kina grannis

the very lovely voice-

http://www.kinagrannis.com/blog/

making cover 4 for Batman: Streets of Gotham

1- normally for a cover, i work with a collaborative with the writer ( in this case, mr paul dini) and our editor. I normally shoot out about 2-4 sketches roughed in photoshop if i have time.

sometimes i give one sketch if we're crammed or im really set on one idea (like in the case of this one- http://duss005.deviantart.com/art/batman-in-wonderland-76344595 ).

This time around, Paul actually sent in a picture he took of himself holding a knife included with a video clip of an old b&w movie to give the perfect feeling of the characters mood and gestures. it was dead on what we wanted to get across i felt. but still, keeping things open, i tried a few other layouts. none was as effective as paul's, and i knew it. so i went with #1.

2- i do a cleaner linework i can use. blow it up to 12 x 18 and trace it over to 300lb softpress paper ready to paint.

3- using liquid masking, i cover up everything but the background. i went with a simple dripping blood red so that the background provides enough for the character's mood, but not to overpower it with useless details. his expression and gesture shoudl be most important and nothing else.

4- removed the masking and going forward to paint in the main character, im horrible with painting a likeness and making stuff look real, so i rarely even try. plus if i wanted realism, i'd take a picture, watercolor is fun because it paints itself.

5- i come back with color pencil and ink and add in all the scar marks that Zsasz uses to tally up his kills. real scar marks will not be this dark, scar tissue leaves a pinkish purple tone and most the time way lighter. In this character, i felt it was more striking to show the markings than to make it "real" real. plus with as many cuts as he has, pinkish purple woudl make him look more diseased than dangerous crazy.

6- i add in batman's shadow using photoshop, it doesn't completely wrap around him like in a real photo, but it works well without warping too much of the silhouette so you can tell its batman.

i was very tempted to do another layer of paint to use for the shadow, but there were so many textures and linework going on already, i felt one more layer of paint would come off more as texture rather than a casting shadow.

also- at this stage, i readjust the colors scanned into photoshop which is why it looks darker than the previous.

* ive found the best way to scan watercolor if you cant photograph it is to scan in full color, create a duplicate of it and set that layer to multiply. all the colors you've lost through the light shooting right thru your transparent watercolor should not be back without leveling or using your curves. hope that answers any questions about that part.

the final can be seen here-

http://duss005.deviantart.com/art/Batman-Streets-of-Gotham-4-125800596

the Bat- Blog

hey everyone, first off- wow, thanks for all the comments and people checking out my 4th july piece ( over at my deviant site - not here, because this place is a ghost town)- so patriotism pays off in the end! really though, thank you so much and thanks for the new watches to those who've just found the page. you are much appreciated.

second, i had to post this-

the bat-blog: http://tomztoyz.blogspot.com/ ( not mine btw)

if you're a fan of batman like myself, you either have already heard of this site or shoudl head there now. even if your just the casual pin collector at shows, or cosplay for no reason by to strut your stuff, or just into the animated series and forward, this site is still fun as hell and has something for everyone. i visit pretty often just to see what i've missed in the batworld.

working on a tight schedule and in recluse all day, all month, you'd be amazed how out of touch some of us artists really are. you'd think because i work in comics, i'd know everything there is to know and all major happenings and events.

truth? most of us know what's GOING to happen, but just not how. I keep up with most batman bbooks to know, but half the time, im more behind than most readers. sure they told us about grayson being batman over a year ago, but i just found out last month it happened. yes. lame.

anyway, on the site, i ran across this old interview of michael keaton around the opening time of Tim Burtons' first Batman-


i loved the latest dark knight, i totally dig Bale as batman and Ledger as joker, but somethign about Keaton made me really really liek him as batman. He totally embraces the role and i felt like he was a true fan of the character either before or after. doesnt matter. the dude is funny as hell and you can tell he loves being batman.

Scott Medelson writes and excellent break down of how that movie changed the movie business back in '89 ( seriously, thats the title as well) -

http://www.opensalon.com/blog/scott_mendelson/2009/06/24/20_years_later_how_batman_changed_the_movie_business

i was 13 when that movie came out and it was a great time to be a batman fan, as much as it is now. 70 years later, and its still one of the most popular icons. you gotta wonder why.

it's because chics dig the car?- http://www.chickslovethecar.com/

alright, thats enough useless jabbering, back to the drawing board. literally.

