Tag Archives: Art

Spoilt for Choice

Posted on by
Reply

Hello.

Not so drawing
What I’m playing
Reading is fundamental
On the screen

//

It’s been a little quiet on the Rogan front as of late, mostly dealing with my dad’s estate, finalizing those related matters, which has kept me occupied and distracted. Condo cleaning and staging and selling. Etc.

So I haven’t put stylus to screen since finishing the Aloy poster, last month. But now that that is mostly dealt with I have been feeling the urge. Maybe I’ll start some doodling tonight to see what happens. Next weekend is the last of the move, and then I should be feeling a little more motivated.

My Stranger Than Friendship comic has now been dormant for a year. I discontinued the Pro plan of that website as I felt I was paying to much for something I wasn’t upkeeping. So we’ll see what happens in a few weeks when that expires, and it reverts to the free model, without plugins. I do still plan to work on that comic, along with all the other ideas I have swimming around. But it’s hard to find the time and energy.

//

I’ve been steadily progressing in Gotham Knights every co-op Wednesday, starting to get better at the combat, gear crafting and city navigation. I play as Batgirl, and I’ve unlocked the cape finally, through the Knighthood progression, for traversal, and quick-travel locations are becoming more plentiful as we unlock the map. The way the story progression is structured is pleasing, where the main story and side missions are broken up into case files, and you can focus on whatever you want, in whichever order you wish. Or you can spend the evening fighting street crims or finding collectibles. And then at the end of each play session, you can just turn into the Watchtower and wrap-up your night.

Been a few weeks since I stepped foot into the Witcher III lands, but I’ve been making progress in Hi-Fi Rush, which is an attack-on-the-beat style action game with platforming elements. It has funny dialogue and an enjoyable story that’s PG enough for my son to watch me play. It’s also very colourful.

In the odd evenings, I’ve also been playing NHL 23, and on the odd nights that friends are online, we’re playing Turbo Golf Racing. Season 3 just unlocked and it has some new interesting maps.

//

I picked up Zoe Thorogood’s previous book, The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott, and I have that in my queue. But along with my regular weekly comics, I read through Bitch Planet (Image) Vol 1 and 2 which is where it appears to end, unfinished. There was a side-stories collection that came out afterwards, but not a continuation of the story. I’ve now started on Middlewest (Imaged), by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona. I’ve been slowing going through my TP backlog, and I really enjoy Corona’s art, and Skottie’s writing. I’ve been on a bit of Skottie kick lately, having read TWIG and the duo’s most recent collaboration The Me You Love In The Dark (Image), so, figured I’d read their earlier work.

Guess it’s been a while since I recorded what I’m actually picking up on a weekly basis. Its always fun going through this list, to see what’s new, what’s ended, so here goes:

  • The Amazing Spider-Man (2022 – present)
  • The Ambassadors (2023 – present)
  • Batgirls (2021 – present)
  • Batman & the Joker: The Deadly Due (2022-2023)
  • Batman (2023 – present) Zdarsky run
  • Black Cloak (2023 – present)
  • Clear (2023)
  • Danger Street (2022 – present)
  • Dark Knights of Steel (2021 – present)
  • The Dead Lucky (2022 – present)
  • Deadpool (2022 – present)
  • The Forged (2023 – present)
  • Gunslinger Spawn (2021 – present)
  • Hulk (2021 – 2023) Cates/Ottley run
  • Junkyard Joe (2022 – 2023)
  • King Spawn (2021 – present)
  • Local Man (2023 – present)
  • Love Everlasting (2022 – present)
  • Nemesis Reloaded (2023 – Present)
  • Nocterra (2021 – present)
  • Once Upon a Time at the End of the World (2022 – present)
  • Ordinary Gods (2021 – present)
  • Phantom Road (2023 – present)
  • Public Domain (2022 – present)
  • Radiant Black (2021 – present)
  • Radiant Pink (2022 – present)
  • The Department of Truth (2020 – present)
  • The Riddler: Year One (2022 – present)
  • Rogue Sun (2022 – present)
  • The Scorched (2021 – present)
  • Spawn (1992 – present)
  • Stillwater (2020 – 2023)
  • Undiscovered Country (2019 – present)
  • Vanish (2022 – present)
  • The Walking Dead Deluxe (2020 – present)
  • Wynd (2020 – present)

So there’s a few Spawn Universe titles in there, a few titles tied to the Massive-verse. I also tend to follow artists, or writers. So I have some Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Chip Zdarksy, Donny Cates, Jeff Lemire. And then some of the stapes, like Spider-Man.

