Mike Luce Illustration

2012-01-28T12:07:00.001-05:00

Fantasy is generally my weapon of choice.

2012-01-26T22:56:00.000-05:00

Just a little extra.

2012-01-26T13:26:00.001-05:00

It's all about the layers.

2012-01-25T13:17:00.001-05:00

More complicated than I thought but I wanted to try something different. A little Roger Rabbiting about.

2012-01-22T23:21:00.001-05:00

2012-01-22T00:24:00.000-05:00

Vacation comic.

2012-01-11T11:47:00.001-05:00

2012-01-10T12:30:00.001-05:00

2012-01-09T14:06:00.001-05:00

2012-01-08T21:50:00.001-05:00

2012-01-05T23:59:00.001-05:00

First comic of the new year. And a new color as well.

2011-12-31T13:18:00.000-05:00

Last comic for the year.

2011-12-19T23:56:00.001-05:00

This year's card design. No subtext, just two otters in hats.

2011-12-16T00:10:00.001-05:00

Reworked the last image after having looked through a lot of my old stuff. I used to do a lot of cubist stuff and so sort of let that stuff flavor this. At the very least, it was fun to draw and ink.

2011-12-10T23:12:00.000-05:00

More of Crawford mostly because I enjoy drawing with the crowquill.

2011-12-08T14:35:00.002-05:00

Still working with Crawford. While I liked the last drawing well enough, I don't think melancholy lends itself to the crow so well. Too many of my characters (Tamino, Joe, Harlon) seem to have this feel so I'm going to bust away from that with Crawford. Used a pose from http://www.thesartorialist.com/ , a good blog for fashion and world-stuff.

2011-12-06T13:07:00.001-05:00

Working on a texture that's softer and bulkier than the usual. The sweater was its own set of challenges. Pen and ink on paper.

2011-12-05T13:54:00.000-05:00

Tiny details that will likely go unnoticed and ink on paper.

2011-12-01T22:49:00.001-05:00

Ooh, I've been neglecting my blog. I have a tumblr account as well and that's probably why. The top image is a quickie of Joe Flash done as Tin Tin with authentic pose and colors. I haven't drawn anything in a week and wanted to do SOMEthing so tossed this off in about twenty minutes.

The lower image is the first page of an eight page comic I finished for a friend's anthology, hopefully coming out in January. It took a long while as I got nearly all the way through it and scrapped the whole comic to start over again. I can't post the rest of it as I promised I wouldn't.

2011-11-10T11:51:00.001-05:00

And some more Joe. I did the last one in watercolor this morning, trying to paint utterly unlike I've done before. Generally, I'm very tight with both inks and paint. This time, I loaded a bigger brush and just worked as fast as I could, scrubbing wet into wet. I'm pretty happy with the result.

2011-11-08T22:13:00.002-05:00

In response to the more observational cartoon version of Joe in the last post, I tried to do a version far more loose and far less precise, so I did those above. It was actually fun and stress-relieving to not try and match up all the strokes, to let the ink be ink and not be so anal. Which likely means that this is a style that -I- like and which won't be so well received. Ah, well.

2011-11-06T23:28:00.001-05:00

Quick drawing as I take a break from working on a short comic. It's Joe Flash tossing up sign over his webcam. Ink.

2011-11-03T14:57:00.002-04:00

Still working on that 'secret' story for that anthology. Did these two today (Crawford and Cromwell) in a more 30s, rubber hose style in preparation for the later pages of said story. Also because I bought a collection of Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse comics which are just all sorts of good.

2011-11-03T01:11:00.001-04:00

T-shirt design I recently made available. Was pretty happy with how it came out. I always order one for myself first to make sure. Anyone interested? It's at:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/thomasblue/t-shirts/7941874-lucco-t-shirt

2011-10-22T10:22:00.001-04:00

Page 14. These have been a little slower in coming as I've suddenly two other projects with deadlines in front of me.

