tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37669304430408894982024-03-13T07:38:45.541-05:00Shiver LinesThe Horror Concept Art Of Tom Hicke.Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-67962977401238763472012-03-24T15:00:00.001-05:002012-04-04T10:47:04.843-05:00A Wicked Ink Experiment<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rpTaGCEozE/ToyO_ZxS3yI/AAAAAAAAArc/0frqeMpahC0/s1600/Dermoid%2527s-Got-Guts_Inked-Version.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rpTaGCEozE/ToyO_ZxS3yI/AAAAAAAAArc/0frqeMpahC0/s1600/Dermoid%2527s-Got-Guts_Inked-Version.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Dermoids Got Guts </i>inked with a </b> <b>hint of <a href="http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2010/10/31/sex-subversion-and-bloodlust-inside-the-mind-of-1950s-horror/" style="color: #073763;">1950's Horror Comic style.</a></b></td></tr>
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The ink art was completed with a brush-tipped Pitt Artist Pen from Faber-Castell on a vellum overlay. The sweeping curve of the horizontal hatching and black pools of shadow give the rendering an open airy feel for such a tight, close shot. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Dermoids Wicked Progeny © and TM Tom Hicke.</span></b></span> </div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-50176284439733908532012-03-06T17:00:00.054-06:002012-04-04T10:47:16.464-05:00A Dermoids Deviation<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBKWKOfrVvo/To7ulDO0e8I/AAAAAAAAAsY/YYYkD8_Rgsk/s1600/Dermoid%2527s-Got-Guts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBKWKOfrVvo/To7ulDO0e8I/AAAAAAAAAsY/YYYkD8_Rgsk/s1600/Dermoid%2527s-Got-Guts.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: black;"><i>Dermoids Got Guts </i>pencil art with a retro comics spin.</b></td></tr>
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Most of the sketches shown here are experiments playing off a variety of metamorphosis themes. This concept features a lumbering Quasimodo-type <a href="http://shiverlines.blogspot.com/2010/08/half-done-dermoids-wicked-progeny.html" style="color: #444444;">Dermoid</a><span style="color: #444444;"> </span>emerging from an quivering tent of entrails. It's a blend of a quasi-human marsupial with larval development. Crazy ideas can make for cool art, especially in horror fiction.</div>
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My sketching process tends to include exploration of technique and visual context to shape a design. The style for this sketch is unusually open and cartoony compared to others in the <i>Dermoids Wicked Progeny</i><b> </b>series. All those great influences just keep surfacing. I love the comic art of <a href="http://1979semifinalist.wordpress.com/category/darwyn-cooke/" style="color: #444444;">Darwin Cook</a>, <a href="http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=550901&gsub=86531" style="color: #444444;">Bruce Timm</a>, <a href="http://www.qwiki.com/q/Carmine_Infantino" style="color: #444444;">Carmine Infantino</a> and <a href="http://michelfiffe.com/?p=163" style="color: #444444;">Steve Ditko</a>; it really shows in this sketch.</div>
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Following an artistic urge away from the <a href="http://shiverlines.blogspot.com/2010/01/lung-baby-dermoids-wicked-progeny.html" style="color: #444444;">established</a><span style="color: #444444;"> </span>approach can be a good move, if time allows. Most anything that leads to previously unconsidered creative solutions, can lead to better work. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #660000;"> Dermoids Wicked Progeny © and TM Tom Hicke.</span></b><b style="color: black;"> </b></span></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-90711355277667793032012-02-18T17:00:00.001-06:002012-04-04T10:47:29.347-05:00Into the Dark Wood_part 02<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6w5zY8DCBE/ToyOPb3h8zI/AAAAAAAAArU/EuV0a9WCpLs/s1600/Into-The-Dark-Wood_version_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6w5zY8DCBE/ToyOPb3h8zI/AAAAAAAAArU/EuV0a9WCpLs/s1600/Into-The-Dark-Wood_version_02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Note the change in posture as well as the bulk of the cloak.</span></b></td></tr>
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Here is new version of the clergyman, looking very much alarmed to be in the forest at <a href="http://www.annerice.com/bookshelf-thewitchinghour.html" style="color: #660000;"><i>witching hour</i></a>. His character's been tightened up with more careful rendering. A few things were added or removed to improve the drama. <span style="color: #444444;">[to be continued.] </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Into the Dark Wood </b></span></span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>© 2009 Tom Hicke.</b></span></span></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-18363625477453228422012-02-04T17:00:00.001-06:002012-04-04T10:47:38.361-05:00Into The Dark Wood_part 01<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icZH0ufltJE/ToyNytFJLwI/AAAAAAAAArQ/Nl_U_UDuKLs/s1600/Into-The-Dark-Wood_version_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icZH0ufltJE/ToyNytFJLwI/AAAAAAAAArQ/Nl_U_UDuKLs/s1600/Into-The-Dark-Wood_version_01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.online-literature.com/irving/2846/" style="color: #444444;">Ichabod Crane</a><span style="color: #660000;"> <span style="color: #0c343d;">inspired this first pencil sketch</span></span></b></td></tr>
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This sketch was drawn loosely over an enlarged thumbnail, fastened under a sheet of vellum. I like to keep it loose initially, relying mainly on imagination. Here a reference was used for some of the detail and lighting. <br />
