Travis' art is absolutely phenomenal. I do see a lot of his influence in artists like Coipel and McNiven today, but I really miss seeing new work from him. I keep digital copies of his stuff on my computer so I can go back and just drink it in. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences working with him.
Travis Charest is my favorite artist. He has a mastery of line and negative space. Elegance in "comics". He was the first artist who truly "made" me buy Image comics. Hope to see more from him in the future.
Thank you for this video, 3 years later. Travis' art has confounded me, ever since I stumbled upon it about 20-ish years ago. I absolutely love his line, layout and sensibilities- yet also find his work oddly antiseptic in its clarity and specificity, while drowning in adoration of those very qualities. For me, the best analogy of his work is to compare it to Kubrick's; technically immaculate and impossible to not admire, yet difficult within which to find an organic thread.
I remember stumbling onto his work, years ago, and of course, was blown away. We had a new, large format printer at work, so I printed out the Métal Hurlant 134 Cover, as a sample for clients. I am mesmerized by his attention to detail and his textures, like you say, are highly stylized and photo realistic, at the same time. Great video. Thanks for posting.
I didn't know Charest had done a Metabarons comic, those are amazing, gotta look at it. Interviews sound awesome, even something in the format of what you do, similar to a "director's commentary", where you and the interviewee go panel by panel and comment on it, it's awesome.
If he ever did a Kickstarter, he'd probably break some records. I've been a fan since Darkstars. Have all three pencil prints he did: Zealot, Burnout, and Rainmaker. Love just looking at the pencil lines.
I can give a tip if it still are any left Deconstruction The Jodoverse That is a Absolute in that are French Orginal Deconstruct The Incal and Metabarons there have Weapons of Metabaron and Other The Crest of The Castaka and The Incals Dream and all about Who done Metabarons are same The Incal has Last Incal Mobeius In the heart of impregnable Metabunker In Oversize thick Matt paper Love paper make coullor pop and Can use Led light and not get light shine back and get irritated So not see all Pages are Just In a Box like Absolute The Incal and Metabarin same kind of box and lock are Just Get a better Books than those can buy separate but are 1500 ex and saw still had on Amazon copy's left are Buy for get oversized Weapons of Metabaron But so much more Art are Stories from Juan Giminez and all other Been created those books and Had Deconstruction Tbe Incal say this version are better and Not think has Same stories last in The Incal are not in that gave away are lot nicer and better build and Belive French Orginal Versions are Get better versions are English But are Better and Collected 1500 ex so are no more so buy and you get Great Books ❤️
When this came out, I bumbled my way through the French amazon to order a copy. So very very good, I hope he someday gets to do some more interiors, or at least some short stories. I think Mondo should hire him to do some stuff, cause his art as posters would be I think the perfect thing.
Hey Richard I really love those series please keept them up. Althougt that you know him It would be interesting to know: Why did he not finished the book ? Thanks a lot Best
I remember seeing the first sneak peaks of the project 15 years ago when i was studying illustration. They were totally mind blowing! Every single panel is a masterpiece, and every page of the book is so masterfully arranged that it could be a movie poster on its own. In my eyes, Travis is still underapprechiated and should be known by way more people. Furthermore I think the form of presentation of these amazing artworks in that way-too-small-printed graphic novel is a shame. They should be put together in an oversized art book on good paper and arranged beautifully with some good information about Travis within a beautiful graphic design and typography done by an expert, to give it the dignified appearence it deserves!! Work like this is rarely seen in the world, it's a true classical masterpiece and should be treated like that.
you are correct. I think some fans of Travis' work sought this out...and there for sure are people who've followed the series and character before.. Not sure how big it was here though. At one point Wildstorm was translating a lot of Humanoids books in the early 2000's/
It always shocks me when I see Travis' rendering, I just don't understand how he could get that realism TRADITIONNALY. He started with a grayscale layer and then painted over it right ? Do you know if it's acrylic or something else ?
it is traditional. He used to have a few photos of his studio where you could see some of his supplies.. check his website link above and go through his galleries...one is called photos I think...check there.
for sure traditional. I think rarely he might have hit small things digitally at the end but that would be the tiniest embellishment like a small glow etc
Too much credit given to Travis, yes he is a great draftsman but he isn't an innovator. Travis started as a Jim Lee clone (Jim Lee is a clone mixture of Michael Golden,Art Adams ,Frazetta and Frank Miller.)then graduated to being a Drew Struzan clone. Look at Struzan's compositions, technique, and anatomy even drawing materials Travis copied everything from Drew. www.drewstruzan.com/illustrated/portfolio/?fa=medium&gid=938&com&gallerystart=1&pagestart=1&type=com&gs=1
Nothing exists in a vacuum... Here's an interesting blogpost about Drew Struzan's possible influences jedalexander.blogspot.com/2014/01/why-drew-struzan-wouldnt-be-drew.html. You may also find it interesting that it asserts that Struzan's early works also emulated others.
