Micron Pens vs Brushes & Crowquills

So for all those interested in what I have been doing as of late...I have decided to make the transition from Micron Pens to Brushes after being GREATLY ENCOURAGED by several people that are very close to me (my girlfriend being one of them) and dear friends of mine both old and new alike.

Up until about 2 days ago, I have been using micron pens and markers for everything, so I have decided to start using a brush, so for starters I am using a Loew-Cornell size 2 white nylon brush for practice (so that I can get a feel for what a brush is supposed to do when it moves across the paper)...I wanted to use this nylon brush first before I get into my good brushes...my Winsor & Newton Series 7 size 3 and my Kolinsky Sable Raphael 8404 sizes 2 & 3...I also decided 2 days ago that I am going to start using my crowquills (Hunt #102 & #107) and still use my micron pens but the pens will be used very little...everything will be mostly done in brush or crowquill.

So with that being said, I should have the first piece up for all to see by this weekend, sorry for the delay...I am really trying to feel out the brush and how it moves and what all it can do.

Wish me luck!!!

Heroes Con 2009

Well, another year of Heroes Con has come and gone for me...I attended for my 3rd year as a spectator and MAY consider getting a table next year, but on another note - I had a great time catching up with old friends from last year and chatting with my deviantART friends that were there and making some new friends.

Speaking of new friends, I met writer Todd Dezago http://www.perhapanauts.com and pro inker Nathan Massengill http://www.nathanmassengill.com and Angel Comics penciller Rod Thorton http://www.razielssecret.deviantart.com and pro inker Rick Ketcham http://www.tsunami-studios.com/rick_ketcham

On 06/20/09 ALOT of people looked at my portfolio and told me that I have some great inking skills, I just need to leave the pens alone and start using the proper tools (brushes) and Nathan was the last one to look at my portfolio around 5pm and challenged me to start using brush and improve by Heroes Con 2010.

I have accepted the challenge by Nathan Massengill to better improve myself by Heroes Con 2010 with the use of the proper tools...and the proper tools I will learn to use, I really really like to ink and like I tell my kids all the time, I have black ink in my veins and bleed black.

I also had the chance to meet Marvel Inker Rick Ketcham (pictured above) and talk with him for quite sometime...Rick is a very down to earth guy and a great conversationalist and gave me ALOT of great pointers regarding my inks.

So now is the time to turn that black pen ink to black brush ink.

I will admit, I am afraid to come out of my comfort zone and give my pens to my wonderful and supportive girlfriend Melissa, who wants me to improve as well.

Melissa has told me that I have to ask for my pens when I have technical areas to be inked...I want to do it, I want to get away from pens ALL the time...I want to ink with brushes, I really want to improve...so, I have set my mind to do this and do this right.

So, bear with me if I don't post ALOT of art in the coming months as I will be struggling with learning the proper way to use a brush.

*ON A SIDE NOTE*

If I have promised to ink something for you within the last several months, I will hold to my word and get it inked...SCOUTS HONOR!!!

Until next time...get your draw on :-)

Untold Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan - Heroes Fallen Fundraiser 2009 - Batman Sketch

This is a Batman sketch that was done by Clayton D. Murwin for The Great Sean Taylor.

I also included my inks on top of Clayton's pencils...this was at the request of The Great Sean Taylor.

American Soldier

I attended the "Untold Stories from Iraq & Afghanistan Graphic Novel" Heroes Fallen Fundraiser at Broadway High School in Broadway, VA that was hosted by Clayton D. Murwin aka The Hero Maker (http://www.heroesfallen.blogspot.com)...had a good time hanging out with Sean Taylor (http://www.taylorverse.com) and Scott Rorie (http://comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=8267) had some great conversations with everyone who attended the fundraiser and got to listen to alot of good music.

I had the priviledge of winning a FANTASTIC piece of artwork by a Vietnam Vet named Bobby Kro (http://bobbykro.blogspot.com) which can be seen above.

I also had the opportunity to do a interview for a Military based internet radio show...I will post that link as soon as it becomes available to me.

If you did not attend this fundraiser, you missed a good time...hope to do it again sometime.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!
TELL THEM HOW MUCH THEY ARE APPRECIATED FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICES!!!

Meanwhile back at the Hall of Justice...

Here are the inks on an Aquaman Commish for a client at work...who asked for Aquaman to be at the Hall of Justice making PB&J sandwichs in ode to a scene from the old Challenge of the Superfriends Cartoon from the 70's.

Client : Robert Allison

Pencils : Jose Negron

Inks : Michael W. Kellar

Aquaman (c) DC Comics

Teen Spidey Inks over Jeremy Dale's pencils

On the top we have my inks over Jeremy Dale's Teen Spidey Pencils located below -


Ultimate Spidey and Mary Jane by ~thincage on deviantART

Jeremy has a really great cartoony style about his pencils that I really like alot and I am having a blast inking over his work...look for more inks over Jeremy's pencils in the future