I always enjoy #inktober. Pen & ink is one of my favorite illustration techniques and probably the one I use most often. I always find it fun to do a few extra drawings in October for #inktober. Here are the two drawings I’ve done so far in 2023. As you can see, my 1930’s theme remains. Each of these drawing uses a different approach. The girl has quite a bit of stippling but the hoodlum has none, using instead parallel ink marks with some cross-hatching. I’m getting used to my new inking brushes, they’re fantastic for hair.
Speaking of pen & ink, this week’s ROCKETEER is a small portfolio of Guy Gifford’s science fiction-themed cartoons from the 1940’s. I first discovered Gifford’s work while researching PLANET STORIES for a presentation & article. He ran a delightful series called, “The Ringer Family” in that magazine and was a contributor to the letters column—The Vizigraph. I was so intrigued that I looked into him further and discovered that he also had cartoons in AMAZING STORIES and FANTASTIC ADVENTURES during the same period. Considering the heaviness of world events at the moment, I thought it a good idea to lighten the mood this week. You can read my post on Guy Gifford’s work on Substack.
As a special treat, here’s an extra cartoon that didn’t make the cut for the ROCKETEER.
My Grandfather was Guy Gifford. Thank you for republishing his work. I remember seeing some of these storyboards as a child.
How cool is that! Thank you for writing in and letting me know. Your grandfather’s work was wonderful. If you ever feel like doing an interview about him for this blog, please let me know. It’d be great fun for readers to find out more about him. Cheers!