Friday, September 21, 2007

Un-men #3 sneak peek


Here's a penciled page from #3. Can't show too much, as I'd be giving SOMETHING away in terms of story. Just about every page has something on it that might be a hint, and I don't want to ruin the shock at the end of this issue!

Oh, and #5 is available for Pre-order now. Be sure to ask your local shop to get you some! ;)

Mike
Posted by at 2 comments:

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Sweet Science #3 WIP pt1

hey all,

Been working on the third print in the series (in between pages of the Un-men) and figured I'd post some work in progress stuff.

First, if you didn't see the line for this then scroll down ( or follow the link)

  • The line art



    • My first step is usually to set a warm, dark brown of some sort down and do a monotone underpainting. This is an old habit from my oil painting days. In this case I went lighter then normal, and ended up with this peanut butter kind of color, which I can tell you now I don't like. I'll change it later on.


    Next, I have a "glaze" layer - which again is a hold over from when I painted exclusively in oils. This skin tone is way too dark, as I wanted to go with a very pinkish light skin tone. I'll change that later too.



    Here's the glaze without the underpainting.



    Here's where I've left off. I dropped in the hair color and shorts, mostly to see if the skin tone would look lighter with something to contrast it against. It does NOT, hence me wanting to lighten it more.




    So, basically everything here will more then likely change a good bit. BUT, this blog's all about works in progress, right? ;)

    Anyway, more soon.

    best,
    mike
    Posted by at 3 comments:
    Labels: , , , ,

    Tuesday, September 18, 2007

    Hysteria Vol. 0 - the web comic

    During the Fanboy radio interview we talked about the up coming launch of the Hysteria web comic. I'll be republishing my original, four part series from 1998. This is the book that started it all.

    Jamal Walton and Erik Swanson and I are hard at work trying to get the comic ready. Here's a sneak peek.




    The site goes live on Oct. 8th. Sign up for the newsletter to get up to the minute info on the new site.

  • ThinktankComics.com



    • Mike
    Posted by at 2 comments:

    Monday, September 17, 2007

    Once again, Sweet Science



    I'm actually working on the digital paints for this one now. I'll post work in progress through out the coming weeks.

    Also, thanks to everyone that tuned into Fanboy Radio last night! The interview went really well, and Scott/David/Brita were very welcoming and gracious. Thanks to them for having me. I had a great time.

    Check out their website for a download of the interview.
  • Fanboyradio.com



    • Mike
    Posted by at 2 comments:
    Labels: , , , ,

    Friday, September 14, 2007

    Un-men at Newsarama, me on Fanboy Radio

    hey all,

    Newsarama.com just posted an interview with me about the book. Thanks to Micheal Lorah for having me, and for doing such a good job.

  • Check it out


    • Don't forget to also check out #2, in comic shops now!



    Also, I'll be on Fanboy Radio this weekend. Tune in this Sunday 9/16 at 7pm / 6pm Central for me and Open Lines Comic Talk LIVE!

  • Fanboyradio.com


    • Call up and say "Hi"!

    Best,
    mike
    Posted by at No comments:
    Labels: ,

    Wednesday, September 12, 2007

    Un-men #2 out on 9/13/07






    Hey all!

    Un-men #2 ships this week, so I thought I'd give you guys and gals a sneak peek of the book. These are a couple of pencils, and unfinished inks for that issue.

    Be sure to check the book out and ask your local shop to carry the book.

    best,
    mike
    Posted by at 2 comments:
    Labels: , , ,

    Tuesday, September 11, 2007

    More Sweet Science




    Working on more Sweet Science prints, in between breaks on the Un-men. I have a few more penciled, and will get them scanned and uploaded shortly.

    Best,
    mike
    Posted by at 5 comments:
    Labels: , , , ,

    Sunday, September 09, 2007

    Umbra at the Harvey's


    Hey all,

    As you may have heard, we did not win the Harvey awards for best writer and best series. BUT, Steve and I were treated to a great dinner and the award show was plenty cool!

    Thanks to EVERYONE that got us nominated in the first place, and thanks to everyone that voted for us to win. Murphy and I appreciate the hell out of your support, and we're honored that you all thought we were good enough to compete.

    ALSO, special thanks go out to Marc Nathan for having us out and for putting on a great con!

    We were both set up on Saturday and got to meet some great fans. The prints were a huge hit with folks too! So thanks to everyone that came by!!

