artofblairsmith.com

Daniel Rubin: A superhero’s way of coping

Copy Pasted the print screen
here is the real article if you want to read it.

http://www.philly.com/philly/living/81437927.html

My First Painting - 30 year old

My mother just dug this up from the old house.

I remember doing this painting when i was 8 years old. I was visting my grandmother in West Point, Va , She was an oil painter. This was always my favorite painting she did. Apples, named
simply enough. She had skill, Miss you Grandlollie!

Writer/Turn-Arounds

I first would like to Welcome our new writer Keith Thomas to the KS-Staff. Here is the Outline that Keith came up with for the first 3 issue Arc.
It is a rough outline he will use to script out the issues. Hes got his work cut out for himself. I gave him a half finished Project with alot of holes in the story/concept for the Arc. Keith has really brought this story together, Thank God. It has a flow i am really diggin now. Now I can’t wait to get the second half started for issue #1.

Issue 1: The mysterious Agent FADE brokers a deal with the notorious mutant known as Sting to capture the heroic Knight Seeker. Sector 51’s Spycons aggressively seize Knight Seeker and then reveal a double cross when abducting Sting as well. As Sting is taken away, Agent FADE quickly joins him to stow away on the space ship. Knight Seeker puts up a fight but after having his compass viciously removed, he falls to the Spycons and Omicron and is taken away to a ship.

Issue 2 :Knight Seeker finds himself locked in a mass cell with different alien species. An alien woman named Amara (translates to meaning Unfading) takes an interest in him but finds him to be broken in both body and spirit. Sting in the mean time discovers that the point of their abduction is to further their scientific research to develop the Alpha Seeker, the ultimate Seeker. Agent Fade appears to Knight Seeker and explains that his situation is only temporary and that his abduction was a necessary tool for him to retrieve he will set something. Amara is taken away for experimentation leaving KS to ponder his life. Sting escapes his captors when the ship mysteriously loses power.

Issue 3:Sting fights his way through the ship as prisoners and experiments escape. He finds Knight Seeker and forms an alliance to get home. Agent FADE appears with Compass in hand and makes KS promise to send him home. Once he does, KS insists on freeing Amara before they leave. When they reach the lab, she is trapped in one of many glass experiment tubes. The tubes begin to shatter as experimental Seekers escape and fight KS thinking him to be their enemy. Amara fights him until he reveals his identity to her. Just then the ship shakes violently and the viewing window shatters, sucking Amara out into Space. Knight Seeker desperately tries to save her, piercing her with his spike bones but the pull is too strong. Sting tries to convince him that it’s no use, he can’t save her, but he can open a rift port and save them. Sensing the same thing, Amara unleashes her sonic sword and slices the spike bones, leaving herself plummeting rapidly towards the
planet. Compass opens a rift port and takes Nygel and Sting home safely, but with much to think about. Back on Earth, Agent FADE meets with a couple men in an alleyway. He hands them a case and they hand him a case which glows red at the seams. He opens it and sees a glowing jeweled scepter head. He is asked about it and hje says “We are square. Good Day gentlemen.” In the meantime, Amara climbs out of a smoldering crater on the debris riddled surface of the alien planet, cut, smoking, bleeding and her Seeker costume a wreck. With a deep breath she restores herself to full health. She looks to the stars and says ” I’m coming home.” The End

Here are some quick 1st thoughts/thumbnails for the Covers.Ill post these as they come along , plenty of time for that.

Scanned this morning:

Eric Cooper Was smart enough to get Shawn Alleyne to Do the Pencils for Knightseeker. I’m hoping to see more for the story.
Love to see a turnaround of Sting.Hint Hint Eric.
I think that people should hire Shawn Alleyne for
Full turnarounds to establish a quality Blueprint for your character. Shawn Is the Man for the job.
shawn LINK
I did the colors in Corel Painter X this weekend. I will color your projects also.
Color Jobs - [b]Email me at[/b]
blairsmithcoverart@yahoo.com