//

  • The Witcher S2
  • Ted Lasso S3
  • Ghosted
  • 65
  • Dungeons & Dragons

//

G361,455
That’s all for this month. Speak soon.
iRogan

A Knight to Remember

Posted on by
Reply

What I’m Drawing

Earlier in the month I had some time off work. It was supposed to be a family vacation that vanished into nothingness, but I didn’t feel like cancelling my time off, so I used it to my advantage. A full-blown colour piece. It was initially supposed to be just a quick one-night pin-up. No perfect ink or colour. But after finishing that, I found I wasn’t satisfied. The piece wasn’t strong enough to post or share, but the concept was strong enough to warrant a do-over, and so I did. Roughly 4 hours a day spread out over the 7 days off. And the result I am very happy with. Got it turned into one of my annual posters for the wall rotation too.

Aloy, from Horizon series. Below is the Ink, some details, and the final.

//

What I’m Reading

In an attempt to improve, I recently got some new art books, focused on composition, and figure drawing. As I mentioned in a post earlier this month, my goals for 2023 are to do more colour and scene pieces, less straight up pin-up left at the outline stage. I want to add more to the inked piece, with shadow and rendering, and then add more background or scene elements, lighting, etc.

Also just finished reading another auto-bio-graphic-novel It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood. Like Ducks, which I read earlier this year, it’s a journaling of the writer’s life and career over a 6-month period, about her story, her art, her mental health struggles, etc. That’s a disservice of an explanation, but the book is very good, and deals with some heavy material, so not recommended for anyone that might not be in the best head space themselves. But one might find it relatable. I dunno.

  • Less: A Novel
  • The Wheel of Time Book 10

//

What I’m Playing

Finally jumped back into The Witcher III after a brief trip that was Immortals Fenyx Rising. I had started The Witcher first, but it had a slow start and I was craving something a little more action-y. But now that I’m done with Fenyx, back to the Witcher. And happy to report that I’m fully invested again. The story has really picked up, and the combat gameplay, I’m starting to learn, has many strategic layers.

In the co-op space, after finishing Far Cry 6, we’ve moved onto Gotham Knights. A very pretty multiplayer Batman universe game. You can play as Batgirl, Red Hood, Nightwing, or Robin. It’s a very strong presentation, but maybe not quite at the level that the Arkham series left us expecting. It’s very pretty, as I mentioned, but the combat is not as nuanced. There’s also gear scores which are lame. But we’re still early on, so more thoughts on it later.

  • Recently Completed: AER

//

What I’m Watching

  • The Last of Us
  • Andor
  • Babylon
  • The Witcher S2
  • Ted Lasso S3

//

Lastly, I haven’t shared these in a while, last posted here was Episode 4 I believe?… but I’m up to Episode 9 of my Halo Minute: Co-op Misadventure Halo Infinite video series:

Take care,
iRogan
G360,350

I Won’t Break

Posted on by
Reply

I’m up to 14 drawings now this month for Inktober/Drawtober/Artober…whatever. So many names. I remember a few years ago, someone came up with Pouchtober, and the prompt list was just a bunch of Rob Liefeld characters who were overburdened with pouches.

Here’s week two:

Tira (Soul Calibur)
Fragile
Harley Quinn
Usagi Yojimo + Leonardo
Medusa – Queen of the Inhumans
Felicia (Darkstalkers)

Tira is a redraw from a 2003-2004 drawing I did back when I worked in Flash. I never finished that drawing as I accidentally wiped my HDD and always wanted to try again. This year’s drawtober is all about 2nd chances.

