HOME | DD
AdamHughes — Voodoo
Published: 2009-02-20 16:11:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 106743; Favourites: 2035; Downloads: 5797
Redirect to original
Description
A Voodoo cover I did for Wildstorm back in the 90s. One of the last painted covers I did before going to digital colors.It's probably 15" X 25", water-based mixed media on illustration board.
It was a rush job; Wildstorm called me up on a Friday and needed it on a Monday, so I did this one in a 48-hour marathon I think, no sleep whatsoever. I hate those.
The original cover artist disappeared, so I was asked to do the covers for issues 2-4. He had started the miniseries with an Art Nouveau design for the first issue cover, which is probably why WS called me to help out. The fact that Voodoo is a superhero who is a stripper (I know, CLASSY!) in her alter ego hours probably had nothing to do with it, right?
Even though it was a nightmare, I really enjoyed this piece, and is one of the rare occasions where I had a lot of fun on a job.
Related content
Comments: 243
I have this mini, I love your covers. Well, I'm a sucker for Art Nouveau anyway
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you for saying so, and Art Nouveau makes everything better doesn't?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I loved the details in all the work
the card behind her shoulder, the skull, her rings
and the pose of the woman it's great, very difficult to draw
sorry for my english
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This has always been one of my favourites so nice to see a good shot of it, fantastic!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This has always been one of my favourites so nice to see a good shot of it, fantastic!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I love the smooth gradation of colors on Voodoo's body - I could never do something so subtle without blooms appearing in the washes. What's your secret? Lots of dabbing/blotting?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I think the secret on THAT piece was airbrush + frisket film.
The same effect could've been achieved by doing wet-on-wet watercolors, but time was so tight on that job, I think I went airbrush because of drying time.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Her face is insanely beautiful. I love her arms too. All the little details in this are great
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
yes... yes... I remeber this one as well... and had it in my collection.
It was lost when my grandfathers attic (where I had most of my collection) was flodded during a hurricane.
Oh yes... the memories. I feel honored to even be able to leave you this note and thank you for your inspiration.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I remember this one; and its in my collection, as is a lot of your covers! Excellent work!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Your art has such an incredible beauty, so realistic, yet also sylized in a magnificent way! ^_^
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I have always loved this piece. I heart it big time.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I think I read this comic before, isn't Alan Moore the writer?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow! I remember this one! Fantastic! One of my favourites among your work! I learned about Mucha's works because of this cover! Thank you very much!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Really? That's awesome news; I'm glad you discovered the works of a true master!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm glad too, thanks to you!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I guees the fact that you had fun doing it, is direct related to the fact that this is one of my favorite comic book covers ever.
Great work, sir.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Alphonse Mucha is one my favorite artist and I think you captured his style very well >.< I absolutely love it 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I can appreciate the difficulty in using watercolors on illustration board without much time to spare. Did you use illustration board frequently when you were doing painted color? I love illustration board and I prefer using watercolor to color my images but I have difficulties keeping the board flat as it dries, any suggestions?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Sure!
You can dry-mount the board to something unwarpable like masonite, or just tape the edges of the illo board to masonite.
The board I used on the Voodoo was something like 5-ply; very thick! Not much warpage happened.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
Hey Adam, what type of tape did you use? I've had some luck with just regular masking tape, but it's a hit and miss thing. Sometimes it wants to lift the paper when I try to remove it. I've heard that artist's tape is better, but it doesn't seem to hold as well (but I haven't really given it much of a chance because I got tired of taping it down over and over).
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Blue painting tape from Home Depot works well, too.
The trick is, make sure your illustartion is an inch taller and wider than y9ou need it to be. Tape it to the masonite about a half-inch in all the way around. When you're done, carefully remove the tape. If any pulls the paper, well, that's why you add an extra inch leeway all the way around. You can just trim off the excess art board that was damaged in tape removal.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
wow, thanks that's a great idea. I'm sure I can find something like that at the local hard-ware store.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Home Depot has 2 foot by 4 foot sheets of masonite (but they refer to it as hardboard) in the lumber aisle. They will also cut the board to whatever dimensions you specify. They're supposed to charge like 25 cents a cut, but I've never had my local store charge me for the cuts. The 2 foot by 4 foot sheet runs around 5 bucks.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I bought this series based on your covers - as far as I recall it was a not too bad story that ended badly (and abruptly) in number 4.... and she was never heard from again.....
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I adored VooDoo I only ever got one of the comics and can't find anymore....but it's a well read comic.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow, it's wonderful! I love Art Nouveau, and it's a perfect mix. I have never seen a stripper in an Art Nouveau poster! It's something curious (at least) to see =3
As usually, perfect. I love your work
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Really well done stuff as always Mr. Hughes.
I'm curious though - how long does it take you now to do a drawing from start to finish? (from penciling to digital color)
Again though, awesome job!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Love this...especially the wonky Image Comics "I".lol Question tho....JUST A QUESTION. I always thought Voodoo was black?Or am I mistaken?
spectacular job nonetheless! Alphonse Mucha inspired no less! *faints*
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I don't think Voodoo was black. No one at Wildstorm ever told me to draw her so, and the model they hired to play Voodoo at appearances was so pale, you could read a newspaper through her. I think she was just colored with a richer skintone.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That clears up that mystery for at least the decade of time I've known about the character. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
.... when i saw this first thing out my mind was good lord.... this is crazy!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
fan-frick'n-tastic. i love the tonely shift in the face that gives it that excellent sense of depth. what did your pallet consist of before you went digital? specifically speak towards watercolors.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I have that comic and the others packed away safely. I loved the cover art on these and the story was good too.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
That's what impresses me about your digital coloring -- that you are fully capable of traditional painting and simply use PhotoShop as a different way to paint, but it's still painting... just painting without the mess and with the chance to "undo".
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I think painting skills are painting skills; the tools and medium are almost irrelevant. I bet Da Vinci would've LOVED an airbrush.... Michelangelo would kill in Photoshop or painter.
And I think oil painting is the only medium with a sort of Ctrl+Z factor...
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
I couldn't agree more. I'm just an ape who likes ruining perfectly good paper and canvas
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I couldn't agree with you more on the fact that the ability to paint is outside comparsion to the tools that an artist use, but I'm specifically working in traditional mediums right now, mainly because I'm still a student and that fact may dicitate my opinion, but i feel that traditional mediums, such as: oil, watercolor, etc, etc., have an "essence" that surpasses digital mediums on a whole. I understand that within the art world, especial in today's society, productivity is a large factor and digtial mediums produce attractive art rather quickly, but the purity and effort to control and manipulate those unavalible "undos" in traditional mediums is an aspect that deserves much apperiatation. anyway, sorry about the rant, just that I'd jump in.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Its bad to post a comment so late after you post your drowings, mr. Hughes, because all the nice questions in my head were already asked, and you already kindly answered them.
So I can say just "woooa", or drool.
Well, I can also congratulate you for another masterpiece..
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Oh, awesome! I have this book still. It was one of my sister's favorites when we were kids.
Neat to find you on DA.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I'd like to see this drawing in live : D
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
One of my favorite covers from that series, Adam!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Is she supposed to be sitting? Wouldn't she have more folds in her abdomen if she is? Kind of an odd angle.
Good colours and line work as usual, though.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
She's sitting. I contemplated & attempted abdomnial crunch lines, but it really ruined the Art Nouveau look by having that much anatomic detail, so I opted to leave it out.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
| Next =>