Friday, December 30, 2011

The Incomers


The Incomers by Moira McPartlin is one of a few book jackets that i've done over the last few months and this is the first one that i am allowed to show as it is now available on Amazon for pre-order. The author and publishing house wanted it to look different from everything else on the shelves in that genre and so we ended up going down the route of more is less and using bold flat colours and ink outlines. I think it does the job. You can find out more about the book and pre-oder it on Amazon here

Happy New Year to all!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Montage!


A little montage of some older, previous works, including pics from Cubicle 7, AEG, White Wolf, and Spiral Direct.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas Angel

MeanMachineXMAS_GNREID.jpg, www.gnreid.co.ukMerry Christmas everyone, see you in the new year if Mean Machine doesn't get you first!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Clearing the attic

I've started clearing my old stuff out of my parents house. Most of my old work is going in the bin , bit occasionally I find something I quite like. This is a portrait I did of my friend ( writer, filmmaker)  Colin McLaren.  It was part of the design process for a Theatre poster I designed for his production of Hamlet ( he starred in it) . I went a different way with the final poster, more austere and symbolic.


Friday, December 23, 2011

Judge Dredd (reimagined)



I've come across a few sites recently that 'recreate' existing characters just for fun (Project Rooftop etc.) and thought i would participate in some work along those lines. The Whitechapel site were doing a Judge Dredd one last week so this is my redesign from that.

I reckoned that i probably had three options:
1) Tweak and revise the existing design (seemed a bit pointless)
2) Take a more conceptual approach (i did doodle some blind justice style ideas where his eyes/head were masked with cloth - like the statues of a woman holding justice scales but just thought ideas like that would be too impractical for Dredd's environment)
3) Take a more practical 'realistic' approach

I went with option 3 and decided to start from scratch basing the design on a hi-tech evolution of a riot cop (i guess an obvious route to take but it made the most sense to me). The helmet now includes various technical capabilities such as gas mask/filtration system, comms system and night vision/infra red etc. The body suit is armoured and padded for day to day violence and the truncheon is barbed, spiked and electrified. Debated on keeping it mostly black and navy etc. but thought i would transfer over some of the colour from the real Dredd costume.

Quite fun to do, so i may do some more of these next year.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Roller Grrrls! Eerie Erin sketch.



Recently (when I have free time) I have been working on a roller derby comic (writing and drawing mostly) with my wife Mhairi and storyboarding colleague Anna Malady. We are also aided by the brilliant Yel Zamor on colour and the talented Abby Ryder on Lil Rollers. You can see more images and covers when you visit the Roller Grrrls hub at rollergrrrls.com.

This image here works well as a 'time out' piece from the main story. Erin waits her turn to enter the play. It captures the downtime perfectly and is so much more satisfying an image to work on than spandex heroes destroying giant robots and buildings. Very pleased with this image.

Visit the hub and LIKE the Facebook page. Comments welcome and we love feedback!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

H is for Hussar!


An officer of the 7th Hussars, (although I think a liberty or two was taken with the uniform - with the dimensions of the fur cap especially) for a comic I hoped to do years ago - sadly I found it impossible to eat into the 100+ pages I unwisely set myself...

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

H is for Hulk (again)

HULKrage_GNREID.jpg, www.gnreid.co.ukI've already drawn the Hulk and posted it as part of the Marvel A-Z but hey I've done it again. Lots of colour Copic Markers and hardly any black ink, good fun to draw.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Doctor Who buddies


Some more emoticons, this time with Doctor Who characters. No time for chat just now as off for Christmas 'lunch' so best to post this before i go as i may not be in a fit state later.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Claire Bennet, Heroes. Sketch.



