Spawn design phase

There is traditionally not much time in a comic book schedule to do designs but here are the design sketches I did in searching for a new direction for Spawn. Traditional pencil on paper.

Recent line drawings: Spawn

Samples of line drawings from my most recent assignment the Spawn comic book.

Recent Digital Paintings

These are unfinished digital paintings started this weekend. (June 27-29) Looking at my portfolio I realized a lack of digitals with environs. So I started a batch of digitals. These are all done in Photoshop 6 (Just got comfortable with this version) on a tablet PC.

Spawn Art Process...222...Final Drawings...

Now once the layouts are approved the final drawings are done with an eye to closely follow the approved layouts because copy space is so important to Todd when he scripts. So whatever "space" we give in the layouts must be apparent in the final drawings. During the layout phase while Todd and I are talking he goes into great detail regarding alot of the minute detail he'd like to see in the final drawing, it's mood, it's intent. Sometimes like an animator he voice enacts the scene for me...suffice it to say these are long conversations and I have been told all of these conversations are recorded on tape...attached are various pages from #191 and a feww close-ups to show the care I take in the details...Whilce...

Spawn Art Process...step 111 Layouts...

Every page of Spawn is first realized in layouts of which then long phone conversations are had going back and forth between Todd and Myself regarding composition and pacing before they are finally approved by Todd. Attached are scans of Greg's approved layouts from #191. To save time on the schedule Greg and I split the layouts for this issue. As you can see Greg has a true artist touch that even in his quick layouts you can see perfect flow and form. Not all artist including myself can so easily do such precise layouts. My layouts are just rough representations of what goes where with no real indication of poses or form. Layouts in their true essence are just to communicate composition and placement of basic forms before time and care are taken in doing the final drawings. I include Greg's layouts here so that the non-artist can readily see what these layouts are conveying, and to show Greg's real artist touch...

Francis Magalona...

The Three Stars and the Sun...

Da Man and his fans...

That night in a club in Manila where our friendship started...

A good man has left this life...a good man and a good friend. So long ago to remember we met in a club in Manila. He was a comics fan, that night I became a fan of his "The Man from Manila". He was a crafter of words and thoughts. His lyrics gave his fans a mirror to watch themselves from.


A true creative giant captures the breath of life around him. He not only told of the societal ills that plagued our country and all other cultures but he also raised pride in being Pinoy, where there was so little. His songs like "Mga Kababayan ko" and "The Three Stars and the Sun" gave rallying cries to a generation. I was raised in the United States and was not aware of my heritage, Francis opened my eyes. He showed all around him that a Pilipino could be gracious, strong, gentle, and kind. He sold us on the fact that you could be all that and that you should be all that.


His long marriage to his beautiful wife Pia and his wonderfully bright children (all eight of them last I counted) are a testimony to his power to give and provide. He was always bright and warm and his family mirrored that. After a long eventful life as a poet, a man, a rapper, an actor, an entertainer, an idol/role model, a producer, a film maker, a businessman , an award winning shutterbug, a collector, a dad, a husband, and a devoted friend...my friend Francis Magalona went to meet his beloved maker...peace, my friend, I will visit you wherever you lay when I come home...Whilce...

http://francismagalona.multiply.com/journal