Robert Atkins's Blog, page 43

Stingray....

I had an interesting request from the Marvel Collectibles magazine published out of the UK by the Eaglemoss compnay. They had seen a commission I had drawn in the past of Stingray (a reserve member of the Avengers)

What I had drawn was just a convention sketch, but they liked it enough that they wanted me to recreate it with a more complete background for a cover to their magazine. Over the next few posts I'll show the process.

Stingray Pencils - 437
For Comments and Question post in the comment section below or email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com
Check out Avengers trades or other discounted comics at INSTOCK TRADES 

Winter Soldier

Just a quick post, I have a few things I can show off, either from conventions or recent commissions. Work hasn't slowed down to regular just yet, but enough that I can fit in a few blog posts finally.
Here is a Winter Soldier sketch on a blank that I did at the NY comic con this last Oct.
 Winter Soldier - 436

For those who might not know, the Winter Soldier is Bucky Barnes. Captain America's sidekick from WWII. He was thought KIA, and was one of the longest running characters to be killed in a comic but not to have come back to life. Sure enough a few years back he reemerged as the Winter Soldier, brainwashed and trained by the Soviet Union to be an assassin for decades, he was finally recovered and once again would fight alongside Captain America. To make a long story longer, when Captain America died a few years ago after the Civil War storyline, Bucky took up the mantle of Captain America for a couple of years. Now in a recent story arc called Fear Itself, Steve Rogers is alive again as Captain America, but Bucky was killed....again.
I'll keep you all updated when he comes back to life.
For Comments and Questions email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com

For Awesome discounts on Winter Soldier books or any comics you'd like check outINSTOCK TRADES!All trades 30-40% off, Great Christmas Present ideas for all ages!


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Venom

Here's another blank sketch cover, but this was interesting because it was on a hard cover book. I drew on the dust jacket for the book. I really enjoyed getting to draw this character. For those long time fans of Venom, I know some don't like this current version. But for me, especially after reading through the story, I think it's much more intriguing and the character has a lot more depth currently.

Fun sketch to do, another from NYCC.
Venom - 435

I really like these sketch covers now, I think mostly because it comes with the character's title already in place
This is from the current run on Venom, you can get the first few collections of this story, and the issue I worked on here onINSTOCK TRADES For 45% off!


For Comments and Questions email me atROBERT@ROBERTATKINSART.COM


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Hero Jam continued...

Here is my finished Captain America for the Hero Jam. You can see it by itself, then in the context of the finished piece.

Final Hero Jam - 433

Here is how my Cap looks in the context of the rest of the heroes...
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Finally, here is the near complete commission. With just Batman missing...

Lee Weeks:  ThorJorge Molina:  SupermanMichael Golden:  HulkHumberto Ramos:  Wonder WomanMike McKone:  Green LanternAlan Davis:  Iron ManRobert Atkins: Captain America

For Comments and Questions email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com



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Hero Jam Commission....

This commission was one I was supposed to do for the Cincinnati Comic Expo. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend the show. So for anyone that I needed to have a sketch done at that show, I've been trying to fit those into my schedule. 
In this case I was commissioned to a layout for 8 characters: Captain America, Wonder Woman, Batman, Hulk, Thor, Superman, Green Lantern and Iron Man. I was really excited to do it, but had to think through how such an all star cast would work out. I did this initial prelim and was given the choice who I wanted to draw. Captain America is my favorite character, so if it's up to me, he's up front and I'm drawing him. 

Hero Jam - 432

After the prelim was approved I moved on to an underdrawing layout for my pencils. This was full size. For all the characters I wasn't drawing, this is as far as I would detail them. Other artists were going to be asked to contribute and they could make whatever adjustments and details they needed. I didnt want to put too much in there an affect how they would approach it.

I'll post my inks of Captain America soon, and then after that the full commission with contributions from these awesome artists: Lee Weeks:  ThorJorge Molina:  SupermanMichael Golden:  HulkHumberto Ramos:  Wonder WomanMike McKone:  Green LanternAlan Davis:  Iron Man
For Comments and Questions email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com






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Ole' Spaghetti claws...

Another sketch cover, but this was just for a head and shoulders sketch. Good ole' Wolverine. Always fun to draw, and I really dig his newest costume (though it's been around for 5 years or so) It's a great variation of the traditional blue and yellow. His claws are a little wavy here because my wand scanner I take with me at shows got a little wiggly when it was running down the book cover. 
Sometimes people will put the book in a bag and board (typical comic protective sleeves) but cut out a window on the front of the sleeve that I can draw on, while protecting the rest of the book. I just kept the book in the sleeve to scan it since they took the time to cut and tape the edges. But while the scanner was running down the taped window it got all screwy. No big deal, but it explains the "spaghetti claws"


Spaghetti Clawed Wolverine - 431

These take about 45 min or so to pencil and ink. They are roughly a 5x7 drawing.
Also, just FYI, I posted my conventions for next year on the left of the blog. Those are links to the convention sites if you need dates or information. I could be adding a few to that list if I can fit it in. 
For Questions and Comments email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com




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Iron Man colors....

