The art never stops!
I'm constantly working on new things, developing my "craft" so to speak near-daily. I'll be keeping this section updated with some of my favorite pieces from the last month or so.
After working for a number of years with writer/co-creator Phil Filippopoulos on a number of comics, WorldBreakers is our finest joint effort yet.
Taking place between the fictional countries of Telvia and Silverwood, WorldBreakers tells the tale of a disconnected group of young people from across the world and their mysterious connections to one another and the core of the planet itself.
Hosted on LINE Webtoon, WorldBreakers is free to read, and available not just through the website, but also via the Webtoon mobile app.
Over the last few years I've had the pleasure of working on a variety of pieces and projects for others.
Lucky for me, the variety of the work has kept working fresh. I've always enjoyed Pokemon, so I leap at the opportunity to draw a patron as a trainer with their favorite monster.
Another frequent type of project comes from spouses/SOs that are looking for an extra little something as a token of appreciation for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, or what have you. Capturing the love in a relationship through illustration means just as much to me as it does the recipient!
Of course, I've been asked to work on a number of other things in various themes/styles, and I never shy away from a project!
A modern, lighthearted take on the typical portrait, I enjoy exploring subjects, new and old, in this method.
While many cringe at the sight of "Selfie Sticks", or simply the thought of taking one, I believe the frequency with which we as a culture take photos of ourselves is only natural. I read an interesting article not long ago that related our fascination with selfies as simply an aspect of human nature- we want to see ourselves, and others- similar to the portraits the upper-class commissioned throughout the existence of mankind.
This idea, coupled with their ability to capture the spirit of both subjects and setting, makes for the perfect expression of modern humanity.
A little over a year ago I spent a lot of my online time chatting and gaming with a group of friends through Skype.
Out a desire to practice recreating the likenesses of real people and their vastly different features, I set about surprising them with a series of these quick portraits to use as their Skype icons. I found a certain comfort and expressive freedom sticking to the smooth, black, yet sketchy lines and the use of stacking brushstrokes instead of using an eraser.
All in all, a very fun project. These are some of my favorites.
Designing a character is just much a part of a given illustration/comic as the finished work.
Taking the time to find ways to make the design come together cohesively is also a large part of the fun in creating any original character. Whether the character is for a comic or an illustration for a girlfriend, it's important to work out any visual kink before setting to work.
Shown here are "Reindeer Girl" and the rough designs, as well as some earlier designs for characters that would appear in "Life Well Spent", a comic created by myself and Phil Fillippopoulos.
Anyone familiar with role playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder can, I'm sure, appreciate seeing an actual image of the character they've put so much time and thought into.
As a personal fan of such games, I can certainly vouch for the added flavor an illustration of a tabletop RP character. While it may not lend any particular benefit when actually playing outside of perhaps helping your fellow players have a better understanding of your character's appearance, the connection between a player and their in-game avatar can be important. As such, helping them develop a character in such a way is more than just a fun thing to draw.
Seen here are a few examples of this; player's original characters from a number of games including D&D, Pathfinder, and a number from a Marvel-based RP. All were created based on the players' descriptions, whether highly-detailed or just rough ideas.
Occasionally I'm able to trick myself into thinking I have enough free time to work on a piece that isn't for my comic or a standing commission.
I highly enjoy celebrating the various characters/works that I'm a fan of by reimagining them in my own style. This goes especially for the various video games and comic books that I feel have shaped me as a creator over the years.
"Curvy Chibi Cuties"-- the idea hit me while doodling a couple of years ago.
I randomly doodled the Princesses Peach and Daisy, dressed not in their typical princess attire but instead in some hipster-y outfits and in a slightly miniaturized form that accentuated their curves.
I followed that by a series of other cartoon/comic book/video game heroines, and the CCC series was born! I add a new chunk every year or so, but I'll always be trying to match the look and fun that developed out of that first session.
Actually, I think it's about time I got to work on some more...