John is moving home. The last day the forum will be up before the srver is moved will be the 29th. After which point there will be -nothing- (Shudders)

John expects that the Forum, all going well, will be back up and running on the 5th of August.

I was saying that everyone should use the down time to get more sketches done so we can come back with a bang;-)

If the sketches number two or two hundred all the better.

Thanks for your comments guys. There is talent in this board (besides JB, obviously).

Matthew: Ball points, more exactly, BIC ball points, are, imho, THE BEST TOOL to b/w works.

I have used them during last 20 years for drawings, besides to take class notes (their laterals being the best place for do sketches :)

Other examples (sorry for their size, the scans are old):

Daniel---Nice Dr Doom, like the colouring. You chose a difficult angle but pulled it off really well, my only point would be that choosing the ventral aspect, as you have, the tops of his legs [From his knee joint to the Greater Trochanter] look a little skinny. Dr.Doom exudes power from the great pose you have given him, but he lacks something in his stature. One of the many things I picked up from Alan Davis was a love of exagerating the figure. Play around with odd looking people. draw them all in proportion except say their calves or their shoulders. Makes for some fun, trust me!

Bill---That sucks that they pulled it but then, I guess -that- is the way the industry works. At least you've reacted professionally, saying you can provide them with alternatives! I have to say there -was- something unsettling about the kid though...I think it might have been accentuated by the transparent outline. In doing so you gave him an etheral feel which may have conrtibuted to the "demonic" feel. Personally It looked more "stylistic" than "scary" to me.

Mark---Excellent to see your stuff again. post more! More practice equals better skills. David Lloyd does some nice Contrast work between light and dark. I'd be interested in hearing whether you are intentionally avoiding hatching or weather your not using hatching is a confidence thing. [Hatching being solid black lines crossing over each other to provide a "gray" tapering effect from black to white] If it's just a confidence thing I'd reccomend looking at Neal Adams and Kevin Nowlans work to give you some good examples of how they transfer from solid black to white.

Ed---As much as I like the artwork, I'm not sure about the "embossed" look the colours have provided...maybe it's just because it's so unusual to me. Looking at the B&W in my head the Thing is really good....I think it's me! I'm just freaked out that they are coming out of the screen-LOL

Mikael---Wow, you have a talented family huh!? Pass my compliments on to your brother and sister...save some for yourself too;-)

Steve---Great page dude.

Felipe---More great sketches. Really impressive.

Thanks Darren, more of them coming soon.

This is 'The gap', a '96 work of love, not sketch (obviously). His height is the short side of a DIN-A4 paper. Done with a BIC orange fine point, without previous pencils.

Edited to include a narrower image.

A group of comic related:

Kurt

Sang Chi?

(typo)

Great work Filipe.

Okay...I'm going to post this into the thread...the "small" version is a nats ba'-hair off a meg. The large version is virtually 3MB.

I've uploaded the small version to Image Shack and will post shortly.

Here's a Scarlet Witch I did for somebody.  If anyone wants to take a crack a coloring it, that would be awesome.

Justin Wasson

For a larger version just click on the sections numbered below the small version.

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

I'd like to say "Thanks" to everyone who not only participated in this little shindig but to all those who have made the John Byrne Forum, and the Sketchbook thread what it is: A great community.