Orbital Eisner Spirit Tribute!

For several year now I have been proud to collaborate with Orbital Comics on a variety of exciting projects, exhibitions, events, signing sessions, panel discussions and more recently a series of life drawing sessions, with the Art Model Collective, themed towards illustrators and comic artists.

In their own small way these events have contributed to a greater awareness of the shop in the wider creative community and subsequently aided them in winning this year's 

'Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award'

To celebrate this prestigious award (The comics equivalent of an 'Oscar') I will be hosting a special Art Model Collective life drawing event paying tribute to Eisner's Spirit comic.

Starring Ed as, masked criminologist, Denny Colt a.k.a 'The Spirit', Manko as 'Skinny Bones' & Carla as, criminal mastermind, 'P'Gell'.

This session will include dynamic poses, atmospheric lighting, music, costumes and props to create an epic celebration of Eisner's trademark character & his film noir, femme fatale inspirations (whose pun based names preceded those of James Bond fame) and roots. 

Published back in the 1940s many Spirit comics are out of copyright and now lie in the public domain. To get you in the mood for this session you can read some of these for free online here

(Be warned though Spirit's sidekick 'Ebony' has not aged well, politically speaking)

To give you a slight inkling of what to expect here's Manko at Orbital comics back in 2014 posing for a Film Noir themed session...

Va-Va-Valentines at Orbital, 14/02/2014 from Manko on Vimeo.

Tickets are £15 for a 2 hour session, refreshments and drawing boards provided.
Available here

Congratulations once again to all at Orbital on a well deserved win!

See you on the 23rd,

Cheers!

Jason Atomic

Orbital/TLDC ERB special!

With a new Tarzan movie “The Legend Of Tarzan” scheduled for a summer 2016 release, we thought now might be a nice time to take a look at some of the amazing artwork inspired by the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs and hopefully inspire some more…

On Friday March 11th 2016 The Life Drawing Collective will team-up with Orbital Comics to present an evening of Tarzan/ERB themed life drawing.

Life drawing, comics and the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs are not such an incongruous match as one might initially suppose. 

The celebrated artist Burne Hogarth (wiki) whose outstanding work on the Tarzan newspaper strips led to him being heralded as  the“Michaelangelo of the comic strip” was actually a founder member of the School Of Visual Arts in New York.

Va-Va-Valentines'

Va-Va-Valentines at Orbital, 14/02/2014 from Manko on Vimeo.

logo design: Steve Cook

On Feb 14th 2014 model supreme Manko once again killed it at Orbital Comics 'Va-Va-Valentines' life drawing event.

This was the second in a series of life drawing sessions featuring Manko & hosted by artist Jason Atomic.

 Costumes, projections, props and atmospheric background music was used to create a hard-boiled 'film noir' effect inspired by the work of Frank Miller, Jim Steranko & Will Eisner.

sketch: Ana Dias

photo: Rossetti Rogers

The sensational costumes were supplied by House Of Harlot, whose designer Robin Archer's 40ies-inspired cuts gave the perfect silhouette, while glossy rubber dramatically reflected the specially designed projections, and heightened the stylised cartoony effect.

photo: Rossetti Rogers

photo: Rossetti Rogers

sketch: Ana Dias

sketch: Rainer Stolle

photo: Rossetti Rogers

photo: Rossetti Rogers

photo: Rossetti Rogers

photo: Rossetti Rogers

photo: Jason Atomic

sketch: Jason Atomic

These un-tutored life drawing sessions at Orbital Comics are tailored specifically towards comic strip illustration. Enthusiastic amateurs and professionals alike are welcomed. 

The next session will take place alongside the Satanic Mojo #2 exhibition on Friday May 23rd.

photo: Jason Atomic

Va Va Valentine's

If you're a comic artist or merely an art fan looking for an interesting date idea in London's West End on Valentine's Day 2014, why not join us at Orbital Comics for some 'noir' themed life drawing?

It's £10 for 2 hours, our Femme Fatale Model is the exquisite ms Manko & your entry price includes free refreshment.

Contact store for bookings, you can buy tickets here

plus....
FREE Taxi ride home!
go to Uber sign up with this code:
 6eet2
and get £20 free taxi ride.

logo: Steve Cook photo: Jason Atomic

This is the second of these life drawing sessions aimed specifically towards comic strip illustration. The first "Catsuits & Rayguns"took place at Orbital on Dec 13th 2013. It attracted a mixed crowd of artists and illustrators ranging from absolute beginners to industry professionals, you can see a gallery of photos form that event over at Steve Cook's Secret Oranges blog.

Doug Sneyd at Orbital Comics.

On Nov 16th at Orbital Comics, Playboy cartoonist, Doug Sneyd hosted a life drawing master-class with Manko modelling. This event sold out within 3 days of being announced and judging by the feedback from attending artists, the model and venue staff is likely to be the first of many.

Manko, inspired by Doug's pin-up illustrations prepared two very different looks for the night. 

This week on friday the 23rd Nov 2012, Doug returns to Orbital for a conversation with artist & curator Jason Atomic. This is a free event and will be moderated by Orbital podcaster Chris Thompson.

Doug Sneyd Masterclass

UPDATE 27/10/2012

from Orbital Comics

"This event is now SOLD OUT! Congrats to everyone who managed to get a ticket, and sorry to those who didn't. On the plus side, we'll be having a free discussion night with Doug the following Friday (November 23) so there's still a chance to see him"

On November 16th 2012 legendary Playboy cartoonist Doug Sneyd will be giving a life drawing masterclass at Orbital Comics.

Joining Doug will be model Honey Manko best known for her work on SuicideGirls.

If you have an interest in life drawing & 'cheesecake' pin-up artwork this is an incredible opportunity to pick up some tips & techniques.

Tickets for this event are £10 available from Orbital.

Tickets are selling out fast but you can still book them here