Bernie Wrightson in close-up

Time to GO LARGE on Bernie Wrightson, one of the most influential and inspiring artists to many comic, graphic novel and illustration types for many years.

This is one genius artist that just makes you think 'How the hell did he do that'. What we have is a mixture of images that have depth, sensitivity and mood; echoing equally the etchings of Gustave Dore, Piranesi, and the modern comic work of Kevin O'Neil and John Hicklenton.

Dore

Piranesi

   

O'Neill

Hicklenton

  It really amazing what you can achieve armed with a pen! The subject matter, though often grotesque, is also highly emotive and exposes the humanity of the most inhuman characters.

This mans work will continue to have a profound effect on its audience for a very very long time.

Bernie Wrightson 1948 - 2017

What follows is a close-up look at some classic artwork by Bernie Wrightson.

  

Rest in Peace Bernie!

Drawing at Conwy Castle, April 2013

I was lucky enough to get a couple of hours in Conwy in North Wales, at the weekend. This is a fairly unique town; still nestled within the outer walls of the castle. The town has never really strayed beyond this boundary which gives it a fantastic atmosphere.

The first drawing is from outside the walls, looking up at the highest tower. The second is the view from within the tower, with the castle itself just visible in the distance to the left.

Better still.
 The black is blacker..some textures...and I stole someones face.

The Flaming Nun,... in ink..and in colour...partly.

Much better.

I hope to do some retro letratone style shading on this...soon...

Nun done,...hey that rhymes.

Design for charactr #4; Nuns with Guns (actually it's a flame thrower).

'This is Sister Emmanuel of the Sacred Fire; cleansing the world of its ills with Holy Fire.

Sister Emmanuel was always caught playing with matches during her formative years, so the Convent sisters thought it best to find a way of using this fascination to their advantage.'

I  tried her with trousers for a while, but that wasn't quite right.

Still trying to get my entry for charactr #4; Nuns with Guns, ready. Pencil design is going well but the legs are a bit off at the moment.

 I have less than 24 hours to get it finished and a very busy day tomorrow. Its going to be close...again.

The final nuns are starting to come in to the forum; http://www.charactr.co.uk/final-voting-thread-for-charactr-3-t105.html. Some good ones already.

I set the new task on Friday. This one is 'Tattooed Spider Woman'. That means I could get anything from a shadowy, smouldering femme fatale from the days of film noir, to a mutated spider-human cross-breed. Should be some interesting submissions.

I made the sheet below to give some inspiration, and to show that there are many ways that this one could go.

INK 2012 artwork

INK 2012 – Mini Print Exhibition 

Just about to start work on my entries for “INK 2012” – an exhibition of mini prints by the Staff and Students of Staffordshire University’s Arts Media and Design Faculty running from 15 June – 22 June.

I am going to re-work some images of tin toy robots, like the one below (done a few years ago) 

This time I want to prepare the images for the laser cutter so that I can cut some printing blocks. Then, rather than use ink, I am going to use the blocks to emboss the image onto textured paper. 

Nuns with Guns

These are my silhouettes for charactr #3: Nuns with Guns. This task started over the Easter break but the input has been slow so far. Everyone is very busy right now.

 #1 is a really old Nun carrying a stack of decomissioned weapons that were found hidden in a ditch.

 #2 is armed with a flame thrower...and why not.

#3 is a foul cliche that will probably get more votes so I will have to us it as the final design.