    Best,
    Mike
    Posted by at 5 comments:

    Wednesday, September 05, 2007

    Ape-law sketchbook PT.4



    Just wanted to wrap up the last of the Ape-law sketchbook, so it's all on here now.

    This last batch is pretty good. There's a How-to page for the Hysteria FCBD cover below as well as a pencil to ink breakdown of an Exterminator page and even some designs for Un-men and The TMNT.

    Portait of my daughter at age 2
  • Page 91

  • Page 92

  • Page 93

  • Page 94

  • Page 95

  • Page 96

  • Page 97

    • Hysteria FCBD How -to
  • Page 98

  • Page 99

    • Turtles designs
  • Page 100

  • Page 101

  • Page 102

    • Extermiantors pencils and inks
  • Page 103

    • Un-men designs
  • Page 104


    • Best,
    mike
    Posted by at No comments:
    Labels: , , , , , , ,

    Tuesday, September 04, 2007

    Sweet Science Finals






    Hey all,

    Ok, so the printer here is working on the prints. I got back two proof's which came out beautiful!

    The prints will be 12" x 18", full color on a really nice heavy stock paper. I'll be selling them for ten dollars, signed. I'll have a small batch available at my booth in Baltimore and will be selling them through the site a week or so after that.

    I'll also be doing some painted commissions and selling original art from my comics.

    Hope to see you there!

    Best,
    Mike
    Posted by at 9 comments:
    Labels: , , , ,

    Monday, September 03, 2007

    Sweet Science PT. III



    Here's the other print I'm working on for the con in Baltimore this weekend. This one will be 11" x 14". Again, still working on it so it may change a bit when I'm done. I'll post the final here later in the week.

    Happy Labor Day!

    mike
    Posted by at 2 comments:
    Labels: , , ,

    Sunday, September 02, 2007

    Sweet Science PT. II




    Here's the second print I'm working on for the con. This still needs a little tweaking, but I thought you guys might like to see it so far.

    Mike
    Posted by at 8 comments:
    Labels: , , , ,

    Saturday, September 01, 2007

    Sweet Science



    I love my job drawing comics, but I gotta do stuff on the side to let me stretch my legs in ways I don't get to do in comcs. One of those "side projects" is a series of full color prints called "Sweet Science". All boxing related drawings, with a twist ;)

    I'm hoping to have two prints ready for the Baltimore con this coming 8th and 9th. Here's a link for more info on the con
  • Baltimore Comicon


    • I'll be there as a guest of the show and set up with UMBRA writer and my pal Steve Murphy.

    I think I'll also be doing a panel for Vertigo. Come by and check us out.

    Mike
    Posted by at 6 comments:
    Labels: , , , , , ,

    Friday, August 31, 2007

    Ape-law sketchbook PT.3



    Hey all. More from the old Ape-law sketchbook.

  • Page 61

  • Page 62

  • Page 63

  • Page 64

  • Page 65

  • Page 66

  • Page 67

  • Page 68

  • Page 69

  • Page 70

  • Page 71

  • Page 72

  • Page 73

  • Page 74

  • Page 75

  • Page 76

  • Page 77

  • Page 78

  • Page 79

  • Page 80

  • Page 81

  • Page 82

  • Page 83

  • Page 84

  • Page 85

  • Page 86

  • Page 87

  • Page 88

  • Page 89

  • Page 90



    • Just a few more to post and I should have from 2005 to 2007 covered.

    Hope you enjoy this stuff.

    best,
    mike
    Posted by at 4 comments:
    Labels: , , , ,

    Wednesday, August 29, 2007



    More goodies from my past Ape-law sketcbhook (covering 2004 and part of 2005), including some life drawings, Batman sketches, and some How to stuff on inking.

