The New York Post talks with comic artist Tim Sale about his work on NBC’s surprise hit, Heroes, for which he creates the enormous paintings and the 9th Wonders! comic done by the character Isaac Mendez:
While illustrating the panels for the 9th Wonders! comic book are a snap for Sale — they’re executed in the traditional style, with pen and ink, then colored in later — the paintings proved to be trickier.
Because he’s colorblind, Sale draws in black ink and dilutes his work for gray tones. To make his drawings look as if they were done with a paintbrush, the image is scanned into a computer. A colorist adds color, variations in tone and texture, and then the finished product is blown up and printed on canvas. (In a notable exception, the technicolor mushroom cloud on the floor of Isaac Mendez’s studio was printed on moveable rubber mats.)
Eagle-eyed viewers will notice that the dramatic figures in the paintings sometimes don’t look quite like the actors in the cast. Sale explains: “I’m not very good at likenesses, so if they really want it to look like someone’s face, they have to get me a picture.”
Related: 9th Wonders, “The Official/Unofficial Fansite for Heroes“
November 28th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
I love the fact that the artist on the show is colorblind and isn’t very good at people’s likenesses. How did he get the job in the first place?
Also – “dilutes his work for gray tones”. Dilutes his work? What, he doesn’t do as much work for his grey tones?
And I notice there’s an unnamed colorist who does quite a lot with the image, adding “color, variations in tone and texture”, etc.
November 28th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
“I love the fact that the artist on the show is colorblind and isn’t very good at people’s likenesses. How did he get the job in the first place?”
Jeph Loeb reccomended him.
“Also – “dilutes his work for gray tones”. Dilutes his work? What, he doesn’t do as much work for his grey tones?”
What it means is that he does it pen and ink, and then litterally dilutes his inks with water to get grays. He’s been working like this for years.
“And I notice there’s an unnamed colorist who does quite a lot with the image, adding “color, variations in tone and texture”, etc.”
It’s Dave Stewart, basically doing what every colorist does: adding color, variations in tone, texture, etc.
Better interview with Tim Sale on Heroes, etc here- http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=91047
-Steve!
November 28th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
I love Sale’s work, but I do find it mildly amusing that the artist of Spider-Man: Blue, Hulk: Grey and Daredevil: Yellow is colorblind.
Now go break the Internet in half or something.
November 28th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
The actress who plays Eden McCain (the one makes suggestions) looks like she stepped right out one of Tim’s paintings. Her eyes are beautiful.
November 29th, 2006 at 4:30 am
Jeph Loeb reccomended him.
I know. And I’m aware of Tim Sale’s work. It just makes me wonder how that recommendation would’ve gone…
…(cue wobbly screen. Cut to preproduction on the Heroes show)…
“Anyone know anyone we can get to do the art for this show?”
“Yeah, I know this colorblind artist who isn’t very good at peoples likenesses”
“Let’s get him then!”
What it means is that he does it pen and ink, and then litterally dilutes his inks with water to get grays.
I know this is what it meant. I just found it funny that they used the phrase “dilutes his work”. What they should’ve said is that he dilutes his inks.
It’s Dave Stewart
What, the musician? Used to be in the Eurythmics?
(And yes and do know of Dave Stewart the colourist and I do know what a colourist does, just to make it clear)
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