New Print:For conventions this year (see list below). The print is a convention exclusive and will not be offered through email orders. I'm sorry to the folks that can't make it out to conventions, but I do advise that to avoid ebay scalpers crazy price hikes, find a fellow fan online who is attending a con and is willing to ship it to you. I have a few fans who do this already for UK fans who can't make it to US shows.
Process:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL5ddn1D_xWjTo4bRQx4TCyacAE7q5tOT9hCsUfS016Q9WYI5MBA0qEMyggRD19PTpRUQV7_y7ydIoM4p81pCMaOHF50v6BbaEcVBk_JyeBNwvw2UBNUg0NNa-ooOwUwVlq02xiBrv7c/s200/buzzard+sketch.jpg)
Last summer we encountered some turkey vultures on a family vacation. They stuck in my mind and I drew one recently as part of some Black Axe lore for an upcoming issue. As a poster, I could have more fun with the imagery and treat it more like a Legends cover (this very well may end up being used in Legends vol2). I looked at several photos of buzzards and vultures for reference while I sketched out my bird. I drew the mouse away from the buzzard knowing I would want to adjust his size and rotation.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0-eAGWA7CyQ6LPrPulDHdlUslbMmXhOSLHQYB_QaxC-URiQanCuWYQrzmZ5LONbsAC7JpyE2JwxOD0DKM6zBM8pyWrE6q_Trsow4uBDEf3rahtsZt84ZhyOPxKVe6LUwl8g5KsZOxEQ/s200/buzzard+rough.jpg)
I scanned that sketchpage and layed the image out in the proper size for the final artwork (8.25" x 16.25"). Because I had not drawn the full bird, I copied and mirrored his wing, yet the buzzards body wasn't full enough. I like manipulating sketches in photoshop for layout for this very reason. I can make adjustments without needing to redraw or erase my sketch. I tinted the various elements to help me see what lines belonged to what element (mouse, sword, bird, or bones).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_jDwtzUhDZODido-K5GZGzgGg2c68X93oZl9ncUM8NH45c8MOo_0y2Px2lcTJnADzPuv56Rm2_Bn-p9Lk9Y3dSjcCiCR3iQYW1uwRqJrU5IJRgz0qz1RrqCW3Ht1W4cujkqaq7zD61g/s200/buzzard+inks.jpg)
The color tinted sketch was printed out and I layed bristol board on top of it on my light box. This way, I was able to use the sketch as a guide for my final inks on the bristol. I adjusted the left side of the buzzard as I went. The mirrored wing gave me a good sense of the scale I wanted for it, but was the wrong shape. For this piece I also inked using only Copic Multiliners (mainly the .05 & .08). I really like the lines they give me and I will be switching to them for my final artwork now.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuWSy5CTxmGRj8RevEz6UZFffyCm6MvnAjxeB2s70TmTAQbz7UGdu7mrfl__dtOmLSmY0X6NhDWf3CuTksInaGqiU4qoof0vttSK3Z9aUcgRD_gLbZRWZQFRCTFDxCYyI4hYYiog0nOQ/s200/buzzard+final.jpg)
Last step was to scan my inked artwork and color the piece in photoshop. Because I didn't draw much in the background, I went with a more painted sky than I normally do. I added a color hold to the bones to make them retreat a bit into the background. And I tried to get the mouse-rider's garb to mimic his carrion-eating mount.
2011 Appearances
C2E2: March 18-20
Phoenix Comic Con: May 26-29
Cherry Capital Con: June 25-26
San Diego Comic Con: July 20-24
Baltimore Comic Con: Aug. 20-21
New York Comic Con: Oct. 14-16