Commission: Rocketeer to the Rescue

I've said it a hundred of times, and I'll say it a hundred more times…I never get tired of drawing the Rocketeer.

Here's the description for today's commission:

"Here's what I was thinking, a scene where Rocketeer comes crashing in through a window (skylight? etc) while Betty is tied up or chained to a wall (like girls in pulp books tended to be), maybe in torn clothing, however you want to have fun with it."

This one presented a challenge in that it's tough to fit in both figures, and the setting, AND create a sense of dynamicism. My solution was to put the point of view on one of the characters. Obviously, having the hero big is best, but the compositions I was came up with him in the foreground were shots over Cliff's shoulder or behind him, which makes for a great shot of the jetpack—but not a good shot of the Rocketeer.

Putting Betty in the foreground gave us a dynamic composition, and a front view of the Rocketeer—even if he was smaller. I tried to punch him up by adding some dynamic blacks and having all of the breaking glass radiating around him. Hopefully, this creates a focus on him, even if he's not the large figure.

I usually stay away from any implication of sex/bondage in commissions, but the "bound Betty" in this piece works for two reasons: (1) as the commissioner says, it reflects the pulps of the era, and (2) it's a winking acknowledgment of Betty Page's actual background (which Dave Stevens acknowledged throughout the series).

And the Buddy Commission Surgery Fun Drive continues! Information below:

PRICING

$40 for an inked single-character piece on 8.5 x 11 (or 9 x 12...depending on what I have lying around). Additional figures, email me for a quote. Plan on $5 for Priority Mail shipping if you won't be picking up the piece at the show.

Order a 9x12 Commission NOW!

$80 for an inked single character piece on 11 x 17. Again, for additional figures, email me for a quote. And again, $5 for Priority Mail shipping if you won't be picking up the piece at the show.

Order a 11x17 Commission NOW!

(ink wash added at artist's discretion...let me know up front if it's something you really, really, really have your heart set on.)

I can bring the piece with me to Wizard World Chicago, if you plan on attending, or mail it to you.

More examples of my commissioned work can be found here.

Thanks!

Commission: Lady Shiva versus Karate Kid

I haven't stopped doing commissions—I just had to clear some assignments out before finishing more of these. Look for more commissions, plus some other new work on this blog in the coming weeks!

Today's commission features the Legion of Superheroes' Karate Kid sparring with Lady Shiva. The description was " These are two of the best martial artists of all time so I think it would be a great fight. The only thing I ask is that neither character is shown as clearly winning."

This presented a really fun challenge: I didn't want either character to have their backs to us, and I wanted neither in the foreground, overshadowing the other. My compositional instincts led me to "stacking" the characters, with Shiva leaping/kicking, while Karate Kid punches/ducks. Both characters are untouched, but thwarted—evenly matched.

I added in the graphic of the yin/yang symbol to drive home the concept of balance.

The Buddy Commission Surgery Fun Drive continues! Information below:

PRICING

$40 for an inked single-character piece on 8.5 x 11 (or 9 x 12...depending on what I have lying around). Additional figures, email me for a quote. Plan on $5 for Priority Mail shipping if you won't be picking up the piece at the show.

Order a 9x12 Commission NOW!

$80 for an inked single character piece on 11 x 17. Again, for additional figures, email me for a quote. And again, $5 for Priority Mail shipping if you won't be picking up the piece at the show.

Order a 11x17 Commission NOW!

(ink wash added at artist's discretion...let me know up front if it's something you really, really, really have your heart set on.)

I can bring the piece with me to Wizard World Chicago, if you plan on attending, or mail it to you.

More examples of my commissioned work can be found here.

Thanks!

Commission: The Rocketeer (AGAIN!!)

Seriously. I've done more commissions of the Rocketeer than any other character besides Athena Voltaire.

And it's always fun!

I'm not thrilled with the scan on this one: some of the subtleties of the clouds are lost (the darks are too dark, and the medium tones are blown out), but the original came out pretty well. Inks and grey marker on 11x17 bristol board.

The Buddy Commission Surgery Fun Drive continues! Information below:

PRICING

$40 for an inked single-character piece on 8.5 x 11 (or 9 x 12...depending on what I have lying around). Additional figures, email me for a quote. Plan on $5 for Priority Mail shipping if you won't be picking up the piece at the show.

Order a 9x12 Commission NOW!

$80 for an inked single character piece on 11 x 17. Again, for additional figures, email me for a quote. And again, $5 for Priority Mail shipping if you won't be picking up the piece at the show.

Order a 11x17 Commission NOW!

(ink wash added at artist's discretion...let me know up front if it's something you really, really, really have your heart set on.)

I can bring the piece with me to Wizard World Chicago, if you plan on attending, or mail it to you.

More examples of my commissioned work can be found here.

Thanks!

Post SDCC Pre-Wizard World Commissions, and Dog Surgery

Most people that follow me on Twitter or Facebook have heard this, so I apologize for repeating myself.

About a half hour after my flight landed in San Diego for Comic-Con a couple of weeks back, I got a call from my dog's veterinarian. Buddy, my pooch, needed emergency surgery due to a twisted stomach and bloat. I was devastated to hear that the procedure had a 30–50% mortality rate.

Thankfully, he made it through in good health (YAY!) and is on the road to recovery (see photos: his stitches and him in a T-shirt to prevent chewing on the stitches).

The surgery and health care cost almost $2,000. The long and short of it is that I'll be doing commissions for the forseeable future. If you're interested, here are the details:

PRICING

$40 for an inked single-character piece on 8.5 x 11 (or 9 x 12...depending on what I have lying around). Additional figures, email me for a quote. Plan on $5 for Priority Mail shipping if you won't be picking up the piece at the show.

Order a 9x12 Commission NOW!

$80 for an inked single character piece on 11 x 17. Again, for additional figures, email me for a quote. And again, $5 for Priority Mail shipping if you won't be picking up the piece at the show.

Order a 11x17 Commission NOW!

(ink wash added at artist's discretion...let me know up front if it's something you really, really, really have your heart set on.)

I can bring the piece with me to Wizard World Chicago, if you plan on attending, or mail it to you.

Examples of my commissioned work can be found here.

Thanks!