Anglo Salmon Art

LAST AMERICAN

2012-01-26T09:20:00.000-08:00

My wife and I met up with Mick McMahon and his wife for coffee at Thought Bubble 2011. I bought an Last American A3 poster off him ( you can get yours here http://mickmcmahon.bigcartel.com/ ) and he did me a wonderful sketch in the back of my copy of The Last American trade . They say you shouldn't meet your heroes , Mick being the exception ..

ade

BRIDGES

2012-01-22T06:25:00.000-08:00

BRIDGES How They Were Built was published by Oxford University Press in 1958. My copy is the 1965 edition , which arrived yesterday. Written by John Stewart Murphy , it's illustrated by my favourite british illustrator Charles Keeping. His name might be familiar to those who grew up in the 1960's and 70's. Primarily he was a book illustrator and has a formidable bibliography of works from historical illustrations through to childrens book art.

As the decades passed he constantly evolved his art in brilliant ways but always with strong drawing as the foundation. BRIDGES is from very early in his career and the style employed is one of my favourites . The textured penwork builds up the images like pieces of a jigsaw both working literally and structurally. Also what's nice is his decorative approach to each page - the art weaving around the text in a pleasing manner. Keeping was one of the very first to do this for picture books - this one being aimed squarely at 1950's boys.

Following are just a few scans from the book. Keeping illustrated other books in this series into the late 1960's.

It's a Jimmy Sangster Psychothriller !

2012-01-16T02:37:00.000-08:00

Pencils.

Inks and Manga Studio tone.

For Little Shoppe Of Horrors I was asked to provide an illustration that covered some aspect of writer Jimmy Sangster's work at Hammer film studios. Sangster wrote a hell of alot of genres for Hammer from horror ( CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN) to historical ( DEVIL SHIP PIRATES) to psychological thrillers inspired by the likes of Hitchcock's PSYCHO. I chose to illustrate this last genre mainly because he wrote all of Hammers Psychothrillers as they've become known and it's a genre arguably all his own from their canon.

Now I'll state right up I'm not a fan of multi image illustrations like this - I think it's a lazy way to compose art , grab a few stills and stick 'em together. So I decided the best thing was to centralise the picture with an image of Jimmy ( with script) and then balance various iconic images , characters around him. Ollie Reed look malevolent from PARANOIAC , Bette Davis from THE ANNIVERSARY , TASTE OF FEAR's wheelchair bound victim and crazy drug addled James Olsen's psycho with hatchet from CRESCENDO. The odd looking character up top with the hook is also from PARANOIAC.

I wanted the art to feel old school in that letratone way and experimented with various tones in Manga Studio. The recurring circular motif in the background was a last minute addition not planned - it seemed to suggest the paranioa these films elicit at heart. I recommend you check out any of these films if you're a fan of the genre like I am.

A

Eagle Awards nomination

2012-01-03T11:56:00.000-08:00

I've been nominated in two categories - for Best penciller and as Best colourist.

http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/survey/index.php?sid=43997

Ballad Of Halo Jones poster

2011-12-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

From 2nd-7th of January a play of The Ballad Of Halo Jones will be playing at the Lass O' Gowrie pub in Manchester , home to the infamous Dr Who Pubcons as well as many other worthy events. I was asked to draw an image for the poster/flyer. I'd not read Halo Jones since when it debuted in 2000AD so had to do a little research first. Inially as you'll see from my rough I thought the *Ring* was a space station ! It was suggested I use the spaceship Clara Pandy instead ( which worked much better). I liked the idea of Halo walking out of the circular motif whilst the ship took off from the Ring city.

Original artist Ian Gibson has a very cartoony and decorative style and I concentrated on getting Halo's features close to his whilst evolving her clothes to be more practical ( whilst still having style). I wanted the city ot feel a bit grim and dirty and so used a hot slighty grubby palette . Something more monochromatic and modern in contrast to the more colourful work of Gibson.

Event details at : http://www.wegottickets.com/f/3688

Here's the steps:

Pen and marker rough.

Refined pencil drawing squared up by hand using grid method.

Inks using pen and brushpen before being refined in Manga Studio and effects added to clouds.

Mid colour point showing how I build the colouring up in blocks before highlights and sfx added.

Final image sent to the client.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T17:59:00.000-08:00

Don Sharp 1922 - 2011

2011-12-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

Aussie director and writer Don Sharp has died. He directed Hammer's RASPUTIN THE MAD MONK , THE DEVIL-SHIP PIRATES and KISS OF THE VAMPIRE. Among his other genre work was THE FACE and BRIDES OF FU MANCHU , WITCHCRAFT , CURSE OF THE FLY and DARK PLACES. He directed the 1974 CALLAN film starring Edward Woodward and episodes of THE AVENGERS ( Invasion of the Earthmen , The- Get- Away and The Curious Case of the Countless Clues) and one episode of THE CHAMPIONS ( Project Zero in 1969). Never really accorded the acclaim he was due because he worked outside the studio system - Don was a director who could direct any genre including comedy. To end this short piece I must mention a favourite - PSYCHOMANIA - ride free Don , you've earned it and thankyou.

