Day 20 and it was another hot night in California, so, I decided to keep going with the Batman movie theme and I went with his arch nemesis, the Joker. This is the version from Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film portrayed by Jack Nicholson. While he is not my favorite Joker in the film franchise, I can’t deny how iconic his look was.
I’m not sure what made me want to paint this today but, I think it has to do with the heat wave running through the Bay Area in California. It was ugly this weekend. Danny DeVito as the Penguin kind of ugly.
Day 3 is here and so is The Batman. From out of the shadows and fog of Gotham City he watches. This is another painting using the same limited palette that was used on the last two paintings.
March is upon us and at the end of the month Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is coming to the movie theaters. This is a film I’m very excited for and I figure this would be a good time to do some art based on the characters that will be in the movie for this month. Today features the Michael Keaton version of Batman from the 1989 Tim Burton film. When this movie came out, it was a big deal to me. At that point I was a huge Marvel Comics fan and had not paid a lot of attention to the Dark Knight. To be honest, I did not pay much attention to DC’s characters. Like most kids I knew who the big players were. I watched the Super Powers cartoon and the Batman tv show. But that was about it. This movie was very eye opening for me.
I can still remember reading the movie novelization, playing with the action figures, I had a cool Batman shirt and then going straight to the music store to get the Prince soundtrack right after the movie.
This movie is not perfect but I do still enjoy it. Michael Keaton’s performance was great. He played Bruce Wayne perfectly. His Batman was intense. I also enjoyed Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale. But, I’m torn by Jack Nicholson as Joker. I think the make up they did on him was great and of course his acting was just as good. I always felt he was a bit too old and he does some pretty lame things, like pulling a 5 foot long hand gun out of his pants to shoot down the Batwing plane with one shot. Ugh. The mood of the film itself is perfect for Gotham City. Tim Burton’s vision of the film is excellent. And a completely different version of the setting and characters that we were previously used to from the Batman tv show of the 60’s.
The painting itself was something kind of new for me also. I usually do not paint on a canvas textured surface. I typically go for a smooth surface to paint on like the paintings I did in January. And, I haven’t played around with oil paints since I had my last art show. Technique was also a new thing for me on this painting. I have been recently studying a new painting instructional book and also watching some dvds about painting. So, this is a new way of thinking when I paint.
We will have to see how this painting technique pans out for me in the future.
Here is the under painting before I started laying on the oil paint.
Next up we shall see who challenges Batman in the new film, Superman.
5″x7″ ink and watercolor painting on illustration board
Here is a version of Adam West as Batman from the Batman tv show. I’ve always prefered Batman in the grey and blue costume, even if Adam West isn’t always my favorite version of Batman.
6″x6″ ink and watercolor paint on illustration board
Here is a little smile for making it halfway through the 30 paintings in 30 days.
Here is one version of the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker, as portrayed by Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight. Not only is the look very disturbing but his performance was one of the best ever. Ledger certainly stole the movie with his portrayal. But, a part of me certainly misses the funnier version of the Joker. Like Cesar Romero in the Batman 1960’s television show or how he was in the comics in the 70’s. Once the 1980’s came around the comics changed him from a guy trying to steal money and small crimes to beating Robin to death with a baseball bat. Goodbye to the classic version of the Joker. Don’t get me wrong, the comics have done some great stuff with him but they have certainly pushed him into some very uncomfortable places for us to witness. And the Dark Knight movie definitely showcased that newer version of the character.
This day’s painting also gave me a chance to work more with ink pens and do more of a comic book art style. That is more like the style that I’m more comfortable with. I really enjoy painting but I don’t feel comfortable with it. Which is the perfect reason to keep on with it. And keep on I shall…
