James E. Lyle, Commissions

Cover recreations, drawings in pencil and ink, and full color computer illustrations for interested artwork collectors are available from James E. Lyle. USA orders only, please.


PENCIL	INK	COVER RECREATION

BARACK OWONKA ORIGINAL PAINTING

"This item is a little outside of my usual fare, as I don't generally dabble in political cartoon, sticking mostly to the more familiar (for me) superhero genre," said James. "But this one just had to be drawn once the idea was in my head. It's probably best to simply let the piece speak for itself."

BATGIRL/WONDERWOMAN

" I've been doing more of these color pieces since last year," James said."

JAMES' CHARITY AUCTION ITEM SELLS FOR $1700

James had a 16 1/2 x 12 1/2 color pencil on polyester film item entered in the 2007 HeroesCon Charity Auction. To his surprise a bidding war brought in $1700 for the piece. "People are very surprised to find it's color pencil," he said. "It looks more like an oil painting."

Writer Peter David commented on the piece. "Wonder Woman in Che Guevarra's beret. I don't know why I like it, but I do!" Someone called it Post-modern Nihilist Ironic, "but I pointed out to the guy who said it that I am not a Nihilist, but rather a Calvinist," said James. "It took me a while to figure out how that works, but it finally occurred to me that as a Presbyterian I have a pretty well honed sense of sarcasm."

A smaller version of the image, accented neutral, is reproduced below left. "Now," said James, "I'm trying to figure out how to top it." HeroesCon is held yearly in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Thanks for your interest in ordering a commission! I really appreciate your interest. My commission prices are subject to the complexity of the project, but for the sake of giving you a "ballpark" figure I have the following prices. Prices include postage and handling in the U.S. Email me at Worksassociates@aol.com with details for a firmer quote. After your piece is quoted and scheduled, send check or money order to: Works Associates, 89 Walker Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786. OR email your NAME, FULL ADDRESS (NO P.O. BOX), STATE, ZIP and PHONE to Worksassociates@aol.com and you will be emailed a PAYPAL INVOICE.

Supreme Commission Package - $250 to $300. This is my top of the line commission package. I've done these for various charity auctions, individual collectors, members of the armed forces, publishing companies and others. This price is subject to change, depending on the complexity of the project and number of figures. USA orders only, please. Email me at Worksassociates@aol.com with details for a firmer quote.

- 20 x 30" color print of your commission or cover recreation, mounted on foamcore backing board.

- PLUS the original pen and ink drawing (done in my own unique style, of course) drawn at standard comics size (10" x 15" on 14" x 17" Bristol board) this will include a logo "stat" if it is a cover recreation.

- AND the original pencil sketch of the figures drawn approximately 7" x 10" on white bond paper.

Original Commission Package - $100 to $150.

- Original pen and ink drawing of your choice of character(s) drawn at standard comics size (10" x 15" on 14" x 17" Bristol board) this will include the logo "stat" if it is a cover recreation. USA orders only, please.

- Plus the original pencil sketch of the figure(s) drawn apx. 7" x 10" on white bond paper.

Pencil Commission Package - $60 to $100.

- Original pencil sketch, drawn approximately 7" x 10" on white bond paper. USA orders only, please.

As a rule of thumb you should be aware that the greater the number of figures required in a particular piece will increase the complexity of the art and increase the amount of time needed to complete your commission, thus raising the price. Also (as this issue has surfaced from time to time) you should be aware that I don't do commissions that include rude or suggestive poses, nudity, foul language, etc. I will do mild "cheesecake" art from time to time, but that is as far as things go. If you give an exact description of your proposed project I can offer you a more exact (and firm) quote on the price for your artwork.

Additionally, any materials you can offer to help in creating your artwork are appreciated. If you want a cover recreation, the exact cover you wish recreated is always helpful. If you would like your portrait, or the portrait of a friend or family member included in the piece then, of course, any photographs of that person should be included. Props are often an issue, and forwarding small JPEGs of any items you would like included in your commission is always helpful. I have also had success with people who have included links to websites that feature props like team jerseys, ball caps, particular makes of cars, etc.

I want to make sure that your particular commission meets with your standards as well as my own. If there's anything that I can do to make the process more enjoyable for you, then please let me know. Each commission is an individual and unique piece of art, and I want you to be pleased with the results.

So, let me know what you're thinking is. What sort of piece you have in mind, what price range you have in mind, now that you've seen what my rates are like, and we can get started on your project. Email me at Worksassociates@aol.com with details for a firmer quote. After your piece is quoted and scheduled, send check or money order to: Works Associates, 89 Walker Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786. OR email your NAME, FULL ADDRESS (NO P.O. BOX), STATE, ZIP and PHONE to Worksassociates@aol.com and you will be emailed a PAYPAL INVOICE. Thank you!

For more complex projects, comic book pages, illustration or other graphic work, email a description for solid quote. Serious cash-for-services inquiries only. USA orders only, please.

Read through the descriptions and view some samples of my commission work in different mediums on the right.

