Sunday, December 21, 2008

NACLA Cover

This is an illo I did for North American Congress for Latin America (NACLA). Needless to say, the magazine deals with the US's relations with Latin America. It's a solid magazine with great, intelligent writing.

The issue should hit the stands in January. Pick up a copy. And read their articles, too.









© Frank Reynoso, Dec. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Fearless Cinema: Here’s the Best of This Year’s NYC Horror Film Festival

One of the things that kept me busy lately was writing this review of the NYC Horror Film Fest for The Indypendent. Below is an excerpt.

New York City Horror Film Fest
November 12-16, 2008

Halloween may have come and gone, but as movie ticket sales and rising rentals point out, horror is timeless. And this year’s New York City Horror Film Festival, now in its eighth year, showcased a cornucopia of the interesting, unexpected and the traditional.


Modern monsters (psycho-killers, zombies, urban legends, etc.), a staple of the genre since the 1960s, were well represented in notable films like the action short First Kill, the eerie feature From a Place of Darkness, psycho-short Drip, and the apocalyptic short Antibody. Bmovies — a volatile blend of horror, gusto and laughs — excited audiences with Frank Henelotter’s Bad Biology winning Best Feature and Zoe Polley’s teen gorefest Devil’s Grove. The horrific whodunit Surveillance by Jennifer Chambers Lynch and the monochromatic, antiwar, pantomime Hold Your Fire by Jesse Gordon spoke to fans of intense horror.



Multi-genre films, particularly the sci-fi/horror hybrid, pushed expectations and won audiences over with each showing. The 1980s scifi satire/homage short Martians Go Home follows a sci-fi nerd’s battle with hostile space zombies. Harry Owen can’t escape his short-film existence in the humorous meta-fiction The Glitch. Eel Girl is a sleek and humorous horror- short-cum-music-video. Audience Choice-winning feature Time Crimes (Cronocrimenes) by Spanish director Nacho Vigalondo is a mind-bending mystery that brings out the best of both genres.

Surprisingly, absurd and humorous horror films dominated the fest with provocation and by connecting with audiences. Read rest of review.

© Frank Reynoso, Dec. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Christmas at the Palin Household

This is a hi-res file that you can download and print out.

Forward to friends and foes.

Happy Holidays!!











© Frank Reynoso, Dec. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

From My Sketchbook

I'm back, folks!

Below are a couple sketches from my sketchbook. (Duh!) Both were inspiered by a night of playing Arkham Horror with my good friend Keith McCleary.






































© Frank Reynoso, Dec. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Monday, November 24, 2008

Experiencing Technical Difficulties, Please Stand By

Due to some technical difficulties - the scanner I normally use is out of commission - I'll have to wait a while until I can upload new images.

But don't fret. I have a bunch of new illos and comics. So stay tuned.

Peace,
Frank

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Loopity-Loop

Last week I covered the annual New York City Horror Film Fest. Over four days I watched about 50 films - features and shorts. Needless to say, I don't want to watch anything on the big screen for a little while. Hehehe.

Covering the fest pushed me back a little with my illustration and comics works. But I'll be in the swing of things by the end of this week.

Here's my piece on last year's Horror Film Fest - Bring on the Blood.

Late,
Frank

Monday, November 17, 2008

How To Create a Bloomzilla

For those of you who are curious about my working methods, here's a walk-through of my recent illustration for The Indypendent.

Keep in mind that I don't have a "fixed" system. Every assignment's different - eg. full-color versus black and white, hand-painted versus digital, etc etc. But below is an example of my general process.

1. I read the text and got a sense of the messages conveyed in the story. (Sometimes the full text isn't ready so an outline or synopsis is all I have to work from.)

With those ideas in mind, I sketched this little dinger. Usually I'll do a series of sketches - four to five or more if I can't "get it right." But considering I only had a couple of days to do this illo, I went with the first idea. (I strongly suggest doing multiple sketches before moving onto the final.)

Most of my "thinking" is done at this point. I look for strong composition and draftsmanship.

2. I plunged into pencils. I went online and used five reference pictures of Bloomberg to make sure I got his likeness. (Note: use multiple references to avoid legal troubles.)

I changed the head's angle so the reader can see his face more.

Though I did most of my thinking at the sketch phase, I still modify things as I move along the process. Surprises can be cool but too many of them can make your final look like a hot mess.

3. Using a couple of brushes, acrylic ink and a micron pen, I inked the bugger.

Any modifications at this point are nominal. Eg, extra hatching in various spots.



4. I scanned it in, cleaned up any blemishes, erased a stray line at the bottom and bumped up the contrast.

With the illo clean, I digitally added grays and sent the final to the designers.




And here it is.

Again, I don't have a "regular system" for doing illustrations. (Recently I've incorporated tracing paper into my illustrations. More on that some other time.)

