In this live demo, I walk through the key stages of a portrait drawing, focusing on big shapes and proportions.

Your final assignment is to create an unforgettable comic cover using one of four prompts, using everything you've learned to design a piece that grabs attention and tells a story.

Erik talks about working in oils and treating art like a job, doing good work on schedule and always improving.

A collection of covers made by Erik Gist for Marvel Comics.

Erik works in oils on hardboard, starting with thin washes and building up layers. The best way to learn is to paint! Just get in there and do it.

Erik refines his drawing of The Thing by using photo references to combine anatomy with rock formations, aiming for authenticity and believability.

Erik sketches a new idea using the team to build a retro hovercraft. Ben lifts it, Reed works all over, Sue brings the toolbox, Johnny serves drinks.

Erik Gist creates thumbnail sketches for a Fantastic Four cover, focusing on design, composition, and storytelling to capture the team's dynamics.

Improve your comic covers by avoiding tangents, corners, and sameness! Instead, vary elements, use strong value separations, and add movement.

Erik designed the Fantastic Four #44 cover to highlight their teamwork, showing each member using their unique abilities to contribute to a shared task.