Peace on Earth Step by Step "Color to Print"

After scan is completed, I did all the coloring in Photoshop CS3 using a Wacom Intuos Graphic Tablet circa 2000.

The initial stage of colors - "Flats" - done by me to make it easy to select and change my coloring as I go. I usually hire a "flatter" to do this for me.

Boom! Done! - lay down a light medium orange to harmonize the whole piece

Quickly drop in the local colors - keeping everything very orangey-Muchaesque

Start on the next layer of finish - adding lights and darks for volume and depth - I actually did a couple of "balls" a little bluish and greenish.

I also began turning the lineart to a Muchaesque dark red/brown and making the interior lineart even lighter.

A couple more tweaks - tried the dress in green but didn't like it.

Added more shadows and volume especially to the main "Ball" and Ribbon".

I kept the coloring very simple as I printed this out on my home printer for speed...

Here's my template for my Holiday Card.

Et voila - the finished product - this is why I didn't get too crazy with the coloring as I've yet to get my printer to match my on screen coloring but I think it has it's own charm.

I will end up doing prints or postcards of some sort of this image so I can have a more accurate coloring  but this was fun to do!

Happy Holidays!

Terry and Rachel

Peace on Earth Step by Step "Lettering"

So here's I how I did the lettering for this. 

I knew exactly the drawing I was doing and I knew I wanted lettering on the big ornament in the foreground. I thought something along the lines of "Happy Holidays" but after the events after the last week here in the US, I thought "Peace on Earth" might be most appropriate.

 I printed out a full size version of the area I was lettering while Rachel inked the original. I knew I wanted a flowy-nouveau-y style of lettering and so just roughed it in quickly - thinking more about compostion than the actually letters.

 I elongated the "P" and moved the "on".

I had the lettering figured out more so I began unifying all the letters into a similar style and borrowing from the more successful ones. Really pushed the "P". Found the "E" in the Mucha Art Nouveau style guide.

So, traced over this version with a Pigma Micron 08 black Pen.

Scanned and cleaned up in Photoshop.

Dropped into the finished lineart in Photoshop.

Next, the colors.

TD

Peace on Earth Step by Step "The Lineart"

This is the process for how Rachel and I came up with our Holiday card. We talked about a number of ideas  for a while and finally Rachel mentioned "wings" and then I just ran with it.

 Initial sketch drawn with Red Col Erase and Copic Mulitliner in my sketchbook. About 8 x 12". If you look to the left of the big drawing you will see a little sketch - about 2 x 3"- that is the initial sketch. The circle is drawn in Photoshop onto the scanned artwork.

 I enlarged the drawing in Photoshop to print out in blue on 11 x 17 " Bristol Board. Then using a light blue col erase pencil and HB lead proceeded to nail down the drawing. Once I was happy with the basic drawing, I nailed down the face as that was the key to the piece.

 Now I proceeded to work out all the rest of the anatomy and begin the clothing. I also reduced some of the hair and flowers/foliage.

 Finished the hands and started finishing the fabric.

 Finalized the balls and added the ribbon to the ornament and the gown for some extra movement, dynamics and depth and this is the artwork I gave to Rachel to ink.

Here is Rachel's inks over my pencils, she used a Windsor Newton Series 7 #2 Sable Brush and FW Acrylic Black, except for the balls and border with a tech pen.

More to come...

TD

Songes T2 Page 34 Step by Step

 This is the storyboard for pages 32-35. These on 4 per 8.5 x 11" paper with pencil, pen and copies. I send this to the writer, Denis-Pierre Filippi, to make sure we are on the same page before I start...

 the lineart. Drawn in pencil on 13 x 19" Bristol Board with Pencil, then scanned, darkened and cleaned in Photoshop. The Steampunk Robot Harem Guard was fun to create!

Colored in Photoshop CS3. I was inpired by Aladdin and Edmund Dulac for these color schemes. I created the glass block background you see in panels 1, 4, and 5 as a single file and then manipulated in  Photoshop for each panel. Color assist by Rebecca Rendon.

TD

Heroes Initiative Fantastic Four 600 Cover

Heroes Initiative Fantastic Four 600 Cover Featuring the Invisible Woman is in
up in the files and the auction has commenced -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hero-Initiative-Fantastic-Four-600-original-cover-by-TER\
RY-DODSON-/290827372525?

Drawn on a blank Fantastic Four #600 Cover using Pencil, Copic Black and Warm
Grey Markers!

Proceeds go to a great cause!

TD

Gambit #6 Cover Step by Step

Here are my initial roughs I sent in to Marvel. They had combine elements for a second round of sketches.

 Here are the two revised cover roughs I sent in to Marvel for approval.

Here is the pencil version of the cover to Gambit #6.

Drawn on 11 x 17 Bristol Board with Lt Blue and HB Pencil.

Rachel Dodson's gorgeous inks using a Windsor Newton Series 7 No. 2 Sable Brush and Ink.

Here's the final version of the Gambit 6 Cover.

Colored in Photoshop CS3 with a Wacom Intuos Graphics Tablet.

This book shipped this week.