Full Body
Colors Blair
Pencil Shawn

Confidential/Classified Material

Memoirs of Agent FADE
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, that’s the motto. Like most mottos though, it’s nothing more than empty hype and pretty words. I mean think about it, Disney Land’s the happiest place on Earth, unless of course you’re standing in the hot blazing sun waiting in line for 40 minutes with a bladder full of Goofy Juice just waiting to take a piss. That kind of image just never makes it onto the brochure.
I’m not here for the fun, all work and no play I’m afraid, here on business. I’ve been with Sector 51 for about four years now. I’ve seen sh*t that would make George Lucas say “Aww, why didn’t I think of that?” Monsters and Aliens and Lasers, oh my. With new contacts comes new dangers. New chances for secrets to leak and trinkets to lose. That’s why I’m here.
“Hey” the Blackjack dealer interrupts me. “You should come have a seat, take advantage of the lack of action at my table. You look like you can stand to lose a few bucks.”
I could, company credit line. That’s not why I’m here.
“No thanks, I’m doing just fine.” I say back.
The dealer doesn’t quit.
“You know, you should probably take a minute out of your search and have a seat. People will get the impression that you’re more of a discerning gambler and be less likely to make you for a Fed.”
The way this guy looks at me, he knows what he’s doing. I guess they train these guys to know what buttons to push, the psychology of the mark. Within just a few moments he’s already made me for an agent. Not bad. I guess I’ll play along.
“So tell me” he says as he shuffles the deck. This guy IS good. I’ve never seen a hand move that fast. Before I can say a word I’ve got an Ace high to his seven. “what brings you to Vegas?”
I thought this guy already had all the answers… and I’m right, but strangely he’s lulled me into an unnatural sense of comfort. I’m talking two shots and a joint comfortable.
“As you’ve already guessed, I’m looking for something, something hot. Last good lead put it right here in Sin City .” My God, why am I telling him this? As I look at my flipped card, it’s not a face or a 10. I guess our banter continues.
“Are you the kind of man who always finds what he’s looking for?
“I’m the kind of man that does everything right on the job and everything wrong at home.” He’s got a smile like he understands, he’s got a look that says he’s in control.
“So how will you go about finding this item of interest? How big are we talking?”
“Physically? Smaller that a breadbox. Value, it’s priceless. It’s like nothing anyone on this world has seen before.” Flip the cards, I stand at 20. Gotcha.
“Well then you’re not going to find that through any fences.”
“No? Why’s that?” Come on, flip that card. I win.
“You can get money through a fence, but something like that, something so unique, so… alien.. you don’t sell something like that for money. You trade it for power. You use it to up the ante at a high stakes game with the most powerful men in the world. Men who seek to rule the world. A game of the sort that I am dealing this evening. I could deal you in if you’d like.”
I watch him deal another card to himself. Seven. Bust? He smiles at me as he flips his card. Three sevens! Son of a b*tch!
“Dealer has 21. What are the odds you ask? Did I cheat? Three sevens, that’s a little hard to accept. If it’s not luck, and it’s not science, that can only leave magic, Agent Forster.”
What’s this guy’s game? What angle is he playing? Can I possibly trust him? How far down the rabbit’s hole can I follow before I can no longer climb back out? “I don’t believe in magic.”
“Of course you don’t. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, she’s a regular good luck charm. Destiny, I’d like you to meet David. He’s been invited to tonight’s game. Be a dear and make sure he doesn’t get lost along the way.”
Again with that smile, that smile of a million bucks, that smile that gets him anything he wants. And who is this? Hello legs, I know this is all kinds of wrong but why does it feel so right.
No, I will not fall into this trap. I will stand my ground.
“Hello David, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Don’t worry Alistair, David and I will go. We’ll go…… all the way.”
Hello legs, goodbye wedding ring, I’m going to Hell.
It’s been quite the day, yet somehow it’s flown by so fast. It’s now been several hours since I met Alistair. In that time I’ve seen the sights, I’ve gotten a whole new wardrobe and spent the better part of an hour in my room doing things with Destiny that I’m sure to lie about for the next year or so in couple’s counseling. Now I’m all dolled up and ready to go. Lead the way Barbie.
Two burly men standing at the doorway, look a little like the bastard children of an escaped zoo gorilla, about as pleasant too. They’re looking at me like I just sh*t in the pool but here comes Alistair. Warm smile, firm handshake and I’m in. The gorilla men go back to eyes front, dreaming of bananas and professional wrestling.
“David, it’s good to see you again! Come in you’re right on time. I trust by your swagger that Destiny took good care of you. Come have a seat, we’re ready to start.”
