Apes and Dinos by Nick Bradshaw

At Hal-Con 2011 in November, I had the good fortune to meet Marvel artist Nick Bradshaw, and more importantly to grab a copy of a limited edition print he was selling with some incredible art featuring a giant ape and a couple of hungry dinos.  Apes and dinos?  What's not to like?
Of course, one of the reasons I had to get my hot little hands on this piece was so I could have the fun of adding color to the piece.  Nick's art is heavily detailed, so it took quite a bit of what I laughingly call my spare time to do this, but I think the end result was definitely worth it.  I've shared the piece over on Nick's Facebook wall, and thought it would be fun to post it here as well.  This is a pretty big piece, so be sure to click through to see it in all it's glory.  And be sure to check out Nick's work over at Facebook, or at Marvel Comics.  As always, comments and criticisms are welcome.

I should add, for the sake of keeping myself honest, that the original art is copyright Nick Bradshaw, and this color job was not commissioned by nor is it endorsed by him.  It was done just for fun, and is being reposted here for the same reason.

Now See This!

I frankly love Warren Ellis for being a writer, and writing this.  Especially for writing this:

"You are, in many ways, writing a love letter intended to woo the artist into giving their best possible work to the job. A bored or unengaged artist will show up on the page like a fibrous stool in the toilet bowl, and that’s not their fault — it’s yours."

 I'm a writer as well as an artist, although more of the latter than the former these days.  If nothing else, I know the value of giving an artist clear instructions and then allowing them to do what they do best, which is make art.  Not ape someone else's style.  Not modify someone else's work.  Not if you want to get their best work.

At the risk of whining, let me just add that you're even more responsible for the lackluster results you get when you give the artist hardly any instruction up front, then wait until they deliver the finished work and make them change everything, as if he or she was supposed to psychically divine your intent of the fine details from the start.  Then ask them to change it all again.  Then make them do it in someone else's style.

As much comic art is work for hire, I know that a writer can't allow the artist to run doolally all over the script, but a good relationship between creative types should be symbiotic, not reminiscent of that between an office manager and a cubicle monkey.  The philosophy espoused by Mr. Ellis above is why writers like he and Alan Moore always get such amazing results from the artists they work with.  Look at Planetary, or From Hell, or for that matter Millar and McNiven's "Nemesis" or Mills and Bisley's "Slaine", and tell me that those artists weren't having a ball, and that the work isn't better for it.

Do yourself a favor, especially if you're a writer, and go read the rest of Warren Ellis's article, "What a Comics Script is For".  An artist, and your readers, may someday thank you.

New Work Published: Lovecraft EZine #9

Lovecraft eZine issue 9 is now available, featuring my illustration for Henrik Sandbeck Harksen's story "Just an Accountant".  This time around, I tried to evoke a little of the spirit of Virgil Finlay for my illo.  I've been studying Finlay's work recently, and am amazed at his innovative use of hatching to create texture and depth.  Check out the story, and be sure to let me know what you think.

Also, keep an eye out for a cover by me for an upcoming issue of Lovecraft eZine, possibly as soon as January.

UFOs Seen Coast to Coast

Want to preview some of my illustrations from the new Mack Maloney book, "UFO's in Wartime"? Then you should head over to Coast to Coast AM's website.
Coast to Coast AM is a show that "deals with UFO's, strange occurrences, life after death, and other unexplained (and often unexplicable) phenomena."  Just yesterday, Mack was interviewed on the show, and they supported the interview by posting three of the images on their site. You can see all three on the page, or click each one for a larger view. Enjoy!

New Work Published: UFO's in Wartime by Mack Maloney

Today is the official release date for "UFO's in Wartime" by the multi-talented author (and sometimes musician) Mack Maloney.  This book contains five of my illustrations, created specially for this publication.  You can see early versions of two of the images here, but you're going to need to get the book to see the finished work. 

This book is a nonfiction review of military encounters with UFO's in different periods, reminiscent of some of the better Daniken-era books that I loved to read so much when I was younger.  The Amazon description reads: 

"Although often written off as myths, UFOs are found in Renaissance Art, on ancient coins, etched on cave walls-and even reported in the Bible. Even more surprising is when they are documented most: in times of war. These sightings are made by high ranking officials, soldiers, and newsreporters. Why do these sightings spike so drastically during wartime? Could it be mistaken aircraft? Or is someone-or something- looking in on us? "

The book is available in paperback or digital formats right now, just in time to be a great gift for the UFO-phile in your family.  

Lovecraft Ezine #8 Now Available

Issue #8 of the Lovecraft ezine, featuring my illustration for William Meikle's story "#Dreaming" just went online.  Go read it online, or even better, pay a buck and download it for offline reading with your portable book reading thingy.  Don't make me send a Hound of Tindalos after you....go get it now!

Drabblecast #222 Now Available

Episode #222 of the podcast "Drabblecast" is now available, with my episode art.  The illustration is for the main story, "Rules for Living in a Simulation" by Aubrey Hirsch.  Download and give it a listen, won't you?