A

England Expects !

2011-11-29T02:08:00.001-08:00

Blackpool Gazette covers my involvement with NELSON,

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/daily-feature/england_expects_1_4011245

Parting Of The Ways

2011-11-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

Here are the pencils and finished artwork for this month's lead Timeteam illustration for PARTING OF THE WAYS. I wanted the Dalek Emperor to really impose over the forground figures but not use the head on shot seen in the show. I exaggerated his dome and eye and made sure the Dalek creature itself was lovingly in shot!

A

Vworpabix Cards

2011-11-14T02:25:00.000-08:00

Here are the sets of cards I did for the Vworpabix game ( free with the issue two of Vworp Vworp! out now). Based on the iconic Weetabix giveaway of the 1970's . Designer Colin Brockhurst did an excellent job replicating the look of the earlier series. I urge any fans to pick up Vworp Vworp! at the earliest convenience. It has some excellent interviews with many high profile Dr Who comics artists and editors.

Flesh n Blood pinup

2011-11-02T04:38:00.000-07:00

Flesh And Blood is a new 4 part series out from Monsterverse , heavily indebted to British horror films especially Hammer , I've this pin up in issue 1 and will have a back up strip in 2-4. Read more at :http://vokesfolks.blogspot.com

Torchwood: Unplugged

2011-11-02T04:21:00.000-07:00

B/W art inked in Manga Studio for Unplugged fiction in Torchwood Magazine.

Old Enemies ...

2011-10-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

I've not much new I can post that I've done recently - I finished my Lovecraft adaption for SelfMadeHero , next month's Timeteam for DWM and am working on Baron Frankenstein for Monsterverse. Here's a commission I coloured last week of some of the Doctor's old enemies. Makes me want to break out some Tom Baker and the much missed Lis Sladen...

Take care ,

Ade

Ade at The Monster From Hell reunion

2011-10-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Saturday 15th October , I'll be at this event being being held at The Round House , Old School Rooms , Powercroft Road , London E50PU . I'm not a guest as such , but Shane Briant who stars in the FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL will be there plus other Hammer luminaries.

I'll have A3 posters of my Little Shoppe Of Horrors BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW cover for sale with me ( below) , and original LSOH art that has featured in the magazine.

I'll be the guy with the portfolio.:)

A

The Dance

2011-09-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

The Doctor Dances illustration seemed a straightforward idea. Captain Jack riding the bomb with Rose and the Doctor holding the Empty Child in the forground . What could be simpler? I liked the idea of Rose's Union Jack T shirt being prominent and went for an ambitious low angle shot you see in the first pencil. Editorial came back to me with changes. Jack needed lifting higher so as not to look like he was tiny on top of Rose's nose and Rose's face needed work . I duly reduced Jack and tidied up Rose. Editorial still weren't happy and I knew it was time to reassess the art. Instead of tweaking her face I needed to do something radical I learned from an illustrator called Tom Stimpson.

Tom ran an illustration agency and one week he was on vacation. A piece of his art came back needing corrections. A hand opening a blind didn't look right. It fell to me to tackle it. I basically fudged what he'd done and the client still didn't like it still. So when Tom got back , he took it away and completely redrew a new hand from a different angle and pasted it on. Experience had taught him sometimes you just need a new approach to fix something. Too many artists try to save their precious drawings rather than jettison when appropriate. It's made my life easier knowing this.

So I redrew Rose from a new angle and quickly too! Editorial was very happy and I progessed to inks and colour without a hitch. When I saw it printed I realised it had been cropped at the bottom and my favourite bit of drawing - the kids' shoe was gone. All part of the dance I guess...

I wouldn't drink that ...

2011-09-19T02:45:00.000-07:00

Here's my very first professional comics page , written by John Freeman , it's page one from Karyn : Skinner which ran in the Megazine. I remember working on this after I came home from my day job ( as an artists rep) . I think I got 3 pages into the script before I downed tools and went into Fleetway to show the editor the pages I was that nervous. Luckily he loved them and this style has been the backbone of my career...

Dance Of The Vampires

2011-08-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

Aka Fearless Vampire Killers - for next issue of Little Shoppe Of Horrors.

Babs Steele ( Mask Of Satan)

2011-08-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

Woof ! - for a pal's mag.

