Happy Aliens Day!

In celebration of Aliens Day (4/26, as in LV-426… c’mon, people!), I thought it’d be nice to finish the Colonial Marine spacesuit from earlier.  This is based on a Tony Akins design from 1993’s Aliens: Colonial Marines comic.  I added some sweet modifications…

I should have a color version to share soon, as well.

Send in the Space Marines!

There were some very pivotal encounters in my childhood that set the tone for much of the rest of my life.  Seeing the movie Aliens was definitely one of those encounters.  Finding out, a few years later, that there were also comic books based on the Alien Franchise, was just as profound but in a slightly different way.  At that point, I felt that I could not only enjoy the world those stories were set in, I could participate!

I started drawing the space (Colonial) Marines from the world of the Alien/Aliens movies.  Back then, in the late 80’s/early 90’s, references were hard to come by.  So, when I series like Aliens: Colonial Marines came out in 1993, I was ecstatic.  The first three issues, drawn by Tony Akins, inked by Paul Guinan, and colored by Matt Hollingsworth, were just… phenomenal!  The first three issues were chock-full of new spacesuit designs, space guns, star ships, and dynamic action scenes.

Having gotten a new lease on my drawing-life recently, I’ve been inspired to start drawing some of those designs myself.  Here’s a pencil sketch of the security from the Sungun station:

I’ll clean it up in the near future.  In the meantime, here’s a taste of one of the wonderful treats that series offered up:

New (pur)suit.

So, I’m gearing up for a new project, requiring lots of new designs.  This one is really just some practice, trying a few new things; Most noticeably, I’m trying to get away clear, bubble helmets.  Also, I like space suits that could also be robots!

I work in a fishbowl.

Some people complain because they work in a cubicle. I feel like my desk, which sits in the middle of an intersection of busy hallways and has absolutely no privacy, is like working in a fishbowl. That being said, I’d gladly don a big round fishbowl-like helmet if it attached to a spacesuit for work. There’s just something about a techno suit that has everything you need to stay alive that I love.

New year, new gear.

I’m feeling spacesuits that are too heavy. Remember that movie Deadman? These cowboy-types are out in the wild, being cold, and one guy says, “don’t worry about your arms, they’ll take care of themselves. Keep you body warm.” I’ve always felt that way about spacesuits. The armor has gotta be on top.

Working relationships are hard.

I know another artist, Cody Hagman, that I am fortunate enough to have a long-time working relationship with. We’ve co-edited and published together, moved work each other’s way, and collaborated on some of the pieces I’m proudest of.

This is an amazing thing! I’ve you’ve ever had to work with an artist, you might be aware that we can be… odd, at times. Sometimes, we just don’t get along with others:

Anyway. I’m glad to have a friend like Cody to make cool artwork with.

Robots don’t need spacesuits.

Sometimes, like now, when all I feel like doing is drawing spacesuits, I get to the face of the lucky guy or gal inside and lose interest. That’s when I spice things up with a skull, or an alien, or… a robot!

There’s no good reason to put a robot in a spacesuit, except that it’s really fun.

Food for thought

I always try to get away from the building I work in for lunch. I work long days and am unbelievably busy just about every minute I’m there. So, it’s really essential that I am not thinking or talking about work for at least an hour around mid-day.

Sometimes I read. Often I watch something online, but once in a while I’ll draw.

Living in Oklahoma City is very different than living in San Francisco. The sight of a guy in business clothes with a sketchpad out is unusual here, and I get weird looks quite often. That didn’t stop me today, though!

Sad robots need love too.

I was supposed to be taking notes in a meeting, but this pathetic fella wasn’t having it.

Getting ready… for action!

Like a bolt out of the blue, the desire to create and produce new artwork just comes back. I've been wanting to draw for some time, but wanting to and feeling compelled to are different things. Life gets busy, priorities can change, and time becomes a thief. However, when that itch finds its way under your skin, there's nothing for it except to start scratching…