A little creative exaggeration is far more interesting to me than straight ahead realism. <a href="http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/2010/01/who-was-albert-dorne.html" style="color: #0b5394;">Albert Dorne</a><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span>and <a href="http://1000words.kodak.com/thousandwords/post/?ID=6170520382920984112" style="color: #0b5394;">Norman Rockwell</a> are two excellent artists who put the idea to practice very effectively. A great deal can be gleaned from the many fine magazine illustrators of the 1940's and 50's.<br />
Later in the day, I took a second look to see it with a fresh eye. Seems to be going in the right direction but the figure still needed work.<br />
The nice thing about overlays is that a new beginning is easy as taping a new sheet of vellum over the layout for further exploration. I enjoy using multiple methods for developing sketch ideas; it helps to keep the process as interesting and fun as it should be efficient. [continued next post]<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Into the Dark Wood </span></b></i><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>© </b></span></span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>2009 Tom Hicke.</b></span></span></div>
</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-12317684879969022532012-01-21T17:00:00.000-06:002012-04-04T10:47:47.487-05:00Cracked<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fissures drawn along the crusted earth appear…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">mere scratches on God’s own guarded ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yet behind this benign facade so unrevealing,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">bares a secret...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">beneath the cryptic seam’s concealing:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Within the chasm cracked and yawning…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">vile, slinking things are spawning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fiends that mark a lonely ambler’s stumbling stride…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">to crack and crush his hollow bones,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">then swallow him alive.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cracked © 20</b></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>10</b></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> Tom Hicke.</b></span></span></i> </div>
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Written a while back, this piece brings to mind a wonderful and captivating poem that scared me silly as a child. I could barely stand to read it without slamming the over-sized <i>children's book</i> shut. If it's been a while since you dared... check out the inimitable <a href="http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/famous/carroll/lewis.html" style="color: #444444;">Lewis Carrol</a>'s <a href="http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/jabber/jabberwocky.html" style="color: #660000;">Jabberwocky</a><span style="color: #660000;">.</span></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-13597445060192763832012-01-02T17:00:00.000-06:002012-04-04T10:29:24.033-05:00Quick Sketch_part 03<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3z2xI3fxYI/TotH8yawDdI/AAAAAAAAAq8/mSHqRbCYvyo/s1600/New-Famen_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3z2xI3fxYI/TotH8yawDdI/AAAAAAAAAq8/mSHqRbCYvyo/s1600/New-Famen_03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b style="color: #444444;">River Kobold </b></i><b style="color: #444444;">and </b><i><b style="color: #444444;">Slough Sprites </b></i><b style="color: #444444;">don't usually get along.</b></td></tr>
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Drawing is a dreaming awake. Pencil to paper can feel electric and ghostly like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_lantern" style="color: #0b5394;">magic lantern</a> image only you can see until the drawing is complete. It is an intimate and strange sensation to see beings of some forgotten world crawl and writhe across your sketchbook page.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06CndAjtQ24/TovC_u5--xI/AAAAAAAAArM/ef3e_Tn3Og0/s1600/An-Inked-Experiment_Faemen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06CndAjtQ24/TovC_u5--xI/AAAAAAAAArM/ef3e_Tn3Og0/s1600/An-Inked-Experiment_Faemen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #444444;">This fellow looks angry at having to sit for this sketch. Too bad.</b></td></tr>
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This quickly inked <a href="http://shiverlines.blogspot.com/2009/12/fae-men-designs-post-1.html" style="color: #274e13;">goblin head</a> [shown near actual size] was completed on vellum overlay for a
student demonstration in my Pen, Brush, and Ink Illustration class this past semester.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fae-Men Designs © 2011 Tom Hicke</span>. </span></b></div>
</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-80176044163305045772011-12-18T17:00:00.000-06:002012-04-04T10:48:40.041-05:00Quick Sketch_part 02<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zb-sXiyrCo/TotHmLgTRXI/AAAAAAAAAq4/CtIVjDIQoP8/s1600/New-Famen_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zb-sXiyrCo/TotHmLgTRXI/AAAAAAAAAq4/CtIVjDIQoP8/s1600/New-Famen_02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: inherit;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444;">Average 9 foot <i>Cave Damon</i> [on the right] and a particularly large and nasty <i>Squalor</i> [left.]</span></span></b></td></tr>
