The Problem with James Bond!

OK, so I had lunch with my oldest sister a few weeks back and we were talking about the trading cards that I do and she asked what subjects I work on. To which I said "all kinds, tv characters, musicians, literary characters...what ever I can think of." I stated a few examples like Star Wars, Dr. Who and The X-men. I then said that I even do special backgrounds on some of them and group them together so that when they are assembled, they create a picture in the back ground and I used James Bond as an example. My sister then said to me, "I love James Bond, can you bring some next time and show them to me?" Knowing that I had several at home I said I would and we moved on. 3 weeks have gone by and I am having lunch with her again this Wednesday. LAST Thursday I went to the book of cards to find the James Bond cards and......nothing. As panic was encroaching, I tried to reassure my thoughts and said to my self "Shannon will know where they are." I went to my wife and asked her, her response..."No honey, we don't have any, could you have sold them?" After choosing some very not nice words to express my confusion (to myself, NOT my wife), I went to my computer to find the original files, only to find that a "package" of them have been corrupted. Decision time: Go back to my sister and tell her that POOF! "No, I don't have them." or change my schedule Friday and Saturday to get them done. I have been "experimenting" with my creative side recently, to see just how far I can push this "Beast" inside of me. This would be a perfect test for it....I chose to redo do the entire line of cards.

The design is technically simple. There have been six actors who have played James Bond. I was to draw each actor dressed as the famous secret agent, including gun in hand, in a pose that would be recognizable for each actor. Then, in the background, over several cards, draw a recognizable item or logo that fits with the James Bond theme. Easy right? Here we go...!

These are the files I start with for source material.

Then I am used blue pencil to draw each individual actor on their own respective cards.

Then, for good measure, I checked to see how they look side by side in the layout.

Now, moving on to the inking stage. On each cards the blue pencil lines are gone over with a fine tip technical pen and minor details are added.

Again, the cards are laid out next to each other, and I thought they turned out ok...

...I didn't have a computer to check them with so, these will work.

Then you pull out your markers and start coloring each one individually.

Again, put them together to check to see how they work together.

(Note: I could not find a good picture of George Lazenby, he was in only one movie, and it's not remembered for being too much anyway, sorry Mr Lazenby.)

Now, just to keep perspective here. I want you to remember that I am a bus driver and don't have a whole lot of time to work on this. So that should help you put into perspective what I am about to tell you. Up to this point it has only been 2 1/2 hours since I thought I would START this project. Research, image capture, layout, penciling, inking AND coloring....all done from 10:30am to 1:15pm Friday morning. Oh! I mentioned that I didn't have a computer right? Thats because I wasn't at home. For those of you not from around here, there was a big snow storm that came through the Twin Cities that morning so I did all this while CAMPED OUT AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. I had SEVERAL library patrons and librarians stopping by repeatedly to check on my progress, even the library Security Guard sped up her rounds to come back and check. :)

Now that you have seen what my time frame and results were, understand this, I am going to finish this project TODAY.

I do have to say though, I am happy with the way that the "Creative Beast" worked yesterday.

I will be posting my progress today as well as the finished projects, so come back and check out how I am doing on this 007project!