Merry Christmas to all...even turtles.

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a mutant ninja turtle I say. I did this one as a holiday themed commission and I think that it captures the season!
Painted on bristol board in a water colory style, but it's actually done with one color of Holbein colored ink. There's so much pigment in their colors that you can really water them down a LOT and still have nice color to work with. Have a Ho-ho-holly jolly holiday.

Practice,practice,practice

I think that I've said it before that I am more of a stubborn worker than an artist. I always assumed that drawing would eventually be like handwriting, but alas (or thankfully) it is still challenging. So, in the hope of making my drawing life easier, I practice. I try new tools and media, and draw from life and photos. Life drawing from a model is great but not always feasible, so I've developed an at home version. Using a small laptop and a photo program called Graphic Converter I run a slideshow of figure photos and draw without ever leaving my drawing table ;) I've got a folder full of girlie "reference' photos and I set the program to whatever time limit I want and it will change the photos whether I'm done or not. So the experience is very much like in a figure drawing class, when the model moves, move on to the next drawing. Since I'm not trying to do finished art, I usually set the time in the 2-5 minute range so I am forced to move quickly and just get down whatever I can. Charcoal is good for these kinds of fast drawing exercises.

Go feed your inner artist!

When I need a jolt of inspiration I check out artist blogs. There are so many talented new artists and old hands out there with blogs and seeing new work always gets me motivated. It's funny, some artists get depressed when they see artists that are more talented than they are, but I love it. Bobby Chiu does this cool video thing called Chiustream that is part art pep talk, part interview, part drawing show. He recently had an interview with Marcelo Vignali that was really great. One of the themes he came back to was the need for artists to nurture their artistic self. Art doesn't just happen, you have to take action. I totally agree, your art is just like everything else in life, you've got to stay interested in it and feed it and constantly remind yourself why you love it.
Every kid draws but one by one most people give it up, Marcelo suggests that that attrition continues even among artists...so use it or lose it...so go sharpen those pencils!

Mandy Sketchcards

Looks like I can show the rest of the Mandy original sketch cards that I drew now that the set is out. Cards are fun to do, but the small size is a challenge to be sure.

One girl anyway....

Okay, consider this my transition back into the girl world! I had this one roughed out in my pile and just went ahead and finished it to cap off my recent string of Turtle commissions. I honestly never do Turtle group shot commissions drawings because they can easily become too much like 'real work" so this is a bit of a rarity. I decided to put it up on ebay so the most determined person can grab it...Just in time for the holidays for that hard to shop for TMNT fan on your list heh,heh ;)
Here's the ebay link if you want to join in, thanks.

Ooops! Forgot one...

Towards the end of doing theseI was losing track of which ones I finished and which I had already sent out, crazy time!

more green!

Okay, here's a few more Turtles and I think that I'm all caught up now ;) These were fun to do, I mentioned elsewhere that it was kind of like drawing at a con, only with no other guest artists....Dooneycon 2009!
Now, I'll have to post some girls here soon or I'll have to change the name of the blog !

Lots of Leo love...

Here are a bunch of the recent TMNT commissions. I was surprised at the number of Leo fans out there this time around, he's my favorite but usually there are a lot more Mikes and Raphs in the mix.

Turtles for Christmas!

While this blog is mostly devoted to my girlie art, I still get my share of Ninja Turtle sketch requests. So, I thought I'd try an experiment here. I'm going to take on a limited number of Turtle commissions before the holidays get things too crazy. So if you've got a rabid TMNT fan on your Christmas list, or if you've ever wanted an original drawing done by one of the original Mirage Studios artists... (uh, that would be me) of Raph, Don, Leo or Mikey, here's your chance. Drawing will be drawn on toned paper, 8.5x11, single figure, done in ink and gray markers with white highlight details like these pics. Basically you just tell me which Turtle you want and I'll come up with something cool, I don't really take on commissions for specific scenes, sorry...that's just too much like REAL work guys!
So, there you go, I'm not sure how many I'll do, but I'll just cut off the list if it seems to get too long since I want to guarantee pre-Christmas delivery!


SORRY, THE LIST IS NOW CLOSED.

Catching up on commissions

Here are a couple more commissions that have been lingering. Legion of Superheroes girls are always fun, especially the silver age characters which had fun costumes and hairstyles!

Jonni Future commish

I enjoyed Alan Moore/Arthur Adams' Jonni Future comic, eventhough some of the boobs were just crazy even by comic book standards...those bee creatures for example...ouch!
She's a cool character, but I honestly don't know what he was thinking when he designed her costume, it is just toooooo complicated. But then again, no one ever said that Arthur Adams was afraid of drawing extra details :)

Mandy Sketchcards

I did a handful of original sketchcards for the Dean Yeagle Mandy card set that is coming out in November. I'll show more once the set has been released. Here's a link to more info if you are interested in the cards.

