Hats off to DJ Drama

About a month ago I was checking out some of the new videos on MTV Jams ( the only place to see music videos throughout the day on television now) and peeped the vid for DJ Drama's "We in this..." which features the likes of his Grand Hustle boss T.I., Ludacris, Young Jeezy and newcommer Future.

What caught my eye was the wonderful bevy of fitted caps in this clip. Now the track is historic in itself for being the first time Luda and T.I ever officially collaborated on a track together and seen in a music video together (for a few years the two had a bit of a minor fued going on). However the stand out for me is the cap worn by the host of the track himself, Mr. Drama. I stood and applauded once I recognized the eagle shaped emblem on the front of his New Era branded fitted. It is the symbol for Marvel comics government funded superhero tracking team S.H.I.E.L.D.

It stands out because of the fact that not only is he wearing a comic book logo on his hat and not the typical sports team that represents his home town but it also as I've found out glows in the dark. I have to say that it is pretty cool of his to wear something that is usually classified as geeky in video with such street cred. Plus it was perfect timing to wear it in the video because the mega hit "Avengers"film, which features S.H.I.E.L.D, was released around the same time video made it's debut. I don't think that was coincidental just good marketing.

So hats off to DJ Drama. In a rap video full of big name stars and nice caps, despite not saying one line in the song, still managed to outshine them all.

Comic Con 2010

WWE cards

A preview of the WWE cards I've been working on to show at Chicago Comic-Con in two weeks.
Hopefully I can print front and back on these. So far they're looking pretty good to me, despite my tablet acting weird as I work on them. I'll probably have 12 total ready for the show, and some more uploaded on here a couple weeks after.

Check out two of the cards on my wrestling themed blog-SmarksexyLovin

Wonder Woman

Still needs a bit of work, but here's the pic of Wonder Woman vs Giganta that I've been working on for a week and a half. It's featuring Giganta more so because I wanted to do a fierce warrior looking version of her compared to the new modern take on her in the comics. Also I stuck with the regular Wonder Woman costume style as opposed to the new tights and jacket look. Not hating on it, but for a Amazonian-sized battle I figured Amazon clothing will do.

I need to work on my lighting techniques as well. This pic right now lacks the drama that an epic warrior battle should have. I need the darks of Frazetta, gloss of Luis Royo or the sexiness Julie Bell's muscled women have in their pics. I gotta turn it up just a notch to reach the place I want to be in my art and this pic was definitely a huge leap for me.



Wonder Woman and Giganta are copyrighted characters by DC comics
all other images in this post are done by Luis Royo, Boris Vallejo & Julie Bell, Simon Bisley and Frank Frazetta respectively.

Punisher

Another Nellz & Serrao collaboration. These are based on the Punisher from 2008 Punisher War Zone movie.

Comic Con artwork

Stuff I was drawing at comic con.

Comic Con 2009

Just a few pics from Wizard World Chicago Comic-con 2009. It was an experience I would have never imagined, especially the way this year had been going. Thanks to Matt McCarty for hooking us up with the table, allowing me the opportunity to be apart of this and showcase my art. Thanks to Reo, Mikey and my younger bro Jamal for riding with me and showing support (you guys excitement was enough for me), and last but not least Jodi and Marcelo.
Kevin Nash (TNA/ former WCW and WWF champ) one of my favorite wrestlers of all time-
Tara/Victoria/Lisa Marie Varon (former TNA KO champ/WWE women's champ) One of the nicest people I've ever met.
Tom Nguyen (Illustrator/Kick A** comic art)Took time out to give me pointers and even drew a little pic in my book for free.

Real sneak peak

SaSunian Prophecy I
Just a slight preview of the boards I'm working on for SP part I. Gonna be honest, I didn't think I could this many panels together in this amount of time, but that's the passion I have for my art. Thanks to Reo for letting me illustrate his story (even though I gotta draw dreadlocks).

Wizard Chicago Comic-Con 2009

This year I'll be participating for the first time at Wizard World's Artist Alley.
My former American Academy of Art classmates, Matthew McCarty, Marcello Biott, Jodi Hoover and myself will be sharing a table (good looking out Matt). Wizard World is one of the largest traveling conventions in the world that showcases everything comic books, video games, film and anime.
I've been to the event in the past and was able to meet Walt(Thor) and Louise Simonson(Steel) and they both gave me really good feedback on my artwork. This time I'm looking to take advantage of being there for a longer period of time and meeting more people and interacting with fans (crazy costumes and all). My friend and writer Ronnie Reo(SaSunian Prophecy) is also coming along to check out the madness for the first time, and we're gonna have a ball. Other AAArt alumn are gonna be there too, so it should be a good time.