IVY_90 minutes

I know she's supposed to be green, but I only had purples and pink markers. Sure I could've adjusted on Photoshop, but what for? What I *should* have adjusted is her left leg - that foot wouldn't even be visible in this pose. Amateur.

Haven't posted anything new in the past couple days - as it has been uniquely busy at work - and this image is no exception. I finished this a while (a while) back along with another colored Batgirl image, but this one seems more appropriate (the other one was a bit too 'cheesecake' looking back on it).

I'll have new stuff next week. Promise.

EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN_90 minutes

Note to self: when I'm messing around with Blogger.com, know what the buttons do so that you don't accidentally press the one that allows '...only members of this blog' to post. That's what I did and a couple people brought it to my attention. So noted. Thanks for the heads-up, folks.

BTW, as a small (well, maybe not-so-small) aside: My long time, dear, dear friend Sam Liu - along with Brandon 'Big Time Director and that's why they pay me the Big Bucks' Vietti - won an Emmy for their hard work in directing 'The Batman' (which I had the distinct pleasure of doing storyboards for Sam in that second season) this past Saturday. I can't quite recall the exact category in which the show was nominated for but KUDOS! to both of them and the rest of The Batman crew for the well deserved validation of all their long hours and undying dedication to that show. Check out Brandon's page (blogbattery.blogspot.com) to see how sexy that statue looks.

Anyway, I made Capt. Nemo *HUGE*, man. And I should've made Hyde massive as hell.

ULTRAVIOLET_process

My good friend Ivan Brandon (of 'NYC MECH' fame) brought it to my attention that he didn't know that I had done an image for the opening credits for the 'UltraViolet' movie, nor had he seen the film. I don't know if those images are available online somewhere, but for Ivan's sake I'm putting up the one I did - along with the rough and the B&W stage for reference.

The 'rough' version has a splash of color thrown in so that when I sent it in for approval, the powers-that-be can sort of make out the image I was going for. They told me how much they liked the effect and that's why I executed the same technique for the final cover. I don't know if they (the movie production company) eventually used the logo I came up with in the final/colored version, but that wasn't my primary concern. I was (am) in the company of some pretty damn impressive illustrators in that opening title seuqence - I just didn't want to be the weakest link.

IRONMAN_90 minutes

Okay, this is somewhat of a cheat. It *did* take me 90 minutes to do this image - I just started on it a while back, worked on it little by little, and finally finished it up yesterday. Is it a cheat? Technically, I guess. But it still took 90 minutes total, right? Right? Maybe.

My point is, I just didn't want the blog to go another day without a new post. Gotta stay regimental and discpilined about posting, right? Or else I'll fall into a rut and not update at all and that wouldn't be any good. I mean, I'm still working on the images for my book - just did this piece in between. Yay!

TITANIUM_CYLINDER

These images are from a sketchbook we put out a couple of years back. I'm uploading it now because it directly relates to what's on my drafting table and (as mentioned a couple of posts previous) I'm trying to stay on task regarding studio matters. At lunch, Brandon Vietti suggested that I should post the progress images of the pages as I work on them - maybe from pencil to ink, a panel or two from the sequential pages, and so on. It'll allow me to put stuff up on this blog and get work done. That made sense to me. Brandon's really smart - that's why they let him direct and pay him the big director money.

So these images are sort of a primer - helping to set up for what I'm going to post later. The designs are older (but in some way, shape, or form I still use them) and some of the characters aren't featured in the first chapter of the graphic novel I'm working on, but they certainly help visualize the theme of the world and that's why they're included. Okay, more to come later.

"SHADOW OF THE HAWK"_bazillion minutes

I think this episode has seen air. If not, please don't be mad WB headhunters - I'll take it down. Written by Dwayne McDuffie, Directed by Dan Riba, Produced by Bruce Timm. I've got boxes of this stuff - mostly guys pounding the bejeezus out of each other. I'm an Act 3 guy which means lots of fighting...lots, and lots of fighting. Not so much acting moments coz I suck at it. They give that to the good people.

Unlike live action/feature film storyboards, TV animation boards are ridiculously spelled out - as in, step by step. And on an action/adventure show like JLU it's a prerquisite. My best guess is because with so much stuff going on, they want to eliminate any headaches regarding communication with the overseas production/animation. Me? I don't care - I love drawing. The only time it hurts is when the inevitable wall that is the deadline zooms over the horizon and barrels towards me.

