Inking Lab #6: Neal Adams

[Ridge]

Another change in style and one of my all time favorite Adams images to start the month. High rez link below as always. Enjoy!



http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/5...dams300dpi.jpg

[KrisDiaz]

damn! i really wish my printer wasn't broke!...thats a great pic to ink

[NickRocks]

those legs are going to be fun

[Ratcrack]

Here's my place holder. Not sure if I'll finish. That's a lot of frickin' lines.

Wacom Tablet/Photoshop

[Ridge]

Ha, I know what you mean. Took far too long to finish. Don't give up until you tackle some monkey though, that was the most fun for me. Looking good Ratcrack.

Trying out Manga Studio instead of the usual Painter. Liking it so far.

[Bruce Lee]

You know, I love Neal Adams--he's one of my favorite artists ever-- but this particular Tarzan piece has never been one of my favorites, despite it being a fan favorite. Tarzan's torso just looks too flat and dimensionless to me. I dig the lean muscle look of the figure when Neal draws him, but but in this particular drawing, Tarzan's torso just seems very 2-dimensional at the areas of the chest and lateral muscles. He seems almost like a cut-out. While I really dig your inking on this, Ridge--you're very faithful to the pencils-- I think a few changes in those areas might actually make this an even better illustration than it already is. I'd be compelled to try to regain some depth in those areas in particular, and you might want to consider that.

You did excellent work on the line weights, on the figure line work, and the feathering, to be sure! You handled the shadow on the ape's chest and belly just right. I doubt it could be done better. I also like the way you handled the linework to graduate the shadow on the back of the ape's right leg. The jagged, looser lines really convey a mangy ape-like fur quality. Nice going!

You might be losing a little something around the area of the ape's eye though. The linework seems to be closing up a little there. I also think you could add in a tiny bit more blood spatter to sell that it's blood streaming off Tarzan's knife. Right now it kind of looks a little like jam or something...

I can't say I'm very fond of your grass, really. It kind of looks inconsistent with the rest of the drawing. I know that Neal didn't indicate much in those pencils, but I think this drawing would really be set off well with a little of that arching, wispy taller grass that guys like Frank Frazetta and Al Williamson render so well.

[fusciart]

That looks pretty sweet Ridge.

[Ridge]

Thanks Loston. Not just for the kind words, the spot-on crits are much appreciated. Didn't notice any flatness to the torso while working on it but I see it there now. The apes eye isn't the only place I lost the line but since it is a minor focal point it really stands out. I should have taken another pass at it. The grass, well that was just pure laziness on my part. This took twice as long as I figured it would and I slashed it in last minute just to be done. Wouldn't have done it that way for an editor and I shouldn't have done it here. Didn't expect to be called out on it here though.

[Ratcrack]

Ha, I know what you mean. Took far too long to finish. Don't give up until you tackle some monkey though, that was the most fun for me. Looking good Ratcrack.

Trying out Manga Studio instead of the usual Painter. Liking it so far.

Excellent, Ridge. Is inking easier with Manga Studio?

[Ridge]

Thanks Ratcrack. Manga Studio isn't any easier, just different. It does seem to give a little nicer line once you turn off all the auto correct features though.