World Wide Woman (Wonder Woman)

That's a lot of W's in the title.

A looooong while ago, I drew this Wonder Woman image in like the spur of the moment and didn't do too much with it, just a quick sketch with colors on it, and it will not go away.  Everywhere I look online, I'm always finding it...and without credit or link backs...mostly because both my signature and watermark were and stay cropped off of it.  It keeps getting passed around in email blasts, flyers, facebook posts and profile images...all without my consent.  I guess I would be cool with it if people hadn't cropped out my name and all...but mostly since I drew it a while ago, I definitely do not like it.  If you're not familiar with it, here's the image:

I definitely do not like this image and it just won't go away.  So what better way to bury this image than to do a better one?  That's the thought anyway.  Plus, I feel as if I can draw much better now than what this image showcases.  So, I went on with the sketch:

It still has the same vibe, but with a more updated (very much updated) look to it.  

And then the inks and colors:

Also included, more watermarks and in a place where it would be difficult to crop out.  But doing that, it probably means that it wouldn't get shared as often as the previous one was.  I guess its better to have my name out there so people know who the artist is though.  Its very disconcerting to go online or to different blogs, or facebook/tumblr/twitter to see your image all filtered up and with your info cropped out.

As always, this illustration can be purchased in 11" x 17" size on glossy cover heavyweight paper at my Storenvy site.

So, lets share this image and help me in my quest to make all of my old sub-standard art die!

Stay blessed.

Without Wax,

-Charles

Supergirl

Last year I drew a sketch of Supergirl that I originally wanted to ink and add a background to it.  I was in the process of inking it, and the whole thing just seemed real boring and static to me.  So, I just scrapped the whole thing.  This happens a whole lot actually...there are so many unfinished drawings that I have because I'm just displeased with them.

So I started over.

I wanted there to be this unseen emergency offpicture that has Kara dressing ready for action...showing that she's always ready for any situation.  

I initially finished this with a background that's based off of the initial sketch, but I still wasn't all that happy with it (plus I sort of messed up the perspective...something you can't do with backgrounds).  So I started the background over and came up with the one below:

This one I liked much better, plus I threw in links to other DC Comics universe related cities.  The one you can't see off the page is Central City, where Flash is from.

I initially posted this to Tumblr where its been very popular, but an unknown was finding out that people would repost this image without my signature or watermark and just completely crop it out altogether.  That irritates me because I've found so many people who love this image and wanted to know who the artist was...and if my stuff wasn't cropped out, they would know.  This is a much bigger issue, and something that I've been plagued by a lot lately.  I don't want to go full out and throw my watermark all over the image, and I even made it bigger and bolder than what it originally was, but I guess I'm going to have to find a way to put it elsewhere in the image.  It sucks that I have to do that for a.) recognition of my own work and b.) preventing people from finding my work and claiming it as their own.  

But I digress...

Anyways, as always, this print is available for purchase (as well as my old previous ones) on my Storenvy site in 11" x 17" aspect ratio.

Be Blessed.

Without Wax,

-Charles

A Storm's Coming

I've been kinda busy as of late getting pulled in different directions, and its just been draining and exhausting.  So its always good to take time out to put down some personal drawings to sort of take my mind away from the every day day to day stuff.  And who better to do that with than one of my favorite X-men, Storm?

I had some preliminary sketches that while I liked, there were some things about them that I ultimately didn't.  Take for instance the first sketch I did almost a week ago with the general idea in mind:

I liked the idea of the sketch, but there were definitely some proportion and depth issues there that I could have worked on to resolve, but I just scrapped it in order to use the same idea, but a more dynamic pose.  So I went back to the drawing board and came up with this:

I liked this layout a million times more, but there were still some adjustments that I needed to make which I could do in the inking process instead of redoing the entire sketch which is what I went with.  I also liked the general idea for a background I had in the first sketch, so I went with that as well for the final version.  And after some toying around with it and some details changed here and there, here is the final version:

And as always, you can click on the image to see it in higher resolution.  Overall, I like how it came out, but I'm sort of bummed that I worked hard on that foreshortened hand only for it to be covered up in the final.  But hey, I learned as I went along, so thats the main takeaway there.

If you would like to purchase this as an 11" x 17" print on high quality gloss cardstock, you can always do so on my Storenvy page where I have more of my prints available for sale as well.

