, April 21-22 (only 1 week away)! He'll have books and prints to sell (some signed by me) and will gladly tell you terrible secrets about me. Just ask. He'll be at table G-12, but I'll post another reminder next week. Have a great weekend!

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 375

PLANET OF THE APES: URSUS #4. 2017.
Ink(ed by Joe Rivera) on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

Out today! Here's a preview. I used a ton of stills from Beneath the Planet of the Apes to complete this cover. Inks by Joe Rivera, with colors in Photoshop using Kyle T. Webster brushes. For this series, I've been using a paper texture that I scanned in, coupled with simulated watercolor to keep my gradients from getting too smooth.

"Gorilla brutality!"

inks by my Paw!

blue-line print of pencils

pencils over digital sketch

digital sketch

digital layout