Fan Art

A couple of new pieces...

Marrow

Uncanny X-Men 98 Covered

X-Men sketch

Uncanny X-Men 14 Covered



Edited by thegruffman - 19-Jun-2010 at 1:59pm

Great job Swift! We definitely need more fan art up in here.

I didn't draw this.  but i'm the one who requested it to be drawn.

http://browse.deviantart.com/cartoons/?q=toad&order=9&offset=24#/d1yfu4n

Originally posted by Swift I had a few questions for people who like comic book art.  Feel free to answer some or all of these questions.  The answers will be helpful for me to do future drawings of characters and plus I like hearing what you have to say. 1) Realism.  Is it a must-have or is super comic-booky ideal?  Do you like or dislike a super cartoony style?

I like both, but lean toward cartoony when given a choice. When it's realistic, I prefer hyper real, meaning, it "could" exist in real life, it just doesn't. I am thinking of Avatar as an example from film. If it's too real, ie. Alex Ross, I tend to get bored.

Originally posted by Swift 2) Inking.  Is it important? or do you prefer fan art to be sketchy to show it in it's unfinished glory?  Is there a style of inking you find preferable?

I honestly think we are getting to a day and age, thanks to digital techniques, where inking is less of a must. I think specifically of Joe Mad's Ultimates, which had no inks whatsoever, and looked gorgeous. But I don't wish inks to go away completely, I think there is an artistry to it for sure.

Originally posted by Swift 3) Coloring.  Yes or no? Black or white?  When it comes to coloring do you prefer super muted colors? Vibrant colors?  Digital painting style, yes or no?

Definitely like colors. I wish I was better at them myself. Digital painting is fine, not every comic has to be hand painted. I just like colors that create a mood. I guess I like Oranges and Purples for that reason.

Originally posted by Swift 4) Composition.  Should there be a background inserted?  Other people? Voice or thought bubbles?

A very under-rated aspect to art. I love it when perspective lines and blur effects draw my eye toward the central elements of the canvas or panel. A beautiful background is often as meaningful, if not more, than a pretty face or body.

Originally posted by Swift 5) Variation.  Do you want characters drawn in their old costumes?  What if the artist made variations on an old theme?  Do you like it when the artist tries something *really* out of their comfort zone for the sake of trying something new?

To be honest, I like certain artists who maintain a certain style. I guess it's dependable that I can look at their art and know I like it. However, it can be a double edged sword. I think of Scott Kolins. Early on, I hated his style. Recently, I have seen him develop as an artist, he's been breaking out of his old style, trying new things, and now I really like where his art is going.

Originally posted by Swift 6) Sexiness.  Do you prefer fan art of women (or men!) to be super raunchy or something that is more modest in nature?  Should X-women have assets that are super exaggerated?

Ahem. Well, perhaps I should be ashamed that I name as some of my favorite artists, Michael Turner, Terry Dodson, Frank Cho, and Adam Hughes. But I don't think I really should be, because why isn't it natural to admire the human form, particularly that of the opposite sex? Now having said that, please no porn star faces Greg Land. And please no DDD cups Mr. Liefeld. There is a limit.

Originally posted by Swift 7) Prolific-ness.  How often would you prefer to see fan art?  Is there a certain amount + a certain level of consistency of style/quality of work that you find a) realistic and b) desired?

As often as you can get it out there. I figure if you are doing fan-art, you are doing it because you enjoy it, and/or want to practice, so get to it!

Originally posted by Swift 8) Feedback.  Would you be willing to give feedback on drawings?  The good, the bad the ugly?

Absolutely! The only way to get better is to get honest feedback and criticism. But I definitely prefer a nice, polite reviewer.

Originally posted by Swift 9) Collecting.  Do you collect fan art?  If you do, do you prefer if the artist signs his work or is it okay if it is left blank?

I collect it on DeviantArt, or on my computer in general, but not so much on paper. No signature required, but it's not a bad thing either.

Originally posted by Swift Thanks for your help in advance.-Swift.

Thanks for the thought provoking survey!   

I'm trying something new: Art on the iPad.

http://eliphs.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Phoenix-183543267
Dark Phoenix.

-Swift.


Edited by Swift - 22-Oct-2010 at 7:40pm

Very sexy Rogue there, Swift. Good job.

Sorry I'm a little late to your series of questions, but i'll still answer.

1) Realism in art can really go either way for me. I guess it depends on which you can pull off better. If you can go for realistic, gritty, and down-to-earth, and have it work, then more power to you. At the same time, it's not always bad to have more cartoon-y art.

2) Inking is important, very much so, but I think that letting the piece remain rough can create a very unique and pleasing effect.

3) As for coloring, what can I say? I like color a 'lot. My favorite costumes for the X-Men were the early 90's ones, but vibrant colors certainly don't work in every setting. It really depends on your strengths as an artist and your personal style.

4) It's always nice to see a finished product of someone else's work, that is, full color, background, and the whole bit. That's not always practical however, but it is nice--and I'm sure it's good practice for you as well.

5) Variation is good. I definitely like to see the addition of an artists individual flair to a piece, and I don't mind artists making risky decisions either. Go crazy with it!

6) Hm, this is a good question. Sexy is good, but it shouldn't be too unrealistic or porn-star-like (Emma Frost anyone?). In many cases I feel that artists should be a little more realistic when drawing these characters, because, in the case of X-Men, all the sexy blondes look the exact same!

7) I actually love looking at fan art any chance I can get, but I would probably rather see a good amount of time put into the work rather than be popping them out all the time in rushed fashion.

8) "Feedback. Would you be willing to give feedback on drawings? The good, the bad the ugly?" But of course!

9) I do not collect, and I don't have a preference as to whether or not you sign your pieces or not. If it were me, I probably would.

Hope this helps a little. By the way, your art looks fantastic.

You bet I can't wait to see more! Those iPad sketches are great! I wish the iPad had pressure sensitivity and a stylus. It's really hard to get any line weight on them.

I bought the Samsung Galaxy Note due to the capacitive touch stylus thingy.

http://eliphs.deviantart.com/art/Chamber-291858852
Chamber from Gen X.

-swift.


Edited by Swift - 23-Mar-2012 at 4:49pm