Building a 'Superhero portrait'--- piece-by-piece!!! (circa 2007 or so!!)

This is ALL possible,thanks to the 'ol Loydster NEVER throwing stuff away!! Here we have a little peek 'behind the scenes',on just how a particular 'art project' came together. It's also proof positive of how SLOW and nit-picky I could be as I worked on this kind of stuff!!

A number of years back, I created this 'portrait'-type drawing, of Superman and Batman. This was for my nephews--- who were, and STILL ARE--- major superhero fanatics!----

First, the fully-inked drawing of 'Supes was done--- all on tracing-paper. This was done, so I could over-lap it onto the second drawing--- to see just where the characters would be in the best position in relation to each other.

                                  Next up, the 'Bats drawing, again on tracing paper, fully inked.

NOW we're REALLY rockin'!!! After figuring out the positions I wanted the characters to be in, I made photocopies of both 'tracing paper' drawings, and 'spliced' the two together (AND added in Batman's Bat-rope!)!!! I don't remember which one (hey, this WAS nearly 12 YEARS ago!!), but I remember having to reduce one of the characters a little, so they would BOTH be relatively the same size. Next, the final couple of steps!!---

One more photocopy (so the drawings would both be on one FLAT piece of paper, instead of 3 sheets all glued together, as they were at the point just before this!!), some hand-coloring with colored pencils and markers, and---'WHAM'!! One portrait of the 'World's Finest' team!!! All ready to send off to my nephews!!

Although I very seldom take up pencil, ink pen and markers anymore (BOTH because I was SO dog-gone SLOW at this kind of thing, and I just DO NOT have the time & energy to devote to it like I used to!!) I'm still pretty proud of how this particular one turned out!!! Hey, it's my TWO favorite 'Super-characters', EVER!!! What's NOT to like!!!???



                                              -------'See you NEXT time, gang!!!'-----

Cartoons and doodles that helped me keep my SANITY!!!

Sooner or later,here at the old 'blog-a-wing-a-ding-thing'--- you might as well expect to see the occasional post with at least SOME 'Loydster-doodling' in it!!! Considering that I've been cartooning and just generally goofing around with pencils / pens / paper ever since I could grasp a writing / drawing instrument, that really shouldn't be much of a shock!!!

In fact, for a good chunk of time there--- mostly my teen years up into my mid-30s, a LONG-time dream of mine was to be able to make a living at the cartooning / doodling / lettering--- or even doing hand-lettered signs & posters. I've made the stray dollar or two at it here & there..... but NEVER have I made enough to 'make a living' at it.

That's OK though, because one VERY important thing I've discovered, is that having this doodling / cartooning ability of mine---while not in ANY way making me 'rich and famous', has helped me COUNTLESS times!!! Both in keeping my sanity, AND-- not to take myself TOO seriously!!!! Oh, and it's helped me take some of life's ups, downs and all-around bumps & bruises with a healthy dose of  HUMOR!! It's truly the most valued tool I have in my 'mental toolbox'!!!

First off, let's look at some 'toons I scrawled while working at the last manufacturing / factory job I had to endure!!! On this particular job, I had to  carry around a set of blank orange 'tags' (about 3 inches wide by 6 inches long) in my shirt pocket, pretty much all the time, along with a handy-dandy 'sharpie' pen!!!

Being the COMPULSIVE doodler that I've ALWAYS been--- and having HUGE chunks of time (we worked 12-hour shifts,rotating from days-to-nights every 4 months!!) with a LOT of tedious, REALLY slow-moving equipment to monitor, it was EXACTLY the right set of circumstances to let loose with some truly GOOF-BALL-type 'toons!!! Keep in mind I was doing these things to BOTH keep from losing my mind from the boredom, and just give myself a reason to laugh!!! Your mileage, as they used to say, may vary!!!---

Now that we've had a look at that weird little form of  'therapy'--- let's take a look-see at some other scrawlings & scribbles I put down, MOSTLY on lined, notebook paper ( I know, a TRULY odd choice!!! But--- hey, these were for pretty much just ME to look & laugh at, remember!!)--- this time to help keep me from going BONKERS during a particularly LONG stretch of unemployment!!!---

---- And that, folks is just a SMALL sampling of the kind of thing the 'ol Loydster will scribble when he's trying to either keep his sanity, OR ..... just needs a good belly-laugh!!! Hope it brought you a few giggles too!!! 


                                                 See  you  NEXT time gang!!!!