Thursday, June 21, 2007


"Zarkov Undersea"

Medium: Graphite on sketchpad

This sketch will very likely become a painting soon. The main lighting will come from the coral city below. I always thought that Zarkov was an interesting enough character to warrant his own story arc seperately from Flash Gordan and Dale. With a good writer and Al Williamson doing the art it would be terrific. I thought I could clean this up in Illustrator and rotate it, but it seems that Illustrator's save for web format's are pretty aweful.
I think that I need to lengthen the legs on Zarkov a bit - any comments welcome.

6 comments:

Jack Snider said...

This is very cool. I can't wait to see it in color. Your right the leg is too short. I like the idea of intelligent Zarkhov stepping out of Flash's muscle bound shadow.

Michael Mason said...

Yeah I was pretty sure it was...I did this late at night, and when I got up in the morning I looked at it and was like, "what was I thinking?" LoL. I'll fix it for the final when I get to it.

Anthony Carpenter said...

This one is outstanding in it's field.

Now, go tell it to come inside before it rains. HA!

No really, this is very cool. It's a terrific composition and should make for a dynamic painting. I really like the creature design.
I like the leg the way it is, but ultimately it's you're call.

Instead of Al W., Why don't YOU draw this new adventure?

Michael Mason said...

Scott made a good point that this makes a good comic panel from a series, but as for a stand alone work I might want to have Zarkov facing the viewer more.

I may change it a bit for the painting so that Zarkov is twisted a bit toward the viewer in the saddle with a lazer pistol drawn. This would also make more dramatic use of the light coming from below as well.

I wouldn't draw it because it would take me forever heheh...I am just too slow for comics work I think.

Glad you like the critter.

Jack Snider said...

"Scott made a good point that this makes a good comic panel from a series, but as for a stand alone work I might want to have Zarkov facing the viewer more."

That's actually a very good point. How did Scott come up with it? ;p

Either the legs too short or the rest of him's too long. (Just calls 'em like I see's 'em...Now where're those glasses?)

Michael Mason said...

I will probably have to redraw the whole thing and just use this sketch as a reference only.

After changing the pose I will probably have to change some of the background as well.