Storn Art Reboot

[Storn]

First up, another Death Tribble commission. This one is Skin Devil. Bodybrowser from Googlelabs was a huge help on this one. I think this one is really kinda creepy.




And here is the first of five for a fantasy adventure group... Always fun to try and make a big bruiser of a woman and still look like a female. Especially wearing chainmail. Not sure I succeeded... I *think* I have... but y'all have to be the judge.

[death tribble]

First up, another Death Tribble commission. This one is Skin Devil. Bodybrowser from Googlelabs was a huge help on this one. I think this one is really kinda creepy.

And if some of you are saying, 'That's just like the thing in the Scarred Lands', then you are absolutley right.

[Storn]

The Showgirl is another supervillain concept from Death Tribble. He wanted a demure costume if possible, but all the reference I could find had a lot of skin. She certainly is super doing a jump in heels... but hey, supers are fantasy. Do not try at home.



And here is another fantasy commission for the "party of 5". Fantasy takes a bit more time than the superhero stuff.... I used to think it was just because of the level of detail, folds in clothes, lots of accoutrements like bags, weapons, belts, buckles. But while doing this one, I came to think that it is also the different textures things are... so it is not just the bags, belts, weapons and buckles, its those things have different "feels" to them visually... or should. This one took a bit longer than I would have liked and I'm still feeling like it's missing something.

[Jeff Wilder]

I'm with DT on the showgirl costume. It's not out of lack of prurient interest -- oh, I'm prurient! -- but just because I think the "nearly naked" look is a less interesting costume. Here's a nice showgirl outfit that covers significantly more:

http://cdn.webshopapp.com/f/zz9oqb/image.jpg

[saint_matthew]

Here's a nice showgirl outfit that covers significantly more:

http://cdn.webshopapp.com/f/zz9oqb/image.jpg

It covers significantly more, but i wouldn't call it interesting by any stretch of the imagination. The design if really derivative & not in a good way. I prefer Storns version, but i prefer a more bunny club approach to it, rather then the "vegas topless review" approach Storn went with. I'm no artist but i do have a design idea that was essentially a combination of the bunny bodice used in the 1960's chicago playboy club, combined with Zatanna classic look minus the fishnets (but with superflous cuffs and collars). I used the concept for the wait staff in a nightclub that combined big band 1960's night life, with the prohibition era speak easy stylings. It was a pretty classy joint (its even run by criminals its so classy)

[pawsplay]

Naked showgirls simply don't come across as very threatening.

[saint_matthew]

Naked showgirls simply don't come across as very threatening.

Neither does The Joker or Harley... Right up until the point they try and kill you.

[peregrine]

I think part of the problem is that the really interesting showgirl outfits have their own themes as well (birds, statue of liberty, patriotism in general, a historical era, flowers, etc...) so a showgirl themed costume would run the risk of someone thinking that it's a (whatever) themed outfit instead.

[Jeff Wilder]

Neither does The Joker or Harley [seem threatening] ... Right up until the point they try and kill you.

You've been reading the wrong Joker/Harley stories.

[CelticREI]

Neither does The Joker or Harley [seem threatening] ... Right up until the point they try and kill you.

You've been reading the wrong Joker/Harley stories.

Or the -right- ones... >_> lol

[pawsplay]

Naked showgirls simply don't come across as very threatening.

Neither does The Joker or Harley... Right up until the point they try and kill you.

Um, you're wrong. Harley is an acrobat carrying a mallet and a gun. The Joker... well, you've seen Mask of the Phantasm, haven't you? -- "Don't. Touch Me."

Naked, physically unimposing though vaguely athletic woman in a bathing costume with a boa? Not that scary. Maybe if you put Warrior Woman in that costume or something, you'd have something. Maybe a scarier pose would help, or some scary context?

[Storn]

I thought I would share my continuing growing family of… Hobgoblins. Now a trio, soon to be a quartet. the Hobgoblins are for a pretty interesting kickstarter program of a collection of Monster Art. It looks like my client is pretty close to meeting the kickstarter goal. Y’all should check it out. Here is the website for that:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ink ... sts/170997





And we’ve got some more private character concept commissions to show. First up are two from that longtime patron, Death Tribble. An American Moriarity and a “Skyshark” plane. American Moriarity described to me as “pulp, villain”… DT wasn’t expecting the mask, but I wanted to show some visual hinting at the american part of his description. For Skyshark, of course the p40 for the Flying Tigers was a big inspiration.





Lastly, we’ve got Tahiti Tex. And interesting take on a bunch of classics… the classic superhero brick, cowboy, hawaiian shirt and bullwhip… all combo’d into one hombre.

[Storn]

Thanks guys for the nice comments...

