Stuff going on...

Not sure if I have any followers left but thanks for the click all the same! The day job is starting run me into the ground (it's the holiday season and if you work retail, you KNOW what I'm talking about.)

Before I type another word I am giving a HUUUGE shout out to friend and fellow alumnus Vicki aka @ZombieEatHearts. Her work will be featured in Fifty/50, Durham’s Edgiest Pop-up Art Shop (Not gonna post images to avoid whatever copyright vultures might be waiting to swoop down). But check out her online store right here!

Well on with it:

Inktober's come and gone and with it seemingly my motivation. The holiday season is here, (They just skipped right over Thanksgiving) and we're setting things up for Xmas so Santa's (coughmom&dad) job can be a little easier. Not only that, but I my brushpens and markers are DANGEROUSLY close to E, Making the digital side of things more of a necessity. Over the past few months I've become more comfortable and I like to think I'm somewhere in the vicinity of competent.

I realized I haven't done any sequential pages in VERY long time; not since my collaboration with Ray Zepeda on Anti-Hero 113. I'm starting to get that itch and I've been tinkering with the plot line for my Fight Life comic as well as some plots and character designs for a one or two short stories. So much stuff ping-ponging through my brain and nowhere near enough time to focus on...focusing.

I'm gonna stop all the ranting now and show off my latest.

Aayla Secura

LORD VADER

Asajj Ventress

Justin Cristelli's RED KNIGHT

Lead character in an upcoming short story.  1/2

2/2

Deviant Art

Facebook 

Twitter 
IG: ironlion1914

Writer/Artist Survival Kit

I know what you're going to say: It's been way way way way WAAAAAY too long since I posted an entry, and you probably don't even follow my blog anymore. To that I say...THANKS! I didn't even know I had followers! :D

Straight up, I know haven't posted in a year of Sundays, and in between work and worrying about grown-up stuff I took a moment to try and figure out why that is, not just why I didn't post but why nothing was coming to me creatively. Before you get to the art below I'd like you to understand why it took so long and why even warm up sketches have become a task. I managed to work up list of things that get my mojo going and while these are more creature comforts than anything and aren't exactly set in stone, if I don't have at least one of them I fizzle out quick fast and in a hurry. So here it is...

Ryan's Writer/Artist Survival Kit:

-A quiet room, usually an academic setting (a library most likely), if I'm home I'll get distracted with bills, house work and other day to day horse shit; either that or I just sit around stuffing my face, staring at the ceiling or dicking around on the web.

-Music (especially if I'm drawing), just about anything with a guitar riff.

-Food; small portions like a hot pocket or a bowl of chinese food.

-Clarity. I'll have like 8 or 9 story ideas and can't pick one for shit. I can usually manage this in the quiet space, but not always.

-Courage (I've got a nasty habit of thinking every idea is dumber than the last. Trying too kick that).

-Background noise (no matter how far off, as long as it's far off), just enough to remind me that the zombie apocalypse isn't in full swing yet.

-Junkfood. Hotpockets, Cheetos, or something equally quick and tasty.

-Game Green cigarillos. A quick puff to kill time when the creativity starts to wane.



One or two of these and my creative process become much, much smoother. What all do you need to free up your mind and let things come?

BACK SHOT 1/4

BACK SHOT 2/4

BACK SHOT 3/4

BACK SHOT 4/4

SHOCK TROOPER

ART TRADE

IT'S COMMISSION SEASON!

-PENCIL ART (single pieces/single character/B&W)-$35

-LINE ART(single pieces/single character/B&W)-$40

-COMICS (sequential pages)-$45/page

-DIGITAL PAINTING-$130

Contact/Paypal: raiantheincredible@gmail.com 

LIKE! WATCH! FOLLOW!

Deviant Art

Facebook 

Twitter 

Art Journal: February 2015

I've been trying to view this blog as equal parts gallery and journal.  Think I've done pretty good job of it so far, it's just that there has been nothing of note to write about, and with my job keeping me fairly occupied (as well as a near debilitating lack of inspiration), I haven't done much in the way of making art.  I've been itching to go digital and even bought a tablet last year, but I often find myself lacking in discipline and patience to pursue the craft.  And yet pursue it I must.  Speaking of the job I can't think of a more fun group of folks to earn a paycheck with right now.