Oh, and make sure to follow me all over so you can see my in progress stuff as well as other non art related things! (Facebook | Tumblr | Google+ | Instagram)

Without Wax,

-Charles

Selina Kyle

It's been a long while since I've drawn Catwoman...like a really long while.  If I were to guess, I would say somewhere around 4 years or so.  That means this was long overdue.  The drawing that I did 4 years ago was very similar, but it appears that I may have deleted it, so I can't really use it for comparison purposes.

But I know for certain that this one is better, just take my word for it.

I've noticed that recently my sketches has been looser and less refined than I used to do them.  I guess that means that I just fudge areas in sketching and will define them more when I'm inking and coloring them.  Good thing that I'm the only one completing my work from sketches to finishes, cause an inker and colorer would probably hate me.

I guess the sketch does serve its purpose though, I get the main figure down pretty much (even though some adjustments have to be made) and it gets the general idea across.  And below is the final image:

I think it came out pretty well.  I may go back in later and make the light source coming from outside the window more pronounced, but who knows.

If you would like to purchase this illustration as a high quality 11" x 17" print, you can do so (as well as view my other prints) on my Storenvy site.

Have an awesome weekend!

Without Wax,

-Charles

2013 Remnants

I can't believe I haven't made a post here for the new year yet, which is a shame.  I somehow got this blog out of sync with my Tumblr one and my Facebook page (Google+ is all out of sync, I probably have to do a massive art post dump there as well to catch up).  This year I'm dedicating myself to keep this blog with at least parity to my other online spaces as well as adding some exclusive stuff to here that I don't post elsewhere.  Actually, for all of my online portals, I'm posting stuff to each one that I won't post elsewhere to keep me motivated to updating all of them with different content.  I guess that is a new year resolution, even though I'm not really big on resolutions.

Let's not bog this post down with a lot of talking though as there is quite a bit of new art I need to share.

A while ago I posted a sketch of Black Canary that I was hoping to compile into one mega image that really never materialized (maybe in 2014?), but I decided to finish it anyways.  So here's that:

Black Canary 2013

And even further back in the year, I posted a sketch of Alice in Wonderland that I just never really got back around to.  I guess in December I felt that I had a whole bunch of unresolved sketches that needed to be seen through, even though I didn't finish all of them.  And here is that one:

Wonderland

And of course with it being December, I had to do the requisite holidays inspired drawing, so here's that as well:

I also did several sketches and redraws of what eventually turned out to be a Dark Phoenix and Scott Summers illustration.  I made a preliminary sketch a long while ago and just sat on the idea until I decided to revisit it with a sketch that went in a slightly different direction:

I just took the best elements of both sketches and combined them into one.  And then after I did that, I couldn't decide on a single background....so I did two.  How's that for not being lazy when it comes to backgrounds?

And then I had an opportunity to do a Jem and the Holograms commission...and why would I not jump on that idea.  I used to watch the show (and maybe still caught a few episodes on Netflix), so this was right up my alley.  Plus it was a chance to exhaust all of the shades of pink and purple that I know...a stark change from the usual color palette that I tend to go with.  It turned out to be...wait for it....truly outrageous.

Jem and the Holograms: click for higher resolution

That turned out to be my last illustration of 2013...which looking back went pretty well art wise.  Looking back at how I started 2013 and how my art has progressed throughout the year, I'm more than excited as to what 2014 has to offer.  I'm definitely looking to new avenues to share my art and get myself out there, and 2014 will definitely be the year for that.  

All of the above illustrations are available for purchase on high quality semi gloss paper at my Storenvy store: Illumistrations.Storenvy.com.

And I guess as always, follow me everywhere: tumblr, twitter, instagram and yadda yadda....the user name is Illumistrations.

Without Wax,

-Charles.

Harley Quinn: The Joke's On You

I have a seriously bad habit of neglecting this blog...and I don't really know why.  I seem to post stuff on every other social network BUT the one that I started posting my art on.  I need to cut that out.  Anyways, a while ago I finally finished that Harley Quinn picture that I posted on here not too long ago.  I also made it available as a print, if you would like Harley to grace your walls or frame in all of her 11" x 17" splendor.

I have other newer art that I need to post, and I definitely will soon, but once I get on a creative roll, I have to keep that pencil busy.  And you should always do the same too!!  But I do have at least a little time to tell you to follow me on Tumblr if you haven't already, check out my Facebook page, or follow me on Instagram!

Without Wax,

-Charles

Harley Quinn Sketch(es)

So, I decided to do another Harley Quinn illustration, so I made a pretty decent sketch of her yesterday, or so I thought.  I liked it a lot yesterday, but I didn't really love it.  So I slept on it, and decided to do another one.  I took some elements from the first and put them in the second, while changing some, and came up with a new sketch.  Who knows, I may just finish them both, but cel shade the first and do what I normally do on the second.  Or maybe, the first one will forever live in sketch purgatory and never get finished.  Dah, oh well...at least I'm drawing right?  I mean, that is the important thing.

The first Harley sketch

Second Harley sketch

Without Wax,

-Charles

Neo Sailor Venus & Artemis

This whole past weekend, I've been working on commissions pretty much non stop.  But I did happen to take some small breaks in there, mostly to work on this Sailor Venus illustration.  I loved the initial sketch and thought that it looked pretty plain without any background associated with it, so I decided to add that in there too while coloring...and here's the final result:

Click on image for higher resolution.

This is sort of a techno-y Neo Sailor Venus and Artemis...sort of how I picture them if they were in some revamped Sailor Moon anime.  At least it should be like this.  I'm really fond of the design of the outfit/suit that I may do the other and extended sailor scouts in their associated suits.  That definitely sounds like a plan...it could be like a series of sorts...lemme write that down before I forget.

Anyways, back to the commissions!

Without Wax,

-Charles

The Forgotten Disney Princess

Atlantis: The Lost Empire never gets mentioned at all when the discussion of Disney animated movies come up.  Maybe it was because it was one of the few, if not only, Disney animated movies that was rated PG instead of G.  Looking at it today, I don't see how it was rated PG (especially since the movie ratings system is so lax today).  Maybe it was because of the term mercenary thrown around quite often towards the end, and maybe the one or two guns in the movie.  Anyways, I love the movie because of its visuals and its depiction of Atlantis...so you know what that means...impending fanart.

That background in there is more of a placeholder than anything.  I'll definitely be reworking that as well as other little things in the picture.  Hopefully I'll be having in progress shots soon as well as the final drawing...that is if I don't muck it up along the way.  

But while you're here, why don't you fancy yourself a print or two or like me on Facebook or follow me on Tumblr.

Without Wax,

-Charles

Storm

This took a little longer than I had anticipated to finish, but I'm happy with the final result.  I intended to do more to it, but I decided to keep it relatively simple and didn't want to overcomplicate the background, which would detract from Storm.  And as previously told to me, yes, I'm aware that the Sentinel in the background bears more than a striking resemblance to Megatron...that definitely wasn't intentional.  But I'm sure everyone familiar with X-Men lore and what not will know what that's actually supposed to be.

Its also been brought to my attention that sometimes purchasing my prints through Serve can be a somewhat convoluted process.  So I'm now offering the option to purchase my prints as well using Paypal.  That should be easier for most, as well as more familiar.  And what better way to test out to see if everything works than to purchase this very here print!  

Have a great weekend!

Without wax,

-Charles

I Feel a Storm Comin' On...

A Storm drawing has been long overdue.  In all actuality though, I've had several Storm sketches, and none of them I liked at all....so they all have been subsequently scratched.  But this one I like, so I may finish this one. I took some liberties with her costume that I may or may not change when I finally ink and color this.  And you can never go wrong with drawing any of the X-Men against Sentinels.

Progress shots coming soon.

Without Wax,

-Charles

Calvin & Hobbes, colored

I think out of my recent drawings, I think this might be one of my favorite drawings...probably because Calvin & Hobbes was such a big part of my childhood.  I would love to do my own strip/comic based on it, but copyright stuff pretty much persuades me not to.  Anyways, the final image differs somewhat from the sketch in that I decided to flesh out the background a little bit, which had me delving into some unfamiliar territory with "speed painting".  And I learned that I suck at it, and I'm the slowest speed painter probably ever.  It all came together at the end though, which I guess is the most important part.

And as always, if you're interested in purchasing this particular print, you can find it under my Commissions & Prints link at the top of this blog.

And  if you're not already, make sure you follow me on Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook and Google+.

Without Wax,

-Charles

Calvin & Hobbes WIP

Just a work in progress shot of the Calvin & Hobbes illustration.  The background so far is up in the air, and hopefully it will come together the further along I go with it.  Welp, time to get back at it.