'Cuts' are indicated by the inverted triangle on the upper left corner of the panel. 'No Scene' means...you know...no scene. 'Action' descriptions in the left box, 'Dialogue' (when applicable) is right below that.

Man, this'll take me forever to upload.

BETTER THAN WEDGE_90 minutes

This is one of those occasions where a good portion of the supposed drawing time went into watching the movie - it's more like 30 minutes, to be perfectly honest.

Porkins (I don't know his last name...was it 'McPorkins'? Porkins McPorkins?) is my favorite of the throw-away pilots in SW:ANH because I can make an arguement that he's better than that Antilles boy. Think about it - Porkins was in wave one (that's elite, suckah!) of X-wing pilots that was sent in to destroy the Empire's disco ball. Yeah, he couldn't reach the extinguisher to put out the cockpit fire, but hey - the brother's clocking in at 6'2"/340 lbs - cut him some slack. Only *after* his death does Wedge even get a shot at greatness. And what happens? Wedge pulls out. He. Pulls. Out. Explode like the rest of 'em, you wuss!

I messed up the X-wing something fierce. Rock on, Porkins!

UNO MAS_APE 2006

Here's the last of the images I did for a 'Joker' themed sketchbook at APE a couple of weekends back - courtesy of Jon's buddy's handy digital camera. Thanks, dood(s)!

Batman mounts Joker. Classy. And I messed up the windows on that building. Dammit.

TURTLES_90 minutes

Michael Zulli did it first - and it's been burned in my mind since I saw his rendition from way back when. But I think his images was put over the top by his use of duo-tone paper. This stuff comes in large sheets along with two solutions (appropriately named 'A' and 'B'). When solution A is applied diagonal lines appear in one direction and solution B's application brings out a set of lines intersecting those of A. Awesome stuff, great way to execute effects, and expensive as hell. I don't even know if they make it anymore. Nonetheless, memories of that is what inspired this image. It's from (as I recall it) a double-page spread in the second issue of that four-issue run on TMNT from Mirage Studios. I haven't seen the printed material in quite some time so I don't know how close I am to swiping the poses outright, but I swear the original was that good.

I'm a stealer.

VADER_90 minutes

Yeah, yeah - I've been told to focus on BVS stuff on my free time, do the promo art, avoid rush fees, blah, blah, blah... but when the DVD player's goin' I get really inspired. Suck on that, buzz kill!

BTW, this movie (along with its subsequent prequels and sequels) is the largest grossing, cult/independent film ever. Ever. That's saying something, yeah?

SKETCHBOOK 2006_update

It's convention season again! Awesome. I love convention season. And because of that, I realized that I'm going to be trying to focus all of my attention on stuff related to convention matters (sketchbooks, table banners and backdrops, promo art, etc.). That'll suck if I can't do any more of these 90 minute sketches, but it's been suggested to me that if I take those same 90 minutes and 'warm up' on material related to the studio then maybe I'll actually have stuff ready in time instead of paying extra for rush jobs from the printers. Buzz kill.

Anyway, here's a small blurb for the Black Velvet crew (well, for me really, but I'm with them, so...) - it's a sketchbook full of women. Why women? Buy the book, my introduction's all about the reasons why. It's called 'Beauty and the Beast', 64 pages, B&W and I share half the art chores with the incredible Lauren Montgomery - who was nice enough to help me out in trying to figure out women. At least the cartoon versions of them anyway. She's an amazing artist who blushes at the spotlight but since she doesn't read this blog, I can say what I want. Um...lessee...incredible...amazing...yeah. Well, that's pretty much it.

Here's the cover image along with images of Lauren's work. It'll be ready in about a month or so. I'll update on the actual day it's ready for purchase (I'm such a whore).

GEN IPOD_90 minutes

I just recently got this iPod thingee and realized we've come to a point where even loading little flat discs that have music in them have become inconvenient. I mean, how much music must we have at our fingertips to warrant 30 gigs of space?!?

I thought that the gizmo was pretty much a waste of money and its features are one trick pony show. Until a friend of mine introduced me to 'podcasting'. Friends, I don't mind telling you now how wrong I was.

God bless the iPod.

Anyway, I found these archives from iTunes called Fanboy Radio and in one case they interviewed J. Scott Campbell for their show. He spoke for about an hour regading his past and present projects, his experiences when he first got started, current and previous influences, etc. - actually this interview had been done some time ago as he was still promoting the unreleased 'Danger Girl: Back In Black' comic - and it was nice to hear him be so candid about the things he's been associated with. One of those things being 'Gen 13'. I know this shows my true sign of geekness when I feel the need to download effin' comicbook creator interview content so I can listen to my favorite creators, but I don't really care. This thing is awesome. And yes, I am a geek.

