Yo Joe June, Day 4: Snake-Eyes!

 This one goes back, for sure! This is the first "sketch" in my GI Joe sketchbook, which I started in 2007! After that Eddy Newell sketch of Cobra Commander (see Yo Joe June, Day 2!), I began thinking about starting a GI Joe sketchbook and daydreaming about how I would start it and who would draw what characters in it! Then I happened to be reading through an old Heroes Con program guide where Brian Stelfreeze had some fun with his bio. Brian ended his bio with something to the effect of, "When not drawing comics, Brian likes to go on missions with Snake Eyes!" And I was sold! 

Yo Joe June, Day 4: Snake-Eyes by Brian Stelfreeze! 

When I approached Brian Stelfreeze at Heroes Con with my idea and an empty sketchbook, he told me that he takes 2 things very seriously, New Sketchbooks and Snake-Eyes! At Heroes Con 2007, I got to watch as Brian worked on this beauty! He had to take breaks to allow the paint to dry but what a fun time, watching as he worked his magic!

I did get this one photo of the painting during one of the drying breaks! 

 

 I have to say, I really had no idea what to expect from Brian. I was very familiar with his work in comics and had watched him paint pieces for the Heroes Art Auction, in previous years. So, it was clear that Brian was a master painter. I still love hearing stories from other artists about how one afternoon with Brian and they learned more about anatomy or color theory or whatever aspect of  art, than in all of their previous art classes! There's just no way to get across how much Brian is talented on an entirely different level than most of humanity! 

Brian is also one of the kindest, most laid back people I've been lucky enough to meet! It was such an enjoyable experience chatting with him while he worked on this. He would put down some paint and then take a step back and take it in. After a few moments he'd say, I have to let it speak to me to see what I do next. Well, Brian and this painting must have had one hell of a chat because this painting is out of this world! 

The other fun part of this gorgeous, 2-page painting by the one and only, Brian Stelfreeze, was watching artists freak out about it when they opened the book to do a sketch for me! I can't imagine how intimidating it must have been for an artist who was about to draw for me, opening the book up to this! 

 I feel like I should go on for a bit about all the details and colors and lighting of this painting but instead I'm just going to ask you to scroll back up and take it all in for yourself. Don't be in a hurry, just let your eyes enjoy it and let Brian's work talk to you a little. Because Snake-Eyes doesn't have much to say!