  • Page 31

  • Page 32

  • Page 33

  • Page 34

  • Page 36

  • Page 37

  • Page 38

  • Page 39

  • Page 40

  • Page 41

  • Page 42

  • Page 43

  • Page 44

  • Page 45

  • Page 46

  • Page 47

  • Page 48

  • Page 49

  • Page 50

  • Page 51

  • Page 52

  • Page 53

  • Page 54

  • Page 55

  • Page 56

  • Page 57

  • Page 58

  • Page 59

  • Page 60


    • Best,
    Mike
    Posted by at 2 comments:
    Labels: , , ,

    Monday, August 27, 2007

    Ape-law sketchbook PT.1



    I'm in the process of replacing the ape-law sketchbook (see http://www.ape-law.com) with this sketchbook blog. The ape-law one was getting to be too hard to maintain, so I'm hoping to consolidate the two here. In an effort to have all the content from that old site here I'll be posting links and art from that old sketchbook every so often. Hope you enjoy the flash back ;)

    mike

    Sketchbook entries from 2002 and 2003 -

  • Page 1

  • Page 2

  • Page 3

  • Page 4

  • Page 5

  • Page 6

  • Page 7

  • Page 8

  • Page 9

  • Page 10

  • Page 11

  • Page 12

  • Page 13

  • Page 14

  • Page 15

  • Page 16

  • Page 17

  • Page 18

  • Page 19

  • Page 20

  • Page 21

  • Page 22

  • Page 23

  • Page 24

  • Page 25

  • Page 26

  • Page 27

  • Page 28

  • Page 29

  • Page 30
    • Posted by at 1 comment:
    Labels: , , ,

    Monday, August 13, 2007

    Goodbye, Ringo


    Mike Wieringo, Ringo for short, was a buddy of mine and a damned fine artist. He just passed away at way too young of an age, which makes me damned angry at the universe right now.

    I won't go into what a fantastic human being he was, or how much I learned from him. I'll just say that we'll miss him.

    http://www.newsarama.com/Chicago_07/Ringo.html

    Mike
    Posted by at No comments:

    Sunday, July 22, 2007

    Un-men #1 color preview

    There's a cool preview/interview for my new Vertigo book, The Un-men, over at the Pulse.

  • Check it out.


    • Best,
    Mike
    Posted by at 2 comments:
    Labels: , ,

    Tuesday, July 17, 2007

    Hulk commission





    I almost never do commission, but made an exception for a buddy. Thought you might like seeing the process.

    Mike
    Posted by at 5 comments:
    Labels: ,

    Wednesday, June 06, 2007

    UMBRA up for two Harvey Awards!!

    Hey all,

    Sorry for the lack of posts here lately, just been busy getting The Un-men ready for the launch of the series in August (ask your local comic shop to order it for you in the new Previews).

    BUT, I got some great news this week! My Image book, UMBRA, is up for two Harvey Awards this year!!

    BEST WRITER

    • Ed Brubaker | DAREDEVIL | Marvel Comics

    • Grant Morrison | ALL-STAR SUPERMAN | DC Comics

    • Steve Murphy | UMBRA | Image Comics

    • Don Rosa | UNCLE SCROOGE | Gemstone Publishing

    • William Van Horn | WALT DISNEY COMICS & STORIES | Gemstone Publishing

    • Brian K. Vaughn | Y: THE LAST MAN | DC/Vertigo

    BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES

    • DAREDEVIL | Marvel Comics

    • LOCAL | Oni Press

    • THE SPIRIT | DC Comics

    • UMBRA | Image Comics

    • WALT DISNEY COMICS & STORIES | Gemstone Publishing

    http://www.harveyawards.org/index.html

    Thanks to everyone who supported the series, and if you're voting this year please remember us. We're up against some stiff competition and can use all the help we can get!

    Best,
    mike
    Posted by at 3 comments:
    Labels: , ,

    Tuesday, April 10, 2007

    Portraits and Color

    My last blog post had a couple of paintings I had done in college. They got me thinking about how I've essentially stopped painted after I graduated and have focused almost exclusively on illustrations. I don't have many paintings from those days, most of which I just abandoned or trashed, so I can't look back too much and examine what I was doing. I did find an old study I did of a room mate I had while in college. This was done on a small (about 8.5" x 11") piece of masonite, as was just a study for a larger painting I never got to finish. It's interesting to look at and wonder at what I'd have done had I gone to the actual painting. I loved pushing paint around on a surface, making it describe forms, and I can see that joy in this small piece really clearly. Takes me back...


    Then, an old filmaker/photographer friend of mine came to visit from NY and we talked all night about projects we're both working on and ones we WISH we were working on. One of the subjects we touched on was how I need a headshot for the back of all those fancy pants books I make. The idea of posing for them makes me uncomfortable,...just makes me feel fucking vain and dirty. After he rolled back to NY, I began thinking about how much of my painting career was focused on portraits and how I did many self portraits during that time.

