2011 has been a busy year, but I know the blog has gotten pretty stale. Between comic books, artwork, and working on my new book I haven’t been able to find the time to post here. However, I’ve been posting a lot of work on my DeviantArt account and I’m also on Facebook. Follow me there for the latest!

Thanks for the support!

DeviantART: http://www.daxiong.deviantart.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daxiong/87750065849

新年好

May this double golden tiger on ru yi bring you courage and happiness in 2010!

Daxiong and the Flagmen

November 1st is my good friend Alain ’s birthday who is a Cultural Minister in France. This photo was taken last year when we were invited to the mayor’s home. At that time, I promised to give him a drawing of mine as a birthday present,  so I decided to choose this photo of him  as a reference.

Alain loves Chinese traditional cuture very much. and has a much deeper understanding than many of my chinese friends, so I first chose the Chinese dragon as a background with an angelic light and he is reading an old Chinese story.

After finishing the basic draft, I found his body to be a little short, so I made it longer. Meanwhile I was thinking if I give him this drawing as a gift, what about his next birthday? What should I take?  I’d rather give him the Chinese zodiacs as a background, this year is the cow , next is tiger, and it will be much more funny, so I change d the dragon in to a cow.

All color was done by hand, my tools are markers.

I begin with his face dark and set the basic brightness.

After this foundation, I give it a hint of color — a little light red which was much more close to the skin.

I think the key to a portrait is the eyes, but i didn’t ink the right eye well. This mistake made the right eye a little bit bigger.  I just had to leave it there and adjust it after finishing.

He has a classic westerner’s face, nose and eyebrows.

His face was almost finished at this point.

I begin to paint his clothes, first setting the basic colors.

I pave the basic brightness.

I wrote his name, and then, I accept my wife ’s advice by titling the book he is reading “Lucie”, which is his wife’s name. The cow is drinking a cup of milk, and holding the brochure of our art exhibition.

Add more bright color

Detailed and in depth

Designed the text: Alain, 2009, Year of the Cow, Happy Birthday, Nov 1st.

Done!

This took me almost 6 hours.

Alain, happy birthday!

I realized hadn’t shaved so I took the photo once again.

My old friend, happy birthday!  Let us enjoy a healthy body and heart, as we need them to save the world!

Daxiong

“I have organized over 400 comic book conventions in Northern NJ during the past twenty years, with countless comic book professionals as guests. To say that I’m honored by Daxiong’s appearance at one of my events is a gross understatement.”

Well, we had a blast! Here are some commissions from the day – including Daxiong’s first ever drawing of Spiderman:

Spiderman meets MJ

Dr. Light who appears in "80-Page Giant" with Superman

Daxiong smiles

rendition of The Avengers cover - the first time Captain Planet appears in the 1960's

Daxiong adds that the kind-hearted people here in the U.S. have moved him deeply. He recalls that at the end of the expo, an elderly gentleman came by and said, “Thank you for your hard work in standing up for freedom. I’m also sorry for the persecution you had to go through.” Daxiong hopes to bring the splendor of genuine Chinese culture to the world.

Believe it or not, this was our last con of the year in the United States. Be sure to pick up some of this year’s favorites: DC’s Top 10, Justice League 80-Page Giant, and coming out Jan 20, 2010, “Star Wars Adventures: Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes.”

Best,
The Flag Team

The piece he chose was one he did for an exhibit of the French comics MuoWang. This piece is now on display and being used as a reference in the library of L. Senghor – a secondary school in Corbeil-Essonnes, France:

Artwork on display in France

Daxiong: This drawing was the “longest” one in my life, with the draft starting in Hangzhou China, and the finished work in New York. It crossed the whole Pacific Ocean and North America. This piece took me a week with the art editor calling me on the long trip to tell me to hurry up. I had little money with me nor time. but I just wanted to begin the journey to the US, maybe just so I could breathe the free air.

This drawing is work for my art show in France. It is a backgrond on a large wall. It is really complicated, but I will show you step by step and maybe you will find it is not so hard.

The first drawing

This is beginning of the work, conception and composition. The topic is “The Last Samurai”, so i must show the movement of the horses.

The second drawing

Add more details to solidify the composition.

The third drawing

With more details in the composition, you will find the lines are fluent and strong.

The fourth drawing

After solidifying the draft , I begin to ink, taking care of the details.

The fifth drawing

This is the effect after finishing the inks.

The sixth drawing

The next step is to scan into the computer, adjust, and erase the useless lines. Keep the drawing clean.

The seventh drawing

Next, begin to color in Photoshop, first fill in pure colors to separate the different planes.

The 8th drawing

I have figured out the structure and start giving them some light and shadow.

The ninth drawing

Color the water. By the way, you’d better color from dark part first and then hit the highlights last– you will find the picture will be brighter and brighter.

The tenth drawing

Many more details on water added. This is the basic effect.

The background pt 1

But along the way, each editor can pose their challenges to the artist. The editor told me I should give the picture a Chinese countryside background– I nearly fainted.

OK , I am about to get on the flight already, so I called my assitant to draw the background.

The background in color

This is the effect of the Chinese countryside after color.

The final image

Finally, I put the samurai on the background in Photoshop .

Done! The editor was satisfied and it was printed and delivered to the exhibition.

We hope you found this tutorial insightful. Stay tuned for more to come!

Best,

Daxiong and the Flag Team

We’ve completely revamped the entire website with new galleries and artwork. This blog is the source for updates, upcoming publications featuring art by Daxiong and the Flag Team, new merchandise and more.  Subscribe to the blog via email or RSS feed, and you can always stay tuned via Twitter and the Facebook fan page.

These are exciting times at Flag Studios and we’re glad to have you along for the ride!

All the best,

Daxiong and the Flag Team