Fragile was really just me inking a drawing I had completed earlier in September and more or less needed a night off.

Harley Quinn, another attempt at trying to make my evening a bit lighter. Not a full pose.

Usagi Yojimbo and Leonardo. The tortoise and the hare. But really just a Turtle and Rabbit, but that doesn’t sound as cool. This one was spread over 2 nights as it was 2 characters. So it counts as 2. My rules after all 😉

Medusa, Queen of the Inhumans. Obliviously wanted to torture myself with some hair. A lot of fun to draw though.

Felicia, from the video game Darkstalkers. Another re-draw, or inspired for an old drawing. This character I had previously drawn in 2011. Funny story, re-reading my 2011 post, I had wanted to draw Felicia and then Morrigan, but never got around to the latter. Well 2022 me resolved that.

So that’s week two. I feel like this set has some strong entries. More better than not. Harley’s corset lacks any type of detail which I feel is hurting the piece, and Felicia could benefit from some shading or colour or something as it is just very fine line work right now. Fragile’s face got lost in the inking. i feel the pencil was stronger, and I ruined it. Another post-October fix I think. Due to cold (still ongoing), I’m actually 4 days behind schedule, but that’s OK. I still intend to complete the full set. Just maybe not exactly on time.

//

Otherwise, I haven’t done much else. Playing Fall Guys in my spare time, and “watching” a lot of movies and TV in the background as I draw.

iRogan

Oh My Days

Posted on by
Reply

I took some time off after Easter as a mental break, but also as a cleaning break. Spring Cleaning I guess? But also I haven’t really had any real breaks from work since last summer. So some time off was overdue.

Plus, the boys were about to start up again in daycare / pre-school. The wife ready to go back to work. Easter was already a four-day long weekend, so I tacked on the week after as holidays. Cleaned the house, cleaned the garage. It was cathartic in a way, but ended up not being a relaxing time off at all. But I didn’t turn the computer on a single time, so that was one positive.

Which means I didn’t draw. I actually hadn’t done any drawing since I finished the last Stranger Than Friendship comic. Which tends to happen for some reason. They take a toll on me creatively more than my other art projects. Plus, obviously, the screen break plays a role. Which got me thinking about getting back into physical art again, and not relying solely on the computer. So I’ve bought myself a toy to try out. Deliver me my Huion LED Lightbox!:

I did some research and its one of the better reviewed options available. And it’s portable. Which is good because I don’t have any spare room on my computer desk.

I think I’ll still do my layouts/sketches on the computer, and then print it out and lightbox it for Pencils, Inks, Watercolour, etc. We’ll see how it goes.

I’ve always had this nagging feeling that I wanted to do my wrestling comic traditionally with pencil and ink, and then just scan for colour and the rest. So now I can give that a go.

// What I’m Drawing

I did a quick cartoon drawing that I’ve had in the back of my head for a while, ever since watching the movie Luca:

Luca is a Disney movie about a fish boy who travels to land. When he’s above water he’s in human form, but underwater he’s more of an underwater mermaid boy. Obviously being a Disney property, he’s a very cartoony character design. But, I always thought it would be funny to do a darker, Tim Burton-ish version. More of a sea monster type.

So I drew this up quick last night and I think this will be my jump-back-into-physical-art attempt. I’ll print the sketch, lightbox the pencil onto watercolour paper, and then finish as a watercolour.

I should have a finished product by my next update, and hopefully keep it from my 3yo toddler who enjoys the movie. Wouldn’t want to spoil that for him…

Besides that I have a few projects cooking:

  • X-Ladies group shot: adding Magik and 1970s Mystique to the group, and then colour
  • Angela – colour
  • Harley Quinn
  • Finish Goblin Queen

And a few projects simmering in my head:

  • Let Me Solo Her (Elven Ring community player 😉 )
  • Deadpool
  • Scarlet Witch (hopefully before the movie comes out)
  • Boba Fett

Also I have the next Stranger Than Friendship webcomic idea, revolving around the popular game Wordle. I actually collaborated with a friend on this one. My idea/plot, but he volunteered to do the script.

