BATMAN-Themed 2011 Holiday Card! From Start to Finish! Harley Quinn!

Since the 90s, I've been commissioned (by famous comic art fan and collector, Tim Chandler) to create a unique BATMAN-related Christmas card! Here is this year's card, one that gets sent to only about 100 lucky recipients! Tim wanted an "outdoor criminal carnival" theme, complete with the usual characters he asks for every year, as well as the usual "right-side-to-left" reveal composition, upon the opening of the card!

Below: Several rough pencil sketches to get some ideas going! Note Harley Quinn's constant moving around the scene, from a (poison gas) balloon booth, to soon trying to "slingshot" Batman and Robin into the drink! The early concept also had face-painted kids milling about the grounds, as well as tons of stolen loot! Click to enlarge all images!

Below, left: Figure sketches done in an effort to work out Nightwing's pose and placement! Below, right: One more pass before the final pencils!

Below: The final pencil version, with Harley moved from her face-painting booth, no kids, Isis the cat in place, and a vat of "expired eggnog" in place of "deadly acid!" Below that is the final inked illustration!

Below: The finished, computer-colored Christmas card!

Here Comes--The HONEY BADGER! Custom T-Shirt Art!

Created for the fine folks at FishBrain.com, here is my artwork for a new character called The HONEY BADGER! 

Below: My rough sketches for pose suggestions and compositions...

Below left: Rough pose design! Trying to get lots of dynamic action in a standing pose! Below right: Final pencils for the approved design! Note the elimination of the rock pile/logo area!

Below: The finished inks for this unique and exciting new superhero! Click all images to enlarge!

And, finally, here (below) it is on a swell, high-quality shirt! Want one of your own? Order here!

LOONEY TUNES MAGAZINE! Original Pencil Sketches and Artwork! Bugs Bunny!

Here are some of my pencilled prelim sketches and finished pencils for this creative 2-page spread in LOONEY TUNES MAGAZINE! It's a kick to draw so many of those beloved classic characters, including Bugs, Daffy, Taz, and Tweety, and putting them in humorous situations is always a real challenge! Click images to enlarge and enjoy!

Click below to enlarge the finished, published magazine spread! Can you spot some differences between the pencil stage and finished product?

Robin vs The Joker! Fan Commission from Start to Finish!

A great and fun commission for an overseas fan! He wanted to see the 70s-era Robin, caught in a then-ubiquitous death trap, as laid by the evil Batman foe, the Joker! Click images below to enlarge!

Below: My original rough layout! The Joker has Robin trapped in a gigantic custom "action figure" toy package! Robin struggles to free himself, as the Joker lowers the trap using a huge "grabber claw," as if plucked from a "pick-a-toy machine!" Note my different sketches and ideas for the Robin figure!

Below: More sketches for Robin, picturing him still bound by those endless twist-ties that come with real toys in their packages!

Below: I then wasn't happy with the Joker pose, and wanted a more "open" display from the character...Also chose the "struggling" figure of Robin.."

Below: In order to get the lettering just right, in the proper perspective, I scanned the pencils, and laid in the text using PhotoShop, warping all text into the proper perspective! ...This allowed me to trace the lettering off onto the final inked piece...I even included the 50s "Robin" comic book logo!

Below: The final, inked piece! Click images to enlarge!

Below: With computer colors added!

SHAZAM! It's the Original Captain Marvel! DC Comics!

Another fun illustration for my own amusement and education!  Here is the long-time fave, Captain Marvel, in a dramatic standing pose! I was inspired by the corner box illo of Marvel Comics' 70s sensation, THE HUMAN FLY, since both characters wear somewhat similar costumes, including that cool half-cape!

Using the FLY pose and cape as an inspiration, I next sketched out the CAPTAIN MARVEL figure in pencil, scanned that, made some notes and changes in PhotoShop, then printed the pencil art to size (below left). Once inked and finished (below right), I re-scanned into PhotoShop to begin the computer coloring!

And, here (below) is the colored version! Altho this does have some modeling and gradated coloring, I tried to keep the hues fairly simple and bright, to reflect the character's attitude! I found a logo, fiddled a bit with it's coloring, and added it as a final touch! Did you notice the minor changes I made to the good Captain's outfit? Maybe it's that FLY influence again! Click all images to enlarge!

Look Out! Here Comes--BATBOY & RUBIN?! MAD-Inspired Art!

Inspired by a recent episode of the fabulous new Batman animated cartoon, THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD, here is my own take on that parody of the Dynamic Duo, BATBOY & RUBIN! The cartoon producers, of course, based their version on the fabulous and memorable 1950s MAD magazine BATMAN spoof, drawn then by Wally Wood. I tried to not only get a Wood feel to this, but also a sort of "busy and bruised" look, almost along the lines of a "Big Daddy" Ed Roth car-and-cycle-centric cartoon from the 60s! Whew! How many more influences could I have jammed in?! Click to enlarge each image below, as I take you through a step-by-step creation process!

Below: My original starting roughs and sketches, trying to get a proper spoofy feel! I had a devil of a time getting the right look for Batboy's head, tricycle, and expression!

Below: The final b/w inked illustration of the dysfunctional duo!

Below: I added pencilled gray tones, on a separate overlay, then merged the two layers in Photoshop!

Below: The final, computer-colored image! I added a proper BRAVE AND THE BOLD-styled explosion for the background!

The Making of WONDER WOMAN! DC Comics Charity Drawing!

Here is a piece of original art (featuring Wonder Woman switching identities and outfits) created for a charity effort, the WONDER WOMAN DAY, held to provide attention and funding toward anti-violence programs! You can see my pencilled rough sketch on the left, with the finished inked illustration to the right! It was a real challenge trying to imbue a sense of action, grace, fun, and vitality to a single pose! Click to enlarge!

Al Bigley PodCast Interview! ARTS TALK! 5/2011!

A great interview by the talented guys at ARTS TALK! I talk about my career, influences, comics and comics creators past and present, and what to expect in a career as a freelance illustrator and commercial artist! Just click here to listen in!

The SHARK! NHL Comic Book Pencil Art! Stan Lee Presents! Original Comic Art!

You heard right! Marvel Comics main man and creator, Stan Lee, oversaw the creation of these superhero strips for the National Hockey League! Here are my pencils for the San Jose SHARK comic, an aquatic character who goes into action against cyber-saboteurs! Lots of fun! Click each image to enlarge!

Super Grover! Sesame Workshop Merchandise Art! CTW!

A very fun assignment! The folks at Sesame Workshop came to me wanting many "super heroic" poses for their newly revised SUPER GROVER 2.0 character! Here are some roughs, full pencil designs, and even a final inked piece from this job! I tried to give Grover a sorta "Jack Kirby" Marvel Comics vibe, but always keeping his goofy attitude at the forefront, also! Great to work with the famous SESAME STREET Muppets! Click images to enlarge!

Disney's ATLANTIS! Comic Strip For DISNEY ADVENTURES Magazine!

Another fun assignment! Here is an entire untold tale based on Disney's ATLANTIS animated feature! Several finished pages, as they appeared in DISNEY ADVENTURES magazine! Click images to enlarge!

"Crime Fighter Robin!" Kenner Action Figure Package Art! Batman! DC Comics!

Another one of my pencil illustrations for the folks at Kenner Toys and DC Comics! This time, it's the art for the "Crime Fighter Robin" action figure package, with the spotlight on the Boy Wonder in blazing action, zooming in on his special custom go-cart! Lots of fun! Click to enlarge!