Online Art Board Supplies Comic art for the major US companies such as Marvel or DC is drawn on special art board that includes 'blue line' indicators so the artists draw to the correct size proprotional to the final US comic book art size. Artists contracted to the companies are provided with this board, although I am not sure if this is still supplied gratis, as it was in Paul Neary's day as Editorial Director at Marvel UK, or if they have to pay for it. Page measurements apparently vary slightly from company to company, so using ordinary Bristol board and a ruler may be a better option for the aspiring artist than seeking down this specialised board. 2000AD is now published pro to US comic book size. BlueLine There is a type of Bristol board called BlueLine which features these the official comic page measurments printed on it. It's solicited through Previews and, therefore, most comic shops should be able to order it. Some artists don't like it. Bristol Board • Most art supply shops in Belfast sell Bristol board in A3 20 sheet blocks. Art Supplies • Great Art Supplies Gerstaecker UK Limited / Great Art, Normandy House, 1 Nether Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1EA Telephone Order line 0845 601 5772 (Local call rate) Described as Europe's largest and brightest catalogue for art materials, this company says "Whatever your angle - whether you're an art student, leisure painter, art teacher or professional artist - we're sure that you'll find that we are full of all the supplies you need." They publish a variety of catalogues for each country -- one artist I know orders material from their French rather than UK edition. • London Graphics Company 16-18 Shelton Street, Covent Garden London WC2H 9JL Tel: 020 7759 4500 Fax: 020 7759 4585 London Graphic Centre was established in 1973 as a specialist graphic materials supplier to the London Design and Advertising market. Dip Pens • Hans Presto This Swedish (with English translation) site apparently stocks and sells just about every dip pen ever made. It also has sections on Lettering, Comics and Handwriting. (thanks to artist Kev Hopgood for this one)

NEW BRITISH COMICS COLLECTIONS AVAIALBLE NOW... This is the first Dan Dare collection I've edited for Titan Books, comprising work by Frank Hampson, Frank Bellamy and Don Harley. Superb World War 1 strip first published in Battle and another collection edited by me for Titan

Comics Artists W

• Back to V - On to XYZ

Loston Wallace
Official: www.lostonwallace.com
Pictured Right: Conan by Loston Wallace. Image © Marvel Comics

Loston Wallace has been a professional artist since 1996, providing artwork for the role-playing industry as well as the DC Comics Licensing Department. He has had the good fortune to contribute illustrations for over 65 different role-playing books and penciled both Batman and Superman Activity Books for DC.
Klyde & Meriem, a Basement Comics publications, was his first venture at penciling a comic book. As a child, he dreamed of either drawing comics or discovering dinosaurs, and through Klyde & Meriem, he felt both dreams came true. Getting to work with author Bob Smith and inker Kim DeMulder just made the experience that much sweeter.

Dan Waring
Official: www.danwaring.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/dan_waring
Perhaps better known as an illustrator, the galleries on British artist Dan Waring's site feature a wide range of his work, from children's book illustrations to editorial images. He works in a range of media including watercolour, coloured pencil, acrylic, pen and pencil. Dan has also undertaken a number of portrait commissions.

Andi Watson
Official: www.andiwatson.biz
Andi has worked mostly on comic books since he graduated college in 1992, although he spent a brief period working for a game developer back in the 8-bit days and has worked on development in kids animation toiling on story, bible, and character designs.
He has and still does work within illustration and have had stints of varying lengths at The Radio Times, The Mortgage and Finance Gazette, AOL.co.uk and Sugar.
Most of his comics have been my own projects working as writer/artist/letterer/colourist/designer. On top of that he's done work-for-hire gigs for Marvel, DC and Dark Horse, often writing licensed products like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or company owned characters like Namor.

John Watson
Official: www.johnwatsonart.com
Pictured left: the cover to Marvels's Civil War #1. Image © Marvel Comics

Michael Watson
Official: www.michaelsexcitinglife.co.uk
One of the team in the office sent me a link to Michael's Exciting Life, a hilarious photo strip (check out the very funny "Suicide" arc) is just a gem.

John Welding
Official: www.johnwelding.comix.org.uk

Freelance illustrator John Welding has two sides to his practice, one is the 'illustrated children's fantasy book' side and the other is the 'autobiographical diary keeper' side. They both involve him drawing but in very different ways of thinking and as time passes they both develop his thoughts and philosophies on what drawing and life mean to him.
Welding works with publishers, writers, libraries, art galleries, schools and theatre companies on various drawing projects which may involve a one off commission to working with a series of schools over a set period of time. Since 2004 he hasworked in partnership with children's writer and author, Steve Way, on projects and have seen several educational titles in print from their ideas.

