Happy Holidays!

Naughty or nice, here are a couple stocking stuffers waiting for Santa in our studio!

Rest in Peace, Irvin Kershner

[Livio]

The world lost a great director last week with the passing of Irvin Kershner, the man who gave us "The Empire Strikes Back." If you ever get a chance to read an interview with him, you'll rarely find a more intelligent, thoughtful and caring person. Not to mention, a guy who really knew how to create atmospheric locations and stage amazing shots.

I missed out on a chance to meet Mr. Kershner at a recent comic-con when his illness tragically forced his cancellation of attending the show. I had a feeling at the time that it would be my last chance to meet him, and this turned out to be true.

Though I did get to see Lando Calrissian himself, Mr. Billy Dee Williams, at the same convention. And this was a pretty great experience in its own right. I did this Lando piece in an attempt to portray one of the human characters of Star Wars. The likeness is based on some photo reference of the main man himself.

"Empire" is a constant source of inspiration for me, and I thank Irvin Kershner for making such a great film.

-Livio

Dream, Death and Friends

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, here's a piece that I finally finished after working on it here and there for the past year. It's of my fave Death and Dream (my first time taking a crack at him) from Sandman, which in recent months I've finally started to read thanks to the newly reprinted trades of the series.

It was mainly done for fun and practice of some new techniques and styles with cool and warm gray markers and various inking tools, on a 15x20 hardstock art board.

Anyhoo, hope you like;)

Princess Mononoke

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I drew my version of Princess Mononoke in the summer of 09' and I finally got around to coloring it last week. This piece and the movie itself is still one of my faves.

Here are both versions, hope you like;)

Red Sonja

[Nuñez]

A piece I did of that she devil. I was looking at some Jason Pearson when I was doing this. I reeaally love the way he plays with shapes and the simplicity of it and I have to say I loved playing with her proportions.

It was fun. Hope ya enjoy. =)

"That girl is Poison..."

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, hope all is well. Here is a Poison Ivy piece that I recently completed. I did the line art months ago and just got around to coloring it. It was just done for fun and to practice on my coloring.

Hope you like;)

Mount Rushmore

[Joel]

Hey all, just wanted to let you guys know of a recent podcast I had the opportunity to participate in that was a lot of fun. The podcast was for Randumb Idiocy," the subject was, my Mout Rushmore of comics. Mount Rushmore meaning my top 4 artists and writers in the biz...and I didn't exactly stick to the theme of All-Time!

I had the fortune of chatting with Marvel scribe Joe Caramagna, and show host Dewayne Feenstra for this fun edition of Randumb Idiocy, so check it out.

JOEL

Sequentials

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, since the blog posts have been nothing but pin-ups for a long time now I just wanted to post some recent sequential work. I did these five 'Red Robin' pages for fun and practice over the past week and a half at home after work.

I gave myself deadlines on the pages and only allowed a certain amount of time spent per page to keep me on my toes.

For all of you aspiring comic artists out there, please don't let the fact that you have a full-time day job discourage you from going home and drawing! Even if you only draw a few hours a night, it all adds up and next thing you know you have sequential pages to show editors and those pages can be your big break.

Make sure to check back in the next few weeks for more sequentials. ;)

So Cal Comic Con this Saturday!

(entry Rich~)

Hello....Hey just wanted to let everyone know there is a new comic convention this weekend (Saturday only) in Oceanside California; and a bunch of us from Wildstorm are going to be attending! A great list of people is forming including....Bob Layton, Whilce Portacio, a big chunk of the Wildstorm crew: myself (Richard Friend), Joel Gomez, JJ Kirby, Michael Lopez, Eddie Nunez, Livio Ramondelli, Eddy Choi, and I believe some Top Cow and Aspen people will be there as well.

