Monday, May 01, 2006

Secret Origins!



Secret Origin Time! Above to the left are the Thumbnails to a Superman cover. Since this image is most likely for a coloring book, the cover needs to be iconic and very kid friendly.

The editors settle on the first one but are concerned that the dark clouds and lightening could be kinda spooky and wouldn't fit as well with the younger market place. Understandable. I convince them that I can "make it work!". Will I be able to? I'm really not sure. It's something you really just say. More on that later...

I go in and do the pencils first by enlarging my layout and drawing over them loosely, and tightening things up as I go.

Next, I ink it up and go to color. After trying to "make it work", I decide it's best to offer an alternative to avoid more labor with corrections down the road. Sadly, I land up liking the version without the ligtening better. I think it's actually a bit better suited for the audience they're trying to attract. But, ultimately, it's not my decision to make. Time will tell. Or, in this case, two editors.

19 comments:

Jesse said...

I'd have put a little smiley face on each bolt of lightening...

Rob Corley said...

Dan!
Wow....This is such a nice solid piece, nice inking and color. I like hearing a little about your process. Man, this is definitely one of my all time favorites! Solid man Solid!
Rob

Unknown said...

Great ink and colour!

John Beatty said...

I like this Dan!

-JB

Ben Reynolds said...

Dan..your stuff is amazing man. I hope we will get to work with each other in the future!

Ben Reynolds said...

i linked you too..hope you don't mind!

Urban Barbarian said...

Thanks everyone. Hard to go wrong with Superman flying right at you! Thanks for stopping by! ;)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the insight into your thought process... and, as everyone said, very nice!

Rafa Toro said...

Thanks for the comment, beautiful artwork is yours!!

Urban Barbarian said...

No problem Craig! Got a kick out of your name link! I love me some Sly!

Thanks for stopping by, Rafa! Both of your blogs are real treats!

Frankie Franco III said...

Love your Blog man! BEAUTIFUL

Unknown said...

WOW!!! Super!!

Martin Wittig said...

HOLY CRAP!!!! I come back.....and not only is there more amazing art,...but a whole new look for your blog! I love it. Awesome superman by the way, and i love the color work too.

Tom Bancroft said...

Dan, this is one of my all time favorite "Panoshian" yet! Love the other sketches also. All of them would have made great coloring book covers. Don't throw them away, you may use them again for another job! (Or I will, hee, hee, hee....:)

Love the color too!

Antonio Santamaria said...

This one is marvellous, I like the final colour superman but also the pencils and the sketches!!! Are really one of your best works, on my opinion, of course!!! You are a reference!!!

Jeff said...

Wow. Great piece. I've been all over your website and blog and I still want more. Stunning range of work and I feel like I've learned a lot just on my first pass through. More step-by-step stuff like this would be great, too. Whatever you do I'll keep looking.

marco's blog said...

you need to be on a superman book!!! i love that you don't just lay in color, you actually draw with it as well.
i've been away from here too long. great work!

Sedyas said...

Ufff! Dan, I love the first sketches. Great ideas.

Anonymous said...

I love Superman and this is an instant classic!