TX Comics http://www.txcomics.com Transmission X Thu, 16 May 2013 15:43:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Muddy Waters http://www.txcomics.com/2013/05/16/muddy-waters/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/05/16/muddy-waters/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 15:43:05 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/05/16/muddy-waters/

A quick portrait of McKinley Morganfield, aka Muddy Waters, drawn as a present for a friend.

Upon seeing this, my friend asked, “Gee, are you going to make a book of blues musician drawings?”

To which I replied, “Oh hell no — every cartoonist does that.“

This was drawn in ink and marker with a bit of tweaking in photoshop.

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/05/16/muddy-waters/feed/ 1 Scenes from the Apocalypse http://www.txcomics.com/2013/05/04/scenes-from-the-apocalypse/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/05/04/scenes-from-the-apocalypse/#comments Sat, 04 May 2013 15:45:41 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/05/04/scenes-from-the-apocalypse/

These are some illustrations I drew last year for the University of Toronto Alumni magazine.  It was for a feature on various scenarios of the apocalypse and their odds of coming true.  Naturally, a subject like that allows me to stretch my imagination and have fun.  I especially enjoyed drawing the “Giant Robot Attack” scenario.  

The big image with couple at top was the interior opener illustration, while the large yellow background one below was for the cover.  And the fellow in the window was a spot illustration, depicting a possible pandemic.
All of these were drawn in ink and watercolour on paper, with some colour tweaking and processing in photoshop.




View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/05/04/scenes-from-the-apocalypse/feed/ 1 Jason Williams… http://www.txcomics.com/2013/04/22/jason-williams/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/04/22/jason-williams/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:13 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/04/22/jason-williams/

…is White Chocolate.  I always thought that was a funny nickname.  JWill was one of the most entertaining players during his career and got a few comparisons to Pistol Pete, which I suppose Ricky Rubio also gets nowadays.

I drew him here in his Sacramento Kings jersey, because that’s how I’ll always remember him – on the break, dropping elbow passes to Chris Webber.

Like the previous drawing, this one was drawn in ink and gouache on board, from reference.

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/04/22/jason-williams/feed/ 1 Portrait of Ursula K. Le Guin http://www.txcomics.com/2013/04/10/portrait-of-ursula-k-le-guin/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/04/10/portrait-of-ursula-k-le-guin/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:51:15 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/04/10/portrait-of-ursula-k-le-guin/

This was a recent illustration I did for California Magazine, to accompany an interview with noted sci fi author, Ursula K. Le Guin.  I have to say I hadn’t read any of her works prior to receiving this assignment, but after researching her, and reading the excellent interview, I was very intrigued and found her to be a fascinating person.  The research and the drawing were so much fun to do that this became easily my favourite illustration that I’ve done this year.

The final art was drawn in ink and composited digitally to make the image (the red and the black parts of the image were drawn separately and merged in photoshop).

Just for fun, I thought I’d post all the various research notes, concept thumbnails and rough sketches that I made in my sketchbook on the way to creating the final art.  They’re shown below, with all the silly reminders to myself about approaching deadlines left unedited.  I hope you’ll find them of interest.

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/04/10/portrait-of-ursula-k-le-guin/feed/ 0 The Frightful Four! http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/29/the-frightful-four/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/29/the-frightful-four/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:54:55 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/29/the-frightful-four/

These are 4 drawings I did recently for a fundraising auction for the Doug Wright Awards.  They asked a bunch of artists to contribute pieces on the theme of “super villains” so, after a bit of canvasing suggestions on twitter, I decided to draw the old Fantastic Four villains, the Frightful Four.  I always thought they were a fun group – especially Paste Pot Pete, or the Trapster as he was later known.  Any supervillain whose main weapon is a glue gun has gotta be fun, right?

I don’t normally work in such a cartoony/animated style, but it was fun to stretch and try it out — it was definitely an entertaining way to work.  These were drawn in coloured inks on bristol, and were each approximately 11″ x 14″ in size.


