2010 Ahoy!

Not so much resolutions, but let's call 'em goals.

1) Improve my craft, as an artist, a writer and a visual storyteller.
2) Fill out my schedule with more (and better) freelance work.
3) Make time to make sure that I have a larger creator-owned comics output this coming year.
4) Get one of these! (also pictured, above) Of course, that's dependent on Goal #2.

I have plenty of personal goals; same as everyone else, but they're not nearly as fun as the professional goals...

Happy New Year, folks!

Another look at the Para Inks

Pencils by Fed, inks by me.

More Para Project, More Inking!

By now, you know the drill: Fed (I think that's the penciller's name) does some really nice work, and I try my hardest not to screw it up!

Lather, rinse, repeat!

Some More Para Project Inks

Some more inks from the Para Project. The fun thing about inking someone with a totally different style than you, is that you step outside your own process and get glimpses into other ways to solve artist problems.

Fun and educational!

Inks: Para Project

I've been inking some pages for my pal Mike Heffron's forthcoming OGN, The Para Project, coming in 2010 from Lawdog Comics. Here's a example of the pencils (not sure of who the penciller is) and my inks.

Even More Athena Voltaire

Here's the second page of the sequence I posted yesterday.

More Athena Voltaire

Not much action, but still a lot of fun to draw!

Speaking of Athena Voltaire

Here's another one. See, I'm not lazy, folks. I'm merely stockpiling, so we can (eventually) have a decent output. Getting there!

In Between Paying Work

I'm still working on new Athena Voltaire material. Here's a peek.

Pitch Artwork, part 3

Here's the last piece of artwork from that pitch that Joshua Hale Fialkov and I are shopping around.

Pitch Artwork, part 2

More from the pitch that Joshua Hale Fialkov and I are shopping around. I can't divulge what it's about--yet--but if it gets picked up, just try and shut me up.

Some Pitch Artwork

Here's an image from a pitch that Joshua Hale Fialkov and I are shopping around. Josh is an awesome writer and I really hope this lands somewhere--it's definitely a story I'd love to tell.

Airgirl: The rejected 1-page pitch

I pitched this to Moonstone a couple of months back, but they passed. I guess that since Airboy is in the public domain, I could take this to any publisher out there.

Any takers, anyone? I could write and draw this book for cheap. I'm just sayin'...

Commission: Athena Voltaire and Domino Lady

Two ladies that I've drawn in comics, Athena Voltaire (new comics in 2010) and Domino Lady (my story in issue #3 from Moonstone in stores now!)

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Commission: Huntress and Black Canary

After drawing her in three commissions in the last three weeks, I've determined that I really like drawing Black Canary.

A lot.

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Commission: More Fun with Athena Voltaire

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

I can't believe it's been two years

Two years today. I miss you, Dad. (pic taken the day my son, Chance, was born, October 9, 2000)

Commission: The Black Cat

More moonlit fun in the Marvel Universe!

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Commission: Daredevil

Did you know that every Daredevil commission must contain the ubiquitous water tower? True story.

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Commission: Madrox the Multiple Man

I remember him as a Fantastic Four villain, but he's now all grown up and a member of X-Factor. They grow up so fast! ;)

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Commission: Catwoman

Meeeee-ow!

...uhm...that's all I got. Sorry.

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Commission: Athena and Indy

Snakes...why did it have to be snakes? I love it when someone commissions me to draw my character. I love it even more when I get to draw her interacting with an icon. :)

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Captian America Commission

Next up, the Star Spangled Avenger, Captain America.

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Black Canary and Wonder Woman Commission

Another in the latest round of commissions. This time out, it's Wonder Woman and Black Canary.

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

Kitty Pryde Commission

I've been doing a batch of new commissions the past week. Here's Kitty Pryde (and Lockheed) from the X-Men.

Contact me at atomictikistudio at gmail dot com for commission information!

A New Marvel Sample

Trying to drum up new work...I messed around with a Marvel sample. I tried to hit as many different kinds of mood as I could on this one: romance, suspense/espionage and action.

It was a lot of fun! Tackling new things is always a learning experience.

Big Savings on my Sketchbooks at DCBS

The great folks at DCBS (Discount Comic Book Service) have a great deal on my sketchbook this month.

STEVE BRYANT SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS VOL 1
The first collection of artwork focusing on Eisner and Manning Award nominee Steve Bryant features conceptual art for his series Athena Voltaire, as well as commissions of Big Two heroes, the Buffyverse and a galaxy far, far away. Signed and numbered limited edition of 500. Color covers, b/w interiors. Product Code: OCT099003 (Steve Bryant)
Cover Price: $15.00
Your Price: $7.50 (50% discount)

STEVE BRYANT SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS VOL 2
The second volume of Steve Bryant’s sketchbook series showcases more Athena Voltaire work in progress, as well as commissions, samples and a look at the artist’s prep work drawing 24’s Jack Bauer for IDW. Signed and numbered limited edition of 500. Color covers, b/w interiors. . Product Code: OCT099004 (Steve Bryant)
Cover Price: $15.00
Your Price: $9.75 (35% discount)

STEVE BRYANT SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS VOL 3
STEVE BRYANT SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS, volume three Steve Bryant’s third sketchbook features more Athena Voltaire work in progress (of course!), as well as commissions, samples and a peek at the artist’s sketchbook studies of life drawings and more. Signed and numbered limited edition of 500. Color covers, b/w interiors. . Product Code: OCT099005 (Steve Bryant)
Cover Price: $15.00
Your Price: $9.75 (35% discount)

SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS VOL 1-3 Set *FREE PRINT*
All three volumes of STEVE BRYANT SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS in one set, featuring Athena Voltaire, as well as commissions, samples and a peek at the artist’s sketchbook studies of life drawings and more. Each volume is signed and numbered limited edition of 500. Color covers, b/w interiors. Buy all three volumes in this series and receive a free, exclusive, limited edition print, signed and numbered by artist/author Steve Bryant.