Father's Day turning point

2011-08-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Here's the pencils . inks and colours for the Father's Day Time Team art. After playing around on previous TT pix with a more cartooned look recently I finally threw up my hands and went back to drawing in a more real way , albeit still blocky. I was trying to capture that feeling I got when I started this series way , way back. There are definite hints of that earlier blockiness in evidence , the Doctor and the Reaper both felt *right*. Both Rose and her father were drawn more realistically because they were forground figures. I've been drawing a strip for the next SMH Lovecraft anthology recently as well , on paper trying to get something back I felt the digital drawing had stolen from me. It's not about being old skool or any of that bollocks , more about losing the facility digital seems to give my work and bringing some struggle into my drawing again. It's been strenuous but not unrewarding. You'll see with the next few Time Team pics a darker feel to them.

The Cybermen at the Cartoon Museum

2011-07-29T05:23:00.000-07:00

Two pages from the 24 part The Cybermen ( serialised in Dr Who Magazine) are on show amongst many other Dr Who comics art at the Dr Who comics exhibition at the Cartoon Museum. http://www.cartoonmuseum.org/

New Weetabix style card

2011-07-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

I've done a fair few Weetabix style cards over the years , for Dr Who Magazine , recently for Vworp Vworp and here's a private commission ( still to be coloured). Fans love the old Weetabix card format bringing back many happy childhood memories. Fun to draw too.

Panic Moon!

2011-07-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

Pencil and ink stages for illustrations for Panic Moon fanzine. I did these because I'm a fan of the classic Auton stories and this was a chance to do something akin to the Target book illustrations you used to see. Visit http://panicmoonfanzine.blogspot.com/ for details on ordering.

A

Boss!

2011-06-30T17:01:00.001-07:00

Vworp 4

2011-06-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hope to see you there!

END OF THE WORLD ?

2011-06-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

I was really pleased with how this one turned out. After having *nerves* drawing ROSE , I relaxed here and I think I did a better job. Particularly pleased with Eccleston this time and Boe was a dream to draw in my style.

Hartnell hmm ?

2011-06-21T03:28:00.000-07:00

All the William Hartnell Timeteams were pre digital. In some rare cases I made colour copies before selling the originals. Here's the DALEK MASTERPLAN art , based only on telesnaps , a few stills and mostly my imagination. This was drawn before a lost episode was found that showed the alien delegates.

Two colour tests on photocopy paper for DALEKS INVASION OF EARTH. Looking at the art now I'd be inclined cheat the scene and have the Dalek further back rising out of the Thames...

A

THE MCMAHON EFFECT

2011-06-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

So I planned to write a quick post to highlight that artist Mick McMahon has his own blog now called 'Tugging Your Coat' - it's on my recommended blog list. Then I realised 'how could I just leave it at that?' . Mick has been the biggest influence on my work of any comics artist this side of the pond. It's an influence that goes to my very core - let's see where that leads us?

I first saw his work on Judge Dredd in 2000AD , when the comic launched. I'm not sure I was that struck initially , his tough drawing style didn't fit with the other artistic influences in my life , American artist Bernie Wrightson and England's John Bolton were my blueprint for great comics. Mick was more like a musical influence , there was something punk about it , disrepectful , edgy. He evolved quickly too , shucking Carlos Ezquerra's blueprint off and making his own mark on Dredd bringing in the big chin , big boots. BLOCK WARS was the last Dredd he did from that period - blocky indeed. The crowd scenes reputedly killed it for him and he left Dredd.

ON INFLUENCE.

Everybody's favourite McMahon work is SLAINE it seems. Everytime I ask this question I get the same answer. 'Sky Chariots ' is like the Rosetta Stone. It's also responsible for more McMahon-alikes than practically anything else he's done. Okay maybe Dredd has influenced a fair few. I've no issue with being influenced , except maybe a little when an artist fails to step out of the SHADOW. I'm as guilty as the next with regard to Mick , though my influence comes from a little later in his career. After returning to comics with the THE LAST AMERICAN ( after a being ill) , his work had evolved yet again. Mick has said in interviews that though he wasn't drawing , he still was in his head. TLA is a tour de force ( go get a copy of the ComX album) if you don't believe me. Pretty grim too. The art has a level of detail not seen in his work before ( okay maybe SLAINE is a contender) , marker pens on watercolour paper with Magic Marker colours were used ( I know I sold him some at a shop). I remember seeing some pages in COMIC SHOWCASE and being stunned , my eye practically against the pages. All this detail was held together by extremely strong linear drawing , a style of drawing that became paramount to his work whilst detail was pared down. This work is my biggest influence. It taught me to try and see clearly , forget flourish and fancy mark making , simple direct drawing/storytelling rule. Sometimes I forget this lesson. Sometimes I need reminding and this page just did that.

So today I run across a full page from HELLRAISER # 10 . I'm floored.Seriously. I'm reproducing it here with his consent. Clarity of drawing is the key. Just look at Pinhead's hands. Not a wasted mark. None of the flourish of SLAINE - this is the drawing of a new level. The composition is also worh noting - sexy without being sexist - I love how Mick has drawn her hair - shape and form , but not dead geometrey , there's that slight punky edge ( from DREDD) still there.

