WonderCon 2011 Wrap-Up
I had an amazing time at WonderCon! I got to meet so many people who were more than nice and see some great talent there. I'd say it was an absolute success. Thanks to all who came by the booth and supported us. I made 3 artcards right before WonderCon, and one of them sold, and I wanted to spotlight them here. First up is Psyche from Brian Andersen's So Super Duper. This image is now available as cards, prints and Posters at RedBubble.com!
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil.
©Kevenn T. Smith 2011
Speaking of So Super Duper, I had the opportunity to go by Whatever Comics in the Castro, and issue #11 of So Super Duper with my 10 page back-up story was on display in the front window! You can't miss the hot pink cover:
Issue #11 of Brian Andersen’s So Super Duper is on sale at the shop at Prism Comics.com and Indy Planet.com!!! The 10 page back-up story that I wrote and created the artwork for is lettered by Ray Caspio (who also has a pin-up illustration in this issue!). Just click on the preview thumbnail images below to enlarge them.
All artwork and images ©Kevenn T. Smith 2011
Another artcard I did was of DC Comic's Batwoman. For this artcard, I wanted to capture some of the "feel" of J.H. Williams III's art in the Batwoman stories that he illustrates. This image is now available as prints. Please use the "Contact Me" form at the top-left of this page to request one and inquire further about pricing and sizes.
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil.
Batwoman ©DC Comics 2011
The third card that I made before WonderCon was of one of my favorites, She-Ra. I also couldn't resist the chance to illustrate the Whispering Woods backgrounds from the She-Ra cartoon again.
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil, Prismacolor marker.
She-Ra ©Mattel 2011
UPDATE: Brian Andersen wrote about his own experience at WonderCon and mentioned me in the write-up over at Comicbook Queers.com. Take a look!
WonderCon 2011
I'm pleased to announce that I'll be attending WonderCon 2011 in San Francisco April 1-3! I'll be at Brian Andersen's CBG Comics table helping to promote the So Super Duper comicbook. I'll also be selling some of my artwork there. I'll be selling original art cards (each are unique and handmade!) and I'll hopefully have a handful of prints of the DC Heroines 2007 and 1 or 2 of the prints that are left of the DC Villainesses 2007 available for purchase. This is your chance to buy these pieces without having to pay for shipping! I hope to see you there.
Shh! Santa Scraps Is Sneaking by Kevenn T. Smith
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! This artcard is my way of saying "thank you" for all the support from so many people that I have been given this past year for my work. It's been quite a year for me, and I am very grateful for what I've been able to accomplish. Whichever of the Holidays you may celebrate this time of year, if any, I hope you find peace and love in your life. Thank you. So please enjoy this illustration of Scraps, the Patchwork Girl of Oz, sneaking as Santa underneath the Christmas tree.
This artcard is available as cards, prints and posters at RedBubble.com!
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil.
©Kevenn T. Smith 2011
So Super Duper #11 Is Now On Sale!!!!!
It's finally here! Issue #11 of Brian Andersen's So Super Duper is now on sale at Indy Planet.com!!! Not only does this issue contain a riveting story written by Brian Andersen and art by Celina Hernandez, but it also features a 10 page back-up story that I wrote and created the art work for, with lettering by Ray Caspio (who also has a pin-up illustration in this issue!). Still not convinced you need this issue? The link at Indy Planet.com gives you a 6 page preview of the main story, and here, I'm giving you a 2 page preview of my 10 page story. Just click on the thumbnail images below to enlarge them. Enjoy!
And don't forget that you can still buy a t-shirt with my take on Psyche & Comet from my illustration from So Super Duper #10 in various styles (hoodies too!), colors and sizes at RedBubble.com, where from now until December 25th, all white apparel is 20% off!
Psyche & Comet From So Super Duper T-Shirt by Kevenn T. Smith
So Super Duper 11 TM and © Brian Andersen. All rights reserved.
All artwork and images ©Kevenn T. Smith 2010
Wonder Spin: Bronze Age Artcard by Kevenn T. Smith
My Wonder Woman work seems to be the most popular with people who know of my art, and since I haven't had a Wonder Woman artcard available for a while, I thought it was time to put a new one out there. Usually, when I draw Wonder Woman, I depict the Modern Age version. I'm a big fan of the costume the way Terry Dodson re-designed it, so that's why that look is usually my go-to version of the costume. However, for this artcard, I felt it was time to do something different, and that's why I ended up going with the Bronze Age Wonder Woman when she still had the eagle instead of the later double "w" symbol.
And what could be a more fun way of depicting Bronze Age Wonder Woman than in a Lynda Carter inspired Wonder Spin? Another way that I like to depict Wonder Woman, is smiling. I like the idea of a Wonder Woman who loves life and enjoys what she does. My ideal Wonder Woman is happy.
This artcard and all the other artcards I’ve done are all original hand-made works and can be purchased or $15 plus shipping ($4.95 USPS Priority Shipping – international shipping will be calculated upon an individual order).
