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suburbanbeatnik — Fox Meets the Bear sketches

Published: 2009-10-24 11:07:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 2312; Favourites: 28; Downloads: 132
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Description Here are some character sketches I did for Chris Dabnor's story, "The Fox Meets the Bear," in the upcoming issue of Astonishing Adventures Magazine. I always find that drawing head shots of the main characters really helps the process along. These won't be appearing in the magazine; I'm only doing it for my own reference.

It's a WW2 spy pulp, about two Soviet spies and their English ally. Sickle is based on Milla Jovovich (so great in The Fifth Element), and her partner Hammer might possibly resemble the Heavy from Team Fortress 2. As for the English spy, the Fox, he looks like Ryan Cartwright, aka John "Moneypenny" Hooker from Mad Men, and Vincent Nigel-Murray from Bones. (He's not the typical choice for a gentleman spy-- he seems to be cast a lot as twerpy nerdy types-- but he does look dashing in a fedora.)

It's so much fun playing casting director-- I'm really excited now to do the illustrations, which I'll do next week. Upwards and onwards!
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Comments: 28

Dabnorfish [2010-01-01 11:38:47 +0000 UTC]

Well, saw the final pictures and they were as marvellous just as I expected them to be.

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to Dabnorfish [2010-02-04 09:12:08 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I'll post them on dA soon, I've been so busy with my move to NY!

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Dabnorfish In reply to suburbanbeatnik [2010-02-05 12:56:14 +0000 UTC]

They grace my desktop at work and on my phone already.

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to Dabnorfish [2010-02-05 21:49:03 +0000 UTC]

Awww, thanks! I hope you've gotten lots of nice comments.

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Dabnorfish [2009-11-24 13:59:57 +0000 UTC]

Finally signed up, so I could comment on this... Hammer, especially, is spot on - combines physical brutishness and a pleasant, open, face. Looking forward to seeing it all.

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to Dabnorfish [2009-12-15 21:03:45 +0000 UTC]

Hi Chris! I'm so glad you like it. I had a lot of fun working on the cover featuring those characters. They'll be in living color, fighting Nazis!

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Dabnorfish In reply to suburbanbeatnik [2009-12-22 22:16:46 +0000 UTC]

Can't wait.

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cabepfir [2009-10-27 11:03:08 +0000 UTC]

She's beautiful! And the men's character design is really interesting.

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to cabepfir [2009-11-01 01:35:23 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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NovaDot [2009-10-24 22:04:31 +0000 UTC]

awesome character designs!

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to NovaDot [2009-11-01 01:35:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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NovaDot In reply to suburbanbeatnik [2009-11-01 06:16:02 +0000 UTC]

my pleasure!!

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blind-fate [2009-10-24 13:30:43 +0000 UTC]

I love the fashions of the WW2 period; wonderful coats, hats and hairdo's. Awesome characterisation, I can really grasp their personalities in the sketch.

Fantastic

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to blind-fate [2009-12-15 21:20:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

I have several drawings featuring these characters-- plus they're going to be featured on the AAM #8 cover. It should be out by New Year's. I'm pretty excited about it!

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blind-fate In reply to suburbanbeatnik [2009-12-16 04:32:06 +0000 UTC]

Wow, congratulations! I have been following the magazine since you linked it, and I have enjoyed all of your illustrations

I will need to look out for the #8 cover.

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to blind-fate [2010-02-12 00:42:59 +0000 UTC]

It's here!

Well, actually, AAM #8 was here a month ago, but I've been too busy to post anything about it. But here it is anyway!

Mediafire PDF download: [link]
Issuu: [link]

I've just started uploading all the art here... I hope you like.

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blind-fate In reply to suburbanbeatnik [2010-02-12 11:26:41 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful! Thanks for the update. I loved your pictures in the issue, they worked in so well with the stories.

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to blind-fate [2010-02-13 09:40:46 +0000 UTC]

I just uploaded the cover illo I did! [link] Don't forget to comment on it, I love to hear what people think.

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temiel [2009-10-24 11:48:03 +0000 UTC]

Very cool! I'm doing "Catching Time" myself, but I considered this one. I do headshots too, actually, when I work up finished illustrations. ^_^ I can't wait to see the whole thing!

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to temiel [2009-12-15 21:23:23 +0000 UTC]

Kathy said your illos were great-- I'm looking forward to working with you on Dark Valentine, if you're interested, of course.

Headshots are very useful, aren't they? When I was painting the cover, I looked back at them a lot to see if I was capturing the character's look.

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temiel In reply to suburbanbeatnik [2009-12-15 21:40:46 +0000 UTC]

Oh, she did?! That's great, I haven't heard back from her yet after I sent them in, I was worried I didn't make the deadline! I'm REALLY excited for Dark Valentine.

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to temiel [2010-02-12 00:44:45 +0000 UTC]

The site's going to up very soon! And then we're going to start getting the first issue together. How are things with you?

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temiel In reply to suburbanbeatnik [2010-02-12 13:50:10 +0000 UTC]

Oh excellent... Very exciting.

Things are pretty much the same with me. Gearing up to move back to Maine soon, because at the end of the day that's just where I want to be right now. I'm so glad everything's been going relatively smoothly with your New York move!! Are you liking it? Do you have a job yet, or are you earning enough by freelancing?

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to temiel [2010-02-12 21:46:16 +0000 UTC]

I'm earning enough freelancing for now, but I'll probably have to get a part-time job soon. Let's see...

Are you in Boston right now?

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temiel In reply to suburbanbeatnik [2010-02-12 21:52:19 +0000 UTC]

Indeed I am. We're going to be moving in April.

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to temiel [2010-02-12 22:04:20 +0000 UTC]

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ElenaTria [2009-10-24 11:25:59 +0000 UTC]

The Fox guy kinda reminds me of Jonathan Rhys Meyers! And I really like how you're a.. "casting director", I do that too hehhehe.. I wish I could do it in real life, not just illustrations!
(you use cross hatching better than me.. *needs private lessons* )

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suburbanbeatnik In reply to ElenaTria [2009-12-15 21:25:33 +0000 UTC]

Oy, Jonathan Rhys Meyers! I used to like him, in his Gormenghast days, but now that I've watched 3 seasons of "The Tudors" I'm not as much of a fan anymore.

Cross-hatching-- it just takes practice. I've been practicing a lot this year.

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