It’s ok... Claude Monet was heavily inspired by Eugene Boudin - and, by your logic, would be nothing without him. Gene Roddenberry inspired the modern cellphone... It’s ok.
I have the hardbacks and to be honest the art imho is not as great as everyone says it is, most of the frames look like really shoddy computerised / 3D modelled drawings with incorrect lighting, a lot of his stuff is also to perfect, there are far to many straight lines and perfect curves that do not look realistic at all, they again look like cheap 3D modelling. There are glimmers of talent but overall the artwork is poor - it's not the masterpiece it's made out to be. Very overrated.
Travis probably drew those pages before 2006. At that time nobody drew, inked and painted like Travis, 3D modeling was not used as it´s used today. Before criticizing, study history and don't compare it with current artists.
Travis' art is absolutely phenomenal. I do see a lot of his influence in artists like Coipel and McNiven today, but I really miss seeing new work from him. I keep digital copies of his stuff on my computer so I can go back and just drink it in. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences working with him.
Travis Charest is my favorite artist. He has a mastery of line and negative space. Elegance in "comics". He was the first artist who truly "made" me buy Image comics. Hope to see more from him in the future.
Is incredible! Travis is a maniac on the details!
Thank you for this video, 3 years later.
Travis' art has confounded me, ever since I stumbled upon it about 20-ish years ago.
I absolutely love his line, layout and sensibilities- yet also find his work oddly antiseptic in its clarity and specificity, while drowning in adoration of those very qualities.
For me, the best analogy of his work is to compare it to Kubrick's; technically immaculate and impossible to not admire, yet difficult within which to find an organic thread.
Just unbelievable work by Travis Charest !!
Such gorgeous work. He saw things in such a unique way. His way of rendering crenelated flesh was so thoughtful and perfect. Love it.
I remember stumbling onto his work, years ago, and of course, was blown away. We had a new, large format printer at work, so I printed out the Métal Hurlant 134 Cover, as a sample for clients. I am mesmerized by his attention to detail and his textures, like you say, are highly stylized and photo realistic, at the same time. Great video. Thanks for posting.
Hello Richard, can you make a video inking Travis Charest pencils please ?
what im blown away is how all the props, set pieces and non-organic stuff looks like they were 3D models, but they were all done traditionally.
I agree. I noticed that too when he was working on it. His fundamentals were on point. That helps for sure.
I didn't know Charest had done a Metabarons comic, those are amazing, gotta look at it.
Interviews sound awesome, even something in the format of what you do, similar to a "director's commentary", where you and the interviewee go panel by panel and comment on it, it's awesome.
yeah that would be really cool! I have a few other friends I thought would be interesting to ask too!!
Travis’s work is directly styled by- Coipel, Leinel Yu, Steve McNiven among others...
Wow the difference bettween the printed pages and the scanned pages you show is huge !!! In scanned pages you can see how awesome was his work !
If he ever did a Kickstarter, he'd probably break some records. I've been a fan since Darkstars. Have all three pencil prints he did: Zealot, Burnout, and Rainmaker. Love just looking at the pencil lines.
This project could have been travis's "Bernie frankenstein" if hed just worked through whatever stopped him
I’ve been watching and studying a lot of Travis work lately. I wish I could find some oversized books of his work
I can give a tip if it still are any left Deconstruction The Jodoverse
That is a Absolute in that are French Orginal Deconstruct The Incal and Metabarons there have Weapons of Metabaron and Other The Crest of The Castaka and The Incals Dream and all about Who done Metabarons are same The Incal has Last Incal Mobeius In the heart of impregnable Metabunker In Oversize thick Matt paper Love paper make coullor pop and Can use Led light and not get light shine back and get irritated So not see all Pages are Just In a Box like Absolute The Incal and Metabarin same kind of box and lock are Just Get a better Books than those can buy separate but are 1500 ex and saw still had on Amazon copy's left are Buy for get oversized Weapons of Metabaron But so much more Art are Stories from Juan Giminez and all other Been created those books and Had Deconstruction Tbe Incal say this version are better and Not think has Same stories last in The Incal are not in that gave away are lot nicer and better build and Belive French Orginal Versions are Get better versions are English But are Better and Collected 1500 ex so are no more so buy and you get Great Books ❤️
When this came out, I bumbled my way through the French amazon to order a copy. So very very good, I hope he someday gets to do some more interiors, or at least some short stories. I think Mondo should hire him to do some stuff, cause his art as posters would be I think the perfect thing.