So Long and Thanks for all the Turtles!

I realized that I should comment on the big news of my week, the fact that the TMNT property was sold to Viacom/Nickelodeon on Wednesday...my birthday no less ;) I've been working on Turtle stuff as part of Mirage Studios since the '80's so it has been a big part of my life for half of my lifespan..wow!
While I've worked on tons of stuff other than the little green dudes over the years, the Turtles have always been there to some extent in my working life...and now for the most part I'll be out of the Turtle business.
I have nothing but good things to say about all the crazy fun times I've had with my Mirage Studio pals and the Turtles. We've worked and played and traveled and goofed off together for a nice chunk of years. I count myself as being super lucky to have gotten the chance to be a small part of something this big, it was a real blessing and I will always look back fondly on my TMNT years.
I'm sure I'll continue to do my share of TMNT related con sketches and commissions and who knows maybe I'll be called in to continue to work on the Turtles toy line with Playmates toys, time will tell.
The future will be different, but I'm thinking it will still be bright!
Thanks Pete and Kevin for a very long and happy run.

ps. I did this art back in like 1995 when the original Turtles comic was wrapping up,and I thought it was appropriate now as well!

Read the press release about the deal here http://www.viacom.com/news/Pages/newstext.aspx?RID=1344565

Dooney Con sketchbook

I've had a bunch of requests for the sketchbook that I did for my con appearances this year. Sorry, I kept forgetting to list them here for folks that couldn't find me at shows. So here you go. 24 full page girlie drawings in pencil and in gray markers that I did as commissions or con sketches. Art is reproduced in color so you can see more of a range of tones in black and white...even some of my blue pencil underdrawing comes through here and there.
Price is $10 plus $2 shipping within the US. If you are outside the USA, I'll use the flat rate priority mail large envelope which costs $13 to most countries. If you are outside the US, just send me an email and I will send you a paypal invoice...easy!
I only made 100 of these so I don't have a ton left and when they're gone, they're gone. 'tanks!

Some backlogged commissions

Finally cleared by plate of "real work" so I was able to get to a couple of commissions that have been waiting...Mantra and Renet. I normally try to avoid drawing in sketchbooks but the Renet one is for a TMNT themed book so I couldn't refuse. I was given the option of drawing April O'Neil or any female character in the Mirage Universe, so I opted for Renet...since she's got a much nicer costume than a yellow jumpsuit!

Back from Fan Expo 2009

Here are some pics from my adventures in Toronto last weekend at Fan Expo. I love the vibe of that show, everybody is really nice and having a great time, it's like a shrunk down version of San Diego, but with only the best parts! The con was as cool as ever and I definitely got my much needed crazy folks in costume fix. Fun, fun, fun! Some random comments on the pics...yes that is the smallest plane in the world... that may indeed be the cutest kid I ever did a drawing for... that's my buddy Jim Lawson facing off with the dino... ummm, cutest April O'Neil ever, hello! Becky,Lea,Mairead,and Coral in the house... that Leonardo cracked me up! Folks might recognize that pretty dark haired girl in the lower left from last years con pics...I did right away when she came by the table ;)

Supergirl con sketch

I've said it before, but Supergirl is one of the toughest characters to draw...at least for me. As far as I'm concerned, she has to look sweet and strong at the same time...not like the bimbo a lot of folks draw her as ;)
I like this one. Ink and gray copic markers on bristol board. 8.5x11

Deja Thoris

Con sketch in gray makers on cardboard for Fan Expo Canada.
You owe it to yourself to check out the Burroughs John Carter of Mars books. Talk about action and high adventure, they must have totally blown people's minds when they were originally published in the early 20th century. My favorite characters are John's wife Deja Thoris, the planet's most beautiful (and always naked) woman/princess and his faithful multilegged, giant toothy dog-thing Woola...woof to both!

Fan Expo Toronto coming up quick Aug.28-30

I'll be heading over the border to Toronto for the annual Fan Expo on Aug. 28-30. I've gone to this one several times and it's always a hoot and Toronto totally rocks! It's one of my favorite cons because it is so unlike any other! The combination of Comics and Horror and Anime and Sci Fi make for lots of diverse sights and sounds! I particularly love all of the enthusiastic folks in costume...definitely the most costume-y con I've ever been to. I'll be at booth #543 with my Mirage Studios Ninja Turtle pals....there's also talk of a TMNT panel of some kind. As usual I'll be doing sketches and bringing some art for sale...fun times!
This will be my last con of the Summer and possibly the year so I'll have to get all of my con fun in over the weekend while I'm hanging out with Leonard Nimoy ;)
ps. yeah, drawing on cardboard is my latest hobby!

