WEEKLY TAB: STAR TREK

Managed to get this done too late to get on the TAB blog, but is on the facebook page instead.

Decided to finish off a rough cover layout I did about two years ago, for some STAR TREK samples I was planning to send to IDW. The version posted below isn't actually the finished version, it needs to be reworked, painting it properly rather than the hamfisted photoshop job, but that's for another weekend when I have the time free. Instead have posted the process scans and submitted TAB version.

The idea behind the cover image is pretty obvious I hope- for all the jokes made about redshirts and "He's dead, Jim" from Bones, and for all of Kirk's bravado, I'd imagine all those deaths during the Enterprise's 5 year year mission would haunt him at night. Especially of those he were close to, like Edith Keeler or Gary Mitchell. I imagine it's already been done at some point during the 50 odd years worth of Trek books and comics, but I'd like to see a story of Kirk reflecting on those lost under his command.

The image was comprised of reference taken from an excellent fanmade TOS map for the Elite Force game and specially shot photos of my Kirk model, Captain Karl.

THE LONG WALK

Last sunday saw the final day of principal photography on JUDGE MINTY, the Dredd fanfilm I've been doing storyboards and concept art on. Once again the intrepid cast and crew braved harsh weather, this time relentless sunshine in a quarry in Dorset, to capture magic on film, and most of us got radburnt in the process. But we gladly bear the pain because we know that the finished film will be... well, zarjaz.

Over the next few weeks will be digging out the many pieces of unfinished and/or abandoned concept pieces that I've done since joining the Minty crew in 2008 and posting them up here.

To keep uptodate with the post production process, keep an eye on the blog.

WEEKLY TAB: I, ROBOT

This weeks theme was I, ROBOT, so seized the chance to do a Cylon. Though I do like the nuBSG version, and the clunky man in suit version of the 70's show, decided to go for the retro-Cylon as seen in season four of BSG.

THE FINAL PROBLEM... DAY 3

Page 6 (of 8) pencils progress... I am doing the pages out of sequence as doing the detail heavy ones helps loosen the muscles for doing the (more challenging) faces and figure work, though I have realised just how much detail I leave to inking. Trying to tighten up my pencils instead.

SKETCHBOOK: 2012 MOVIE DREDD

Fancied drawing the recently revealed Judge uniform as seen in Empire Magazine. I can draw classic Dredd with my eyes closed- I have a ritual that I've had since I was about 12 where I'd draw a Dredd sketch in every new sketchbook I buy. Obsessive? Just a bit. But as I found, this more near-future urban riot gear version of Judges, almost a proto-uniform of what we know, is a lot harder to draw. Many different elements.

WEEKLY TAB: BAD GUYS AND GALS

Had trouble picking a subject for this weeks theme, and asked my fellow TABBERS for some suggestions. In the end went with a quick Catwoman (roughly an hour or so). I'm a huge fan of Adam Hughes and though you'd never guess it from the below, his art is a continual inspiration. His Catwoman is iconic. I had the great fortune of meeting him at Celebration Europe a few years ago but was possessed by the spirit of some embarrassing fanboy at the time. Anyway.

THE FINAL PROBLEM... DAY 2

Been busy with other stuff but back now to sit down and work away at the more detail heavy panels, like the below. As Holmes is chased through the back alleyways of London he emerges into this area. The place will be far more cluttered with people and rubbish. You may win a prize (probably not though) if you can recognise what part of London this half finished panel references...

The Final Problem: Day 1

I'm doing some Sherlock Holmes sample pages by very loosely adapting the beginning of The Final Problem. It's a good sequence to show storytelling without any use of dialogue or captions and gives me a chance to reference Gustave Dore, which you don't get a chance to do that often.

So... here's a close up of a panel. The other panels aren't very impressive right now which is why I'm not showing them yet, but over the next week or so I'll post progress photos up here.

Also, my latest contribution(s) to the Weekly TAB is up, theme is STAR WARS.