More pencils-to-ink pages...

Here's a short story I'm doing for GRAPHIC CLASSICS. I'm kinda excited and nervous at the same time about doing this, since I've loved the old Pendulum Press Illustrated Classics way back when I was a kid, and I guess I want the quality of my work to be up to those standards. Also, this is my highest profile gig yet in the US and I really want to do a good job on it. Plus, a lot of great artists have contributed to this series, including fellow Filipinos Gerry Alanguilan, Carlo Vergara, Arnold Arre and even Nestor Redondo.




On this page, I was contemplating if I should put some texture on the cabin walls, but thought that the overall page might look overworked. So I left it bare at first, but it looked too clean, so I just put some thin texture lines and added shadows for the figures. I think it worked out for the best since it added to the grim atmosphere of the scene.




I didn't have much indecision when inking this one. I just adjusted some of the shadows on the faces of the characters, so as to lessen the "muddiness" of the pencils.

This is for the upcoming AMBROSE BIERCE collection from Graphic Classics.

I run to work everyday.

Not from the house, of course. That's too far. I take the train (MRT) and disembark at the Ayala station, and then run from there. I really don't know how far my office building is from the train station, but when I first started it took me about 12 to 15 minutes to complete the run. Nowadays, I clock in at about 8 to 10 minutes. the fastest I was able to do was around 6 minutes.

I give the impression to some people that I'm a health buff, and to a small degree I am. But it's more of a "trying to live better" attitude than an "I want a buff physique" one. Although a lean, muscular physique would be nice. Some people think that I possess such a physique, but nothing could be further from the truth. I have a (relatively) flat tummy, but no visible abs, and there's still a bit of love handles peeking from my sides. My arms aren't flabby, but not toned. I'm in pretty good shape, but not good enough, I think.

I used to weigh more than 180 lbs., but according to my height I should be around 150-160lbs. I don't know what prompted me to lose weight, maybe it was because I felt too sluggish, and felt older than my age of 30 (at that time). I started lifting weights, and cut my food intake in half. In 3-4 months, my weight dropped to 140 lbs. When I realized what happened, I got a little panicked. I don't think that's a safe way to lose weight, and started eating more sensibly.

I'd like to think I remedied the situation, and now I'm at an ideal 160 lbs.

What's my point to all this? I guess I'd just like to illustrate that having a healthy body is not impossible. You just have to WANT it. Motivation really is a big factor.

And I guess my body is doing pretty okay. My last few check-ups show no signs of anything wrong. I remember this one time I hooked up with a couple of pals around my age. They were talking about what medications they were taking! I was a bit surprised, since it didn't occur to me that people at my age would have health problems like that.

I remember when I had a photo-shoot recently. I was looking at the takes on the computer monitor when the client walked up to me and poked my chest. "Swimmer?" he said. I replied "Nope. Just weights." I guess I felt a bit flattered, since swimmers' physiques are among the best. So I think for this year, I'll try to shoot for a well-defined physique.

Hey, if Aga Muhlach can do it, I don't see any reason why I can't. :)

Another one of my indy US projects has finally seen a release, this one coming from ULTIMATE COMICS GROUP, LLC. I've drawn a short story detailing the origin of one of their superheroes named ESSENCE. It's part of STORMBLAZER #0. The solicitation reads...

Stormblazer Issue 0
This Fantastic ORIGIN issue contains 23 whopping story pages and includes the origins of Stormblazer, Essence AND Ultimate. Find out the history behind your favorite UCG characters.
Cover Art: Rod Jacobsen,
Written by: John Lai,
Art: Charles Wright, Lewis Smith, Reno Maniquis & Russell Walton,
Inks by: Lewis Smith, Timothy Gula, Reno Maniquis & Russell Walton,
Colors by: Isai Leal, Terrence Paris Kirton, John Lai & Shaun (Gaspode) Lewis

Samples of some of the pages I did...





You can purchase the comic online here.

I was browsing the 'net when I came upon this particular image...



Looks kinda familiar...



The artist of the top piece is Rodel Tapaya. this was made for a children's book entitled ANG BATANG MARAMING BAWAL from CANVAS.

I really don't mind the swipe. Lord knows I've done my fair share of that, too. I just decided to post it here because I found it amusing.

The book is actually pretty good, both story and illustrations. I think I'll be hunting this one down so I can read it to Jade.

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD


The ultimate team-up... Jade and one of her favorite superheroes, the Flash!

DWAYNE JOHNSON (aka "THE ROCK")as BLACK ADAM!?!?! How cool is that?!?!?



Now all they need to do is cast Dean Cain as the Big Red Cheese himself and I'll be happy.

On a related note... JEFF HARDY is INSANE. See below...

RAW 14.Jan.2008 Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton
Uploaded by Ricardo109

I don't think I've posted this piece before...



I was originally supposed to illustrate a KID CONTINUUM story for a PROJECT HERO sequel from Vin Simbulan and friends, but the project (no pun intended) didn't push through. Thank God I only did the mock cover page (hehe)!

Kid Continuum can be seen regularly in the pages of K-Zone (whose blog is, coincidentally, also titled Ka-Blog!). The series is brought to life by it's co-creators, the aforementioned Vin Simbulan and the always brilliant Andrew Drilon.

Well, K-Zone? How's that for free plugging? Send me some freebies! I'm looking at you, Koko! :)

I've just realized, with the previous piece I've posted and this one, it's done in a style that I don't usually do, with not much of the rendering and brushstrokes inherent in my work. It's also a slightly "cartoonier" style. Which style do you guys prefer? Yeah, I'm referring to the two of you who actually visit this blog. :P

Project Rooftop is one of the coolest art websites I've seen in a while. Basically, anyone can send in superhero costume redesigns and a panel of reviewers judge which ones are worthy to be put up on the site.

They've had their second Halloween costume contest, and I liked 2007's batch better than the last one. I've especially liked the grand prize winner's Supergirl costume and her partner's street-smart Batgirl costume. So I've done a bit of a quick sketch of them in action...



And you can see their actual costumes here.