G.I. Joe cover-Storm Shadow

[synthetINK]

Hey

Here's a GI Joe comic cover I did for Devil's Due (comes out this week)The full color version, which is the one in print, was colored by Blond.
c&c welcome
-Andy


http://members.fortunecity.com/piranha7/MAcover72Greys.jpg
http://members.fortunecity.com/piranha7/MasterC.jpg

[nicolas]

Really nice Piece, dude! I like the monochrome version way better than the colored one though. I think the colors definetly "took away" rather than adding to your work.

NIC

[vigostar]

Hey, Nicholas... The colorist always ruin Andy's work... That have no apprciation for great linework... sucks big time... Andy needs to hook-up with a badass colorist, or plot out a diabolical scheme to poison all the colored printers in the "marvel" universe, so they could finally just leave his work as is...! Keep on rocking Andy

[Clandestine_IX]

really like that monochrome version, your linework is emaculate. /m\

[sevencrows]

great looking cover :)

[tylerjwarren]

Really nice Piece, dude! I like the monochrome version way better than the colored one though. I think the colors definetly "took away" rather than adding to your work.
NIC
Ahhh, they killed what was a fantastic work! Very well said the colors don't do justice to your piece, which is incredible. Although I'm not totally sure what the foreground object is...someone's head or a mask? Doesn't seem needed, but maybe that is what they wanted.
But the orignal is wonderful, don't let them color your stuff anymore, hahaha.

[AdamBlack]

Gorgeous.

[MattyRyan]

Very nice, but I think I like it monotone better.

:D

[bracomadar]

...Although I'm not totally sure what the foreground object is...someone's head or a mask? Doesn't seem needed, but maybe that is what they wanted...

My geek senses tells me that's Destro. :perv: Very nice work dude. I agree, they should have left it the way you did it. It looks more badass that way.

[synthetINK]

Thanx for the comments.
I thought the colors looked good on this one...in general my stuff is kinda hard to color with bright comic colors and some of the ink shading I'm doing gets lost....It would be great to see some of it published with the monochromes and I keep pushing for it. I still enjoy seeing my work colored by various colorists and don't think they ruin my work.
-andy

[Kenny_Callicutt]

its no where near as dynamic in the colored version, do the colorists have to use such saturated colors? Im relatively unfamiliar with the comic book process, I know the saturated colors are standard and all, but is it written in stone somewhere?

[Pavel Sokov]

it is perfect, but i like the uncolored one more

[MrD]

I wouldn´t say the artist responsible for coloring this formidable piece ruined it. It´s just very difficult to change a perfect picture and not hurting it at the same time. Besides especially the folks over here appreciate raw talent and such sweet stuff in b/w only isn´t something you see often. Colorful comics- that we see everywhere.

Actually the colored version looks fine and if it wasn´t for seeing the monochrome one first I bet it would get apprecitated more strongly.


You are utterly insane with Inks, Andy. Do you sell your talent? http://www.conceptart.org/forums/images/ca_smilies/normal/smiley_bashful.gif

EDIT: Just so you don´t only get praise :) The handles of the swords are too thin. Other than that awesome.

[jetpack42]

are these done traditionally? with brush? quill? size? on what paper? I'm really interested to learn a little more about your process...fantastic work.

[michel]

very cool piece. i love it. :teeth:
but i agree with the others i only like the monochrome version. that "dangergirl" like colors ruin your skillfull work.

michel

[Aerythes]

Your line art never fail to amaze. Such intricacy and precision. Yeh, the monochrome version is way, way better than the colored one.

[loomer]

I'm with everyone else. The colored doesn't touch the monochrome...
What is strange to me, is that I always felt your monochramtic work was part of your style. Not only is it more aestetically (sp?) pleasing, but it enhances the mood.

your work is always fantastic - thanks for posting.

[P E N Ricklund]

I do have to agree with everybody else, the lineart i truely fabolus <3

Can you tell something about what technic you use?

[vigostar]

I have to give Andy credit for iving credit to the colorist and like someone said, if we had not seen the b/W version first we would have appreciated the coored version more...! either way, theres gotta be someone in the "Marvel" universe and there fo that has a coloring skill that compliments your style.. Until, then, keep on pushing for the B/W version....! Or maybe just try to convince them to do a limited print of one! Just a thought!

[synthetINK]

Well, I still think Blond's colors are descent on this cover.
My understanding from talking with comic editors is they want bright colors on the cover and want the character's costum colors to be recognizable from a distance...they also like yellow and reds on the cover since they will make a book pop out more on the self than cool colors... so some of the coloring choices I think are more about marketing and catching a costumer's eye than showing the art in it's best form.
If a cover I do is printed monochrome or B&W and proves to help sales, I'm sure the editors would be just fine with printing things like that...So far I haven't had a company want to take a chance on that.

KenDeathwalker-it's not in stone, but is the standard
MrD-yeah, the sword handles are a little thin
jetpack42-I use mostly micron pens...on 11x17 with 10x15 draw area

loomer-thanx, I like the monochrome stuff better too, it just is rarly printed like that
vigostar-I suggested printing the B&W one inside or on the back cover on one of my Marvel covers...I didn't hear back on that suggestion... Marvel has listened to some of my suggestions though, especially on the coloring for Identity Disc #5's cover.

for those interested in my process, here's the rough sketch and finished pencils for this cover.

http://members.fortunecity.com/piranha7/SS-GIJoeSketch2.jpg
http://members.fortunecity.com/piranha7/MAGIJoe1Pencil72.jpg

[vigostar]

wow, you follow your pencil lines almost to the tee.. Thats great... I cant believe you work on such a small canvas or paper... Ive been trying to get more detailed in my work as well, and I havent been able to incorporate the proper strokes to the materials.. Meaning when inking scales, or a sword o even armor its always different.... I love the way you render... i just bought some stadtler pens, I wanted to get either the microns or the cobic pens but, the art store I went to didnt have them... >:| anyways, keep on posting here andy... Maybe, you should tell marvel to check out this thread and see what other artists are saying about doing a b/w print!!! :wink: Next time you get another book published of your artwork let us know.. I want to get one!