Inside the artist's studio

I have always been fascinated by artists's workspaces so I'm glad I stumbled on this blog...Where They Draw...cool stuff! Even in the pre-internet days I would study pictures of artist's studios hoping to glean some secret knowledge in what tools they used etc..and I still find myself doing that now, so this site is right up my alley.

2011 convention sketchbook for sale

Ooops, I didn't even think of it till I was putting together my online store, but with all of my running around to cons, I forgot to ever offer this years 2011 convention sketchbook for sale to folks directly on my own blog...d'oh!
Well, if you didn't bump into me at a con, here's your chance to pick one up, I will sign before I send it off, promise ;) $10 plus some shipping, just head to my store.

Hey I opened a store!

I've heard some good things about the Big Cartel online shopping cart service from other comic book folks so I thought I would give it a try. Here's a link to the official Michael Dooney shop and I will keep the link in the listing on the right column of the blog from here on and add things from time to time.

Lots of Batgirls

I recently did a batch of commissions of various female Batman characters. I did them all the same size and used the same technique to make them look like a cohesive set. It was challenging to make each one unique in it's own right, but fun. For some reason, the guy didn't ask for Batwoman, maybe he's a more old school Batman fan. Ink, gray copic markers and some whitel painted hightlight details on my fave light gray cardstock paper.

So, I hear you want to draw!

I get asked often how to draw or more accurately how to draw better. The short answer may sound kind of smart ass-y but the old saying is 100 percent true...'You learn to draw by drawing". I suppose that there are artists that are born with a gift of drawing prowess, but that certainly was not my experience. I have gotten to whatever place I'm at with drawing (still far from where I'd like to be) by pure stubborn manual labor. I draw, I read art books, I practice, I draw, I watch tutorials online, I take classes and oh yeah did I mention that I draw???
Even with the explosion of information available online I for one still feel that there is no better help for artists than some really good books. I collect folders full of content from the web myself, but a lot of it never gets looked at again, but books can be open right next to you at the drawing board or breakfast table to give you some insight into what you are doing.
In my opinion, there is no better guide to good solid drawing than the Andrew Loomis books, period. Figure Drawing for all it's Worth and Drawing the Head and Hands are back in print after many years and every artist should have them on their shelves. I was happy to see a couple of Loomis' books on the shelves of Norman Rockwell's studio when I visited a while back, that should tell you something about the level of insight an artist of any level may glean from these volumes.
Another book that I pass along to beginning artist is Drawing the Head and Figure, but Jack Hamm. This book is so good that it has been kept in print in an affordable paperback edition for decades. I am always happy to see it at Barnes and Noble and major book stores holding it's own against the sea of terrible 'how to draw whatever" books that jam the shelves.
So while there may be no short cut to better drawing, there is in fact a lot of helpful info out there to keep you on track.

Great drawing and painting resource

Even as a full time working artist, I have never gotten over my interest in how other artists draw and paint, so I am always on the lookout for new insights. Recently I discovered this great site called Ctrl+Paint Digital painting simplified that is jam packed with tons of fantastic content. The site is produced by Matt Kohr, a talented concept artist/illustrator. There are insightful tutorials on traditional drawing skills as well as basic photoshop painting demos. If you are an artist, clear an hour or so and go there...you will not be sorry. The drawing and painting tutorials are so clearly presented that I am sure that artists of every level will get something out of them, I know I did and now I'm hooked and look forward to his future video posts ;)

Green Day!

Here are a bunch of recent commissions, all done on green paper with gray copic markers and some white painted details.

Thank you Steve

I couldn't let the passing of Steve Jobs go by without send out a heartfelt Thank You to him and the universe.
While I am no techie, his creativity and vision have made my life a better place. I use a Mac for most of my professional work, I love Pixar movies and I seldom draw out in the world without my ipod keeping me company.
Imagining a life as big as his that has touched so many lives for the better is really humbling.
Thanks man.

I definitely dream of Jeannie

I've been a Jeannie fan since I was a kid. But even way back then, I couldn't quite figger out why Major Nelson didn't want her to be his girlfriend ;)
Gray copics on purple paper with white painted highlights.

Pre-show commission list open for NYCC!

Since I've already gotten a flurry of emails about this, I've started a sketch list for pre-con sketches commissions to be picked up at NYCC in Oct. I will still be taking as many commissions as I can handle at the show, but doing some at home frees me up a bit. Drop me a line if you want to get on the list and let me know what character etc. As usual I will be sticking to established characters only.

