Thursday, January 10, 2008

Thank You JJ Kirby

[Eddy]

Remember that post about hiring a colorist that was on here awhile ago? Well, we received a LOT of coloring samples for it and JJ was really happy to see everyone bring their A-game to the challenge, but eventually we narrowed our pick down to Gabe Eltaeb.

I think Gabe's been posting comments on this blog forever, so it was nice to see a long-time supporter joining our ranks here. (That makes two hires thanks to this blog, including Livio Ramondelli recently, for anyone keeping score at home.)

Above, is the piece that he submitted, but here he is to tell you a little bit more about himself:

Hello everyone, my name is Gabe Eltaeb and I am the new guy here at WildStorm.

When I was 13 years old in 1991 my good friend Shawn Bandy showed me the first issue of the adjective-less X-Men illustrated by none other than Jim Lee. I had always liked comics but I never had purchased them. When I saw this cover my life changed instantly. I decided then and there to become a comic book artist when I grew up.

I have been a freelance comic book artist since 2004. In that time I have been working as a penciller, inker, colorist and sometimes letterer for some other publishers.

One night this last September, I was up late finishing some coloring for a project. Even though it was around 2:00 am I sometimes like to do a little web surfing after I finish work to unwind. I check out the sports scores and read some comics-related sites and then I check out the Gelotometti blog. On this particular night I see a headline that would change my life: "Hiring - Colorist." On the site they had a picture of Superman in black and white with instructions to color it and submit it. Hmmm...

I am so tired from working all day and I really don't want to color it. I want to go to bed. When I look at the blog's comments section I see that a handful of people have already colored this illustration so I decide to forgo sleep and start making rainbows with Photoshop.

I post a link to my colored piece and hit the hay (It takes me 20 minutes to figure out how to hotlink an image in blogger, it is not like regular html, but that is another post.)

About a week and a half later I get a call from WildStorm telling me they saw my art on the blog and asking if I would be willing to relocate. Long story short, here I am working for WildStorm in the most beautiful city in the world.

I have been on the job a little over a week now. Everyone has been so kind and friendly here, I feel like I am starting to fit in. I look forward to bringing some CMYK joy to the DC/ WildStorm books.

Cheers
-Gabe

18 comments:

SedatOezgen said...

Hey,
congratulations Gabe!!!! this is really awesome to hear and inspires us aspiring internet lurking artists to see that one of us made it!!! congratulations once again, this is the oppurtunity of a lifetime:)
Best wishes,
Sedat:)

http://sedatoezgen.blogspot.com

Gabe_Eltaeb said...

Thanks for the kind words man. If you want to work in this industry just keep working your tail off.

I was 13 when I decided I wanted to work in the Comicbook industry. I am 29 now. Never give up.

Hard work makes dreams come true.

COMIKXGUY said...

CONGRATS GABE!

it really is nice to see 2 of our guys on here going for the majors

i'll be waiting to see you on one of them WS books and in july at SDCC

now only if sedat can pull it off :)

put a good word in for him and maybe even help him out online

COMIKXGUY said...

HEY GABE, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE YOUR OWN BLOG?

SOCAL HERE YOU COME! :)

Remi said...

wow. that was a really heartfelt note :) congrat Gabe!

monsanto said...

Congrats! Hope to see your work on print soon. :)

Catie said...

Wow, that is utterly awesome. Congratulations, Gabe!

mic? said...

Woohoo!! Congrats, Gabe!! ¦D Lookin' forward to seein' yo' work in the 4-color world!

Well-deserved! I was wonderin' if anyone ended up gettin' hired. lol I lo'e the warm against the cool tones you used for Supes piece.

Peace...

Unknown said...

WWooww...exellent drawings and art, very very good estyle!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!

Rodrigo!!!!

Unknown said...

grats gabe nice website

look foreward to seeing you put out some stuff for wildstorm.

antonio said...

gABE Congrats on the new position!!

JESUS ANTONIO

ps...delightful choices you made with the Superman colored version.

Brandon O'Donnell said...

Sweet deal, man. Congratulations on the job.

Jason Embury said...

Congrats Gabe, that's a sweet looking piece of work there man :) nice palette.

Anonymous said...

Hey bro, I'm so happy for you, you earned it man. The Fort Collins Crew will miss ya, I'm sure I'll see ya at Christmas:)

Jeremy

jza1218 said...

Man. That's an awesome story.

Congrats Gabe. Can't wait to see some more of your work.

jZa

Gabe_Eltaeb said...

" jeremy de la garza said...
Hey bro, I'm so happy for you, you earned it man. The Fort Collins Crew will miss ya, I'm sure I'll see ya at Christmas:)

Jeremy"

Jeremy,

I miss the Fort Collins crew. I will se you guys every now and then.

-Gabe

-Gabe

DWF said...

Hi, Gabe

I just saw the announcement today!

You may or may not remember me, but we knew each other out
of a an online comics venture Gravitywell many moons ago...

Even then, I saw your work and liked it. That was maybe 2000? Not sure. I remember when you left, and moved out to Colorado. I can't remember, but didn't you come out originally from Escondido?

Well, my name is Doug. I wrote and drew the book Hangwire. I got
excited when I saw your name on the blog... very nice!

Your work was always natural and fluid, so they made a good choice. I see you went into digital colors and it's very good!

If you ever have a chance, you can contact me or view samples and previews of my works on Deviant Art.

Good luck in the future, and glad to see your work again, it's very pro!

Cheers,

Douglas
Gallery and Previews
http://www.mirrorstewedios.deviantart.com/

Anonymous said...

Congrats Gabe!
This is truly inspiring!!!
Wish you the best, and much success!