Chrome Dome Eight

Only two more to color and fully update, then back to doing completely new pages. Although, I have to say these updates make these old pages into something new and different, at least to me.

The Big Clean – Page 20

Here’s my last page for the scene.

There are a couple pages that Matt is doing that fit in between these pages, so there is a little bit of a skip forward in the narrative.

Khaoc and Bunny – Final Version

Been so busy that I haven’t been able to update the post. Basically, I took the scanned image and imported it into Photoshop. I then copied the background layer, darkened it, and erased away to reveal the light layer below. Then I color corrected using overlay and hard light layers… Then I basically rendered the crap out of it with the pencil tool and a few other brushes, in Corel Painter.  That’s about it!

Khaoc Versus: Bunny Edition

Here’s a piece I’m working on as a submission to Spectrum this year. I’m also submitting the two Heavy Metal pieces in my gallery. Maybe I’ll get lucky this year!

I’m going to update this post with pictures of the process, although it’s pretty boring, I think. This piece will be done by December 31st at the latest. So make sure to check back to see the finished version.

This piece started as any other would – as a thumbnail. I drew a larger version on 11X17 illustration board in pencil… I went over the pencils in micron and black acrylic washes to create the tonal under-painting you see here.  The next step is to get a color study done on photoshop, then back to color acrylic washes and marker work in the real world. It takes a long time, but I’ve learned that the acrylic under-painting is really worthwhile considering it won’t get washed out by the alcohol-based markers later.

Khaoc Versus Bunny under-painting, Micron and acrylic

Check back for updates!

Khaoc Versus – Page 18

Done and done. Do it!

Khaoc Versus – 17

Here’s the new page. I’ve learned quite a bit and added a few time-saving steps to my process since my last post. I shaved off about 5 hours from the usual 25 to 35 it takes me to do a page… Hopefully without losing any quality. I think I may have finally hit the “one (decent) page every two days” goal I’ve been striving for ever since I started this whole comics business.

Khaoc Versus – Page 2?!

I tried my hand at coloring the black and white version. It’s surprisingly easy. I rendered a lot over it, too, and that took a while. I also added a couple details. But the coloring part was fun and a piece of cake. I think it looks a lot better. Check it out!

Khaoc Versus – Page 16 and some info

Here is the next page. I had it laying around for a while, with just a day or two worth of work left to do. I finally touched it up enough to post it.

As for my plans for Khaoc Versus, I really REALLY want to get this episode with Chrome Dome done before the end of the year. This includes going back and coloring the black and white pages and the cover… This might be a little ambitious considering my other jobs, but I think (hope) I can fit it in. The goal is to get a dozen or so issues printed so I can pitch The Aftermath to publishers again. I really want this thing to get picked up!

I was thinking about how the whole story of The Aftermath ends, and it is SO cool… I want to see it happen. I want other people to be able to see it happen. But there is so much material in the series, that if we don’t start in the next couple years we’ll both probably be dead before we can get the whole thing done lol…

Khaoc Versus – Page 15

Damn… It feels like forever to me, too!

Khaoc Versus – Page 14

I’m pretty shocked it’s been two weeks since the last post. I didn’t even realize all that time had passed. The pages are taking a lot longer than they used to, but I should still be able to do one a week. I apologize that it didn’t happen this round. I’ve been lacking in motivation for some reason, lately.

Also, I think that the process I use isn’t as fast as it could be. I might play around with it for the next piece… But I’m sad to say that the next post won’t be for the web comic. I’m going to enter a piece into the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse contest for Heavy Metal. It’s a fan art contest, and the prizes are good! I want that Bisley painting!

Here it is: