Strangely Drawn

Box of delights - Unbelievable!

2011-09-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

Now this is what I call a pleasant surprise!

Unbelievable:The Man Who Ate Daffodils, Unbelievably Original Artwork Competition!

2011-09-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

To mark the imminent launch of my very first graphic novel from Markosia, Unbelievable: The Man Who Ate Daffodils (see below for ordering details) I've been feeling extremely generous and decided to run an unbelievably original competetition.

Winners will be picked at random from entries recieved by the deadline of midnight October 31st.

The 1st prize winner, will win for themselves a signed original, unlettered page of finished A3 comic art from the novel*, featuring two of the main characters, Ben and Rax.
*(Due to size and postage, the 1st prize will be sent unframed).

The 2nd prize winner will receive an original framed and signed concept art character sketch (from a choice of two images - see above sketches).

Finally the third prize winner will receive a signed copy of the book (I may even throw in a sketch with the signature).

As an added bonus, the 1st prize winner will be also be offered a small cameo in the sequel. (Please bare in mind you may not survive this experience.... on the page that is).

So, `how do I enter this fantastic competition?' I hear you ask....

Simple - answer the three questions below correctly and email your answers by Midnight on October 31st 2011 to swyattart@googlemail.com.

The Rules:

One entry per person, please mark your entry 'Unbelievable Art Competition'.
Winners will be picked from all correct entries recieved by the deadline, at random and notified by email.
I'll also publish the results here and on the official Unbelievable: The Man Who Ate Daffodils Fan Page on Facebook

The Unbelievable Art Competition Questions:

Q1: How does Ben Ellis first encounter the Beast of Bryn Boncath?

Q2: What inscription is written in the book that William gives to Ben?

Q3: Which subterranean creatures chase after Ben in the tunnels beneath Bryn Boncath Hill? (True name, not nickname)

Best of luck!
(Please note that my decision is final and I won't be bribed, harrassed or prodded with a sharp stick and I can easliy arrange for a visit from a very large black beast with red glowing eyes).

Unbelievable: The Man Who Ate Daffodils is available for pre-order for release on October 1st from Markosia, Amazon, WHSmith, Blackwells, Waterstones, etc and from most good comic stores: Diamond order code: AUG110740

Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Markosia Enterprises Ltd (1 Oct 2011)
ISBN-10: 1905692609
ISBN-13: 978-1905692606

A sucker born every minute!

2011-08-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable: The Man Who Ate Daffodils is being launched this October as part of a double-whammy of suspense fuelled horror, alongside the tentacled monstrosity of menace that is The Vessel of Terror and what a stable mate it is!

This atmospheric, pot-boiler of Lovecraftian chills by Magnus Aspli (writer), Dave Acosta (art) and Goran Kostadinoski (colors) is a fantastic , disturbing and surprising read!

Aspli builds tension and horror in deftly planned beats, drawing you into the black inky recesses like a cold tentacle until he pulls out all the stops and you’re dragged downwards, fully immersed in the inescapable horror awaiting you.

Acosta’s art is polished. Strokes of imaginative flair, tight composition and storytelling skills create a solid, moody environment reminiscent of The Abyss or The Thing, throwing in some lovely, shadowy & cinematic close-ups and startling graphic reveals. The art has a more organic look on the monochromatic flashback/ sub-plot sequences which punctuate the main plot, yet retains and compliments the overall feel of impending dread throughout the story.

What word can I use to describe Kostadinoski’s colours? `Astounding’ springs to mind here!

The art is beautifully complimented with a well considered palette and there are real flourishes throughout which make for a very handsome looking book .

Here’s a little about the plot:

Out in the Arctic Ocean, the research vessel Alesia manages to capture a mysterious Magnapinna squid, an animal never before captured by mankind. The researchers, led by Maria, decide to take the specimen back to port in Bergen, Norway. However, what they bring home isn’t just a scientific wonder but also a thing more horrific than Pandora’s Box. Soon, madness creeps into the crew of the Alesia and friends become monsters.

The Vessel of Terror is available for pre-order now from Markosia: ISBN: 978-1-905692-68-2

I've created a Monster!

2011-08-11T02:17:00.000-07:00

`My back, my back!...'I'm back, I'm back!'

After a brief hiatus (due to recovering from a recurring back injury) I'm back on the blog with some wonderful, amazing, nay 'Unbelievable' news!

These are exciting times for me, not only am I involved in a myriad of projects (which I'll tell you about later on in this blog) but my graphic novel Unbelievable: The Man Who Ate Daffodils is due to be published soon (just 51 days to go) and is available for pre-order now!

Here are the details!

Diamond Previews #275 Page 222

Order Number: AUG110740

This 160 page monster is scheduled for release on October 1st 2011 (just in time for Halloween), and is also available to pre-order from Markosia's own website and from the following retailers:

Here's the ISBN: 1905692609

You can also read the first 30 pages in this exclusive preview Myebook - Unbelievable - The Man Who Ate Daffodils

It's been a long time coming, having initially spawned the idea for the story 7 years ago (!) and it's been a hell of a journey getting to this point, there have been highs and considerable lows and without going into great detail I must say the proof is in the publishing and I'm so, so glad Unbelievable has found its place in Markosia's stable of titles.

I'll be updating soon with dates for signings, book launch etc, so stay tuned as I also plan a competition to launch the book with some of the original comic art and signed concept sketches as prizes!

As for those other projects....

A little later in the year, there'll be a more horror, with some anthological art duties in the form of undead shenanigans for AccentUK 's 2ombies! (Zombies 2 anthology). Resurrection Shop is written by Craig Gilmore, my co-creator on Senior Citizen, a short for the Sleepless Phoenix Anthology: Survival Stories last year. Look here for a sneaky peek at the artwork.

Putting the undead and horrific to rest for a moment, I'm excited to be able to announce I'll be working again with my letterer of Unbelievable, Nic Wilkinson and her partner in crime, the incomparable Cy Dethan `Master of mind-f***s' and writer of Cancertown, Slaughterman's Creed, White Knuckle on an amazing new title named Phantom Lung And The Garden Of Dead Liars here is some concept art!

Returning to the genre I love, fantasy and folklore, I'll also be working with Lee Robson (Babble, Chosen) on 'The Lang Pack', a short story for `Into The Woods - A Fairytale Anthology' devised by Stacy Whittle of SPBM fame.

Prepare to see something a little different coming out of my pencil soon, when I'll be taking on the art for Ian Sharman's teenage super team title Alpha Gods ! Click here and here for a sneaky peek at some concept sketches for the team's leonine powerhouse Outrage!

Last, but by no means least, Overload #0 out now from Martin Conaghan, writer of Burke & Hare, sees a re-printed 'And He Did', originally featured in the Sleepless Phoenix Anthology and one of my personal faves from the last year or two.

With another story for 10thology on the horizon for 2012's Cardiff Comic Expo launch, the concluding Volume 2 of Unbelievable and a few secret projects in the works, look's like it will be a very busy time to come!

My back's hurting just thinking about it!

Till next time,

Thanks for all of the support!

Some `Unbelievable' good news coming very soon!

2011-06-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

WATCH THIS SPACE...

Original & unique 10thology artwork - worth `shelling' out for.

2011-02-22T15:29:00.000-08:00

This Saturday sees the Cardiff International Comic Expo arrive with a bang at the Mercure Holland House Hotel and also the launch of 10thology (which I'm sure you've read about on my blog previously, but you can check here for an update).

Recently at these events, I've offered my services (and sketching arm) for a very good cause named Draw the World Together but for this con, I've decided to produce something a little more three dimensional to auction off for the charity and something which ties in to my story in the 10thology book, about a caveman who has to steal a Terror Bird egg as a right of passage.

With this in mind, I purchased an ostrich egg* a few months ago after hatching an original idea.

*(Humanely obtained and chick-less, I might add, its from a company which sells them for decorating purposes and lampshades(!)

Here are the results, featurning Skrumm and a Kraak (Terror Bird), which hopefully will go to someone willing to shell out a few for a totally unique, hand drawn/painted ostrich egg, with proceeds going to this very worthwhile charity.

(*Gorilla tripod stand not included)

The egg will be securely packaged for the winning bidder and will be on display alongside the original artwork for the story, at my table in the artists alley throughout the event.

Please drop by and say hello if you're attending.

Cracking!

See you there!

Si

Pecking order, hatching an idea for a story.

2011-01-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

So it came to me one lunchtime, browsing through an old copy of SFX trying to wrack my brains what story I'd like to write and draw for 10thology, a collection of 10 stories, 10 pages in length by the cream of the crop of Welsh creators & creators living & working in Wales from the Small Press & Indie scene to industry legends such as Mike Collins.

My 'cream' was clotting at that moment, then something 'cropped' up...

It's sometimes amazing where inspiration strikes, a flash of memory, a throwaway comment, a image catching your eye - and sometimes when the universe isn't looking, all of these pieces come together.

So, there I am, munching on a soggy egg mayonaise baguette in the half hour's lunchbreak I get in the 'day job', reading an article about one of my childhood heroes - Ray Harryhousen and trying to think of something cool, original and exciting with a 'typically Welsh' flavour; when I spy the sports pages of the local paper my colleague has left on the kitchen table.

There are a few pictures of a local rugby match. I'm looking at the shape of the ball and how some of the players remind me of Neanderthals, with their beaten and hammered brows, squashed noses and general brick s**thouse physiques. I'm also thinking of how horrible this egg sandwich is as I read a paragraph on one of Harryhousen's films, Mysterious Island and something starts to germinate.

I'm remembering my wide-eyed excitement on seeing the giant Phorusrhacos (Terror Bird) scene on the beach (if you're an afficianado of Ray Harryhousen's work, you'll know what I'm referring to, or failing that you've more than likely seen Roland Emmerich's 10,000bc with the Terror Bird attack).

Then it happens, one of those purely intuitive moments when my brain starts to piece together all of these disjointed fragments into one random jigsaw puzzle. More often than not, a simple idea or ideas, twisted, wrung out & reverse engineered into something bizarre but workable. (I'd like to think at this point that a giant Terror Bird came crashing though the skylight window above me and I shouted `Eureka!' or ' I Shall strike fear into the cowardly and superstitious by becoming a Terror Bird!' or somesuch, but no, even I'm not that geeky! ;-P

Now, many of you have gathered I'm Welsh by now (there's lovely isn't it!), my ogn - Unbelievable has a typically Welsh theme and flavour, I am not however 'stereotypically' Welsh.

I don't speak Welsh, I know a handfull of words, a few sentences to get by, my pronunciation isn't bad at all and am not 'ashamed I don't know my own language', I speak 2 languages, English (in a Welsh accent) and Bad language, reserved for the inept, stupid and other drivers.

I don't like Rugby, there...I said it, I'm fine with people who do, play and live it, just not my cup of tea, pint of beer, whatever! I've never been very sporty, I may have 'Rugby player's legs, but they end in clown's feet and I hated playing it in school as I'd spend more time eating grass and plowing the mud with my face than running with a ball and Mamma Wyatt's boy liked his clothes clean and his nose pretty.

However, I digress, you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, so I was going to do a story based on the fictitious origin of the game of Rugby, set in a prehistoric valley in primordial Wales.

My 'players' were not only going to look like, but be Neanderthals! Not only that, they were going to be playing the most dangerous game of Rugby ever invented and all for the sake of their chief's breakfast!

Well, that's not entirely true, there was a rite of passage tale thrown in and a bit of sibling rivalry... and lots of giant Terror Birds!

Now I may ruffle a few feathers in the Palaentology field, I am aware that `phorusrhacids' were native to South, then North America, they migrated North during the 'Great American Interchange', its just that, in my universe, a few kept going and crossed Pangea to what was once Wales and then they became land locked!

It's my universe and my 'artistic license' is fully updated with my current details, available on request, you go back to your fossils and I'll go back to my comics.

So, after hatching the idea, the pitch, for what was to become 'The Valley of Gwadni' was submitted to the 10thology* team along with one or two sketches for approval. *At this time, the book was just known as 'The Welsh Book' and went through a number of different names and suggestions.

So why 'Valley of 'Gwadni'? It was partly as an homage to one of my heroes, an artistic genius who put such character into the painstakingly animated creatures who enlivened my childhood curiousity for monsters and mythology and gave us the superb Sindbad movies and the original Clash of the Titans.

One of my all time favourite Harryhousen movies is The Valley Of Gwangi, a tale of cowboys, a Forbidden valley and a nasty T-Rex, amongst other stop-motion dinosaurs! (Check it out, there's a great T-Rex versus elephant battle). What better title for a Welsh prehistoric tale than a 'Valley of .....'?

Subsequently trawling through the 'G' section of an old Welsh/English Dictionary, I came across the word `Gwadni', which translates as 'cut & run' - and for the title of this tale it was bloody perfect!!

As in most of my ideas for stories, they play out and replay constantly in my head (it's pretty full in there sometimes). I kept this one warm for a few weeks, planning and plotting and researching and even offered out (via Twitter) some cameo spots in my tale to the willing. There are a few characters that may be recognisable in their Neanderthal physiques, not all survive and some even include a few of my fellow creators who unfortunately could not participate for the 1st edition of 10thology, had to get them in the book somehow.

10thology is due to be launched at the Cardiff International Comic Expo next month. It's an astounding anthology from what I've seen and read so far and all of the tenaceaous creators involved have brought such an eclectic mix of stories to the table, that I believe it's going to be one of the best all ages UK anthologies out there!

All kudos to my fellow Pen Dragon, Stuart Tipples for organising and co-ordinating this book!

Here are a couple of preliminary sketches and a page of random panel images from my story, `The Valley of Gwadni' for you to enjoy.

(Nik-Nik, D'Than and Sakot character sketches).

(Terror Bird/Phorosrhacos preliminary sketches, having researched, I enlarged the skull and beak to make even more menacing).

Once again, I'm a glutton for punishment, but an 'old school' tale deserves an 'old school' approach and so all of the artwork for The Valley Of Gwadni has been hand drawn, inked and coloured. Never one to be completely satisfied with my work, there are a few panels that I'm 'quite' happy with. Even had to scrap the final page and re-draw from scratch when I learned the hard way, how a simple mistake in picking the wrong inking pen can result in colour bleeds on final artwork! Spitting feathers is an understatement, but on a positive note, it created a different ending which I'm more happier with.

Next time, I'll be blogging about an especially 'egg-citing' piece of original 3D art I'm working on for the Cardiff show, one which one lucky person could get their hands on by `shelling' out a few for charity!

The rest is Pre-History, as they say.

Unbelievable - A new lair for the beast!

2010-11-17T12:50:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to announce today that my fantasy/horror ogn Unbelievable will be coming soon from Markosia Enterprises, with the first Digital Comics chapter available in the first quarter of 2011!

Look for more updates here!

(My thanks to the wonderful Yel Zamor for her amazing colouring job on my illustration above).

Si

Page 3 Stunners!

2010-08-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

I am conscious that I haven't blogged for a while, so here's what I've been up to recently while I have been waiting for my graphic novel to be published (don't mention................................!)

Here's Page 3 of a short story which will feature in a new anthology due out later this year.

The story is called 'And He Did' written by Martin Conaghan and is a very sweet, creationist tale with a difference.

Now I'm not overly religious and I never thought I'd get to illustrate 'Himself', especially in a comic (quite a challenge!) Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed working on this story and I hope that its received well.

...and to think it all started with a mouse.
(But that's a tail for another day!)

Ink and Neocolor Crayon washes on heavyweight B4 Canson Fanboy Manga Paper.

Here's Page 3 of `Senior Citizen', a short story for a new anthology due out later this year. (The second of two shorts I'm illustrating)

The story is written by Craig Ian Gilmore and is a bittersweet snapshot of the final years of an assassin's life.

Inks and Neocolor Crayon washes on A4 Deleter Manga Art Paper.

These two stories are now in the bag and I've got ten pages of prehistoric terror to produce for 10thology next , 'The Valley Of Gwadni'.

Once that's done its a werewolf tale and a zombie short to illustrate.

So keeping busy.......while I wait........with my gn........(sigh!)

Till next time, when I should have some big birds to show you.

Cheers,

Countdown to Bristol3 (Avert your Eyes!)

2010-05-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Batteries charged (check), here are the final images of the fully painted version of Crosshair (on a Blisterman base).

This one's a little gory and those that know me very well, will know I have a slight phobia about anything to do with eyes, and are probably wondering how come I did this.

CROSSHAIR

...and here are CROSSHAIR and BADMOUTH together for scale.

(One's 'armless the other's got a gob on him!)

I hope you all enjoyed seeing these, maybe if I have time in the future I'll do some more, but for now, I have some comicbook artwork to finish and a portfilio to sort out.

Till tomorrow people,

Si

Countdown to Bristol 2

2010-05-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

Okaaaaaaaaaay for those of you who can't wait to see the final painted sculpts, here is the painted version of Badmouth and the final images of my beast, RAX. All 3 sculpts are drying after being glazed, including the Crosshair one.

I'll post the final painted version of Crosshair later this evening, undfortunately the camera battery has just died, typical!

BADMOUTH

RAX

Bristol countdown.....3 Days to go!

2010-05-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

With just 3 days until the Bristol Comic Show
I'm slowly, but surely checking off the 'to do' list.

Here's a quick taste of one of the sculpts I'll be bringing along to the Insomnia stand, one of the characters from Cancertown , Badmouth! So, if you're passing, why not drop by to see him in the flesh, he won't bite!

I had so much fun sculpting this big ball of teeth and trouble. the painting stage is nearly finished, here's a sample image of the unpainted finished sculpt, to whet your appetite.

New post tomorrow.

Cheers,

Si

Oh what a circus, oh what a show!

2010-04-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on the GN, Unbelievable. I've been extremely busy finishing off the pages of Volume 1 lately and as I'm busy scanning in pages upon pages of artwork to clean up and upload to the publishers, I thought I'd share a few sneak peeks with you.

This flashback sequence features the ringmaster, Gulon of the The Red Lion Circus performing his 'cat'o'nine tails' trick.

With the Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo fast approaching, my next update will include some exclusive peeks at what I'll be bringing along with me, as well as information where and when I'll be sketching for Draw the World Together along with my fellow Pen Dragons, Mike Collins and Dylan Teague.

For those of you enjoying the Cancertown sculptures, I should have the finished painted pieces to show and maybe a peek at some art from a very special short story for Insomnia's Anthology title Layer Zero I'm working on....

Until then, its head down, bottom up and carry on being 'Unbelievably' busy.

cheers,

Si

An `eye' for detail.....clay and Crosshairs!

2010-03-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some images of a new sculpt I've been working on using some brand new clay I've discovered, only takes around 20mins to fire and very easy to carve detail. This time I've been inspired by characters created by fellow Insomniacs Cy Dethan and Stephen Downey for Cancertown: An Inconvenient Tooth. Which you can read about here.

Here is the original sculpt and carving of the character Crosshair, I'll be posting images of the cleaned and painted final sculpt in a few days, but thought I'd share these ones with you for now. There'll also be a `Badmouth' coming soon. (Characters copyright Cy Dethan & Stephen Downey).

Till next time,enjoy the images.

Cheers,

Si

Serendipity and the Wendigo

2010-03-02T03:54:00.001-08:00

Wendigo (Artwork copyright 2010)Illustration for Paranormal Magazine(not final image).

Above is one of a set of images of various creatures, monsters, entities that I've been fortunate to illustrate for articles featured in Paranormal Magazine in the UK, but this one is a little bit special.

Its funny how life throws you little twists and turns now and again, synchronicity plays a role in my life. I've come to accept that. Only recently I've experienced some quite amazing coincidences, could they be messages from the universe, fate giving me a nod and a wink, or just my addled brain making links where there is just coincidence? Three instances where my gaze has been directed to something that shouldn't connect, but I've noticed.

I always wanted to draw the Wendigo. I loved Marvel's version and the legend it's based on is so fantastic, so horrifyingly scary, its up there with the werewolf for me as one of the best monsters (not a creature, to me a transformed human IS a monster, driven by human needs, a creature just does what it needs to,for survival).

Why is the Wendigo so special to me, then? My interest in monsters and comics and wanting to become a comic artist started from an early age, around 8 yrs old I think and my main influence and favourite artist at the time was John Byrne. It was a UK reprint of an Iron Fist story, a backup in Marvel Superheroes Magazine (b&w in those days)which peaked my artistic curiosity, but it was seeing his work in XMen in particular Issue 140 which featured a battle with the Wendigo which made me think, 'Yes! that's what I'd like to do when I'm older, draw something like this, superheroes and monsters or monster comics!!'

