From The Vault - Jim Lee Silver Surfer 1995

As I get the new computer sorted out and put together the way that it makes sense to me I thought now would be a good time to dig back into the vault and show that I didn't always need a computer to do my art.

Back in 1995 I didn't even own a computer. All of my work came from a phone call and a FedEx shipment. No email, no Photoshop, no digital files being traded back and forth. Just me, my hands, an airbrush, and some Dr. Martins dyes and acrylic paints.

This is one of the few Jim Lee pieces I painted for Marvel Comics. Because I started working for Marvel a little after most of their main artists jumped ship and formed Image Comics I never got a chance to work with some of the big guns at the time. Luckily, this is one of the exceptions.

The interesting thing about this piece is that when it was given to me all it had on it was the black and white image of the Silver Surfer himself. I was asked to paint all of the outer space stuff, the planets, stars, and cosmos, all on my own. For a guy who they simply knew as someone who could lay color down at the time it was nice for Marvel to have the trust in me to do a few things on my own.

I added the planets, the spinning cosmos, and even the power charges coming from the Silver Surfer's fists. I also added the motion trail coming off the Surfer to make it really look like he was on the move.

The funny thing about these older pieces is that I still had to paint the logo and the cover elements all by hand. So, not only did I have to paint the figure, the background, and the special effects but I also had to paint the little figure of the surfer in the logo box as well as the logo itself.

And, I can't remember how long this piece actually took me, but I never remember having more than one or two days to paint pieces like this. So, it was fast fast work.

And all without a computer, email, Photoshop, or any digital help.

Ah, the good ol' days!