Question for you Adi... if I may be so bold.

[Professor Oreo]

I'm totally new to these forums, and am not exactly sure of what is, and is not, acceptable protocol here.

Adi, I'm a huge fan of your work and I think your style is just fantastic. I was wondering if you had any general advice for anyone trying break into the comics industry as a cover painter. Also, I'd like to know if it would be okay to post one of my samples here to get your thoughts on it.

If that's inappropriate, I totally understand.

Thank you so much for your time, Adi!

[Adi Granov]

Thanks man, I appreciate the compliments :) I don't think there are any protocols, I don't mind answering questions.

I had a look at your gallery and your work is awesome, really well developed. But if you have any specific pieces you'd like an opinion on please post it, I'd love to see it...

General advice... hmm... I think it's important to have a recognizable and marketable style that will stand out in some way from what's around it. It's imposible to appeal to everyone so in my opinion it's better to push a style in one direction or the other and make it radical in some way. Otherwise you can end up with great skill but unmemorable art, and in freelance being memorable is almost everything (reliable is a close second). So when you have that signature style all you need is about 8-12 piece portfolio/website and an editor willing to look at it. That's how I've gotten my first work. Once you get your first job within the industry suddenly a lot of other doors open by themselves, some you didn't even know were there.

[Professor Oreo]

Wow, thank you so much Adi! That's wonderful advice. While the work in my deviant art gallery has a little bit of everything in it, lately I've pretty much settled into a singular comfortable style of working. The 2 samples below are better representations of that style, and they are Marvel specific. I'd be honored to hear any thoughts or critiques you may have on them.


The first one is my stab at Wolverine (pardon the bad pun) :logan:...

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/4724/wolviefinishedjpeglores8ad.jpg




The second one is my take on Cloak & Dagger....

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/5369/cloakanddaggerlores2sq.jpg


Once again, thank you so much Adi! I know how busy you are, and I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to humor me here!

THANK YOU!!!

[nancyraygun]

Oreo,

I know I'm not Adi and this isnt the specific response you're awaiting, but that is some fantastic work man!

NR

[Professor Oreo]

Oreo,

I know I'm not Adi and this isnt the specific response you're awaiting, but that is some fantastic work man!

NR

Thank you so much!!!

Hey, whether you're an artist or not, if you're a comic book fan, then your opinion is important. Who knows better about what fits the mood and personality of a character than someone who has been following that character for years? So yes, your opinion matters to me, and I'm tickled that you like my stuff! Thank you!

[Adi Granov]

Both pieces are fantastically well painted and very effective in mood and energy. The colors are pretty dead on too, very fitting.

A couple of issues stand out to me. The main criticism in both, but more so on Wolverine, is the texture of the fabrics which makes it look like their clothes are made of fleece, soft and light. Now, this is subjective on Cloak, but I think a crisper fabric with a heavier feel would be more effective, especially over his head where the folds almost look like hair. But on Wolverine definitely, the jeans should have a rougher, less form fitting, "angular" look which would complete his look and add "realism".

And another thing that I think works much better in the Cloak and Dagger piece, and I think Wolverine would benefit from, is some edginess to the anatomy, some angularity to his form which would compliment his pose and personality better. Nothing wrong with the way you did it except that the flowing smooth muscles take the edge away, while Cloaks hands really give him a lot of energy because they are pushed anatomically to look very tense and powerful.

Does that make sense? I think this is fantastic work and you really have your technique down, so any of the advice I could give is largely just subjective based on what I would do.

[Bryan Boland]

Oreo: Excellent work.

[chrismarker]

Professor Oreo -- fine work. The cloah and Dagger piece reminds a bit of art I've seen in De Quincey's dark classic, "Confessions of an Englsih Opium Eater."

Adi -- great critical comments on the art. Artist friends have told me drwaings hands is a very hard thing to do...is that true?

Your cover for Iron Man #6 looks good, but I'm not sure of the emotion you're going for in his face, particualrly his mouth. Is the cover for #5 "top secret"?

Can't wait to check out these final two issues of no doubt what will become defined as a masterpiece in the annals of Iron Man!

[Professor Oreo]

Adi, thank you so much! Those are quite valid points, and now that you mention them, I do see exactly what you mean. It's so great to have a fresh set of knowledgeable eyes (and in your case VERY knowledgeable) help point out those issues. I'll take them to heart as I work on some new pieces and try and make another stab at getting some work from Marvel. I'm thrilled that you that you think I'm at least headed in the right direction! Now I'll be floating on air over your comments all weekend!

Thank so very much again for you time Adi, it means the world to me!!!


and Bryan, thank you!

[chrismarker]

Wow, thank you so much Adi! That's wonderful advice. While the work in my deviant art gallery has a little bit of everything in it, lately I've pretty much settled into a singular comfortable style of working. The 2 samples below are better representations of that style, and they are Marvel specific. I'd be honored to hear any thoughts or critiques you may have on them.


The first one is my stab at Wolverine (pardon the bad pun) :logan:...

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/4724/wolviefinishedjpeglores8ad.jpg

The second one is my take on Cloak & Dagger....

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/5369/cloakanddaggerlores2sq.jpg


Once again, thank you so much Adi! I know how busy you are, and I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to humor me here!

THANK YOU!!!

Professor Oreo -- showed your work to a couple of my friends -- they thought it was great! -- especially your take on Cloak and Dagger! Here's to hoping you get an opportunity from Marvel! BTW, like I asked Adi, are hands the hardest things to draw of the human body? Is it different for other animals? Like, say, the hooves of horses?

[Adi Granov]

The hands are difficult to learn to draw because of the relation of each of the five fingers to eachother and to the palm of the hand which is composed of multiple planes. But once you figure out how it all fits together it gets much easier. You just have to try to break stuff down into geometrical elements to simplify it.

Not sure about different animals, I imagine it varies greatly between species. The problem with drawing humans in general is that we're all very familiar with the shapes, even if we don't realize, so when something is off we notice it even if we can't explain it. With animals it's easier because we feel less natural about their shapes.

[Professor Oreo]

Hey chrismarker, Thanks man! I'm glad you like them!

I think Adi pretty much nailed your question, but I just wanted to add one thing. It's been my experience that any art that has realistic hands or faces in it, is really only as good as those hands and faces.

Meaning, that if you have an elaborate painting and nail everything except for the hands and faces, people will look at your piece and say that it's just "okay". Conversely, if you nail the hands and faces and skimp on everything else, the viewer’s eye will generally gravitate towards those well executed faces and hands, and you'll routinely get a much more favorable response.

Weird eh?