Ultimate Iron Man markers - plus a peek behind the curtain - Quit Your Day Job

Ultimate Iron Man markers - plus a peek behind the curtain

November 1st, 2008

I’ve become quite the fan of Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics especially The Ultimates and Ultimate Iron Man (actually I really love Ultimate Spider-Man too). I’m not 100% convinced but I almost like the Ultimate version of Iron Man more than his mainstream version.

So I had an idea for a sketch showing Iron Man in the sky with some jets and I was trying to decide which version to use - my favourite the original mark 2 armour never looks right in the air - well it does but it wouldn’t in this drawing. I’m not the biggest fan of the current armour (it looks awesome and all but it definately isn’t my favourite).

So as I said I’ve been really into the Ultimate Marvel universe so that made the decision for me.

I start off with a pencil sketch, generally I’ve been using a 5h or 6h lead pencil which is really light but bloody awful to erase so if you make a mistake you have to work the image or just erase as best you can. On this one I used just a cheap mechanical pencil (HB) because of laziness and even though it’s a darker pencil it erases neatly.

I draw out a letterbox frame to draw within of 150 mm x 250 mm.

I didn’t think about scanning until I had already started colouring but it still gives a good idea of what I start off. A couple of things about the image, Iron Man is a lot larger than I originally intended, or at least a lot more on the page. I wanted more space for the jet and after I finished the outline for Iron Man realised that the jets had become more implied and off page.

When I start to colour I don’t erase the pencil lines any more, I used to use the black ink first to cover the pencil lines and then erase the unused or corrected sections. With markers, they pick up the black to easily even when the line art has dried so I’ve started colouring first. The pencil lines will generally show through but will be covered by the black ink later. I did mess up around his head though and you can see the pencil line near his neck piece on the chest plate. Adds character I suppose

I generally start with the main colour which in this case was the red (scarlett), even though I use ‘old wine’ as the red’s deeper colours I still cover it completely with the base colour and then touch up over the top of that base. The darker wine colour was probably deeper than I hoped, I could have simply used a grey over the top to achieve the darker shades.

I then black ink using the marker over the top of the pencil lines that I can still see. Up till now that would have been all that she wrote but I wanted to try something a little different this time and after letting the markers dry I have added light reflection using a white pigment watercolour.

The added highlights will now become a standard for these marker pics as they’ve really helped the image come along. The larger pic can be found here.

I hope someone out there found it interesting - I’m always looking for character suggestions.

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9 Comments

Jeff November 1st, 2008
That’s really nice, Lee. I like seeing the progression laid out like this. As someone who doesn’t draw, I find it very interesting.

I’m also a fan of the Ultimate Iron Man series … better than the main series. It sucked me in much more effectively.

Jeffs last blog post..How to get Desitin cream out of… well… everything

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By Lee on November 1st, 2008 | Reply
I was a little disappointed when the Ultimate Iron Man storyline didn’t mesh with The Ultimates correctly (some of Stark’s childhood stuff) but then what I like about the Ultimate line is that it is a universe where they can try new things and be bold so I’m ok with it.

I really enjoyed Ultimate Human too which reminds me only in passing of Hulk: Grey.

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By Jeff on November 2nd, 2008 | Reply
Ha… lucky me, then. I haven’t read any other Ultimate stories, so no contradictions exist.

Jeffs last blog post..How to get Desitin cream out of… well… everything

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Dan November 2nd, 2008
I’m really into the Ultimate stuff too, mainly because as a previously pure DC man i don’t have to worry about backstory.

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By Lee on November 2nd, 2008 | Reply
That’s the beauty about The Ultimates, there is no emotional attachment to any of their history so they can make changes.

Sam L Jackson as Nick Fury doesn’t hurt either

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Arjan November 2nd, 2008
that is one sweet drawing! I really like the highlights too!
I can’t draw if my life depended on it, but I am always learning more and more about painting (my 40k model painting has come a long way and always needs improving), I should try something like this sometime.

Arjans last blog post..Jurassic Park and a Ravener

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By Lee on November 2nd, 2008 | Reply
I say this to everyone, if you are interested and enjoy it, you should try drawing or painting and forget all about the end result!

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Widdle Shamrock November 10th, 2008
Thank you for that. I find it fascinating how a creation evolves.

I used to LOVE watching Rolf Harris at work.

Widdle Shamrocks last blog post..Musings ~ Grief or Autism

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By Lee on November 10th, 2008 | Reply
I only thought about doing it a little way into the drawing - hence the small bit of colour at the start. It’s actually good for me to have something I can look back on for reference - bit like a athlete watching a video of their performance.

I remember those Rolf Harris videos too

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