I completely forgot to scan this as colors while at the show. I really wish I had, but the guy who requested the sketch took a photo at least. After it's sealed, I'm sure I'll get a better scan, and I'll post that. He is getting the comic graded. That means it will be incased in plastic  or a "comic slab" to keep it's condition preserved and then authenticated. It's a great new collector's market that has grown in comics in recent years.

The only draw back is if you open the case, then you would need to pay to have it graded and resealed.  So some argue that it takes away from the enjoyment of the comic. I think that this new sketch cover idea is a fantastic alternative. You can always buy the regular copy off the shelf and read it whenever. Then get a blank version, if it's offered, and have your favorite artists create a completely original cover to your comic. It becomes a one of a kind, and can often become incredibly valuable. It's value will depend on how good the condition of the book is, (on a scale of 1-10), the artist who does the sketch, the quality of the sketch, and finally the rarity of the book.

In the case of the guy who got this Iron Man from me, this has become his new collector's hobby and he has at least dozens of graded sketch covers. At first I abhorred doing these, but that was early on when the cover stock to draw on was glossy and terrible. But publishers (specifically Marvel and recently DC) have picked a great card stock cover to draw on, and apparently to color marker on as well!

For this sketch I was specifically asked to recreate the look of the animated Iron Man dvd cover, which has a head shot of Iron Man on it. So I did my best.

Iron Man Colors - 430

My first colored sketch cover.
For Comments and Questions email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com
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Iron Man...

This was going to be my first colored commission on a sketch cover for the blank comics. I wasn't sure how well it would take the markers, but I had seen some pretty amazing color pieces on books before. There are much better colorists out there than me, and they seemed to not have a problem with it.

So I started with the line art. I had a french curve (basically a ruler for curved edges) that I used for the longer lines. Keeping Iron Man's noggin' symmetrical was the hardest part. It's not exact, but I'm not a computer either. Most of it was free hand since the lines weren't that long.

An interesting fact about comic art, if the line is within the range of motion in your wrist, then I'll rarely use a ruler or stencil to get a straight or exactly curved line. It increases speed to not have to grab a ruler everytime, and also gives a bit of "character" to your lines. However, when it comes to cars, weapons or other manufactured items that need to look exact, it's best to break out the ruler. If not, your M4 automatic rifle will look like a play-do version of the gun. But most buildings, especially in the far background don't need an exactly straight line.

A lot of inkers I know will use the penciler's ruled out straight lines as a guide, and just freehand them in the inking stage. Again, it gives more character to the line, and every little bit helps keep your drawing from looking too stiff.

Now, after saying all that...this looks pretty stiff. Mostly this is because I haven't done any rendering to indicate light and shadow. I know I'll be doing that in the color stage.

Iron Man Head - 429

I'll post a photo of the colors shortly....
For the current Invincible Iron Man stories, check out this link at my blog sponsorINSTOCK TRADES!For books 30% off and more with free shipping over $50!



For Comments and Questions email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com
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Venom...

This Venom sketch was for a guy named Erik at the NYCC. It was part of a larger jam piece, that was 17x22. I did the layout for a Spiderman in the center all beat up, and the commission was going to be of all the various versions of Venom about to finish Spidey off. I did my layout, then Erik quickly ran back by my table and asked for the commission back. Mark Bagley had an open slot in his schedule, so the piece was whisked away. It came back with an awesome Venom just above the one I had started.

Apparently, the line up for this commission was going to be Mark Bagley, Steve McNivven, Jim Cheung, then me. I found this out after I did mine. But hey, you do what you can.

So here's the version of Marc Gargan's Venom.

Venom - 428
I usually try to push my figures to make them more dynamic. However, when you're constrained by a jam piece that's not fully laid out, it can actually ruin the over all piece if you make your figure too large or over emphasize it. ....well that's going to be my excuse when these other artists blow me out of the water with their Venom's. oy.
If you want to get a copy of the Venom issue I work on recently (#20), you can pick up the collected trade here at INSTOCK TRADES!


For Comments and Questions email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com
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Deathstroke NYCC....

Another convention sketch from NYCC. I didn't think I was going to be able to get to this one at the show. The guy who commissioned it asked me Fri. night to do it, then that evening I wasn't able to fit it in. Even after drawing til 4 am. I just couldnt do it. I had others who had pre ordered sketches that still needed done and I was trying to make sure those were taken care of. He was leaving Saturday at the end of the show, so in the last couple of hours I did my best to finish this up before he had to leave.
I think I've said it before, Deathstroke is my favorite bad guy in DC comics. So any chance I have to draw him, I'm going to jump at it.



Deathstroke - 427
I also just realized that INSTOCK TRADES still has my 2009 sketchbook INSTOCK! 

I'm completely sold out of that limited run of books. But they have a few left. Just follow this link to get the book I put out right as I was starting GI JOE.
Signed GI JOE: CONCEPTS SKETCHBOOK





For Questions and Comments email me atRobert@RobertAtkinsArt.com
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