I finished the hobgoblin series for the Monster Art Kickstarter. I heard back from the client. I’m gonna get more! Wheee! Anyways, if you haven’t yet, check out the link to the Monster Art Kickstarter here, by last check, it has been funded, so I think they might add more monsters and art as they go along!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ink ... sts/170997

And I wanna share the hobs with you right now!



I did other stuff yesterday too. I finished up another commission for Death Tribble, which actually comes from a long time Hero poster, Arc. The idea for a Victor von Doom-like Witch Doctor. I pencilled and inked this one during a working lunch with awesome artist Steve Ellis. I think hanging out with Steve inspired me. Even borrowed the brush from him to do the inking. I like this one a lot. Fun to do African themed heroes and villains!



Last, but not least (at least as work went yesterday), got a crack at doing a Lich for another commission. Went kinda dark on this one… digital over pencil. And I like it!! Hope y’all do too. In hindsight, might have pulled out the front gauntlet a bit more… but love the color on the staff gem.



Just wanted to remind folks that I am selling prints and originals over at Fine Art. I just put up this pencil sketch on vellum. It was done for Other Worlds. Want to see if folks might be interested in buying my original sketches. I do sell quite a few of them at conventions.. but I don’t go to all that many conventions. Plus there are a few other pieces, some more suitable for printing. Check it out:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/storn-cook.html

[Storn]

Hi folks. Hope you don't mind some self promotion here.

Trying to figure out a few things as I go along. I'm trying out an experiment with selling originals over the internet. I've got hundreds of sketches and inked drawings kicking around... and I sell some of them at conventions. But they do take up space and if they can find loving homes, and I can make a few bucks... that would be icing on cake!!!

So bear with me as I throw up the occasional older piece to see what will sell and what won't. If you have an suggestions of what you would like to see for sale from art I've put up in the past, don't be shy and shoot me a comment or email.

So, today, I'm putting up this fine inked drawing that I just did a few days ago for sale over at my Fine Art site. Site is here: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/storn-cook.html

The art is this one, you will recognize from the color version I just put up recently. It is a brush ink drawing done on sketch paper. Nuthin' fancy.



Also, while I'm being all self-promote-y, LPJ design just posted another one of my portfolios up. This time fantasy, containing some older stuff as well as some of the recent fantasy pics I've put up here. So, if you want good print quality images, instead of the 72 dpi guys you swipe here, check it out:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php? ... s_id=99389

And a NEW pic certainly destined to be in a future fantasy portfolio is right here. Don't say I ain't givin' y'all sumthin' new to ponder! <g>

[Storn]

So, a couple of nights ago, I had insomnia. I have insomnia quite a bit, I'm afraid. And I'm not even a night person. Nope, I'm of the dreaded few, a morning person. Often, it is good things that keep me awake... like musing on art.

I will turn and toss a piece of art around in my mind, bringing in colors and design elements, switching camera angle and thinking about setting and mediums. Inspiration can really keep me up nights.

The other day, I got a facebook message from Matt Forbeck, a great game designer and all around cool guy, about his new Kickstart project called Shotguns and Sorcery. Stupidly, I didn't go the project website or do any research. I was going to do that the next day as when I read the message, I was almost done for the working day. So. I went to bed with Matt's Shotguns and Sorcery title kicking around in my noggin and awoke at 3 in the morning.

And I came up with an image, the sketch below, which I thought was kinda cool. I manage to fall asleep for a bit, waking again at 7ish and went straight to the drawing board to jot down what I had worked out in my mind. I quickly scanned it in, jotted a few notes in photoshop and sent it to Matt. Problem is, it is TOTALLY wrong for Shotguns and Sorcery. Shotguns and Sorcery isn't a western-fantasy mash up, it is a Noir-Fantasy mashup. I should have read the site. But still, I like the sketch. Glad I did it. Maybe somewhere down the road a project might find a place for it to live.

And I thought y'all might like to see a quickie preliminary cover idea sketched out, along with how I think about stuff written in the margins. And get a chuckle out of my knuckle headedness.

Here is a link to Matt Forbeck's project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/for ... ery-novels

And here is my erroneous sketch:



Also, on a different tact, another superhero (or villain, not sure, didn't get that distinction in the art direction) for long time patron Death Tribble. Pencils were done over a couple of our "working lunches". Ethan Young and Steve Ellis are both local artists who've I've been hanging out with quite a bit. I did working lunch in quotations because, 1) we go a lot longer than lunch, 4-5 hours. 2) We actually get a lot done. It is almost like working in an old 30s-40s studio situation. So nice to have another couple of eyes looking at your work. The camaraderie is really nice and keeps one motivated. And we learn a lot from each other. I think we will be doing a lot more of it in the future.

Now, I just have to finish the 4-6 sketches that need to go to finishes!

Here is Supersuit:



See y'all in a few!