Sunday, September 28, 2008

Dr. Sketchy's meets Roller Derby

This is my favorite drawing from today's Dr. Sketchy session.  The subject is Cher Noble of the Northstar Rollergirls.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Oh Brother! Fun with blue-lined Kirby pencils.

Finally there is an affordable 11 x 17 scanner/printer on the market.  I recently purchased the Brother MFC-6490CW "all-in-one" -- and am very pleased with it.  Cost was around $200 (after a rebate from Office Depot).  I wanted to see if I could print "blue lines" on bristol board for inking, so I scanned this great Jack Kirby piece (from the "Kirby Unleashed" book) and printed it in blue (well, cyan, if you want to get technical) on 200 lb. Strathmore smooth bristol.  Some other artists have reported not being able to run bristol through the printer -- but I've done it multiple times now with no problems.  After printing out the test blue line sample, I couldn't resist inking it!  So here's my take on "Bullseye." 


FallCon Oct 4 & 5!


I'll be a guest at FallCon the weekend of Oct 4 & 5th.  The show runs from 10AM to 5PM both days -- and is at the grandstand at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul.  I'll be selling and signing comics and artwork, displaying some of my sculptures -- taking commissioned sketch orders -- and maybe even giving away some comics!

Other guests include Dan Brereton, Norm Breyfogle, Zander Cannon, Ernie Chan, Howard Chaykin, Tony DeZuniga, Steve Fastner, Rich Larson, Paul Fricke, Terrance Griep, Peter Gross, Gene Ha, Phil Hester, Adam Hughes, Christopher Jones, Dan Jurgens, Jim Keefe, Ryan Kelly, Peter Krause, Dwayne McDuffie, Angel Medina, Shawn Moll, Jefrey Moy, Phillip Moy, Alex Nino, Tom Nguyen, John Ostrander, Martin Powell, Gordon Purcell, Tom Richmond, Don Rosa, Joe Rubinstein, Brent Schoonover, Tyler Page, Barbara Schulz, Vincent Stall, Mark Stegbauer, Len Strazewski, Paul Taylor, Herb Trimpe and many more!

Please stop by if you can and meet all these great cartoonists!


Thursday, September 25, 2008

Another one


Another Batman and Batgirl drawing.

More commissions

Comic art collectors are keeping me busy turning out one commission after another.  Here's the latest batch, Captain America, Golden Age Green Lantern,  Hawkman, Batman and Batgirl and the Earth-2 Robin.  I have quite a few more to do.  If you're interested in getting on my list, let me know.





Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Lee's Liquor Lounge gig poster


Here's a poster I knocked out today.  This ought to be a damn good show.  I won't see it, as I'll be at the Kitbuilder's Model Kit show in St. Louis....

Thursday, September 18, 2008

The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics

Out now -- this hefty anthology of crime comics contains work by Mickey Spillane, Alex Raymond, Jack Cole, Jordi Bernet -- and a "Ms. Tree" story by Max Allan Collins and me.  "Maternity Leave" is one of the tales from our run at DC Comics, and features a very pregnant Ms. Tree doling out her usual brand of justice -- but with an even worse attitude than usual.  I'm thrilled to be included in such terrific company in the pages of this massive book.  For more information, click HERE.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

More commissioned drawings




A few more commissions finished today.  Here's another "Bombshell" -- Black Canary.
And at the buyer's request, this is Jack Kirby's Demon -- doing the Batusi!
And loaded with "Kirby Krackle," here are Galactus and the Silver Surfer.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Commissions!

After a long break, due to a full schedule of teaching and comic book work, I'm once again taking commission orders from comic fans and art collectors.  Below are a batch I just finished.  The babe on the bomb is "The Purple Tigress," an obscure Golden Age character drawn for a collection of "nose art"-inspired "bombshells." 

The next three all have a Batman connection.  Here's bat-villain Harley Quinn having her evil plans scuttled by Zatanna.


Batgirl and Poison Ivy

And for a long-time Ms. Tree fan, here's a pair of detectives ready to cause some damage.  I have a few more of these in the works and room on my schedule for even more -- so feel free to contact me, should you want to get on the list....


Thursday, September 11, 2008

Charles Dana Gibson "The Auction Block"

I'm grateful to my mother (88 this August and still going strong, thank you) for many things, not the least of which, is that she introduced me to the joys of the illustrated book and the work of Charles Dana Gibson at an early age. I've collected both since. A recent thrift store find (for a whopping six bucks!) was a copy of "The Auction Block" by Rex Beach -- published in 1914 and profusely illustrated by Gibson -- many of the illos double-page spreads. I couldn't resist scanning all 28 illustrations to share with the readers of my blog. Click on 'em to see larger versions. Enjoy.
































Monday, September 8, 2008

Catching up with Dr. Sketchy



I've been so busy with moving that I haven't posted to this blog as much as usual.  Two Dr. Sketchy's sessions have come and gone with no pics posted, so, in an attemt to catch up a bit,  here are the best images from those.  First is belly dancer Kristina balancing a sword on her head (for real -- I didn't just add that for kicks) -- and next,  burlesque performer Lola Bel Aire (as recently featured in Bachelor Pad magazine).  Both of these drawings are among a batch of art I just posted for auction on eBay -- if interested search seller ID "beattylee."


Wednesday, September 3, 2008

New studio!

So perhaps some of you are wondering where "the magic happens?" Well, since I've just moved into new digs and put together a new studio space, I thought I'd invite you along on a photographic tour.  I have three work stations -- drawing board, computer and sculpting/modeling space.  And, as will be painfully obvious, a lot of books and "cool junk."  Here's the entryway.  I often have a good ol' fashioned vinyl LP playing on the retro Crosley record player seen here at bottom left. 

Drawing board area.  Looks more crowded than it is....

Some comic art, signed photos and my Eisner Awards.
More art and autographs.

Vintage model kits.  The Fab Four suffered a little damage in the move -- will be repaired.
One of these Creatures needs his arm glued back on.  Moving is tough on this kind of stuff!

You may have figured out that I love vintage comic strips -- Popeye, Steve Canyon, Li'l Abner, Dick Tracy -- all represented well in my collection.

I worked on various Batman comics for 11 years -- so there's a little bit of Batman stuff here.



Frankenstein!
Sculpting station.  I'm working on a small scale bust of Phil Silvers as Sgt. Bilko -- which accounts for all the pics of Silvers in character. Sculpts in progress and model kits being built or repaired wait for my attention.
Except for the Lon Chaney diorama, the sculpts on the top shelf are all my creations.

Computer desk created out of a retro-style bar someone was tossing out! I love it!
It's a very comfortable and efficient workplace.  I hope to create a lot of wonderful stuff here!  Keep checking out this blog to see it all as it is made.