Well, I'm older, wiser(?), I get to draw comics and I'm working on a graphic novel, 'the monster movie I would have wanted to see' and now I've drawn a Wendigo. My tastes have changed over the years, Byrne is no longer the be-all and end all of comic artists to me, there's some great stuff out there and artists who I appreciate from small press all the way up to the Big Two. I've been influenced by many and keep being influenced, its great to have an artist's brain and an artist's perspective.

I draw superheroes.

I draw monsters.

I keep drawing.

I keep learning.

I keep getting amazed.

And I appreciate the chances that serendipity offers me, from time to time!

There's an eight year old 'wannabe' inside my head that grabs my ears and directs my gaze at a piece of artwork and says 'Oi! Look at this! I want to draw this!' and sometimes, on rare occasions, he whispers in my ear, 'well done, you've got your wish!'

I hope that never changes.

Till next time,

Si

Unbelievable update.

2010-02-18T05:04:00.000-08:00

Hi all, just a quick update.

Thought I'd spare a few minutes while I'm on the downward spiral of completing the pages to volume one of my scarytale.

I have a batch of pages which I'm really enjoying inking and toning at the moment, its been a strange feeling watching the characters that have been marauding my mind take shape on the page and I'm hoping that readers will be pleasantly surprised by what I've created.

As a brief taster, here are two significant panels which I'd like to share with you (not too much of a spoiler).

I'm hoping that Volume 1 of the story will pose as many questions as thrills (which will be addressed in Volume 2, the conclusion of The Man Who Ate Daffodils).

The beast is yet to come!

Till next time (when hopefully all the pages will be in the bag!)

Cheers,

Si

Myebook Monster Madness!

2010-02-07T05:49:00.001-08:00

Myebook - The Monstrous Art of Simon Wyatt!

Just found out I've had 250,419 hits on this!!!!

Amazed to say the least.

The Shape Of `Things' To Come (Part 3)

2009-11-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

So the sculpt has been fired for around 45mins (I think it's 25mins per 6mm thickness or something like that). It's looking smoother, lost the 'ball bearing effect' but not too smooth.

I've left some marker points on the 'skin' to enable me to see where I can start carving some fine details into it and shape the musculature and textures, etc.

Really looking forward to getting it into shape.

Till next time,

cheers,

Si

The Shape Of 'Things' To Come! (Part 2)

2009-10-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the second stage of the sculpt of the beast. I added a little tin foil to certain areas, like the chest and flanks of the armature to give it a solid base for what will be the heaviest part of the figure. (Hopefully allowing a cavity will create a lighter sculpt).

Applying the clay is quite laborious, kneading and rolling tiny 'balls' onto the armature, ensuring that there's adequate adhesion and that there's a reduced risk of cracking when the finished sculpt is fired.

Here's some images of stage 2, looks like a ball bearing gargoyle at the moment, but the basic anatomy has been shaped. Stage 3 will be where I use a little lighter fuel, or linseed oil to smooth out the surface and then I can add detail (my favourite part of the process).

So far, its going as planned (hope that's not a kiss of death! Lol!)

Enjoy the pics.

Si

The Shape Of 'Things' To Come! (Part 1)

2009-10-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hi All, the Primo Sculpey's arrived, I've dug out my sculpting tools and dusted off the sculpt-cells in my brain. (Even let my fingernails grow a little, extra tools right there!)

Here's the first step in creating my maquette of the beast from my ogn Unbelievable. Sculpey's a brilliant clay to work with (and Primo's the finest of the range to work with I find), but you can't just sculpt away without making sure that your creation's skin, guts and muscles stay in one place when it comes to firing/baking your masterpiece.

That's why its a good idea to initially make an armature (or wire skeleton), for this I use .50mm garden wire. This wire's quite sturdy and flexible enough to allow you to pich and bend using a good set of pliers. The final armature took around 45minutes to an hour to make.

From the images, you can see I've also used a wooden base, (the armature isn't fixed to it yet) its a good idea to fix your armature in place using some fine drill holes and wire to form a firm hold and a good base. (I'll be doing this later, before applying any clay).
Now those of you who've been following my progress on Unbelievable will have a fair idea of what my beast looks like, so I hope that the finished piece won't disappoint or prove to be a spoiler for the book, its up to you to decide if you want to see it here first! Lol!

I haven't sculpted anything this detailed for a little while so you'll have to bare with me.

I'll be posting some more images as I progress with this piece right up to the final paint and I hope to do the same with a bust I'm planning of another Unbelievable character.

Until next time,

Si

“Your life is a piece of clay, don't let anyone else mold it for you.”

There's Something In The Words!

2009-10-16T05:09:00.000-07:00

I'm conscious that I'm a little lax in updating my blog lately, being hard at work on more pages of 'Unbelievable', so for those following, here's a quick update:

I recently received the first of two forewords for my graphic novel, from one of my heroes Nick Redfern. Nick is the author of many books on the worlds of the paranormal and the unexplained, including: There's something in the Woods; Man-Monkey; Strange Secrets; and A Covert Agenda. (One of Nick's blogs, which boasts some of my artwork can be found here: Manbeast UK

To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement, here's a brief excerpt,

`Simon has skilfully weaved together a swirling tale of magical, Gothic, cryptozoological and sinister proportions that rather reminds me of a perfect combination of those classic old Hammer horror-films of the late 1950s and 1960s; The Hound of the Baskervilles; Primeval; Scooby-Doo; The Secret Seven; and a good old adventure tale of the type that are sorely missed today. And all told in Simon's own unique style and brand, too, of course.'

I'm still smiling.

And in other news, I'll shortly be uploading some pics of the early stages of two 'Unbelievable' sculpts I'm working on, a maquette of 'Rax' and a bust of `Cracky'.

Till next time,

'Don't turn around,
Don't make a sound,
And never,
Ever.....
RUN!'

Heheh!

That's Life.

2009-09-17T01:21:00.000-07:00

Today I found out that one of the local schools in my area is starting weekly life drawing classes soon. I've always found these to be invaluable as an artist as you just can't beat drawing from real life models to get a good grasp on form and anatomy.

Here are a few sketches from a class I attended a while ago, enjoy.

`Don't Make A Sound, Don't Turn Around, And Never Ever.....'

2009-09-10T05:05:00.000-07:00

...RUN!

Send in the `Para's!!!

2009-09-04T07:47:00.001-07:00

Here's a little (bloody) taster of some illustrations I've done for a feature in Paranormal Magazine #41 on Occult Warfare by Nick Redfern (For fans of occult war there's also a chance to win an xBox 360 & a copy of Wolfenstein!)

http://www.paranormalmagazine.co.uk/2009/08/28/win-an-xbox-360-a-copy-of-wolfenstein

Until next time,

Si

WIP (Wyatt In Progress) Valhalla final pages!

2009-08-10T18:36:00.001-07:00

Here are the final two hand coloured pages of Valhalla - Hall Of Heroes for issue 3 of FTL! (Orang Utan Comic's flagship anthology,FTL is now available as a download on Drive Thru Comics!)

Now its back to monochromatic myth-chief!

