Catwoman 21 Cover Step by Step

This is the steps in making the cover for DC Comics Catwoman 21, shipping June 26.

Here's the sketches I sent in to Rachel Gluckstern at DC Comics for approval. The theme was Catwoman vs the Penguin.

D was picked, which had the vaguest background, so I had to figure that out on the fly.

My initial rough in of the pencils, drawn in Light Blue and HB lead on 12 x 18 Bristol Board.

 Here's my initial pencils before I solved the background problem.

I solved the background issue with the old circle trick, works all the time - found a great circular New York window for reference via Google to make it look authentic.

 Rachel's inks done with Windsor Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable #2 Brush and Higgins Black Magic ink, plus a little tech pen and croquille for the straight lines.

 My initial rough in of the colors, done in Photoshop CS3 with a Wacom Intuos Graphics Tablet.

The solicitation version of the colors.

The final version of the colors - notably Catwoman has a blue costume instead of black, adding a city background reflecting in the lower windows.

TD

Bombshells 7 Final Cover Art

Here's the final lettered version of the cover to my new sketchbook collection, Bombshells 7.

Debuts at Comic Con International, San Diego, June 17.

Here's the actual sketchbook.

More details to come!

TD

Bombshells 7 A Terry Dodson Sketchbook Collection Cover Art

Here's the lineart and color version of the cover for my new sketchbook, BOMBSHELLS 7 A TERRY DODSON SKETCHBOOK.

Drawn on 11 x17 Bristol Board with Light Blue and HB Lead and colored in Photoshop.

This full color sketchbook collection will debut at Comic Con International in San Diego, July 17-21 and then will be available through other ONLINE outlets afterward - details to come!

This book was put together with the assistance of John Fleskes of Flesk Publications.

I will previewing pages from this over the next month. And I will also be posting a Step by Step making of this cover as well.

TD

New Avengers #7 Wolverine House of M Variant Cover Step by Step

Here's how New Avengers #7 Wolverine House of M Variant Cover Step by Step was created.

This comes out next week,  June 12, 2013from Marvel Comics.

First step, I do cover roughs in my 11 x 14 Canson Sketchbook using Col Erase Light Blue Pencil, Pigma Micron and Copic Warm Grey Pens.

Then I scan these in and clean up and color in Photoshop. These are then sent to my editor at Marvel , George Beliard for approval.

Sketch A was approved so I commence on the cover full size - 13 x 19 Bristol Board - drawing with Col Erase Light Blue and Staedtler HB Lead pencils.

I adjust Scarlet Witch's face angle for more "attitude".

I then go to the next level of filling out the volumes and spotting the shadows.

I'm happy with the drawing so I begin tightening everything up for the inking stage. And began messing around with SW's legs - seem to short.

The final version of the pencils - SW feet are now the same length down the figure but I have made the feet themselves smaller - problem solved.

Rachel Dodson then inks the piece, she always starts by "masking off" the area she isn't inking so it doesn't get rubbed or dirty. She usually starts with the faces, for a similar reason - while the pencil line art is at it's highest point of clarity.

Rachel also moves foreground to background.

Rachel's inks this with a Windsor Newton Series 7 #2 Kolinisky Sable Brush and Higgins Black Magic Ink.

 Final ink art after scanning and cleaning in Photoshop and converting to a Bitmap.

The first step in color is to have the art "flatted" so I can select individual pieces of art at any point in the process - especially useful at later stages if I decide to "change" the background, etc.

I use Photoshop CS3 and a Wacom Intuos Graphics Tablet.

I lay in my initial colors knowing pretty well what I want (which is always nice). 

I start everything off in a medium value of the color. Then begin rendering by adding darker values first at 100% color.

I did the background on a separate layer and adjust the opacity and color throughout the process.

Begin adding lights and refining and cleaning up the colors I laid in.

 I begin coloring the lineart and special FX.

My final colors.

Superman Big Wow 2013

From Big Wow Comic Fest, San Jose, May 18-19, 2013, Superman and friend.

Drawn on 11 x 16 " Canson Mi Teinte Pastel Paper with a Col Erase Scarlet Red Pencil, Pigma Pens, Warm Grey Copics and White Prismacolor.

TD