The Walking Dead blank cover illustration

Art life is a roller coaster like any other career, obsession, or hobby. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes anticipatory, and sometimes you ask yourself why you ever got on the ride in the first place. A couple of months ago I had been going through some soul searching and had been drudging through commissions and deadlines that were leaving me exhausted and dry. That was until I received an email from a collector of mine who asked how I felt about creating a cover on his blank Walking Dead #109 issue.

The timing was fantastic, as I had just picked up a new set of Sakura Pigma Micron pens and was itching to use them. I'm also a Walking Dead fan, admittedly I've only seen the TV series and never read the comic, but either way I was eager to accept this project. I grew up on comic books and ink was the first medium I developed a relationship with. This illustration really took me back to my roots on many levels and knocked me out of the funk I was in. Creating this artwork was a refreshing reminder to enjoy the ride. The above image shows the final inked drawing on the comic book that I sent back to the collector. Another one is in the works, so stay tuned!

Bryan

Mid Tone Paper Drawings

Woman in a Tea Cup :: 5"x7" ink and colored pencil on grey paper :: Purchase HERE

I think this mid-toned paper has become my new addiction. It's actually pulled me in so much that I'm getting distracted from commissions, so I will do my best to control the urges. I am not straying from my established style of psychedelic, high energy color, just exploring my roots of ink and using the mid toned paper to study contrast and mood. I'm finding that these ink drawings are giving me a new perspective about how to approach my colorful work.


Dia de los Muertos :: 8"x10" ink and colored pencil on tan paper :: Sold

The Day of the Dead piece revealed some unexpected challenges as I was inking the nose, lips, and cheeks. The decorative makeup needed to have its own contrast, while still portraying the natural form of that part of the face. The challenge was fun and I'm sure I will do more Dia de los Muertos work in the future.


Girl Holding an Anchor :: 5"x7" ink and colored pencil on grey paper :: Sold

I'm hitting Florida hard right now with exhibits so if you are in my state, come see me at one of the shows below.                  

Nov 9, 2014 :: Riverside Arts Market :: Fuller Warren Bridge :: Jacksonville, FL
Nov 23, 2014 :: Riverside Arts Market :: Fuller Warren Bridge :: Jacksonville, FL
Mar 21-23, 2014 :: MegaCon :: Orange County Convention Center :: Orlando, FL
Aug 1-3, 2014 :: Tampa Bay Comic Con :: Orange County Convention Center :: Orlando, FL

Purchase available art and prints at www.bryancollins.etsy.com

Octopus Hug

I've just finished my second illustration on mid-tone paper and I am really liking this substrate. This one is a 5"x7" ink and pencil drawing on grey paper. I can't get enough of the octopus theme. Seems that my thumb is healing up, slowly but surely, so back to the drawing table!

Bryan

Back to Drawing

Just less than two weeks ago I sliced my right thumb to the bone while shoving a trash bag into the can. I have not been able to use my right hand for much, let alone any drawing. This weekend I pushed through the numbness, tingling, and remnants of shooting pains and made this drawing. I've never seriously worked on mid-tone paper, so I thought that picking some up would give me the motivation to work with a wonky thumb. It took about three times as long to complete, but I did it. The drawing measures 5"x8" and is available. Message me for pricing.

Bryan Collins
www.bryancollins.etsy.com

Press Start at FNDTN Gallery

The video game fanatic in me has been itching to be part of an art exhibit focused on the same and the time has finally come. I have created two new pieces in the new media-combo I've been pursuing lately. Each piece is colored pencil and acrylic paint on wood and will be debuted by FNDTN Gallery on opening night.

"PRESS START" is a group show featuring artwork by local (Maryland area) and national artists inspired by video games. The show will run from Friday, May 10th, to Saturday, May 25th, with an opening reception for the event on May 10th at 7PM.

More info at http://www.fndtnarts.com/events/press-start-opening/

Last Ones of These ATCs

I am down to just one each of these limited edition ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). They are signed and numbered in an edition of just 20 prints, and include a certificate of authenticity. Best of all, they're just five bucks each. Email me at bryancollinsart@gmail.com if you would like one.

Pink Elephant Custom Munny

Well, the sculpting bug has bitten me. I've managed to customize a couple hundred art toys in the past three years without ever picking up an ounce of sculpting material, but after receiving a commission for a Scorpion Dunny which required a sculpted tail, I had the thought in my mind to do more 3D, but never really took the leap. So far this year though, I have sculpted on a few customs, including this Pink Elephant 4" mini-Munny.