A more whimsical sketch from Paris Manga. This was for a father's daughter who loved Claire Bennet, the cheerleader from Heroes. I asked her (in French) whether she wanted to see the gunshot and she nodded. She was about thirteen years old. Cool kid.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Cyberpunk Dude


A dude from an old Cyberpunk comic I was fiddling with a while back.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Starblazer 'Rocket Age Adventures'

StarblazerRAA_GNREID.jpg, www.gnreid.co.uk


I like writing these kind of posts, I wrote one last year with my first work for 2000AD under my belt, it's a 'dream fulfilled' or 'mark it off the wish list' post. 

Back on January 25th 2010 I wrote a piece about a painting I had produced in homage to 'Starblazer' the digest sized sci-fi comic published by DC Thomson Ltd in Dundee. The post and painting received a fair amount comment and coverage from around 'the net' and I was lucky enough to see the image 'Stone of R'lyeh' published in the book 'Sci-fi Art Now' from Ilex Press.

As I stated in the post Starblazer ceased publication back in 1991 and DC Thomson has no plans to resurrect the title but if you read through the comments left you'll see a conversation about the roleplaying game 'Starblazer Adventures' from Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd. The writer of the game, Chris Birch, talked about why licensing Starblazer from DC Thomson worked for them and how, like myself, he had very fond memories of the comic. I've had the pleasure of producing a few pieces for Cubicle 7 in the last year (fate is a strange chap as fellow Scotch Corner contributor Jon Hodgson is now the Art Director of the company) and when I was asked if I was interested in producing the cover for a new Starblazer supplement I couldn't turn it down.

The supplement is called 'Rocket Age Adventures' and it allows the gamer to use the Starblazer rules as a more retro sci-fi, pulp style rocket ships and rayguns game. The brief called for "a nice dynamic piece with a load of rockets and rayguns and mysterious bulbous craft all coming bursting out at us framing a male and female character in nice rocketeer, bubble helmet style."

Sometimes I know exactly what I'm going to draw and the trick for me is to try and live up to my own vision of how an image should look. Artists and other creative people have been known to be notoriously critical of their own work and its understandable that if what's on paper doesn't match your own vision of how it should look that you will be negative about your achievements. I knew pretty much from the outset how I was going to be approaching this and my initial sketch was approved with one change… to add in another rocket.

StarblazerRAA_SketchPencil.jpg, www.gnreid.co.uk

Onto the pencils and as I have tendency to produce very tight pencil work it was a good indication for the client to see how the finished illustration was going to look. I then inked and set to colouring the piece. I wanted to have a marked difference between the man and woman and the elements that surrounded them so I kept the characters and the rocky planet surface in their original solid inked style but the rockets, robot and saucers I decided to paint and drop the inked line to give them a different kind of look. I had a lot of fun adding in little touches to this cover and by the time I'd finished I had decided that for me it's the best illustration I've produced this year, I think I nailed it on the head for this one and I'm very happy with it and thankfully so was the client who gave me special permission to show it off.

So in a very rare event I have a cover I'm very happy with, that the client loves and, although the comic disappeared 20 years ago, I think this could be about as close as you can now get to saying you've drawn a cover for Starblazer. Not bad I reckon.

©2011 Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Jonday: WWC

A piece of video I made for Cubicle 7, to promote an upcoming game, for which I also made the cover. The cover is not yet cleared for display, but you'll get the gist of it from the vid:

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011

T is for Throg - Frog of Thunder


No idea why i decided to doodle this - just one of those random things that came into my head. Way back when Walt Simonson was doing his legendary Thor run he decided to have some villian mystically turn Thor into a frog for an issue or so - i pretty much thought that was an end to it but when double checking the costume i found out that Marvel now have a permanent character like this.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Catwoman_sketch.



I normally don't like showing the 'process' as some of the early sketches always look so very rough and, well... bad. These failed attempts at something better always get hidden in a drawer or trashed. The reason? Well, I constantly change poses, elements and rendering while I draw and these initial ideas never show the full potential. More so when shown out of context of the finished image.

