Andy Brase Hellboy -- holey moley!!

[purplehaze67]

Hey guys:

New to the forum, but I've been a Hellboy fan and an art collector for many years. I was lucky enough to get on Andy's commision list a while back, and had to ask for his take on Hellboy.

Here's what he came up with...at least the pencils. Let me know what you think...I couldn't be happier, but I just may be a little biased. ;)

For more on Andy, check out:

http://www.pen-paper.net/artgallery/AndyBrase
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=1896

and for original art sales:
http://comicbookartgallery.safeshopper.com/22/cat22.htm?431

[THE REAL kirk]

Son of a...!

Man, that is awesome! A really nice piece and I would have to rate it as one of my favorite, non-Mignola Hellboy pieces out there. The mixture of all the various elements and combining them into an art nouveau flavored design (I have a distinct weakness for art nouveau style) just makes me giddy (Yikes! I used "giddy!").

Thanks for sharing this "sketch" and throwing some attention to a talented artist. The links to his work are appreciated.

[Jake Capps]

Not really digging it! He looks to human, his expression is weird; something is off. It just looks like a regular picture with a Hellboy head on it. Good drawing. I guess you just have to know a character in order to give it justice.

[Neil Hill]

I like it quite a bit! My one concern regarding any of the more realistic takes when it comes to rendering Hellboy, is that they tend to leave me a bit cold. Technically speaking I can see nothing wrong, but rendered as he is I don't feel a sense that the "character" of Hellboy is best represented here. I miss the crags, lumps, bumps, and overall weather worn look of the character which Mike does so incredibly well.

Thanks for sharing the pic though! :D

[hellboyone]

It's got great drawing in it, and I love different takes on Hellboy, but my concern is how weirdly off-balance it is. The left side of the drawing is much "heavier" than the right. I would have moved the angel and Hellboy right of center to balance it out. The problem could be solved by throwing another element on HB's left (our right) but maybe that's just too much at this point.

Anyway...thanks for posting!

[purplehaze67]

Thanks for the comments and while I see the point made by those who find it a little "off", it's no problem here. I like an artist to do their own personal take on the character (whatever it may be), vs trying to follow too closely behind what others have done. Don't get me wrong; I LOVE Mike's vision of Hellboy, and am a proud owner of 2 MM Hellboy pieces. They are obviously great, but I always want artists I commission to put themselves and their style into whatever character I request.

As far as being a little off-balance, that's a valid point that I had not thought of. I'm not an artist at all and probably not smart enough in that area to consider that type of compositional concern on my own. While a better balanced layout might have been cool, but I also like and appreciate some openness to better see the brickwork, skulls, etc. I can see the point and understand why others may prefer more even-ness, but it's just fine as is to me.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to d/l the file and a little extra thanks to those who left comments.

[hellboyone]

We'd love it if you posted the Mignola pieces you own as well!

By the way....I really dig Andy's work. He's an infrequent poster on the Drawing Board and it's always nice to see his stuff.

[purplehaze67]

Here is one -- the better of the two IMO:

http://www.provide.net/~purplehaze67/MignolaHellboy.JPG

The other one I don't have scanned, so it may be awhile. Sorry...

[jnapper]

I like an artist to do their own personal take on the character

Me too, for many characters! :)

I have loved seeing the different representations of Dream, Death, and the Endless over the years.

Thought the Andy Brase piece was rather cool-- reminds me of art deco prints (per the circle points and subject framing.)

[jnapper]

http://www.provide.net/~purplehaze67/MignolaHellboy.JPG
The other one I don't have scanned, so it may be awhile. Sorry...

Cool piece--

[Jake Capps]

That new Hellboy sketch you posted looks great. Do you mind telling us how much you paid for it. I would be proud of it too.

[hellboyone]

Thanks for posting the Mignola! It's GORGEOUS.

[Neil Hill]

Thanks for posting the Mignola! It's GORGEOUS.

I agree! I always wondered who owned that particular Mignola sketch, and now I know! :D

[purplehaze67]

That new Hellboy sketch you posted looks great. Do you mind telling us how much you paid for it. I would be proud of it too.

