The Mummy
I drew this guy awhile ago, but wasn’t sure if I wanted to post him – it’s still somewhat of a work in progress. But, at the same time, I think it looks good as is. Time will tell, maybe I’ll revisit this drawing again someday. I really wanted give this drawing a ‘Boris Karloff’ feel, without actually making it Karloff (it that makes sense). I’ve always loved that make-up/effect. Mummy’s are really fun for me to draw, so chances are, this isn’t the last Mummy drawing you’ll see from me! Anyway, I’ve been plugging away on the comic book and making good progress, finally. I’m still shooting for a release in some form this summer, but coloring is going to take forever! To any aspiring comic book creators out there, heed this warning, it’s A LOT of work to do everything yourself! But also a lot of fun! Anyway, it’s cool to see things finally coming together, though there’s still a long road ahead. That’s it for now, hope you like The Mummy! As always, thanks for reading – Cheers!
Ray Harryhausen 1920 – 2013
A titan has fallen. The legendary film maker, animator and pioneer Ray Harryhausen passed away yesterday at the age of 92. If you’re unfamiliar with Ray’s work, he is responsible for some of the greatest special effects and films ever made, in my opinion. His work can be seen in such favorites as Clash of the Titans (the original, not the remake), Jason and the Argonauts, One Million Years B.C., The ‘Sinbad‘ films, etc, etc, etc. These are just a few of my favorites, so I highly recommend checking out all of his films. They may seem old to some of today’s youth, but these movies are classic and also turning points in film/movie making. When I was a kid, I absolutely loved anything that Ray worked on. Still to this day, his films are a comfort place for me to go. There’s something so personal and charming about his work, versus today’s over the top CG effects. Ray was more than an animator though, he was a genius and a true artist. And with that, all I can say is:
Thanks for the adventures Ray… you will be missed. – Lutz A.D.
They Live – sketch
Another quick post this week. Once again, I couldn’t decide what to draw, so I went with another ‘John Carpenter’ inspired doodle. I was feeling a bit frustrated when I did this one – I really just let my pen go, so it’s very loose. I’ve been spending so much time trying to focus on pen strokes that it can get a tad confining at times. I think that’s what happened here, I just wanted to draw fast and have fun, not caring if the outcome was good or bad. Now, there are definitely things I would do different here, but at the end of the day, I think it came out pretty cool. So with that said, I hope you like my They Live sketch. Oh, and if you haven’t seen the movie, then I highly suggest you do so – it’s one of my favorites! One last thing, don’t forget that this Saturday, May 4th, is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Be sure to go out to your local shop and get some comics, it’s a lot of fun! Ok, until next time – cheers!
Beware The Creeper!
That’s right, The Creeper! I had no idea what to draw this week, as I’ve been slaving away on my own comic (slowly making progress). So, while looking for inspiration I came across a Creeper comic, I had totally forgot about him! Usually when I’m in a slump, I go back and look at some of the masters – Steve Ditko is more often than not my go to guy, and rightfully so. Beware The Creeper was a short lived DC comic back in the 60s created by Dennis O’Neil and Steve Ditko; though he has made guest appearances throughout the decades, even up to the New 52. Now, I loved the Creeper design that Ditko created, but I wanted to add my own little twist to it. Manipulating those colors probably took the longest, I wanted to retain the classic ‘Creeper’ colors, but also give him my own colorful palette. Anyway, it was great inking practice with the Brush Pen and good experimentation. Well that’s it for now, hope you enjoy the Creeper! Until next week, thanks for reading – Cheers!
The Thing
Hello everyone! So if you checked in yesterday, you may have noticed I didn’t post. Well, I think i’m going to start posting on Wednesdays from now on. It just gives me a little more time to get art together. With that said, it’s been snowing here for like a week. Did i mention that’s it’s suppose to be Spring?! It’s been making me feel a little crazy, like I’m trapped in some frozen tundra! Anyway, I came across an old DC Batman comic the other day (#741). It’s was a drawing of Batman in the snow standing over a bloody Joker and created by Alex Maleev and Bill Sienkiewicz. I just LOVE this cover! So simple and yet so attention grabbing, and how i’ve been feeling lately! I wanted to ‘Riff’ off of that drawing a little bit, so i decided to do my own version/tribute to it. One of my favorite Sci-Fi/Horror movies is John Carpenter’s The Thing. After so many years, this movie still stands the test of time. On a side note, I thought the Prequel/Remake was ‘OK’ – but it didn’t hold up to Carpenter’s version. When i saw that Batman cover, my mind instantly jumped to The Thing. You can call it a ‘Mash-Up’ if you’d like, but i just call it fun! Hopefully Spring decides to show up soon, but in the mean time, I hope you enjoy my little Batman/The Thing Mashup! Until next time, thanks for reading! Cheers!
