Inking Samples for Today

These pages are from a book called The Solution - part of Malibu's Ultraverse. My inks over John Statema's pencils.

Looking for Book to Ink - Day 1

Today marks the official beginning of my campaign to find a comic book to ink. It doesn't have to be a regular gig, or even a full issue, but I've been practicing and getting my hand back, and I'm ready to get a fresh credit to my name as an inker. To be more specific, I'm looking for a paid gig that will definitely be published, and not spec work or unpaid samples. My page rate is very negotiable, as I'm looking to rebuild my name and reputation after a long break. My line work is clean and I'm fast, having done two pages a day when required. I've never missed a deadline, and was often the person editors would send work to when others fell behind. I can also do lettering and coloring if need be. I can do traditional hand drawing with ink on paper as well as digital inks from scans.

I've visited the Marvel, DC and Image submission guidelines, and the general consensus seems to be, "Don't call us, we'll call you. Put your work out there, network with people, and get yourself noticed." Well, here I am. If you're an editor, drop me a note. If you're an artist who is looking for an inker, or knows someone who is, drop me a note.

My first professional work was on a book called The Tick, over Ben Edlund's pencils. From there, I worked on many of the Malibu Ultraverse titles in the 90s, working over a slew of diverse and talented pencilers. After Malibu was absorbed by Marvel, I didn't have steady work, so I self-published a few books of my own called Shanghai, which I write, drew, colored, lettered, and acted as publisher, dealing with the printers and distributors. I returned to the mundane art fields, while still dabbling in comics here and there. The last book I worked on was the World of Warcraft comic for DC.

About a year ago, I started buying comics again, and discovered that there are still plenty of great stories being told in the world of sequential art, and some amazing new artists. I dusted off my crow quills and virtual inking tools, and got my hand back. I don't where this quest will take me, but I was happiest when I was inking comics, and I want to reconnect with that again, even if it's just for a little while.

Art for Today - Ultraforce

Two more pages I inked from Ultraforce #2. Pencil breakdowns by George perez, finished pencils by John Statema.

Mid-life Crisis

I've been thinking a lot about my artistic career lately, and what I'm going to focus on next.

The comic book thing has never really taken off for me.  I'm good at it, but after all these years, I'm not getting any offers to draw or ink anything, and my own projects haven't been able to get past the first few pages in the last decade.  I learned a lot from all my work in comics, but I've come to the realization that I'm never going to be more than a hobbyist in the field, and maybe I should devote my efforts to trying to become better at something I have a better chance at succeeding in.  I'm sure a lot of my art will continue to be influenced by comics, though.  It's a part of who I am.

I've gone back to school, and am working on a BA in web design and interactive media.  I've been building web pages for more than 13 years, and the progress this art form has made since I started has been staggering. There are a lot of new tricks that I need to learn, and I've been working on the list.

So, I'm primarily going to be focusing my attention on becoming a better web designer.  I'll be posting a lot more notes and blogs coming up as I re-design my own site and put the things I've learned into practice.

Art for Today - Inking the Tick!

A page I inked from The Tick - issue 11. Pencils by Ben Edlund.

Art for Today - Heart of the Wizard

 Another project I started - Heart of the Wizard. Story, art, coloring and lettering all by me. This was mainly a test of an art style I was going for.

Infinite Canvas

Working on some ideas for doing an online comic utilizing the Infinite Canvas idea.

A web page has an entry point, and from there, I can drop a variety of content forms on a two-dimensional plane that stretches infinitely down and to the right. Text, images, animation, sound, video, stacked layers - anything I want. The only considerations I need to make are the size of the Window the viewer sees the content through, and the length of over abundant load times. I’ll need a system to be able to jump to the next “page” in the series. But, the beauty is, the pages don’t have to be in order! There can be multiple threads and jump-points to other links.

When it’s no longer just static images, it probably ceases to be what we know as comics. It’s a hybrid medium of comic books, animation, and interaction. In short - a new art form that can no longer just be thought of as a web comic. The term “comics” doesn’t really apply anyways, as the medium is not mostly funny. It’s not comical in nature. I guess it would be considered more of an episode, or a webisode than a comic book.

The trick is maintain a flow and keep the navigation easy. I don’t want the reader to become lost or disoriented.

Publishing and updates are instant. Art is much quicker, because it’s done at web resolution, and not for print. Edits and corrections are possible and easy to do. Constant and regular updates provide daily reminders that the project is there on social media.

My obstacles are - I get bored, and I have no feedback, so I drift away. Working on a project for a long time with the intention of publishing it later, keeping it under wraps the whole time, is a killer for me. I need feedback. I need encouragement. Putting something out on the web allows me to add “like” buttons and “share” buttons. I need a forum and a Facebook page where people can comment and ask questions.

Just throwing some ideas out there.

Art for Today - Heart of the Wizard

Here's a few pages from another comic project I wrote, drew, colored and lettered. It was mainly for a test of a new style I was going for, and I was happy how it turned out.

Art for Today - Inking Venom!

Here are a few covers I inked for Rune back in the Marvel/Malibu crossover days. In one, he fought Venom, and another, Adam Warlock.

Art for Today - Shanghai

Here are a few more pages from my self-published book, Shanghai. This one was written, drawn, colored, lettered, and published all by myself.

Art for Today - Inking Mantra!

A page I inked from Mantra, one of the Malibu Ultraverse books. Pencils by Robb Phipps.

Art for Today - Inking Ultraforce!

Here's a few more pages from the Malibu Ultraverse book - Ultraforce which I inked.  Pencil art by John Royle. Black September Infinity issue.

Art for Today - Inking The Solution!

Here are a few more pages I inked back in the Malibu Ultraverse days, on a book called The Solution.  Pencils  by John Statema.

Art for Today - Shanghai

A few more pages from the comic I self-published back in the 90's - Shanghai. This was one I wrote, drew, inked, lettered, colored, and published all by myself.

Art for Today - Inking the Tick!

A few more pages I inked from The Tick - issue 11. Pencils by Ben Edlund.

Art for Today - more Shanghai!

Shanghai - this one is all me. A book I wrote, drew, inked, colored and lettered, as well as self-published back in 1997. I really wanted to do more in the field of comics other than just ink, and I couldn't find anyone who would give me a chance, so I just did it myself. Still one of the projects I'm most personally proud of.

Art for Today - Shanghai!

Shanghai - this one is all me. A book I wrote, drew, inked, colored and lettered, as well as self-published back in 1997. I really wanted to do more in the field of comics other than just ink, and I couldn't find anyone who would give me a chance, so I just did it myself. Still one of the projects I'm most personally proud of.

Art for Today - Inking the Solution

Today's pages are some I inked from a book called The Solution, part of Malibu Comics' Ultraverse. The pencils were by John Statema.

Art for Today - Inking Mantra!

Here are a few pages I inked from Mantra, one of the core books in the Malibu Ultraverse. Pencils by Robb Phipps.

Art for Today - Inking Prototype!

Here are a few pages I inked from Prototype #5, for the Malibu Ultraverse. Pencils by Roger Robinson. This book featured another Ultraverse group, the Strangers.