I will be sculpting more for sure, but not always. I still think there are times when the natural shape of the figure should be allowed to shine through and the paintwork should merely enhance the platform as it is. So, I am grateful now to have this new element of customizing in my grasp so that I am able to take each new piece in the direction that needs to go without limitation.

See available custom figures, paintings, and illustrations at www.bryancollins.bigcartel.com





Bryan Collins
www.useeverycolor.com

Anchored Heart Shirts

The "Anchored Heart" tees are about to start shipping and I am giving away the original blue-pencil sketch used to create this design to one person who orders the shirt before Feb 28th. Each shirt ordered enters your name into a random drawing, so order three shirts and your name goes in three times. Consider giving these as gifts to increase your odds of winning. The shirts are printed on light heather grey cotton/polyester blend unisex tees and are just $15 until Feb 28. They will be $18 thereafter. These are very limited edition shirts with only 100 total being made, so sizes are limited to about 20 or so each. Don't delay, order today - www.bryancollins.bigcartel.com



Win the sketch below

Anchored Heart Sketch

 

A new shirt design is in the works. This design is exclusive to the limited edition tees, and you can win the original sketch by pre-ordering the shirt now in my SHOP. There are only 100 of the shirts being made, so only about 20-25 of each size is available. The shirts are light heather grey with navy blue print, similar to the sketch. Make sure you don't miss this one! Pre-order price is just $15 for a limited time.

Passive Aggressive Munny

Good vs. Evil has been the conundrum debated among theologians, philosophers, and laymen alike since the beginning of mankind. I was commissioned to create a custom mini-Munny based on this theme, and produced this creature I am calling "Passive Aggressive". You may notice that there is some minor sculpt work on this one. I've only sculpted on three custom figures up till now, but I am beginning to slowly integrate more 3D elements into my customs. If you are interested in commissioning a unique figure, contact me HERE.

New Nautical Illustrations

The Atlantean Relic :: 10"x10" colored pencil on wood


Blow Your Boat :: 5"x7" colored pencil on wood

It's already February and I am releasing these two new nautical illustrations. I started a commitment in October of last year to release new work on the first of each month and I've held fast so far. These pieces remain in the nautical theme I've been exploring, and I've gone both above and below the ocean's surface to broaden the scope of sea-themes.

The work has been made available through www.bryancollins.bigcartel.com until they are sold. If the piece you are looking for is not in the online shop, it has found a home. Feel free to message me with any questions and God bless!

Bryan

Two New 4x4 Illustrations

"The Dock Watchman" :: Colored pencil on wood

"Old Salt 01" :: Colored pencil and acrylic on wood

This month, rather than releasing new work on the 1st of January, I am making them available as they are finished. These two new 4"x4" illustrations are available now in my shop. If you don't see them there, then they are sold.

Tales of Tentacles

December's new releases are now up in the Etsy shop. To make things a little different than last month, I've also made the blue pencil sketches available for each original colored piece. That means I've released eight new pieces this month. What remains will be in the NEW RELEASES section of my shop throughout the month of December or until sold out. The price range is $40 to $350 so if you're thinking Christmas gifts, there's a good price range. The new works are as follows:

You Feel Like Home :: 10"x10" colored pencil on wood

Unwanted Guest :: 5"x7" colored pencil on wood

Anchorpus :: 4"x4" colored pencil on wood

A Tangled Attraction :: 6"x12" colored pencil on wood

Check the NEW RELEASES section to see which pieces are available. After January 1st any remaining pieces will be moved to the ORIGINALS section of my shop. As always, please comment or message me with any questions and I will reply as soon as I can. God bless.

Bryan

Time Lapse Octopus Drawing

It's been a while since I've made a time-lapse video, so I thought since I've been working on wood a lot lately, it would be a good time to make a post on my Youtube Channel. Enjoy!

Custom KR Mascots

Available November 21st, 2012 at 5pm est - These three custom Kidrobot Mascot Bots are part of the Mascot Battle blind box series curated by Don P and Sekure D. These are my first custom KR Bots and are painted with acrylics. The series is comprised of "team old" from the first KR Mascot series (Good vs Evil), and "team new" who are joining in for this second series of customs. Bots are blind-boxed when you order, but you may choose if you want a pull from team old or team new. If you want a shot at one of the three above, grab from team new. All the possibilities of custom bots are sampled at http://www.battleofthemascots.bigcartel.com/

The artists on Team NEW are JAR, Color Chemist, Nugglife, RunDMB, Charles Rodriguez, MaloApril, Squink!, Wheelbarrow, El Hooligan, and Stuart Witter.

The artists on Team OLD are Sekure D, Matcandraw, Hugh Rose, Fuller, Alex Break, Don P, Nikejerk, Loz Hausofboz, JFury, and Jc Rivera.