Enjoy,

Si

2009-08-07T05:11:00.001-07:00

WIP (Wyatt In Progress) Valhalla - Hall Of Heroes! Page 4

2009-08-03T04:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the hand-coloured page 4 (of 6) of Valhalla - Hall Of Heroes for Orang Utan Comics' anthology FTL.

WIP (Wyatt In Progress) Valhalla Page1-3 Colours

2009-07-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

Here are the first three hand coloured pages for Valhalla - Hall Of Heroes.

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Had fun doing these, especially page 3 (which should come with a warning!)

Cheers,

Si

WIP (Wyatt In Progress) Valhalla - Hall of Heroes Page 5

2009-07-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Here's page 5 of Valhalla - Hall Of Heroes, for Orang Utan Comics' FTL anthology.

WIP (Wyatt In Progress) Valhalla - Hall of Heroes Page 4

2009-07-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

Here’s the fourth page line art to Valhalla – Hall Of Heroes by Peter Rogers, for Orang Utan Comic’s brand spanking new anthology – FTL! This story is set to appear in Issue 3, coming soon!

Valhalla – Hall Of Heroes Page 4 Line art/inks.
Story: Peter Rogers
Art: Simon Wyatt

Something different

2009-07-05T05:53:00.000-07:00

Felt compelled to try a digital speed painting last night, after reading about more encounters with the crypto-entity known as Mothman. Mothman is rather a creepy and unnerving winged man beast that's supposedly a harbinger of doom wherever he's seen, maybe its some kind of dark angel!

See here for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman

Strangely enough, adding the flares/highlights to the creature's red eyes sent the proverbial shivers down my spine and the hairs stood up on my neck! I've never experienced that, producing any of my images...too creepy for words!

Until next time, don't have nightmares!

Si

My recent interview with the wily Will Stape!

2009-06-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

Interview with Comic Book Artist Simon Wyatt
Comic book creator and artist Simon Wyatt won an award from legendary master of comics Stan Lee, so you know he's got to be good. He's done artwork for super rock group Iron Maiden and now works on his original graphic novel, Unbelievable.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1872659/interview_with_comic_book_artist_simon.html

WIP (Wyatt In Progress) Valhalla - HOH Page 3

2009-06-29T13:42:00.001-07:00

Here's the line art for page 3 of valhalla - Hall Of Heroes, written by Peter Rogers, for Orang Utan Comics' flagship anthology title - FTL!

This page is lightly inked, not as much shadow, hopefully the coloured page will shine!

Cheers for now,

Si

Drawing the line at myebook.com

2009-06-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

SciFi Pulse Episode 19 - Unbelievable Interview!

2009-06-18T02:03:00.001-07:00

Episode 19

Shared via AddThis

Catch some exclusive background on my graphic novel - Unbelievable on tonight's SciFiPulse!

WIP (Wyatt In Progress) Valhalla Page 2

2009-06-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the line art for page 2 of valhalla - Hall Of Heroes, written by Peter Rogers, for Orang Utan Comics' flagship anthology title - FTL!

WIP (Wyatt In Progress) Valhalla - Hall Of Heroes!

2009-06-15T04:14:00.000-07:00

Here's some line art for page 1 of valhalla - Hall Of Heroes, written by Peter Rogers, for Orang Utan Comics' flagship anthology title - FTL!

This will be coloured by hand but may have a few digital enhancements.

SPOILER ART! (Look away now!)

2009-06-03T06:07:00.001-07:00

Here is one of the many concept designs for Caradog, the villain from Unbelievable.

(May not be the final image or look in the book, but very happy with how this one turned out!)

Until next time,

Si

Sneak Peak at Unbelievable!

2009-05-20T07:37:00.001-07:00

Here is the latest (Myebook) preview of my OGN Unbelievable from Insomnia Publications.

Feed back is always welcome (very please to say the least!)

Charity Sketchbook Auction

2009-05-18T05:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a second chance to grab a limited edition City of Heroes sketchbooks.
This one #4of10
All are signed by a whole host of artists;
Dave Gibbons (cover),
Doug Braithwaite, Misako Rocks Mark Buckingham, Andie Tong, Phil Winslade, Jon Haward, Mike Collins, Bryan Talbot, Simon Williams, Andrew Wildman, Neil Edwards,
Al (Astral Gypsy) Davidson and Boo Cook.

And of course, if you dont want to make a bid yourselves you can help out by posting a link to the auction on any forums or blogs that you are active in. Check out the site for more info and a link to the auction.
Many thanks
DtWT

Visit Draw the World Together at: http://drawtheworldtogether.ning.com

Toxica Lives!

2009-05-05T02:39:00.001-07:00

A few months back I designed some concepts for a 'bad-girl' comic style character as a side-project/collaboration with a very talented body artist named John Davis.

The project came to fruition at the Newport Tattoo Festival over the Bank Holiday weekend when Louise Neale, a jaw-droppingly stunning model donned the 'costume' of TOXICA and brought her to radioactive life and believe me the 'fallout' was amazing!

Here are the first pics, from concept to finished model!

I just had to post these images!

A Huge Draw at Bristol Comic Expo 2009

2009-04-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

http://drawtheworldtogether.ning.com

Visit Draw the World Together

Come and get your hands sticky at the draw The World Together 2009 SPEXPO Jam from Insomnia Publications.

Forget the “jam tomorrow” promises of the establishment!

Instead come and get your free and independent jam at the SPEXPO on the 9th of May.
Insomnia Publications will be supporting DTWT from our stand at Bristol with the All New SPEXPO JAM. where participating artists will all be drawing a sketch on one big piece of paper that we can raffle off at the end of the day for the charity.
This is your chance to win a unique, piece of art, created live on the day, and support the valuable work of the Draw The World Together project.

Artists will also be sketching for DTWT live on the day, and these sketches will be for sale from the Insomnia stand, with 100% of the proceeds going to the charity.

If you haven't yet heard of the Draw The World Together project have a look at:http://drawtheworldtogether.ning.com/

The main Draw The World Together Stand will be in the Summit Room at the Ramada Hotel.

Draw the World Together is an organisation that has been created to unite arts communities in providing possibilities for children who live in communities where they do not have the opportunity for basic healthcare and education.

Jazzed to be interviewed at Jazma Online!

2009-04-23T02:49:00.001-07:00

Here's a recent interview for Jazma Online, enjoy!

http://www.jazmaonline.com/interviews/interviews2009.asp?intID=342

A good week all round.

2009-04-19T15:26:00.001-07:00

Finally getting back on track with things, art-wise this week. Uploaded a shed-load of stuff to Insomnia, discussed some new projects (which I'm really excited about)and finished the script for the Unbelievable preview pages.

Prepping for the Bristol Comic Expo in May, by knocking out a few sketches has really got the creative juices flowing and I'm looking forward to spending time with the guys from Orang Utan Comics and Insomnia at the event.

To top things off nicely, I've also been invited to contribute to the DrawTheWorldTogether sketch event at the con, a really worthwhile cause and a great honour for me.

If anyone's attending, be sure to drop by and say hi or even request a sketch (or two!)