A Little ‘Evil Dead’ Review & Art!
Wow, what’s this? I’m posting twice in one week?! Yup! i was going to post this yesterday, but decided to wait a day. So anyway, I just wanted to give my own little ‘Spoiler Free’ review of the new Evil Dead. I’ve been pretty excited for this film for months now. I’m not going to lie, when i first heard about it, i rolled my eyes and passed it off as another heartless remake. However, as filming commenced, my anticipation and attitude changed. Over the last several months I’ve sat, eagerly awaiting the premiere date, and this last weekend, i finally got my taste of Fede Alvarez’s Evil Dead … I must say, it was worth the wait!
Now, I want to keep this Spoiler Free for anyone who hasn’t had the chance to see it yet. From the opening scene, the movie grabbed a hold of me right away. I will say that it takes a little bit to adjust to this movie, as we’ve been exposed to last 3 Evil Dead films for decades. But, as soon as you spot that first ‘easter egg’ reference to the original, it’s pretty easy to sit back and feel at home with this new interpretation. i won’t say what any of those ‘nods’ are, but they are scattered throughout the film, which i thought was really cool!
The film does take a little bit to pick up the pace, but i have to say, I found the back story of why they were there pretty interesting. Which, when I first read the original synopsis months ago, I was a bit wary of – but this works! Now, on to the good stuff. For all you Gore Hounds out there, you will not be disappointed! This movie is filled with awesome, over the top, and practical effects! It was, well, it was awesome! With that said, if you are expecting to go in and get a lot of cheap scares, you’re gonna get more blood than screams. I found there to be a couple of ‘creepy’ or ‘oh shit!’ moments throughout, and that was enough for me. On top of that, the cinematography and Fede Alvarez’s use of Raimi’s old camera tricks are outstanding in this. It really makes it feel like it belongs in the Evil Dead family.
Now i really enjoyed the Climax of the film, though some of my friends had a problem with the ending. Again, I’m keep this Spoiler Free, so don’t freak out. It did take me a few hours to sit with the ending, while discussing it with friends. After letting it soak in for a bit, they seemed fine with it. With that said, after i recently read what the ‘alternate ending’ was, it got me even more excited for this movie! I’m keeping my mouth shut, but this alternate better be on the Blu Ray! Speaking of the end of the movie, do yourself a favor and watch the credits, also notice how cool it is to see (the original team) Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Robert Tapert’s names together again as Producers!
So, i hope that was an informative enough review and incentive for you to go see Evil Dead, without spoiling anything. I really enjoyed this movie, and would love to go see it again soon! As you’ve probably noticed, i drew another Evil Dead inspired piece with this post. I had to, i mean, if I’m gonna do a review, why not through some art in too, right?! Ok i hope you enjoy my ‘Evil Dead Cabin’ and my review – it was a lot of fun! Who knows, i may start drawing a companion piece with more movie reviews in the near future. As always, thanks for reading – cheers! (Lutz A.D.)
Richard Brooker 1954 – 2013
some sad news yesterday. Richard Brooker passed away at the age of 58. for those of you who don’t know, Richard played Jason in Friday the 13th Part 3 (3D). he was the first Jason to dawn the iconic hockey mask. He also directed a bunch of episodes of Bill Nye the Science Guy. i first met Richard a few years ago at a local Horror convention. my friends and i hit it off with him right away. he and my wife also got along great, as they chatted on and on about horses and horse training. he ended up partying with all of us that night, and in true professional fashion, was up bright and early for the next day of the convention. last year he returned to the Twin Cities to attend another convention. we met up with him again and had some drinks in the bar, having a fantastic time. when it was time for us to leave, i literally had to pull my wife away as they wouldn’t stop talking about horses! the two of them have also kept in touch through Facebook over the last year. that’s why his sudden death comes as such a shock. so this is my little tribute to him. he was a very nice and kind man, he will be sorely missed by many people. my thoughts go out to his family at this time. RIP Richard Brooker, 1954 – 2013.
