Marvel ANNIHILATION : CONQUEST covers

[Aleksi]

Hi!
I haven’t posted anything new here since a while, I was just focusing on Life and still tons of different projects to finish this last months (Spawn AoF and the Merlin artbook are huge part of them…)
Because they are all already published, I can show now the covers that I’ve done for the Marvel ANNIHILATION : CONQUEST mini-serie. One of the last Space opera saga in the Marvel world.
I’ve used them as examples at the last REVELATION workshop (MassiveBlack/Conceptart workshop) in Seattle (beginning of this year) in a panel about “How to create books and comic-book covers” with Jason Chan and Jason Felix. It was really fun and I was happy to speak in English with the mic in front of a crowd. I’ve talked for my part about some conceptual ideas to manage different covers of a serie, creating links about all of them, thinking also about the graphic layout and stuff…
If you want to read more about them : artnotes, work in progress versions, different steps, I’ve got the opportunity to write a cool and more complete topic on ign.com :
http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/846/846265p1.html

[Extollere]

Great covers. Thanks for sharing the thumbs and process pics.

[Aleksi]

Thanks! You can read and see more about the process at the ign weblink below (notes and pictures). I'm too lazy to copy/paste everything here.
Most of the times, before beginning to paint (especially for concept arts) I'm writting tons of notes in some of my "Ideas sketchbooks". It's not at this time about light, colors and doing a pretty picture but more about finding the best ideas. So there is more often written notes than sketches. Done in the suburb or sitting outside...
Then come after the hard painting stuff...

For the 5th annihilation cover with Ultron, it was one of the last and few pics that I've worked first "traditionaly" with a real pencil sketch. We were doing some cool brainstorm and creative workshop with my girlfriend. I didn't get any Ultron specific references and it was some kind of freestyle first step using red wine, white paint and cigarette burns to create more effects and accidents...
Cool memories!!!

[SEVANS]

Solid work. Love seeing the roughs and working steps too.

[JonLamArt]

These are really great and crisp. Out of curiosity how big is your sketchbook?

[JonLamArt]

Oh wait, I just saw the pen...wow it looks like 5 by 7 to me. sick

[Call0ps]

beautiful covers sir! nice to see some roughs sketches from you and the process until the final. & ofc to get a snick pick inside of your brain ^^
5* ( duh! )

[Pau1Winslow]

Stunning covers, and I appreciate the layout sketches a ton.. I love to see a pro's creative process.

[Thaw Naing]

head over to ign everyone. worth the read. thanks alot aleksi, great work as always
just a quick question about the turn around..how much time were you given to complete these covers?

[Pavel Sokov]

love these works! love the character on the throne. who is he by the way?

[Bomba]

Your work is all over the comic book stores now. Its exciting to see! Conquest #5 really blew me away... amazing design elements. And, as always... you are very giving when explaining your work process.

Cannot wait for your Spawn and Merlin projects to be completed. Perhaps this year?
Off to read your article and thanks for the inspiration Aleksi,
-Jason

[Robert.B]

cool

[m@.]

awesome my friend

[Mr.Delicious]

wow, yea thats really impressive . inspirraattiooon !!

[Coinpurse]

*pokes dave*
Awesome stuff Aleksi! never seize to amaze

[Maestro Andres]

Stunning covers, it's always great seeing works from you. I actually enjoy the notes and comments you made throughout your process. Even on the last workshop it helped a lot that you were writing those notes down on the PSD while you were working in the piece since it gives a great insight of what elements you are considering at each time. Not sure if you have mentioned this before, but do you create a lot of the character designs in your covers?

Still, awesome work and thanks for the inspiration

[DanielC]

roh!
Nice nice !

[Victor B]

fantastic thanks for posting

[2kre8]

just awsome i like your colors, show more sketches

[Mike Corriero]

Damn Aleksi,
You never fail to amaze me, your take on the characters and your style tops all in my opinion. Those 3 covers look amazing, wish it were possible to see a few of them a bit larger. That "Conquest 5" image that you posted process steps to is one in particular that I'd love to see some detail shots of. The Wii cover as well has a great color scheme, it's really powerful. Must have been awesome getting to produce 3 different paintings for 3 Game Consoles. Congrats on the Master Award in Expose 6

[Wasker]

yeah, nice

and oh, it just struck me, the only thing worse than being dead to some bad ass sci fi dude is having his light saber in your groin.

[Jason Manley]

good to see you my friend. thanks for posting the process stuff especially...great stuff.


j

[HunterKiller_]

Jaw-dropping works.

I definitely agree with Davi that your renditions of these characters are among the top, if not the best.
Makes me wanna buy these comics.

[stalsby]

You never let us down Aleksi!! Thanks for the work in progress!

[DANKA]

Cool covers! Stunning work!

[James Kei]

You never disappoint, Aleksi.
Bravo!

[Beelow]

I dont have enough thumbs to give you but 2 that I have. Thanks for sharing Aleski, always impressive work!

[chuck18mp]

very cool covers, keep doing

[Mark Tarrisse]

As usual awesome work BTW when will you finish your website, I'm fedup of waiting

[strych9ine]

Great article, seeing your process was a treat. Love the covers!