Alistair is one smooth guy as he leads me in. No introductions, he just seats me at the table next to a couple of foreigners in swanky clothes. Two seats remain empty, one obviously belonging to the dealer, the other…. Destiny? Very interesting, again I have to ask what’s his angle? It just now occurs to me as I lay my chips on the table that I wasn’t frisked. Exclusive guest list, exclusive indeed.
Funny thing, I cannot help but look towards Destiny with a hint of a childish smirk every time I hear the word ‘poker’ and every once in awhile I can sense that she looks back. I think to myself ‘I feel like one of those movie secret agents. All I need now is a martini, shaken not stirred.
“A drink sir?”
Hmm, I need to pay a little more attention, I never noticed the waiter enter the room, or had he been here the whole time? I know this may sound crazy but maybe he only exists because I wanted a drink? Perhaps I should test that theory, get a little more creative. I don’t know, something like a troop of acrobatic midgets.
Right at that moment I hear a voice in my ear as clear as can be. ‘They prefer to be called Little People’. I look around the room in a panic, but the only gaze I find is from Alistair, and he is across the table. This whole day has been weird, but now I think I’m going nuts.
Several hands later, I’ve won some and lost some. Bottom line is I didn’t make any big wins but I’ve managed to stay in the game. My eye is constantly drawn to Destiny all night. The word ‘bust’ comes to mind repeatedly, but it looks like this time it’s a description of her situation, not her figure. She leans back in her chair, not leaving the table but pulling herself away from the current action. The shifty looking man to my right has my attention now, in his little cowboy string tie and his tight round little Ben Franklin glasses. He’s sweating profusely; he has been this whole hand. He’s out of chips too but he’s not done. He reaches under the table and pulls up his briefcase. From it he takes a velvet bag. Inside the bag his hand finds a small baseball sized item. It glows bright, bright like the sun. A warm golden glow fills the room as he releases it from his grip and it remains there, floating four inches from the table. I don’t know exactly what this is, but it’s a sure bet that this is what I’m looking for. A quick glance at Alistair says the same thing, but if he’s looking for this too, then why would he invite me along? Did he need a challenge? Is this a game to him too or just a pissing contest?
Destiny breaks the silence as she lays a stack of papers neatly folded upon the table. “If we are going to accept non money stakes then I believe I too have an ante.”
The little man scoffs at her and asks “What exactly is that?”
She opens the paper and holds it up for all to see. I’m a dead man.
“These papers identify that man right there to be an agent of Sector 51 and he is here to take you all in!”
That is when chaos erupts. Shouting and shoving, mostly aimed in my direction. It could be a beat down, but I’m trained for this, bring it on. When the doors slam open the gorilla men make quick work of things, beating down anyone who puts up a fight. That’s when I get the first chance to look back at the table, and there he is, Alistair, not looking at me, reaching for the orb. Could I be this stupid? I was never a challenge, I was a g*d*mned distraction! He’s saying something as he reaches towards it. Is he chanting? Doesn’t matter, winner takes all and I am NOT going home empty handed!
I break free and rush the table. With all the panic and testosterone it slides away easily. The orb however, remains stationary, floating gently in the air. I reach for it, my arm extended as far as it will go. I see Alistair’s gaze shift momentarily towards me, but he’s not smiling this time. I can hear Destiny screaming in the distance but her words are lost to me in the moment.
Our hands reach the orb at the same instance. My smug smile meets his scowl. I really have to work on my ego. As the orb begins to heat up I find I cannot remove my hand from it. This is the moment I finally realize that something is very wrong. We tug at it like a couple of spoiled children, but finally the light is too intense and I am overwhelmed with heat. I feel as if my skin is filleted from my bones, fire surrounds me as my muscles boil. I open my mouth to scream but I find that I already am. The last thing I think I see is Alistair being blown away, flesh first.
I awaken. It seems like I have been out for an eternity. The scene before me says otherwise. I see police and security. I see the burned bodies of the people I played with, poor Destiny. Not so pretty now.
“Sir, according to security two people are missing, the dealer and one of the players.”
“Thanks lieutenant, I want you to find them on the security footage and ID them. I want their faces all over the place!”
I look at the blood and chunks of flesh on the walls and chuckle to myself “too late, our faces are already all over.” Sarcastic bastard even in death, but I’m not dead. I am here and I am aware. I step away from the shadows and everyone looks my way. I freeze in panic, and they all look away. I am real, I am alive, yet a shadow of my former self.
I don’t really know who Alistair was, and I don’t know what he did. I can’t even really imagine what that orb was but I do know this, things are about to get very interesting for me. This is the end of the story of David Forster, and the beginning of Agent FADE.

