Taboo-The Thing from the Murky Swamp!

Yet another Marvelous Marvel Monster. This time it's "Taboo! The Thing from the Murky Swamp!" Appeared in "Where Monsters Dwell #2." Story by Stan Lee, art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. I guess that the design of these blobby monsters, like "Taboo," and "The Glop," made drawing the story a little quicker. This, along with the other Marvel Monsters are © Marvel Entertainment.

This began as a 20 minute pencil sketch, with another 20 minutes, or so of painting in Photoshop.

The Glop!

Another Marvelous Marvel Monster, from the "Monster Masterworks" collection. "The Glop! . . . My very life depended on learning it's fantastic secret!" This guy appeared in "Where Creatures Roam #7," with art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. The story was by Stompin' Stan Lee.

This is a 20 minute pencil sketch, with some Photoshop color.

Illustration Friday - Primitive

Something a little different this time around--traditional media! This is a quick sketch of a Navaho, "Haschebaad," mask. I used a picture from the book "Hidden Faces," by Edward S. Curtis, and Christopher Cardozo (Bulfinch Press), as reference. It's got a lot of great photos of Native American masks, and nice little descriptions of each one. This one represents a benevolent goddess.

I did it on 9"x12" 80 lb. Strathmore, Gray Scale textured paper, with a Pentel brush pen, a large black marker, 6B pencil, white charcoal, and a paper stump. About 30 minutes, or so.

Illustration Friday - Save

"And then I saved my Mother by stomping the poor earthworm into oblivion." I must have been around two years old or so. I don't remember the incident, but I've heard my Mother tell it more than once, so it must have been something special--my first heroic moment.

My illustration for this week's Illustration Friday challenge, on the theme of "Save." As usual, a pencil sketch, finished in Photoshop.

Illustration Friday - Homage

Another Illustration Friday challenge, another reason to finish an illustration. This one is on the theme of "homage." This is my homage to Lorenzo Mattotti, and Billie Holiday. Mattotti opened my eyes to the possibilities of color and simple shapes--especially in comics. The first work of his I came across was a translated reprint of graphic novel called "Fire." His work continues to inspire me.

Sometime in my late teens, Billie Holiday opened my ears, heart and soul. I had never heard a voice like hers or, felt a voice move me like her's did.

This piece is a simple line drawing in pencil, with color and texture overlays in Photoshop.

Tim Boo Ba!

Another old Marvel Comics monster, from Amazing Fantasy #9. Tim Boo Ba! He was an evil, war mongering, ruthless dictactor. He was the mightiest warlord of them all, and mercy was unknown to him! Too bad he was microscopic in size, and lived on a scale model planet in a pre-teen boy's room. His world was washed away by a careless drop of water, by Tom, the boy's brother.

Tim Boo Ba was originally drawn by Steve Ditko. I've been doing these monster sketches during afternoon breaks from coloring comics. Usually, they coincide with periods of low energy, on my part, hence the break from work. Unfortunately, Tim Boo Ba fell victim to my tired state. I gussied him up in Photoshop, but still failed to fully capture his terrible awesomeness.

IF- Pet Peeves

The latest Illustration Friday challenge is "Pet Peeves." I'm sure that I have more than a few--the tardiness of Spring is definitely one. The most recent, and trivial, pet peeve for me is the thievery of bird seed by the local gang of squirrel hooligans. They steal it right in front of my window too! The nerve!

Here, a furry thief is making off with some tasty sunflower seeds, while all the birds can do is watch.

This illustration is a pencil sketch, finished in Photoshop.