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