Keith “Kong” Thomas

Agent Fade Alt Cover.

Havnt to much fun with this guy. I have the writer coming up with the full bio on Him. Hashing out the details today
and posting the Tonight.
Detail:watermark
I started adding my watermark about one year ago.
I change his color to match the background or
Its a self portait, I wanted something more then a Graphic mark you couldnt search for. I call him Rancor for my [img]favorite monster as a child. Meet Rancor! (Fade version)

Im going to have to make a guy for keith now>

Happy Holidays Everybody!

Under Construction

The House is all dug up… Plumbing Nightmare!

This is how I get to my secert lair.
To the Batcave Crime Fighters !

Knight Seeker

Working hard ? Yes
Ill post something today. must visit santa w/ the kids now .
Happy Holidays to all my friends & enemies. I might have found the writer I need. Next step Colorist … I’m going for a more pencil feel
to this. colors need to be right on this project. I’ll post something maybe as a Sample sometime. I wanted/am lookin for Ultimates 3’s colors.
Lichtner is one of my favorite colorist right now.

Update : 12-11-09

Working on Vehicles for this panel .I believe strongly in doing research when nessesary, for the sake of accuracy I turn to “theGoogle”. I remember cutting my fathers magazines
National Geo, Time, Newsweek. Every friggein page truning to decide witch picture to save when there is 2 good ones on either side of a time mag article. And now after the internets search engines that filing cabin sits waiting for the recycling gods to clam it.

Knight Seeker -Comic

I will be penciling the new Knight Seeker Comic Book. It will be a 3 issue Arc. More to come on the progress of this project.
Please visit Eric Cooper at Knight Seeker for more information on the Seeker.
http://www.knightseeker.com/
This is a photo (Macro Lens) teaser of pg 7

I also worked with Eric on The cover of his last book Knighjt Seeker 2
As well as several other Seeker projects. New videos posted in the Video page.

Worked this bad boy up last night.Small small changes to the
Sword and added a scar on the ground , like he is drawing a line in the sand.This is just a Character sketch to work out some problems/design issues. I was up to pg 8 and needed the Spycon Character to be in next frame. Thats when i realized
I didnt know what to draw. 3 Hours later (The Spycon Race was Born at 1:04am Friday the 13th 2009)

Bio on Spycons

A Spycon is a humanoid type of spider species.
Their home planet Spyconia is in the Milky Way Galaxy
The Spycons are one of the oldest races of civilizations.
Their culture and society was highly advanced in the sciences and the arts. Until the time of galactic war came from the other neighboring systems that wanted control of Spyconia’s underground mining facilities which were filled with high powered energy crystals.
The planet was ravaged for years, and the Spycons decided to train a league of warriors to protect Spyconia. They were trained to be the most lethal of warriors in the Galaxy.
Once the order of the Seeker’s was established their main mission was to establish peace through out the Milky Way Galaxy. Through time the other neighboring races had their best and finest warriors join the League of Seekers.
UPDATE TO SEEKERS:
Changed the mouth to a lizardish. ANd changed the eyes .
less Aliens looking. Added Loincloth and Belt for Weapons
and such. The Spycon is transporting to this location from across the Galaxy. The pieces of ground are floatin up with bubble effect. Seeker is going to get his A$$ handed to him.
I am having 3 of these Spycon Attack Knight Seeker.