View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/29/the-frightful-four/feed/ 2 Fantasy http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/17/fantasy/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/17/fantasy/#comments Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:57:16 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/17/fantasy/

This was a small piece I did as a submission for the Calgary Comic Expo’s artbook.  I don’t know if they’ll use it, but it was fun to paint anyway.  The theme of the book was “Weird Tales”, so I tried to come up with a fantasy related piece.

This one was painted in gouache and ink on board, something I haven’t done much of lately as I’ve been playing around with pens and coloured inks. I often post snapshots of rough sketches or thumbnails on my twitter feed and you can see an example for this piece below.

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/17/fantasy/feed/ 0 That shot is going in… http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/05/that-shot-is-going-in/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/05/that-shot-is-going-in/#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:59:57 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/05/that-shot-is-going-in/

…because it’s Larry Bird.  This was drawn for fun in ink and gouache on board, from reference.  


 View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/03/05/that-shot-is-going-in/feed/ 0 interview on the comics radio show… http://www.txcomics.com/2013/02/21/interview-on-the-comics-radio-show%e2%80%a6/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/02/21/interview-on-the-comics-radio-show%e2%80%a6/#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:03:09 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/02/21/interview-on-the-comics-radio-show%e2%80%a6/ there’s really no radio involved here. just a lot of type written words on your screen, but if you are so inclined…

THE COMICS RADIO SHOW

View full post on RAMÓN PÉREZ

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/02/21/interview-on-the-comics-radio-show%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 The Mighty Thor http://www.txcomics.com/2013/02/09/the-mighty-thor/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/02/09/the-mighty-thor/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:06:52 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/02/09/the-mighty-thor/

I’m finishing up a bunch of super-hero themed paintings right now, and thought I’d start sharing them on this blog.  First up is Thor, god of Thunder, in his awesome original look as designed by Jack Kirby.  I’ll post the rest of them over the next few weeks.

As usual this was painted in gouache and ink on board.  It’s about 12″ x 17″ in size.


View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/02/09/the-mighty-thor/feed/ 2 Sketchbook Son House http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/28/sketchbook-son-house/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/28/sketchbook-son-house/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:08:48 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/28/sketchbook-son-house/

Another sketchbook portrait, this one of blues legend Son House.  Drawn in ink on paper.  

After years of always trying to draw on the right paper for the job, I’m actually more interested now in what drawing on the wrong paper looks like.  So this was drawn on a pad of paper I bought at the dollar store.  It’s really high in rag content, so it gives a nice texture to drybrush.

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/28/sketchbook-son-house/feed/ 3 The Side Steppers http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/28/the-side-steppers/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/28/the-side-steppers/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:08:47 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/28/the-side-steppers/ What do you get when you cross one girl, a talking cat, and a pair of shoes that have the ability to travel between dimensions? Adventure! Follow Kitsune and Maho as they try to get back to the right dimension. View full post on Eric Kim

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/28/the-side-steppers/feed/ 0 Sketchbook Screamin’ Jay Hawkins http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/16/sketchbook-screamin-jay-hawkins/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/16/sketchbook-screamin-jay-hawkins/#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:11:07 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/16/sketchbook-screamin-jay-hawkins/
Another ink sketch on the same bad rag paper as the previous post.  I’m enjoying drawing in pure b&w lately — I haven’t done much of that in the last few years.  
I have my buddy Alex to thank for suggesting the subject of this one.  

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/16/sketchbook-screamin-jay-hawkins/feed/ 1 Love as a Foreign Language Omnibus 1 http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/16/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-1/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/16/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-1/#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:10:01 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/16/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-1/ Joel hates Korea. Why he agreed to teach there is beyond his comprehension. He can’t stand the crowded streets, he’s sick of all of the cheesy pop culture, and he can’t wait to be back in a country where he can get the North American comics he loves on a regular basis. The year of teaching he contracted for is almost over and he’ll be free to finally wake up from this nightmare. But when it comes time for Joel to tender his resignation, his life goes from dark dreams to cotton candy kisses and it’s all because of Hana, the new secretary at the school. The very sight of this girl sends him flying straight to cloud nine, but won’t another year in Korea send him crashing back down into his own personal hell?