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil, Prismacolor marker.
Wonder Woman ©DC Comics 2011
Cold Hands, Warm Heart: An Ice Valentine by Kevenn T. Smith
This is a Valentine artcard featuring Justice League international character, Ice, whose real name is Tora Olafsdotter. Ice is a princess of a tribe of magic people hidden in Norway. Her powers allow her to create and manipulate ice. And while her powers are very cold, Ice is known for her warm and sweet personality.
Because February is such a cold month where I live, and because Ice is such a caring person, I thought she'd be perfect for a Valentine's Day card. Ice was stupidly killed off at one point, but has been thankfully resurrected by Gail Simone during her first run of the Birds of Prey title. I am very glad Tora was brought back, because there aren't enough loving characters like her in the comics. Not every character needs be be tough and hard or sarcastic and bitter. She even charmed the heart of a hardened character like Green Lantern, Guy Gardner. Ice brings personality diversity to the characters in comic books, and I like to give her features a more diverse look as well. While I was doing this card, I really liked the idea of making her eyelashes white as well. I think they give her a very fantastical quality.
This artcard and all the other artcards I’ve done are all original hand-made works and can be purchased or $15 plus shipping ($4.95 USPS Priority Shipping – international shipping will be calculated upon an individual order).
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil.
Ice, Tora Olafsdotter ©DC Comics 2010
Now also available as cards and postcards at RedBubble.com!
Built Like An Amazon: Artemis of Bana Mighdall Artcard by Kevenn T. Smith
This artcard showcases Artemis of Bana Mighdall in her Requiem costume that seems to have made a comeback in DC Comics' recent publications. Artemis is from the Middle Eastern tribe of Amazons from the hidden city of Bana Mighdall. At one point, Artemis ended up beating Princess Diana of Themiscyra for the title of Wonder Woman. Artemis served as Wonder Woman for a short time. The Amazon sorceress, Magala, had put a spell on Diana on the behest of Queen Hippolyta that would transfer half of Diana's strength and speed when they were near each other. Artemis' stint as Wonder Woman was short-lived, and she was killed by the villain, The White Magician. However, death cant keep a tough Amazon down, and Artemis ended up clawing her way out of hell and her own grave.
Artemis has proven to be a popular character in the Wonder Woman franchise. She's more headstrong and less compassionate than Diana, but her heart is in the right place. She ended up becoming the leader of the Bana Mighdall Amazons on Themiscyra. Aretmis has just returned to Themiscyra in the Wonder Woman title, and her future roll remains to be seen.
For this piece, I went back to Ed Benes' original drawings of Artemis in the Requiem miniseries, as well as Nicola Scott's take on the costume in the recent Secret Six storyline. In some of Benes' early drawings, he had the green lining at the decolletage make a "w" shape. I like that element to help visually tie Artemis into the Wonder Woman family, and as a former Wonder Woman, I believe she's entitled to wear a "w" symbol - even a simplified one. I left of the skull on her headband because I thought that element was excessively 90's. Instead, I opted to repeat the tripple-arrow "A" symbol that the Requiem costume has on the sternum area. I really liked the seams and the side-lacing that Nicola Scott added to the costume in the Secret Six issues, as well as the kneecap armor she gave the boots. The sword is the special demon killer sword that Artemis ended up having in the Byrne run of Wonder Woman that was also included as an accessory to the Artemis action figure that DC Direct made.
This artcard is available as cards, postcards, and a small matted print at RedBubble.com!
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, and Prismacolor pencil.
Artemis ©DC Comics 2011
Ready...Aim...Equality!: Green Arrow Artcard
This artcard was done in support of Marriage Equality issues, especially at the time of this posting when voters this Tuesday in Maine will hopefully be voting No on Issue #1 to protect Marriage Equality. At the same time, I hope voters in Washington state will be voting against Referendum #71 to preserve the rights of all couples in registered Domestic Partnerships.
I don't often put political pieces and views on this website, but Green Arrow has been established throughout his years of comic book publication as a hero who takes up liberal political causes, and has even performed same-sex weddings in his comic book title. Because the character has already come out in support of this issue, I didn't feel like it was inappropriate or trying to make the character into something that he wasn't. My visual inspirations for my depiction of the character come from his costume from the 1970's-80's era with coloring influences from his appearances in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon. I really like the Robin Hood inspired lace up vest that the character had in the 70's and 80's, but I also like the "G" belt buckle that the character has been sporting in the past few years.
This artcard is available as cards, postcards, and a small matted print at RedBubble.com!
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil, Prismacolor marker.
Green Arrow ©DC Comics 2011
Emerald Satellite: Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, Artcard
With DC's Blackest Night event going on right now, Green Lantern is one of DC Comics' hottest properties at the moment. So of course, there couldn't be a better time to showcase my Green Lantern artcard here on this site. Hal Jordan is DC's premiere Green Lantern at the moment, so he won out when it came to choosing which Green Lantern to depict.