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I usually get back to loose sketches to finish them more, even if they go unused for their assigned project. Recycling a sketch for another concept or finishing it could <a href="http://rackham.artpassions.net/" style="color: #274e13;">inspire</a><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span>something entirely different. <span style="font-size: x-small;">[continued next post]</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fae-Men Designs © 2011 Tom Hicke</span>.</span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-29121361935036863562011-11-28T17:00:00.000-06:002012-04-04T10:48:06.784-05:00Quick Sketch_part 01<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3mNp6DuEOk/TouAqbRbbDI/AAAAAAAAArI/C7ckcs3xXN4/s1600/New-Famen_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3mNp6DuEOk/TouAqbRbbDI/AAAAAAAAArI/C7ckcs3xXN4/s1600/New-Famen_01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #660000;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #444444;"><i>Crow Ogre </i>standing next to a 6 foot man.</b></td></tr>
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Back in school, creative compulsion didn't allow for paint
drying time or procedural pauses. I found it both necessary and an easier solution to work on several
paintings at once. My personal design process has an <a href="http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/folklore/folktales/scottish-folktales.html" style="color: #274e13;">interesting</a> correlation. </div>
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I may cover several sketch book pages in an hour, only working as long as it takes to form a complete concept in as few lines as possible. Drawings can be put on hold at any time to quickly pursue a new idea they've inspired. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Each day reaps</span> <span style="font-size: small;">finished work and seeds to sow for the next. </span>[continued next post]</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fae-Men Designs © 2011 Tom Hicke</span>.</span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-69660810493601394572011-11-13T17:00:00.000-06:002012-04-04T10:48:15.758-05:00New Creature Skull Sketches<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6kmzhKiZSE/TocwoUZrGiI/AAAAAAAAAqE/Ex_fao7fmBU/s1600/Creature-Skull-Study_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6kmzhKiZSE/TocwoUZrGiI/AAAAAAAAAqE/Ex_fao7fmBU/s1600/Creature-Skull-Study_02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two more unused rough skulls from the series. [near actual size.]</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For rough sketches,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the tone and hatching combo appeals to me.</span></div>
<b style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Video Game Concept Skulls © 2011 Tom Hicke.</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000;"> </span></b></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-71587605826600287012011-10-30T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:49:18.841-05:00Swamp Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_Ys-Iy5AII/Toc7frfqypI/AAAAAAAAAqg/qvYzaketDpc/s1600/Swamp-Thing-Mini-Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_Ys-Iy5AII/Toc7frfqypI/AAAAAAAAAqg/qvYzaketDpc/s1600/Swamp-Thing-Mini-Painting.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Watercolor works well to depict an Elemental</span></b>.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">As I was growing up, <a href="http://www.wrightsonart.com/" style="color: #0c343d;">Bernie Wrightson</a> and <a href="http://www.povonline.com/weinproject.htm" style="color: #0c343d;">Len Wein</a>'s </span><b style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Swamp Thing</span></b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">TM</span></span><span style="color: #274e13;"> DC Comics, was an enormous influence on my work. Many comics fans comment on that when they see some of my horror sketches. I love Wrightson's art and artist's like Franklin Boothe, Jack Davis, and Roy Krenkel who influenced him greatly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">This miniature sketch of <a href="http://www.swampthingroots.com/" style="color: #0c343d;">Swamp Thing</a> was painted very loosely for an image only 1.5"x 2". Working loose, tight, large, small, with an airbrush, in oils, watercolor or whatever medium ...it's all stimulating and beautiful.</span> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"> Two enlarged details below show some interesting and painterly <i>suggestions</i> from the subject at left.</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h7NG5pmObew/TodJHG17fpI/AAAAAAAAAqo/O7e5X9R2iaU/s1600/Swamp-Thing-Details.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h7NG5pmObew/TodJHG17fpI/AAAAAAAAAqo/O7e5X9R2iaU/s1600/Swamp-Thing-Details.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center" style="color: #274e13;"><td class="tr-caption"><b>A 1/2" Flat, a #5 Pointed Round and only four colors were used to paint the tiny portrait of the Mossy Mammoth .</b></td></tr>
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<br />Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-1735697835482441632011-10-09T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:38:37.388-05:00Creature Skull Sketches<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2s5ubAmUZ1k/Toc1pkFKGFI/AAAAAAAAAqU/RHRup-RccFA/s1600/Creature-Skull-Study_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2s5ubAmUZ1k/Toc1pkFKGFI/AAAAAAAAAqU/RHRup-RccFA/s1600/Creature-Skull-Study_01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A couple of unused rough skulls for a video game concept [near actual size.] </b></td></tr>