-dustin

happy 4tha july batfans

TFAW signing at Universal Citywalk

hey gang, i am off to the Heroes show in Charlotte right now, but did want to also spread the word on one more event coming up right afterwards so that it's not too late when i get back.

Next Saturday June 27th 1-2pm. I will be signing at the TFAW aka "Things From Another World" location at Universal Citywalk at Universal Studios Hollywood. Please stop by if you are in the area or just wanna hang out. i'll be doing free headsketches, signing books, chattin it up with readers and such. We also have some prints for sale if you didn't get a chance to pick them up at a show this year! Their official Website is www.tfaw.com and here's the address if you need it -

1000 Universal Center Dr
#179
Universal City, Ca 91608

there's fun to be had for all! Be well, take care of yourselves... and each other.

:D

Heroes Con 09

hey folks, i am headed out this week to the Heroes show happening in Charlotte NC this weekend. Please stop by if you decide to attend, i'll be signing at the DC Comics booth as well as in artist alley with tons of original art from the Superman/Batman run, Detective Comics, and even some from this month's Batman: Streets of Gotham issue.

swing by, get stuff signed, pick up prints, get sketches, say hey.

sees yah!

-d

hell freezes over gotham

if only!

12 x 18 watercolor/ 300 lb hotpress

that twig over the panel by mignola was always one of my favorite things.

i tried out the ivy pose a while back, also-

Batman: Streets of Gotham #4 cover

cover to our 4th issue of Batman Streets of Gotham. this was an extremely fun cover to do, it features Zsasz.


Paul Dini writes, I pencils, Derek inks.

more eon the story solicit to come monday!

12 x 18 watercolor on 300lb hotpress/ photoshop for shadow, and i actually did a step by step on this i'll post when i get more time this weekend.

have a good one folks!

jsut a few things

Hey all, just wanted to drop a few things out there-

my email has been changed for the past 2 year or so, but i still occasionally get the aol mails, my new email is on gmail.

most people might have already noticed, but i update and have more behind the table stuff over at my deviant art site- . I use it mostly because it's just a ton lot easier to communicate with friends, readers, fans, and just the curious passer by-er. its free also, so you can join and add me if you'd like.
it's where you'll find steps and processes to some covers and art pieces like this-


also pics of my workspace like this-



FACEBOOK- I dont use it a whole lot, i was tricked into opening an account to look at a friends pictures. I have been able to relocate some old friends to say hi, but besides that, its not the best way to get a hold of me.

Heroes Con- Charlotte, NC- I will be there all weekend.

SDCC- I will be there all weekend as well.


the original art store and total revamp of the site should be done this month as well!

thanks all!

-dustin

Batman: Streets Of Gotham #3 cover

the cover to our 3rd issue of BATMAN: Streets Of Gotham, this is an early version of it, i'll making some minor adjustments to it before it sees print.


watercolor on 15 x 22 300lb hotpress, billboard image created in photoshop.

the solicitation reads-

BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #3
Written by Paul Dini; co-feature written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs; co-feature art by Georges Jeanty & Karl Story
Cover by Dustin Nguyen
Bruce Wayne is dead...long live Bruce Wayne! Gotham's favorite son has miraculously returned, promising to lead his city into a new golden age. But while Wayne devotes his limitless fortune to rebuilding Gotham City, he fights violent opposition from Batman, Robin and a host of DC Universe heroes!
And in the Manhunter co-feature, now that Manhunter has found the previous DA's killer – or, rather, the killer has found her – what is she going to do about it? Bringing the killer in for a trial may not result in the justice Kate's been dreaming of. But is she ready to kill for justice so soon after a fresh start in Gotham?
On sale August 19 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

battle for the cowl?

i havent had much time to do many side pieces lately, but i've been doing some quickie sketches done in the sketchbook in my car, at the airport, hotels, other people's couches, and stuff. here's a series that i'll be adding on to a little at a time.

basically, battle for the cowl themed with characters in the gotham world and and what they'd do with it for fun. really simple, loose, gestural sketches from my pov.

Streets of Gotham

a page from our first issue.