Mick's next project is KESTRELS which could be his most personal too. I like what I've seen - the genius is still intact like I had any doubts...

The Unearthly Child Returns...

2011-06-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

This artwork is identical to the very first Time Team except David Tennant replaces William Hartnell . I was trying to think of an original idea for a piece of art for a charity auction and this image popped into my head! It was an interesting exercise to revisit a style of drawing I'd not done for years again. Memories flooded back of that first call from Gary Gillatt ( then editor) asking if I'd be interested in illustrating a new feature for the magazine. The money's not good he said ( 40 quid) but it will be 7 years worth of work! So right he was and more. At the time I was driving a van delivering newspapers in the day and drawing what little jobs I could get. This was a creative lifeline that I'll never forget - so thanks Gary.

NEW Terry Sharp

2011-06-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Pop over to http://damned-to-darkness.blogspot.com/ for exclusive look at new Terry Sharp art plus letters for the ongoing DAILY strip I'm working on...

A

Dexter

2011-06-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

Shhhh....

Horror double bill

2011-06-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

Found this horror double bill design in the archives recently. As a kid I became a lifelong fan of the genre through the BBC2 horror double bills of the late 1970's. Usually a Universal monster flick in b/w followed by something lurid in colour - a Hammer or Tigon picture if you were lucky. This probably explains my obsession with drawing this stuff today...

NELSON is coming ...

2011-06-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky enough to be one of the artists chosen to help tell Nel's life story . My five pages written by the genius that is Rob Davis. Here's Rob's b/w cover art.

http://www.blankslatebooks.co.uk/2011/05/nelson/

There's an FB page too.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nelson/191899917529184?sk=wall

I'm coming for you Witchfinder General ...

2011-06-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

Richard ( Ian Ogilvy) hunts for Matthew Hopkins from the great Brit horror WITCHFINDER GENERAL.

Quatermass Experiment

2011-06-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

Victor Caroon down by the docks ..

Quatermass Experiment quad designs by Steve Reed.

Tom Baker sketches

2011-06-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Can't remember why I did these - maybe just for the hell of it. Anyway , I love drawing Tom and wish I'd been around to draw some strips with him as the Doctor . I did do JUNKYARD DEMON 2 come to think of it ...

A

MIDWICH CUCKOOS

2011-06-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

My favourite cover for John Wyndham's THE MIDWICH CUCKOOS buy Paul Hogarth ( 1960). A simple design that holds so much frenetic energy in it's lines. You can see more brilliant Penguin Science Fiction cover design at http://www.penguinsciencefiction.org/04.html#1440a

Troughton Two Fer

2011-06-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

Patrick Troughton stories were always brilliant Time Teams to draw - usually we were spoilt for choice and it could be a toss up between illustrating THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN or THE TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN in this case. Luckily I got to do my TOMB illo later as a cover for DWM !

The UNDERWATER MENACE was done at a time when I was trying to get a handle on digital colouring and all it's possibilities. Everything and the kitchen sink got thrown at this one and I probably over played my hand. That said it's got a groovy 1960's psychedlic edge I like.

DAMNED TO DARKNESS

2011-06-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

My new blog all about the adventures of Terry Sharp who I co-created with Robert Tinnell is now open . I hope you enjoy...

A

http://damned-to-darkness.blogspot.com/

The Rescue hand coloured

2011-06-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

To compliment the previous post here's The Rescue . There's not much to add - it's a fairly lowkey crashed spaceship drama with alienesque Koquillion the visual centre . I've always liked Vicki and this gave me a chance at a decent profile shot. Sandy the sand monster was requested by the editorial team and who could blame them?

A

Keys Of Marinus hand coloured art

2011-06-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a rare example of a piece of Time Team art from before I went to digital colouring. After inking the approved pencils I would make numerous photocopies to try various colour combinations on. Once I settled on the right colour scheme I would then hand colour the original with Dr Martin's Liquid Watercolors. You either got it right first time or wrecked the art ( though there's many a time I fixed mistakes with gouache ) The finished art was then sent to the DWM office where Peri scanned it on for publication. Apparently when I finally succumbed to the darkside and sent in digital files - her life got so much easier.:)

The art you see here is one of only two hand coloured original Time Team's I still have in my possession , having sold off the rest very early in my career.

Sneak Pin Up peek

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Clip pic from my pin up for :

http://vokesfolks.blogspot.com/2011/05/flesh-and-blood-update.html

Tonight's drawing Susan Denberg

2011-06-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

Susan in FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN .

Hepworth , Wakefield 3rd June 2011

2011-06-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

The newly opened Hepworth in Wakefield is well worth visiting. Free entry to see some truly iconic sculptures by Barbara Hepworh and her contemopraries like Henry Moore and Ben Nicholson.

http://www.hepworthwakefield.org/

POTZ pencil drawing

2011-06-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES or POTZ as it's known is a great zombie flick made by Hammer studios back in '66 . Whilst Andre Morell is undoubtedly the star , it's John Carson's Squire Hamilton who ends up my favourite character. Thoroughly iredeemable . I met John who I can say is the exact opposite. I got him to sign my issue of House Of Hammer as the Squire ( which he thought a lark). This is my longwinded way of introducing today's drawing - the Squire and two of his zombie miners. Check out the film when you've a chance and I hope you like the drawing...

A

Unquiet Dead pencils

2011-05-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

Though the temptation to draw old mother zombie abroad in the night was great - we opted for the seance scene because it had all the main characters and the Gelth. Seance scenes are always tricky to draw ( I drew two or three pages of seance in my Terry Sharp book) . Luckily the *spirit* imbues some life into this static design.

A

Amy Pond pencil drawing

2011-05-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

My first shot at drawing Amy Pond ( the inked version I sent to DWM to tempt them:). Another file archived tonight.

Torchwood Broken Pt 1 colour files

2011-05-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Whilst spring cleaning the computer I ran across these unlettered colour files. Hope you enjoy.

Eccs

2011-05-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

Eccleston drawn with razored brushpen.

Angel Blake with my cover in the flesh!

2011-05-25T20:28:00.001-07:00

Wow ...

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000759086915#!/photo.php?fbid=10150185343028173&set=t.100000759086915&type=1&theater

Terry Sharp Trailer

2011-05-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

Download animated trailer and read first 20 pages of the first book starring Terry Sharp , film director and occult fighter!

http://www.theblackforest.net/terrysharp/downloads.html

Bristol Expo 2011

2011-05-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

I'll be at the Bristol Comics Expo this weekend 14th/15th May! You'll be able to find me mostly at the Panini booth where I'll be doing Dr Who monster sketches all weekend - well until sunday lunchtime at any rate. If you fancy a sketch pop by as early as you can and I'll pop you on the list. I'll also have some original art with me - comics and Time Team pics that will be for sale.

Hope to see you.

A

http://www.fantasyevents.org/bristolcomicexpo/index.html

The Dark!

2011-05-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

The Dark were the new Dr Who villians in Forever Dreaming ( the strip I've just drawn) . Conceived by writer Jonny Morris , he descibed them as villianous businessmen , practically silhouettes with psychedlic pinwheel glasses and sinister smiles. I knew immediatley what they should look like from this description and they were a huge reason I enjoyed drawing this strip! Here's pg 10 of the first part of the story. You can see that the pencil layouts are merely suggestions - from these I would draw directly with ink , taking the *raw* to a publishable quality. It's important when drawing comics to keep that energy alive - not fall in love with your own drawing and overwork things. The rain of course added an extra mood to the villians who never opened their brollies! The conclusion of this story is on the shelves now - I hope you enjoyed it.

Forever Dreaming

2011-04-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

My latest DWM comic strip is out now in ish 433 - called Forever Dreaming - here's the first page!

Above is the pencil layout submitted to DWM . The main amendments asked for were that Amy be looking forward in panel one and that panel 2 was a closer shot . For the overhead beach scene and the seaside featured in the strip I spent a cold icey morning taking hundreds of reference shots of Blackpool promenade ( I live a stones throw away) . These became very useful in helping anchor a very dreamy storyline in some form of reality. Funnily enough it never occured to DWM that that I lived so close to such perfect reference for the strip - serendipity for sure!

A

Unlettered Terry Sharp art !

2011-04-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

A couple of pages from the graphic novel The Faceless I did with Bob Tinnell.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faceless-Terry-Sharp-Story/dp/1582405166/ref=sr_1_1/203-1438657-3611926?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182276633&sr=1-1

Fly !

2011-03-31T16:30:00.000-07:00

A couple of pages for a strip I did for my buddy Neil Vokes' Wickid West anthology book . Hope you like!

Jane Asher - The Stone Tape

2011-02-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

Die Screaming Marianne 1971

2011-02-23T15:36:00.000-08:00

Initial sketches getting the feel and finished art. Ink and wash.

Poldark

2011-02-21T09:09:00.000-08:00

Angharad Rees in POLDARK , destined for LSOH # 26.

A

2011 Rondo Award nomination for best cover

2011-02-14T08:19:00.000-08:00

I've been nominated in the 2011 Rondo awards for Best Cover for Little Shoppe Of Horrors # 25 BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW ! I'm kinda stunned actually and would sure appreciate your vote if you've time. Here's the website details to go to:

http://www.rondoaward.com/rondo/rondos.html

And here's the pencils and cover art sans lettering!