Hey Richard I really love those series please keept them up. Althougt that you know him It would be interesting to know: Why did he not finished the book ? Thanks a lot Best
I remember seeing the first sneak peaks of the project 15 years ago when i was studying illustration. They were totally mind blowing! Every single panel is a masterpiece, and every page of the book is so masterfully arranged that it could be a movie poster on its own. In my eyes, Travis is still underapprechiated and should be known by way more people.
Furthermore I think the form of presentation of these amazing artworks in that way-too-small-printed graphic novel is a shame. They should be put together in an oversized art book on good paper and arranged beautifully with some good information about Travis within a beautiful graphic design and typography done by an expert, to give it the dignified appearence it deserves!!
Work like this is rarely seen in the world, it's a true classical masterpiece and should be treated like that.
People don't hear about Travis 'cause he's a lazy artist! Got to put out work for people to know who you are!
I've always preferred Travis' workin black and white. The detail and styling really pops out.
I thought the Metabarons was mostly known in france, what was the reception like in the US?
you are correct. I think some fans of Travis' work sought this out...and there for sure are people who've followed the series and character before.. Not sure how big it was here though. At one point Wildstorm was translating a lot of Humanoids books in the early 2000's/
Always thought it was weird how the Metabarons changed artstyle after Juan Gimenez left. But more artists mean more interpretations
Yaaaay
I think the ink wash acted as a under painting.
It always shocks me when I see Travis' rendering, I just don't understand how he could get that realism TRADITIONNALY. He started with a grayscale layer and then painted over it right ? Do you know if it's acrylic or something else ?
it is traditional. He used to have a few photos of his studio where you could see some of his supplies.. check his website link above and go through his galleries...one is called photos I think...check there.
I remember him using watercolor pencils alot.
@epictrilogy hey thanks. :)
@@tonyfrickey9062 he got into airbrushing. He would do greyscale inks and wash then airbrush.
@@zinkdawg kind of like struzan....thanks for the info
What's the process on these pages?
It looks a lot like airbrush. Is it airbrush or digital?
for sure traditional. I think rarely he might have hit small things digitally at the end but that would be the tiniest embellishment like a small glow etc
I prefer Juan Gimenez.
Too much credit given to Travis, yes he is a great draftsman but he isn't an innovator. Travis started as a Jim Lee clone (Jim Lee is a clone mixture of Michael Golden,Art Adams ,Frazetta and Frank Miller.)then graduated to being a Drew Struzan clone. Look at Struzan's compositions, technique, and anatomy even drawing materials Travis copied everything from Drew.
www.drewstruzan.com/illustrated/portfolio/?fa=medium&gid=938&com&gallerystart=1&pagestart=1&type=com&gs=1
Nothing exists in a vacuum... Here's an interesting blogpost about Drew Struzan's possible influences jedalexander.blogspot.com/2014/01/why-drew-struzan-wouldnt-be-drew.html. You may also find it interesting that it asserts that Struzan's early works also emulated others.
It’s ok... Claude Monet was heavily inspired by Eugene Boudin - and, by your logic, would be nothing without him. Gene Roddenberry inspired the modern cellphone... It’s ok.
I have the hardbacks and to be honest the art imho is not as great as everyone says it is, most of the frames look like really shoddy computerised / 3D modelled drawings with incorrect lighting, a lot of his stuff is also to perfect, there are far to many straight lines and perfect curves that do not look realistic at all, they again look like cheap 3D modelling. There are glimmers of talent but overall the artwork is poor - it's not the masterpiece it's made out to be. Very overrated.
Travis probably drew those pages before 2006. At that time nobody drew, inked and painted like Travis, 3D modeling was not used as it´s used today. Before criticizing, study history and don't compare it with current artists.