2011-10-20T00:02:00.001-04:00

Other things I've been working on. First is a rejected design for a new year's card (year of the dragon). Second is a color comp for a kids' book I'm doing for my mom. I have a lot on my plate at this point.

2011-10-13T16:46:00.000-04:00

Final (hopefully) version of the first page of a new short comic. Now if I can just do about five more like this..

2011-09-30T23:42:00.002-04:00

Apparently, they will be called Crawford and Cromwell. The pose needs to be taken farther. Still, this is just aesthetic work.

2011-09-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

Another in the last style. This one took a little longer as I worked out the textures.

2011-09-27T13:32:00.002-04:00

The comic story I was doing wasn't well accepted so now I'm trying to work my way away from that style and approach. Played about with these two last night and this morning before work. -I- like them but I'm not sure about my taste any more.

2011-09-23T11:40:00.002-04:00

Page 13.

2011-09-22T23:27:00.002-04:00

Fite is still going on in the background but in the meantime, I was asked by a friend to work up something for an anthology he's putting together. I promised not to post the whole thing online so I'm just posting page two of five. Four are done and I hope to get the last done this weekend. When a fire is lit under me, I can work fast. The character's name is Joe Flash and the comic is called, "Sound and Fury."

2011-09-14T12:54:00.000-04:00

Another one before 'work.'

2011-09-12T23:59:00.000-04:00

Another one.

2011-09-01T23:25:00.000-04:00

Got another one done today.

2011-09-01T01:13:00.001-04:00

Another re-finished page. Will Pixar care? Probably not. Doesn't hurt to try, though.

2011-08-30T14:01:00.000-04:00

Threw this together today. It's all true. I just didn't know it was true until recently.

2011-08-26T14:07:00.002-04:00

Another Skwonk extremity.

2011-08-25T12:11:00.003-04:00

Skwonkfox is an exercise in trying to push my own boundaries. No curve can be pushed too far, no expression too extreme. I always feel my work is hampered by some indefinable something. So with Skwonk, I hope to just push and push and push. Even the yawn could have been -more-. Still, since he's not part of anything, there's no way I can mess him up.

2011-08-25T10:11:00.001-04:00

Another page down. This one has two drawings from the original still in it. I hope to mix it up as I go along so that the transition isn't so obvious.

2011-08-24T23:48:00.000-04:00

A rare female character design done for a friend. She liked it, so I guess it's successful.

2011-08-21T12:06:00.000-04:00

Another new page and it's off to work.

2011-08-18T15:04:00.001-04:00

2011-08-18T10:36:00.001-04:00

Another one down.

2011-08-16T00:42:00.000-04:00

Here is Fite page 5 and a new Biography. They're connected.

2011-08-13T19:58:00.002-04:00

Hey, even more Fite-based goodness. Went looking through the archives to see the three steps in making this particular page. I think there's a version missing, one of the first version but done with digital water colors. In any case, this is a six year span. I'd like to think that it shows that I've done some growing and learned a few things. And if not, well, I'm not worse off than I was before.

2011-08-13T19:37:00.001-04:00

And one more for the day. With the later pages, I plan to keep the existing backgrounds so that there will be a smoother transition between the old work and the new. The idea is to make a more cohesive whole.

2011-08-13T13:43:00.001-04:00

Got another page done today. Man, I like these SO much more than the originals...

2011-08-13T09:58:00.002-04:00

It's hard not to share stuff I've been doing -somewhere-, so I'm choosing here as there are fewest people watching. Though it's backpeddling and I KNOW it's backpeddling, I've started redrawing the first section of pages of Fite. When looking at the comic as a whole, I don't feel right showing it off with those early, awkward drawings. I've also got it in my head to use it as a sort of portfolio piece, sending it out to places I'd love to work. To that end, since I can now draw Lucco + Co. a hell of a lot better than I could at the beginning of the comic, I'm redrawing them. And the thing is, I really miss drawing Lucco. He's my boy, my first real, distinct character and I'm proud of him. He doesn't have another story in him and I won't force one on him. I still want to draw him. So there.

