My latest Transformers artwork

[Jim]

Don't think I've dropped any pieces here for a while. I'm ticking along with some decent commissions and one actual cover gig, which is still making me grin every time I remember it!

[ChrisH]

Nice work! I always loved the Japanese designs for Victory and Masterforce, they really went all out.

[battlewraith]

Awesome work! The orange one in particular really pops.

[Josem]

Love the Vitruvian man version. One thing i tell myself when i feel stuck, draws robots, it forces me to think 3d, in perspective, to see planes. Great work.

[Jim]

Awesome work! The orange one in particular really pops.

Thanks. Had some fun painting that background with some smoke brushes. Only took five minutes, but it's pretty effective.

[Jim]

Nice work! I always loved the Japanese designs for Victory and Masterforce, they really went all out.

They're so un-G1 it's kinda funny. Much more in that Japanese Mech vein. I can see why people love them though.

[Jim]

Love the Vitruvian man version. One thing i tell myself when i feel stuck, draws robots, it forces me to think 3d, in perspective, to see planes. Great work.

Thank you. I spent a bit of time on that one as it was my only pro gig to date (and probably ever). And it was nice not having to colour it because my colouring is pretty ropey. And yeah, the good thing about drawing robots is that the perspective is so easy. You don't have to think in boxes and then draw a limb, you just leave the boxes!

[ChrisH]

Thank you. I spent a bit of time on that one as it was my only pro gig to date (and probably ever). And it was nice not having to colour it because my colouring is pretty ropey. And yeah, the good thing about drawing robots is that the perspective is so easy. You don't have to think in boxes and then draw a limb, you just leave the boxes!

How did that gig come about? And why do you think they won't hire you to do something else?

[Jim]

How did that gig come about? And why do you think they won't hire you to do something else?

I simply emailed the editor of the IDW TF comics with my portfolio. It's a pretty tight community so he was already following me on twitter.

Can't happen again as IDW had just lost the licence, and all artwork was already completed for the remainder of the year (which was how long the licence had left to run). Even then I got super lucky as they only added the extra alt covers to the limited series last minute, so it was actually a 'no' before it was a 'yes'.

The scuttlebutt is that the licence is going to (Penciljack's own...) Robert Kirkman at his Skybound line, and I suspect he'll be less likely to hire on fan artists with little to no experience in the industry, and won't be down the 5 alt covers route that IDW is fond of. I suspect he'll be reinventing the whole thing, and maybe going scorched earth on the creators involved.

As I've something of an 'in' with IDW, I could probably pitch a Turtles or Sonic portfolio with a possibility of success, but they're really interests of mine, so I feel it would be disingenuous, and I have other aims and goals in the field that I'm chasing elsewhere.

[amadarwin]

I suspect he'll be less likely to hire on fan artists with little to no experience in the industry, and won't be down the 5 alt covers route that IDW is fond of. .

I wouldn't be so sure of that, Jim. Kirkman is no stranger to using PJ alum. Ottley immediately springs to mind, but there's also Tony Moore and Cory Walker...

[Jim]

I wouldn't be so sure of that, Jim. Kirkman is no stranger to using PJ alum. Ottley immediately springs to mind, but there's also Tony Moore and Cory Walker...

Oh yeah, back in the day absolutely, this place was for networking and for pro's to get pro level advice for how to step up. But I joined just under ten years ago, and Kirkman hasn't posted since 2007. I don't think he's coming back here to talent swipe!

And lets be fair, I'm at least ten years off even being close to comics pro level. I just happen to be okay at robots. I personally suspect he'll be looking to get some of the current art talent out there to adapt to drawing mecha, rather than finding low tier mecha artists and expecting them to up their game to the big leagues. If he's shelled out big money on the franchise (a franchise that has a weird disconnect from the million dollar films and the low selling comics) I suspect he'll be looking to make it a big book. Or at least one that can generate storylines for future films.

[simeon09]

So impressive and talented. My favorite is the robot in space. It is very beautiful and sparkling. Thank you for such wonderful artwork. Hope you always have a smooth job.

[Shoshin Zero]

Awesome stuff! I especially like the first one. I'm definitely following. Who are your favorite Transformers artists?

[Jim]

Awesome stuff! I especially like the first one. I'm definitely following. Who are your favorite Transformers artists?

Thanks! When I was a kid it was all about Geoff Senior (as it was for most current TF artists). Most of the current crop are very good, though it's Alex Milne that just blows my mind with his linework. As a storyteller though, Jack Lawrence is another favourite.