More Sketches. I usually keep my sketches elsewhere, but here's a few more for the site.
Star Wars Day 2014. I usually do a sketch or two on the morning of, but this year got ahead of it and fleshed out something more finished.
Illustration for a friend's daughters. Can you guess which one like Greek mythology and which one likes Katniss Everdeen?
Thundarr the Barbarian is certainly an influence on Barbarian Lord, and Thundarr himself was designed by the mighty Alex Toth.
So when I was kindly invited to submit a contribution to the site tothfans, Thundarr was an easy choice.
"Teen Hellboy"
Hellboy is certainly a big influence on my comic book, Barbarian Lord. So when the Art of Mike Mignola's Facebook page had an open call for drawings to honor Hellboy's 20 year anniversary, I had to whip up something!
Barbarian Lord A comic book character created out of the love for Robert E Howard, The Icelandic Sagas and the music of Bathory. Barbarian Lord's own page
Minibosses "Brass 2" record sleeve design and illustration.
The outer sleeve was chosen to appear in Spectrum 19 (2012).
Aidan Baker - Spectrum of Distraction cd design and illustrations
Aidan's concept for the cd art was to relate to the old Choose Your Own Adventure book covers. The front cover was chosen to appear in Spectrum 19 (2012).
You can also read an interview with Aidan and I from around the time of the cd release here: http://www.ldwt.net/2012/06/cross-paths-aidan-baker-and-matt-smith/
Miscellaneous Gallery 2. As Tumblr seems to limit "photo sets" to 10 images, here is an additional gallery of various drawings. Zoe the Hun - A drawing for a friend's daughter. Blood, Fire Death - A contribution to Rachel Kahn's 2nd wonderful "By Crom!" collection. Here Rachel asked guest contributors to draw themselves and their spirit guide, as opposed to drawing the book's main characters, Rachel herself and Conan the Barbarian. As Quorthon and Bathory have been a major influence on me for over 20 years, He was the first person I though of. By Crom! Voluspaa - When Voluspaa asked for drawings and writings to celebrate their 20 years as a band, I drummed up this guy. It netted me their mighty Asa cd. I couldn't have been more pleased. Voluspaa John Carter - No reason for this other than the movie had just come out, which I thought was a good deal of fun and seemed to get an unfair shake during it's theatrical run.
Lenny Cyrus, School Virus book - Houghton Mifflin 2013 blog post on cover process
Ladybug Magazine - "The Cupcake" illustration.
Poem by Laura Sassi.
The Demographic - Bleak and Hollow digital single art Tom Pappalardo, of the Demographic, is a good friend and sometimes comics collaborator. I am also a fan of the band and was happy to contribute some art to a digital single release.
Illustrations for Fubar: Guts and Glory.
Jus-Tin Jus-Tin came about due to being part of a online forum for fans of Justin Broadrick and his music.
The ongoing "joke" mirrors sentiments of some forum members about the stylistic shift in Justin Broadrick's musical output from Godflesh to Jesu. Captain Cod wants Jus-TIn to give up on his new found melodic shoegazing poppiness and return to the harsh apocalyptic crushing music of old. Adding to Herge and Broadrick are references to HP Lovecraft and Tom Warrior and you've got a strip that 5 people in the world can appreciate. Or failing that, atleast understand. Time well spent!
Here is episode 3 and the first page of the unfinished episode 4.
The Minibosses
I owe the Minibosses a good deal. For one, I love their take on classic NES themes--coming across like an instrumental Iron Maiden even if you don't know the game soundtracks they are covering. (though you should) But mainly, they gave me a good excuse to begin practicing working digitally. The first illustration I did for them was an acrylic painting, but shortly afterwards turning to drawing in Flash and then on to drawing in Painter. Most of what I figured out so in digital illustration was through flyers and album covers for these guys.
Miscellaneous Gallery 1