    That made me starting thinking of my work now, and how most of it is in black and white. I think black and white works a different part of my brain then color work, but it still feels like I can push ink around like I used to push paint. I did this little ink study between pages.I'd like to get to work with more color this year, and that reminded me of this short style test I did a few months back. I wanted to see if I could do a fully fleshed image in under a half hour using rough inking and computer color. Not perfect, there are PLENTY of drawing and color problems with this, but it was an interesting exercise.

    Think I got this done in under 20 minutes, not including scanning.

    Anyway, no more rambling. Back to he grind.
    Mike
    Posted by at 3 comments:
    Labels: , ,

    Sunday, December 31, 2006

    Happy New Year!



    Best,
    mike
    Posted by at 1 comment:

    Monday, December 11, 2006

    How to make a Christmas card pt.I

    Worked on our annual family Christmas card this weekend. He's some of preliminary sketches, and a first run at the final.











    Not done, yet. Some stuff I still have to tweak.

    Mike
    Posted by at 8 comments:
    Labels: , , ,

    Wednesday, December 06, 2006

    The chase

    In keeping with the "works in progress" title, here are more roughs from Hysteria: One Man Gang. I'm keeping it as fluid as possible, to try and avoid the trap of a very rigid/slick car chase.









    Unfortunately, I can not give an answer as to when this will be done. I have to do it on the side, when not working on Un-men. I also refuse to just rush it at this point. To date, after six+ years of working in Hysteria stories, both self published and for various publishers, I've NEVER seen a DIME of profits from the book. So if it aint for money then it's for love. And you don't rush love ;)

    mike
    Posted by at 7 comments:
    Labels: ,

    Tuesday, November 28, 2006

    Umbra trade cover fight

    I usually end up fighting for a long time with a cover for a trade paper back (I did something like 8 revisions for the trade to Queen & Country, Vol. 6). Umbra is no exception. PLUS, we have offers from 3 other countries to put out translated versions so I want a really strong, iconic cover.

    Anyway, here are a few initial attempts. The bit on the left side is the spine. Normally I try and design the entire book cover at once (front, spine, and back) but I'm only showing the front and spine here for now.

    You may not be able to tell, but on the first version the light source is a head lamp the figure is wearing.

    Many, MANY more revisions to go through and new ideas to cook up.




    Best,
    Mike
    Posted by at 11 comments:
    Labels: , ,

    Thursday, November 23, 2006

    I'm thankful for...

    ... all of you guys. Seriously. I don't have as many fans as some artists, but I can really count of a small, devoted group to follow me from one hair brained project to another without missing a beat.

    Thanks to you, folks. I loves ya' all.

    I'm also thankful for my family, especially my wife. I had dinner at my father-in-law's small diner today. Just us, in a booth, eating the normal Turkey day stuff, after the place had closed. While we're eating we see this homeless guy walking up, and my wife jumps up (without any hesitation) and says to me "tell him to come in, we have food for him". So, he sat two booths down, eating quietly, and would mumble "thank you" softly every so often. She even warmed up his coffee with a refill and a smile.

    I'm lucky to have her.

    Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you all had your self a great time with who ever is important to you.

    best,
    Mike
    Posted by at 4 comments:

    Wednesday, November 22, 2006

    Un-men preview




    Sneak peek for Un-men, from Vertigo. I'm just about finished #1, and starting #2, and trust me this is going to be a great series. John's writing some fantastic stuff.

    Check out the interviews/previews-
    Newsarama
    CBR

    Best,
    Mike
    Posted by at 3 comments:
    Labels: ,

    Tuesday, November 07, 2006

    My OTHER book...



    When not working on The Un-men, and wrapping up Hysteria, I'm working on my OTHER book... Sturgeon, with Umbra writer Steve Murphy.

    This'll be a small format graphic novel, and will run about 120 some pages. Set in the 70's, it's a coming of age book Steve's been cooking up for years.

    Hope you dig it.

    Best,
    mike
    Posted by at 4 comments:
    Labels: ,

    Friday, November 03, 2006

    This one's for you. Bill!

    Preview of Exterminators #12. Hope you all got #11 ;)





    Mike

    PS - This preview is dedicated to everyone that ever wanted to see a guy with a mole in a comic... I'm looking at YOU Bill! ;)
    Posted by at 3 comments:
    Labels: ,
    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)