The Joker, Mike Thompson (2D)

[PapaNinja]

Very good job and technique but I don't understand why they didn't use the original photo ^^

[Jeggis]

I don't understand why they didn't use the original photo

I guess it's the choice you make when making a movie based on a cartoon character:\

This painting is great, Mike. It's way more interesting looking at a detailed painting than a dull photograph.

Oh, and if you want more pictures in your post, upload them with any imagehost and paste the URL in here in tags.

[bechira]

Very good job and technique but I don't understand why they didn't use the original photo ^^

Put them side by side and after a short examining you will find your answer. ;)

brilliant work. 5*

[Lunas]

best one yet. (Joker portraits)

[LS Knight]

Crazy good! Please post all the progress and big finals you want!

[MikeTArtworks]

I just wanted to add a larger pict of the original drawing and detail image. I am going to get a couple of progress picts of the painting to put them up as well. I really appreciate the positive feedback. I like to think there is a difference between what I do and a photo. hah. My wife does tell me I need to work a little less tight than I do though.

I am starting to get a complex, I always submit to the gallery submission and always get a very polite reject letter. This one got passed over too. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. Ah well, I will keep trying. There are a ton of incredible artists here so I don't mind as much. It makes me want to step up my work which is the point I guess.

-Mike

[MikeTArtworks]

Here are the files.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/miket2k3/jokerdrawing-1.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/miket2k3/progress1.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/miket2k3/progress2.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/miket2k3/jokerdetail.jpg

[waheednasir]

well done. really like the palette and mood that it has.

:).

[EricUNSL]

Nice Job Mike. That hair and glove really stand out as the best parts to me. Beautifully done. As illustrators we can really dig ourselves into a hole by doing such tight detailed work, cuz once you're known for it you can't really go back. I know what you mean about loosening up. I started looking at portrait artists that handle the face and clothing looser for portrait studies. Also went back to look at how some of my old instructors handle the paint. Then tried to mimic that instead of rendering every pore like I was doing. Essentially breaking down the illustration and the figure by level of importance. I kinda like letting the image bleed out from the focal point of the figure. Portrait artists like Max Ginsburg, Scott Burdick, and Garin Baker do this well. I'll email some links for you to check out.

As for the gallery submissions, don't sweat it. You know your stuff is on point. Around here if the image isn't some half naked woman in a sexy pose (painted without reference or understanding of anatomy) or some funky monster/demon thing, you might get overlooked.

You should've said you painted this joker image without reference. That always seems to peak peoples interest. :banghead: :applause:

EW

[MikeTArtworks]

Hah, Indeed Eric. Thanks man! (Note to self... ) try to remember naked chicks before I got married, then paint them on dragons! Check and mate. Congrats on the Underwater City piece, by the way, great work!

[MikeTArtworks]

This painting is great, Mike. It's way more interesting looking at a detailed painting than a dull photograph.

Oh, and if you want more pictures in your post, upload them with any imagehost and paste the URL in here in tags.


Thanks Jeggis, will do!

[Nickillus]

Spot on!!!

[fiftypercent]

that looks so real.... good job

[Ishtar]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Congratulations !
Joker is very very beautiful !

[mylife-cg]

Just watched the movie, is profound to the comedian clown impression, your pictorial representation has been too good, thanks the share. ask that is which pen brushes with?

[Orbits]

I loved the movie so much and I also love this piece!

[Jassar]

Looks creepy! great job :)

[MikeTArtworks]

I just spoke to my contact at Warner Bros. and they were pretty pleased. Hopefully this will lead to some more Comic work. That makes my inner nerd very happy. hah.

I was thinking next I'd like to paint Christian Bale, but not in the armor/rubber suit from the movie. I really like him as Batman, but I also like the classic Alex Ross style uniform. I'm also going to paint Hugh Jackman in the old yellow and blue Wolverine suit.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but movie Superheroes today look more like bikers to me.

[fenderp]

good job but I can't view your working pictures. hey I think It's a frame of a film? Batman or...
I could remember that. I search in net & found your a working pic :
http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/tdk-may9-24.jpg:D

[ahmedadel0077]

wow man this amazing work :applause: , i loved the movie so much

[Abazaba]

Excellent work. The thing that stands out to me is the arm. I feel like hes scrunched up and his hand is right next to his chest, not a comfortable position. Maybe put some shadowing on his chest to help it pop out. Unless thats what you were going for..... in which case ill keep quiet.

Cheers

[MikeTArtworks]

Excellent work. The thing that stands out to me is the arm. I feel like hes scrunched up and his hand is right next to his chest, not a comfortable position. Maybe put some shadowing on his chest to help it pop out. Unless thats what you were going for..... in which case ill keep quiet.

Cheers
Thanks Matthew, that's actually a pretty great call. I didn't even notice it until now! I think adding a cast shadow will solve the problem. At the risk of looking like a complete idiot I am attaching the pict I used for the layout...

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/miket2k3/headshot.jpg

The lighting was different, so I didn't notice the problem with the arm until you pointed it out. By the way, art is just my part time gig... making my "Joker" face actually pays the bills.

Thanks.

[EricUNSL]

I was thinking next I'd like to paint Christian Bale, but not in the armor/rubber suit from the movie. I really like him as Batman, but I also like the classic Alex Ross style uniform. I'm also going to paint Hugh Jackman in the old yellow and blue Wolverine suit.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but movie Superheroes today look more like bikers to me.

Go for it dude! You're on fire right now. Look forward to seeing what you do, if you have the time for it. You should post some of the other works from your site on your gallery.

[SquirrelEmperor]

Looks very nice! It reminded me of the painting that is on the hard cover (behind the paper cover) of The Dark Knight art book, but there are some differences. Unless that is you and they asked you to render it more or something.


But yeah. Joker rocks!
Good job!

[PretendArtist]

Excellent work. The thing that stands out to me is the arm. I feel like hes scrunched up and his hand is right next to his chest, not a comfortable position. Maybe put some shadowing on his chest to help it pop out. Unless thats what you were going for..... in which case ill keep quiet.

Cheers

I think Abazaba makes a good point about the scrunching up of his arm. I think it being scrunched up works. After all, the Joker is a guy who is uncomfortable with himself and tense. If anything I would darken the value a bit on the chest so that the hand pushes forward more, along with decreasing the value contrast. Mostly to keep your eye from wondering so long in the more intricate patterns of his shirt and tie. I kind of wish the mouth would have been a little more expressive and his a little heavier lines between the eyebrows to tense them up a bit. Maybe a bit of awkwardness in how his lips come together due to the scars.

The balance of painterly and tight brushwork is well handled in how it is concise in the right spots without holding us by the hand to much. Beautiful piece and thanks for sharing! Especially the progress pics and reference photo to show us how this piece came together.

[beelow]

I've been a follower of your work for some time Mike. I am mighty glad to see you posting here as well. This is the best painted Joker, Based on the movie, to date. Continue to share your work. If it makes you feel any better, you inspire me. That sounds so gay, not in a cool way, thinking about the way that sounds. Excellent piece.:bowdown:

[phoenix]

Lovely work, love the joker


regards

[mastone]

Awesome :)

[fantasio]

First i have to say: "gorgeous" and congratz for that gig, and don´t worry - my wife says the same but when you want to get a job like this again you need to pull out everything you can out of the hat;-)

Great to see the process aswell!

On the second: i´m myself working in painter x but so far i only transfered the workflow from photoshop into tint and oils and standard brushes, as i have not the time to experiment very much.
what colors or tools did you use for the process?

Really great work man, thanks for the network req. appreciated!

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