Swallow Your Soul!
greetings everyone! sorry for the ‘no post’ last week, things just got out of control with work and i had no free time. it has been crazy lately, not just with work, but also pop culture! this past weekend the premiere of Game of Thrones aired (which i haven’t watched yet, so no spoilers!) and the season finale of The Walking Dead – which was super awesome! not to mention Bioshock Infinite came out! that game is killing all of my productivity, but i love it! and let’s not forget, EVIL DEAD comes out this week! i am totally stoked for this movie! like, i’m The Dark Knight excited for this movie, can’t wait! if you’ve been following the news, if Evil Dead does well, they are making a direct sequel to it (which is apparently already in the works). on top of that, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell will return for The Army of Darkness 2 and then do a crossover film where both franchises, new and old, meet!!! (takes a deep breath) anyway, have i mentioned that i’m really excited? haha!
that’s why i decided that drawing a ‘Deadite’ for this week was perfect. i haven’t really drawn any horror type stuff as of late, so it was fun to do, hope you enjoy him! on a side note, i’ve also been inking the comic when i get time. i’ve killed like 4 Micro pens already! i think i mite have to pull out the old quill pen, it’s been awhile. this drawing was done with my Brush Pen, still practicing, and still experimenting with color. alrighy, enough Fanboy geekery for this week. i’ll be back next week with a new drawing and a short Spoiler Free review of Evil Dead. thanks for ready and cheers!
robin – r.i.p.
a little late today – but better late, then never! just another quick doodle this week. i figured this isn’t much of a spoiler anymore, as the comic came out about a month ago. but, if you haven’t heard, Robin, aka Damian Wayne, aka Bruce Wayne’s son, is dead! i couldn’t believe it when i read it. i actually liked Damian, i thought he was a good character. now, this isn’t the first time a Robin has died. Back in 1989, Jason Todd, the second Robin was killed by the Joker in Death in the Family. it’s still a favorite comic of mine. so when i drew this little tribute to Damian, i decided to give him a ‘classic’ Robin outfit. i’m very curious how this is going to effect the future of Batman, especially after the events in Death of the Family (not to be confused with Death IN the Family). alright, that’s enough comic nerdery for now! hope you like my little tribute. until next week, thanks for reading – cheers!
the phantom!
last week was another long week. and over the weekend i tried to draw a bunch of different stuff with my Brush Pen. unfortunately, i could not find my rhythm, basically i sucked. everything i tried to draw looked like crap, at least in my eyes. so after a very frustrating sunday afternoon, i drew this little guy to release some steam. to my surprise, i thought he actually turned out pretty good! so without further adieu, i give you … The Man Who Cannot Die – The Phantom!
i don’t know what it is about the Phantom, i’ve always thought he was a fun character, maybe not one of the most popular though. the thing is, the Phantom is like one of, if not the first, superhero/crime fighters to dawn a mask and tights. on top of that, he’s got guns, a wolf as a sidekick, has a skull as his symbol, etc, etc. he’s pretty damn cool. anyway, i love the early years of comics, the Golden Age if you will. there’s something so charming and alluring about it to this day. on top of that, pretty much every character of that era fought gangsters and kicked nazi ass! alright, alright, you get the picture. if i get some time, i may try a few more of these Golden Age cartoon characters, they are just so much fun! ok that’s it for now, thanks for reading – cheers!
also, come check me out on Facebook and Twitter, i’m also on Google+.
raphael
phew! it has been quite the day, we got hit with a huge snow storm! so, i’m sorry for posting so late today, i’ve just been doing a lot of shoveling and tending to other projects. i recently got a new Brush Pen, and i was going to start inking some pages, but figured i’d better get some practice first. i’ve really been digging Nickelodeon’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show, so when brush came to paper, that’s kinda what spilled out. i was kinda all over the place with this one, as i was trying to see what i could do with the pen. i still need some practice, but i think my rendition of Raphael came out ok, so figured i’d share – hope you all like it! that’s it for now, i’ll try to post on time next week, assuming we don’t get hit with another foot of snow! thanks for reading – cheers!
