Fan art

[Jonny Whizz]

Thank you so much! I'm delighted that you liked it!

I started drawing Billy in Vic's style about three years ago because around then I drew a Billy Whizz story in a mixed style (it had elements of Trevor Metcalfe's and David Parkins' styles as well). The overall result was artistically a mixed bag (some panels looked fairly good, others were a bit weak), but I noticed that the style I used looked best when it most closely resembled Neill's version. I then started practising drawing Billy in his style, using the Beano as a reference point. After a while I found it came naturally to me and I've used it for drawing Billy since then.

I have done some original strips with my own ideas and scripts, but I don't want to put them on here yet as I want the Beano to see them first.

[Digifiend]

Good call. You never know, if they like them maybe you'll end up as Nick Brennan's successor?

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

It's quite natural for an artist to start out by emulating a style of cartooning that he or she admires, Jonny......if you keep drawing, eventually you will 'find' your own natural style. And that's where the 'real' fun starts! [if more difficult to flog to an Editor: some artists do perfectly well ghosting in the styles of others].

I'm probably about 35 years older than you, and the 'magic' of creating cartoons is still in there for me at least!

Hopefully we will see you in print at some stage: it is not beyond the realms of possibility.

I have seen some very promising work from young cartoonists on here.

[BeanoMark]

Again, not a copy of another character, but more doodling by moi.

As you can see, my attempt at thick-and-thin has gone a bit awry again. Especially around the lower hand. I think it might've been my intention to tidy that up once I coloured it, but got too lazy. I have very little patience when doodling.



He has no name, or anything, just a kid figure.

[BeanoMark]

And me ol' favourite, Worm. Everyone has their worm, and this one is mine. Even appeared in the comic once or twice!

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Looks good to me, MMi!

I have a real love/hate relationship with digital colour: on the one hand it looks so un-natural, on the other it is so much more sophisticated and flexible than wholly hand-painted stuff.

You can do a lot with it, though.......I also like how the b/w inking remains untouched [for those who prefer scanning inkings in].

[BeanoMark]

The Godamn Batman.


Pencil and Ink. As it's only a doodle, I've not bothered to tidy up pencil lines prior to inking, and his 'gentleman parts' have gone a bit wonky. Not keen on his chest logo either. But thought I'd post up something different.

[colcool007]

MMi, I must admit that I prefer your pen work to your digital work, but that's just me. Both look good. But the Batman looks better.

[BeanoMark]

MMi, I must admit that I prefer your pen work to your digital work, but that's just me. Both look good. But the Batman looks better.

Most of what I'm doodling is on paper and then scanned. I really turn up the black to make it solid as possible, so it sometimes gives it an accidental digital feel to it. I've included an example below of when after scanning, I've not turned up the black 'full blast' but enough for it to be not washed out. And I've included the original for comparison.

I give you: Charlie Popps!



and a (very bright) coloured version:



Upon looking back at them myself. I have inadvertently made Charlie a bit of a hard-dude in the colour version, whereas in the original b&w he's more of a simple character, which is what I wanted him to be. I think sometimes it's probably better NOT to colour, to retain the innocence of the original intention.


*all doodles are just that and aren't taken to be serious contributions towards any comic titles.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

The beauty of digital cartoons is how you can save inkings, etc and colour schemes.

I often save a black-and-white copy too.



Very nice, MMi: you'd be good at designing logos. [you have to do lettering digitally though].

The pay isn't bad in that field. About the same for a full page of strips in some cases.

[BeanoMark]

The beauty of digital cartoons is how you can save inkings, etc and colour schemes.

I often save a black-and-white copy too.



Very nice, MMi: you'd be good at designing logos. [you have to do lettering digitally though].

The pay isn't bad in that field. About the same for a full page of strips in some cases.

Thanks Ispyshhhguy, I always prefer black and white to be honest, but the beauty of Photoshop is that you get to try out how it looks in colour.

Regarding the designing of logos, that's pretty much what I do for a living. Or did do, as I used to work in a design agency, but publishing is very much my home.

I could do designing privately (or homers), but 1. They're not really allowed and 2. I can't be bothered!

[BeanoMark]

Latest doodling...

A fitba player


Max


I've been drawing Max for quite a while. I had a notion for a 3 panel strip called 'The Max Factor' where our hero contemplates the ironies of life. I've a heap of them doodled on post-it notes and the blank side of CD inserts, gathering dust at home. I might get round to scanning them one day. Ho-hum.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Max could be a million-selling money-spinner, MMi!

[Raven]

Although if you call it The Max Factor, you may get sued by Max Factor™!

[BeanoMark]

The name was thought out to be from Max's perspective. But as I'm not, and never will be, a professional artist I didn't mind it not having a proper title and kept the working title for now.

Here's an example of the kind of thing he muses about. This is very early, perhaps 10 years old, and long long before I knew how to do balloons. You can see how basic he is. No proper paws and his tail being too rough.