Star Wars #24 Step by Step Part 2 Line Art

Here's a look at how we made this Star Wars 24 Cover - out in stores now!

Get it here from MILE HIGH COMICS

Now, here's a look of the Line Art is made- 

Rachel Dodson inks directly over my pencils.

 Rachel inks with a Winsor Newton Series 7 #2 Finest Sable Brush and Higgins Black Magic Ink.

 

Rachel then focused on Chewbacca.

I love how she handled Chewie's hair -nailed it!

Final Inks

Detail

LINEART

Once Rachel is done inking, I scan the artwork on my EPSON Expression 11000XL Scanner and then  clean up and prepare the art for color in PHOTOSHOP.

Next time, COLORS

TD

See the how I made the pencils  in 

PART ONE

Black Bolt Work in Progress

A look at putting the final touches on this Black Bolt image. Using Photoshop CS3 and Wacom Cintiq 22HD to color this image digitally.

Pencils and colors by me, inks by Rachel Dodson.

TD

Star Wars #24 Step by Step Part 1 Pencils

Here's a look at how we made this Star Wars 24 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.

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.

Now I started to refine the figures and concentrated on getting Han "right".

At this point I found 3 or 4 pics of Han that were either similar angles or expression and used to correct.

Sometimes you just gotta make the donuts - and that is THIS- drawing the nuts and bolts of the Stormtrooper outfit.

Refining Han and moving my way down the outfit.

Detail of Han

Back to finishing up Han's head.

Switched to working on Chewbacca a bit. Did the same thing, found 3 pics of Chewie either at that angle or screaming to get right.

I find with Chewie, getting the eyes correct is most important!

Nailed down Chewie, not time to get that gun just right - if you have good reference, USE IT!

Just about done - just need to draw in that background.

And done!

Detail

Next up, INKS in 

PART 2

TD

Superwoman #3 Cover Step by Step Part 2 Color

Here's a look at how we made the Superwoman #3 cover.

PART 2

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.

Here I adjusted the colors slightly to make them blend together bit better.

Initial Rough In

I colored this on my Cintiq 13 HD using Photoshop CS3 .

Using the Pencil Tool on the figure and a customized brush for texture on the clouds.

I used the Gradient Tool for the Background.

Detail

Intermediate Stage

Added more lights and darks with the Pencil tool. And began adding variation in the shadows to show the environment. Lassoing and using the Gradient in the background.

Coloring Line Art

At this point I like to color the line art... especially the interior edges and the edges facing the strongest light. 

 Of course, I lose as much of the line as possible - especially as I move away from the "camera".

Almost final colors

Finished coloring Line Art and added "fiery" highlights on head!

FINAL COLOR

All done, this is the version I sent to DC Comics!

TD

See how we made the Line Art in 

PART 1

Superwoman #3 Cover Step by Step Part 1 Line Art

Here's a look at how we made the Superwoman #3 cover.

PART 1

Line Art

COVER SKETCH

My initial sketches for the cover submitted to DC Comics. This featured the new Superwoman... now firmly in her role!

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

Pencils

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

This went very fast, drew the figure first, then clouds, then background.

I know exactly how this will look in color so line art is there just as a basis for my colors.

Detail

Detail of my pencils.

Gave myself the information I need to color. Didn't labor over  any of the line art.

Inks

Rachel Dodson inks over my pencils with a Windsor Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable #2 Brush and Higgins Black Magic Ink to ink the covers with. 

Detail of final inks

Rachel nailed everything down. Background very simple...

Detail

Lovely hair lines!

Next time - 

Colors

TD

Star Wars: Poe Dameron #7 Variant Cover Step by Step Part 2 Color

Here's a look at how we created the cover for Poe Dameron #7.

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.

Initial Rough In

I colored this on my Cintiq 13 HD using Photoshop CS3 .

Just getting the initial color and lighting correct before I go into detail, using the Paint Bucket tool to adjust all the colors to the palette I'm using.

Intermediate Stage

Added more lights and darks with the Pencil tool. And began adding variation in the shadows to show the environment. Lassoing and using the Gradient in the background.

Coloring Line Art

At this point I like to color the line art... especially the interior edges and the edges facing the strongest light. 

 Of course, I lose as much of the line as possible - especially as I move away from the "camera".

Almost final colors

FINAL COLOR

I softened up Poe's face a bit in this final.

TD

See how we made the Line Art in 

PART 1