Thomas Zahler 10/6/14 Thomas Zahler 10/6/14

My Disney-Marvel Team-Ups, Infinity Style

I've been fascinated by the Disney Infinity figures, not because I play the game but because those designs are just so freakin' cool. (Please, Disney, put out an art book of these designs!) They do a remarkable job of scaling every character to a similar shape and style so that they can all work in the same universe. So, I got it in my head that I wanted to draw some in that style, with a little bit of a my style thrown in. Along the same time, I started thinking of Disney/Marvel pairings that were just too good not to draw. And hence we have these drawings.

I'll be selling the originals of these along with one digital color print. I'll have them at New York Comic-Con, and then they'll be available on my site and at other shows (like Wizard Columbus and Akron Comicon).

I don't think I'm done with these, either. I have some other ideas for pairings that are in my head.

Thomas Zahler 9/17/14 Thomas Zahler 9/17/14

Hello, Sweetie

[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/riversong.jpg" align="left" border="none" link="#" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ] A River Song commission that I just wrapped up this morning.

Thomas Zahler 8/21/14 Thomas Zahler 8/21/14

Weekly Warm Up Round Up: Disney Villains

I'm really enjoying doing these warm up sketches. They're expanding my digital drawing technique and they're also a lot of fun. Inspired by Walt Disney World's upcoming Villains Unleashed event (which, man, I'm tempted to make a stupid road trip down to) I started drawing Disney baddies. Chernabog, from my beloved Fantasia is well-known as my favorite villain. I love the design of Hercules' Hades so I had to do him. I'm a huge Uncle Scrooge fan, so Magica De Spell was a natural. I think Princess and the Frog is vastly-underrated so I did Dr. Facilier. The Mignola-artwork that was the basis from Atlantis was just too pretty to ignore, so I did Roarke and Sinclair from that movie. And I wrapped up with Ratigan from Great Mouse Detective. It's one of Disney's largely forgotten films, and I have the one-two punch of one of my Kubert instructors having worked on it and telling great stories of Vincent Price re-recording his voice to do it better and the great memories of taking my younger brothers to a dollar show to see it.

So enjoy my walk on the evil side.

Thomas Zahler 8/11/14 Thomas Zahler 8/11/14

A Secret of Sketchbooks

While I was at San Diego, I was asked to do the inaugural sketch in someone's sketchbook. She was starting an all-Hydra sketchbook. First up, she wanted a piece involving the Hydra Skull/Octopus logo. Let me let you into the mind of an artist. I always look through a sketchbook I'm given. And while I never do a bad piece, at least not intentionally, there's a point when you see a sketchbook will pieces by comics' legends or pieces that should be legendary and you think, "I gotta bring my A-game to this one." We're competitive, we artists, and sketchbooks bring that out.

So when I got this request, I knew I had to start the book out right. I think it's your holy mission as an artist to start a sketchbook off so well that other artists go "Crap! I have to keep up with this one?!" She wanted the skull. I gave her the skull, a Hydra goon, and a bunch of SHIELD agents. (Also, to heck with all those periods in the title. It's SHIELD to me. I'm not wasting six characters on a tweet on all those dots.)

For more sketchbook insights, Amy Ratcliffe posted an invaluable piece on starting one, too. Check that out here.

[image src=" http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/hydra.jpg" align="left" border="image_border" link="#" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ]

Thomas Zahler 8/11/14 Thomas Zahler 8/11/14

I'm Gonna Wreck It!

My good friend Sarah Kuhn asked me to do this Wreck-It Ralph commission for her husband for their anniversary this year. I'm always a little humbled by these requests. Whenever people make my art part of some special celebration, it's still a little amazing to me. I'm really happy with the finished piece. My Copic blending technique is getting better, and I think the green pixel background works really well for the character. And these characters are just such fun to draw. And Happy Anniversary Sarah and Jeff! [image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/wreckit.jpg" align="left" border="image_border" link="#" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ]

Thomas Zahler 7/3/14 Thomas Zahler 7/3/14

Morning Warm Up: Dr. Mid-Nite

Dr. Mid-Nite has a cool costume and it was a blast to draw it. I've actually done him as a commission before, too. And when I draw him, you have to draw Hooty the Owl, too. [image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/drmidnite_block.png" align="left" border="image_border" link="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/drmidnite_display.jpg" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ]

The idea of an actual medical doctor as a super hero is very interesting to me. There aren't a lot of them, at least not with practices. That's a fund concept I'm going to have to file away for a rainy day.

This one was drawn yesterday, posted today. I'm working on a new one right now. I do post these early to my Twitter feed if you want to get a jump.

Thomas Zahler 6/26/14 Thomas Zahler 6/26/14

My Fiesta Equestria Commission List is OPEN!

