Monday, May 31, 2010

Super Hero House Pets (Part 2): THE COVER!

My last post detailed the designing of the above characters for a color cover for Fun For Kidz magazine as well as a black & white 4 page comic. Below is my process for creating the cover.

Here's my first sketch. In addition to the characters, the cover had to also include the magazine title, the side blurbs of what's inside and the brother & sister characters who are on every Fun For Kidz cover (I designed them too):
Next I did a rough for the editor & art director on a "mock cover sheet" supplied by the magazine. I wanted the super pet characters to tower over the city as the sister & brother looked on:
I wasn't crazy about the placement of the pets and they were supposed to be Super Hero HOUSE Pets not Super Hero CITY Pets, so I thought I should show houses in a neighborhood instead of a cityscape (D'uh!). So I did a second rough:
The editor & art director approved my second sketch, so I went ahead to penciling. I usually use #2 pencils I buy at CVS and draw it on super smooth Strathmore Bristol Plate 500 series. I don't use a lightbox that often, I like to start my pencils from scratch while referring to my rough to see if I can improve the composition, but I really liked the way the rough was set up, so I used a lightbox to capture the image. Here's the penciled cover:
I inked the image right over my pencil lines with Pigma Micron pens and Rapidographs (this is my favorite part):
I scanned the ink image into Photoshop and colorized it. I filled the large areas and used the paint tool for highlight colors. I used layers a couple of times too, like when I made the lightening bolts coming off the cat:
Here's how the cover will look on the newsstands when it comes out in September. I added a dummy titile & side blurbs as well as a speech balloon for the boy to help explain what the heck is going on:
 
The 4 page comic isn't due until mid to late summer, so I'll post that as well when it's done!

22 comments:

TJ Lubrano said...

Ciaooo!! OH LOOK! It's the Super Hero Almighty House Pets again! Woohoo!

Wait I added a word there...

The fish is my fave ^_^! I love to read how the final illustration comes to life! It looks so cool. It must be really exciting when you'll see your work in the newsstands! You know, I need to have a look into the Strathmore paper line, it sounds really nice!

Have a lovely week ahead! I'm analyzing my conceptual model...so far...it confuses me hehe. I hope bu the end of the week I'll have a large amount of my thesis done! Wish me luck!

Take care!

Chris Sabatino said...

Hey TJ! Always nice to read your comments Thanks!! Hope you have a smooth & lovely week ahead too...and hoping you get a big chunk of thesis done!

TJ Lubrano said...

Wow! You're fast with replying haha. Thank you ^_^! I'll do my best!

David said...

This is the coolest yet Chris!

Chris Sabatino said...

Ha! Yes, TJ, I do respond fast...when I chained to my computer trying to catch up on my work (even though it's a national holiday here, a beautiful day outside and the rest of the USA is enjoying beers & burgers at barbecues)!
And THANKS, David, for your kind comment as usual!

TJ Lubrano said...

Ooh of course! happy Memorial Day! Here in Holland it's just Monday haha. Ooh I would love some burgers! But it's raining here. No beer, I can get high on fresh air alone...I kid you not.

Try to take a break every once in awhile too (with cookies...)! I'm chained to the PC for a long time now as well. Not fun anymore!

Ciao!

Jason James Curtis said...

As usual, I enjoy your comprehensive posts Chris. The cover looks amazing...the colouring really makes the entire piece pop. The lightening effect coming from the cats hand (err, paw) is wonderful.

The hamster is still my favorite, he's adorable. He must have one hell of a big hamster wheel to run on!

Chris Sabatino said...

The hardest thing about having a Super Hero Giant Hamster is cleaning his humongous Habitrail!!!!
Thanks for the great comment, Jason. I was just eating my Captain Crunch and checking out your wonderful, hilarious blog!

Jason James Curtis said...

Mmmm, now I feel like Captain Crunch.

Chris Sabatino said...

It really does stay crunchy....even in milk!
On a geeky cartoonist note: the character of Cap'n Crunch was created by Jay Ward. The same guy who created Rocky & Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, Peabody & Sherman and, my personal favorite, Super Chicken! I really do seem to have an odd obsession for super-powered animals...which brings us full circle back to my original post....

Bill White said...

Nice work, Chris!

I love seeing these "concept to completion" pieces. I find them really interesting, and I wish more cartoonists would do them (says the guy who never does them).

Chris Sabatino said...

Thank you, Bill! I enjoy your blog with your insights into the world of cartooning and your humorous & ironic views of the world around you!!

Bart King said...

Man, I loved this step-by-step...illustrating the illustrative process!

Chris Sabatino said...

Well, thank you for your kind words, Mr King! And thanks for stopping by!

Bob Flynn said...

Great process post, Chris! I especially like seeing the very first notebook page sketch. (nothing says doodle like notebook paper). You really pull it all together with the color. Works great with the magazine title layout, too.

Chris Sabatino said...

Thanks, Bob! I really appreciate your comments since you are The Master of the Cartooning-Process-Posts!

jackie said...

Great cover Chris.... you are soooo talented! Can't wait to catch up....

Chris Sabatino said...

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and the kind comment, Jackie! Looking forward to our art school mini-reunion!!

dj said...

I love how you take us through your process!

Chris Sabatino said...

Thanks, Diana! I was just checking out all your books on Amazon the other day, didn't know you had written so many plays. Impressive!!

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