Probably won't be updating this until after Bristol as there's so much to do, I hope to put a full report of the Con with images after the weekend.

Until then, see you in the funny pages!

Si

My my....its a Myebook at last!

2009-04-09T16:02:00.000-07:00

Just created this as a showcase piece for all you monster lovers out there!

Enjoy!

Si

Something to keep you up at night!

2009-04-08T01:49:00.001-07:00

To see what's new and upcoming from Insomnia Publications for 2009, check out this great Myebook Preview here http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=3778

Talk of the Town!

2009-03-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

Read some fantastic news today regarding Cancertown, the highly original title from my creative colleagues at Insomnia Publications (the publisher for my OGN Unbelievable - The Man Who Ate Daffodils), see below!

Bryan Talbot has written the foreword for Cancertown.

Creator of books such as "The Adventures of Luther Arkwright" (considered the first English Graphic Novel), "The Tale of One Bad Rat" and "Alice in Sunderland" he has also contributed his beautiful art to titles such as "The Sandman", "Fables", "Nemesis The Warlock" and "Judge Dredd".

Not only that but Cy Dethan says:

"The eye-opening experience of reading Luther Arkwright as a kid was one of the key reasons I wanted to start writing comics in the first place, so to have an introduction from its creator is simply unbelievable. "

So this is what Bryan had to say:

"For a first graphic novel from a new creative team, Cancertown is remarkable. Cy Dethan’s concept alone is brilliant. Is the protagonist, Vincent Morley, a cynical knight in tarnished armour battling unspeakable monsters in a gonzoid Chapel Perilous or a dying sad bastard besieged by visions generated by his terminal brain tumour? Vince’s chosen role, that of maintaining the equilibrium between the “real” London and its parasitic, demonic mirror image and his ability to pass between the two, by grace of his illness, sharply differentiates his story from others in the wide-boy urban sorcerer genre, notably represented by Alan Moore’s John Constantine and Mike Carey’s Felix Castor prose novels. And, though your worst nightmares are his everyday reality, Morley kicks serious arse while maintaining a self-deprecating cascade of gallows humour.

Moreover (do people still say that?) Cancertown actively embraces horror, the genre of horror fiction. It’s not trigger-shy. It doesn’t fuck around. It sets out to horrify, and it succeeds. Although Cancertown owes more to Clive Barker than Ramsey Campbell, it still, like Campbell, has its roots in H.P. Lovecraft and its evocation of genuine creepiness is undeniable. This is in no small part due to the visceral, hallucinogenic art of Stephen Downey working in tandem with the hard-bitten script, the atmospheric colours of Melanie Cook and inventive lettering of Nic Wilkinson. We’re seeing here the first outing of creators who will make their mark on the future comic industry.

Cancertown will disorientate you, suck you in, chew you up and spit you out and you might well be in need of a change of underwear by the end.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Bryan Talbot

Sunderland March 2009"

Cancertown will be released in May, and is currently available to pre-order from Amazon.
If you're going to be at the Bristol International Comic Expo and the Small Press Expo 2009, you'll be able to pick Cancertown up (along with its Insomnia brethren, Layer Zero 3 and Cages) at a special convention price as shown below

Cancertown RRP = £14.99, Con Special = £10
Cages RRP = £10.99, Con Special = £7
Layer Zero Choices RRP = £9.99, Con Special = £7
Cancertown + Cages for £15Cancertown + Layer Zero for £15
Cancertown + Cages + Layer Zero for £20

Fantastic to see such great interest in a truly deserving title!

Marvelous Team up!

2009-03-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

My good friend and Orang Utan Comic Studios colleague, the Eagle Award nominated Azim Akberali has performed an incredible paintjob on my Iconic sketch, see above! We'd talked about teaming up on some artwork for a long time and when this beauty popped into my mailbox in full glorious colour I just had to share this with you all!

Move over Alex Ross, there's a new kid in town and he's packing a full pallette!

For more of Azim's astounding artwork visit his amazing gallery herehttp://www.geocities.com/azimakberali/home.htm you won't be disappointed!

Alive and Sketching!

2009-03-02T05:06:00.000-08:00

Been out of the loop for a while due to some unexpected changes in my personal circumstances, but here's some new Fan Art sketches* to whet the appetite, good practice for getting the creative juices flowing again as I'll be 'Unbelievably' busy from now on (if you catch my drift!)

*All characters copyright their respective owners (Marvel Comics) and (DC Comics).

See you soon!

Young and Free!

2009-01-28T12:06:00.000-08:00

My compadre in comics, Ian Sharman has a new sci-fi action/adventure comic now available FREE online!

"The YOUNG GODS creative team is a creative team that is well worth watching. We will see where they are going, with the story, with the characters. You want to interest the reader to follow the series, and this creative team has done that." – Paty Cockrum

Orang Utan Comics Studio today released the first part of their Young Gods OGN onto an unsuspecting world. An action packed adventure tale, Young Gods is certain to appeal to a wide range of comic book fans. The series sees OUCS make the bold leap from the printed page into digital media, with Young Gods being available to read completely FREE online, via the digital publishing site myebook.com. Orang Utan Comics Studio were the first organisaton to sign up to myebook’s publishing partnership plan when it went live last year.

“I think we recognized the huge potential of myebook about thirty seconds after first being shown it,” said Orang Utan Comics Studio’s Managing Editor and Young Gods’ creator, Ian Sharman. “It’s an ideal solution for small studios like ourselves who want to get our work in front of as many people as possible but don’t have the capital to finance large print runs.”

With the recent policy changes at Diamond reducing the opportunities for small press and independent publishers to reach a wide audience through traditional print publications, Orang Utan Comics Studio see online digital publishing as an essential tool for distributing their comics to a wider market.

Ian Sharman has been working on Young Gods since he was a teenager, gaining the initial inspiration while listening to the Little Angels album of the same name. However, the road from original idea to the comic book page has been a long one, and finding the right creative team to bring his ideas to life proved very challenging. “I think we went through seven artists, including at one point myself, before we found Ezequiel Pineda. His unique style was exactly what I was looking for, allowing the focus to shift from the overblown superheroics to the diverse characters that make up the team,” added series writer, Ian Sharman. The addition of Mauro Barbosa on colours proved that lightening can strike twice, as his dynamic colours proved to be the perfect complement to Ezequiel’s art. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate,” Ian continued, “finding not only one, but two extremely talented artists with the same passion for this comic that I have.”

The first part of the Young Gods OGN, which introduces the team and sets up plot points that will be continued in a six issue series that the Young Gods team are currently hard at work on is available to read FREE online right now, and the second part will be released on Feb 28th. Be one of the first to read this exciting new comic, and share it with your friends online, just as you would a YouTube video:

http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=3953

Find out more at the official Young Gods website:

http://www.younggodscomic.co.uk

Excelsior! and a Happy New Year!

