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The White Page
2008-02-15 09:16:13

So not that long ago, Jim McLaughlin of the HERO INITIATIVE, the very fine charitable organization dedicated to offering a helping hand to members of our industry that've fallen on hard times, tells me that last year's auction of 100 copies of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #100 with cover-images hand-drawn by artists from throughout the business was so successful that he was planning on doing the same thing again, this time with copies of HULK #1.

And having seen my drawing for the Three-Minute Sketchbook (which fetched at least $25.00 at auction--that's what it the bidding was up to the last time I'd had an opportunity to check on it), he wanted to ask if I'd be interesting in doing one.

Foolishly short-sighted, I said sure. Because at that point, you're thinking that the day is so far off that it's never gonna come.

The package with the book showed up today.

So now I've got a blank white page to face. With my not-that-great-to-start-with skills incredibly rusty.

And to make matters worse, the first real artist who's working on this project for Jim turned his piece around lickity-split, and Jim forwarded it around to the rest of the group. And it's a full-color wraparound with a dozen characters on it. So, you know, the bar has been set really low...

As you can see at the upper left, I've been doodling around with it in spare seconds. But I'm not ready to tackle the real thing just yet. Especially since I only get one shot at it--if I louse up, well, all that happens is that I look like a chump and the charity takes in a little less money.

There is nothing quite so unsettling as that blank white page staring up at you.

More later.

Tom B

I See
My best suggestion is just to do something that has as much character in it as you can put. Then, put a fancy signature that makes it obviously yours and confidently turn it in. You won't show up the professional artists, but at least you're contributing to the cause.

Oh, and your sketches there really don't look that bad. Still, all in all, I don't envy you. Good luck!

Posted by PseudoSherlock on 2008-02-15 09:05:36

Well
Do what Joey Q does and USE REFERENCE! It will help so much.

Posted by goat77 on 2008-02-15 13:07:25

Now You Know...
You wrote: "There is nothing quite so unsettling as that blank white page staring up at you."

Now you know what Slott feels like writing dialogue... :-)

Posted by killerbass on 2008-02-15 16:39:00

How about a blank WALL?!? My goal was to draw the Hulk in my toilet. You now... you sit down and behind you is a Hulk drawn and his arms encircle you and sitting on the Right-wall there's the text "RELEASE", the wall behind you with the face and body the text "THE ANGER" and on the left wall "WITHIN".

Appropriate for a toilet isn't it? :-)

But I just cannot start it. I've tried dozens of sketches, but somehow it always fouls up... :-( If anybody can deliver me a frontal sketch of Hulk: I'd be much obliged. :-)

Posted by Zigy on 2008-02-17 04:46:34

Thanks, but no thanks
Dear Tim Brevaart,

Sorry but we get thousands of submissions everyday here at Marvel and don't have the time to look through them all. We wish you all the luck in the future, though, as long as that future doesn't include drawing our characters.

Best
Steve Wacker
-editor, Amazing Spider-Man

Posted by spider-office on 2008-02-18 15:57:58

seduction of innocents
Dali used to stare in front of a blank caneva until the picture impose by herself to him.
Then the artist is no more a god-like creator but an emissary.
It doesn't work with groupies.

Posted by notapotatoe on 2008-02-19 07:36:01

Hey Tom - I already like your sketches as a starting point (ye kin drawer!). The style and composition remind me of old Marvel stamps or giveaways. Fun! To my eye, I would keep pushing the retro vibe by adding a classic blurb explosion or sound effect.

Posted by hamgravy on 2008-02-20 18:14:56

Array

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About this blog:
Ramblings and musings from the mind of Tom Brevoort. "It won’t be clean. It won’t be fun. It mostly won’t be coherent."

About the author:
Tom Brevoort is Executive Editor for Marvel Comics, and oversees such titles as New Avengers, Civil War, and Fantastic Four.


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