Slab N Ernie Models - made from the layouts

Rather than pre-design elaborate model sheets full of anal and arbitrary rules, I like to have general models I make for the top artists and then let them develop the characters further by having them act in context of the story in the layouts. Then I take the layouts and make models out of those for the rest of the artists. I've included some inks by Mitch L and David Omar to give you an idea of what the finish will look like.


Ernie is missing his eyebrows in the top ink below, so watch for details when you draw and don't leave any out.


Here's 2 versions of the same drawing. The second ink caught more of the contrasts in shapes, angles against curves.

These are layouts, some by me, some by Jim. They are all a little too rough and need one more stage of tightening up the lines for the inkers so the inkers don't have to guess which lines to ink.
Guys my and Jim's age tend to draw a little rougher than you young whippersnappers and we need good clean up artists who can retain the solidity and guts of our roughs, and know where to put the final lines without evening everything out.
Too rough below...
This is pretty much clear enough for an inker below.
This too.



This below would be a stage too rough for an inker. "Which thumb do I ink when there two on top of each other?" You don't wanna leave questions like that for the next guy down the line.
Here's one that's way too rough...but it's a good start.





Nice and solid but too rough for a final layout...

Doing those comic book exercises is a great way to warm up for this job. Learning to construct from already well constructed finisehd drawings is step one for becoming a good layout artist.



Step 2 is to then be able to apply what you learned, by taking a rough storyboard drawing like this and be able to turn it into a well constructed finished layout like this:This maintains the guts and attitudes of the SB panel, but adds construction and model details.


I'll put more layouts and inks up later, but here's just a start.


Did anyone else ink any Slab N Ernies? Send me a link and I'll add 'em...