batten down the hatches!
just a quick post today. this is a mini illustration i’ve wanted to do for our bathroom for sometime now. i put a quarter next to it to try and show the actual size. now it didn’t quite turn out the way i wanted, but i still like it! and i had a lot of fun doing it, so much that i’m thinking of doing a variation of it. but we’ll see, i have a pile of canvas that needs to get painted and a comic book i need to finish. with that said, i will try to post something next week, but i’m gonna try and put most of my focus into the comic. spring is coming and i’m sticking to my guns, i want this sucker up this summer! (hey, i can hear you rolling your eyes… i know i’ve been saying this for a year, but i’m focused now!) haha, ok, hope you like this little fella. be sure to check back each week and thanks for reading! cheers!
sha, sha … Shark!
i wasn’t sure if i was gonna get to post anything today, things have been pretty hectic this week. plus, when i do have spare time, i’ve been trying to plug away on the comic. anyway, here’s this week’s drawing! it’s another exploration – i’ve been having fun reacquainting myself with watercolors. this was also somewhat of a “timed drawing” – i tried to keep everything under 30 minutes. the initial drawing and watercolor took about 10 minutes, i decided to do a little stippling at the end, which took about another 2o minutes. the purpose of timing myself is to just let myself go. before i drew this, i recalled my life drawing classes, we would have to draw an entire person ranging from 45 secs to 2 minutes, just using a few strokes. this is extremely helpful in training your brain to recognize form, among other things. sometimes i get to to caught up in this though … technical skills are important to work on as well, which is something i’ve been trying to do.
ok, that’s enough talky for now. i hope you like my shark drawing! i don’t know why, but when i look at him, i think of 1980′s Miami or Scarface. maybe that’s what i’ll call this piece, Scarface! could also be that i’m sick of winter and dreaming of warmer days … sigh. alrighty, as always, thanks for checking out my art and reading my ramblings – until next time, cheers!
Doctor Who
alrighty, sorry for the late post today, it’s been a busy morning! this is an experimental drawing. i wanted to explore some different techniques, not sure if i was successful, but that’s how we learn. i woke up the other day with the Doctor Who theme stuck in my head, then this idea came up. now, Tom Baker, aka, the Fourth Doctor has always been my favorite. i think that’s because i grew up watching him with my dad and i have fond memories of it. anyway, i had to get it out of my system. it might not be one of my favorite drawings, but it was nostalgic and fun – so, i hope you enjoy it! ok, i’m keepin’ it short this week, i’ve got to get back to work. see you here next Tuesday and thanks for reading! oh, go have a Jelly Baby and check me out on Facebook and Twitter, cheers!
the Joker!
another Tuesday, another drawing! this week i decided to post something a little different. i’ve been so focused on digital color lately, i’ve almost forgotten how fun it is to get back to the basics. not much explanation needed for this one, it’s the Joker! i drew the Clown Prince for a friend’s birthday present a few weeks ago. i wanted to do something a little different and fun, so i busted out the watercolors. i’ve had the Death of the Family story line fresh in my head, as i’m dying to read the next and final issue (#17)! if you haven’t been keeping up with it, i can’t recommend it enough! the Joker is one sick mother in this story, Snyder and Capullo have out done themselves! but i digress, i really enjoyed this piece and i think i’m going to try and do more little explorations like it. alrighty, thanks for reading and i hope you enjoy the art! come check me out on Facebook and Twitter, see you here next week – cheers!!
The Night Stalkers movie poster!
hello everyone! i’m very excited to share today’s art. i was asked to create a teaser poster/logo for an upcoming movie in LA called The Night Stalkers – it begins shooting this summer. i can’t say to much about the film at this point, but the idea was to capture an 80′s retro feel with a touch of modern. the look i was going for was a kind of Friday the 13th meets Pretty in Pink vibe. Suffice to say, it was a really fun project! i’ll try and keep you posted on the progress of the film as i hear of it. i’m really stoked to see how everything turns out! be sure to go support The Night Stalkers film at their Facebook and Twitter accounts. as always, thanks for reading! see you here next Tuesday, cheers!
