Creators: Tim Sale

Creators

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

TIM SALE

This week, I thought I would come back to comic art, and spotlight a fantastic artist, Tim Sale.  There are alot of comic artists in the field today, and many o them have a style they consider their own, despite it appearing exactly like a hundred others (you won't be seeing any of them celebrated here.)  Tim Sale is not one of those artists.  His stylization bears a hefty "TIM SALE DID THIS" stamp that comes with it.

Tim's work certainly has a retro flavor to it, but he is doing more than replicating or making a homage to the past.  His painterly brushwork and fine lines fill out his almost caricature-like figures.  He exaggerates faces, muscles, and proportions until he finds the essence of a character: the proper mixture of important elements that  not only make a given character distinctive but give them personality and presence.

Just look at that.  The grin, the green hair, and those sinister eyes on a pallid face make for his unmistakable joker.

And this charmer with hamburger replacing half of his face is a nasty two face.

One of his most notable works is Batman: The Long Halloween, which is one of his many great collaborations with writer Jeph Loeb (who will get his own article someday.) Much of the comic deals with Harvey Dent and his journey to villainy, thus it made great inspiration for the creators of "The Dark Knight." 

Another great work of art is their collaboration Superman For All Seasons, which I have been told is exactly like the movie "Man for all Seasons," just about superman instead.

He and Jeph have also done work for Marvel, creating the three great books Hulk: Grey, Daredevil: Yellow, and Spiderman: Blue. The last of the three is my favorite, as it is a memoir of the relationship between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy.

In this one, he channels both Steve Ditko and John Romita Sr.

I need to draw my women prettier.

Fun fact, Tim Sale was responsible for all of the paintings that were made in TV series Heroes.  That's the first season.  You know, the good one.

See you soon...?