Yoda: Sketch to Ink + Summer Cons 2012

First up, I have a couple con appearances planned for the summer, including Wizard Chicago and Dragoncon.  I'll have an artist table at both with prints, artbooks, art, etc.  I'll try to give more info on my table #s closer to the events.  More show info at these links:

Wizard Chicago Comic Con 2012: Aug 9-12
Dragoncon Atlanta 2012: Aug 31- Sept 3

The Swamp Dweller
Here's a recent commission I did based on a familiar jedi master:)  I wanted to do my own spin on the character, but stay true to his nature. Creating an interesting swamp environment was my focus with this one, hence the title "The Swamp Dweller".  I wanted to add a few of my own slimy, alien critter designs to the swamp too.

Below I'm posting several steps from the rough sketch to finished ink drawing with a number of details too.  I hope you enjoy!

Rough Sketch

Swamp Dweller: Pencil Version

Lizard Pencil Detail

WIP Pencil photo

Ink Detail

Swamp Dweller: Ink Version

Skull Ink Detail

Skin Shifter: creature design art

Here's a new creature sketch and design for my own project. This is a version of the creature from my drawing "Scale the Tower". I'll probably include this one in my next convention sketchbook/artbook.

Skin Shifter:

Scale the Tower:

Skin Trade: cover art for George R.R. Martin

Last week my cover for George R.R. Martin's book "The Skin Trade" came out in France. It's a werewolf themed, horror story. I was pretty excited about this, as it was my first horror genre book cover.
I've always felt most comfortable in the realm of dark fantasy.

The book is now available in France and can also be ordered from the publisher (Actusf) here: Skin Trade Book


I thought I'd dig into my files and share some of the process for this cover.

Rough Sketch:
Here's my initial rough sketch and idea... I ended up just going with the first sketch. The idea was to draw a very shadowy killer in front of a mirror that was framed with bones. The mirror was a bit shattered and had the image of a wolf. This wasn't to be any scene from the book, but more catch the mood and themes. I also drew this cover at a smaller size than some of my cover-type drawings. It was printed smaller, so I needed to limit myself.

Wolf Skull Study:
A rough sketch/study of a wolf skull that I pulled from my sketchbook. This was actually an element that I had not used on another project and thought it would fit in the composition for this one.

WIP Pencil photo:
As in many of my drawings, I didn't use photo ref on the main character. I still study anatomy and how the shadows fall on a character, though I'm not going for a perfect photo real look. I look for interesting shapes and designs in a composition and try to catch the character's emotion and a mood to a scene. Those things are most important to me.

Pencil Version:
Here's the pencil stage. I left some areas rough, to be detailed out in ink.

Ink Version:
At first the background was going to be more black and in complete shadow. I decided to add some more twisted shapes and mystery back there, to give it a more creepy look. I wanted to keep with simple shapes in back though, so the detailed characters would stand out better.

Color Version:
My idea with the color on this one, was to just add a some minimal spot color in a stylized way. I think this sort of coloring works well, when the figures already stand strong in B&W ink. It also added to the horror feel on this book.

Dark Knight: WIP + Details

Here's some various WIP photos and ink details from my recent Dark Knight art. These were taken at various stages of penciling and inking.

The final full original ink version of this piece is posted here:
Dark Knight: Original Ink

Joker Penguin: WIP

Penguin: Pencil to Ink

DK: Ink detail

Two Face: Ink detail

Poison Ivy: Pencil

Gargoyle: WIP Ink

Ivy Skull: Ink detail

Poison Ivy: Ink

Beneath the Gargoyle: Pencil detail

Dark Knight: Pencil to Ink

Dark Knight : Black Hearts : New Year

Happy New Year 2012 everyone!

Batman's heart has gone black. Here's my twist on some of the villains from the darkest shadows of Gotham;) As usual, this is all traditional ink line art (with a little color added on the sides)
I hope everyone has a good start to 2012!

Dark Knight : Black Hearts (LARGER version- click here)

Upcoming Art

Upcoming previews;)

Dark Knight, Dark Sun +++ (New Books, Prints, Art)

First up here's a small detail teaser for my new Dark Knight art. Check back for more on this soon!

Dark Knight: WIP pencil detail

I was in the bookstore a couple days ago and surprised to see there was a hard cover graphic novel printed of the "D&D: Dark Sun" comic for which I did cover art.
My cover art on this book is printed bigger and looks much better than it did on the comic. It is printed in a similar style to the D&D RPG books. The figures on the art are printed with a glossey finish, so they really pop.
The book is called "Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun: Ianto's Tomb" & published by IDW. Here's a couple pics of my cover & another cover I did is also printed inside the book.

DARK SUN HARDCOVER book:


Recently I got my comp copies for my George R.R. Martin book cover.
This is my first published cover for a novel (not graphic novel)
The art is also printed in my new artbook "Exorcism"

"Dragon de glace" Published by Actusf (French publisher)


ARTBOOK:
I'm doing small sketches for anyone who picks up a copy of my "Exorcism" artbook/ sketchbook before Halloween 2011.
The original doodles are on the inside back cover and each will be slightly unique. Due to time and numbers, I'm limiting myself to a sharpie Skullface doodle and not taking requests for characters.