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I like to begin with nothing but imagination and design shapes that are interesting. It's faster. Taken to the next level, animal or human skull reference would be used to enhance authenticity. I picked up the idea of consulting references afterwards, while briefly working with some exceptional storyboard artists at a small studio in Chicago.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Video Game Concept Skulls © 2011 Tom Hicke.</span></b></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-27278791266635714352011-09-25T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:40:47.439-05:00Gothic Terror Buried Beneath 80's Camp_part 01<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a auto;"="" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NP33H_6fovk/TndeVybcA1I/AAAAAAAAAoU/jS9aD3ZGzO8/s1600/Monster-Club-DVD_Covers_Web.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NP33H_6fovk/TndeVybcA1I/AAAAAAAAAoU/jS9aD3ZGzO8/s1600/Monster-Club-DVD_Covers_Web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #660000;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>DVD Covers from 3 releases of The Monster Club [1980]</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Monster Club is probably the last of the British anthology horror film of which I've seen only a few. More familiar are Stephen King's Creepshow films, an homage to the best of Horror and Sci-Fi comics from the 1950's EC tradition.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V793s0-4cw8/Tndh0vAd5HI/AAAAAAAAAoY/JIuAFdZUYGs/s1600/Carradine-%2526-Price_Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V793s0-4cw8/Tndh0vAd5HI/AAAAAAAAAoY/JIuAFdZUYGs/s1600/Carradine-%2526-Price_Web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">The Prolific and Stylish John Carradine and The Immortal Vincent Price.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">These are the two actors that initially prompted my keen interest interest in The Monster Club on an early 80's USA Network cable station fright feature. Carradine and Price deliver, despite the campy dialogue and </span><span style="font-size: small;">silliness</span><span style="font-size: small;"> in the scenes devised to frame the films trilogy format.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yyRuXiejxYk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">A Conversation with Two All-time Favorite Classic Horror Film Stars.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Monster movies played an important part in forming my already overactive imagination. The Monster Club manages to serve up a two tales
with striking visuals and bleak Gothic themes that reinforced my
fascination for arcane imagery. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">[continued next post.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Monster Club TM 2006 Pathfinder Home Entertainment.</b></span></div>
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</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-78193877008148684472011-09-11T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:41:23.307-05:00Gothic Terror Buried Beneath 80's Camp_part 02<table 1em;="" margin-left:="" right;"="" right;="" text-align:=""><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vd_ExT-Jlf4/TnugEevqSdI/AAAAAAAAApI/ldjW7BHaa_w/s1600/Monster-Club_John-Bolton_Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vd_ExT-Jlf4/TnugEevqSdI/AAAAAAAAApI/ldjW7BHaa_w/s1600/Monster-Club_John-Bolton_Web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"><b>A John Bolton Pin up from House Of Hammer Magazine for The Monster Club movie[1980.]</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The Monster Club's rock 'n roll nightclub narrative framing device had it's share of memorable moments, such as the New Wave bands performing the campy Monster Club music and a stripper who takes it all off...right down to the skeleton. These segments make the movie fun, but were not the part that really grabbed my imagination.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-bIllVCGvg/Tn6TUSaGCfI/AAAAAAAAApc/EC3EEUx1vcI/s1600/MonsterClub_The+Shadmock.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-bIllVCGvg/Tn6TUSaGCfI/AAAAAAAAApc/EC3EEUx1vcI/s1600/MonsterClub_The+Shadmock.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000;">The Shadmock displays his gentle innocence.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The first story,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> entitled<i> </i><i>"The Shadmock" </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> showcased lush period settings, striking costume design, and Gothic atmosphere reminiscent of classic Hammer Films. Based on the short story written by the late British horror writer <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_9456137">R. Chetwynd-Hayes</a>, featuring a hybrid-monster with a diabolical whistle. The tale begins with the monstrous mogul hiring a </span><span style="font-size: small;">new assistant, Angela, </span><span style="font-size: small;"> to help catalog his possessions. The tension mounts to an awful ending for the young woman, as she reluctantly agrees to help her crooked boyfriend swindle<i> The Shadmock</i> out of his fortune.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9oQ5ABYzq4/Tn6WLMPJhGI/AAAAAAAAApk/0RaeM9_WrI4/s1600/MonsterClub-Adaption_web_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9oQ5ABYzq4/Tn6WLMPJhGI/AAAAAAAAApk/0RaeM9_WrI4/s1600/MonsterClub-Adaption_web_02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Shadow and foreshadowing in The Shadmock's garden.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: #444444;">The art from the comic book adaption has its own appeal.</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></b></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span></div>