I still struggle in leaving my comfort zone artistically.  Still doing superheroes most of the time, but I think my efforts to branch out are bearing some fruit.  I've been drawing Star Wars characters, animals, monsters, even some X-rated material (below you'll not the troll with cock in hand).  Feel like some progress was made....I'd better stop before start rambling.  

Started as another anatomy experiment.  Trying to draw a fantasty creature...

Decided to do more.  A quasi-sequential piece.

Linework.  I like how it was shaping up through the whole thing.  He as depth. Weight.

Finished piece.  She seems pleased.

NEED A COMMISSION?

-PENCIL ART (single pieces/single character/B&W)-$35

-LINE ART(single pieces/single character/B&W)-$40

-COMICS (sequential pages)-$45/page

-DIGITAL PAINTING-$130

Contact/Paypal: raiantheincredible@gmail.com 

LIKE! WATCH! FOLLOW!

Deviant Art

Facebook 

Twitter 

Fun times at Charlotte Mini-Con Part 1 of 2

Had a blast yesterday at the Mini-Con hosted by Charlotte's own Heroes Aren't Hard to Find.  Met a ton of local artists and got some great advice!  It was big help being there, seeing as I live in an area that could care less about art or comics and hang around individuals who "coudn't draw a stick figure".  Yesterday was one of those rare moments where I was in my element, discussing the difficulties of digital paintings, improving backgrounds on my pages and going over the military history of the Star Wars Universe.  As an artist, you feed off this kind of stuff.  The only thing left to do now is attack the drawing board!

PICTURES!

COSPLAY CONTEST!

MASTER CHIEF! COSPLAY LIKE A BOSS!

YOURS TRULY AND MILES MORALES/SPIDER-MAN!

SPIDEY AND ZEKE!

PIMP MY RIDE!

PIMP MY OTHER RIDE!

LIKE! WATCH! FOLLOW!

FACEBOOK
DEVIANT ART
TWITTER

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you...

First things first, my Star Wars binge: Started off watching the Lightsaber duels from all six movies youtube, then it turned into a binge. I wound up stumbling upon a couple of 'versus' videos and the video game cuts from 'The Old Republic'.  It wasn't long before I fell in love with the Star Wars expanded universe novels, particularly Legacy of the Force.  Now I'm almost done with the Darth Bane Trilogy.  The only natural step was (you guessed it) FAN ART!

DARTH BANE_Blue Line Sketch

DARTH BANE_PENCILS

DARTH BANE- SITH LIGHTNING

Good news! Still have my day job. They kept me after the holiday season and that's pretty damn awesome.  As usual I've been doing a lot of thinking about a lot of stuff, but the end goal is still the same:  Get out of this hell hole and go somewhere that isn't the south!  

I wouldn't be any kind of artist if I didn't stick up for my fellow cartoonist over the Charlie Hebdo tragedy a couple of weeks back, so here is the picture I took when it happened.

#JeSuisCharlie

That's about it for now.  I've got more art coming once it's scanned.  Keep an eye out!

--Ryan

REQUEST A COMMISSION!

-PENCIL ART (single pieces/single character/B&W)-$35

-LINE ART(single pieces/single character/B&W)-$40

-COMICS (sequential pages)-$45/page

-DIGITAL PAINTING-$130

Contact/Paypal: raiantheincredible@gmail.com 

LIKE! WATCH! FOLLOW!

Deviant Art

Facebook 

Twitter 

The past can and DOES destroy

I really wish I had something to write for you guys. Something profound or motivational...but the truth is there really isn't much going on. The job search sucks balls and there isn't much that can be done...I just do what I know right now, and that staying at the drawing board, dropping my info off where I can and HOPING someone likes what I do enough to offer me work...feels like this dream of my is on life support.  When I was 17 I wanted to attend the Kubert School. For an artist who wanted to go into comics or animation or any type of design, this was definitely one of the places to be.  To me it would have been nirvana. The mountain top.  Instead I let my parents, particularly my father, intimidate me into attending a 'regular' four year school. Even now that he's dead I still hate him for that. I hate myself even more for being such a coward at the time...It's hard not to forget the past when you realize the choice you made then is slowly destroying you now. Now that you've all had quick peek into my head and heart, here's some new art:

Dragon with a helmet

Enterprise Fitness Logo (Commissioned piece)

OC_Angel Blade

FIGHT LIFE (Coming Soon)

FIGHT LIFE 02

CLOUD DRAGON

MY PAGES

DEVIANT ART

BLOGSPOT

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

REQUEST A COMMISSION!

