Star Wars Age of Rebellion Leia Step by Step

COVER SKETCH

The cover concept I sent into Marvel and Lucasfilm for approval. 

Roughs were drawn at 2" x 3" in my sketchbook using Warm Grey Copics then colored in Photoshop CS3.

We had a pretty good idea of what the cover was going to be so not much of a change from my concepts.

PENCILS

Initial Rough In

Drawn in Light Blue and HB Lead on 13" x 19" Bristol Board 

INKS

Here's an in process shot of Rachel Dodson's inking...

Rachel inks with a Windsor Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable #2 Brush and Royal Talens India Ink.

I colored this on my Cintiq 22 HD using Photoshop CS3 .

Adding the highlights

The final art!

TD

Thanks, Seattle! ECCC 2017 Recap!

Had a great time at Emerald City Comic Con, March 2-5, 2017!

Along with Matt Fraction, we announced our brand new creator owned book, Adventureman!, shipping FALL 20917!

We printed a ton of promotional prints and they were all gone in hours!

Stay tuned for details!

The sun came out on Saturday! Felt so good, Rachel and I went for a two hour still that morning!

Some of the sketches I did!

Good times at the table with some real heroes!

Had a GREAT response to our cover for this year's Monsters & Dames book and signed a ton of these - thanks, everyone!

How I felt by the end!

 TD

Star Wars #25 Cover Step by Step Part 3 Color

Here's a look at how we made this Star Wars 25 Cover - out in stores now!

Get it here from MILE HIGH COMICS

And now for the final making of-

Part Three, COLOR

Flats

The first stage of color is called flats - flatting allows me to choose an area to color at any point throughout the coloring process.

I try to adjust the colors to their medium value or imprimatura - I use this as the starting point for the piece. 

Initial Coloring

I adjusted the colors and values. I also threw some gradient color on Luke's White Stormtrooper outfit.

Then, my very initial rim lighting on this - on faces.

Pushed the lighting over the entire figures.

Using the Pencil Tool at 50-100% to knock those in.

Adjusting the Color Palette

I wasn't happy with the palette so I copied and pasted the colors onto another layer and adjusted the colors to this warmer palette to test.

Success.

Finishing Up

Adding reflective lights to Luke and Leia using the Pencil at a low %. Use the Gradient tool on the background. 

Hit the figures with darker darks and light lights.

Detail before converting the black lines to color lines.

I have finished all my highlights on the figures.

Coloring the Line Art

Starting to color the line art on Leia's Facial and Hair Lines and Luke's left side.

.

Final Color

Zooming in to show off final color.

And one final zoom.

Done!

TD

Here's Part One

PENCILS

Part Two

LINE ART

Star Wars #25 Cover Step by Step Part 2 Line Art

Here's a look at how we made this Star Wars 25 Cover - out in stores now!

Get it here from MILE HIGH COMICS

Here's Part Two, Line Art

Rachel Dodson inks directly over my Pencil Drawing.

Rachel inks over my pencils with a Windsor Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable #2 Brush and Dr. Martens Hi Carb Ink to ink the covers with.

Detail

And the Final Inks

Scanned and cleaned in Photoshop and ready to color.

TD

Next in Part Three

COLOR

Here's Part One

PENCILS

Star Wars #25 Cover Step by Step Part 1 Pencils

Here's a look at how we made this Star Wars 25 Cover - out in stores now!

Get it here from MILE HIGH COMICS

First step is the cover sketch-

COVER SKETCH

The cover concepts I sent into Marvel Comics Editors Heather Antos and Jordan White and Lucasfilm for approval.

Roughs were drawn at 2" x 3" in my sketchbook using Warm Grey Copics then colored in Photoshop CS3.

Now this series of covers were set to me by Marvel as Stormtroopers. I suggested we make the final two Han and Chewie - see HERE - and Luke and Leia on the Death Star in the Stormtrooper outfits - some of my favorite scenes from A NEW HOPE!

PENCILS

Drawn in Light Blue and HB lead on 12" x 18" Bristol Board 

At this point just quickly roughed in the drawing making sure the composition still help.

I printed out my rough in light blue on the paper to ensure the composition was positioned correctly.

Being a Star Wars piece I like to go in and nail down the likenesses first. I alway draw the faces out of my head to ensure expression and Terry Dodson-ness, then I find photos in similar position AFTERWARD to match MY drawing - not vice versa.

Now it is Leia's turn!

Now that I'm happy with the characters, I work on the nitty gritty, costumes, guns etc using whatever reference is necessary.

In this case I have this to reference the costume off!

Luke!

And done!

Next up, INKS in 

PART 2

TD

Star Wars #20 - #25 Stormtrooper Mile High Comics Variant Covers

Here's a look at all SIX of our Mile High Comics Stormtrooper Variant Covers.

More details at 

MILE HIGH COMICS

See the Step by Step making of 

#20

#21

#22

#23

#24

#25

Enjoy!

TD

Princess Leia #1 Take Two

Here's another take on the Princess Leia #1 cover by Rachel and I. We drew it AFTER completing the series to use for the collection but never had time to color...

After drawing Leia that many times I wanted another crack. Plus, the first cover was turned around amazingly quickly and always wanted another chance to get it right.

 I will post up some detail shots of Rachel's amazing inks later.

Drawn on 12 x 18 2 Ply Bristol Board

Col Erase Light Blue and Staedtler HB Lead Pencil

Windsor Newton Series 7 #2 Sable Brush

Higgins Black Magic

Pro White

TD

Star Wars: Vader Down #1 CBLDF Variant Cover - Step 1 Lineart

Here's a look at how we created the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Cover for Star Wars: Vader Down #1  out now from Marvel Comics.

My initial sketch was sent to Star Wars Editor Heather Antos at Marvel.

Had a ton of ideas for this - Lucasfilm picked "C".

 The sketches are drawn at 2x3 inches in my sketchbook in pencil and pen and then cleaned up and colored in Photoshop.

My initial pencils drawn in Light Blue and HB lead on 12 x 18 Bristol Board

Finishing Luke

Finishing Leia

Done!

Detail of the pencils!

Rachel's  Inks

Rachel inked this completely Windsor Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable #2 Brush and Higgins Black Magic Ink to ink the covers with.

Details

Next Color

TD