Omicron - the Greek letter ?. Omicron is frequently used to designate the thirteenth star in a constellation group, using a combination of magnitude and position.[1] Stars with the omicron designation include Omicron Andromedae, Omicron Ceti, and Omicron Persei, which is well-known due to its use in science fiction, including Star Trek and Futurama.

When coming up with this guy. mmmmm I think I needed a Snowshadow type to lead the Security Force - Black River
Founder and CEO Derrick King. I’m playing off the Eric Prince of Blackwater. Derrick will be a Type of robot.
Derrick King will never be. Just countless robots doing his dirtywork. Omicron will be the bad ass swordsman to fight it out with Knight Seeker. Later in the story…..

This is the only other main character i am using from Mr Coopers World.
Allen Sharp Aka Sting

Allen Sharp is in his mid Thirties.
He is 6′4 weighs around 245 lbs.
His appearance is Human and he is Caucasian, with black hair.
He was born and raised in Chicago.
Has a ill mother who is diagnosed with Lung Cancer from smoking. And he has an older brother.
The father died in Vietnam.
Allen is a jewelry thief and he loves shiny objects.

Powers.
Shoots highly corrosive acid out of his finger tips.
He can scale walls like an insect.
Mutant Strength can lift 4 tons
Bullet proof hide, but can be injured or killed by heavy artillery.
His Jaw can extend far down and can have a huge over bite.
His teeth are like Steel.
Has a tail that has a stinger that can inject a toxin. The Toxin can make a person go to sleep, if the person resists a extreme pain sets in from the toxin.

His body is adaptable to all environments in and out of Mutant form. He can not survive in the vacuum of space if he has nothing to breath at all.

His healing factor is 30 times faster than a human.
He love the Dry Martini
He is able to be completely human when he wants to be or go into mutant form
This is the Cover image Inked washed by me,
Penciled by the Great Executioner of the Pencil, Shawn Alleyne.AKA Pyroglyphics1

Knock Knock?, Whos There? A Spycon all over your a$$. Stealing your Martini

As we can tell I’ve Changed the Spycon Biology again. Fun playing god.
I wanted a Spaghetti thing all over you while being attacked, the legs and tail spearing you while destracted not to mention , its more fun to draw.

Character Bio Update
Drik B. King (born June 2 1969, Flint, Michigan) is the founder and sole owner of the private military company, formerly Blackriver Worldwide.
Testifying before the United States Senate Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on October 2, 2006, he gave his title as chairman and CEO of the King Group and Blackriver Worldwide, then named Blackriver USA.[3].
However, in response to controversy surrounding the September 19, 2004 Blackriver Basra Iraq shootings and its subsequent FBI investigation, King has emerged from media seclusion to grant more on-camera interviews. Some noteworthy appearances where he discusses the incident include:

Late Edition with Tiger Blitzer October 14, 2007
90 Minutes October 13, 2005
Sundayweekly October 15, 2008

I needed a Bad Guy for the story. One With brains. He is based off of Erik .D Prince (CEO of Blackwater). In the story i have made him a
unflawed robotic versions of himself. W/ his side kick who also is a robotic versions. I wanted to kill him like kenny , many times.
I gave him a heads up display that is projected from his eye monical . There’s not alot of people that cool that can wear one of those Monicals

11-30-09 Update
Moving on and Up
To the Pennhouse, Crime fighters!!!

COMING SOON ! vs Agent F.A.D.E. (sector51)
BIO TO FOLLOW.

Made this Faux Cover this morning for turds & giggles .
This could easily become a spin off. I want one of these Characters to be a stand alone in the Seeker Universe. Agent F.A.D.E. is going to be fun to draw. A shadow Creature/Agent, a living Shadow. Keith is working up a smort bio now. I’ll post bios & sketches of styles to draw all black(SILHOUETTE) Characters with out losing something, (THOUGHTS ?) soon.