Cheers

A

Time Team: Ambassadors Of Death

2011-01-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

I remember a couple of things from when I drew this. Firstly the image you see here is from before I redrew Jon Pertwee's head ( which I pasted in using Photoshop later). The other was the first colour version was all greens and blues which editor Clay Hickman felt wasn't punchy enough . The ambassador's outstretched arms was inspired by the famous publicity shot from the story which always reminded me of Jack Kirby cosmicness - hence all the Kirby dots on my image!

How to draw a Viking...

2011-01-24T05:20:00.000-08:00

Historical illustrations fascinate me , artists like Charles Keeping , Mike Charlton and Victor Ambrus uniquely bring history to life but not in a staid photgraphic way , there pictures breathe sweat and blood and move the viewer. Just google any of these guys and see if I'm wrong. Just as there are illustrators , the field sports many writers well worth your time , Rosemary Sutcliff and Henry Treece to name just two from my favourite period of the 1960's-70's. Whilst reading Treece's viking books last year I was fired to try some historical illustration myself which is the roundabout way of getting to the *why* of this post.

I wanted to draw an iconic image of a viking . Nothing fancy.No horned helmets. A warrior alone on a shore. The initial sketch was on paper and this was imported into Manga Studio. I set myself a new layer and totally redrew the sketch ( which you see below). Once happy I went straight into painting the picture on different layers before deciding to *ink* it at the end which binded the picture together. I'm quite pleased with it and if any passing editors want to offer me some historical work - don't hesitate!

Time Team 2011

2011-01-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

One thing we all wanted was to drop the grittier inking style and return to the more classic TT look for the new series. Not so much a clean slate but a more stylised approach was on my mind. Episode one ROSE presented a few illo choices - Rose being hounded by the Autons at the start , Mickey going Auton mental in the restaurant but in the end only one picture would fit the brief. It's Rose's first heroic scene in the series where she swings down to save the Doctor. Both leads were in it plus the threat.

I knew I wanted Rose to be central in the image , the focus point . I tried a shot of her swinging directly at the viewer but eventually opted for a more side angle - frankly her flares were making things difficult! Once the pencil was approved I inked the picture then imported it into Manga Studio to give the lines extra sharpness. This blackline drawing was then coloured in Photoshop. I planned on coming up with a unique colour scheme using a pinky rose colour - but couldn't make it work. Eventually the colours seen in the episode were the only option - the blue of the Tardis adding a bit of zing !

Next month THE END OF THE WORLD .... so much to choose from.

Torchwood Unplugged

2010-12-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

Here's my art illustrating James Moran's Unlpugged fiction story in sadly the last issue of the magazine. It's been great drawing Capt. Jack and Co and I hope next year the mag reincarnates when the show returns!

A Study In Terror

2010-11-09T20:41:00.000-08:00

These are the first character designs I did for a strip written by Robert Tinnell called A Study In Terror - it's a riff on those great 1960's psycho thrillers like Hysteria , Fanatic and Paranoiac ! Bob wrote the first script which I've worked roughs up on. It was originally destined as a back-up strip to run in Bob and Neil Vokes' monthly Flesh And Blood comic. That's now become a graphic novel so A Study In Terror has no home now. No matter , I hope we can ressurect this at some point in the future because I really love the 1960's setting. Here's some pics for now!

A

Torchwood Mind's Eye step by step

2010-11-08T11:24:00.000-08:00

This illustration was a double page spread ( covers two pages). Firstly I set up the correct size template in Manga Studio with central page divide. I wanted the old Victorian school building to feature strongly with Ianto looking back pensively whilst Jack watches in the SUV. Two figures and an interesting building are more than enough for an illustration. I pencilled up the drawing in blue pencil in MS and after editorial comment *lifted* the SUV higher and made it more prominent.

Next on a new layer I inked the drawing using the pen and marker tools in Manga Studio. I made particular use of the horizontal and vertical ruler tools on the building. The tree was inked on a seperate layer and then the rain added on a new layer using the rain filter. I then customised the computer rain to my liking - deleting lines and adding new ones . There are no perspective lines in this illustration so it must be viewed as four seperate planes - SUV forground , Ianto mid ground , Building in background with horizon line of rooftops

Finally the file is exported into Photoshop for colouring. With such a relatively detailed drawing I kept the colour scheme simple.

Sea Devils

2010-11-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a commission I did awhile back. Sea Devils are great to stylise ( they appear in The Cybermen strip prominently). The original of this was hand coloured but in the interest of archiving this is the photoshop version I did to find the colour scheme.I kept to the original monster colours but pepped up the background.

The Cybermen - an appreciation

2010-11-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

This was borrowed from http://shallwedestroy.blogspot.com

There’s also a feature on the making of The Cybermen strip, which is especially welcome as that strip is probably one of my favourite things in Doctor Who. Even in the small images printed in the article, it still looks incredible - stylistically incomparable, and not only within Doctor Who. I’ve never failed to be massively impressed by Adrian Salmon’s art, and it was particularly effective there, meshing perfectly with the arc’s epic, faux-mythological tone. (Trade paperback? Anyone?)