// What I’m Playing

Knee deep in Halo Infinite. Half way through the campaign on Legendary; having just finished Mission 8 – Pelican Down and the 2 bosses. I’ve also been grinding through the collectibles as well, so it’s slow going. So far the campaign has been a lot of fun, feels like I’m at the part where its starting to really shine, and has an enjoyable story thus far.

Next week Season 2 of the multiplayer kicks off, so I’ll also be playing around in that. Trying out the new maps and modes, and the new Battle Pass.

In co-op, I’ve been playing Sea of Thieves – Pirates of the Caribbean Adventure. And also Grounded. Slowly expanding our base out a bit and exploring/completing objectives/crafting. We recently finished the Jungle Lab and stumbled across a might scary Spider Tunnel:

At home, my wife has volunteered me as the bug killer/catcher, so I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of spiders or bugs in general. But in-game, regardless of the game, I have a few phobias: Being underwater (very stressful / claustrophobic), and real world creatures, that are bigger than me, in-game. Like the Spiders in Grounded. Especially the Wolf Spiders. They’re just mean. Anyways, this spider web nest was creepy as hell and I was not interested in sticking around.

// What I’m Reading

  • Week of April 13th
  • Nocterra #9
  • King Spawn #9
  • Batman/Catwoman #11
  • Batgirls #5
  • Week of April 20th
  • Batman: The Knight #4
  • Blue & Gold #8
  • Catwoman: lonely City #3
  • Hulk #6
  • The Nice House on the Lake #8
  • The Walking Dead Deluxe #37

//

I think that wraps up the last few weeks. Stay safe.

G325,501
iRogan

A Fellow of Infinite Jest

Posted on by
Reply

Happy Anniversary to Me. Stranger Than Friendship turned 5. Pretty big deal, but its a shame that my webcomic site gets neglected so. My last comic was in October when I was playing Surgeon Simulator a lot. I’ve had some new ideas, involving my son and Boomerang Fu but I just haven’t really had the motivation or drive to draw that style. Drawtober took a lot out of me, and then I did a few Spider-Gwens, and then Tracer and Jinx. And the went into the X-Men group. And now DareDevils. I really need to do another webcomic contribution, and then just get back to my Wrestling Comic if I’m ever going to see progress there.

Happy Anniversary Comic #1

It’s hard though, working on creator-owned work. Drawing pin-ups of fancy-posed, established characters is just so easy. It’s like a quick fix. You feel satisfied because you did the work and you have something to show. But it doesn’t last. I tell myself every year that “this will be the year that I do work on my comic consistently”. Like a New Year’s Resolution. But it’s just a New Year Revolution.

//

WHAT I’M DRAWING

Here’s the DareDevils I mentioned. Some WIP pencils before I ink the Hell out of it. Just giving my hand and wrist a break for the moment after too much Halo. Electra’s back arm needs some work. Reposition or repose I don’t know yet. Looks off currently.

//

WHAT I’M PLAYING

Halo. Obviously. But not much else sadly. Didn’t do a co-op night. Just wrapping up the Tenrai:Fracture event in Halo to work on the Samurai armour. Which is done again, for a few weeks. Not sure if there’s any new interim events planned for February or not. So I’ll just keep plugging away at my Battle Pass.

//

WHAT I’M READING (FEB 02/02/2022 Pull List)

  • CrossOver #11
  • Dark Knights of Steel #4
  • Echolands #6
  • Sweet Paprika #7
  • Nocterra #7
  • The Scumbag #12
  • Spawn #326
  • The Walking Dead #32

//

A shorter entry this week, as there wasn’t much exciting to report. Just kind of bummer realizations. Like a sad birthday where you realize you’re one year older, but don’t have anything to show for it.

Anyways.
Be Good.

G317,556
iRogan