Music To Draw To

Like many artistic types, there are certain things that help get the creative juices flowing.  One such thing for me is listening to music.  Most often I'll listen to instrumental music when I'm drawing as words can be distracting.  At the time of this writing, I'm listening to the Armageddon score (from the 1998 Michael Bay film of the same name).  I always thought the film was a masterpiece and a lot of that is helped by the music from Trevor Rabin (and I believe Harry Gregson-Williams as well).  I'm not entirely sure why music helps stimulate creativity, but it always has for me.  When writing stories, I use music to help set a mood.  When drawing, it just serves as fuel to push me along.  Here are some soundtracks from films, television, and video games that I often listen to:

• Armageddon
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• Transformers (2007 film)
• X-Men
• Robin Hood (Russell Crowe film)
• Batman (1987)
• Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• Chrono Trigger
• Donkey Kong Country
• Perfect Dark

The Witchblade Beckons

"The Witchblade Beckons" final

Here is the colorized version of my picture.  The armor was probably the toughest piece of doing this drawing and though I didn't do as well as I've seen it done, I didn't think it was bad for a first attempt.  Will of course do better the next time around.  There isn't one consistent version of the Witchblade armor, so it leaves space for interpretation. 

Drawing beautiful hair is perhaps one of the most challenging things when drawing any female character with longer hair.  If not done right, the hair can look flat and boring.  I don't think this is some of my best hair, but I am always learning.

A Labor Of Love

"The Witchblade Beckons" sketch

This particular picture holds a personal meaning to me.  Most images I draw, colorize, and then forget about.  No deeper attachment or meaning to them than that.  What makes this picture special is that it was a character made famous by the masterful hand of the late Michael Turner.  I decided a long time ago that he was the standard to which I would hold myself and I dared not attempt to draw a character he did so well until I felt I could do it justice (the character in question is Witchblade's Sara Pezzini).  I felt my abilities were strong enough now that I could do this picture well and I did.  Granted, it's not a perfect picture (there never is), but I feel it's a great example of the strength of my talent and I am very proud of it.  Coloring it will probably be a pain in the butt, but I'm very pleased with how it's come out thus far.