Thanks!

A

On drawing.

2010-11-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

Talented artist Danny Kelly posited a question about drawing recently - about the number of lines different artists use to get to a drawing ( that's the simple version of the question). My answer might be of interest to a few.

It's true I go for the *line* right off the bat - be it roughs or pencils. That said I rarely get what I'm after first or tenth time ( that's what erasers were invented for:) I try to get all the basic structural shapes in place first and the gestural marks ( the grace of the drawing). Usually I then let the image *lie* then before coming back to it and tightening up required details till enough is there to be readable. Kirby used see the image before pencil touched paper and practically traced it - I can't do that. I like what John Romita said about *finding* the image on the page - involving sweat and tantrums ( in my case).

It's occured to me that I should devote a bit of time to theorising ( or bullshitting depending on what you think of my thoughts) here on my blog. I'm not that cerebral an art guy but I'm not a total instinct artist either ( like say Frank Frazetta). A pal Rob Davis blogged recently about COLOUR ( and mighty interesting it is too)

http://dinlos.blogspot.com/2010/10/don-quixote-and-truth-of-colour.html

Stay tuned for more thoughts...

A

October pic

2010-10-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hopefully I should get a proper crack at the Dr and Amy sometime in the future. I've been tinkering away working in Manga Studio ( digital drawing) recently and this pic of Amy is one of the early results. I've done other stuff since including Torchwood illos and am enjoying the digital approach. Manga Studio has some decent aids like perspective and ruler tools but you've still gotta know how to draw to get good results. This week I'm back pencilling at the drawing board , eraser shavings flying no doubt as I tackle a special project.:)

ade

Amy Pond!

2010-09-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

First drawing of Amy Pond ( Dr Who). Hope you like.

Time Team 6 - Revenge of the Cybermen

2010-09-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

I've always loved Revenge - the Cyberman design feels so 1970's. Voga was played by Wookie Hole ( a giant limestone cavern you can visit). It's got Sarah and Harry and Vogans. And Tom Baker. It's default era story.

For the Time Team I wanted a scene that involved both the Doctor and a cyberman. Including a vacuum cleaner style cybermat too meant this shot on the orbiting space station was the perfect choice! Sarah gets a look-in too.:)

Twitter change

2010-09-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

For those who have been following my tweets - I've a new name I'm tweeting under and you're welcome to follow me there. The other is defunct.

http://twitter.com/AS1963

Destiny of the Daleks original art for sale

2010-09-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

This is a chance to buy the original ink drawing for Destiny of the Daleks that was used in the Time Team feature in DWM!

All proceeds go to the very worthy cause of transplant research at Great Ormands Street Childrens Hospital.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Doctor-Adrian-Salmon-original-artwork-F-H-/190440499827?pt=UK_Collectables_SciFi_fantasyCollectables_EH&hash=item2c57236a73#ht_500wt_1020

More Claw art!

2010-08-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Couple of pics for the Blood on Satan's Claw ish of Little Shoppe of Horrors!

Dead Man's Switch

2010-07-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

Roughs , pencils and inks/colour for the CD cover.

2010-07-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Three artworks for seperate stories by Torchwood mag readers. Went in heavy with the brush pen and mortared the cracks with colour!

Gladiator sketch

2010-07-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

A quick sketch for a bit 'o fun!

Time Team 5 - The Faceless Ones

2010-07-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

Alien invasion at Gatwick Airport was the storyline for Patrick Troughton's The Faceless Ones.The couple of episodes that exist are on the Lost in Time dvd boxset ( recommended). This wasn't available at the time I did this I believe and I probably worked from telesnaps and the DWM Archive and a bit of imagination. Though the colouring is a bit basic ( early days using Photoshop) , I tried to push the design on artworks from this period - this being a good example.

A

Cavewoman sketch !

2010-07-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Blood of the Vikings !

2010-07-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

Father Shandor - new drawing

2010-06-27T17:43:00.000-07:00

Zygon Bodysnatchers!

2010-06-15T05:03:00.000-07:00

I originally drew this after reading the Dr Who New Adventure novel The Bodysnatchers. I loved the smoggy Victorian setting that fit the Zygons shape changing abilities like a glove. This art eventually featured as a cover on Dr Who Magazine!

Bernice Summerfield Audio Season 11.1 and 11.2 covers.

2010-06-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

I was asked to draw an image that could be split into two down the centre to form the first two covers. The image itself was to be a group photo with the right hand side darker in tone to emulate the darker storyline of that cd. Above are the pencil and finished art. These were inked in a more woodcut/brushy way that I've currently been exploring in recent illustrations.

http://www.bigfinish.com/Bernice-Summerfield-Season-11

Senor 105!

