Rich Dannys - Blog Posts

This is a logo design that I did for a family friend living out in Strathmore, Alberta.. I was asked to try and incorporate a Warthog (their club mascot) into the artwork.. So I thought the project would be a perfect opportunity for creating a kind-of Hank Porter -esque emblem, along the lines of his amazing WW2 Squadron insignia? I'm still not entirely sure about all of my color choices. But I'm pretty happy with the overall result..

A commission that I did back in 2004, for a Gordon K. (from San Diego).. He had a very unique request for a trapped Animé-style Mermaid.. Thankfully, he also provided me with a good deal of reference material..  I tried my best to incorporate everything he'd asked for.. Hopefully, he enjoyed the result?

Happy Holidays to all my Internet friends!!  Here's what this year's version of the Christmas card ended up looking like.. It was my meager attempt to ape the stylings of Eyvind Earle.. I had plans to model more shadows onto the limbs of the foreground tree,-- but I simply ran outta creative steam before the deadline crashed down onto me..

I recently bought the new book on Maurice Noble: "The Noble Approach", covering his thoughts on Animation Design & Layout.. It's an excellent read! Put me in a nostalgic mood,-- so I thought I'd post up an old 'BEETLEJUICE' Layout of mine..  Back in January of '91, I did 14 scenes for the episode entitled: "Fast Food".. Can't recall too much about it. But I'm amused that I felt the need to use a half-size Field for this specific shot!

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN !!

A commission that I did back in 2004, for a Josh S. (from Ottawa).. He wanted me to draw "The Old Witch" from EC Comics' 'HAUNT OF FEAR' title,-- for which I was only too happy to oblige!  I tried to incorporate all of my favorite "Ghastly" Graham Ingels bits, into my own version..

Sorry,-- this is another pen and ink illo that I did from a few years ago.. While browsing my Tumblr dash, I stumbled across the photo reference I'd based this (see sidebar) on.. Kinda surprised me! hah  It was an "illustration friday" based on the word: "Launch", if I recall..

An 'IRON MAN' illo I did back in 2002.. Based (of course) on the beautiful renderings of this character by genius comic-book artist: Jack Kirby! A man who never said "No!" to foreshortening!!

A pen-and-ink Pinup of Dixie Evans "The Marilyn Monroe Of Burlesque", that I did back ‘95.. In the early 1990's, I corresponded with her a bit. She was running the "Exotic World" museum in Helendale, California. Sadly, she passed away this month. She was a sweet old lady..

More on Dixie can be found here..

Back in 2007, I had the inclination to try drawing a Don Martin -type character.. I was digging thru some old issues of MAD Magazine and found a series of 'SPIDER-MAN' spoofs he'd done. Invented a new pose and (of course) hadda add one of his signature "SHPLORT" sound effects, too!

A rough 'SUPERMAN' prelim from 2004 that was part of a commission; complete with anatomy revision notes to myself.. I lost something in the final inks on this one, which is often the case.. Deciding what to keep and what to throw out at the end, is always the hardest part.. Frustrating!

‘Doctor Strange’ illo that I did, back in 2008.. Colored it later on, using colored pencils, felt markers, and a bit of digital.. My hope was to give it a very Kevin Nowlan -esque quality. As I think his interpretation of the character has always been the best!

A much more recent Sketchbook page.. These were Frazetta studies (from his 'JOHNNY COMET' strip), analyzing how he handled seated women. But about halfway thru, I decided I wanted to convert them into poses for a snake charmer.. A fun exercise, indeed!   

'HELLBOY' illo that I did for a charity auction, back in 2004.. Parts of it look wonky to me now. But I liked how the coloring came out. Especially, the swamp scum details..

An old Sketchbook page from 2004.. Can't remember if these were studies from a specific story, or simply an attempt to re-create some 'Golden Age' stuff? I do recall wanting the Bedouin dude to resemble a 7-foot tall "Rondo Hatton" -type, though!

A Julie Newmar-esque "CAT GIRL" illo inked by my friend Rodney Dunn, back in '97.. A talented artist, who (sadly) ended his own life in June 2005. "Dynamite" was the nickname he gave me.. I still miss him.

First of a 4-page sampler that I inked over my friend Sam Agro's pencils, in 2005.. It was entitled: "Vampire Of Siam", and intended as a pitch for a longer Graphic Novel, but I don't think any publishers went for it.. Fun job, though!

Christmas card from just last year.. I was up so late at night finishing this, that I mistakenly signed "2013", after my signature. Nobody seemed to notice it, though..

An illustration I did for the 2011 edition of the 'SDCC Souvenir Program' book, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Marvel Comics' 'FANTASTIC FOUR'..