Anti-Man Issue 0.5 - 6-page comic

Anti-Man Issue 0.5
This was a little story I wanted to put together for a while to introduce this character. It's really just a slice of life piece without a lot of plot, but it hopefully captures the interplay of the different voices of the characters.

I drew everything on a middle gray textured drawing paper using pencil. I then inked over that and then worked with marker and colored pencil to achieve the final results. I have been wanting to do this style of comic using traditional art mixed with computer graphics for a while, so this was also a test for that style.
It took me about 10 days of straight work to take this from concept to completion, which was tough. 

But I really wanted to push myself to finish it as quickly as I could.

These pages were revised and reworked Summer of 2013. I increased the fonts sizes and corrected some flow issues with the text.

©2013 Darren Strecker

The Collective Webcomic

I am venturing out with an experimental process for a new webcomic. Check in with it regularly for details and new posts. More forthcoming!

Here are some samples...and a link to the blog site.

Check it out!
http://thecollectivewebcomic.blogspot.com/

The Flip: Anti-Man Daydreams

After sabotaging a power plant, Anti-Man takes a long siesta and enjoys his favorite type of drink box. Digital painting.

SHINZANAKU-Robot Design

Interior and Exterior build plans for a giant robot. Part of an upcoming graphic novel...

Leelah at the Lake - Children's Book

Images from a children's book now available in stores. My friend Pam Fettig wrote it and then hired me to illustrate. She's self-publishing through Dog Ear Press digital-publishing. A great group of people based locally here in Indy.

Here is a link to Barnes&Noble to purchase a book I illustrated for my friend, Pam Fettig.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ean=9781608446971

Images © Pam Fettig

Welcome to Indiana: Comic Anthology

My 6 page comic for my characters Berke and Binky has finally found a home in the Welcome to Indiana Comic Anthology. This is a self published 148 page soft cover book by the Indy Webcomics Group and offers a huge selection of home grown comic talent with a very diverse range of styles. It is available to buy through Amazon.com, Lulu.com, and if you happen to be in the Indianapolis area, a wide selection of comic shops also have it for sale.

http://tinyurl.com/2u..

http://www.indywebcomics.com/

Character Design: EASTSIDE LARRY and the SONS of ISHTAR

Character designs for a band/comic idea. Story idea and characters from the mind of Sean P. McGary.

Halloween Show Flyer

This is a poster design for an upcoming Halloween show at the earth house, downtown Indianapolis. My friend Eastside Larry is throwing a ball and you are all invited. It will be a grand event for anybody who likes rock and or roll and doesn't mind a little Halloween freaky deaky...which is everybody.

Early Concepts for television project

I was recently contracted to do a bit of concept work for a film and video production company out of LA called Blackfoot. They needed images of a rocket and a launch pad to be used for a presentation to pitch a new TV show. I can't go into much detail at this point...but it was well received at the pitch meeting and is progressing into script and pilot stage!

Images were all created digitally as vector models, and then enhanced through photoshop. The rockets were done as a size comparison with a B-1 bomber. The composite is a lighting test I put together quickly. It combines the launch pad I created with an image supplied by Ryan Gibson at Blackfoot who later put the bits together into his trailer-like presentation. I'll try to post some vid caps of the piece as soon as I can.

Laserable choppers

Second attempt at producing a chopper in clear acrylic. This one offered a whole host of issues, but turned out like I'd hoped. It is based on the stealth model below (Top image-black bike) with a few minor alterations. Camera broke, so the image is the best I could do at this point...my apologies.

I have been experimenting with a laser engraving machine lately and creating pieces in acrylic. I came up with these chopper designs to use as a basis for creating 3D models in plastic. First one is cut and assembled. I am also working on a scale model of Bertha the spaceship from one of my comics. I will have some photos posted when it is a little closer to finished...

Meridian Road Poster - Season One

Nearly final illustration for a Meridian Road promotional poster.

I got a burst of productivity and worked on this over the last two days.

