Hey, gang- I’m back with a “Walker Wednesday” art blog post for you. This one is another monsterpiece that I recently drew for the upcoming Monster Market in October.
It’s a “The Walking Dead” sketchcover and will be a Monster Market exclusive at this year’s Halloween pop-up shop downtown. The “W” stands for “Workman” 😉
Monster Market is an annual holiday shop open for one week in October that features all kinds of monstrous merch- many of it is hand made and some are even one of a kind art pieces. This year it’s open October 10th through October 16th. It’s a free event to attend, and a great place to score some horror, sci-fi, and Halloween themed items. You can see pics from last year’s event HERE.
I drew this sketchcover on an issue of “The Walking Dead“- #150 to be exact. I’ve got a few TWD blanks and I’m hoping the “All Out War” coverstock is betting than this one. I wasn’t thrilled with the way the markers worked on this one. I got it to work, but it took me a lot more to make it work than it should have.
It wasn’t as slick as the “Hit-Girl” sketchcover I did a while back, but it reminded me of some “Star Wars” sketchcard blanks from Topps where some of the colors wouldn’t work right on it- they didn’t blend well, some seemed flat/dull, and some colors tended to want to stay on top or be lifted back up by the next one. It can be tricky and pretty frustrating when the paper stock and markers don’t want to play well with each other. It’s also too tempting to overwork a piece in those situations and ruin a piece.
I started off the drawing with a yellow #2 pencil– my favorite go to tool. I freehanded the front cover image first, and then worked on the back drawing.
I then got out my Copic markers and started doing a grey under-base drawing of the shadow areas.
I needed a break from working on the two walkers, so I started filling in the background with different shades of green Copics, Letraset, and Prismacolor markers.
Once the background was filled in I started back on the two zombies and their clothes with a few different shades of grey Copics.
I then started working on the “flesh and bone” with pink and beiges Copics.
I then went over them with a light yellow and colored in their shirts with a few different shades of light blue, as well as a bit in their eyes.
I then used a couple dark grey Copics to darken and sharpen the shaded areas and hair.
Then I used a few shades of red and more brown to finish out the color in the bloody parts of the flesh.
I used a black Pigma Micron pen for the inking of the drawing. I normally use an 03 sized nib.
I then started on the highlights with a white Gelly Roll pen. I would tap or press some of the white wet areas with my finger tip to tone down or blend the highlights. You have to be careful not to smear the wet ink or get what’s on your finger onto unwanted parts of the drawing.
The final highlights were done with a white Prismacolor pencil. Sometimes if the paper stock is a little too slick I’ll spray a light dusting of Krylon Workable Fixative.
Once done I sign the comic and then do a protective spray of the fixative. It’s best to do several overlapping light coats than a heavy one. It’s also best to spray it outside or in a well ventilated area.
I’ll have this sketchcover as well as other comics, zines, prints, stickers, and original art available for purchase at the Monster Market.
I’ll also be set up at this year’s Memphis Comic Expo(DonnieCon) on September 13th & 14th, and the Memphis Comic & Fantasy Con on November 1st– aka “The Day of the Dead!”
Oh, and our pal Mike Norton (co-creator of “Revival” and “Drawing Funny” podcast guest) will be back in the M-town at MCX this year, too.
Hope to scare ya there!
Monster Market 2025
October 10-16, 2025
The Medicine Factory
85 Virginia Ave W
Memphis, Tennessee