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Walking Dead Comic Series 2 Artist Proof Sketch Card Commission Jeffrey Abar

I recently got my first genuine published paying gig as an artist, doing sketch cards for Cryptozoic Entertainment’s second set of Walking Dead Comic Book trading cards.

As part of the compensation for the set, I was provided “Artist Proof” sketch cards that I can illustrate for commissions. The cards are currently for sale on Ebay.

It’s been a great feeling to start drawing again, and getting my stuff out for folks to see.

Two of the 90 sketch cards i produced for Cryptozoic’s Walking Dead Comic Book Series 2 trading card set.

These were the first official cards I’ve produced.  I actually did two batches of cards, first 50, then an additional 40.  Of course, with the second batch, I was much more comfortable with my process, and I think it shows.  I’m happy with my first batch, just think the second is a little bit more reflective of my personal style as an artist.

I also have to say that George Nadeau, Cryptozoic’s manager of art acquisition, was a total pleasure to work with from start to finish.

Hopefully there will be more cards to come.

You can view all my cards for the set in my deviantart gallery

Commission piece from C2E2 this weekend, by Dave Johnson, one of my favorite artists going these days. About a year ago, I made a list of the characters I’d like to have drawn as commissions.  So now, I just hand the list to the artist and let them choose who they want to draw.  I figure if it’s something they’ve actually chosen, hopefully they’ll enjoy it more, and that usually shows. I love what Dave Johnson did here with Forager, a 2nd tier (and that’s being a little generous) character from the New Gods. Apologies for the image quality.  My scanner isn’t big enough for this piece, so I had to shoot a pic with my iPod touch.

Commission piece from C2E2 this weekend, by Dave Johnson, one of my favorite artists going these days.

About a year ago, I made a list of the characters I’d like to have drawn as commissions.  So now, I just hand the list to the artist and let them choose who they want to draw.  I figure if it’s something they’ve actually chosen, hopefully they’ll enjoy it more, and that usually shows.

I love what Dave Johnson did here with Forager, a 2nd tier (and that’s being a little generous) character from the New Gods.

Apologies for the image quality.  My scanner isn’t big enough for this piece, so I had to shoot a pic with my iPod touch.

Figured it was about time that I posted my own version. Went with the warm grey copics, trying for a vintage snapshot feel…

Figured it was about time that I posted my own version. Went with the warm grey copics, trying for a vintage snapshot feel…

docshaner: Today’s sketch is this old spaceman. More at the blog. I have the same fondness for that “jet/space/atomic age” design.  At the end of the day, it was practical, function-defined stuff, and that will almost always strike a chord.  When things are where they are for a reason, there’s a “blink” reaction that inherently approves.

docshaner:

Today’s sketch is this old spaceman. More at the blog.

I have the same fondness for that “jet/space/atomic age” design.  At the end of the day, it was practical, function-defined stuff, and that will almost always strike a chord.  When things are where they are for a reason, there’s a “blink” reaction that inherently approves.

Brent Peeples.  Artist on The Last of the Greats.  To be honest, I wasn’t really familiar with Brent’s work, but his stuff really caught my eye when I walked by his table in Artists’ Alley, and he was a really nice guy to boot. Watching him work with the copic markers on the sketch card was nothing short of amazing.   http://peeplesart.blogspot.com http://brentpeeples.deviantart.com

Brent Peeples.  Artist on The Last of the Greats.  To be honest, I wasn’t really familiar with Brent’s work, but his stuff really caught my eye when I walked by his table in Artists’ Alley, and he was a really nice guy to boot.

Watching him work with the copic markers on the sketch card was nothing short of amazing.  

http://peeplesart.blogspot.com

http://brentpeeples.deviantart.com

Art Baltazar.  Art is doing great all ages work in his books, and is just one of the nicest guys around.  Watching him interact with fans at a con is a treat. http://www.artbaltazar.com He’s also part owner of Aw Yeah Comics! in Skokie, Illinois, a great, family friendly comic shop: http://www.awyeahcomics.com

Art Baltazar.  Art is doing great all ages work in his books, and is just one of the nicest guys around.  Watching him interact with fans at a con is a treat.

http://www.artbaltazar.com

He’s also part owner of Aw Yeah Comics! in Skokie, Illinois, a great, family friendly comic shop:

http://www.awyeahcomics.com

Wizard World Chicago 2012

Wizard World Chicago happened this past weekend, and I headed out on Saturday and Sunday to check it out and soak in some geek time.

I have to say that I wasn’t wild about the floor layout this year.  There wasn’t a great flow, and there seemed to be a lot of dead space on the outer edges of the floor.  I also think it was probably a mixed bag for exhibitors.  I think stretching out Artist Alley the way they did may have created better traffic patterns for some exhibitors, but I also saw some booths that seemed so tucked back in corners or isolated that I would not have been pleased if I’d  gotten stuck in one of them.

I met some nice folks, got some cards, got a signature or two.  It was fun.  My only disappointment was never being early enough to get on Humberto Ramos’ sketch list.  Gotta do that next year.