Bots are priced at $70 each and pre-orders have already snatched up 30 of the 50 custom pieces, so only 20 will be available when the public link opens at 5pm est on November 21st so don't dally.

Grab them while you can at http://www.battleofthemascots.bigcartel.com/

Outside In at Art Whino

"Outside In"
Two Man Show Featuring
Aaron Jasinski & Bryan Collins
June 23rd 8-11pm

Outside vs Inside. We experience things quite differently depending on if we are observing them or a part of them. Viewing a challenge, such as attending college or approaching an attractive person, can seem like a big, intimidating thing. By the time you are in your 2nd or 3rd year of college or have become good friends with that good looking person, the previously daunting situation no longer feels so menacing.

Further, there are some who find solace in living as outsiders and prefer to rarely engage in socially inclusive circumstances. Punk rockers, anarchists, artists, musicians, scientists, mathematicians, bookworms, and video gamers are just a few examples of chosen lives and identities that comfort those who prefer the outsider lifestyle. This exhibit seeks to tell some of these stories in the whimsical fashion that Aaron Jasinski and Bryan Collins are known for.

Saturday, June 23rd, from 8-11pm
Location:
Art Whino Gallery 
120 American Way
National Harbor, MD 20745 

Reception begins at 8pm

Show end date: August 11th, 2012

The event is FREE and open to the public. 

Inked in Pink painting progression

Here we go with the second painting for the upcoming "Outside In" exhibit at Art Whino. This one is being called "Inked in Pink", as she will have pink tattoos covering her arms. The cherry blossoms and airplanes are being painted pink as well.

For these "Outside In" paintings I am using a technique different than my usual one where I paint the entire background first. Since I am doing all of these pieces on gessoed basswood, I am making somewhat detailed pencil drawings on the wood first and painting over top of the drawings. So far I am pleased with this process as it allows me to really plan out a piece in advance of attacking it.

This process is also much closer to what I am used to as a dry-media artist. I have been working exclusively in pen-and-ink and colored pencil for nearly my whole life, and just really started using paint in 2006. This cell-shading style of getting the paint on the board is much more like I am used to and seems to have me painting much faster.

You may notice a slight change to her wardrobe in the above photo. Once I started adding the tattoos to her arms I really wanted to have some across her chest as well, so I painted over the dark grey tank top she was wearing under the blue and black stripped one. Now she is "Inked in Pink". Time for a background.

Now that I am laying in the background and adding all the special details, this will be the last preview I will show until the opening night of "Outside In". I have to save some surprises for the exhibit!

"Outside In" will be a two-man show with Aaron Jasinski and opens June 23 at Art Whino.

God bless,
Bryan

Original art and prints available in my Etsy Shop.

Steampunk Sheriff Dunny

For this commission I was asked to create anything I wanted as long at it was on the Chuckboy Cyborg Dunny platform. I had only worked on this platform once before when I made the seafaring Scuba Dunny. A month ago I beat the PS3 game Rage and have since been wanting to do a steampunk themed custom. When I was striping and priming the Chuckboy cyborg it hit me that this was the perfect platform to take in a steampunk direction. I had a blast creating this little sci-fi western sheriff and hope to do more in this theme soon.

You can order custom Dunny figures at www.bryancollins.etsy.com or email me to discuss something specific - info[at]bryancollinsgallery.com

God bless,
Bryan

Coffee Girl in Progress

Although I closed my series of "Coffee Girls", I did agree to accept a commission for one. It will be an 8"x10" colored pencil piece. Here is the initial idea sketched out in blue drawing pencil.

I went to my local Hobby Lobby to get some illustration board for this piece. It was my first time in the Saint Augustine store. The family is still getting settled in to our new place and finding our way around. When I lived in Gainesville, FL I made frequent trips to St Augustine, but usually just hung around St. George Street and then over to Villano Beach. Now that I live here I will need to figure out where to purchase all of my art supplies. I must admit, I will always have a very large place in my heart for Colorado, but it sure is nice to cruise over to the beach whenever I want. It's only about 15 minutes away.

I will post more pics of this Coffee Girl in progress as I move along with it. Coffee Girl merch and prints are available at www.bryancollins.etsy.com
God bless,
Bryan

Custom Android Figures

Custom Android Figures, a photo by BryanACollins on Flickr.

This is a pair of custom Android figures I painted for a client. I was given a very open theme, and only asked that one be red and one green. I figured that I should focus on the colors themselves, and make a pair of bots that really compliment each other.

The set was painted with acrylic paint on DIY vinyl Android figures.

You can purchase custom figures and other Bryan Collins art at www.bryancollins.etsy.com

God bless,
Bryan