"Goodbye, Old Friend" ("Unleashed")
Pencil Marks: Unlike "Kingdom of Heaven", I had a reflective idea for "Unleased" while watching an episode of "Batman: The Animated Series". Part of the story involved Batman going to the spot where his parents were murdered every year and placing a single rose on the ground. It's a concept the movies and comic books have used countless times but neither handled it as well as Bruce Timm and the production staff of the show. I found myself thinking I wish I could do something just as good. And just like that, insanity took over. What if Erik also lost a loved one?
At first, I was thinking about him collapsing in front of a doggie collar in the middle of the road, but after awhile I realized that might be going overboard. So, I just kept it simple; realizing the shading effects I was asking Tony to handle would be stressful enough. And I've got to say I don't have a single complaint on how it was handled. I'm glad he tried a new approach and captured the seriousness of the moment. - Jake
Paint Smudges:Since the beginning of the gallery, I've tried to devote myself to trying something new. A new coloring style; a new way of inking; even trying different styles. Usually my pictures are pretty much alike because by the time I get Jake's pencils, I don't have the time to try different things. But when Jake handed me his pass on this, I knew I had to find time given my compadre wasn't being entirely honest why he chose this idea. One could say he was in denial. But we'll get back to that in a moment.
During our first year I 'painted' a picture for the film "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence". No reference to go off. No pencils or inks. Just painted on the spot. Over the years that illustration really grew on me. I knew I wanted to try that again if only to compare how far my skills had come. Almost everything was painted by hand. I used the "fill" command only twice (for the black and white) and threw a photoshop effect in there as well. Seeing Erik kneeling at the fallen leash, knowing the real backstory to this picture, it just popped into my head this was the one. And the painted effect really brings that feeling to the front. The result is truly one of the more emotional pictures Jake and I have ever collaborated on.
You see, Jake can say he was basing this picture on a comic book trope, but it was obvious what was really on his mind. A month prior, Jake's own four-legged friend had passed away from old age and how, at the time of this illustration, was still upsetting him.
I dedicate this one to Calvin. - Tony