Left over Baltimore prints while they last ;)

Baltimore Comic Con 2011

Here's my usual photo jumble from Baltimore. I checked out the Geppi Museum while I was in town and it was great to see all of those old comics and toys in one place.
I was a bit concerned when I got to the con and saw that my table was no where near Artist Alley, but folks seemed to find me so it worked out fine.

Buy Hera!

Here's a print I did to kind of put my opinion of DC's recent revamping into perspective. I think that it's kind of funny that the only thing that ever really worked consistently in the Wonder Woman comics was her look/costume...the stories were always up and down in quality.
If you want to order one here's your chance. Print is 11x17 $10 plus $6 shipping

Comic Con pix 2011

Here are a bunch of pix I took this year. Most of the costume photos are folks that stopped by my table or I waved over! That Galactus girl really made me laugh...it just proves that you never know who is going to show up at a con. In addition to badges, the exhibitors had to wear a wrist band all 4 days as an extra security measure...can't say that I dug showering with a tyvek band on my wrist but I lived!
One new feature this year were two giant screens above artist alley that displayed art by those of us that had tables there. It was cool to see my stuff blown up jumbo-size whenever I happened to spot it.

Comic con 2011

Here's a view of Comic Con that most folks don't get to see...before the doors open in the morning. They let people in starting at 9am now even though the official hours are later than that... to keep the crowds under control I guess. Since I get trapped at my table once I sit down, I have to get in really early if I want to walk around at all.

Next stop....Baltimore

This will be my first trip to the Baltimore Comic Con. After hearing so many folks compare it to Heroes Con which is my favorite show, I just had to finally check it out.
Since it's a two day show I will only get a handful of commissions done at the con, so I am taking a limited number of pre-show commissions that I'll do beforehand and you can pick them up there. Email me for details to get the ball rolling mdooney99@aol.com

Comic Con sketches

I am still a bit groggy from my trip home from San Diego, but here are a bunch of the sketches I did at the con. It was a drawing marathon ;)

It's San Diego comic con time

Yeah it's that time again folks. The mega-marathon we know and love as Comic Con is soon to be upon us. I'll be in Artist Alley at booth DD22 which is the same spot as last year which is kind of cool...my west coast home away from home for 4 days. I'll be drawing and selling stuff as usual so come on by and bug me ;)

STEAM AGE SUPERLADIES

I like the Steampunk look so I did this Supergirl drawing with that in mind. Since I dig elaborate costumes and hairstyles, it got me thinking of drawing other superheroes in a 19th century motif. The drawings come off more Victorian than Steampunk, but they are a blast to do. Once folks figured them out, they seemed to like them and I sold some and did some at Heroes con which made me happy as well.

Phoenix process

Here are the stages of a recent commission drawing. Pretty loose pencils, inked with a japanese brush marker, and finally tones rendered with cool gray markers.

Dejah Thoris and Woola completed art

Here's the final Dejah and Woola art from the pencils I posted recently. The buyer requested a more PG 13 treatment, so even though folks on Mars don't wear any clothes, I had to cover up our girl a bit. This is one of those pieces that I kind of wanted to keep when I was done but I had to pass her along to her new home. Ink and cool gray markers on gray paper with with painted highlights.

Some catch up postings....

I've noticed that I get a lot less feedback here than I do on my Deviant Art page so I've been updating there more often.
Here is a bunch of stuff I forgot to post here!

Heroes Con pics

Here are some pics from this years Heroes Con. I had a great time as always...see you next year Heroes!

Heroes Con this weekend

Oh yeah, it is time once again for the most fun packed show of the Con year. If you have never gone, I can't explain the vibe, if you have been, you will completely understand my enthusiasm.
I'll be drawing all weekend in Artist Alley booth AA #807 so come on by and say hello or walk by quickly without stopping, whichever you prefer ;)

Here's my piece for Saturday night's Auction. It's kind of intimidating doing a piece for this auction because of all the hot shot artists that put stuff in there, but I just aim to not embarrass myself ;)

ps. The piece sold for $650 which I was happy with. It was bought by another artist which was also flatering...I told you I loved Heroes Con!

Dejah Thoris and Woola pencils

Dejah Thoris is a beauty of course, but my favorite character in the ERB Mars books is the great ugly ever faithful beast Woola!

IT'S PENCILS ONLY DAY!

In the weeks leading up to a comic con, I pencil up a bunch of drawings in my free time. Which ones end up getting finished in time to sell at the show is totally dependent on my 'REAL" work schedule. I'll have some of these with me at Heroes Con in June, one way or the other;)

Wonder Woman!

Wonder Woman used to be a more popular sketch request for me, but she seems to have fallen from favor lately...to bad, she is one of my favorite characters.