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

Young Justice

I LOVED the Young Justice cartoon that used to come on Cartoon Network.  It was like a grown up, more serious take on the Justice League and the Young Justice team.  It was sad to see it go before its time and to have less than stellar replacements...but then season 1 found its way onto Netflix, and I fell in love all over again.  So...this happened:

Wonder Girl, Bumblebee, Miss Martian, Supergirl & Batgirl

I usually just draw one or two characters in a semi static pose, so it definitely was a change of pace to do something action-y and with more characters, even though I definitely wanted to fit more in there.  I think the next piece that I do with more characters, I want to do it big, and to have it be like a 2 piece poster type thing...but I'll have to look into the logistics of that working out print wise.

After the inks and the colors, here is the final image:

As always, this 11" x 17" print is available at my Storenvy site.  I'm hoping that Young Justice pulls a Family Guy and comes back due to the demand of fans...but given the direction Cartoon Network is heading, I won't hold my breath.  Be 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

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.

Wonder Woman of Themyscira

One of my favorite DC Comics Super heroines is Wonder Woman.  I really like her feminist attitude, as well the fact that she's just as strong as the big guys and is a major player in the Justice League.  I initially did a preliminary sketch of her that I sort of liked, but wasn't in love with it, so I sat on it for a while.  Then I saw a screen caption of an upcoming Justice League animated movie with a new redesigned suit for Wonder Woman, and I just had to change my sketch to fit her new suit.  

And like I said in the previous post, I'm (hopefully) going to do a series of these women of DC sketches and illustrations and combine them all at the end.  I have some more sketching to do...as always.  

And if you would like to purchase this Wonder Woman illustration as an 11" x 17" print, you can do so either on here on my blog, or on my print purchase page!

Without wax,
-Charles

(Some) Women of DC

I've been seriously lagging behind my other social sites when it comes to posting sketches and drawings, so I'm going to do like multiple posts in a day to fix that.  I've been doing a lot of sketches recently of different women of DC comics that I can compose together for a larger image to post of them together.  So far, I'm thinking of Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Black Canary, maybe the Huntress, Zatanna and possibly Vixen....but we'll see how it goes.  And while drawing Wonder Woman, I had a thought of drawing them individually, and then compiling them together later with a separate backdrop...but we'll see how cohesive that all looks in the end.  I may end up just doing them as a series instead and calling it a day.

And if you're not following me on either Instagram, Tumblr, or even Facebook or Google+, you're missing out...so follow me!

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 WIP

As promised, here's a work in progress post of my Harley Quinn illustration via Instagram.  I decided to pull back the crop a little bit to show more of Harley, but the Instagram post doesn't show any of that really...like at all.  Whatevs.

Welp, enough selfish time for today, back to commissions I go.  Hopefully this will be completed sometime soon.
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

Supergirl

This one was definitely was a while in the making.  I did the original sketch sometime in like early August of 2012 and pretty much sat on it until now.  I liked it then, but I didn't love it enough to finish it, so it sat in the dusty corner of my hdd until I was going through some random folders and saw it.  And then I thought about how I could improve it...
But instead of erasing parts and pieces, I decided to do a completely new sketch without looking at the last one at all...and I ended up not liking that one either.  I liked parts of it, but not all of it.  Then I looked at them both, and decided to use the best of both and combine them into one...the face of the newer one, and pretty much the foundation of the first...well....pictures speak louder than words.

This happens a lot actually.  I'll sketch something out, and it will just dwell forever in purgatory until I randomly see it again and try to fix it.  

And I guess as a bonus, here is a work in progress shot of the final image:

This print, as well as others, are available for purchase here.  Also, feel free to become a fan of my Facebook page!  

Without Wax,

-Charles

Girl's Night Out

I probably should've posted the sketch of this before I finished it, but I just took the opportunity to breeze through this one, especially considering that the Black Canary illustration that I previously did took much longer than expected.  So, here it is, Batgirl and the Girl Wonder (Robin from The Dark Knight Returns).  I didn't know much about The Dark Knight Returns other than Frank Miller's involvement, until I saw the animated film...and just wow.  I swear, DC's animated films are heads and shoulders above the rest.   Anyways, onto the images!!

And since I didn't post it previously, here's the sketch of the above image:

I'll be printing this illustration up for sale and distribution very soon, so be sure to keep an eye out on here or my Tumblr for more information!

Without Wax,

-Charles

Black Canary

Finally finished!  I just noticed now that I didn't post the updated sketch which shows the change in perspective.  Its a good thing that I sketched a new background too, because the last one was lazy and completely wrong on all levels.  I used to sketch something out, and ink and color it right away, but I found that sleeping on it and coming to it later with fresh eyes helps me greatly reduce errors and fix things that I didn't see wrong before. 

Also, I'm still working on the details of my online store.  In the past, I would just use a print on demand service for prints, but that means that I never really got an opportunity to see the quality of the prints, and I would get paid in pennies.  So, I'm going to be doing all of the printing and shipping myself, which should help out things a lot.  Of course, my blog will be polluted with ads about it when its done, so everyone will definitely know.  

As always, gotta keep that pencil busy!!

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

Instagram (Revision)

"Sketches" are sketches for a reason....they can be changed, altered, and improved upon.  There were some things that I definitely hated in my previous sketch, that I changed now...and finally added a base framework for what I want the background to look like.  I think I'm done tinkering with the sketch...and now onto the inks and colors!!  Hopefully this will turn out to be print worthy.

-Charles

Instagram, Work In Progress

I drew a picture about 2 years ago (probably more now that I actually think about it) with Harley Quinn facetime chatting the Joker on her brand new Iphone 4.  I liked the concept, but not the end result too much.  So I decided to draw it over again...but then I thought it would be better if I drew in Poison Ivy, since they're like best friends (perhaps even more).  And then, it turned to instagram...and I guess, thats pretty much all there is to it.  

And then I though that there was a lot of negative space there, so a background of some kind is definitely in order there.  I thought about doing the typical Gotham inspired rooftop, but then I thought, if you're posting pics to instagram of you and your friends, it has to be something of you doing something over the top.  So the two ideas I had in my head were them just robbing a bank, with the bank exploding in the background, or them vandalizing the batmobile.  Hey, either one works for me.  So, expect inks and colors of this one up 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

Its Been a Long Time, Shouldn't Have Left You...

...without some dope pictures to rock to.

I can't believe that I've gone so long without updating my art blog.  Thats an utter shame, and something thats definitely going to be rectified, even if I have to do microposts to do so.  Speaking of, most of my art has been delegated to my Tumblr page, so if you want to see what I've been up to (and the progress), definitely check there.

So what have I been up to since I last updated?  Well, I brought my weekly updated graphic novel back, only to put it on hiatus again, and then for my database to be wiped.  So, yeah, its gone.  Its gone from online (except from some obscure site that I was 'mirroring' it to, and I use that term in the loosest way possible).  But its coming back...definitely.  I had pages upon pages that I hadn't even uploaded before it went down, and I have so many chapters left to go.

I've been struggling trying to find out the line as to what a 'professional artist' really is.  Like, I have no idea what that entails, so its pretty much impossible for me to chase something that I have absolutely no idea what it means.  If it means that I get paid to do commissions, then I crossed that boundary already.  If it means working for a company, then I still have some ways to go.  But lets not delve too deeply into that...

This is an art blog after all...and that means pics!  So, little to no explanations, just enjoy some of the stuff that I've been up to in my MIA time.

CJ and Angela of Redux Deluxe

African American Sailor Moon

I think to differentiate this blog from my Tumblr one, I'll post different versions and work in progress images of my artwork to keep things fresh between the two.  This time I promise, I'll be updating this blog more regularly.

-Charles