Kids are FREE, and adults are $3.00...(free with a flier from your local comic shop)

first 100 people through the door will get a free gift bag

Original art, comics, prints, trades of all sorts, commissions, sketches.....it should be a BLAST!

here's the address:

Oceanside Boys & Girls Club 401 Country Club Lane Oceanside, CA 92054

Saturday NOVEMBER 6th: 10 am to 5 pm

BE THERE!!

Li'l Batman

[KrB Wonder]

Anyone who follows my work, knows I love the baby stuff, so I wanted to do some gut-busters, while I still have it in my system. It's also reminiscent of high-school photos, fitting in as many characters as I can in one shot.

For more JJ Kirby activity, come check me out Jolly Boy Sessions..

Peaches

Long Beach 10'

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, here are a few pre-done pieces I did to sell at the Long Beach Comic-Con this weekend. It was a fun show last year and I'm really looking forward to it again. I'll be sitting with my fellow studiomates JJ Kirby, Livio Ramondelli, Ed Nunuz, Carlos D'Anda, and Mike Lopez. Hope to see you there. ;)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

[KRB]

UPDATE: Wonder Woman.

These cardboard pieces have been piling up in the studio lately, so in an effort to recycle, I did these two sketches. I hope you nice people dig them and come hit me up at the Long Beach Comic Con this weekend.

peaches

Long Beach Comic Con

Hey all, just wanted to post some of my latest, a series of quick sketches available for LBCC. I had a lot of fun working on cardboard and plan to do a few more, so feel free to suggest a character or two.

I will be in Artists Alley somewhere between #1002-1006, so stop by and say "Hey". I love attending the local shows, because they're a great way to catch up with friends, low stress, and offer more quality time with fans.

I'm also looking forward to the "Walking Dead" premiere on AMC next weekend as well. It's a great way to spend Halloween weekend!

Hope to catch you guys there!

JOEL

R.I.P. Jonny Rench

[Eddy]

Jonny Rench briefly worked here at WildStorm as a colorist and all too briefly passed away on Saturday at the very young age of 28. He not only brought his incredible talents to WildStorm, but also an infectious smile that still lasts with all of us today.

I remember him most around Halloween where his creativity was on full display with his awesome costumes, whether he was Bender or a Smurf, he always did it looking great and with a smile!

You can check out his blog to see more of his coloring portfolio.

He will be missed.

NYCC 10'...it's a wrap!

[Oliver]

Welp, NYCC 10' is over and it was the best one yet! Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by Artist's Alley to chat, say hi, and of course, spend money;)

Just wanted to post a few commissions I did at the show, hope you like;)

'NYCC 10'!!!

[Oliver]

Hey ya'lls, the show is almost here, can't wait! I can't believe it's already been a year and a half or so since the last NYCC. I'll be sitting in Artist's Alley in section/ table I-6 and signing at the DC Booth on Sunday from 11:30-12:30.

Here are a couple of pre-done commissions I did for the show. See ya there!

Batman Beyond NYCC

[Joel]

Hey guys, just wanted to update everybody for this year's New York Comic Con. I will be signing at the DC Booth on Saturday from 1-2 pm, and Sunday from 12:30-1:30pm. I will also be in Artists Alley sharing a spot with @midimew (Aspen colorist & Grump artist extraordinaire, Beth Sotelo) at table #A-7, we'll be hangin' with good friends @francismanapul (Flash artist) & @agnesgarboska (You, Me & Zombie artist) who will be at table # A-8.

Batman Beyond 20 min quicksketch on cardboard. Sharpies, pencil and white gelly roll pen.

JOEL

Grievous

[Livio]

I've been in a bit of a Star Wars mood lately given my last few blog posts, and this one is no exception. I'm a huge fan of The Clone Wars in its various animated forms, and I can never resist when an idea for a new scene hits me. With this one, I wanted to portray a hopeless war moment. An unlucky unit of Clonetroopers had found General Grievous and been completely slaughtered, save for one remaining trooper. With no hope remaining, he struggles to reach a thermal detonator before the end arrives.