I'm going to be a guest at Fiesta Equestria. It's my first time at an MLP Show. Hopefully it won't be my last. Knowing that I'll be the only Pony artist at the show, I thought I'd post my rates and make commissions available ahead of time. I'll certainly be doing them at the show, but if you want to be sure to get one, it's safest to pre-order. Also, if you want something really complicated (The Mane Six playing poker a la Dogs Playing Poker) I can do the work in my studio and figure out an appropriate price. Also, I'll have sketchcards and copies of my books and trades. Maybe even a Love and Capes trade or too as well.

Below are my prices. You can order online, but you'll need to then email me to let me know what characters you'd like.

Below is a gallery of some recent commissions, so you can see what you'l be getting. Thanks!

[pricing_table column="6" position="other" skin="orange" title="BW HEAD" price="$20" price_sub_text="" button_size="color_button1" button_link="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NRTR8ZE3EQTPG" button_text="Order" ]

Head sketch of your favorite Pony in black and white

[/pricing_table]

[pricing_table column="6" position="other" skin="blue" title="CLR HEAD" price="$30" price_sub_text="" button_size="color_button1" button_link="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ELY3FEXBK29D2" button_text="Order" ]

Head sketch of your favorite Pony in color

[/pricing_table]

[pricing_table column="6" position="other" skin="pink" title="BW PONY" price="$40" price_sub_text="" button_size="color_button1" button_link="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=XXCFN96JZ8KAC" button_text="Order" ]

Full body sketch of your favorite Pony with graphic background

[/pricing_table]

[pricing_table column="6" position="other" skin="green" title="CLR PONY" price="$75" price_sub_text="" button_size="color_button1" button_link="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6PVVZBXSUTWU2" button_text="Order" ]

Full body sketch of your favorite Pony in full color with graphic background

[/pricing_table]

[pricing_table column="6" position="other" skin="purple" title="BW PONIES" price="$80" price_sub_text="" button_size="color_button1" button_link="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=QZ7ABSQWKDCXE" button_text=" Order" ]

Two Ponies in black and white with graphic background
Each additional Pony add $25

[/pricing_table]

[pricing_table column="6" position="last" skin="teal" title="CLR PONIES" price="$150" price_sub_text="" button_size="color_button1" button_link="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=PRCASGFE2JHKQ" button_text="Order" ]

Two Ponies in full color with graphic background
Each additional Pony add $40

[/pricing_table]

Thomas Zahler 6/9/14 Thomas Zahler 6/9/14

HeroesCon Auction Piece: The Shazam Family

I'll be at HeroesCon in a couple of weeks, and I try to participate in the art auction each year. I really liked the way my Doctors Who piececame out, and dug that longer format. I've also been reading the Lou Schimer Filmation book, so the World's Mightiest Mortal has been on my brain. I thought it'd be fun to do a long vertical piece of the Shazam Family flying. All the Family. So that meant the Lieutenants Marvel, Hoppy the Marvel Bunny and Uncle Dudley. And for good measure, you can see the wizard Shazam in the background, too.

[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/marvelfamilyWIP.jpg" align="left" border="image_border" link="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/marvelfamilyWIP.jpg" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" width-"200 px" ]

It's my hope that one of these days, DC will give the Marvel Family the same digital treatment they have for Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman. I think Shazam has a lot of room for interpretation, and taking them outside the DC mainstream may be the best place for these characters of different world and sensibilities. I mean, there's a walking, talking tiger and people just accept it.

And yeah, I'd hope I got to work on it, too.

[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/marvelfamily_heroesPRE.jpg" align="left" border="image_border" link="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/marvelfamily_heroesPRE.jpg" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" width-"200px" ]

Anyway, to do this piece, I sketched out all the characters on tracing paper. I tried to give them unique poses, even though they're all doing basically the same thing. I stuck with the DC 70's versions of the characters, except I gave Mary the same swashbuckler boots everyone else has instead of the slippers she wore for a while.

And, as much as I like the idea, I did away with the jacket flap on Captain Marvel's uniform. I know it was from the original and I am kind of a fan of it but there's something about the simpler design that works better for me.

The original piece is 24" high on bristol, and the black and white, as well as a color giclee print, will be donated to the auction at HeroesCon. I might have a couple extra copies of the print at my table, too.

Thomas Zahler 6/3/14 Thomas Zahler 6/3/14

Commission List open!

Coming to Denver Comicon or Heroescon? My commission list is open for both shows. If you're interested in getting a piece, shoot me an email and we'll figure it out.

Thomas Zahler 5/24/14 Thomas Zahler 5/24/14

Have Some Comicpalooza Commissions!

While I'm waiting for United to find the bag that they lost on my direct flight (what the heck?) back from Houston yesterday, I thought I'd share some of the commissions that I did over the long weekend. There was a great mix of Ponies, heroes and some obscure cool stuff. Check out in particular the tae kwon do pony I drew to look like the girl who bought it, and some of the obscure Martian Manhunter characters. Take that David Goyer!