Tuff-Girl- Action!

This is the 2023 Tuff-Girl Poster print.

In keeping with the 1960’s - early 1970’s era of inspiration I drew upon 2 sources of inspiration.

First is the 1969 cover of Action Comics No. 373. Pencilled by Curt Swan and Inked by Neal Adams. It was after a little internet research, that I had learned to whom to credit the art. I think perhaps with Superman in the bottom right corner, that one could spot Swan’s style. What I think threw me off that scent and into thinking that the penciler was emulating Swan’s style was the not-typical-Curt-Swan’s-Supergirl face of the central figure. Knowing what I know now, that’s Adams’ style bleeding into the face render.

In my original, concept sketches, you can see me attempting to stick closely to the Supergirl design with a skirt, inspired boot designs and the same hair do. I would have added a cape if that was something with which Tuff-Girl accessorized her costume.

The secondary inspiration is the promotional poster for the James Bond movie Dr. No by artist, Mitchell Hooks and designed by David Chasman. 

 

As I have developed and improved as an artist, the more that I like art styles that are rougher and incorporate peeks of the art processes or, as they say, the artist’s hand. In the poster version with five different spot colors for the figures, the black screen is Hook’s drawing.

For my base drawing, I broke Swan’s Supergirl pose with more asymmetry and contra-posto to have her stepping out of the hole instead of her hands and feet holding open the hole. The torn hole, is less the white framing device of the DC Comics cover, and as a result is a stand-in for a sun burst motif. To make the rough drawing feel communicate, I used a black Prisma Color art pencil on a 9” x 12” piece of water color paper, expecting to enlarge the image of the print.

In my digital color of the art, I soon jumped away from borrowing the monochromatic or spot color look, and settled with playing with the idea of the interaction of only printed magenta and yellow screens underneath the black screen of the drawing- no cyan screen. With different levels of magenta and yellow there are ranges of pinks, oranges and reds to play with. The direct painted version seemed to be lacking. So knowing that I was playing with the 2-screens idea, it was a short creative leap to have Photoshop create coarse half tones of the magenta and yellow.

Siding with the Dr. No poster, I silhouette Tuff-Girl against white rather than the black of the Action Comics cover for a back-lit effect. The triangular page tears working with the white background further implies the sun burst motif, intentional or not.

For my convention exclusive version, I recolored the surrounding “page” to a near-black, deep rose color and pulled back to fit the top-left tag while revealing more of the art.

I often try to have my Tuff-Girl posters feature her with her dog Wichita. I’m sorry that I opted not to include Wichita in the final image. She threw the composition off balance.

Un-Visible Girl

Violet Parr sketch
Ink and color pencil on paper.
22.23 cm x 15.24 cm (8.75 in. x 6.00 in.).
Pg. 085 in sketchbook

Most of my sketchbooks consist of tiny thumbnail sketches of ideas before they vanish from my head, a form of taking notes with pictures. They are not intended for others to see and much less to judge. In other words, they are not Instagram-worthy. Some times I just try to draw something nice.

During one lunch hour, I drew Violet Parr the eldest child of Bob and Helen and for all intents and purposes a member of the super-hero family team, the “Incredibles,” of course, from the Disney/Pixar animated feature The Incredibles. She has the powers of invisibility and projecting not so invisible force fields. Yes, just like those of Marvel’s Invisible Woman, Sue Storm, and member of the super-hero family team created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, “The Fantastic Four.”

See elsewhere on the internet for the discussion of “The Fantastic Four” vs. “The Incredibles.”

Anyways, back to the drawing– To truly draw an invisible character is to not draw the character at all. Well, that isn’t any more fun for me than anyone looking at a blank page on Instagram. So, she’s partially not drawn, i.e. she’s partially invisible. At the same time, didn’t I merely draw a vignette of Violet? Sure, that’s fair.

Working in red and black, I recall someone queried why I didn’t color the black parts of her costume with black rather than the deeper shades of red. Speaking on something that I did twelve-months ago, it’s because as a character artist, I’ve become accustomed to focusing on developing line art. Tones and color become a secondary concern.

As posted on Instagram @monstergram7.

What I Drew Sunday - May 27th

11 little sketches in 8+ hours.

Sir Hiss from Robin Hood.

Pucca.

The Incredibles meet Deadpool.

Dr. Teeth as Doctor Strange.

Sheila from the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon.

Supergirl and Wonder Woman.

The Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler.

A mother hen and her baby chicks dressed up.

Peridot from Steven Universe (Peanuts stylized)

The Muppets playing a game of soccer.

Hepzibah of the Starjammers.

The top 3 coming up.

What Shall I Draw May 27th?

The May edition of What Shall I Draw Today? is upon us already. No theme this time, just the norm of taking on your suggestions as varied as your imaginations.

What Shall I Draw Today?

Sunday, May 27th, 2018

Eastern Daylight Savings Time:  12pm noon - 8 pm

Pacific Daylight Savings Time:  9am - 5pm

Post your suggestions at any of the following places where you see the above prompting image:

Blog:  monotonae.blogspot.com (here in the comments)

Instagram:  @monstergram7

Facebook:  @I’m a Fan of Bryan Mon

Click the above WSIDT tab for answers to you frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Black Widow
Black ink and color pencil on Bristol Board.
6.35 cm x 8.89 cm (2.50 in. x 3.50 in.).

What Shall I Draw March 18th?

The March edition of What Shall I Draw Today? will be happening a week earlier than originally planned and announced so as not to coincide with WonderCon weekend.

What Shall I Draw Today?