For more details on my artbook/ sketchbook check here:
Exorcism: Art of Andy Brase- limited artbook/ sketchbook
These are limited and only available through me.
For more info on getting a copy, contact me at:
andybrase.art@gmail.com

Skullface doodles: (for my Artbook)

Here's a couple more pieces that are printed in my "Exorcism" book.
These ones are also available as limited art prints.
Both character illustrations are for my own project/world "Chaos Destiny"

Gatekeeper of the Dark V2 (updated 2011 version):

The Tongue Collector (Haunted version):

And to wrap this post up here's a WIP sketch from my sketchbook.
Another sketch of my Cudoviste creature.

Tentacles + Teeth: WIP sketch

Vampire + Medusa concept art (DC)

A long while back, I worked on some character concept & toy designs for DC Direct. The project hasn't surfaced, though I was recently given permission to show my concept drawings for the project.
One of the designs I worked on for a Vampire concept was used in a new comic from DC called "FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E."

The idea basically was to redesign some classic monster characters with some guidelines and direction that I was given from the awesome art director. We both have a passion for monsters, so I had a lot of ideas to sort through and seam together into a fitting design for each character drawing.

VAMPIRE:

BLOOD TANK (vampire back):

MEDUSA:

*Artbook/ Sketchbook Available! - more info here: Exorcism artbook

Dragonizor + Undead Army + Fallcon 2011

This is a sketch I was commissioned to do at a convention. The commissioner asked me to draw whatever I was in the mood to do.
So here's "The Dragonizor", another creature design/concept from my "Chaos Destiny" universe:)

The Dragonizor:

Here's an updated version of an older ink drawing I did for an unpublished project. I wanted to add a simple spot color style to pop the bottom characters out a bit more, but not overpower the ink work.

Undead Army : Black Ice

My next convention appearance will be at Fallcon in MN (Oct 15). I should still have copies of my new artbook/sketchbook "Exorcism" for that con. Plus various new Art Prints, etc.
Fallcon 2011 (more info here)

For those interested in my limited artbook/sketchbook, more info here:
Exorcism: Art of Andy Brase

Exorcism Artbook- Interior Pages

Here's another interior page spread from my new limited artbook/sketchbook "Exorcism". Check the previous blog entry for more info or at this link:
Exorcism: Art of Andy Brase- limited artbook/ sketchbook

Send me a message if you are interested in more details about getting a copy:)

The Eyeball Collector page: (photo)

Exorcism : Art of Andy Brase (New Artbook)

UPDATE:  Exorcism is now SOLD OUT.  There is a new sketchbook now available at my mail order page here:
Andy Brase Art: New 2013 Sketchbook

Available Now! I have copies of my new convention artbook.
This is the first sketchbook I've published through a printer and it turned out looking great!
For more info on getting a copy, contact me at:
andybrase.art@gmail.com

Exorcism
-new limited edition artbook/ sketchbook
-30 pages of my art, printed in full color
-includes art in various stages from pencil to ink to color

published by Runic Piranha Studios

Exorcism Cover:

Interior Page Spread:

Wizard Chicago Con 2011 + New Art Teaser

I was invited to be a guest at Wizard Chicago Comic Con along with my wife Tamara (soon to be wife) who will also be showing her art. Tamara and I will be set up in artist alley for the whole show Aug 11-14. We will have new art prints and various other things that we are considering.

I'm planning a new convention art/sketchbook. Check back for more details as the show gets closer.
Here's a teaser for some newer art too.

Wizard Chicago Con 2011:
Main Webpage
Andy Guest Bio page
Tamara Guest Bio page

Teaser Pencil Detail:

Frost Dragon & The Girl + Rose + Spectrum 18

I recently had my art licensed for a George R.R. Martin book cover.
The cover is for the French publisher ActuSF and due out around May 23 (in France) under the title "Dragon de glace". The art is a couple drawings I had done & reworked together for this project. I tried a coloring style that was fairly minimal and light, especially over the character drawing.

ActuSF website: www.editions-actusf.com/

Frost Dragon & The Girl:

Here's a drawing my fiancée Tamara and I did for our wedding.
Tamara did the pencil design, then I inked it and added some color.

The Rose:

Spectrum 18!
The artist list was posted recently. I'll again have art in this annual artbook, which is due to be published and released in Fall 2011.
Here's a link to the full artist list: Spectrum 18 artist list

The Tongue Collector +++

Here's another character design drawing for my own project "Chaos Destiny". This creature was created to be the female counter-partner to another creature I created called "The Eyeball Collector"

Like the Eyeball Collector drawing, this just started as a doodle in my sketchbook. I got carried away with it, and tightened the details up like a finished piece. I created the background color and textures in photoshop with the idea of adding a creepy, alien atmosphere... an interesting setting I had in mind, but not overpowering the pencil drawing.

Here's a color version and some WIP photos I took of the sketch in various stages.

The Tongue Collector:
WIP photos:
Pencil Detail:

Here's another little drawing I did on V-day for my wicked kitty;)
Bee Heart: