Monday 15 April 2013

The doodle files 4

Got a new pencil last week, it's a chunky clutch pencil that takes massive leads, it came some with sepia ones, which are a bit like the Steadler non-print leads in texture. That means you hafta do the drawing in one hit, the lines don't erase too well off soft surfaces but it seems as though this pencil has got a way with that emulation of the classic British comic style I was trying to do the other week. I've been much more successful with it, as I tried a couple of Ken Reid characters first.
First attempt, I used some of the Frankie Stein stuff I'd seen around on the web as a guide, I noticed some aspects of Ken Reid's hand, he had a way of doing sickle shaped curves that I managed to emulate a bit on the chin, nose is odd though.
Now it the turn of Frankie's "dad", used some reference again, hasn't quite got the right look, the mouth isn't expressive enough, in fact it looks a bit like my dad, I dunno if I should admit that.
First try without reference, looks more Baxendale than Reid but that's ok, he's good too. I think I went a bit too far with the adam's apple as well.

5 comments:

  1. The minute I saw these I thought Beano!! You have managed to capture the essence of these characters very well - especially the 'dad' - I have to say it is my favourite. Not being able to erase too easily stops them from being too laboured - they have a nice freedom of movement.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sharon, I think the dad is my favourite too. The old style British comic art had a fantastic appeal and the idiom those artists developed has almost disappeared which is a real shame. I had a go at these cos I've got something in mind for this style and I saw a couple of good pastiches of Ken Reid's characters from an illustrator recently.

      Delete
  2. Why don't you publish your own online comic in homage?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I think I will do, I'm struggling with a script idea at the moment, it needs to be something suitably surreal to do the subject justice. Something kid friendly too but not a cheesey -update-

      Delete
  3. Although Ken Reid once worked for The Beano, Sharon should've looked at your sketches and thought 'WHAM!' - 'cos that's where Frankie appeared. Ho ho, ain't I a smart@ss?!

    ReplyDelete