Commissions of People, for People...

Somewhere along the line I got pegged with a reputation of drawing comic book style likenesses of regular folk for commissions (hell, I only tell you how to do it in my new book).  This probably goes back to my pre-comics career when I drew caricatures at the local theme park back in high school. Most requests are of drawing people as superheroes.  Not only is this a fun idea, but it also allows them to add extra inside jokes/themes that's personal only to them.  It takes longer to do and involves a little more effort (that's why I generally charge a little more for these) than a typical drawing of a superhero character, but the end result is very satisfying if the customer is pleased.

Here are a few recent commissions I've done of just your everyday folk dressed up (I chose not to put up the actual photos of the people depicted for privacy reasons):

 Jeremy as Green Lantern holding a kettle bell (he's an instructor)

Gift for Camille and Hans as Robin and Batman on their new house

A commission of Inga as Mary Marvel

Camel Toes

Later, dudes...

Random Stuff...

I know it's been over a month after I vowed to update this blog more often....but work has been unbelievably crazy (what else is new??).  Unfortunately, with time at a premium--sometimes I just have to catch some sleep over writing blogs.  I hope you understand.

That said, there's so many things since last blog that I could write about, but I don't know where to start.  So I'll just randomly surf through my hard drive and upload random things as I type...

Drawing-wise, I am currently balls-deep into issue #1 (of 2) for Undertaker for the WWE Heroes comic (Titan Publishing).  Written by some dude named Keith Champagne.  Since I don't believe I am yet allowed to show anything yet, I'll take this opportunity to plug the current series written by Keith and drawn by a good ol' chap named Andy Smith. 

After I wrap up issue #1, I will do a very detailed step-by-step painting of one of the hottest Vietnamese chicks I've ever seen, Ngan Khanh,  for Airbrush Step-By-Step magazine:

Basically, I'm gonna teach you how to "frankenstein" different reference photos combined with some good ol' freehand drawing skills to create a cohesive painting.  PS--I'm still "casting" for the perfect Asian girl to be my reference photo (and be in the magazine) for Ngan Khanh's body double.  Sound fun?  Oh, it will be...

Speaking of step-by-step paintings, some of you airheads may or may not realize that there is actually a full step-by-step airbrush (traditional, not digital) demo of a painting of Megan in my new book "Incredible Comic Book Women With Tom Nguyen" (plug plug).  So it's not just comics and cartoony stuff!

Oh yeah, guess what?  For you Kindle/iPad owners, the new book is now available to download onto Kindle!!!  At $10, it's a steal!  

A couple random sketches:

The Unknown Soldier

A zombie

Camel Toes:

A Piece of Shit Tattoo:

Later dudes (a month later?  Who knows haha).

My First iPad Sketch

During mid-May, we had the annual SpringCon here in Minnesota.  It was at this show where a gentleman showed me his iPad (I don't own one--YET--but I am intrigued by them).  The thing is, he didn't just show me his iPad, but he actually wanted to commission me to do a sketch in it using the Sketchbook Pro app and a stylus.  I took him up on the condition that he send me the file as a keepsake--my very first iPad sketch!  

Camel Toe:

Stupid Tattoo:

Where do I start?

Hmmm, I know it's been a while since my last blog post.  I remember last blog I hinted at my televised appearance at WrestleMania 26 to promote WWE Heroes comics.  Well that was a total lie--a weak attempt at an April Fool's joke (if you noticed the date of the blog).  So there! Ha ha.

Hmm, where do i begin?  Oh!  Guess what?  My new instructional book is out!!!  Go order at my publisher's site or at Amazon:

North Light Shop <---click to purchase

Amazon <---click to purchase

Here's a funny "director's cut" bit:  one of my intended double-page spreads for the book didn't make it in the final edit.  So here it is for you guys (colored by the excellent Jon Alderink):

New Painting

Seems like I barely have time to paint anymore these days.  Which is a shame as I love to work with the ladies.  Here is the most recent one that was done for Mrs. Minnesota-America 2007 Bessie Giannakakis.  Now you might wonder, "Friggin' 2007??  Aren't you a little late, buddy??!"  Well, yes of course I'm slow; there were also a couple minor bumps that delayed this particular piece, but I finally got enough of a break to finish it.  Needless to say, I'm thrilled that it's done and am very satisfied that Bessie is able to finally receive it.   What a wonderful, patient, and beautiful lady!

Sketch Card

Here's a Wolvie sketch card that I was able to hawk.  Ink and marker.

Camel Toe

I promise I won't take as long for the next blog entry  ;)

More Sketches and My Appearance at Wrestlemania 26

Even though I pimped this last week on my website, Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook, I neglected to mention the FREE iPhone/iPod touch WWE Heroes #0 comic app here.  So here is the link to get it!

Story by Keith Champagne
Pencils by me
Inks by Champagne and me
Colors by Hi-Fi

Also, I should be getting video back soon from my pre-taped appearance during Wrestlemania 26 week in Phoenix to help promote the app.  I'll have it up next blog.


SKETCHES!!!!

These are commissions I did during this past December.  Click to see bigger:

Camel Toes

HORRIBLE TATTOO of the WEEK:

Later, dudes...

TOM

Girls and Doggies

I just did a drawing (some of you may have seen the in-progress peek on my Twitter and/or my Facebook) to be auctioned off this week at the Humane Society's Puppy Mills awareness gala in Dallas, TX.  Here it is (click to see bigger):

By the way, this drawing was done in pen/ink/brush on 11" X 17" bristol board.  This is in a similar theme to an illustration of a girl/dog that I did for my upcoming instructional book (plug-plug again) Incredible Comic Book Women With Tom Nguyen--out in June!  :p  In fact, I demonstrate a full step-by-step of it in the book:

People seem to like the simple, cute pin-up-girl-with-dog theme.  Perhaps I'll do more of these in the future.

Camel Toes:

Horrible Tattoo:

Later, dudes...
TOM

A Little Bit of This and That...

Finally, I have some time (not really, but I'm actually making time) to update this poor blog.  First, a quick follow up on the last blog regarding my black & white drawings of the Vietnamese Ao Dai dress chicks.  A website called AoDai.com (featuring--what else?--Ao Dais!) contacted me and asked if I would like to be featured.  I told them that I only had the 2 drawings of Ao Dai from my last blog entry  (for the time being), but that they are free to use them if they wanted. So for the time being, they are being used on the home page of AoDai.com.  Cool, huh?

Next we have a commission that I did a while ago, but only now shall it be seen.  Every once in a long while I'll be commissioned to ink over someone else's pencil sketch.  Because I dislike plain inking by nature, I normally won't do this unless the penciller is a professional (re: not an amateur wannabe trying to break in) and that the customer is willing to pay a ridiculous price.  In this case, we have a request for me to ink over a Dan Jurgens drawing of Green Lantern.  Here is the before and after:

If you have a keen eye, you might spot some minor liberties I've taken during the inking stage to help strengthen the overall figure.  The most notable adjustments are the arms, his left leg (our right), and adding a bit of a butt visible in this angle.  Other than that, I just slickened the rest up and remained fairly faithful.  I don't recommend beginning inkers to putz around with the structure of another penciller's art too much unless you know what you're doing. 

Another Commish

Here's another 3-head-themed commission by the same gentleman who's been steadily commissioning me since Wizard World Chicago '09, this time of Captain America, Thor, and Daredevil:

Don't Forget to PreOrder...!

Learn how to draw hot babes the right way!  :)  If you preorder now at Amazon, you get a discount.  The book is to be released in June!  

Camel Toes

Horrible Tattoo:

Ladies, just stop it.