Chris Weston
Official: www.chrisweston.co.uk
Blog: chrisweston.blogspot.com
Chris is a highly talented British artists whose numerous art credits include The Invisibles, Indigo Prime, Ministry of Space and Enemy Ace. You can buy his art from SplashPages

Steve White
Official: www.gn.apc.org/thunderlizard/index.html
Both illustrator and writer, Steve edited a huge number of comics for Marvel UK, including Transformers and the original and much-admired run of Knights of Pendragon. He now works for Titan Magazines, editing Wallace and Gromit Comic and other titles.

Andrew Wildman
Official: Go
This site, created in partnership with writer Simon Furman, is a blank slate right now. Jump over to The Engine to view this artist's latest project. Simon Furman probably knows more about Transformers than anyone else alive.
Wildman graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from Leicester Polytechnic, and after working as a designer for a few years moved into the world of comics, his artwork appearing in various Marvel UK titles such as Ghostbusters, Thundercats and Galaxy Rangers. Work on the UK Transformers comic followed, and shortly thereafter Wildman too moved over to the US equivalent (as of Transformers #69), remaining as regular artist throughout the rest of the book's run. Firmly ensconced at Marvel US, Wildman worked on a number of their titles, including GI Joe, X-Men Adventures, The Hulk, Spider-Man, Venom, Force Works, Fantastic Four Unplugged and Spider-Man 2099. Wildman also drew NightMan for Malibu Comics.
Wildman is now Head of Art and Graphics at UK computer game company Rebellion, owners of 2000AD, where he designs characters and ing graphics.

Anthony Williams
Link: comicstripper.co.uk
Anthony Williams, The Comic Stripper, has been stripping for over 15 years man and boy! Every day, he’s in the trenches, drawing cutting edge comics and creating illustrations for a worldwide audience, including the monthly adventures of such icons as Spider-man, Superman, Batman and The X-Men.
He also provides artwork for a huge range of licensed characters most recently Ronald Mcdonald, Action Man and Jackie Chan and his work has featured in many national and international advertising and marketing campaigns.
Anthony has also illustrated a number of children’s books and provided concept illustration and storyboards for both live action and animation and recently storyboarded the Doctor Who television series.

Gluyas Williams
Link: www.gluyaswilliams.com
Gluyas Williams (1888-1982) was one of the great cartoonists of the 20th century. Williams' large body of work includes a long running daily comic strip, numerous book and magazine illustrations and gag panels for the likes of Life Magazine and the New Yorker.

Fireball XL5 by Pat Williams for a 1965 annual

Pat Williams
Son of famed Eagle illustrator Norman Williams, Patrick ‘Pat’ Williams passed away on January 11 2006. He also worked on Eagle, drawing Cavendish Brown M.S. and They Showed The Way, and in the early 1960s, illustrated books such as Jeff Arnold, Biggles, and the Laramie annual.
He was best known for his strip work on The Avengers, Adam Adamant and Doctor Who for TV Comic, but also contributed the odd instalment of Burke's Law, Fireball XL5 and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E for TV21 and Lady Penelope. His last known strip work was Dino Hunters for the Young Telegraph in the 1990s. (Thanks to Shaqui for this entry)

Simon Williams
Link: www.soulmaninc.co.uk
ComicSpace: www.comicspace.com/soulmaninc
Since breaking into the comic-book industry in 2003, my artwork has appeared in several Panini/Marvel UK publications- including Transformers, Action Man, The Incredible Hulk, Marvel Rampage, Death's Head and Spectacular Spider-man Adventures. Check out his fun strip The Discotronic Funk Commandos, though, it's a gem!
He's also produced work for Wildcard Productions Feed America's Children special, along with such names as Norm Breyfogle, Ron Frenz, Ron Lim and Paul Smith. All proceeds from this book went towards helping under-previliged children. This was also his first work published in the USA... and he hopes someday to see my work in the pages of a US Marvel comic as well.

Colin Wilson
Official: members.optushome.com.au/jacoco/
Colin Wilson and partner Janet may have cut their teeth on comics with 2000AD but the duo are perhaps best known for their work on the extremely popular Blueberry series. This series, created by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean (Moebius) Giraud, is reprinted in over a dozen different languages, and is one of the best selling series in France.
His credits also include Wildstorm's Battler Britton, published in 2006.

Brian Williamson
Official: http://www.brianwilliamson.co.uk
Longtime Marvel UK artist and writer with a variety of illustration and comic strip work under his belt.

Skip Williamson
Official: www.skipwilliamson.com
One of the architects of the underground comix movement, Skip has been penning cantankerous satire for more than 30 years. Titles include Class War Comix: A Brief History of the Revolution, Skip Williamson's Gag Reflex, Skip Williamson's Naked Hostility and many others. His site is packed with cracking art samples and lots more. Requires Flash.

