Creators: Chris Samnee

Creators

A growing list of inspirational artists, writers, poets, filmmakers, and creatives.

Chris Samnee

I like old art, ok?  I like old art and art that looks old.  There is something about that black lined work that is a joy to behold.  Stylization is important as an artist.  To have a visual signature (along with a regular signature) on your work that people can recognize upon a glance is a great quality to have.  And Chris Samnee does.

Samnee has a graceful use of heavy shadows.  Lots of artists throw around the heavy shadows bit.  some better than others, and his is definitely of the former.  His inking also shows that he knows when to leave a line broken, because the firm thick line around every thing look only works for some. 

Apart from being a fun artist to view, he also has the straight art chops to back up his stylization: figure study, composition, and value.  He also has wonderfully expressive faces as well as compositions.  There is something casual about the work that he does that makes it feel easy.  though I know it is not.

But enough with pinups.  Anybody can draw a nice pinup.  What separates the great from the good is the ability to carry a consistent and beautiful style through the trenches of the comic book interiors.  Samnee has been wowing me every month with Daredevil (don't be surprised to see two other major contributors to that book show up here).  Samnee clearly ha fun showing the jolly devil kicking butt as well as having his head removed... literally

 Some of my favorite panels of his are his most bizarre.  In spite of it's strangeness, it is completly clear.

This guy has an old school style mixed with a modern polish.  I here that he an Mark Waid collaborated on a Rocketeer comic together, I have to check that out!

Well said Antman!

Go on, enjoy his stuff!