But I always use the a) think and sketch, b) pencil and modify, and c) ink and finish process for my illustrations.

Hope you had as much fun placating my ego as I did. :)

Rock on,
Frank


© Frank Reynoso, Nov. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

New York City Horror FIlm Festival 2008

It's that time of year again: the annual New York City Horror Film Festival. Michael J. Hein and his crew amassed a slew of movies that are sure to hit a nerve.

The fiendish festivities start tonight at Don Hill's and continue till Sunday.

Here are two of the fest's features.

Driven by biological excess, a young man and woman search for sexual fulfillment, unaware of each other's existence. Unfortunately, they eventually meet, and the bonding of these two very unusual human beings ends in an explosive and ultimately over-the-top sexual experience, resulting in a truly god awful love story. Directed by Frank Henelotter

Program 7
Saturday, Nov. 15th
10:00pm







Resident Evil: Regeneration is a fully CGI feature directed by Makoto Kamiya. The story takes place seven years after the first zombie outbreak in the US. Counter-zombie fighters fight to contain the outbreak and their own survival in a locked airport.

Program 1
Thursday, Nov. 13th
9:00pm










Photos courtesy of NYC Horror Film Fest

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Bloomzilla


Here's an illo I did for the upcoming issue of The Indypendent.

Needless to say I had fun drawing our wacky mayor, who's running for a third term. And obviously he did it "legally."






© Frank Reynoso, Nov. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Monday, November 10, 2008

Venom Inked

Came out a little lighter than expected...
















© Frank Reynoso, Nov. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Geoff Vasile's Track Rabbit #3

Snarky characters, clean illustrations, and totally DIY, Track Rabbit by Geof Vasile's a choice comic.
















Track Rabbit © Geof Vasile, Nov. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Venom pencils

Last night's election kept me from posting new stuff. At any rate, here's a pencil of Venom.


If all works well, I'll exhibit at the NYC Comic Con in February. I'm still on their waiting list.












© Frank Reynoso, Nov. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Monday, November 03, 2008

Sample Panels from "Phenomenal Jock"

I've penciled additional pages for my old, unpublished comic "The Phenomenal Jock."

I plan to debut the comic at next year's MoCCA Fest.

Here are some sample panels.





















































































© Frank Reynoso, Nov. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Sunday, November 02, 2008

A Few Pages from "Buenas Noches"

LinkA while back, James Spruill and I made a comic titled Buenas Noches. We debuted it at this year's MoCCA Fest.

Here are the first few pages.










































For more of my comics: comicspace.com/illjodienda/

© Frank Reynoso and James Spruill, Nov. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, October 30, 2008

"Sock the Vote" Comic

Here's my one-page comic response to voting.

Forward far and wide. :)















© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Obamania Cover of The Indypendent

Back in August, I illustrated this cover of The Indypendent.















© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Werewolf Pin-Up Inked


Here's my fully inked werewolf pin-up - as promised in the subject line.

Digital prints will be available at my next comic con appearance.










© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Monday, October 27, 2008

"Adding Fuel to the Fire" Cover of The Indypendent


Looking through The Indypendent's online archives, I came across this cover I illustrated in May 2007.














© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Pencils of Werewolf Pin-Up

So I fixed up the moon and tightened up the ground in the lower left hand corner.

Digital prints of this pencil will be available at the next comic convention I attend as an exhibitor.














© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Pencils of Superman Versus Darkseid Pin-Up

My first public display of superhero pin-up. (I'm not counting the numerous Batman drawings done with crayons back in the first grade.)

I'll have digital prints of this pencil at the next comic con I attend as an exhibitor.













© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved
Superman, Darkseid characters © DC Comics, 2008

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Mark Millar and Tony Harris at Midtown Comics

Some months ago, after waiting on line for over two hours, I met the talented comic creators behind the new series War Heroes, Mark Millar (Wanted) and Tony Harris (Ex Machina). Their stop in Midtown Comics, NYC, was part of their international tour promoting their new limited series, published by Image Comics.






Considering this a rare treat - Millar lives in Scotland and Harris in the South - I asked my girlfriend Irina to snap some picts. Here they are in chronological order.















Mark Millar (l) and Tony Harris (r) talking with fans and cracking jokes. And if you look closely, that's me in the far left, waiting on line and hoping that the pictures come out well.















Millar and Harris autograph a fan's recently taken-and-developed picture of themselves at this event. Very meta moment.















I asked Millar if it's cool to have a picture taken with him. As I was about to ask Harris if he'd mind getting in the picture, Millar smiled and Irina hit the button. Harris tried to get out of frame but apparently it wasn't far enough.