2011-08-04T12:31:00.001-04:00

Redrew this from yesterday.

2011-08-04T11:33:00.001-04:00

I'm over this; not getting the job, but the subject matter was too good to waste.

2011-08-03T12:33:00.001-04:00

Just some inking practice before work. I like the character. Probably too 70s, but there you go.

2011-07-30T13:22:00.000-04:00

VERY sleepy this morning. So I brought in an older character, Joe Flash to take my place.

2011-07-29T11:32:00.001-04:00

No comment.

2011-07-28T12:00:00.002-04:00

I rarely get hooked on video games, and even when I do, drawing usually wins out in the battle for time. This time, I haven't drawn anything in over a week, haven't done one of these in over two. Inspiration's just not there.

2011-07-12T12:38:00.002-04:00

I've been keeping a separate sketchbook, 'character a day,' just to keep myself busy. These guys above are the first to come out of it. I love crows. They hold a special place in my comics. Was also trying to step outside my own usual mode of construction/inking. It's hard to do, but worth doing I think. Doing so led to today's bio comic:

2011-07-10T22:58:00.001-04:00

The "secret" behind Retail Q. Cat. Sort of.

2011-07-07T13:37:00.000-04:00

My video gaming partner of the day got sick.

2011-07-04T22:15:00.001-04:00

Took the cartooning/fine art thing a little far. On the other hand, I WAS productive today. Based on a favorite Picasso self-portrait, blue period.

2011-07-04T12:49:00.002-04:00

2011-07-04T10:21:00.000-04:00

Forgot to upload the last couple days' worth.

2011-07-01T13:28:00.000-04:00

What to draw... oh yah. Work. :P

2011-06-25T11:32:00.001-04:00

2011-06-23T12:25:00.002-04:00

Special appearance by Retail Q. Cat. He speaks for those that can't.

2011-06-21T12:54:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty happy with this one, as simple as it is. The last panel is meant to be an homage.

2011-06-18T14:36:00.000-04:00

More pondering and self-criticism.

2011-06-17T22:36:00.001-04:00

More comics about comics.

2011-06-15T12:49:00.001-04:00

Some days, I got nothin'.

2011-06-15T10:54:00.000-04:00

Musing, musing...

2011-06-11T13:34:00.001-04:00

Never happen. Doesn't mean I don't think about it.

2011-06-10T23:45:00.001-04:00

Pet peeve #1 at work. Retail Q. Cat is my spokesman. He screams when I have to smile.

2011-06-09T12:51:00.000-04:00

What to draw...

2011-06-08T12:15:00.001-04:00

Life in retail.

2011-06-06T20:06:00.001-04:00

2011-06-05T22:37:00.001-04:00

One more page for today. I actually penciled one more after this but it was at dinner and I just got home. So, tomorrow.

2011-06-05T13:54:00.002-04:00

Embarrassing? Yes.

2011-06-04T17:40:00.000-04:00

A comic for today. And it's true.

2011-06-03T14:27:00.001-04:00

Playing about with ideas for the next comic. Also thinking about dumping the bunny that represents me. So I threw this together before work.

2011-05-21T10:28:00.003-04:00

And some more. This time, the lines are too thin, but that's ok. The tail is coming out better.

And this is a sample for a kids' book I'm working on with mom.

2011-05-19T22:37:00.001-04:00

More Lucco practice. Thank you old Disney model sheets!

2011-05-18T22:27:00.001-04:00

Some Lucco practice. I never stop learning how to draw my own character. The top image was posed from an old Mickey Mouse model sheet. Those guys really knew how to draw. They could really push the poses, something I have yet to become comfortable with. The bottom image is from memories of Barney Rubble boxing, though I couldn't find online ref for what I wanted.

2011-05-14T14:27:00.002-04:00

Took the last little experiment a step further and did a splash page. Special thanks to Supermouse comics for the color.

2011-05-13T21:08:00.000-04:00

Just a little experiment using old comic books to color some Lucco drawings.