WONDER WOMAN

A large, patriotic drawing James produced after 911, this is color pencil on two ply bristol board. "This piece is about love of God, family and country," he said. Wonder Woman is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

Comic book editors will tell you that many up and coming artists don't deal well with hair. Look at the way James inks the natural flow and waves of hair in this Wonder Woman drawing. Wonder Woman is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

BATGIRL

Pencilled and inked Batgirl pictures: The inked version of this piece graced the Heroes Convention 2000 program book. "I penciled the piece on vellum and then inked it on bristol using a light box," James said. "When the inked version was so complemented I decided to mount the pencil version on a piece of board and that sold on eBay for more than the inked version. People liked the spontaneity of it, I guess." Batgirl is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

This piece garnered complements from Yvonne Craig and George Perez, and someone offered to buy a backdrop display with the image at Heroes Convention 2003. "I think it's the hypnotic background," James said. Batgirl is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

This Batgirl drawing is a good example of James' abilities to draw beyond the standard comic book form - his Batgirl has personality and an unconventional position beyond the usual "cheesecake" pose, all cemented with a symmetrical bat symbol background. Batgirl is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

"I had a lot of fun doing all the stitching and details on this version of the Batgirl costume," James said. This "Yvonne Craig style" drawing has a '60s feel, accentuated by the classic logo. Batgirl is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

CATWOMAN

The tiger background was added to this Catwoman drawing to add to the menace. Notice the lighter inking throws the tiger into the background and thrusts Catwoman forward. James said he usually draws her in her '60s costume unless another is requested. Catwoman is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

This is a rough of a Catwoman sketch that James collaborated on with Al Bigley, who inked it, and Tom Smith, who colored it, for the Heroes Convention charity auction in 2000. The costume was adapted from a combination of the TV show costume and the lime green version from Batman #197. "Tom went out of his way to confirm the coloring," said James, "by asking Julius Shwartz and Carmine Infantino, 'Was it really green?'" Catwoman is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. This drawing of the classic THUNDER Agents was a gift to John Carbonaro after James was called on to ink the "missing" Paul Gulacy story. T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents copyright © and TM John Carbonaro Click here to view.

See below. This piece was part of the samples James and Quest Comics Art Director Mike McCoy used to pitch a comic to the Christian rock band Newsboys. AngelFyre is copyright © and TM Quest Comics, Inc.

NEW COMMISSIONS

MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION

NEW! Zap! was James' first "national" magazine illustration, for Weekly Reader's "Current Health 1" magazine. © Weekly Reader Corp. Click here to view.

COVER RECREATIONS

Batman 197. This piece, based on a real cover by Carmine Infantino, was done for the Heroes Convention 2003 charity auction. Batman and all related characters copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

IN THE DAY OF BATTLE

"In the Day of Battle" from Quest Comics was written by Richie Suttles and featured the band Soul Embraced. James modeled the project after Walter Simonson's style, with nods to P. Craig Russell. "It was 23 pages of splash panels," said James. "I decided to make it read like 'Revelation according to Marvel Comics.'" Artwork copyright © and TM James E. Lyle. Click here to view.

MISCELLANY

NEW! Rocketgirl in Space is a commission that "didn't ask for an established character," said James. Kind of retro, beautifully visualized, drawn and inked by James. © James E. Lyle. Click here to view.

Tyranny. James drew, inked and colored this for a backdrop for his appearance at HeroesCon 1994. "A lot of people didn't get it," he said. "including the folks who bought the pencil breakdowns. It's about judicial activism and tyranny, not the Patriot Act." The inked original was donated to, and sold at, the show's charity auction. © James E. Lyle. Click here to view.

Herobillies. A group that was putting on a gaming convention suggested the Beverly Hillbillies as superheroes to James. He called it "The Beverly Herobillies." The Beverly Hillbillies are copyright © and TM Filmways Productions. The Beverly Herobillies are copyright © and TM James E. Lyle and Karmacon. Click here to view.

VeggieTales. James was flown to Chicago in 2000 for an interview with Big Idea Productions, the VeggieTales gang, based on this and a few other sketches. The VeggieTales¨ characters are copyright © and TM Big Idea Productions. Click here to view.

Ninjil. Apparently, there was kidding around Acclaim Comics that Editor Jim Perham was going to make all the Acclaim characters females. When he mentioned to James that he was thinking of him for a new Ninja book, James drew this joke. NinJak is copyright © and TM Acclaim Entertainment Click here to view.

The W.P. Hickman Company in Asheville, North Carolina commissions a lot of commercial cartoons from James. This image was to promote their new line of roof fascias, "available in your school colors!" James would tell you pleasing commercial customers is every bit as difficult as pleasing comic book editors. The Hickman Cheeleader is copyright © and TM W.P. Hickman Co. Click here to view.

Zatanna. One of Doodle's pet peeves is fishnet stockings inked poorly. "Sure, it takes a lot of time to do it right, but I just can't be satisfied with my work unless I do it more or less correctly! When I do sketches of characters like Zatanna or Black Canary, I usually have to charge more just because it takes a couple of hours just to do the legs." Zatanna is copyright © and TM DC Comics, Inc. Click here to view.

After your piece is quoted and scheduled, send check or money order to: Works Associates, 89 Walker Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786. OR email your NAME, FULL ADDRESS (NO P.O. BOX), STATE, ZIP and PHONE to Worksassociates@aol.com and you will be emailed a PAYPAL INVOICE.

To place an order by mail, send a check or money order to
James E. Lyle
Works Associates
89 Walker Rd.
Waynesville, NC 28786

Contact James for info about his work at Worksassociates@aol.com

James' blog is at Doodles on Paper

These contact numbers are NOT direct lines for conversations or advice on breaking into the comic book field. Artists and writers can read about the comic book business at the Comic Artists Direct site Breaking Into Comics.

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