Sidebar interview

hey everyone, I just recently did an interview with, Dwight and Swain from sidebar nation over at http://www.sidebarnation.com/my_weblog/ , check it out if you have an hour to kill. It's a podcast/phone interview so you can download it and listen at your convenience. technology these days.. so cool.

Anyway, wanted to thank the two of them for giving me the opportunity to speak and talk about a few things. I'm definite i didn't answer many questions properly and my voice squeaked a few times, but over all- REALLY FUN. very awesome guys that know their material and comics really well, making it a pleasure to do the interview.

also, i think i did the interview about 2weeks ago, so at the end, saying i wont be at heroes con in June. but indeed, i will be there. so see you folks soon! thanks ahead of time for listening!

april updates!

Hey cousins, just wanted to drop in to update this lonely blog again.

a few fun things this month so far!

-Our Batman: Heart of Hush hardcover debut on the New York Times best sellers list for graphic novels at #2! not too shabby right? check out the full list here-

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/graphic-books-best-seller-list-april-11/

better yet ( hehe) get your copies here!- amazon.com

-Also, i recently did a podcast with Dustin and Apple from the Batman Universe that can be found here-

http://thebatmanuniverse.net/podcast/thebatmanuniversespecials.php

big thanks to the two for having me on as a guest. Just a couple of really awesome and enthusiastic guys that made my first phone interview very smooth and comfortable. listen to me for 20 something minutes as i go on about batman, talk about my love for gotham and some projects and stuff i am working.

also, you'll notice how exhausted i sound on the phone as i say " like " and " y'know?" every other sentence. you'd think it was from jogging all day, but really it's just from walking up and down my staircase like twice.

and finally!

-the new solicitations for Batman: Streets of Gotham issue #2 came out this week, it reads-


BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #2
Written by Paul Dini; co-feature written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs; co-feature art by Georges Jeanty & Karl Story
Cover by Dustin Nguyen
In this second issue by the dynamic duo of Paul Dini (DETECTIVE COMICS) and Dustin Nguyen (BATMAN), Commissioner Gordon teams with the new Batman to combat the fiery threat that Firefly has spread across Gotham City. And to make matters worse, the mysterious adversary known only as Abuse makes his presence felt!
Meanwhile, in the Manhunter co-feature, now that Kate Spencer is the new District Attorney of Gotham City, will she use her legal power or her Super Hero identity to find the killer of the previous D.A.?
On sale July 15 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

thanks for the continued support everyone, its hot as hell where i am, so hope you're all doing much better!

-dustin

logan

i was told i dont update enough here and i dont draw enough wolverine- so here's 2 birds! one stone.

something like that.

6x 13 300lb hotpress watercolor.

year one

"ladies. gentlemen. you have eaten well."

"you've eaten gotham's wealth. it's spirit. your feast is nearly over."

"from this moment on-- none of you are safe."

-frank miller & david mazzucchelli's batman: year one


9x12 ink on paper, colored in photoshop

Streets of Gotham and Hush Hardcover

hey everyone, long time no update right? been superduper busy, but two things are'a happenin' here!

our Heart of Hush hardcover releases next month and collects the entire run of our Hush story line into one sexy book for you to pick up.

amazon.com has it for a deal here !


Next up- in June of this year, Paul Dini, Derek Fridolfs, and myself kick down the doors to the batcave again in Batman: Streets of Gotham.


Editors Mike Marts and Dan Didio speak of things Batman in the latest ign.com video interview here.

check it out folks, and see you all soon!
-dustin

red carpet

it started with just batgirl, ivy, mj, and medusa but got out of hand.

22 x 15 watercolor +photoshop

beyond 2009

happy new year everyone, and welcome to 2009. lots of new and exciting projects ahead, and finally, a revamp of the entire site coming. pretty soon. serious this time.

be well!
-dustin

original art

hey everyone, to answer many of the emails as to when some original pages to Batman/ Detective will be available and such- they are now available! I am currently setting up a separate site for them and should have it up and running this week.

in the meanwhile, you can check out Derek Fridolfs' Comic art fans page for them. Derek is the amazing inker on our book and shares his collection online as well as many peices he has up for grabs. Neither Derek, nor i work thru a dealer or rep, so you will be dealing wiht us directly and can ask for persoanlization if you'd like.

be well and happy holidays to everyone,
-dustin