Because I'm a WHORE PT. 2

Even sluttier.....

New York Times

I Know It's Over

Mother...I can feel...

the soil falling over my head.

,)

Love that song....

F.A.Q.'s

OK, wanted to answer a few common questions I get. Also wanted to post this Spider-Man piece. The two have nothing in common, but that's just the way my brain is working today.

1. What is you technique?

Fairly simple. Pencil, ink, graphite, and ink wash. I still do things fairly traditionally. The drawings go from lose pencils to line art form in ink. From there I render on top of the ink with pencil and then go back on top of that with ink wash to darken areas further and blend. In the past few months, I've integrated the CINTIQ into my process, but mainly just for pencils and colors. I've been experimenting with laying out things digitally so that I have more freedom to play around. It's been very liberating, and hopefully will allow the drawings to have more life at the end of the day. I then print them out on board, ink them and finish rendering the same way as before.

2. What tools do you use?

F and B pencils, microns for line work and Da Vinci synthetic brushes (They only last a few pages but I love the way the ink flows). Ink is Windsor Newton. In the computer I use Photoshop and occasionally Painter.

3. Do you use photo reference?

Yes, when I can, though I like to keep things as reference free as possible. Sometimes I'll take a quick photo in photobooth of myself if I need to see how gloves or sleeves fold, and for covers I've taken full on reference when dealing with particularly tricky poses. Generally, though, I'm very lazy when it comes to shooting ref. I like to draw things first and then use a picture after wards to tweak and add little elements of chaos I wouldn't have thought of. This seems to be the best way for me to avoid things looking too overly photographic. Also, it's great ref for your ref. ;) Obviously, there's a lot that you just can't photograph. Batman is a perfect example. He comes from that fucked up place called my head.

4. Do you think Carlos D'Anda is one sexy mofo?

Yes.

If anybody has anything else they'd like to know, ask below and I'll try to answer them from time to time.

And now for something completely different...

Winter Soldier covers. Steely. Tried to go as Michael Mann as possible on these. I HATE drawings guns.... anything non organic really. These were a challenge for that reason alone...

Because I'm a WHORE...

.... here are some more reviews from around the web. I know, I know, it's in bad form but hey, I put a book out once every three years!!! ;)

Batman-news.com

IGN.com

Newsarama

Yahoo

Scripps Howard News Service

Loutallica

This is an illustration I did for an Italian music and pop culture magazine called XL. The idea was to do something of a 'superhero' take on the musicians. While it started out as an interior illo to accompany an article, the editors liked it enough to make it the cover. Big challenge, this piece, and lots of lessons learned.

Lesson 1: Likenesses are a bitch.

Lesson 2: Black and white with spot color almost always works

Lesson 3: Kirk Hammett looks a bit too much like Chris Cornell. Then again, is that a bad thing?

Speaking of things metal, I'm sure many of you have already heard of The Sword, but if not I highly recommend you check them out. Old School metal done well, complete with song titles that make firey dragons on green planets screech in the night. Gather you broadsword and take flight. ;)

TODAY

....is the day. The book is out. All sorts of interviews popping up across the web. Feels like giving birth (somewhat painful but joyous as well). I'll be happy when the kid has a few months on him and is sleeping through the night.

UPDATE: This is a really nice review over at Aint it Cool News!!!