That's my nervous, goofy smile. (Yeah, I was a bit nervous meeting them, which is highly uncommon for me. I guess it's the fact that I have lots of respect and admiration for these guys and their work.)

I asked Mr. Harris to get into the picture - my initial intent was a picture of us three - and above is the result.


Thanks to Midtown Comics for hosting this special event and making sure everything ran smoothly. And thanks to Mr. Millar and Mr. Harris for staying well after their agreed upon time, being fun guys, and creating great comics.

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved
War Heroes cover courtesy of Image Comics, War Heroes © Mark Millar and Tony Harris, 2008

Monday, October 20, 2008

A few Pages from "The Phenomenal Jock"

A couple of years ago, I made the short comic "The Phenomenal Jock." Not happy with the story, I put it aside and never published it. Fast forward to SPX 2008, on the darkened bus ride from Washington DC to NYC. While everyone snored and farted in their sleep, I came up with a few extra pages of material that should really fatten the story out.

If all works well, this comic will debut at next year's MoCCA Arts and Comics Fest in NYC. (And New York Comic Con, if I get a table in artist's alley.)

I'll post the newly penciled pages as soon as they're done. For now, check out the first couple of pages of this minor epic.














































© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Skull Tendrils Inked

With a couple of brushes, black acrylic ink and a micron pen to ink, I plunged into the Lovecraftian looking skull and came up with this.




















This is a color sample to get an idea of tones. I plan to color this digitally.





















I plan to make a bookmark or a mini print from this image. If all goes well, I'll get an artist alley table at next year's New York Comic Con where you can see the prints. (I'm on the waiting list.)

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Geoff Vasile's "A History of Increasing Humiliation"

With expressive art and playful narratives, Geoff Vasile's autobiographical mini-comic is a funny gem that too many people overlooked at this year's Small Press Expo (SPX). A History of Increasing Humiliation stands as an outstanding example of DIY comics.
















© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved except image which is © Geoff Vasile, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Portraits from the Animal Kingdom

These are some of my watercolor paintings - titled "Portraits from the Animal Kingdom" - that premiered at this year's Small Press Expo (SPX). They're mostly based on the various customers who stiffed me at my waitering job.

Long story short: if I get bad feelings about a customer I sketch them quickly, capturing as much as I can of their character. Then, whatever tip they left me - if they left me anything at all - and their attitudes along with my disposition determined if the sketch of them evolved into a greater piece.

This is the first time I've ever done this and found it to be rather cathartic - to say the least. :)

(I have sketches of the two other guys she was with. Basically these were three Italian twenty-somethings who came to New York City to shop, as their assorted shopping bags suggested. They barely spoke any English, which proved problematic. But I guess shopping is a universal language as opposed to tipping.)






(This is only painting not based on an actual person. It's based on a sketch. I liked the design and felt it fit in well with the others.)











(They didn't eat some food and wanted a discount, which is pretty reasonable. I explained to them that it was totally dependent on the managers. And lucky me, the manager on duty only gave them a slight deduction. The couple said they understood and didn't blame me for any of the trouble. I guess the long conversation and jokes time weren't enough. They left me less than a 10% tip and thanked me for everything.

PS. They're hair was actually this funky.

PPS. FYI, that's a man comforting a woman.)


(This lady didn't stiff me but was such a nuisance, along with two of the other three women she was with, that I sketched the three. Though they complained about the apparently sub-standard quality of their lunches and their veritable shopping list general dislikes, they left me a good tip. Unfortunately the good tip didn't wash away the ill feelings.)




I made a few other paintings that weren't printed for various reasons. I'll get those up here, so keep an eye out for them.

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Monday, October 13, 2008

Slideshow of Economic Crisis Illustrated Essay

My illustrated essay on the economic crisis - written by Arun Gupta - is now an interactive slide show, courtesy of Gary Martin. After enjoying that visual treat, check out the rest of the Indy site.

Masheka Wood's "So, You've Been Laid Off?!"










If you're suffering from economic distress as most people are, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Masheka Wood's new mini-comic So, You've Been Laid Off?! What more can I say but "Delaware."

And while you're at it, grab a copy of Deep Doodle. Funny shit.

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Economic Crisis Illustrated Essay


Don't forget to check out the illustrated essay that explains how we arrived at the current crisis. The essay's the current top story on The Indypendent site.

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, October 09, 2008

A Couple of Penciled Ilustrations for Future Prints

Though I'm still on the waiting list for an artist alley table at next year's New York Comic Con, I'm working on stuff just in case.



















I originally penciled this werewolf months ago. I feel like I should redo the moon...


















I planned to make bookmarks out of this skull illo. (PS. Those are tendril-like things coming out of the skull's base. Very Lovecraftian. Hehehe.)

More stuff to come as soon as I finish the pencils.

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2008, All Rights Reserved