Mega Man Sketch

 I never get tired of drawing Mega Man. Ptew! Ptew! Ptew!

Orange and Skelly Cat Concept Drawings

John Lennon in Black and White

Robot Smoke Break at the Clink Clang Detective Agency

by David Finley

Phew, it's been a while Scofflaws, and I'm sorry! I've been out on one long smoke break with my robot buddies. Rest assured the case has been solved and the baddies are behind bars.

 I'm not going to weigh you down with details and excuses, but I will say I am committed to getting that web comic started up here shortly. I'll start posting hints and concept arts about the strip here soon.

 For now, enjoy this picture of robots smoking. You know they do when we are not looking.

Robot Graffiti

Also available as an iphone case, pillow, tshirt, or laptop skin.

Hung Like a Horse

by David Finley

Dammit Son! This is where Daddy Works- Vader and Luke have Issues

by David Finley

 Today's picture brings us more insight into the complex relationships of Fathers and Sons. Darth Vader just doesn't know what to do with his rebellious son, Luke Skywalker. Luke has gone and blown up the Death Star, and now Vader is afraid he might lose his job!

It would be enough to make him pull his hair out if his head wasn't a big mass of scar tissue!

 You can purchase a print, tshirt, or phone case at Society6. (click here)

A Robot Girl washes in the Rain- Just the Art

by David Finley

Robot Girl Washes in the Rain- a Digital Illustration

The Art of Flowers

Words and Images by David Finley

 At 6'2" tall, and equipped with wrists that most watches are too puny to contain, you could reasonably say that I'm a big guy.

 What's more, I like manly things like craft beer, fire, and sitting on leather chairs watching a foreign martial arts movie when I'm supposed to be washing dishes. Yes, as my chest hair will testify, I am a man, and quite happy with that.

 But, there is a side of me that loves the pure simple beauty of a flower with its delicate petals, intricate color, scent, and foliage. Flowers spray, curve, and fold, opening themselves to drink of the sunlight. They paint our gardens and perfume the wind.

 So, today I give you this piece about the simple and lovely flower. All you men out there, it is okay to enjoy such a delicate thing. Furthermore, I will even go as far as to say that it is manly to appreciate a flower, much in the same way that a man appreciates a woman. Because, without getting too poetic, their beauty is quite similar.

 Now, that I've proven how manly flowers can be, I'm off to watch a movie with zombies, explosions, and ninja fighting robot-pirates.

Thanks for reading, scofflaws!

-David

P.S. You can buy the print above if you'd like by clicking right here.

Illustration Friday: Capable

by David Finley

My entry for this week's Illustration Friday Topic Word: Capable

 I had several ideas for this topic involving cute little cartoon characters who persevere and prove themselves capable of great things, but the more I crunched ideas, the more I wanted to deviate into something a bit darker; Something a bit Pulpish.

 We are all capable of doing things we aren't proud of when the right circumstances present themselves. What series of events would turn a good and decent person into a murderer?

This piece was drawn with micron pen and sharpie, then taken in to photoshop to be edited and colored.

Thanks for looking. Comments are appreciated.

-Dave

The Not So Great Commission

I have a love/ hate relationship with commissions.

On one hand, it is great to earn money with my art when I can while simultaneously giving someone a piece of art that they truly want. Yet, the flip side to commissions is that you often work with subject matter using techniques that you dislike. 

 For me, the worst is realistic portraits. I respect the genera and the skill it takes to achieve photo realistic likenesses with paint and brush, but, it isn't for me. It's too confining and rigid. When I do portraits it often involves mathematically gridding out a page and even with the grid, there is a process of working and reworking that, if I'm being completely honest, makes me want to set my canvas on fire I'm just not patient enough for.

Don't get me wrong, I have been fortunate enough to do some really fun commissions, even when they are portraits. Those clients understand the type of work I do and are commissioning me because of it. But, often a commission will be pregnant with a whole slew of aggravation.

I made a silly cartoon to illustrate the experience an artist undergoes in this kind of commission process:

And there you have it. A bad commission can cause all kinds of aggravation. Now I would like to say something to the clients and artists out there to try and mend this broken fence.

Clients: It helps to seek artists who do the type of work you are looking for. Creatives work best when they are interested in the project they are working on. Don't commission an abstract expressionist if you want them to paint a photorealistic photo of your daughter at her graduation.

Remember that art is labor and takes time. Also, art supplies can be very expensive so take both of those things into account when an artist quotes you a price. Good art of any type is worth paying for.

 Artists: For goodness sake, don't be afraid to say "no" to a project. Take projects that you will enjoy and that will empower you to do your best work. Take projects that will help you grow as an artist and that will help build your portfolio.

Don't lower your prices just to get a commission. Those almost always end up being the worst projects and usually end up costing more in labor than they are worth. Also, it's a good idea to at least get some kind of non-refundable deposit on the project, at the very least, to cover supply cost if the client backs out.

I understand that these rules must be broken when money is tight because we all have to eat, but otherwise, save yourself the grief. (note: I am guilty of breaking all of these rules at some point.)

So, in closing, I would just like to say...

...would anyone be interested in hiring me for a commission? :)

Alien Bob

Here's one from my old stash that I dusted off and spiced up a bit. Please enjoy. Watercolor and watercolor pencil on bristol.