Without Wax,

-Charles

Calvin & Hobbes sketch

When I was younger, the highlight of my Sunday morning was picking up the newspaper and reading the comics.  That's all I cared about then.  Peanuts, Family Circus, and a little later on, Dilbert.  Those were the days.  But the comic that I loved most was Calvin & Hobbes.  So I thought, hey, why not....let's envision him how I would if I could do it today...and this is what came out.

And as per the course, I'll be updating here as this comes along.  

Without Wax, 

-Charles

Black Canary sketch

It seems that I have an unhealthy fascination with the women of DC comics.  Thats weird though, because I've NEVER read one issue of any DC comic ever...I've always read Marvel.  But I think DC's cartoons blow away Marvel's by a long shot...and that definitely helps.  Anyways...
I haven't sketched anything in like +2 weeks due to personal things and such, so I was a bit rusty with this.  Hopefully when I ink it, I can clean this up...A LOT.  And as per usual, expect in progress updates and postings.  Hopefully, Photoshop can keep up with me this time.

Without wax,
-Charles

Instagram (Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn)

Finished just in time for Halloween!!  I've been working on this one relentlessly through the computer struggles and stutters due to limited RAM and Hurricane Sandy messiness.

Continuing with what I stated earlier, I was going to just draw these two characters at first, and then decided to throw in a background, which my computer probably regrets, I don't.  I posted a work in progress picture from Instagram (ironic) on my tumblr, and it got an overwhelming number of notes.  So much so in fact, that I'm doing a giveaway on there.

If you reblog my original post on Tumblr (sorry, Likes don't count), you have an opportunity to win an 11" x 17" print of this image gratis!!  The contest ends this Sunday, November 4, so enter before then!!  And if you don't happen to win, I'll be sure to get this print up available for purchase soon!

Without Wax,

-Charles

A Hard's Night Work (Complete)

This didn't come out exactly how I pictured it in my head, but I still like it.  The main thing is that I learned a lot while doing it.  I may go back and adjust some more things later on...but for right now, it is as is.  So many sketches to ink and color, so little time...

Without Wax,

-Charles 

A Hard Night's Work

My very rough sketch of my African American Batgirl winding down after a tough night fighting crime in Gotham.  I definitely want to ink and color this....but I have so many sketches piling up that need to be inked and colored as well.  I guess I should keep the art juices flowing and sketch out more, and when I run into an art block, do the colors.  Who knows....

Thanks for stopping by!!

-Charles

The (Art) Drop

Every once in a while, there just needs to be an art drop with very little words to accompany said pictures. And thats what kind of post this is going to turn out to be.

But before we even begin the art drop, let me mention that Redux Deluxe is back!!

And will be back for good this time. After nearly a year-long hiatus, my graphic novel in progress is currently being updated. So please do me a solid and check it out! Its not everyday that you see comics and graphic novels about minority kids depicting them in a positive light without there being ignorance, profanity, or other stereotypes involved. And there's also anime/videogames/pop culture influences too...so hopefully there's something there for everyone!

Enough with the self plugs though...now on to the pics:

Since I've been working so hard on Redux Deluxe, I haven't had much time to draw anything really other than Redux Deluxe related stuff. I'm trying to work in some break time to draw other stuff...but commissions will always take a front seat to whatever else I'm working on (for the time being anyway). So if you would like to commission me for any artwork...whether its for logos, illustrations, pinups, posters, or whatever else...check out my Commissions page, or hit me up at Illumistrations(at)gmail.com.

Until next time!

Without Wax,

Watch Out!! Here Comes the Spiderman!

click picture for higher-res

I'm going to try and make posts for each individual drawing instead of lumping them all together in large posts of craziness...which means...I'll just have to post more. And honestly, thats what I should be (and will be doing) anyway.
Like I said before, most of the time I draw pictures not only because I think that something would look cool or I have an idea in my head, its more of a problem solving type thing like "how would I go about making that look right on paper (or screen)" or "I have no idea how to color that and make it look okay...", or sometimes its just that I learn something new in Photoshop and I need something to test it out on.
So basically, thats where this pic came from. I STILL need to work on backgrounds...that has to be my weakest point, but other than that, I'm kind of happy how this turned out. I got to practice drawing and coloring explosions, some color holds with the spider web (that was beyond tedious though, and some lighting and reflection which I always love to do. The picture is basically Spiderman going up against his usual selection of foes.
Top-right clockwise: Venom, Mysterio, Electro, Vulture, Green Goblin, Sandman and Doctor Octopus.

Thanks for looking!

Without Wax,