Dave Windett
Official: www.davewindett.com
A freelance cartoonist and comic book illustrator, Dave started making his mark as soon as he could hold a pencil, and he has been getting paid for drawing full time for over ten years. His credits include Korky the Cat for DC Thomson and work for Pannini UK's Wicked and a strip for the DFC comic. Read a downthetubes interview with Dave

Barry Windsor-Smith
Official: www.barrywindsor-smith.com
Graphic storyteller Barry Windsor-Smith sprang to comics fame with his rendtion of Conan the Barbarian for Marvel Comics in the 1970s and has never looked back. This site presents news of current projects and an extensive selection of current, classic, and vintage published and never-before-seen art and story material from his celebrated 30-year career.
• See also: Barry Windsor-Smith International Forum, maintained by Roberto Veronese (beware, lots of pop up ads)

Kel Winser
Official: www.kelwinser.com
Cartoonist and Illustrator. Publisher of Pink Pills and other titles

Phil Winslade
• 2000AD Profile
• Wikipedia Entry
Phil Winslade is adept at portraying female characters possessing powerful inner grace and outer beauty in books such as Goddess, Wonder Woman: Amazonia and Nevada. His Gotham City takes on a life of its own within Batman while his stint on Howard the Duck shows he knows not to take himself too seriously!

Ashley Wood
Official: www.ashleywood.com
Spectrum Award winner Ashley Wood, who lives in the US, has been a professional illustrator for 10 years and has worked for most major publishing and entertainment companies, including Dreamworks, Warner Bros., Random House, Marvel Comics and Todd McFarlane Productions. His illustration technique is a combination of traditional painting techniques coupled with digital photography and graphic software. His work has appeared in books, movies, comics, television and video games.
His work can be seen on a quarterly basis in the pages of IDW Publishing's Popbot. IDW is also the publisher of his first art book Uno Fanta, and the upcoming sequel Dos Fanta. Ash's first children's book Imposibus Rhinoceros, Giraffe and Gnu is written by T. Paula Louise.

Brian Wood
Official: www.brianwood.com
Writer, illustrator and comics artist whose credits include The Walk and Channel Zero.

Wally Wood
One of comics true greats, Wallace Allen Wood began his career in 1948 and is probably best known for his work at EC Comics. By the 1960s he was working sporadically for DC Comics (inking Challengers of the Unknown by Jack Kirby), Marvel Comics (Daredevil, Dr. Doom) and Tower (Thunder Agents). In 1965, Wood published Witzend Magazine, an open forum for artists and writers to have their work published but still retain their copyrights.
By the late 1970s Wood was mostly just inking other people's work, but his inks brought a shine to the work. He also published a magazine called Sally Forth.
Sadly, on November 2, 1981, apparently despondent over his failing eyesight and kidneys, Wally Wood took his own life.

• Wallace Wood Biography: http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/wood.ht
• Fan: The Wally Wood Letters
An exchange of letters and post cards which began in 1976 and lasted until the artist's death by his own hand in 1981.
• Splash Pages
Link: www.splashpages.com Site dedicated to Wally Wood and Classic Comics
• All About Wally Wood: www.allaboutcomix.com/artist-woodwally.html
• Fan: Wally Wood's 22 Panels That Always Work
Or, some interesting ways to get some variety into those boring panels where some dumb writer has a bunch of lame characters sitting around and talking for page after page.

Patrick Woodrow
Official: www.redapestudio.com
With over a decade of experience, Patrick has worked on a diverse range of projects in fields which include publishing, film and advertising. His artwork has appeared on everything from the TV screen to warm air hand-dryers. His comics work has appeared in the UK favourite 2000AD and in US titles such as Malibu Comics' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Malibu Comics' Negative Burn.
Many of his recent commissions have involved Patrick in the film industry where he has produced pre-production concept paintings for films such as the spy thriller The Silencing and the 2005 fantasy feature film Minotaur.

Chuck Wojtkiewicz
Official: www.chukw.com
An outstanding concept designer whose comics work includes projects for both DC, Marvel and others.

Darren Worrow
Official: www.darrenworrow.webs.com

Cartoonist, illustrator and designer, whose past projects include Toonedelic Times, which you can buy from the web site. "If you have anything you need brightening up - posters, adverts, invites, etc. I have a very fair set rate," says Darren, "and I am willing to work with non-profit making organisations for half price and charities for free."

Bernie Wrightson
Official: www.berniewrightson.com
Comics artists and illustrator Bernie Wrightson has been bringing us some of the most detailed and horrific art for 30 years. Best known for Swamp Thing and original Frankenstein artwork, Bernie continues presenting his horrific and mystifying images through creator-owned comics and film production companies.

• Back to V - On to XYZ