Product Code: OCT099006 (Steve Bryant) Your Price: $27.00 First time DCBS customers, get additional savings with the order code CGS8!

Commission: Booster Gold

This one was my first wash commission. I plan on doing a lot more of these.

Commission: Rocketeer

Except for Athena Voltaire, I've done more Rocketeer commissions than any other character. And it's always fun.

I messed around with incorporating a sepia wash on this one.

Back to the blog--another birthday down

Sorry I've been so quiet...work, work, work!

I just celebrated a birthday a couple of days ago and was reminded by a childhood friend that I share a birthday with a famous public figure!

Interesting Steve Birthday Trivia
When I was 1 or 2 years old, the cereal Cap'n Crunch ran a contest for kids to submit their birthdays. A select few with the Cap'n's birthday would win a 5-speed bike. My folks submitted my brother and me. Guess who had a 5-speed bike before he could walk? Yes, I have the same birthday as Cap'n Crunch. True story.


Being a child of the 60s, I can't help but reimagine the pitch meeting of the ad agency and the General Mills executives through a Mad Men filter...


General Mills Executive: We'd like to tie in a contest with our new cereal, Cap'n Crunch. Maybe give a prize to the kid who shares the Cap'n's birthday.

Pete Campbell: Kids love contests! A great prize would be a savings bond!

Peggy Olson: A toy...kids love toys.

Sal Romono: When I was a child, I always wanted a dollhouse, with lots of pretty dollies...

Don Draper: A bike. Throughout life, we're always going somewhere...but the destination isn't important. That's what Cap'n Crunch is about...the voyage on the high seas of childhood, passing though the sugary milk of bloated sweetened corn cubes into adulthood.

Commission: Wonder Woman

Today's commission is that amazing amazon. Lots and lots of fun this time out!

Commission: Blackhawk

Another quickie commission; this time, it's Blackhawk, DC's swashbuckling aviator. Col-Erase pencil on bristol board, 9" x 12".

Yeah, I was thinking "Bruce Campbell" while drawing it.

That's Really Super, Supergirl

I couldn't help it—if I'm doing a blog post with a Supergirl commission, I have to name-check the XTC song in the title of the post!

Brush and ink on bristol board. 11" x 17"

My Foil-Stamped Embossed Hologram Cover...

...that's what all the Obama covers are these days, right? Nothing says freedom like exploiting the likeness of the leader of the free world o sell funnybooks.

Maybe I'm just jealous, though. After all, if I wanted to go for the cheap presidential cover on Athena Voltaire, I'd have to do something like this...

Sketchbook Stuff: A Robert Maguire Study

Playing around in my sketchbook some more. Today's entry is a study of a Robert Maguire piece included in Jim Silke's excellent book Robert Maguire: Dames, Dolls and Gun Molls. Amazing, wonderful stuff.

Read more about Robert Maguire and see awesome paintings here.

Flashback: Eisner Awards 2005 (part 2)

Another shot from the 2005 Eisner Awards; this time, it's Mike Heffron and me with author Michael Chabon. I had actually started reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay on the flight to San Diego that year. At the time, I regretted not having more to say to Mr. Chabon than "I really enjoy your work," but, in retrospect, I assume he probably gets a lot of people who want to ask that one memorable question and end up looking like pretentious douchebags instead.

Mike and I didn't talk to Mr. Chabon for very long (he had to catch a flight to San Francisco right after the awards), but he was very gracious and pleasant.

Flashback: Eisner Awards 2005

I was clearing some stuff off my desktop, looking for images I haven't uploaded to this blog yet and came across this photo from the 2005 Eisner Awards.

From left: me, Dark Horse Comics publisher Mike Richardson and Jim (Territory 51) Heffron. Jim had been nominated for the Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award and I was nominated for Athena Voltaire in the Best Digital Comic catagory. Neither of us won, but it was a blast, capped off by meeting the guy who publishes the best comics today.

Sketchbook Stuff: Gesture Drawings

I tend to get caught up in working and end up neglecting my sketchbook. I've been making a real effort to rectify this over the last year. I still go through periods where I don't sketch nearly enough, but those times are becoming less frequent.

In a back to basics approach, I'm really trying to get back to lots and lots AND LOTS of gesture drawing. My figures have become increasingly stiff over the last couple of years and I look forward to fixing that problem.

Here's a spread from my sketchbook that addresses the issue. There's plenty more where that came from...

Canterville Ghost...again!

Here's another snippet from The Canterville Ghost. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Jason colors this one!

Zorro!

Another sample. With the Canterville Ghost wrapping up in a month or so, I'm scrambling to make sure that I can still pay bills. Here's the latest in a series of samples.

Green Hornet Sample Piece (color)

And here's how the Green Hornet piece looks all colored up, courtesy of the ever-brilliant Jason Millet.

Green Hornet Sample Piece (Inks)

A while back, I learned that Dynamite Entertainment had gotten the Green Hornet license and whipped this piece up. It incorporates the 1930s version of the character and the 1960s version. Looking at the material they've released so far, I'm not sure that the book will be a period piece (which is how I'd ideally like to see it done), but that doesn't diminish my desire to draw it a bit!

I have no idea if they're even interested in me, though.

But I'd still love to do it.

Commisson: The Rocketeer

I have more commissions to post; I've just been swamped with deadlines!

Today's offering of inked adventure is one of my favorite comics characters, The Rocketeer. By my count I've done more commissions of than another character, other than my own.

Another piece for a friend, this time out it's for Chris Neseman of Around Comics and 11 O'Clock Comics. If you like comics, give both shows a listen.