View full post on Eric Kim

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/16/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-1/feed/ 5 Basketball is my favourite sport… http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/basketball-is-my-favourite-sport/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/basketball-is-my-favourite-sport/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:12:55 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/basketball-is-my-favourite-sport/

If you’re like me, when you read those words, you immediately hear Kurtis Blow in your head.  That’s like my favourite basketball related song, ever. 

Anyway, the NBA season tips off tonight and to celebrate I’m going to post a drawing of an NBA legend every day for the rest of the week.  See if you can guess the connecting theme in all the week’s portraits.
Starting us off today…Kareem Abdul Jabbar!  I’d still pick him over Shaq in a fantasy draft.     
This one was drawn entirely digitally, and I had a lot of fun trying to reproduce my pen and ink style and lettering in software.

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/basketball-is-my-favourite-sport/feed/ 0 I like the way they dribble up and down the court… http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/i-like-the-way-they-dribble-up-and-down-the-court/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/i-like-the-way-they-dribble-up-and-down-the-court/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:12:55 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/i-like-the-way-they-dribble-up-and-down-the-court/

Continuing on with my theme of posting NBA portraits this week, here’s “the hick from French Lick” —  Larry Joe Bird.  

I always liked Larry’s wispy moustache — I’m glad I got a chance to draw it.  This one was done in brush and ink, in my very tiny sketchbook. 

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/i-like-the-way-they-dribble-up-and-down-the-court/feed/ 1 Love as a Foreign Language Omnibus 2 http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-2/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-2/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:12:53 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-2/ All of a sudden Korea is looking a lot better to Joel. Actually, that’s a lie. Korea is still looking like a rotten, smelly place with weird people and weirder food. Hannah, the new receptionist at the school Joel teaches at, on the other hand, is looking mighty fine. But will the girl of Joel’s dreams ever actually make it into his days or did he extend his stay in Asia for nothing?

View full post on Eric Kim

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-2/feed/ 0 Love as a Foreign Language Omnibus 2 http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-2/ http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-2/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:12:53 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-2/ All of a sudden Korea is looking a lot better to Joel. Actually, that’s a lie. Korea is still looking like a rotten, smelly place with weird people and weirder food. Hannah, the new receptionist at the school Joel teaches at, on the other hand, is looking mighty fine. But will the girl of Joel’s dreams ever actually make it into his days or did he extend his stay in Asia for nothing?

View full post on Eric Kim

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2013/01/04/love-as-a-foreign-language-omnibus-2/feed/ 1 I like slam dunks, take me to the hoop… http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/23/i-like-slam-dunks-take-me-to-the-hoop/ http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/23/i-like-slam-dunks-take-me-to-the-hoop/#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:16:35 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/23/i-like-slam-dunks-take-me-to-the-hoop/

And day 3 of our 4 day NBA portraits series brings us to…Scottie Pippen, my favourite “point forward”.  

Like the last one, this one was drawn in my tiny sketchbook, in ink and a cheap red marker for the tone.

One more portrait left to go for the week!

View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/23/i-like-slam-dunks-take-me-to-the-hoop/feed/ 0 Battle Academy http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/23/battle-academy/ http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/23/battle-academy/#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:15:09 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/23/battle-academy/ Welcome to Battle Academy, a private school for the gifted! Gifted with the ability to get into trouble, that is! Join Rory, Disco, V, Mondo and Dexter as they go through life battling ninjas and exams!

    View full post on Eric Kim

    ]]> http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/23/battle-academy/feed/ 0 Batman take a bow http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/11/batman-take-a-bow/ http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/11/batman-take-a-bow/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:20:32 +0000 operator x http://www.txcomics.com/2012/12/11/batman-take-a-bow/

    This was an illustration drawn for Grantland Quarterly, to accompany an article about the end of the Batman trilogy of films.  I enjoyed working a sports metaphor into this one.

    This was drawn mostly in ink, with a few tweaks and redraws done in software.


    View full post on Michael Cho’s sketchbook

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