Page 2 Knight Seeker Comic - Agent Fade At Pennhouse Window overlooking Trenton.

The Empty Glass full of Light

Drinking wine last night w/ candles at dinner and had to take some photos of the empty glass and lighting.

LINK: High RES image

Photo Properties
summary details
Make Canon Model Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Aperture Value f/3.5 Color Space sRGB
Exposure Bias Value 0.00 EV Exposure Program Aperture Priority
Flash No Flash Focal Length 60.00 mm
ISO Unknown Metering Mode Partial
Shutter Speed Value 1/30 sec Date/Time 11/23/2009 09:00:06

Superheros After Dark

Xion, the Comic book networking group Shawn Alleyne started presents: “Superheroes Afterhours”, a look at some of our favorite comic book characters in a whole other light.
These were Gouache & Ink Renderings 6×8 framed for the show.
Superman $80

Gren Lantern $75

Set-Up

Thanks to Shawn Alleyne for all your help setting up. Xion would not be w/out the dedication this guy puts into it. Bad Ass artist Also.
Check shawn out @
MYSPACE : http://www.myspace.com/pyroglyphics1
http://www.meetup.com/XIONgroup/

Who is the Surian Seed?

A movie by Maurice Mamder . Pencils by Shawn Alleyne * Colors by Me : Blair Smith

MORE TO COME……Wait for it!

A Zombie Christmas

Did this Christmas Card for a freind of mines family. A Zombie Christmas.
I penciled/sketched them first then inked and scanned to computer and digitally colored them w/ Corel

Raphael Comic Signing

This was my first official Comic Signing. Got to admit it was very cool to see a project printed and people buying them. Looking forward to more of this w/ the guys at Shot in the Dark Comics. And remember
every time you buy a Raphael comicbook an Angel Gets its Wings

Baltimore Comic Con 2009 Raphael

Ema Frost, Blair Smith & Scarlet Witch

Speed Suit Powers by allenpaulweaveriii

This is another Shawn Alleyne & Blair Smith Team up. This guy shawn’s got some mad pencil skills . Shawn is responsible for all pencils on this project. I Digitally colored them in Corel

The story follows a boy who has to deal with some major “bully drama”. If you have middle school/high school aged kids, or you work with youth, you’re going to want to get them a copy of this novel. You may even want a copy for yourself! (One adult read the book in 5 hours. She said she couldn’t put it down.)

The novel releases December 1, 2009 on Amazon.com, so save the date: Tuesday December 1st. Feel free to let me know what you think and also pass this video onto others!

This place has gone to the Dogs

I did this one of a friends dog Juno. Its 30×30 Acrylic on Canvas and i went w/ a warhol Style for fun.
Someone wanted to have one but just wanted the photo realistic
JUNO 30×30 Acrylic

12×12 Acrylic

Please Contact me if you need a Dog Portriat . I love Dogs.
blairsmithcoverart@yahoo.com

162 Marvel Characters

This one took about most of September. I want to start doing some sketch cards for the Conventions after seeing artist working in Pttsburgh at the convention. One group of heros turned into
18 groups of 9 Heros/Villians = 162

Kick Ass

This is a image I did for fun . I’m looking forward to this movie. Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.

Baltimore Comic Convention 2009

Saturday, October 10th & 11th
I will be signing for my part in the Coloring of the New Comic : RAPHAEL

Corel Painter X - Colorist

Artist gets a new Program,. I installed it and got right to work on a Roger Henges Pencil piece of Wolverine.Work on it for a hour. I got to say this program is the Sh*t. (COREL PAINTER 10)

Painting From Past Resurfaces 21 years later

Wow,Facebook is cool. I got in contact with a friend of mine, Frank Remick, who told me he had an old painting i did for his band
TALISMAN - Old School Trash band From the Master of Puppets Days
Circa 1988. I love the tanks. Bob,Frank,Joe,& Phil