The Night Stalkers directed by Chelsea Peters, written by Mickey Keating, produced by Ryan Turek
ashen t-shirt design
i actually finished this illustration around Thanksgiving, but am just now able to share it. i was asked to create a T-shirt design for a Minneapolis Punk-Metal band called Ashen. it was a lot of fun, but boy, this illustration was a hand cramper! mainly because the drawing was done with Stippling (using the pen to create a dot pattern). i like this method, but i try not to use it to often. i feel like a lot of artists do it, but it was perfect for this project! the problem is, it’s very time consuming and takes a lot of patience. but at the same time, it works well for detail and screen printing. anyway, i’m pretty happy with this piece, it’s got a bit of a “Pushead” feel to it, who has always been one of my favorite artists. Sid was also gracious enough to model for me (wink, wink)!
to your left, you’ll see the original illustration. i scanned that into photoshop and prepared it for screen printing. ok, before i go, one little note. i’m going to shoot for Tuesdays around 10am for posts from now on. this could change and i will let you know if it does. i was also thinking about Thursdays, but decided to start with Tuesdays for now. as i mentioned, i’ll keep you posted if it changes. so please check back next Tuesday, i’ve got a really cool project i just finished and i can’t wait to share! cheers and thanks for reading! be sure to come visit me on Facebook and Twitter!
Frank vs Wolfy sketch
i’m back! sorry for such a long delay in posting, besides the holidays, there was a lot going on the last month. i’m hoping to get back to a semi regular posting basis. i’ve had some new, really cool, projects over the last month that i’m excited to share – as well as keeping the comic book on track! on another note, i’ve discovered it’s time for a new computer, which sucks. but that’s a whole other story i don’t want to get into…
so last week i put out a request for sketch ideas on Facebook, alas i only got one suggestion, but it was a good one! the request was for Frankenstein’s Monster battling the Wolfman! this is my rendition of that suggestion. i like to call him Frank, yes i know Frankenstein is actually the scientist – let it go (gives the fanboy a hug). this was a fun and challenging little drawing. though looking at it, i can tell i’ve read a comic or two, Frank looks a little like the Hulk, haha! but that’s ok with me. alright, i hope you like Frank vs Wolfy, and if you haven’t yet, please come visit The Dead Have Issues on Facebook! i may do another sketch request soon, cheers and thanks for reading!
Spider-Ham
so i decided to do another quick warm up sketch. i wanted to do something fun while also getting some practice. the Captain America sketch was pretty fun, which got me to thinking – why not draw Spidey?! but then i was like, why not do Spider Ham?! so there ya have it, i ‘borrowed’ an ultimate spider-man pose, and gave him a ‘hammy’ twist. i did another quick color job as well (which i think is helping, i don’t over-think it, just color it). this guy was a lot of fun! i haven’t drawn any ‘superheros’ in ages – they’re really good practice and great for learning, and hell, really fun! alright, i feel like i’m repeating myself … Spider Ham! yea! ok, that’s it for now. it’s snowing, time to hunker down and watch The Dark Knight Rises. as always, thanks for reading and cheers!
CAP Sketch
well hello there! so, i know it’s been awhile since i last posted anything. with the Holidays upon us, things are getting hectic. i am going to try and render that though, i’ve got a whole slue of new projects in the works! not to mention that pesky comic book i keep talking/making excuses about… that will most likely start making it’s way online this winter (but i’m not making any promises, that seems to bite me in the ass more often than not). anyway, i decided to post a quick (and very loose) doodle i did earlier today. it’s of one of my favorite and most iconic Marvel characters, Captain America!