I've always enjoyed the few times I've drawn "spacescapes" in illustrations, and this piece was no exception. I wanted to use photographs of some of the planets and moons in our solar system for inspiration when coloring the ones depicted in this artcard, but I wanted to make it clear that this was not our solar system. As photographs from the Hubble Telescope has shown us, space can be quite colorful, and I definitely wanted to incorporate that into this piece.
For Green Lantern, I used Ray Caspio as a model for the pose. I also took visual cues from the updated costume in the comics. For example, I had the Green Lantern symbol on his chest actually project itself as a lazer light projection hovering over his chest. I always liked Hal Jordan visually because green has always been one of my favorite colors, and also because he was one of the few superheroes who had brown hair. Most superheroes when I was growing up had blond or black hair, and I liked that he was different in that respect.
This artcard is available as cards, posters, and prints at RedBubble.com!
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil.
Green Lantern ©DC Comics 2011
A Not-Too-Dark Knight - Batman Artcard
This next artcard that I'm spotlighting is of the Caped Crusader, Batman. Everyone knows Batman. For this artcard, I wanted to do an homage to the logo for Bruce Timm's Batman: The Animated Series, yet rendered in my own style. Batman is pretty hardcore, so I wanted to give him stubble to show that sometimes he spends a lot of hours on the job. At the same time, he's also Bruce Wayne underneath that cowl, so there needs to be an element of "handsomeness" to the face. Bruce Wayne is supposed to be a charming millionaire playboy. When I started reading Batman comics in the early 90's, one of my favorites things about many of them, was how they depicted the night sky using colors other than black. My favorite was this teal green sort of color. That was where I pulled the inspiration from when it came to coloring the night sky for this piece.
This artcard is available as prints. Please use the "Contact Me" form at the top-left of this page to request one and inquire further about pricing and sizes.
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil, Prismacolor marker.
Batman ©DC Comics 2011
Hello, Bluebird - Supergirl Artcard
This artcard is an all original work and can be purchased for $15 plus shipping ($4.95 USPS Priority Shipping - international shipping will be calculated upon an individual order). This artcard of Supergirl, Kara Zor-El, was one that I made for the Mid-Ohio Con for 2008. It has since received a coloring job by hand. My goal with it was to depict the feeling of the aerial ballet in the Supergirl movie starring Helen Slater.
4.25 x 5.5 inches cardstock.
Pencil, ink, Prismacolor pencil, Prismacolor marker.
Supergirl ©DC Comics 2011
Garden Walk
This is a piece that I did of my paternal grandmother. I used a different approach to it than I normally do, and I really like the way it turned out. I wanted to be a little less precise with the background, so instead of drawing it in with pencil, and then inking over it, I opted to only use the Prismacolor color pencils on it.
Pencils, Ink, and Prismacolor Color Pencils.
©Kevenn T. Smith 2011
Xena And Gabrielle by Kevenn T. Smith
I did this artcard of Xena and Gabrielle (played by Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor) for a friend's present this year.
Pencils, Ink and Prismacolor Color Pencils
©Kevenn T. Smith 2011
Now available as cards, postcards, and small matted prints at RedBubble.com!
He-Man & She-Ra in Color
I sold the He-Man and She-Ra artcards and colored them before I sent them off. I wanted to post them here to be able to compare to the inked versions. This artcard is now available as cards, postcards, and small matted prints at RedBubble.com!
He-Man & Orko:
She-Ra and Swift Wind, also available as cards, postcards, and small matted prints at RedBubble.com:
He-Man, Orko, She-Ra, and Swift Wind ©Mattel 2011
The Last Two Artcards
I am back from Mid-Ohio-Con, and I had a lot of success there. It was really great to meet some of the comic fans out there and fellow artists. Mid-Ohio-Con was an incredibly amazing experience for me that I learned a lot from. There were two other artcards I was able to finish right before I went to Mid-Ohio-Con that I wanted to post here.
He-Man and Orko:
She-Ra and Swift Wind:
He-Man, Orko, She-Ra, and Swift Wind ©Mattel 2011
Wonder Clubbing For Wonder Woman Day III
This piece, entitled "Wonder Clubbing," is one that I did for the silent auction for Wonder Woman Day III to benefit two domestic violence shelters and a women's crisis line. I wanted to do a piece that showed Wonder Woman and her closest friends having fun and enjoying themselves, so I depicted them dancing at a club with a couple of admirers. One of my goals for this piece was to also include characters close to the hearts of Wonder Woman comic book fans like Artemis, Etta Candy, Donna Troy, and in a way, Circe.
This illustration is available as prints. Please use the "Contact Me" form at the top-left of this page to request one and inquire further about pricing and sizes.
Wonder Woman, Donna Troy, Etta Candy, Artemis, and Circe ©DC Comics 2011