SPARKY - Grace`s nemesis (C)DarkBrain Comics LLC

ONE KINKY PHOTO of a stunning photo-model with two arms only was enough to inspire me to draw the alien enemy  of the main protagonist of DarkBrain Comics` GRACE COMES HOME. The pose oozed power and might -- and yet vulnerability to a certain extent.

I am continuing the comics series after three artists with totally different graphic approaches so in a way I'm 'released from the obligation to follow any established art style' or drawing manner. Dreadlocked Sparky is actually a very young and tender [late teens] girl going brash beneath her mask and undefined body armour - save the metallic dreadlocks and studded shoulderpads. Since I got the editorial blessing to redesign and redefine her costume, she is going to look a wee differently and yet the same when she's unleashed upon the breathlessly awaiting world in Grace Comes Home #5.

This is a promo-drawing done on A4 sheet of printer paper with 3H leadholder containing 2mm lead. No inks applied - pencils were enhanced in PhotoShop for the incomparable Christa Rozenkranz to unleash her digital colouring magic.

Wintress Odom writes the series, Andrew Zar publishes, edits & plots the storyline - plus has a cameo in the comic.

Beverly the Sexy Librarian of DARKBRAIN COMICS

THIS IS NOT the character I am supposed to draw in a comics series for DB but my 'private take', so to speak, on an another lady gracing the blossom of beauty offered by the intrepid publisher. The drawing that's inspired me can be seen HERE: 

http://darkbraincomics.deviantart.com/

The whole purpose of this excercise is the actual rehearsal for taking over from issue #5 the mini-series GRACE COMES HOME which I intend to pencil only but with the 'inky' result shown in the work-in-progress strip. Dissatisfied with my achievements in turning penciled drawings into the visuals THAT APPEAR INKED, I've counted my blessings for having friends and colleagues in the know willing to share their know-how and help me improve my abilities with PhotoShop.

So, initial rough's scribbled rather quickly with a wood-clinched stub of a light-blue Col-Erase pencil on an A4-sized sheet of printer paper. That same rough that has perspective grid for composition's placement is slightly tightened with more defining lines of 2mm blue lead in Mars Staedtler clutch pencil which tends to be a wee darker. Without erasing anything the illustration is rendered with 2mm graphite F lead in Koh-i-Noor Technigraph leadholder and that was it.

After saving each stage of the drawing's progress, I finally applied this 'new' [ for me at least ] knowledge to expressly and smoothly turn the penciled sketch into a cleaned-up sharp & crisp dark beauty of an image, with the addition of some filter effects to give it a retro-look with those halftone patterns.

I'd love my comics to have this look.
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(C)DARKBRAIN COMICS LLC

New Artwork Done for DarkBrain`s GRACE COMES HOME

Just a wee teaser with this INCOMPLETE illustration done for the incomparable, first anniversary celebrating  comics publisher that can be found on www.darkbrain.com

Because of misunderstanding the drawing evolved diferently from the vision of my publisher and editor, Mr. Andrew Zar, so it had to be amended. The solution..? Visual was ... not exactly re-drawn but rather 'divided' in two layers - so using the PhotoShop magic I've kept dominant part of the initial drawing minus the problematic background as the FIRST layer depicting [here not shown] foreground with the main character...

... or, is it her..? Hmmmm...

THIS is the second layer with REJECTED version of the Background [to impress the Publisher I went a wee crazy offering 4 diferent versions of the pencils-only sketch contrasted into the blacklined faux-inks look. The ACCEPTED version is safe and sound, uploaded  and 'in the can' along with the foreground fershlugginer, to be spliced together in the sanctum of the intrepid DarkBrain Comics HQ by The Colourist Supreme, Christa Rosenkranz.

So, my standard procedure: colour pencil [red in this case] used for roughing-in the secondary characters in the mid-ground [in the frankenstein-ized illustration to emerge soon] and background of the ominously looking lab. Over the red sketch on A4-sized printer paper went second quick pass with graphite HB wood-clinched pencil, then meticulous roll of the kneaded eraser over the whole thing to make all the linework faint, barely seen for the third pass with 2mm lead in Mars Staedtler leadholder, F grade. Then, scanning the pic and tweaking it a little in P-Shop till it went all dark, greyish parts were touched-up with the Burn Tool and then some filters for the elements behind the characters - four times. This shown version is my favourite one -- but I've anticipated which one would be chosen by Mr. Zar and it was so.

Anyway, GRACE COMES HOME and onto the computer screen close to you VERY soon.

In the meantime read all the incredible stuff on the aforementioned site, which, along with GRACE, is (C)DARKBRAIN COMICS LLC.

Salut.