I was asked to supply four illustrations for a Doctor Who Magazine feature about alien invasion. The subjects chosen were the Cyberking from the latest Christmas Special episode , the Autons ( a groovy 1970's menace) , the Lochness monster ( the rather formidable Zygon pet) and The Daleks of course - from the latest incarnation of the show. The deadline was under a week and the Dalek spread stretched over two pages - so even if I drew it print size ( which I did) - time was very tight
The office supplied me screenshots of the Cyberking ( a cgi construct) . Whilst these were a mighty help they lacked alot of detail - personal interpretation the obvious answer. This one ended up having a chunky Mick McMahon look and was all the better for it. I loved drawing the Autons best. I skimmed through the Target novelisation looking for a suitable scene. I didn't want to just show 'em crashing through a shop window - but actually facing the Army ( which we never see in SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE but it's in the book). The Lochness Monster was arguably the trickiest - trying to fit in all the elements including the Zygon tracker drove me a little nuts - the addition of a filter on the monsters flesh made me very happy in the end. The Daleks had to pencilled in an evening and inked/coloured the next day. I used the clone brush to add extra Daleks to the sky. To me it's the least successful because frankly the deadline wasn't enough for my exacting standards.I inked the majority of these with a brush pen ( crudely in places) before scanning on and adding solid blacks before colouring.I enjoyed the frenetic pace of decision.
I genuinely loved doing this job - reminded of the time I had to do some new Dr Who Weetabix cards for the magazine. I guess I'm just a 1970's Auton boy at heart. Can you spot the mistake in the Auton pencils and final piece? The pace was that mental...
A
The main guy in the pencils doesn't have any fingers, is that it?
ReplyDeleteLovely work, the colours on all are superb, particularly like the Cyberking pic.
Bingo - I missed out all the Auton hinged fingers! I only remembered just before deadline so had to 'shop in the digits drawn on layout paper. thanks very much for the comments.
ReplyDeleteA
That Cyberking pic is so good! I'd love a print of that! Can't say the rush shows in the final images. Brilliant compositions as ever.
ReplyDeleteRob - the rush made me think quick , swear alot and take chances. I'd never used a brush pen before and started weilding it with abandon -lol I cleaned bits up in 'shop and left stuff - it was kinda a crazy week. I'm trying to do more things like that because it shows that ultimately it's your ideas that count - not how polished you are. Thanks for the compliments - I can send you a higher res copy if you really want to run off a print - you can send me your Charge of the Light Brigade 'cos that blows me away!
ReplyDeleteA
Excellent stuff, I'd employ you :)
ReplyDeleteAs recently I've been staying up working on inking and penciling and watercoloring at a frenetic pace (set by myself) I have to say the extent of your genius makes it possible that there is no indication of any rush on these! I remember seeing them in DWM and they're even more gorgeous lined up like that in this blog. Woo!
ReplyDeleteAs interested as I am in buying generic viagra online, I'm more fascinated by your draft to Photoshop process. Do you ink your lines before scanning them in or do you do the whole thing on computer?
ReplyDeleteYour work is brilliant. I want a collected works of Adrian Salmon paperback by the end of next year (or at the very least a trade paperback of The Cybermen)
Hi Patrick - sorry for the late response. I tend to work both ways these days. If I draw on paper I ink on paper too. If I draw digitally in Manga Studio I ink in that programme. Depends on the job and my mood!
ReplyDeleteA trade paperback ... I can dream.:)
A