I’d Rather Be Drawing

Hey dudes and dudettes!
It’s been like… forever.
You all look great and… is that a new kid? Congrats!!
Good to see you all again.

Today I’m gonna post all about the 100 Artists Project:

The idea behind the 100 Artists Project came from the 1000 Journals Project. The idea of getting a large number of people involved was appealing and so it was brought up on the comic art creation message board Penciljack as a way to possibly collect art and donate the funds from the sale of the art to charitable organizations.

The charities we’ve chosen this time around are the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and The Hero Initiative. Both these foundations help comic book and cartoon artists and they are both non-profit. Once all the art is collected and either auctioned or sold at a print-on-demand store, all the proceeds will go to these groups.

The project consists of a couple phases:

The Big Mailer - This is the original idea and also the most ambitious. We take one sketchbook and mail it to 100 different artists. Each one adds to it in their own way and then mails it along until all 100 pages of the book are filled. The book is returned and each page is scanned. The sketchbook is auctioned off and the buyer pays directly to the foundations through MissionFish. Next, the scanned art will be sent to an online book binding and POD store front (more than likely Lulu) where it will be assembled, bounnd and sold at their store front. Again, the sales will be sent via Paypal directly to the funds.

The Single Mailer - This part is simpler and was called for when we realized the Big Mailer could take years to finish and has a higher possibility of not being completed. In this phase, the 100 artists send in a single page of art. The art is sent to a binder to create a single book. After that the process is the same and the book is auctioned and then after the auction it is sold online.

The idea is the art is worth more because it’s traveled so far and the books are wroth more because they are not just assemblings of different pieces of work, but work that’s traveled a distance and done knowing that a good cause awaits them.

We decided two projects were needed because, while we’re all honest people, there is the likelihood that a single sketchbook will either not survive 100 mailings or be lost or stolen. We’re padding the project with the less problematic Single Mailer so we can actually get something done.

Eventually, we’ll have smaller books that folks can sign up to work on. On the Sign Ups page there will soon be an option to sign up for the Single Mailer, the Small Mailer or the Big Mailer. As long as we can keep the project rolling, we can keep funds going to these great organizations.

–From The 100 Artists Project website

If you’re reading this and you have even a smidgen of art talent– please, please sign up. The follow-through rate on this project is likely to be pathetic so we need well over 100 people to sign up, and AT LEAST 100 to submit real, physical artwork. DON’T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!!

Now that I’ve gotten your word you’ll join, I’ll show you my artwork for Phase 1:

If you can’t dig this, you can’t dig nothin’.

Toodles, all! Say hi to the folks back home for me.

–Steve-O

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Yo yo!!
Here is the completed Spider-Man, in all his glory.
Enjoy!!

Look for a wallpaper of this image coming soon from my site.

Later,

Steve-O

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aka Spider-Man?
Why, so it is!

I plan to develop this into a wallpaper for my site, but I thought I’d post it to get some feedback before I put too much more into it.

DO let me know what you think of it, old boy!

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It’s been a little while since my last post, hasn’t it?
That’s ‘cuz I’ve been BI-ZAYYYY. Like, really busy. I’ve been doing flats for Marvel Comics, colors for various clients, T-shirt art for Marine units in Iraq, and a few gifts for friends. All that on top of my regular job as a mop jockey. Phew!

Today’s post is, in fact, one of those gifts for friends.
It was inspired by a song called Surfer Girl, by Paul Wright. It began as a sketch one day, and then my friend saw it and demanded I finish it. I decided to give it to her as a birthday present. WHAT A RIVETING TALE EH?
So yeah, here it be:

As usual, click for a big ol’ picture.
Later peeps.

–Steve-O

PS
also it is snowing like nobody’s business here. Seriously, it’s like the Himalayas today. We’ve already gotten 6 inches and it’s only lunchtime. Also it is not stopping. Also… yAy!!

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It’s funny. I usually do all my best drawings while I’m in church. It’s not like I’m not listening to the sermon, because I am. Maybe it’s because the regulated right part of my mind is preoccupied listening to the pastor while my hands and the creative parts of my brain are free to draw.

But I noticed recently that without exception, my favorite pieces of art are the ones that began as a doodle in my sketchbook during church. Many, I’ve completely penciled between the worship service & the closing prayer. You’d think that… well, never mind.

So this week’s picture is another church pic. Ironically, it’s a pic of Hellboy. Hellboy’s kinda like Batman for me, in that I’ve always had a hard time finding my particular interpretation of the character. With Batman, I think my problem is the love I have for the character restrains my creative impulse.

Hellboy—I think the deal with him is what plagues most other artists who try their hand at Big Red—Mike Mignola’s dark, moody style is as much a part of Hellboy as his horn stubs or his tail. While the Dark Knight’s place in my pencil eludes me still, I think this picture of Hellboy is what works for me.

(And as a bonus, this is the first picture of Nightwing I’ve been truly happy with too!)

And here’s todays Link Of The Week:
The Voynich Manuscript
Till next week!
–Steve-O

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Hey people.

Another pretty okay day here in Paradise!!
What’s that? Have I been drawing, you ask? Why, since you mention it, I suppose I DO have a new picture to post! What a providential coincidence!

Animal Man.

Yeah, I hdn’t heard of him either.

I was made aware of his obscure existence only because the amazing Brian Bolland did a series of covers for his series.
I’m not even sure what his powers are, to be honest.
I really just wanted to draw that tiger.

yeah.

Kay later!!

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My, what a wicked sweet arsenal you have, my dear!

My take on red Riding Hood:

It’s nice to get away from the comics stuff occasionally and just play around with colors. I like the way this turned out.

A couple WIP shots:

Hope this brightens your Monday!!

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Lissen up y’alls!!
I, the Steve-O, am here to tell you all some good news. No, not my impending nuptials with Scarlett Johansson. No, not my lucrative bungee-jumping contract.
My new website, www.downerillustration.com is up and running! Downerillustration.com features my regularly updated portfolio, tutorials, Photoshop brush sets, exclusive wallpapers AND this here blog.

Oh yeah, and if you visit it? And bring a friend? Yeah, you’ll eventually get superpowers. Not sayin’ when.

GOD WANTS YOU TO GO THERE AND GIVE ME MONEY

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In brightest day, in darkest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, fear my power, Green Lantern’s light!

Some of the cheesiest lines in comicbookdom. But still awesome, in that strange, geeky sort of way. I’ve never been a huge fan of Green Lantern, but I thought it would be fun to take another crack at him. The last time I drew him he looked like this:

I was maybe 14.

I think this newer one turned out somewhat better?

One of the few pics I’ve used photo ref for. I chose this shot because it’s a really awkward pose, and I wanted to push myself a bit.

Till next time!

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