i just love Cap, i have since i was a kid. He’s in my top 5, along with Batman, Superman, Spiderman and … hmm, i’d have to give #5 some thought, that’s a tough one. i like these quick warm up doodles – sometimes they turn out like shit, but that’s why it’s practice, eh? maybe i’ll post some more of these and of my favorite characters. that way i can at least keep my blog interesting until the faithful day my comic appears. anyway, i hope you like Cap. i put up the original sketch with a very quick color job next to it. i’ll try and post another quicky next week, until then, Cheers!! and thanks for reading!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Happy Halloween everyone!! i’m really excited today! i just finished my Halloween costume last nite for myself and my wife. i’ll be sure to post a picture of us later this week. it was a lot of work, but i’m pretty happy. oh, but the big announcement i’ve been talking about…. (drum roll) the Ripsnorter Misfits Tribute album came out today! The Ripfits: 13 Hits From Hell – now what’s the connection with me? well i did the Cover art! you may remember me mentioning it way back in the summer months, but it’s finally here and it’s FREE!!! that’s right, FREE!! i’m really happy with how the cover came out, especially the colors. the monkey concept is a little inside joke between myself and the band. it has to do with the song Monkey’s Paw (the Jerry Only Misfits). oh i almost forgot, i play guitar on the bonus tracks as well! Ok, enough jibber jabber, go download the album and headbang while you vast in all of it’s monkey glory! ok, ok… have i sold you on it yet? hehe… alright, until next time, cheers!
ghouls night out (halloween sketch #10)
wow! this is it, the last Halloween sketch! i figured, why not end it with these little pranksters? i call it Ghouls Night Out! (yup, another Misfits reference) hard to believe it’s been 10 weeks already – it’s bitter sweet. this was a really fun exercise and i think i learned a few things along the way. with that said, i’m gonna to be glad to get back to the comic! who knows when i’ll actually get around to posting pages… i have a lot to ink ‘n’ color and i’m only a few pages in. the first issue (or chapter) will be 24 pages! though, with getting into the swing of posting every week, it’s helped me stick to my deadlines.
alright, so next week is Halloween and i’ll be posting a new piece i completed a few weeks ago. it was a really fun project and i’m glad i got to be a part of it! anyway, i’ll be posting that art and information on Wednesday, October 31st. so please check back! that’s pretty much it for now. i really hope you’ve enjoyed my Halloween Sketch series, and i want to say thank you to all the kind words i’ve received from everyone! it’s my fuel to keep moving forward! until next week, thanks for reading and cheers!
i want my mummy (halloween sketch #9)
wow, sketch number 9 already! only 1 more to go before Halloween – can you believe it? after next friday – the last Halloween sketch, i will most likely post on the following Wednesday, Halloween. i have something really cool that i’ve been working on and i’m hoping i’ll be able to share it that day. it’s not a personal project, so i have to make sure it’s cool that i share it. i’ve got to say, these sketches have really been a good kick in the pants and good practice for the comic. those first pages have been sitting idol for sometime now and i’m anxious to get back at them. i’ve really been pushing myself with the style. once i start getting use to the flow and characters, i’m hoping the pages will start flying out a little faster. i’m sure people are getting sick of random concept art over the last year, but it’s something i really needed to explore. i think if i would have just jumped in, things would not be up to par. so what i’m trying to say is, thank you to all the people that keep coming back to check out my art!
oh, i almost forgot! i’ve finally started a Facebook page for The Dead Have Issues. i just figured, hey it’s probably time, right? there’s also a little widget in the footer now (down below, check it out). i’ve thought about moving that stuff up to the side bar, as it gets kinda lost in the footer. i just don’t like how it interferes with the art, so i think that’s where it will stay until i update the site’s theme. ok, i’m rambling now. so with that, i hope you enjoy I Want My Mummy (corny, eh?) and i’ll see you here next week for the final installment of the Halloween Sketches! cheers!
the headless horsey-man (halloween sketch #8)
another week gone by already! time is flying. as you can see, i had fun with last week’s drawing. so, i decided to do another ‘mini-monster’ for this week’s sketch. i present to you, The Headless Horsey-man! forget the head, he wants his candy, ha! these are actually pretty fun to draw, but cartoons generally are. anyway, i may do one or more of these ‘mini-monsters’ before Halloween. though i have some other ideas that i’d like to try as well. maybe something a little more ‘decaying’ for the gore-hounds out there, while still sticking to my theme of course.
this week has been pretty hectic, i’m excited to say that the Ripsnorter Misfits cover album will be coming out soon. i’m handing off artwork this weekend! i can’t wait to post it, it’s been really fun to draw! that’s it for now, i hope everyone is enjoying this fine October. feel free to let me know what you think of the Halloween Sketches down in the Comments. there’s only about 2, maybe 3 more Halloween sketches left – then it’s back to the comic! i’d love to hear what you think. hell, i’d love to hear what you’re going as for Halloween too! thanks for reading and until next time – cheers!