2009-01-19T02:42:00.000-08:00

http://fc39.deviantart.com/fs41/f/2009/014/2/e/Stan_and_me_by_swyattart.jpg

A Happy New Year to all of my friends and associates, here's a piccie I'd like to share of me with my prize for Stan Lee's Pow Entertainment, Cataclysmic Art Contest - a personally signed print of my artwork of Stan as Frankenstan which I received shortly before Christmas.

Very busy at the moment working on Unbelievable, hope to share some more with you all soon.

Si

Gorstagg Lives! (Dexter's Half Dozen, finished cover art)

2008-11-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

Here's the finished cover art for Dexter's Half Dozen.

First I washed the blue pencilled artwork with lemon yellow and cobalt blue tones and then inked over with brush pens, picking out details and shadows.

Looks like the Half Dozen have their hands full with this undead Norse Warrior, be sure to pick up a copy to find out!

Cheers,

Si

Dexter's Half Dozen (Cover in progress)

2008-11-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a cover in progress for Bearded Skull Comics' flagship title, Dexter's Half Dozen, featuring an undead warrior named Gorstagg (maybe the owner of titular 'bearded skull' himself!)

The comic's creators, David Clifford & Jamie Lambert hail from Wales and Dexter's is well worth checking out.

Here's what it's about...North Africa 1941, Sir Dexter Kilby; Churchill’s occult adviser, puts together a team to fight the growing supernatural threat of the Nazis.Sergeant Freeman of the newly formed S.A.S is drafted in to lead the rag tag group of criminals and misfits of the British army.The team’s mission is to rescue one of Britain’s top spies from the Nazis occult stronghold at Wewelsburg castle. An impenetrable mountain top fortress deep in the heart of Germany. Little do they know that the Nazis are in league with an ancient vampire of unimaginable power.

Find out more here:

http://www.myspace.com/beardedskullcomics

Message from 'The Man'!

2008-11-21T02:08:00.000-08:00

Had a great email this morning from Stan 'The Man' Lee, check this out!

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=127084574&blogID=450636913

Waiting patiently for my prize!

`Lo, there do I see my cover and my colours...!'

2008-11-10T02:56:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneak peek at a cover for Valhalla - Hall of Heroes (Olde School style), story by Peter Rogers and art by my good self......coming soon!

Cheers,

Simon

Unbelievable - The Beast will be unleashed at Insomnia Publications!

2008-10-21T04:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read right, my graphic novel - Unbelievable
(The Man Who Ate Daffodils) has found a home!

Head over to The Red Eye for more info!

I couldn't be more happy to announce that Insomnia will be publishing this!

More info as its released!

Cheers,

Comic Brew Interviews.....me!

2008-08-19T14:44:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed by www.comicbrew.com's Brewmaster Mitch (lovely lady), you can read my ramblings here on my career and comics.

http://www.comicbrew.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=150:comicbrew-interview-simon-wyatt&catid=36:interviews&Itemid=54

Cheers,

Si

Danick's back! (or front if you're pedantic!)

2008-08-14T05:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, the 'Nut in Shining Armour' from Eleventh Hour #2 and Volume 1 of the critically acclaimed anthology is returning for Volume 2.

Here's a sneak peak at the pencils for page 1 of his bare-faced comeback, he may look happy at returning, but things have a nast way of suprising our hapless Knight.

Hitchcock Thrillers!

2008-07-18T02:27:00.000-07:00

I've been catching up recently with David Hitchcock (Black Boar Press) on email, haven't spoken for an age. I originally met him at a Bristol Con when he was promoting and selling the Eagle Award Winning Spring Heeled Jack, (a title which still amazes and inspires me to this day!) and cought up with him at BICS last year where he showed me some of his latest work in progress, some truly beautiful painted artwork.

Dave is a very humble, dedicated and an exceptionally talented writer and artist, who I've found always willing to spare time at cons and discuss his art (which I think anyone would be hard pressed to imitate) and share some tips of the trade.

Having re-read SHJ last night I urge anyone with an interest in fantastically illustrated comics and graphic novels and dark, elegant pencil shaded comic artwork to check out his titles. (We're talking about a creator who impressed Mike Mignola!)

Dave's blog is here http://davehitchcock.blogspot.com/ featuring some truly original interpretations of some well known comic characters and the latest offerings from his gothic graphite!

(....and Dave, if you're reading this, it would be a `good idea', and I'm sure it would be a hit!)

Danick and the Dragon on Myebooks.com!

2008-07-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=761

Check out the e-version of this tale of the hapless Danick Drakesbane's quest to save the buxom Melissa from the clutches of a vile dragon!

Having a `Beastly' time!

2008-05-05T01:49:00.000-07:00

Check out Nick Redfern's blog if you're a fan of mysterious man-beasts and you may come across some artwork by me! Its at ManbeastUK

Nick's one of my favourite authors and a real life monster hunter (think Fox Mulder meets Indiana Jones).

I'll be producing some more images for him in the future so keep an eye out!

Angry.....Me?

2008-04-10T05:06:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I received my complimentary copies of Short Stack (see image above) from Angry Gnome Comics' head honcho, Shawn Gabborin.

Its a really nice package - 13 x two page horror stories with a twist that read like short stinging slaps to the face.

The anthology features a range of artistic styles which compliment Shawn's scripts, including The First Step illustrated by my good self.

A gore-some treat worth checking out if you're a fan of anthologies and horror!

For more info on Angry Gnome's titles see link below

info@angrygnomecomics.com

Beast of Bryn Boncath spotted!

2008-04-10T04:59:00.000-07:00

Here's another pic of RAX, The Beast from my OGN Unbeleivable -The Man Who Ate Daffodils.

You can find more concept artwork for this at my Comicspace pages (see profile).

Primeval Design a Creature Competition Entry

2008-04-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

Here's my competition entry for ITV's Primeval 'Design a Creature' contest. The winner gets their creature created in glorious CGI for the third series of Primeval!

This lovely crittur's called The Arachtopus!

The competition closed for entries on the 7th April so I'm eagerly (and anxiously) awaiting the winners to be announced!

.......tentacles crossed!

Eleventh Hour Volume 1 Out Now!

2008-04-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

Eleventh Hour Vol 1 is now available to pre-order through Diamond Comic Distributors. Inc, you can find it at the front of the "green" section in this month's Previews catalogue, in the AAM/Markosia section. Just head in to your local comic shop and ask them to order Eleventh Hour Vol 1 from AAM/Markosia for you.

The order code is APR08 3484.

*(Image shown is the collectors edition of Issues 1 & 2, available soon!) Artwork copyright Azim Akberali)

Better late than never!

2008-03-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

Been very busy over the last few months, here's a taster of some new work:

Preview of Angry Gnome Comics short story, The First Step, here!

Will post more soon.

Si

Spoiler Warning - Unbelievable - new revealing artwork!

2007-11-17T16:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a cover idea I've had for my OGN `UNBELIEVABLE' (The Man Who Ate Daffodils).
This shows a confrontation between Ben and Caradog (Cracky) and ...The Beast of Bryn Boncath mountain - RAX!

I made a teaser trailer for the above a few months ago and when I have time I'm going to upload to youtube, it just needs a revised soundtrack and a few tweaks. Until then, don't have nightmares!

