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SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER #4 (variant cover). 2017.
Gouache & Photoshop on bristol board, 11 × 17″. |
The time has finally come:
Shirtless Bear-Fighter #4 is out in the wild. Below you'll find all the reference and research that went into the painting — except, of course, the photos of my lovely wife, who refuses to acknowledge her crucial role in this debauchery.
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| Sorry, guys — wife said I couldn't post her pic. |
I ran out of time on this painting and had to finish the rest digitally (in one flapjack-fueled all-nighter). Below is the unfinished painting. The trade dress and faux wear & tear were already prepped in Photoshop, so all I had left to do was render the details. I used
Kyle T. Webster's brushes, mostly his gouache set, including my own modifications.
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| final image, no trade dress |
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| unfinished original painting |
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| digital drawing/color study |
I contracted
Manny Mederos to do the logo for me, sending him some of my favorite
Men's Magazines covers for inspiration. He gave me back several to choose from and I couldn't have been happier with the result. Perhaps we should do another?
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| digital layout (with logos by Manny Mederos) |
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| additional reference found online |
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| detail of raw scan |
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| detail of final digital rendering |
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| gouache painting process |
KILLER WORK. GET THEM BEARS!!
ReplyDeleteI would like a copy of this for my wall please lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Prints are available in my store :)
DeleteLink me please... I'm being computer illiterate right now lol
DeleteBAM! http://paolorivera.bigcartel.com/product/shirtless-bear-fighter
DeleteAny advice on painting skin tones? This looks great!
ReplyDeleteFor best results, paint from life :) First of all, get your values locked down. Once that's done, it almost doesn't matter what colros you use. Skin tones are subtle, so it's all about carefully modulating hue, saturation, and value.
DeleteThanks your work is so inspiring!
DeleteThis is my all-time favourite comic illustration, and I've been collecting since the 80s. Absolute genius!
ReplyDeleteHow'd you get the pencil lines not to show through? :)
ReplyDeleteI painted over a print of my digital sketch. It's pretty light, so it's easily covered. Also, the gouache is fairly opaque in some spots.
DeleteAlso, I'm guessing this isn't really, JR, Jr. is it?
You never know:)(it's not)
ReplyDeleteHe's also one of my favourites his storytelling is magical!
ReplyDelete