Creating a Graphic Novel : Art – Food – Photography

What’s happening next year?

Well . . . more of the same! There’s going to be more interviews and more showcase art pieces. More comic reviews as well. Also I will finally release some information of the graphic novel I’ve been working on. (Shhh . . it’s a secret project right now!) Anyway always on the lookout for more artists and artwork. Drop me a line if you want to be featured!

Peter’s first forage into photography. I always found it interesting that both Marvel and DC’s (Superman) flagship characters both are journalist. Suppose it makes it easy to explain why they are at the scene of most disastsers.

It’s one year since the first post up went up where I discussed “the dream” and what I hoping this blog would be. A special birthday image from previous featured artist Eduardo Vieira.

A birthday cupcake image from upcoming featured Violet. (Don’t worry Violet . . your post is still on my schedule!)

Brazilian Dean Juliette did an amazing Birthday Zatanna piece yesterday! His first published was Grimm Fairy Tales # 27 from Zenescope in the last year.

A quick reminder of the Birthday Zatanna :

Dean provided a step by step breakdown of his showcase from beginning to end.

Initial sketch 2.5 x 3.7″ – Establish layout and composition

Second Sketch 3.5 x 5.15 ” – Define the draw, observing proportions, anatomy and all important elements.

Scan the sketch, resize to the final dimensions, print it in one of four color of CYMK, in this case cyan to define the sketch for last time.

Using light table to transfer the image.

Final details

Final Image!

Thanks for a fantastic step by step process.
Tell me a little about you.

I like comics (of course), movies, music, sports like gymnastics and martial arts (especially Kung fu), 3d model, animation and usually these are my fun and work sources.

So are you satisfied with where you are now in an artistic sense?

After two years of experiences and attempts, I almost satisfied with it. But you know . . . we have to keep up the effort to become better. It’s a continuous search and discovery process which can be time exhaustive but necessary.

Between 98 and 2000, I studied drawing for comics at Impacto Studios from São Paulo. My four teachers were international comic artists, probably the most known of the teachers was Brazilian, Luke Ross. After this, I was almost six years away of drawing comics, working in a marble factory. In 2007 I returned to drawing comics.

What happened after your return?

In 2008 I got my first published work Grimm Fairy Tales # 27. I was not satisfied with my art yet and took a break to do more “studies”. Now, “almost” satisfied with my art, I’m penciling some commissions and next month I’ll restart making sequential pages and hope to get back to publishing again.

Any artistc influences?

I like Mike Mignola for his composition, Ed Benes and his pencils lines, Bryan Hitch (realism) and a lot of other artists like Alex Mallev, Greg Land, Capullo but at the moment since I’m drawing I rarely look into other comics.

Thanks again for the birthday sketch!
I really appreciate it.

To contact Dean for work or commission :
http:// www.deanjuliette.com

This site is having a birthday on 29-July-09!
As a special check out this amazing Zatanna piece by Dean Juliette.

Check back tomorrow for the sketches and the interview!

I really like this one! Then again . . anything with Mary Jane, I’m biased towards. Poor Peter just can’t catch a break.

Showcasing more of yesterday’s featured artist, Gerard’s artwork. An incredible Supergirl piece that’s been inkwashed! Also a very detailed New York Sykline with the Empire State Building right in the middle.

Supergirl :

Skyline :

Brooklyn born and bred Gerard Delatour II (a.k.a spidertour) recently graduated master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Still a video game fanatic and also does the most amazing artwork. The showcase piece is the memorable kiss from Spider-man I.

Pencils :

Preliminary :

Final :

I have to ask . .
How did you get the nickname “spidertour”?

Back in high school, some friends of mine took to calling me “spidertour” to mock my fanatical love of Spider-Man (and making a play on my last name), and the nickname stuck as I started to participate online more.

Are you a big comic fan?

I’m a big comic book fan — specifically, of Marvel Comics, and even more specifically, of Spider-Man. I became a fan in the early 90’s, when I was a kid, thanks primarily to the great cartoons of that era (X-Men, Spider-Man, and Batman: The Animated Series). I still have a love of hand-animated films, like the Disney masterworks.

About your artwork . .
Tell me about you style.

My artwork is definitely of the cartoonish variety. Like I said earlier, I’m a big fan of hand-drawn animation, and I think that shows a bit. When I started drawing more seriously in high school, I tried to emulate my favorite artist, John Romita Jr., but my work really changed when I first got exposed to Mike Wieringo’s work on Fantastic Four. He was great at balancing traditional comics sensibilities and a cartoonish, animated look, and I’ve adapted my work to that ideal ever since. I’ve also been influenced along the way by Mark Bagley and Casey Jones. I like many artists, but these four have influenced my art the most.

Besides studying Engineering, did you do any formal study in art?

I’m mostly self-taught. Like everybody, I started by trying to copy my favorite artists (with varying success). I was in a cartooning club in high school, where I picked up a lot from the faculty moderator, Renzo Ventrella. Other than that, I haven’t had any formal training. I’ve tried to pick up techniques along the way, and in that way the learning never ends.

Thanks for your time.
Wish you all the best and amazing spidey piece!

Gerard isn’t available for commissions although you can check out more of his art at :

http://spidertour02.deviantart.com

Night shot of Sydney’s most iconic landmark, the Opera House. I havem’t done much with long exposures but it was nice to try out some different settings to get interesting effects. I liked how the various coloured lighting reflected on the water.

The last strip in the Halloween series where Peter Parker learns that with great power comes great responsibility (or stay off the candy before bedtime!).