Archive for April, 2010

**UPDATE**

Originally this bomber panel was commissioned for a silent auction fund raising gala.  A VERY generous benefactor purchased the panel and then has kindly returned it back to me.  It is now for sale here: STARS AND STRIPES

Wrapped up my latest commission faux bomber panel / nose art piece this week.  I’ve got a few of these currently in the works, (as you’ve seen from previous posts).  I’ve also just picked up a new commission after sending out some teaser images online.  Keep your eyes peeled to this site or my Twitter feed for future updates!

“STARS AND STRIPES” 2010 – Enamel on riveted, weathered sheet metal – approx. 46″ x 48″

So, I woke up this morning to an e-mail from my partner-in-crime, Jimmy Palmiotti.  Subject: hex review.

This could either be really good or really, really bad….

I’ve worked on Jonah Hex since April 2006.  I can pretty much say that I’ve loved every minute of it.  I’ve been a professional colorist over 21 years.  I’ve worked on a LOT of books.  I had sort of grown tired of the same ole spandex and superpowers issues.  Getting on Hex was like breathing new life into me.  Westerns were a genre I’ve always loved, via movies and such, but never worked on it in comic form.  I originally started off my stint on Hex working over Luke Ross’ pencils. Always a good time.  Luke is a hella good artist.

Then, I was introduced to Jordi Bernet.

I had known the name, or at least heard of it in certain circles.  He was what folks dubbed a “European artist”.  I first got turned on to the European side of making comics while doing time at Crossgen.  Jordi was one of those artists.  An “artist’s artist”.

I truly ADORE working on Jordi’s art.

So much so, that in my 21 years of doing this professionally, I have never felt such a strong connection with any other artist that I’ve ever worked over.  There are days where I look at Jordi pages which I need to work on and I get kinda freaked out.  Because in my opinion, adding MY color to them would be sacrilege to a perfect B&W comic book page.  Like ruining an amazing piece of art.  I know this isn’t the case, as I would have been off the book long ago.  It’s just my own overly anal-retentive, judgemental self, loathing my own work.  I gotta tell ya, working on Jordi’s pages pushes the hell outta me as an artist.  I want to do the man’s awesome work justice.  So, I push myself to be better with every issue of his that I do.

I went over to Jimmy’s house one time to hang out, etc… and he gave me a copy of a Jordi TORPEDO hardcover which he had done translation work on.  After I got home and devoured it, I was hard-pressed NOT to scan in every single page and try my hand at coloring it.  THAT’S how much I love working on this man’s art.

Hopefully someday I’ll get to meet him in person and shake his hand.  To thank him for his years of amazing work.  Thank him for helping breathe new life into me, into Jonah Hex and for making me a better artist.

Thank you Jordi.

Also, a BIG thank you to Jimmy (for putting up with me, believing in my work and ALSO pushing me to be a better artist) and to Justin Gray for continually putting out the best written comic on the stands, every single month.

Now, do yourself a favor and read the following link Jimmy sent me, which I mentioned earlier.

Jonah Hex #54 – Pick of the Week

The gang at iFanboy made Jonah Hex #54, their Pick-of-the-Week.  It’s an awesome review.  Here’s a podcast about that issue too:

iFanboy – Episode #229 – Jonah Hex #54

Then, do yourself ANOTHER favor and go out and buy not only Jordi’s issues of Jonah Hex, but ANY issue of Hex.

You’ll be glad you did.