Hey, gang- this week I finished up another Star Wars sketchcover. This one is based on the amazing TV series “Andor” and features Cassian, Dedra, K-2SO, and Syril.
Sketchcovers are special variant edition comics with covers that are usually blank, some are tinted and only feature a masthead logo and/or some effect such as a blood splatter or fade of color.
Some are an additional cover over the regular main “A” cover, and others are the only cover on the comic. They can be drawn on both the front and back, front only, or just a specific designated section of the cover.
They come in a variety of different titles, price ranges, sizes, and paper stock. You can find them at local comic shops, online sites, or comic vendors at conventions.
They are usually printed on a thicker uncoated cardstock type of paper. I’m not a big fan of the ones printed on slick paper. It can be a pain to get anything other than a Sharpie marker or paint pen to get to stick on them. I’ve got a few I’m not sure what I’m going to do with!
This Hit-Girl one above from the movie “Kick-Ass” had SUPER-slick coverstock and was hard to get any markers or pens to work on it..!
The tinted ones can be cool when drawn on in black & white, but can’t be erased- unless you want to lighten the printed color as an effect. I used the eraser for highlights and clouds on this Superman one.
You can take them to a convention to get an artist to draw a sketch for you, commission an artist online to draw one for you, or just draw on one yourself. They can be a lot of fun to create, and there’s a lot more real estate to draw on than sketchcards offer.
I don’t do commissions anymore, but at shows I’m more than happy to sell you any finished ones I have. These have already sold, but I do have more ready to sell at events.
I do have some sketchcards currently available for purchase at The Cellar on Bartlett Blvd. in Bartlett, TN. I’ll have more at my con tables as well.
For this sketchcover I started off by scaling/cropping the images in Photoshop to fit the book’s dimensions. I printed them our to size and using a light sheet and a #2 pencil I traced the outlines onto the blank comic. Once the figures were blocked out I went in and sketched out the details by hand.
I used a variety of markers including Copic markers, Ohuhu markers, Touch New markers, and Weisbrandt markers. Started off with some browns, orange, and earth-tones.
I then worked in some blues, greys, and mint colors.
I tried to keep the background light and blurry to help give it a bit more depth. The further away things are from you the lighter and less detailed they appear (atmospheric perspective).
I then started working in the flesh-tones with my markers. Drawing human faces can be tricky for me, and some likenesses are more difficult than others. These actors proved to be tough to draw, but definitely not as hard as Mark Hamill/Luke Skywalker!
I used a black 03 Pigma Micron pen to do my line work.
For highlights I used a combination of a white Gelly Roll pen…
…and a white Prismacolor pencil.
Once I finally completed the artwork I took it outside to spray it down with some Krylon Workable Fixative to protect it. I recommend doing this outdoors or at least in a well ventilated area and using light coats. Our cats Lex and Lena were out back with my wife Nicki while she was working on her garden.
I’ll have this comic and several other sketchcovers available for sale at upcoming events around town, including the Memphis Libraries Comic Con on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 10 AM – 3 PM.
It’s a free event at the main library on Poplar Avenue and I’ll have a table there, as will many of the MSCA members.
Hope to see you there, and may the force be with you!
Lin
PS: I’ll be at the inaugural MidSouth Mega Con in Memphis this weekend. I’ll be manning the MSCA table and recording some interviews for my podcast “Drawing Funny”. Stop by and say hi if you’re there.
EDIT: Okay, I do have these below available for purchase. Shipping is $10 for USPS domestic Priority mail. Can combine for one shipping fee. Email me at lin(at)linworkman(dot)com.
Cookie Monster MSCA zine – $35.00
FF/Thing sketchcover – $50.00
Superman sketchcover – $65.00
Frankenstein sketchcover – $75.00
Star Wars: Andor sketchcover – $100.00
Creepshow/Fluffy sketchcover – $100.00