Comic Con print for sale

I've gotten a lot of requests for the print I did for San Diego Comic Con, I don't have a ton left, but since I don't intend on selling them at other cons I figger some folks may want to grab one while they last. Price is the same as they were at the con, $10 (plus shipping). I'll sign and do my normal quickie turtle head sketch signature, but if you want it signed to someone "To Blah-Blah" etc just let me know in the comments box when you send the paypal payment. I use the priority mail shipping triangular tube boxes so they will arrive unmangled. If for some reason, you want more than one, just email me and I'll send you an invoice since I think the automated paypal button will want to charge $6 for shipping each one and I'll just ship them together for one payment of $6. US shiping only, sorry gang.

Summer con sketches

Here are a bunch of recent convention sketches that I actually remembered to take photos of after I finished 'em! I drew my last sketch in San Diego (Leonardo) on my brother's patio overlooking the city, now that's a studio view I could get used to!

Comic Con is gone

Well I made it through San Diego Comic Con. The show is crazy big and loud and did I mention crazy??? I did a ton of drawings, both girlie and turtle-y so I had my head down most of the 4 days. But, I met tons of nice folks and got a kick as usual out of the nutty characters that gather at these things. Lots of cool things to see, art, costumes, I even saw Megan Fox walk past with her bodyguard squad! Fun times ;)

Dooney sketchbook

I promise to eventually stop talking about San Diego, but it is pretty all consuming to prep for a big con in between real life and work.
Drawin' Girls! Totally at the last minute I got a con sketchbook together to sell at San Diego. The book features a variety of con sketches and commission drawings I've done, all girls obviously. Folks have been asking for one of these for a while now and I finally got my act together and did one. Now we'll see if anyone wants 'em

Turtles on the road to Comic Con!

Here's the print I made for sale at this years San Diego Comic Con. Rather than using some art I had on hand, I drew this up specifically for the show. I wanted to have something that featured both my Turtles as well as my girlie art, so here you go April in hot pants and Raph with a Shamu balloon, now where else are you going to see that ;)
I'll have some art for sale as well as doing sketches all weekend so come on by and say hey.
I'm in artist alley...II-06 with the Mirage Studios gang.

Creeping closer to San Diego

Just a couple of weeks till the Comic Con. Things always get pretty hectic before a big show trying to get things together to bring while keeping up with my regular work stuff. I've got a handful of sketches done which always makes me feel more prepared.in any case.
Still haven't gotten my official artist alley confirmation even though it's supposed to be all set. I'll be happy when I'm sitting at the table so I don't have to think about the planning any more!

San Diego is a go baby!

Since I've been posting so seldom lately I though that I should at least have a post saying that I'll be at the San Diego Comic Con all 4 days in artist alley. I've been to a zillion Comic Cons over the years, but it has been a long time since I actually sat a table so it should be a great time. I'll be drawing girls and turtles, not necessarily in that order ;)

More sketch cards

Here are a bunch of cards that I just put on ebay...including one of my remaining Marvel Masterpieces Artist Proof cards. I don't do card commissions, I just draw whatever I feel like drawing which keeps it more fun for me.

March of Dimes Sketchcards on eBay

A bunch of the original hand drawn sketchcards I did for the March of Dimes are up on eBay if you are interested. I'm not running these auctions, I just drew the cards.
Splinter
Black Cat
Storm
Ninja Turtle Card Set

Zatanna and Free Comic Day!

Here's a small watercolor of Zatanna. Also, just remembered that I'll be signing/sketching at Jetpack Comics in New Hampshire for Free Comic Book Day on May 2, come on by if you're in the neighborhood!

Shazam!

I drew this up a while ago with the idea of doing a mock up Captain Marvel cover but it never got any further than this stage.

More tiny girls and Turtles

I was doing a bunch of Sketchcards last year, but I haven't had the chance to do too many recently. They're fun to do even though drawing that small takes some getting used to, for me at least. I finished up a batch that I had started and just put them on Ebay if you want to check 'em out...or buy 'em...yeah, do that ;)

Wonder Woman vs. Enchantress

A couple of recent commission drawings. Something definitely seems to be up with Enchantress, I had a couple of requests for her lately...makes me wonder.
Wonder Woman is always a fave. She's not easy to get right, but I really like trying to capture her noble quality.
These are both drawn pretty big (for me that is) 11x17 with a 4B pencil.

Want more???

I know, I don't get it either, but I just set up a Deviant Art page for myself. These days with MySpace and Facebook and Twitter, there are so may avenues to get you work seen it can be a bit daunting to know where to start or stop . I'm thinking that maybe some folks outside the isolated blog watching world will stop by, we shall see.
Here I am.

Some con sketches and Commish auction

Some sketches I did for NYComicCon, I forgot to post here...
Also, I've got a commission auction going at the moment if you are interested.