Based on the picture (and that bit of commentary above) it's pretty obvious where I got the inspiration from, yeah? Enjoy.

PUNISHER_90 minutes

I don't know what's more ridiculous: the fact that he's got a big skull on his chest or bright white boots.

If you answered 'white boots' then you got it right! They pretty much kick the Punisher costume's lame quotient up a couple of notches and that's why I didn't do them on this image. Well, that, and the fact that I composed this image on the landscape side of the paper. Basically, bad planning on my part - so, that kicks my lame quotient up a couple notches too.

Oh, and that gun is off scale like you wouldn't believe.

DOOM_90 minutes

"Get this damn cape offa' me!"

SUPERMAN SKETCH_SDCC 2005

Here's the trouble of seeing old images you've done: it's easier to see the things that are wrong with it. Looking back on it now, and if I had just slowed down I don't think I would have made this kind of amateurish mistake. I mean, with a little more planning and a closer inspection of the image in its pencil stage would have avoided this FUBAR all together. Because it's the little things that sell the drawings, you know? Dammit.

Case in point: this Superman image. Again, this one was for Jon's collection and considering I had already done the Batman and Robin image, I thought I'd start rounding it off and do a Superman one for him. I didn't think I'd jack it up this badly. The head and shoulders are ridculously skewed and I can't figure out why I got as far as the inking process and not to have caught it. Like I said, it's probably because I just needed a second to slow down.

Anyway, I adjusted the thing in PS (shifted the head and shoulders the right and connected lines, blah, blah, blah...) and put it up for comparison - the 'before' image is the one on top, and 'after' image is below. I don' t know if it's that much better, but for my peace of mind I think it is. I've told Jon I owe him another Superman next time we saw each other and hopefully I'll be mindful of and avoid the mistakes I made on this one. Bah! Annoying.

CONVENTION SKETCHES_APE 2006

Got back from the convention Monday morning at 1:30AM, had to return the rental by 7:00AM then had to get into work by 10:30AM. I'm tired as hell.

But the convention was a blast for me! I had been under the impression that two of my six fans lived up in the Bay Area so it was cool to meet up with them. The surprising thing was that there was three! Whoo-hoo! That makes seven people who really like my work. I'm quite proud.

One of the guys tells me this entertaining story that I thought I'd share with anyone who'd care to read: He's at the SDCC last year or some such, and going up to another professional, he asks the artist if he could sketch him something. Flipping through the sketchbook he stops at the Batman and Robin image I did (the one with the giant penny) and asks the kid, "How much did you pay for this?"

The kid says, "Nothing. He did it for free."

Then the pro thinks a beat and says, "Who the f*ck are you that Canete would do something like this for free!?!"

Heh! That cracks me up. I mean, it's not as if I'm Jim Lee and there's a mob around my table - and even then, Jim still hooks those guys up with awesome sketches (my respect for Jim, considering the head count of people who consistently show up to his signings and the quality of sketches he does for them, is immeasurable). I've got six fans - okay, seven. So I genuinely try to give them something to look at whenever they ask me to draw in their books.

Anyway, here are the images I've done in the past couple APE cons - the first three are in Jon's sketchbook (I've got a funny story about drawing the Big Three image that I'll reserve for another time). The 'Superman' in front of The Daily Planet was done at SDCC, I think - I don't remember drawing that image at all. 'Superman/Supergirl vs. Brainiac' are in another sketchbook that Jon's friend Brian has and the 'Destiny' image was from a guy who knew my work from way back (Ryan, thanks for letting me do that, man!) - surprised the hell out of me.

BTW, thanks to Jon and Ryan for sending my photos and scans of all these images. I really appreciate it, you guys.

WONDERTWINS_90 minutes

I had a buddy of mine in mind when I drew this image. She's got such a HUGE crush on these two characters from the old 'Superfriends' cartoon it's almost embarassing. And yes, I know - Zan's only supposed to turn into water-based entities, but in more than one episode I've seen him take the 'form of...' something made of ice; an ice crowbar, no less. It wouldn't be too far of a reach to think that he could turn into steam too, yeah?

This weekend in the Bay Area is the APE (Alternative Press Expo) Convention. Those who can attend should. It's an awesome show.