This sketch of Catwoman (part of two ideas I worked up for Paris Manga) has a Parisian flavour about it and still pleases, even at this raw stage. There is a suggestion of a short story too which also helps. Compositionally though it is nearly there. Some nice angles and shapes created by her legs, back and the buildings!

I normally start with a little thumbnail (seen bottom right) and use that as reference for larger sketch. Ideas are added, changed and occasionally overdrawn. There was a proper inked pass done of this pose at an event but I forgot to take a picture of it, sadly. The legs were slightly different and she was more recessed into the window frame (allowing for some rather complimentary underlighting of her quite lovely bottom) The pose was also more arched and curvier all round.

The second idea from this series was of Catwoman at the Folies Bergere and was rather saucy. Possibly working that up into to a print for next year's Paris Manga show. A sketch might be posted before then.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Stop badgering me!


Another illo from my C+S days. I'm not quite sure at the time that I understood what a Japanese badger-man would look like, and now I would do this pic very very differently. But hey. Live and learn! And use the internet for research...

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Wheee-Doggie!

MeanMachine_GNREID.jpg, www.gnreid.co.uk
Ya dirty stinkin' judge hat! Nobody stares down Mean Machine Angel!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Bondage

This promo image from earlier this year took it's inspiration from the Bond movie credits and the colour washes used in the title sequences of the Good The Bad and the Ugly.
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Saturday, December 3, 2011

Florida Loser Noir

A quick character sketch. I've been reading some Elmore Leonard lately.

Friday, December 2, 2011

The Joker - well, kind of



I stumbled over a website recently that was running a comic art competition which basically involved creating a female version of a male character. They supplied a fair selection of images to choose from to use as reference material - i think to draw from rather than manipulate as i have done - but as i had missed the deadline anyway when i found the site i thought i would just have a play with some photo manipulation. I decided not to go too OTT with this one and tried to keep the changes reasonably subtle so that it still looked like it could have been done as a make-up photoshoot - the original image is posted here too so that you can see any edits i made to the model (eyebrowes, mouth etc.). Might add a few more of these to my to do list to keep brushing up on my photoshop skills.

The Thing! Sketch. Paris 2011.



Ben Grimm. The Thing. This is the last of four sketches for Dominique Brucato at Paris Manga. He has been patiently waiting six months between characters and each has proven a challenge. Starting with the Invisible Girl, I painted her in reverse (with light) as white paint on black paper. Johnny Storm was inked purely in flame, with no outline. It proved a favourite and was very kinetic and full of energy. Mr. Fantastic was a more playful image done in the style of Bryan Hitch. Maybe I'll post that one another time?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Samurai


But an older one done with pen and ink, again for Brittania Game Designs for Chivalry and Sorcery game line around 2000/2001 this one. ©Andy Hepworth

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Falling in with Bad Company!

Graeme Neil Reid,Illustration,2000ad I love drawing this big monster, one of my favourite series from 2000AD. About time they convinced Brett Ewins to draw a one off special and y'know if he can't do it…

Monday, November 28, 2011

jonday helmet sketch

Mostly for making a note to use this style of helmet crest in something at a later date...

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Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Big Rotting Apple

This is the back cover to last summer's Zarjaz Dredd special. New York concreted over has become a dark, cold hellhole. I took inspiration from many of the early 80's post apocalyptic movies like Escape from New York, The Bronx Warriors and the poster art for The Warriors.

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Monster Truck

I don't know what the hell this is. I blame Doug, my studio mate. Yea, it's Doug's fault! Doug Olsen! Him over there!!!!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Dept. of Monsterology - Slutherneerg


Reports on the Slutherneerg, the last of the four new species discovered below the Guatemala sinkholes, are now in. The Slutherneerg serve in many capacities but primarily they act as a mode of transport for the other denizens, providing travel between the interconnected caves deep under the surface. It has been suggested that it is the movement of the Slutherneerg, rather than environmental reasons, that may actually be the cause of the sinkholes in this region.