Sunday, March 18th, 2018

Eastern Daylight Savings Time: 12pm noon - 8pm

Pacific Daylight Savings Time:  9am - 5pm

You may post your suggestions at any of the following places where you see the prompting image above:

• Blog:  monotonae.blogspot.com (here in the comments)

• Instagram:  @monstergram7

• Facebook:  @I'm a Fan of Bryan Mon #BryanMon


Since this is a pre-con WSIDT, and all drawings will be for sale at said con, some of you planning on attending WonderCon may think you can strategically toss in a commission disguised as a WSIDT suggestion. To that I’ll say that I neither promise to draw suggestions by WonderCon attendees nor will I reserve drawings. I will, however, be taking commissions at WonderCon.

As always, you may find guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions at the WSIDT tab above.

Marceline (Adventure Time with Finn and Jake)
in the style of Dan DeCarlo (Archie)

What Shall I Draw February 25th?

It’s time for more drawing your suggestions with a new session of What Shall I Draw Today? happening this Sunday!

What Shall I Draw Today?

Sunday, February 25th, 2018

Eastern Standard Time:  12 pm noon - 8 pm

Pacific Standard Time:  9 am - 5 pm

You can post suggestions at any of the following places where you see the image prompting image above.

• Instagram:  @monstergram7

• Facebook:  @I’m a Fan of Bryan Mon #BryanMon

• Blog:  monotonae.blogspot.com (here in the comments)

As always, you can find guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions at the WSIDT tab above.

See you Sunday.

Marle (Chrono Trigger)

 

 

What Shall I Draw January 28th?

Here we go again with the first What Shall I Draw Today? session of 2018 happening this approaching Sunday!

Check out the WSIDT tab above for details, schedules and answers to  Frequently Asked Questions.
However, simply, this is a time where I draw other folk’s suggestions posted at any of the following:

• Instagram:  @monstergram7

• Facebook:  @I’m a fan of Bryan Mon #BryanMon

• Blog:  monotonae.blogspot.com (this thing here) in the comments.


See you Sunday.

What Shall I Draw Today?

Sunday, January 28th, 2018

Eastern Standard Time:  12pm noon - 8 pm

Pacific Standard Time:  9am - 5pm

“Dizzy”
Black ink and color pencil on Bristol Board.
6.35 cm x 8.89 cm (2.50 in. x 3.50 in.).

A Drawer of Aurora

In this sketchbook drawing of the Princess Aurora, I wanted to capture some of the design elements that legendary Disney animator and Imagineer Marc Davis put into his designs of the Princess. Perhaps most Disney fans haven’t picked this up when they visit the Parks and Disney Stores and see Aurora on sweat shirt and etc., but as a Consumer Products staff artist, I’m not called upon to draw Aurora like Mr. Davis did, but to go with a more flowing style and a fantastic, puffy skirt (glitter optional). For better or for worse.

That said, I feel that every once and while, it’s good to go back to the original stuff, if a bit humbling.

Ink and red pencil on paper.
15.24 cm x 22.23 cm (6.00 in. x 8.75 in.).

AURORA © and TM Disney.

A Little Mischief

If Pocahontas’s name loosely translates in to the English “Little Mischief,” then why don’t we see more of that in her own Disney film? Obviously, depicting that side of her personality wasn’t the intent of the filmmakers.

As another fun sketch of another Disney Princess, I considered what haven’t I drawn this girl do. Honestly, I’m not called upon to drawn Pocahontas very much in the first place. How about I just make her be happy? And without that scene-stealing, self-absorbed Meeko.

Black Ink and Carmine red pencil on paper.
21.6 cm x 27.9 cm (8.50 in. x 11.00 in.)

POCAHONTAS and FLIT © and TM Disney.

Sea and Be Seen

As suggested during one of last year’s What Shall I Draw Today? sessions, I depict the fictitious event of Moana meeting Ariel. What might they have in common? They both love the sea don’t they? They both have fathers who are rulers of their respective kingdoms/ tribes who have strict rules on how their daughters should behave.

Yeah, go with something sea-themed.

Black ink and color pencil on Bristol Board.
12.7 cm x 17.8 cm (5.00 in. x 7.00 in.).

MOANA and ARIEL © and TM Disney.

Quinney Con Harley

Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad (2016)) juggling a few lit bombs. She’s dangerous enough without the bombs.

Some times during a comic convention, especially on a Sunday, I don’t have much to do other than draw any thing I want. The caveat is that in the end I’ll have a drawing that I’ll hopefully want to sell.  Alternatively, it will be a drawing that I hope some will want to buy. So “any thing” ends up narrowed to a short list of things that I sold in the past. Harley Quinn, in all her costume iterations, has always been on the short list since I’ve been doing comic conventions.

The juggling comes in because, at the time, why not?

Black ink and color pencil on Bristol Board.
22.86 cm x 30.48 cm (9.00 in. x 12.00 in.)

Harley Quinn © and TM DC Comics.

What Shall I Draw July 30th?

Although my blog doesn’t show it, I’ve been busy. Not the least of which was D23 weekend. Nevertheless, I have another 8-hour session of “What Shall I Draw Today?” coming up this next Sunday. During this time, I’ll once again draw other people’s topic suggestions. All previously pitched ideas have been cleared out for new ones suggested from now until the close of Sunday.

You may post a suggestion(s) on Instagram, Facebook or here on this blog:

• Instagram:  @monstergram7

• Facebook:  @I’m a fan of Bryan Mon #BryanMon

• Blog:  monotonae.blogspot.com (you’re looking at it) here in the comments.


For more information and FAQ’s, Please check out the WSIDT tab above.

What Shall I Draw Today?

Sunday July 30th, 2017

Eastern Daylight Time:  12pm - 8 pm

Pacific Daylight Time:  9 am - 5 pm

“U.F.O.”
Black ink and color pencil on Bristol Board.
6.35 cm x 8.89 cm (2.50 in. x 3.50 in.).