Before the Final Blow . . .

'Before the Final Blow was Struck'

Materials: Graphite, Micron Pens, Prismacolor markers, and Sharpies

Duration: About 2 weeks

Anything other details: I stole a lunch tray from the college cafeteria and used it as a board for this drawing.

This is dedicated to Genndy Tartakovsky and to all those who put their heart and soul into making 'Samurai Jack' a great cartoon and a wonderful work of art.

So, this is the first in a Samurai Jack series of drawings that I've planned out for myself - because I sooooooooooooooo don't have other things that need to get done

Basically, I'm taking a few of my favorite scenes from the show and drawing them in the traditional Japanese (I believe Edo) style . . . it's been done before, but it sounded like a fun project

Mon amis, I did actual RESEARCH for this thing!!!!
I borrowed a book from the college library called 'On The Laws of Japanese Painting' by Henry P. Bowie that helped me a bit on this. To be honest, the only real thing that I found useful was the description of the types of lines you're supposed to use for clothing depending on the nature and status of the person wearing them - YOU CANNOT DRAW CLOTHES ALL WILLY NILLY!!!! >8C

Everything else was based what I observed in other Japanese paintings. Actually, Aku is based on a specific piece - a hanging scroll called 'Tiger' by Katayama Yokoku (1760 - 1801). What was most striking about 'Tiger' for me was the eyes - they're really intense and fierce looking which is what I wanted for Aku in this piece - I wanted built up hatred and evil flooding out of those eyes and aimed right up at Jack. I guess it's really up to you guys if I actually succeeded in that or not.

I don't want to write an entire essay on this thing (believe me, I could - I talk too much), but if you guys have any questions about whatever, just ask and I'll answer.

If you have any comments or critiques, I would really appreciate them. Believe me, though I didn't list them in the description, there are a good number of things that I'm not too sure with this piece.

Thanks, everyone!
ABF

P.S. - Would you guys be interested in seeing a process and close up compilation? - basically a collection of pictures that shows specific details of this piece and pictures of the piece before it was finished (line art phase, coloring phase, etc.). If not, I won't put it up.

Samurai Jack and its characters belong to Genndy Tartokovsky and Cartoon Network