A fully grown Slutherneerg will be almost 3/4 of a mile long and weigh several tons. The creature burrows through the earths core creating the vast tunnel network and can easily carry in the region of 500 passengers on it's back from tunnel to tunnel. The Slutherneerg can hook itself into cavern walls to rest in place and can also use these hooks to allow it traverse above any abyss it may come across and to climb vertical walls.

As violent and ruthless as the Rikitiktik are, they revere the Slutherneerg almost as a deity and protect the species at all costs. The carcasses of deceased Slutherneerg are considered sacred ground and are hollowed out to be used as both shrines and safe-haven hospices for the elderly and poorly of the Rikitiktiks.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Older Pen work


Pen artwork originally for Britannia Games' Land of The Rising Sun book, though unpublished as far as I recall. Dip pen and ink this one, a nib I found on a trip to Japan (they have awesome art shops there - we get the usual crappy UK service over here) which I used for a few years. Then I didn't, for no good reason at all. Must find the time for some dip-pennery soon!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

High moon in Berlin

She's got to ask herself a question, did she fire six shots or only five?
Photobucket
Some new art for next year's Vampire Vixens One Shot

Friday, November 18, 2011

Dept. of Monsterology - Fido


Reports on the "Fido", one of the four new species discovered below the Guatemala sinkholes, are now in. The Fido act as obedient pets to the Rikitiktik and like the Joes they are very loyal and show very little sign of independant thought.

The Fido stands at about 2 feet tall. The Fido slides rather than walks and although very slow moving they are exceptionally lethal once they have latched onto their prey. The fido wraps it's wing like appendages around an area of it's victim and embeds it's barbed claws to keep the hold. This allows the Fido to bite into the victim with the eight hooked teeth on it's stomach, as well as helping to hold the fido in place, these teeth contain a venomous toxin which induces paralysis to the victim within a minute. The toxin then starts to reduce the victim's body to a soft pulp like mush. As the body disintegrates and becomes more fluid-like in nature, the Fido drinks the body through it's real mouth which resides on it's stomach between the eight teeth. What looks like it's mouth at the head area is only actually used to fight back against victims in their initial struggles before paralysis sets in. The team have observed a Fido devour a Joe within four minutes. The victim remains alive through most of this period and it is thought that they retain full awareness and sensory function throughout the fatal ordeal. The Fido nick name came from one of the team that observed this act - the suction from the Fido's feeding method looks like a frantic rubbing movement against the victim and was said to have reminded him of his pet dog at home.

The final outstanding report on the Slutherneerg will follow shortly.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Chow time!


Now that is one tasteeeee small intestine. Ummmmm Hmmmmmm. I seem to have been Mr Nightfall for a while now, so next week I promise I'll post something which I didn't do for either Nightfall, odr the company who produce it, Alderac Entertainment Group.

© AEG 2011

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Vworpobix!

Graeme Neil Reid,Illustration To call 'Vworp Vworp' a fan magazine would be technically right but possibly give you a false sense of its brilliance. Now onto its second issue the 104 page perfect bound tome of love for Panini Magazines 'Doctor Who Magazine' is so packed full of brilliant articles, art, interviews and all things Doctor Who that I knew I had to contribute to its pages.

With this issue you'll find 'Vworpobix', a board game which lovingly updates the Doctor Who game featured on the back of the cardboard packaging boxes of Weetabix during the 1970s. Featuring the art of Jon Pinto, Leighton Noyes, Paul Grist, James Offredi, Simon Gurr, Adrian Salmon and myself. I was asked to update the 'Race Through Space' section of the game with elements from the 'new' series of Doctor Who so I managed to cram in loads of moments from the last six years not least of all Supermarine Spitfires attacking Daleks in space!

