Friday, September 07, 2007

Peter Cushing

Just finished this as a present for someone.
I'm not much of a caricaturist as I tend to strip away rather than exaggerate but I hope I managed to capture Peter Cushing's striking handsome features as well as his elegant and sinister brittleness - it's why I opted for the younger Dr Frankenstein look. It makes me smile to think of him playing Grand Moth Tarkin in his slippers, how simply British. An incredible actor.
As I'm giving away the original artwork I used nice paper and brushes instead of the cheap paper and chunky markers I've used recently figuring photoshop doesn't care what I use to make lines with. It reminded me that I love work that exists finished in the real world rather than the digital one. I even decided to try a bit of dry brushing on watercolour paper and am quite pleased with the results. Hope it goes down well with the giftees (think Imade that word up!)
Might draw Christopher Lee to complete things.

28 comments:

Faff said...

Paul, you nailed it.

by the way have you seen the announcements on Amazon's print on demand. Just saw it on ellis's bad signal. worth a look, particularly for someone like you who actually produces work.

Garen said...

Masterful. Love this pic.

Danny said...

It's the cheekbones... As Peter put it earlier - nailed it!

Faff said...

createspace.com. That's the amazon website for the pod I mentioned. Looked it over and it looks very good. Maybe you could put out Astrodog, I'd buy a copy. Or Sam Simeon. Worth a look for people like Garen as well who have a body of work already. Could even be the future for Bulldog, all Jason would have to concentrate on is promotion.

paulhd said...

Thanks guys!
That's interesting about Amazon Peter, maybe Simian Smith could find a home..... BTW did you ever read the finished book? Let me know if you fancy a read and I'll send you a copy.

Faff said...

sad to say I never saw a copy so that'd be great.

paulhd said...

Don't think I have your email Peter, you can find mine on my profile page or post it here and I'll send Simian on. If you haven't looked, my comicspace page has a Simian gallery. If I get my act together (ha!), I'll rewrite the novel and redo the artwork.

thekelvingreen said...

Spot on. I love Cushing, and Hammer, and this is brill. If you're going to do Lee, will you do Dracula or something a bit less obvious?

And have you seen Hammer's Hound of the Baskervilles? Cushing's superb in that.

paulhd said...

Cheers Kelvin. Cushing was excellent in Baskervilles. He really was a fantastic actor.
Not sure what Lee character I'll go for, the obvious choices are pretty good, but there's some other nice stuff to pick from. I absolutely love Death Line and his cameo in it is brilliant, but is it visual enough? Sure I'll think of something.

Andrew Glazebrook said...

Stunning work Paul !!!

paulhd said...

Cheers Andrew, glad I decided to draw this present. Shame I have to give it away now!

Jo Bling said...

That's bloody great, Paul, some of your best b&w in my 'umblest whatnots. Spot on!

thekelvingreen said...

Oh Death Line is a classic.

Lord Summerisle is a great Lee visual, but it's not Hammer, so I don't know if it would count as a "bookend" with this piece. His Frankenstein's Monster is great to, but not particularly recognisable as Lee.

paulhd said...

Wow, thanks Mr Bling!
Not even drawn Summerisle in my unfinshed Wickerman pic Kelvin. I picture him all windswept in the final scene, and that's been used a fair bit, so I thought I'd leave it alone. Going for F's Monster, or even the Mummy would be nice, but you're right, stick with the recognisable. Perhaps I'll draw him as Rasputin?
Glad you rate Death Line, it's unbelievably good, manages to be funny/silly and utterly heartbreaking at the same time.

I. N. J. Culbard said...

Excellent.

Andrew Glazebrook said...

I really must get one of those Peter Cushing's !! :)

I. N. J. Culbard said...

I think there should be 'Peter Cushions'.

paulhd said...

Well Andrew, the recipients of this bit of artwork had to get pregnant. Are you willing to go that far?.... Actually I gave Danny a pic of the 2nd (original run) Doctor just for suggesting it. I'm that easy:)
Cheers Ian. A Cushing cushion would be brilliant. Very cuddly.

Andrew Glazebrook said...

Hey Paul I've just pissed on one of those test strips,it didn't say I was pregnant but it did say I was 3 times over the legal limit !

paulhd said...

Congratulations Mr Glazebrook, it's a pint:)
And yes, if you want a pic I'd be happy to draw something, or even if you just wanted to see my version of something - I have limited imagination basically and like to be told what to do.

Faff said...

wwI know it's outside your usual ouvre but I'd love to see your take on some western stars, John Wayne in his last days like he was in "the shootist" is something I'd be intrigued to see. Nick and Nora Charles and Asta from the Thin Man would be interesting to see as well.

paulhd said...

Reckon 'ah kin ristle somethin' up pardnuh.... see what I did there.
I do like the odd western, but I'm not much of a Wayne fan, High Noon is brilliant, and I'm a big Clint fan.
PS folks, the Cushing artwork was sent off and went down really well, which was lovely.

Faff said...

I can understand not liking Wayne, there are few of his movies that come even close to something like High Noon or Jimmy Stewart westerns like "Naked Spur" ot"Winchester 73" but "the shootist" with Wayne, dying of cancer, playing a man dying of cancer is just so poignant.

I. N. J. Culbard said...

more please!

thekelvingreen said...

I will always make people watch Death Line, it's that good.

If you're taking requests, I'd like to see you tackle Thor and/or Rocket Raccoon!

thekelvingreen said...

Oh, and if you're doing Westerns, then yeah, do Clint.

Also, to follow on the Brit-Horror thing, do Pinhead!

paulhd said...

Peter - Might do a Shootist pic actually. I'm sribbling some ideas for a Clint pic, trouble is, his stuff was chock full of iconic shots, so I doubt I'll add anything. Still, nice to just draw something.
Kelvin - I've already done a Thor pic, either you missed it, or didn't like it! Pinhead, oh yeah, reckon I could do something there. Not terribly familiar with Rocket Racoon beyond Mike Mignola's art work I'm afraid. I have figured out what Christopher Lee charater to tackle though.
INJ - As you can see there will be more!

thekelvingreen said...

Oops, yes, I did see that Thor, and I did like it. Still do. I just got over-excited with the requests!

As for Rocket Raccoon, aside from the recent Star Lord mini, there really hasn't been anything other than Mignola's version. I just fancied seeing what you'd do with the "funny animal" kind of character.