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<tr style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>John Bolton's art on the comics version of the <i>Lost In Town</i>.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Monster Club's final tale concerns </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">an American film
director who stumbles into a </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">mysterious </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">17th century </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">village populated by Ghouls. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <i>antique</i> illustrations used as part
of the plot were my first exposure to the incredible art of John Bolton,
a fact that I didn't realize until several years later. The art was
equally frightening and fascinating; it </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">burrowed its way into my brain as these were easily the best ink
drawings I'd seen.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000;">I remembered this scene vividly from 25 years ago.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My early influences were gleaned
from great novels, classics, The Twilight Zone and a host of
other shows in the same vein. If course it all started with the Universal monster flicks replayed
on PBS. These were all transformed by my outlandish imagination into
something more than vivid. It's hard to experience some of the source
material the same way now, but the memories are as potent as ever. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Monster Club has been released at least 3 times on DVD; it's still fun to watch </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">my own copy </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">from time to time.</span></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-57358713261559538062011-08-21T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:48:28.098-05:00Faemen -Tree Troll<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_k8CIoMQ3-Dc/S0ZLC17UZ2I/AAAAAAAAAYo/5vA08vaNmys/s1600-h/FaemenBlgPst-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_k8CIoMQ3-Dc/S0ZLC17UZ2I/AAAAAAAAAYo/5vA08vaNmys/s400/FaemenBlgPst-3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #274e13;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Tree-Troll who's rather embarrassed to be so short by normal Tree-Troll standards.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A Tree-Troll drawing for</span><span style="font-size: small;"> a comic book revamp pitch</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span><span style="font-size: small;">He is</span><span style="font-size: small;"> a rotten twisted Ent-like servant for a treacherous, lunatic sorceress</span><span style="font-size: small;">. No definite deadline, so this fits neatly between </span><span style="font-size: small;">pending projects</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I usually see my influences long after a sketch is finished. For me it's a treasure chest of inspiration. </span><span style="font-size: small;">There is a hint of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1319473189" style="color: #274e13;">Michael</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.kaluta.com/pages/commissions/" style="color: #274e13;"> Kaluta</a> </span><span style="font-size: small;">in this sketch. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fae-Men Designs © 2011 Tom Hicke</span>. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-67779171285796453342011-08-07T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:42:43.906-05:00Faemen -Thorn Goon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k8CIoMQ3-Dc/S0ZSMzDlLtI/AAAAAAAAAYw/510ZhoERnKs/s1600/FaemenBlgPst-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k8CIoMQ3-Dc/S0ZSMzDlLtI/AAAAAAAAAYw/510ZhoERnKs/s320/FaemenBlgPst-4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #274e13;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thorn Goon scaled next to a tall human half-wit who is 5 times more intelligent than himself.</b></td></tr>
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A Thorn Goon is approximately 8 feet tall and similar to a Golem. They are dumb, powerful, short tempered <a href="http://monsterbrains.blogspot.com/" style="color: #274e13;">creatures</a> created to serve evil men. If you see one, keep your wits about you ...and run.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fae-Men Designs © 2011 Tom Hicke.</span></b></div>
</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-58466927525617114332011-07-17T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:46:32.645-05:00More Fae-Men Designs<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr style="color: #274e13;"><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_k8CIoMQ3-Dc/Syud6cHMlyI/AAAAAAAAANA/qd0cp6qdgMU/s1600-h/FaemenBlgPst-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416596604147504930" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_k8CIoMQ3-Dc/Syud6cHMlyI/AAAAAAAAANA/qd0cp6qdgMU/s400/FaemenBlgPst-1.jpg" style="display: block; height: 343px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #274e13;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Different levels of acuity and focus spark life into each goblins gaze.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Here are some quick sketches of more goblin-like characters for the same project. The final sketches will be selected with a contrast. At this point, I merely searching my imagination with the pencil. At least two of the characters are reminiscent of <a href="http://www.rickveitch.com/" style="color: #274e13;">Rick Veitch</a>. It seems funny because haven't looked at his work for a long time and don't use reference for rough concepts. I love seeing </span><span style="font-family: arial;">buried </span><span style="font-family: arial;">bits and pieces of all the pros who've inspired me....more to follow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;"><b>Fae-Men Designs © 2011 Tom Hicke. </b></span></span></div>