Editors Gareth Kavanagh and Colin Brockhurst have poured all their love and energy into this magazine and it shows, here's a short list of some of the features:

  • The first half of our exhaustive Abslom Daak tribute, including interviews with writer Steve Moore, and artists Steve Dillon and David Lloyd. Also a Daak comic strip, written for DWM by Steve Moore in 1980 but withdrawn after a disagreement with the editor, now finally brought to the page byDWM artists Martin Geraghty, Adrian Salmon and Roger Langridge.
  • We’re kicking off our series of DWM editor interviews with a fascinating chat between Dez Skinn and Tom Spilsbury. We also chat to Paul Neary, Alan McKenzie, Cefn Ridout and the elusive Sheila Cranna.
  • Ex-Doctors Tom Baker and Colin Baker talk about their comic strip selves.
  • Dave Gibbons, Steve Parkhouse and Mick McMahon discuss The Tides of Time and Junkyard Demon, and we take in The Lodger with Gareth Roberts and Mike Collins.
  • We’ve got, The Housekeeper, a comic strip written by Paul Magrs and drawn by Bret M Herholz starring Mrs Wibbesey and the Fourth Doctor.
  • And we’ve got an fantastic free gift in the form of a ‘Vworpabix’ board game. Based on the 1970s Weetabix game, ours has 16 character cards by Adrian Salmon and boards by Paul Grist, Jon Pinto, Leighton Noyes and Graeme Neil Reid.
  • Two covers: a wraparound Abslom Daak cover by Mike Collins, and an early Doctor Who Monthly pastiche featuring Junkyard Demon (with Jason Fletcher and Ben Willsher’s take on Daak on the back cover).
  • … and much more! 

Head over to www.vworpvworp.co.uk to order your copy and also pick up the first excellent issue too!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Jonday from teh vaults

Here's a model I made a long time ago in good ole sketchup.  This location has been used from various angles since it's construction.

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Sunday, November 13, 2011

Hong Kong Phooey

Did this drawing during a bored lunchbreak at work to see how close I could capture the look of the art
in Photoshop.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Athenians

A drawing done to test a new pen nib, the fabled Somerville Spear, reputedly the finest drawing nib ever created. I found 2 in a stall in Paris. They were indeed fabulous, almost as flexible as a brush, but springy and fabulously lively. You get the impression from the line-quality on the drawing. Unfortunately my first one was toast by the end of this drawing. I'm saving the last one for when I REALLY need cheering up.

Friday, November 11, 2011

StarShipSofa volume 3 - The Occurrence at Slocombe Priory





Following on from Graeme's post earlier this week, here is more art from StarShipSofa Volume 3 out today - you can order your copy in various formats from here . My illustrations accompany Paul Cornell's 'The Occurrence at Slocombe Priory' - not at all what i expected to illustrate from a Paul Cornell story - i had assumed it would be a superhero/sci-fi strip but instead it's a great fun pastiche of a certain bunch of cartoon detectives, just shows that great writers can turn their hand to any genre.


A wee competition too

A bit of self pimping this week - in an effort to try and separate my online personal and work 'identities' i have set up a new twitter account @TMCillustration and a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TMC.Illustration - will still be a fair bit of crossover but in an effort to get some followers on board the new twitter and FB accounts i am also running a competition to win a set of 5 A4 prints from my earlier Marvel A-Z set. The rules are simple, anybody following the accounts before the 1st December will be entered into a lucky dip draw. If you follow on both FB and twitter you will be entered twice - if you tweet a follow/mention you will be entered again and the same goes for sharing on Facebook - so potentially you could be entered into the draw four times.

3 winners will be drawn and announced on December the 1st.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Red Sonja. London MCM.



Never drawn Red Sonja before but wanted to create a picture with a story (or at least a little more than just a traditional 'girl with a sword image') Delighted with this first attempt (drawn under the pressure of an MCM table) and would definitely work this up for a proper cover.

If this week's post were for a caption competition entry I would imagine having Red Sonja saying 'Who's next?'