-PENCIL ART (single pieces/single character/B&W)-$35

-LINE ART(single pieces/single character/B&W)-$40

-COMICS (sequential pages)-$45/page

-DIGITAL PAINTING-$130

+ $5 FOR SHIPPING 

Contact/Paypal: raiantheincredible@gmail.com 

Trying not to hold back/Sequentials

Since I can't afford therapy I'm fighting my depression the best way I can.  I've some pretty good weapons to use; good friends, facebook groups, google hangouts (feel free to hit me up).  But I still have to find work.  My rent's coming up and I'm late with my lights, and I don't know what else to do except fill out applications and keep putting my shit out and hoping something snags.  It's still difficult because there's always one or two people that think they can get over on you plus I live in a part of the country where people give little to no fuck about art; where people will praise your work, but pity or look down on you for not having a 'regular job' (quite a mix), in short I live in an environment where regularly feel the urge to punch a wall with my face.

Thus endeth the opening rant.

There are times where I feel like my art is too reserved, like I hold back and don't attack the page the way I should; in the back of my head I'm thinking: "Someone could see this, they may want it, but the technique is off, they'll pick someone else."  This train of thought has plagued me for much of my adult life.  I know the nuts and bolts of illustration like the back of my hand.  But that intangible has always eluded me, that "UMPH!" That I see in the artists I appreciate, where the visuals just break their foot off in your ass.  So here's where things take a turn. Philosophically anyway. In this blog I'm including my most recent sequentials.  The next few posts will have my latest commission and few sketches I've been hiding away.

Stay tuned.

STATIC Samples pg. 1

STATIC Samples pg. 2

STATIC Samples pg 3

 

Founded in 2008, Iron Lion Studios is dedicated to bringing you next level illustration, design and storytelling. You can request a commission and treat yourself to more of Ryan's artistic endeavors on websites Deviant Art, Twitter, Facebook and right here on Blogspot.

-PENCIL ART (single pieces/single character/B&W)-$35 

-LINE ART(single pieces/single character/B&W)-$40 

-COMICS (sequential pages)-$45/page 

-DIGITAL PAINTING-$130 

+ $5 FOR SHIPPING 

Contact/Paypal: raiantheincredible@gmail.com 

Deciding to keep it One Hundred

When I started this blog my initial purpose was to write reviews for the comics I read. I wanted to give reader a quick glimpse of what my life was like as a fanboy. Somehow I wound up moving away from that, and so I spent the last year or so maintaining this sites integrity by posting my artwork.  Recently I've undergone some experiences that have forced me to take very hard look at myself as an individual.  How I perceive myself and how I perceive and approach the creation of my artwork, particularly my painting.

As a result I have chosen to get back to my roots, not just as a comic book fan but as an artist. It is now my intent to use this blog not just as a source of information or a platform for viewing my work. Starting today I will use it to remind myself why I chose this path. Why I spend hours of my day collecting reference, reading, digging through my crates thumbing throug issues I've read ten times or more. Why I chose to create rather than manufacture or sale or package or market. Why I shake my head at my friends who slave away (and I do mean slave) at a 12 hour workshift, get a 30 minute lunch break and the only time they spend at home is the 8 hours or less when they're sleeping. Some of my friends are about that life and as Katt Williams once put it, "By all means get your paper, boo boo". But I used to be really hesitant to tell people that I’m a freelance artist, because usually what I do isn’t viewed as ‘work’ the way most people define it. But the more I think about it, the more I realize it’s no different than what some of these corporate drones do. I am essentially paid a fair wage to do what whatever my assignment requires, the only difference being I don’t have to wear a leash--sorry, tie and sell off my humanity bit by bit in hopes of joining the 1%.

Stay tuned.

--Ryan Scales

September 2014

#IronLionStudios