</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-32295987745008615522011-07-03T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:50:13.122-05:00Fae-Men Designs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-83DrlBjHk5w/TleTXnyEylI/AAAAAAAAAj8/Yq7_xKvhq3c/s1600/FaemenBlgPst-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-83DrlBjHk5w/TleTXnyEylI/AAAAAAAAAj8/Yq7_xKvhq3c/s400/FaemenBlgPst-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #274e13;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>These are a few of my favorites so far.</b></td></tr>
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Fae-Men is the working title for these character designs. The thorns are a motif representing the dangerous, dark magic of these foul forest beings. Sharp-eyed viewers will notice the <a href="http://srbissette.com/" style="color: #274e13;">Stephen Bissette</a> influence. I was first influenced by his Swamp Thing Comics after <a href="http://swords-and-veeblefetzers.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html" style="color: #274e13;">Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson's</a><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span>seminal run as the original creators of the series.<br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;"><b>Fae-Men Designs © 2011 Tom Hicke. </b></span></span></div>
</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-58026247984888078772011-06-19T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:51:01.733-05:00Blast From The Past_part 06<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-epYuW4jnxgA/Tl5FYnp-IHI/AAAAAAAAAm4/rHy8sb7quAo/s1600/Vampire+Style+Study_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-epYuW4jnxgA/Tl5FYnp-IHI/AAAAAAAAAm4/rHy8sb7quAo/s1600/Vampire+Style+Study_06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #660000;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pencil Sketch Referenced From Movie, London after Midnight [1927]</b></td></tr>
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<a href="http://lonchaney.com/" style="color: #660000;">Lon Chaney</a>, man of 1000 faces and the star of countless horror films including the lost and much sought after silent movie from which this image is referenced. The last known copy of London after Midnight was destroyed in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_MGM_Vault_fire" style="color: #660000;" title="1967 MGM Vault fire">fire in an MGM film vault</a> in 1967.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">London after Midnight <span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> 1927 MGM </span></b></div>
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</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-33862534538649827792011-06-06T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:51:53.681-05:00Blast From The Past_part 05<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr style="color: #660000;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pencil Sketch Referenced From Movie, Dracula [1931]</b></td></tr>
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Lugosi stars in the timeless, Dracula. Even an 8 year old could see <a href="http://www.lugosi.com/lugosihomepage.html" style="color: #660000;">Bela Lugosi </a>was a true original. Graphic simplicity and bold blacks in tribute to the master of horror film finesse. Long live Lugosi.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">Dracula <span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM </span>1931 Universal Pictures. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-50769851556095831412011-05-22T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:52:51.091-05:00Blast From The Past_part 03<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr style="color: #660000;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pencil Sketch Referenced From Movie, The Lost Boys [1987] </b></td></tr>
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During high school days, The Lost Boys was my favorite vampire flick sans Van Helsing. This film had teenaged heroes and rock n roll style vampires ala Billy Idol and David Bowie <a href="http://www.nwoutpost.com/default.asp" style="color: #660000;">New Wave</a> fashion.</div>
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The drawing came out well with a good balance of tone and light hatch-work. Reminds me of another art hero, <a href="http://shiverlines.blogspot.com/2011/08/comic-books-and-vampires.html" style="color: #660000;">John Bolton</a><span style="color: #660000;">.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Lost Boys <span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> 1987 Warner Bros.</span></b></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-6354240926294575002011-05-08T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:53:30.018-05:00Comic Books and Vampires I started collecting more illustrative comics magazines by age 14 . <a href="http://monstermagazinegalleries.blogspot.com/2009/10/house-of-hammer.html" style="color: #660000;">A Halls Of Horror</a><span style="color: #660000;"> </span>found at a used book store was a prize possession; it featured the startling artwork of John Bolton on a comics adaption of the Hammer film,<i> Dracula Prince of Darkness</i>. The issue came complete with an interview detailing how he managed his artistic alchemy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJyRokmgVlY/TlxELz56m_I/AAAAAAAAAlw/rM_ytz-Nv1E/s1600/John+Bolton+Dracula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJyRokmgVlY/TlxELz56m_I/AAAAAAAAAlw/rM_ytz-Nv1E/s320/John+Bolton+Dracula.