I really wanted to make Grievous scary, like he was in the original Tartakovsky series. And I found the less of him I showed, the more menacing he looked. So I kept trimming down his details, making him essentially a black mass and not even showing where his hands gripped the lightsabers, but rather keep it a series of inhuman shapes.

I tend to listen to a lot of movie audio commentaries when I work, and I did this one while listening to Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" track. Never gets old.

Until next time!

-Livio

Baby Invasion

[Oliver]

More 'Lil Peeps". 'nuff said. ;)

Brightest Day United

[Joel]

Hey all, just wanted to share the Brightest Day variant covers I recently worked on with Ryan Sook and Fernando Pasarin. It was a massive undertaking that exceeded my expectations!

In October, I will be attending this year's New York Comic Con along with several of the other artists here. I will be sharing an Artist's Alley table with the amazing Beth Sotelo (@midimew), as well as signing at the DC Booth.

I'm also excited to mention ICONS: The DC Comics and WildStorm Art of Jim Lee, in which I had the fortune of working with Jim Lee and Scott Williams on a Legion of Super-Heroes short story, a dream come true for me.

Lastly, I wanted to mention an interview I had recently done with DeWayne Feestra, for Randumb Idiocy. For those who ever wondered what I did here, or how I broke in, check it out.

LATERS
JOEL

More 'Lil Peeps'

[Oliver]

Hey y'all's, here are some more recent 'baby' drawings that I've done for fun (and for sale). ;)

They're fun and easy to do and keeps me busy when I'm burnt out on regular comic work.

I've gotten a great reaction and it's been a good way to sell lower-priced art to fans who can't afford the regular-priced stuff.

Anyhoo, hope you likes! ;)

Boba Fett on Bespin

[Livio]

This is a recent commission where I was asked to recreate the scene From "The Empire Strikes Back" where Boba Fett oversees a frozen Han Solo being loaded into his ship. It was a little tricky because in the scene itself, all the characters are essentially just standing around. And yet it's still a dramatic moment in the course of the story, so I tried to have the sunset colors bring a little life to the moment.

In related news, if you're an "Empire" fan, then this is a must-have for you: The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

I cannot wait for that book.

See you next time!

El Paso Comic Con 2010

[Nuñez]

I have to admit as much as a love the old school Transformers I have never done a piece on them and it brought back a lot of nostalgic memories...sniff sniff

If you'd like to see the original, I'll be at the El Paso Comic Con this weekend, so stop by and say "Hey."

Icons book!

[jimlee]

Got an advance copy and thought I'd share...

Some more of the advance copy at the WS office.

Zombie Fun!

[Joel]

Fun with ink washes...was rather happy with the style and may try more this way.

JOEL

Wizard World Chicago Twitter Pics!

Chicago was another fun show for the WildStorm guys and we even took some pics this time to prove it!

The following photos were previously posted on http://twitter.com/gelatometti and http://twitter.com/J0ELG

Wizard World Chicago ticket line goes out the building!

Exhibit Hall entrance on your right.

The Saturday morning crowd.

Rod Blagojevich

Joe Madureira signing.

Greg Horn.

Bill Sienkiewicz reviewing a portfolio.

Ethan Van Sciver sketching.

Arthur Suydam.

J. Scott Campbell.

Mike McKone sketching at the Hero Initiative Booth.

Mark Texiera.

Michael Golden.

Chicago....I love yer deep dish goodness.

Aw yea, Colossus...tell 'em all about it.

A pretty cool lookin Hulk.

Joker fun.

Atomica's Sam Abbinanti fancy business card that I was impressed with.

Kickass lookin Batman.

Bane.

Poison Ivy commission.

Mxyzptlk.

Umm...Pumpkinheadguy.

Ummm... what? this guy looks dope!

Doctor Strange Commission.

Nova.

Thor.

General Grievous

Futurama goodness.

Joker/Harley.

The meanest X-23 I ever did see at Wizard World Chicago...that's it! Had an awesome time in Chi-town but miss sweet San Diego!