May the Fourth Be With You

I haven't done a lot of Star Wars fan art, however, today seems like a good day to post what I have finished. I have colored a lot of Star Wars comics though. Maybe that was enough for me to get my fix of the characters and environments. Those comic books happened a good number of years ago. Perhaps it's time for me to do some more fan art. I'm open to suggestions.

Have a great day and thanks for looking! May the fourth be with you!

© Lucasfilm

Accidental Martyrs

Around Christmas time I accidentally started a series of sketches in one of my sketchbooks. I say "accidentally started," because I did not have anything particular in mind when I began drawing. One sketch became two, and two grew into more. I dubbed these pieces "Accidental Martyrs," and they were a tongue-in-cheek series, based on my recollection of the many gruesome ways in which Catholic martyrs were killed. 

This piece began as number six in the series, but something changed with this one. The news from the U.S. about police shooting unarmed black men, and others dying in custody, or during arrest influenced the vibe of this sketch. It morphed from a lighter piece, to a hopefully more challenging editorial illustration. A reflection of the situation, as filtered through my visual commentary process. 

The rough sketch was scanned, enlarged, then transfered to some strathmore paper and inked with a copic brush pen. The inked art was scanned and color and textures were added in Photoshop. If I was doing this piece for a client, I would normally do more color studies before moving on to a final illustration. I may do these yet, since every time I look at it now I want to make changes. I'd like to try a more simple graphic approach, in an effort to make a more iconic image, with more emotional impact. 

I hope things get better down there.

Thanks for looking. 

art is © Chris Chuckry

My time with Sketch Cards

I was intrigued when I first heard of sketch cards. The idea sounded great! You get paid to do fan art on a small scale--usually 50 to 100 or more cards--with traditional media. Quick little illustrations to indulge your inner fanboy, and paid as well! So I did some research, figured out who was publishing these cards, and inquired about who to send my samples to. Once I discovered the submission requirements and the name of the editors/art directors, I was on my way. Samples were submitted and I was fortunate enough to get work on a number of card sets. The amount of cards varied (50 to 100 or more) and the schedule was quite flexible. Not all the cards were superhero sets. Some were classic horror and sci-fi, or classic comics and animation or "The Walking Dead."

There were always restrictions on who you could and could not draw in a particular set. The thing that surprised me though, was the pay rate--anywhere from $5 to $8 a card, for full color cards. I thought that if I could do them quickly enough, the pay rate would be fine. However, speed is not always a friend of quality, and I soon discovered the the cards were called "sketch cards" in name only. More often, than not, the publishers were looking for finished artwork, sometimes multiple figures and backgrounds, for $5 a card.

Now, I also received a special "Artist's Proof" card for every ten regular cards that I competed. The idea was that I could spend extra time on these limited AP cards and sell them to collectors, at a premium, in order to supplement the low rate on the sketchcards. I still have all of my blank AP cards. I haven't had the motivation, or inspiration, to do some special sketch editions and sell them. Every now and again I see some of my original production cards on ebay, selling for 10 times or more my original rate. I suppose that's the collectors/speculators market. The thing that bugs me, is that it's usually the weaker cards on ebay, the ones I was happier with are nowhere to be seen.

These days I usually think of doing larger illustrations and pieces of art, based on my own ideas. However, when I find my energy or enthusiasm flagging, I kick around the idea of sketch cards again. Simple little sketches that make me appreciate the ability to pursue my own creative ideas.

Forest Spirit or Passages 2

Sometimes it takes quite awhile before a sketchbook idea gets worked up to a final piece. Months, maybe years go by before an idea demands more attention. I often wonder if my sketches are finished projects by themselves, but that's usually not the case. I use my sketchbooks to relax, to explore and to meditate--after a fashion. Although many sketches are destined to stay in the books, every so often I surprise myself with an image that captures my imagination and won't let go--even after a number of years.

This is one of those pieces. I did the initial sketch about five or six years ago, during a summer night at the cabin. The figure was based on an even older sketch. Looking at him now, I want to  revisit that older sketch and make some changes to this piece. Last summer I finally revised the sketch. I enlarged it, and created a line drawing with some tone on vellum. I worked on it during breaks from coloring comics. By late summer or early autumn I was ready to add color.

The results were encouraging, although I do need to refine some areas and finish the figure. I found that working on this piece created its own momentum. The more I did the more I wanted to do, and the more time I made for doing it. I keep my sketchbooks handy and review them, like a journal. With the benefit of time, it's easy to see which pieces still capture my attention and demand more of it.

These are the steps, from initial rough, to line art and color.

Thanks for looking!
© Chris Chuckry