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black;">A beautifully rendered page by </span><a href="http://www.boltonstudio.com/" style="color: #660000;">John Bolton</a>. </b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The cover that first caught my attention.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black;">Another immaculate page from </span><i><span style="color: #660000;">Dracula Prince of Darkness</span> </i><span style="color: black;">by Mr. Bolton.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">All Images © and </span><span style="color: #660000; font-size: xx-small;">TM</span><span style="color: #660000;"> respective Owners.</span> </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-9126294583559474852011-04-23T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:57:22.273-05:00Blast From The Past_part 02<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr style="color: #660000;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pencil Sketch Referenced From Movie, Fright Night II [1988] </b></td></tr>
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Fright Night [1985] was a favorite from first sight. With a cast that included the impeccable Roddy McDowall the charismatic and talented William Ragsdale. This image is from the sequel reprising much of the original cast; it's still fun with a few great visual effects, just not quite as cool as the original.<br />
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The Original from 1985...</div>
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...Part 2 from 1988</div>
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...and Now a remake from 2011. Maybe it will make </div>
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some kids curious enough to see the classic version.<br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><b>Fright Night, Fright Night II <span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> Lions Gate Films. </b></span></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-88910892152123127392011-04-10T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T10:58:22.486-05:00A Hammer Horror Tribute<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><b>If you don't want to rock hard, my condolences... just mute </b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">the sound and get your imagination wired with the original cinema phantasmagoria of Hammer Films.</span></span></b></i><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></b></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://shiverlines.blogspot.com/2011/08/comic-books-and-vampires.html" style="color: #660000;">Hammer Films</a><b> </b>made high quality horror movies from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Hammer utilized superstar acting talents such as Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Oliver Reed and Raquel Welch in many of their best known titles. As a teen, Hammer's drama and style glued my eyes to the TV screen and gave me electric inspiration to draw my own dark dreams.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #660000;">Film Footage TM Hammer Film Productions. </span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #660000;">These extra bits are from Hammer Films and The House of Hammer, TM and © Hammer Films<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Captain Kronos,Vampire Hunter and Father Shandor, Demon Stalker circa 1973-74 really grabbed my attention at 12. I guess cable TV in the 80's did affect young minds...cool, because heroes who fought demons and the undead...Rocked.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-41917738598475942182011-03-20T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T11:01:24.746-05:00Blast From The Past_part 01<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr style="color: #660000;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lust For A Vampire [1971] Pencil Sketch</b></td></tr>
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Unpublished work from the 1990's in a quick sketch style for a sculpture project that required several movie vampire illustrations painted on its surface. I like to base rendering style and design approach on the needs of the job rather than applying one specific approach to creative situation. </div>
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This sketch was made from movie still from a Hammer Films production that was part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lust_for_a_Vampire" style="color: #660000;">The Karnstein Trilogy</a> [1970–72] which was fairly daring in its day. The photography, costumes, and set design completed in the impeccable Hammer style were what caught my attention.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lust For A Vampire TM Hammer Film Productions. </span></b></div>
</div>Tom Hickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06256553376915686659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766930443040889498.post-33075935958972817242011-03-13T17:00:00.000-05:002012-04-04T11:01:59.524-05:00The Howling Influence [ Art Transforms.]<div style="text-align: center;">
...and the transformation scene from The Howling [1981.]</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This movie was probably the first modern horror film I saw as a kid. It was playing on HBO or maybe USA Network. The great drawings used as suspense builder for the scares to come [by production artist Richard Hescox] were a big plus too.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
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