TD

Out in stores today...Avengers #34

From Marvel Comics, the final issue of the Brian Bendis' Avengers, I drew the
final 3 pages with Rachel Dodson inking and Laura Martin coloring.

TD

CTN animation eXpo Friday November 16th

I will be in Burbank, California at the CTN animation eXpo this Friday, November 16th, doing a live Demo at 1:00PM and Signing from 2:00-3:30PM -

for more info -

http://www.ctnanimationexpo.com

I will be demo-ing a Con Sketch - everybody likes to see somebody draw!

TD

Avengers #33 Original Art

Here's the price list - the originals are all 11 x 17" on 2 ply bristol board.

 To check on availability email terry at terrydodsonart dot com.

 2 $190.00
3 $400.00
4/5 $500.00
10 $350.00
11 $200.00
12 $200.00
13 $190.00
14 $400.00
15 $180.00
17 $200.00
19 $170.00
20 $250.00
21 $150.00

TD

Black Cat NYCC 2012

And another Black Cat from the New York Comic Convention, October 11-14, 2012, this time in her standard attire.

Sketch drawn on 11 x 16 Canson Mi-Teint Paper with blue and HB Pencil, Pitt and
Copic Black pens, Copic Warm Grey Markers and White Prismacolor Pencil.

TD

Songes Tome 2 Page 12 Step by Step

 To ease any problems in the translation, I do storyboards for the writer, Denis-Pierre Filippi to approve before I draw the pages.  The storyboards are done on 8.5 x 11" paper with Blue and HB Pencil, Pitt Pens and Copic Markers.

 Here's the lineart - drawn on 13 x 19" 2 ply Bristol Board with Blue and HB Lead and borders ruled with .80 tech pen. So I shoot from these the pencils so they are very tight (for me)!Had to do multiple establishing shots on this page which is kinda tricky but worth it in the end.

The final art for page 12.

The lineart is darkened and cleaned in Photoshop and turned into a Bitmap.

The colors were done by Rebecca Rendon and me in Photoshop. The art was colored in Channels - a method I learned from Alex Sinclair - and is decribed in The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics.

I knew I wanted a yellow dominated palette to really set this scene apart from everything else in the book and I think it worked.

TD

In stores today, Avengers #33 and The Defenders #12

I drew the interiors for Avengers #33 from an amazing script by Brian Bendis with inks by Rachel Dodson and I drew the cover for the final issue of The Defenders (see previous post) - both out in your local comic shop today.

I will be posting a price list for the original art later or email inquiries to terry at terry dodson art dot com.

TD

The Defenders #12 Step by Step

Here's our final The Defenders #12 cover and I think it's one of the best - got to do Ant Man riding a bee!

 Here's the pencils drawn with light blue and HB lead on 13 x19 " Bristol Board - I did something fun with Dr. Strange's power - care to guess what is was?

 Here are Rachel's inks to cover over my pencils. She used a Windsor Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable #2 Brush with FW Acrylic Ink.

 The colors were done in Photoshop CS3 using a Wacom Intuos Graphics Tablet.

The book will be in stores November 7.

TD 

Sif NYCC 2012

My very first Sif - any excuse to draw an Olivier Coipel design (I assume) is cool with me - from the New York Comic Convention, October 11-14, 2012.

Sketch drawn on 11 x 16 Canson Mi-Teint Paper with blue and HB Pencil, Pitt and
Copic Black pens, Copic Warm Grey Markers and White Prismacolor Pencil.

Still more to come ....

TD

Black Cat Hawaii NYCC 2012

Black Cat in Hawaii- fun giving her a snorkeling version of her costume! - from the New York Comic Convention, October 11-14, 2012.

Sketch drawn on 11 x 16 Canson Mi-Teint Paper with blue and HB Pencil, Pitt and Copic Black pens, Copic Warm Grey Markers and White Prismacolor Pencil.

TD

Storm NYCC 2012

Little 80's Storm action featuring the Mohawk - from the New York Comic Convention, October 11-14, 2012.

Sketch drawn on 11 x 16 Canson Mi-Teint Paper with blue and HB Pencil, Pitt and Copic Black pens, Copic Warm Grey Markers and White Prismacolor Pencil.

Still more to come...

td

Songes Tome 2 Page 30 Step by Step

To ease any problems in the translation, I do storyboards for the writer, Denis-Pierre Filippi to approve before I draw the pages. This is the storyboard for Songes Tome 2 Page 29-31. The storyboards are done on 8.5 x 11" paper with Blue and HB Pencil, Pitt Pens and Copic Markers.

Here's the lineart - drawn on 13 x 19" 2 ply Bristol Board with Blue and HB Lead and borders ruled with .80 tech pen. So I shoot from these the pencils so they are very tight (for me)!

Hadn't figured out the jewelry yet - ended up doing it digitally!

The lineart is darkened and cleaned in Photoshop and turned into a Bitmap.

The colors were done by Rebecca Rendon and me in Photoshop. The art was colored in Channels - a method I learned from Alex Sinclair. 

Never was happy with the purple of the throne but too late now!

TD