Si

Slam Ridley Cover - Issue 1

2007-11-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

Moonface collaboration - Pendragon

2007-11-02T02:12:00.000-07:00

Off the back of Bristol's International Comic Expo in May and the Birmingham International Comic Show last month, I can confirm that I shall be collaborating with Eagle Award winning writer Andy Winter early next year for a three issue mini-series entitled Pendragon.

Expect something entirely different as Andy's taking the plunge into dark but humourous fantasy!

I can't wait!

Cheers,

Simon

Slam Ridley update

2007-11-02T02:09:00.000-07:00

Currently pencilling up Issue 2 of Slam Ridley, here's a splash page from Issue 1 to whet the appetite! I'm hoping to post the colour cover image soon.

Cheers,

Simon

Wham! Bam! Thank you Slam!

2007-10-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

FINISHED THE PENCILS FOR ISSUE ONE LAST NIGHT!

WAHAY!

(only three more issues to go!...ooh!)

Working on the cover to issue 1 at the moment.

Bye!

Monkeys and Orang Utans at ComicsGuru Cardiff - Oct 6th 2007!

2007-09-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

(Haven't posted for a while, been rather busy pencilling Slam Ridley's first pulse pounding issue! I should be finishing the pencils soon).

And now for the announcement!

On Saturday the 6th October, I'll be attending The Comics Guru in Cardiff for an all day signing and sketching event with the Orang Utan Comics founder and stupendous scribe on Slam Ridley - Peter Rogers. The creators from Monkeys with Machineguns will also be there to sign, share the fun and view portfilio's, etc.

I'll also be available to view portfolio's with Peter on behalf of the OUC team, so look forward to seeing any prospective artists there!

Also, I'll be bringing my portfolio (if anyone wants to see the actual pencils of Eleventh Hour #2's Danick and the Dragon, an exclusive sneak peek at the first issue pencils of Slam Ridley and pencilled and inked pages of 'Unbelievable' - The Man Who Ate Daffodils).

You may even get a personalised sketch or two if you're lucky.

(Bring a Banana!)

Cheers,

Simon

New UNBELIEVABLE! pages uploaded to Comicspace!

2007-08-12T05:43:00.000-07:00

(Above Picture - Emrys Ellis)

I've added the first 15 pages of my OGN to my comicspace galleries! see url below:

http://www.comicspace.com/simonwyatt/comics.php?action=gallery&comic_id=12886

Cheers,

Simon

Slam in full colour!

2007-08-10T08:48:00.001-07:00

Slam Ridley in full colour courtesy of the very talented colourist and inker Ian Sharman!

Way to go Ian!

New Web Site for Slam Ridley!

2007-08-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

Check out the new and improved Slam Ridley site at www.slamridley.com

Unbelievable (MWAD) Preview

2007-07-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

The Premise!

I've decided to upload a few more pictures of the characters from my graphic novel, Unbelievable! The Man Who Ate Daffodils and a brief outline of the story.

The hero of the story is a young boy named Ben Ellis (see above pic), an orphan and dreamer who lives with and cares for his housebound grandfather Emrys, an ex-miner and weaver of tall tales.

Ben lives in the fictional remote Welsh village of Bryn Boncath, a close-knit community that shares deep, dark secrets; secrets that Ben is about to discover!

When a new neighbour moves in to the village, a series of mysterious and bizarre deaths occur and a shadowy figure from Emrys' past returns - Caradog 'Cracky' Crachan, an old friend thought killed in a mining accident which nearly claimed both their lives!

Suddenly Emrys' tall tales start to show some substance, especially when encounters with a frightening, supernatural monster become more frequent in the forests and mountains surrounding the village.

Referred to as the `Beast of Bryn Boncath' this terrifyingly huge, night-black, monstrous apparition has glowing red eyes, sharp teeth and claws and fiery breath! Some say it looks like an enormous hound, others a big cat, others unfortunate to cross its path say both or neither!

Ben Ellis is about to find out...................!

Unbelievable! The Man Who Ate Daffodils. (Story and all related characters and artwork copyright Simon Wyatt 2007)

Unbelievable - Concept Artwork!

2007-07-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek at Caradog 'Cracky' Crachan, the main antagonist from my graphic novel - Unbelievable! (The Man Who Ate Daffodils) All Artwork copyright Simon Wyatt 2007.

I'm a big fan of horror and fantasy films and love a good suspense filled monster movie, this is the movie I'd make.
The story is a dark fantasy thriller based in a remote fictional location in Wales, it has all the elements of a ghost story, revenge thriller and coming of age tale with a few original twists thrown in for good measure!

Spanning different time periods and incorporating Arthurian legend, British and Celtic folklore and a little cryptozoology, its a real labour of love and its my hope that when its completed and printed it'll thrill and scare readers in equal measure and who knows, maybe it'll become a monster movie of its own one day!

I'll post more characters soon and maybe the prologue pages will find their way to to Strangely Drawn.

Until then,

Don't eat the Daffodils!

Simon

TIAOSR Comic Pages - Exclusive

2007-07-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a snapshot of page 2 of The Intergalactic Adventures Of Slam Ridley.

I'll be posting more pages to my Comicspace gallery in few days.

Enjoy,

Simon

ITS A START...!

2007-07-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

I'm just finishing the final pencils on page two of TIAOSR (The Intergalactic Adventures Of Slam Ridley).

I'll be posting a few samples (maybe here on the blog) and on my Comicspace gallery once the boys at Orang Utan have had a veiwing. Expect some pages in a few days, guys!

I'll also be putting some of my OGN artwork up here soon, maybe some concept art / characters, but deciding which images to pick is a problem as the story is full of surprises and I hate spoilers!

Cheers,

Simon

Slam Ridley is GO!

2007-07-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

From tomorrow I'll be diving pencil-first into The Intergalactic Adventures of Slam Ridley comic pages, so should have some pages to show, shortly.

In the meantime visit my link below to see some exclusive 'making of' artwork.

www.comicspace.com/simonwyatt/

Cheers,

Simon

Hello, good evening and welcome!

2007-07-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Its Saturday night and I'm currently working on concept art and about to start pencilling a new comic adventure story for Orang Utan Comics (Uk) called The Intergalactic Adventures Of Slam Ridley, a four part mini-series which is just awesome! Already finished one set of pages for a fantasy short in their anthology title Eleventh Hour (out now! - if you love comics, buy it, you won't be disappointed!

The Slam Ridley artwork's coming together, I'm working with a great team at Orang Utan, (Hi Ian & Peter!) very accommodating art-wise, especially as I'm slightly redesigning some characters that have been previously designed twice!. I'm trying to add my own take on these characters, kinda hard when they exist in someone else's head - but hey, its what artists were made for!

I'm toying with the idea of using the blog to post some artwork from my original graphic novel -Unbelievable - The Man Who Ate Daffodils. This is on hiatus until Slam Ridley's done and dusted and it deserves my full attention.

I'll think about it, we'll see!................... until then,

'Make Mine Slam!'