A couple of months ago I started a drawing intended as part of an inking lesson for my students. I started the drawing a little too late in the week to have it ready for Sunday's class so, I left it home and re-created the drawing in class and inked it on the spot. The idea with the drawing was to handle it three different ways and then ink it three different ways. The first would be very loose pencils, the second would be very tight pencils, and the third would be in the middle. One drawing would be inked with brush, one with crow-quill, and the third would be a mixture of the two. That at least was the idea. The drawing sat on my board for a period of time as I had other work that required my attention. when a gap opened up I decided to finish the drawing, but just as a single panel. I'd then ink the drawing for my own practice. For a long time I've felt my inks weren't quite up to where I wanted them and this would be a good chance to test myself and see if I could push my abilities a bit further then where they were. Here's the results of this test:

As a drawing I was extremely happy with the composition, figures, lettering, and the inking. Taking my time with this drawing really paid off in the level of quality that I perceive in my work. As I was drawing this I came up with an idea to continue the story of this panel to an entire page. The execution of that page would be handled the same way, with an eye towards maintaining a level of quality. Here are the results of that:

I am quite pleased with the results of this page as well. The composition of each panel is well executed, as well as the composition of the overall page. The level of quality and consistency stays equal throughout, which I am also very pleased with, especially on the last panel, 3/4 of which was completely re-drawn after a good call by my wife who mentioned that something was off with the panel. As I was finishing this page up, an idea for  a short story based around this page came into my head. I'll be working on that and posting pages when they are completed.

Who I Am And What I Do

I am Steve Walker.  I draw graphic novels, most notable are the first 2 volumes of The Sons Of Liberty for Random House Books.  I've also co-created along with Jared Axelrod, The Battle Of Blood And Ink being released this may from Tor Books and available for pr-order now at the link. 

Besides drawing comics of things that I love and would want to read, I was a founding member of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School and worked with the wonderful Molly Crabapple, and helped to run the best damned burlesque life-drawing session in the world. 

I also teach comics and sequential art at The Art Student's League of New York, and have done so for almost 5 years now.

My name's Steve Walker, and it is a pleasure to meet you.

Sketch Monday

After a very busy weekend here we are at Monday again.

Heimdall

 

 

 

This sketch of Heimdall the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge Bifrost was done on the train on the way to my teaching gig at the Art Student's League.