So here are the fifteen illos that comprise my Thesis work. Additional detail and color balance was done using Photoshop. They are not in subject order, but they are as finished as I can get them. 

With advice from a friend of  mine, I edited the painting using Adobe Photoshop. I concentrated on pushing the characters further back in the background using levels and desaturation. I also added blues in the shadows to enhance contrast a bit. 

New version of my Tardoss Mors Illustration with added characters in the background. What I did is paint the additional characters in a separate (and sealed) heavy stock paper, then using Photoshop, scanned it and pasted it on the original image. Then, in a separate layer I selected and copied the original figure of Tardoss Mors and then re-sized it (making it smaller) so as to be in the foreground. 

I am not very happy with the Tardoss Mors Illustration I did a few weeks back. So I sat down again and crafted a new sketch for it. Showing more characters in a kinda off a movie poster composition. I have to present my Thesis on Dec. 2nd, so I have to hurry up and work on this if I want to get it ready by then.

This is the color version done entirely in oils on canvas board (16"x20")

Tonal study done in pencils and white charcoal on toned paper (16" x 20"). This is my final studio before proceeding to actually paint the Illustration.

Using Photoshop, I combined the two color sketches and also played with the color balance in order to produce this color composition study. It gives me an idea of how the final composition is going to look like. 

Once I decided on a composition, I took a picture of my models and proceeded to make a more serious drawing with some light and shadow in it. I used watercolors on really bad paper, but the result I got is enough to proceed to the next phase.

Some of the thumbs and sketches I have done trying to find the right composition for my next Indiana Jones Illustration.

I took this Illo I did some time ago, and applied the corrections that were suggested to me by my instructor. Basically, I fixed the horns and the helmet, lining them up so that they appear straight and not unbalanced. I also did the same thing with the shield and added a light layer using Photoshop.

I decided that the "landscape" version in my previous two entries wasn't working for me, so I decided to flip it into a portrait composition. This way, the character looks more centered without being so. As always, more work needs to be done with it. I will probably return to it with Photoshop to add additional effects later.

 Color study in Photoshop done while far away in my home country of Puerto Rico.

 Same sketch, scanned and darkened with Photoshop, getting it ready for a digital color study.

Tardoss Mors Sketch I did while in Puerto Rico. This is a composition I had though of in a previous entry.

Using Photoshop,I tweaked the color balance, added light to the figures and pushed the background a bit further. I still have to add detail to the ship's ceiling, but it will have to wait a few days. 

This is my progress on my John Carter Illo. So far I have all the elements in place, now all I need is to add detail to the jewelry, ship, etc.

Progress on my new John Carter Illustration. As you can see, I still have to separate the planes as well as finish up Carter and add detail to the place itself ( an airship)

Final value study for a John Carter Illustration. Held captive on an airship, Dejah Thoris turns to her captor and seems to say, " Oh, what would you know. My husband just jumped all the way from the ground and is now here. Nice knowing you". I am going to approach this painting with a limited palette using only four colors: Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, Terrarosa, and Ivory Black. Since I can get a rich (and neutral) palette out of those colors, I hope I can produce a balance Illustration that conveys a little drama.

I showed this to an artist friend of mine for a critique and he told me that while it was a decent composition, it had some problems. Mainly the tangents in John's foot and his sword as well the way is upper arm is bent. Also Dejah and her captor's faces are at the wrong angle. So I did some additional sketches on how to solve this problem. Not quite there yet, but I think I have an idea on how to solve the problem.

So here I put Dejah as a prisoner aboard a flying machine, with John jumping to the rescue in the background. It is a better idea, but I am not happy with how small John is in the picture. So I made him larger by making him stand on the ship's railing, as if he had just landed.

Trying to find a composition for a new "John Carter" Illo, I thought at first to make a portrait of Tardoss Mors, Dejah Thoris Grandfather, For a background, I wanted to portray a Martian city and landscape with a few flying machines in the air. My first attempt was too much similar to the 2012 movie promotional poster, and my second wasn't too attractive either. So then I decided to add Dejah to the mix, so I made a quick color sketch of her. This wasn't good enough either, but it gave me an idea for a whole new composition.

Progress on my Conan Charge Illo. I added embers using Photoshop in order to add drama to the narrative. Otherwise, it is oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

I dug up these two sketches I did for class a couple of years ago. It shows a playful Conan, taking a break from all the pillaging and plundering and enjoying a beer or two at a local tavern. I am going to base my next Illo in these studies. Maybe I'll add a wench in the equation.

Final tone study with the final composition done at the actual size the Illustration is going to be (16" x 20").

Pen, brush and ink study on toned paper with a white stabilo carb otello pencil for highlights.