Famous Five

The Ten Ton Studio forum Sketch challenge this week is the "Fatal Five", whom I've never heard of, which is to my credit to be honest looking at the reference materials.
Still, I thought I'd have a scribble, FAIL.
Never mind, next week, next week, that'll be the one.. positive thinking...

Mad as a fish

UPDATE:
They made it, follow the twitter trail on #boyonabike

My dear friend Andy Black is off to cycle coast to coast with his young son this weekend, it's only 147 miles or so, which is nothing for him as he did Lands end to John O'Groats last year (or the year before?) .. but this is a big deal for Linden.
I wish them the best of luck.
I promised him a sketch to stick on sponsor forms, but events overtook me what with my day job at Becta being closed an' all.. still better late than never.

You can sponsor Linden here:
http://www.justgiving.com/lblack

update:

inky pinky

Elecktra

I've discussed here before how i find it tricky to draw Gurls, there is a delicateness of line, and precision needed that can be dodged and avoided in drawing men..
So this weeks ten ton studio challenge is Elecktra... who has always seemed like the worlds most badly dressed assassin. She's going to catch a chill.
I've had a go and this the pencil sketch.. I post it here because I feel it's not as bad as I anticipated, yet I fear the finality of the inks.

I've just noticed she's almost in the same stance as the Azrael I did last week..and the foots at a wonky angle... and the hair has no boundary.. bah
hmmmm
I need to add some background too, I'm after raked building perspective...

Old technology

One of the things that I've found really useful about the Ten Ton Studio Sketch Challenge, is that it's sketches only.. NO computer jiggery pokery..
 Which is quite a challenge as I'm now very used to CMD Z undo. So when i coloured the Azrael pic, and it went wrong I was trying to think how I could retrieve it.. and I looked through my drawer, and found a wad of Letratone that I've not touched in maybe 20 Years.
for those too young to know, Letratone is a thin sheet of tacky plastic with a tone pattern, you lay it over your artwork, and cut off the areas that are to be in the light. I'd forgotten how fiddly it is, and what an unwieldy shape the scalpel cuts.
Still the job is done, and the toner covers up the sins quite nicely..

Azrael

the latest Ten Ton Studio Forum Sketch Challenge  is Azrael. I remember when I first heard the Azrael story, as part of a dramatising comic books thing the BBC did maybe 15 years ago? Knightfall... Bane rocks up and makes a mess of Batman, and Azrael has to take over whilst he recovers. Unfortunately Azrael is a bit mad, having been brought up by fruit loops.
Anyway, cracking stuff. Here's the B/W... I'm adding more darkness, and dirt to the picture as I type.
I think he looks a little too nimble, Azrael is more Knight in dangerous armour, than spry ninja... but never mind..

Coloured Bogeys

Coloured bogeyman for the TEN TON STUDIO FORUM

Bogeyman

I did a quick sketch of the bogeyman from "Stuff of Legend", and then inked it in last night.
It's a million miles from the beautifully crafted work of C.P Wilson, but quite true to my own style.
I'm going to add a few touches of colour.. not much as It's on plain cheapo copier paper, so liable to cockle.

Stuff of Legend

I'm enjoying the Sketch Challenges that happen every week over on the ten ton studio forum, it's a great way to spend an evening, the criticism is  insightful, and helpful, and because the guys dishing it can really draw, it's very worth listening to.
This week's challenge is "The stuff of Legend", which I've seen floating around but been put off of by twee teddy bears, but look, look at that bad guy!, he's on fire. and surrounded by SKULLS. Stuff of Legend is another of the th3rdworld.com comics.
So now I have to read ANOTHER comic.... and get out the ink again.
Can't wait.

Atomic heart

Went to see Iron Man 2 with Dom this morning. It's  a fair film, not as engaging as number 1, but certainly worth watching. It struck me that we are using atomic hearts in the story over at http://www.wychwolf.com much like Mr Stark uses his arc reactor... although I didn't notce any zombie/werewolf/mummies in Iron Man.. fools.