2010-05-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Here's my illo of Senor 105 - the masked wrestler in his no.26 mask ( Iron). Naturally the Man in the Iron Mask seemed the perfect idea! If you want to get involved in this project - contact Cody Schell at :

http://www.facebook.com/notes/cody-schell/needed-105-artists/401829383685

Father Sandor in oils

2010-05-10T02:22:00.000-07:00

In this digital age it might seem prehistoric to being dabbling in oil paints but then there is something organic about the process that makes it worth it. This was lightly sketched through onto Daler Rowney oil painting paper via a lightbox from the sketch below. I then started blocking in shapes and refining , adding a simple suggestive background. No photos were used except to check how the dark area of his cassock worked and even then it's improvised. Artwork is for sale.:)

A

Father Sandor

2010-05-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of mocking up a coupla' pages of Father Sandor action. Been looking at the old House of Hammer stuff to get me bubbling. Here's a first sketch of the good Father...

A

Dan McDaid !

2010-05-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

Above Absolom Daak gives a cyberman and short back 'n sides curtesy of artist Dan McDaid who has a new website revamp up now! Dan's a relatively new guy on the scene who has made a HUGE impression on me and many others , which is why I'm giving it up for Dan now! Go check out his unique and wonderful work at :
http://danmcdaid.com/index.html

A

ASSISTANTS!

2010-04-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned to recreate two Time Teams illos ( Romana and Leela) to go with the original Sarah Jane I had available for sale. I was also asked to compose a new artwork to go with the set of Jo Grant! Naturally it had to include giant maggots and I jazzed up her groovy wellies. If I get time I'll try and colour this up 1970's style at some point!

A

Time Team 4 -Yeti!

2010-04-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Another image from the Time Team archive. At one point the feature covered two stories an installment which inevitably led to one story not getting illustrated. This was a shame as the period covered quite a few popular Troughton monster stories. Sometimes we snuck a smaller second illo in - this one from the infamous WEB OF FEAR. Later A smaller second artwork became part of the feature under editor Clay Hickman. I'd love at some point to revisit the *missing illos* - perhaps for a TT book ?!

A

Daleks and quad bikes!

2010-04-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

This can only mean Jon Pertwee and Jo Grant in DAY OF THE DALEKS! This is one story I grow fonder of with each watch or more sentimental. Jo is particularly groovy and I added some 70's shades to her to add to the factor. Jon of course loved driving *anything* - so this scene where the Ogrons try to catch them on the quad must of been alot of fun to film.The artwork here was for the Time Team - pen and brush on watercolour paper.

In the shed...

2010-04-02T19:28:00.001-07:00

A Torchwood illo.

Facebook Fanpage

2010-03-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

I've set up a fanpage ADE SALMON ART on Facebook . http://www.facebook.com/pages/ADE-SALMON-ART/104226536279635

Time Keepers

2010-03-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

This illo was done sometime after the TV Movie as a sample pic. These days it would be part of a *pitch* to use the jargon - but back then I just sent a photocopy into the Dr Who Mag office on a wing and prayer. It was used in the mag. Fun times.:)

The Baron pleas!

2010-03-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

The Baron tries to convince Paul Krempe his story is true - but would you believe him? ( CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN 1957)

Time Team Unearthed3 : Davros

2010-03-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

I got to draw Davros again in the Time Team feature but this was the first entry for GENESIS OF THE DALEKS! Having only enough space for one big picture - many stories hardly got much of an illo. Still I liked this but my definite GENESIS pic is still to be drawn! I adopted a Mick McMahon approach to this piece - seemed a fit.:)

Zygons ink

2010-03-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

It was great to work on a large piece (A3) with a brushpen. Reminded me of my CYBERMEN days! Here's the result.

The Wolfman!

2010-03-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

Before Del Toro there was Ollie...

Draconian Ninja comics!

2010-03-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

I thought it about time I posted some comics pages on the blog. Last year I illustrated Dr Who: Cold Blooded War for IDW comics. It was only published in the U.S. sadly , so I'm sharing some pages with you here in case you didn't run across the title. This was the first strip I'd drawn with a brush pen - it's rough in places perhaps but I hope the energy and love of the subject shines through! I can't show all the 22 pages , but here's a selection to give you a flavour. Dedicated to Jon.

ade

Time Team Unearthed 2 : Leela!

2010-03-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

She's my fave WHO companion ( though I'm sentimental about Sarah and Jo). Here's a pic I did for the TIME TEAM . Not used this style in awhile but I like this - might do some again - anyone want a cheapish commission in this technique?

Before pencils added for comparison. I really like the Baker profile too ( carved into a mountain in the episode) . A fun job.

Zygons

2010-03-04T17:45:00.000-08:00

Here's the layout and pencils to a private commission I'm doing. The brief was to build on Zygon mythology without losing the look we associate with in Dr Who.I'll post inks as soon as.:)

A