2011-05-11T21:28:00.000-04:00

Did another video inking demo. These are fun to do but I don't know that I have much more to show. This one's of Tamino and shows a different approach to inking.

2011-05-08T11:56:00.002-04:00

I got me some video! Just a demo of me inking. Had to split it into two parts as it went over YouTube's max. This was fun to put together, likely more fun than it is to watch but there you go. Next time I'll make one with goofy voices:

2011-04-30T22:18:00.001-04:00

Finished portrait of Mr. Rumbold. ink over acrylic on board, 16x20.

2011-04-30T00:09:00.001-04:00

A bunch of recent things. Some more Retail Q Cat sneaking about, a weird little doodle called Blobfox and the linework for the next painted portrait, in this case "Are You Being Served"'s Mr. Rumbold.

2011-04-28T11:23:00.001-04:00

A little something for a certain person's birthday. It's nice to do figural work once in awhile.

2011-04-24T22:32:00.000-04:00

A few more sketches of Retail. Don't think they'll lead anywhere but he's fun to draw. So there.

2011-04-21T11:55:00.002-04:00

Gave him a new name (based on what I do for a living) and angered him up. Most of my characters seem to be grumpy. Except for Harlon. Weird. Retail Q. Cat. The 'J' doesn't stand for anything. It was on sale.

2011-04-20T22:51:00.001-04:00

Haven't posted anything in too long. Did these designs while waiting about for dinner at my partner's family. Little cat thing. Just a bit of fun.

2011-04-01T10:49:00.002-04:00

I had some people misinterpret the nose on the last drawing, thinking it was buck teeth. I can't see it this way, but thought I'd post the initial drawings I did which are likely a bit clearer.

2011-03-31T12:19:00.003-04:00

I've not been totally satisfied with Harlon's nose. It's the one leftover from what was a very flat, 50s illustration inspired design. Since I've been studying classic animation more and more, trying to give more dimension to my cartoons, this was tripping me up. So I spent the morning doing a few pages of sketches with something a little less flat. Also pushed the eyes a little closer together. This is the current final design (what character in comics or cartoons ever stopped evolving?). Posed for this while translating me into the bunny.

2011-03-30T21:49:00.002-04:00

A very self-indulgent page indeed. But if I didn't draw it, it wouldn't get out of my head. So here it is. Fite, Harlon and Tamino are all my children in a way, and their 'worlds' feel like empty sound stages, places where something once took place. Likely, they will eventually mean something only to me. So I visit them and remember the joy they gave me. It's not that I think them shining examples so much as they're mine.

2011-03-27T16:44:00.002-04:00

Two more pages.

2011-03-24T23:10:00.001-04:00

Two pages of a comic that came from nowhere. Don't know if this is going anywhere and if so, where.

2011-03-20T12:26:00.002-04:00

Resized this so it would fit here, also sped it up a little and added a bag so he was shown to be hitting something. If I were doing more with this, I'd change his expression on the second frame as well, but as this is just an exercise, I'll leave it as is. To me, this feels more HB-ish all the time.

EDIT: Threw in another arm movement just because I could.

2011-03-20T11:48:00.003-04:00

So here's playing about with the same process as below but with Harlon. I don't like the coldness of the line weights, but that's something I can work on as I did with Lucco. This is getting a lot closer to what I want. Even in the HB 'few drawings as possible' approach, there's room for a lot of expression. In this case, I wanted a little extra something from the ears and will likely try and keep that. As always, it amazes me what the eye will fill in between extreme drawings.

2011-03-20T10:33:00.003-04:00

Not a great deal going on artistically as I wait to hear the fate of Tamino at my first choice of publisher. Still trying to get a hold on a process for animating Harlon. I think I'm aiming too high, wanting to do Disney level stuff right out of the gate. I need to aim more at HB. In that light, here's a down and dirty little gif of Lucco jabbing at the bag.

2011-03-09T14:45:00.001-05:00

Lousy scan. Did this as a technical exercise. I was right. I did want to paint this. Acrylic on paper.