Panels of pencil-roughs in process to becoming panels of inks.

How I do my flats

Flats for a panel. My flats are done in Illustrator, using the Live Paint tool, after converting and expanding my drawing using the Live Trace tool. I found myself really liking the color palate options available.

SHMOO!!!

Did a page for the GUTTERS.

http://www.the-gutters.com/comic/421-john-bivens
Follow the link to check it out.

Also, figured I would post some of my thumbnails for another project, to show how rough they normally are:

Hang in There

Rough pencils on a possibility for a job, set to some of the music I listened to while making it.  In this case it was THE WALKMEN.

prehistoric arts and crafts...

ACen 2013

I am attending ACen this coming weekend, in Rosemont, as a guest and will have a table on the show floor. For those interested I will also be taking part in three panels:

1) Drawing Comics- Friday 8pm
2) Murder, Ghosts and Swordplay- Friday 10:30pm
3) So, you want to make comics- Saturday 8:15pm

Gonna have some books, prints and sketchbooks for purchase. Also I will be taking commissions and am going to have rates posted at the table.

Bored Sketch #005

  

... also, have a new facebook page for my art:  https://www.facebook.com/ArtOfJohnThomasBivens

Warm-up sketch

A quick making of.  Sketch inspired by Will Whitmore.

blue line roughs

In progress page for Churnwater.

Screen Capture Test

Just a reverse-silhouette I'm working on.

Bored Sketch #004

Another Lil Charlie Page...

Here's another page before I get around to adding text and color.

Favorite Artist Videos #004

Dreams with Sharp Teeth , an overview of the life of writer Harlan Ellison.  The history is enthralling, the commentary from Robin Williams and Neil Gaiman is hilarious, but the most important reason for a creative to watch this film is for the work ethic and approach to the business of being a creative.  This is especially true for those talented creators who are constantly undervaluing their work and rights.

A decent deal at just $2.99 to rent from Amazon on streaming video.

Commission

A commission I did for a friend at C2E2.  Ink on watercolor pad:

Boredom Sketch #003

For Con Panels...

I occasionally do a panel at some convention on "How to Create a Comic Using Manga Studio" (I'm currently using 4ex but looking forward to 5ex this summer).  When doing said panel I tend to break out this page to use as an example:

It tends to work out well in it's half done state.  I will be doing a similar panel at the upcoming  ACen in Rosemont, IL.   Unlike in the past, currently plans are to have an all traditional comic artist with me so we can have a fun back and forth on technique.

Boredom Sketch #002

Boredom sketch #001

Favorite Artist Videos #003

For a comic history nut like me, the next movie is easily one of my favorites.  It follows along with the creative and business journey that Jeff Smith took with his book BONE in such an enthralling way that I can't even count how many times I've watched the damn thing. 

Available for rent on Amazon Instant Video at just $1.99, The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, BONE and the Changing Face of Comics is the best recommendation I can give for pure comic-y inspiration.

Font-astic!

Working out some text stuff for Churnwater, something Ryan Burton and I have been playing with.

Lil Charlie Zombie Inks

A nice clean scan of some inks done a while ago:

Favorite Artist Videos #002

Didn't think I would put up another video link so soon, but NetFlix has another that is pure gold. Love posters and love screen printing (it's something I kick myself for not exploring in college), so have to recommend Just Like Being There.

Also, being around Chicago I have to be a Jay Ryan fan.

Favorite Artist Videos #001

A lot of people probably don't know the I occasionally teach at Northern Illinois University (NIU).  My students can attest that I have a love of any documentaries or videos that have anything to do with art or being creative, and am constantly telling them "You have to watch this" or "We're watching this NOW!"  Figure it would be nice to share a few of these recommendations on the blog, so here we go.

Currently on NetFlix is Beauty is Embarrassing a documentary about the art of Wayne White.  Not only is the man funny and constantly creating, he also plays the banjo... so that's all kinds of groovy.

Dino-CHOMP

nom nom nom

colored panel

Todays In-Progress inking...

Old Wounds in-progress inks.

Did finishing touches on two pages of pencils today, now working on some inks before I run off to NIU to teach tonight.

Resurrecting Charlie

Page of a personal project I've been wanting to get back to for a while, and just haven't found the time to.  I was given the perfect excuse to work on it a bit, so I can demonstrate to my students how to use Illustrator to make color flattening really efficient.  After doing the flats, the image was taken into Photoshop to finish.

commissions and current work

I tend to be very quite online when I put my head down and get to working.  This is horrible marketing awareness, and something I should resolve to improve.

As for what is currently going on, there are a couple of things.  Working on some inks for a current comic with Ryan Burton.  Along with this I'm developing a graphic novel with writer Russell Lissau for release next year.

Also, here are the rough pencils for a commission piece for C2E2.  When we get closer to the event a list of current prices will be posted.  I will be taking commissions while on the floor (AA table M8), but any pre-orders will make it easier to knock out the best piece I can give you.

my rough pencils for a panel

Churn'n

Some concept stuff and thumbnails done for an upcoming project.