Thanks!

I am sorry, but I have been requested to keep the price under my hat. Hope you understand...

But, I don't want to leave on a down note, so I just wanna let y'all know that scans of the fully-inked version, sections of detail, and the prelim sketch (along with a larger scan of the pencils I posted above) are here:

http://www.comicartfans.com/MyLowry.asp?GSub=768

[purplehaze67]

I agree! I always wondered who owned that particular Mignola sketch, and now I know! :D

Was it in one of his annual sketchbooks or something? Just curious how you even knew it existed.

[hellboyone]

Hey...the finished piece looks A LOT more balanced than the prelim. Filling in all that black really sorta fixed my problems with it. It's really great looking.

Um...who's preventing you from telling us what you paid for the Mignola piece? We share that info here amongst each other pretty regularly...

[purplehaze67]

Hey...the finished piece looks A LOT more balanced than the prelim. Filling in all that black really sorta fixed my problems with it. It's really great looking.

Um...who's preventing you from telling us what you paid for the Mignola piece? We share that info here amongst each other pretty regularly...

Ahhh...my mistake. I thought the question was about the new piece.

IIRC, the Mignola was 450, archivally matted and framed. But this was several years ago and my record keeping isn't as thorough as it should be, so I could be a little off.

[tricksterpup]

Hey guys:

New to the forum, but I've been a Hellboy fan and an art collector for many years. I was lucky enough to get on Andy's commision list a while back, and had to ask for his take on Hellboy.

Here's what he came up with...at least the pencils. Let me know what you think...I couldn't be happier, but I just may be a little biased. ;)

For more on Andy, check out:

http://www.pen-paper.net/artgallery/AndyBrase
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=1896

and for original art sales:
http://comicbookartgallery.safeshopper.com/22/cat22.htm?431


Purple,
I have seen the original Piece in production. Its fun to see Andy's base sketches grow into this. You got yourself a very nice piece. I know Andy personally and I try to pimp him when I can here at CBR. Enjoy that piece of Art.

[Arrjay]

I think that picture is freakin' awesome.

It's a different take but I like it.

Experimentation is good stuff folks.

[Neil Hill]

Finished, this piece is incredible! Great stuff and thanks for sharing it! :D

[Andy Brase]

hey Hellboy fans-
tricksterpup just let me know there was a thread over here so I thought I'd check it out.... thanx to everyone that has commented so far...I appreciate the feedback.

I'm a big fan of Mignola's art, characters and book Hellboy, so this was a fun character to take a stab at...I obviously was inspired by the movie version of Hellboy as well... here's a better jpeg image of the final illo for you to see.

purplehaze67 & tricksterpup thanx for showing off my Hellboy illo.
-Andy
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/piranha7/97c7e8c4.jpg

[hellboyone]

It really is stunning, Andy. Welcome to the Hellboard. You're missed over on the Drawing Board!

[Petersen]

You will find that many hellboy fans prefer a less human looking Hellboy, I tend to be in that crowd.... but GODDAMN is that beautiful ink work!!!!!! WOW! I am envious of your ink textures! Wonderdful composition and posing and again that ink is amazing

[Maija]

Yeah, your inkwork is pretty fricking amazing. I wish I could see it up close. How large is the piece?

[tricksterpup]

Yeah, your inkwork is pretty fricking amazing. I wish I could see it up close. How large is the piece?
You should see his Pencils up close.. amazing all together.

If I am not mistaken, Andy does his artwork on 11 x 17 Bristol board. I am sure he will correct me if I am wrong.

LOL, I keep on begging him to do a Ghost Rider. Maybe if Fans push him, he will do one.

[Petersen]

Yeah, your inkwork is pretty fricking amazing. I wish I could see it up close. How large is the piece?

The inkwork also begs the question: Did you do any Printmaking Andy? and if not...why not!!!!!

[Jake Capps]

WOW! That inking is very very good! The shading by the RHOD :eek: !!!!!!!!

[tricksterpup]

Ok folks, still pimping Andy here.
here is a snippet of the MK 4 cover to issue 27.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/tricksterpup/mk427.jpg