Poster includes the five main characters with villains from the first season.

Berke and Binky - Neighborhood 1981

B&B's neighborhood from a bird's eye.

Save The Horses: Children's Book

For the past several months I have been working with a writer named Michael Chapa to illustrate a children's book he's written called "Save the Horses". It's a fun little story about two kids who go on a cross country trek to save their beloved horse, Lovie. I've had a blast creating these images and the project has been challenging and rewarding. We are near completion! Just a few more images. The cover concept image was done in ink, marker, and colored pencil...the interior art is all done in pencil.

Graphic Design: Event Logo

An abandoned logo idea for an event in St. Petersburg called Hot Wheels and High Heels. This was an attempt at replicating a specific look the client provided. I created it in Illustrator as a vector file but tried to get an airbrushed feel. Ultimately I thought it turned out OK, but was just too elaborate and flashy for the event. We settled on a much more reserved  and elegant approach. Rightly so.

Clown/Monster/SiameseTwins Plush Toy Design

I was asked by a friend to do some designs for plush toys that she could sew and give as gifts. The parameters were that the design had to incorporate Siamese Twins, Monsters, and Clowns. I added the extra-creepiness. 

Images ©2008 Darren Strecker

Other Projects: Muthaship

The Muthaship traverses the universe spreading the word...and the good tunes.

Commission Work: Pradsal Village Web Image

This is a piece I recently did for a PR firm in town. They wanted to represent a hometown feel to their website. The image was created as a vector file so that each element could be animated. I'll post the final URL for the site when it is active.

T-Shirt Design: Show Me Your Horseshoe

Commissioned T-shirt design to help celebrate the love we all have for our home team.

Go COLTS!

Other Projects: Bertha-Assfaster Class Freighter

Bertha is a fine ship. In this cut-away we can see the inner chambers, bridge, and living quarters of her pilot, Resin Methas, the Sower. We see Bertha, berthed in her hanger aboard the Muthaship in a remote galaxy on there never-ending quest to bring "the plant" to all. Pre-launch, Resin discusses a foul leak with the resident janitor, Tick-Raf.

Ink and Colored Pencil over Marker

Original Size: 18" x 24"

Berke and Binky - Winter's Tale Full Comic Part1

Berke & Binky's Winter's Tale is a short 6 page preview comic from a series I have in the works. The boys live in a neighborhood, with a few other characters in a small woods, surrounded by acres of farmland in the middle of Indiana. Fortville, Indiana to be exact, which also happens to be my hometown. The tale is set around 1978. I am aiming at younger readers, but hope it works for any audience.

© 2008 Darren Strecker

Berke and Binky - Winter's Tale Full Comic Part2

The events of Winter's Tale take place about 2/3rds into the first year story ark. It is a turning point in the story and the tone shift in the artwork to dark reflects the direction for the first year close. I was experimenting a lot during the process while working on this story. I drew the line work in ink, scanned the panels and added tonal shifts on the computer. Text is all done as a font...lazy, I know.

©2008 Darren Strecker

The Flip: MILF Goddess

The MILF Goddess

um...yeah.

Digital Painting

Commission Work: Caricature "Big Chuck"

I was commissioned recently by a friend to do a caricature piece for a Father's Day gift. I really enjoy doing these personal pieces for people, and am always interested in commission work of any kind. I did this piece for the equivalent of two tanks of gasoline. I started by sketching the image in pencil on a 9" x 12" bristol board. Then I used markers to rough in the color. I worked with prismacolor pencils, ink, opaque white, and even a little acrylic paint in the sky to finish. The car is a 69' Camaro SS, and a favorite of the subject "Big Chuck".

Contrary to rumor, the man depicted is not my father.

The Flip: First Battle Cover Art

Cover shot - Patrons of the Flip coordinate their attack to battle one of the minions sent to shut down the bar. Magi is a teleporter...

Ink over Pencil

The Flip: Patrons & Reluctant Heroes