Mat Lopes' Samples

[matlopes]

First, let me say I usually dont refer to me in the 3rd person, I just did it to get your attetion, dont hate...
Well, I made this topic to show some of my color work. Most of them are sequential pages but there are some pinups/covers too.
Oh, and Im not a pro, Im trying to get there, and none of this samples were published by Marvel or DC. Crits are more than welcome!

Hope you enjoy...









Art by the amazing Rafael Albuquerque.

[matlopes]

Whats up, guys? Here's more sequential pages I did, this time in a completely diferent style from Albuquerque's Batman. Art by Eddy Barrows and JP Mayer.











Hope you all enjoy it.

[Ross Hughes]

Solid color choices for the most part. I think your backgrounds are coming across as a little more haphazard than they probably should. I'm finding it difficult to get a sense of the environment from your backgrounds. Skipping from yellows to reds to greens to blues isn't helping to establish a mood when it's done randomly. Rather, you should look to do something like that to add effect or emotion to a particular panel. You did a solid job of establishing the scene in the motel panels, but the Superman and the Batman panels are all over the place.

[Jason Lewis]

Also, every single color you use is way saturated. In some panels it's hard to figure out what is dominant. Mixing it up a bit would greatly help you. For instance, that Superman speed streak would look a whole lot more realistic if the reds and blues were washed out.

And another thing, judging from the shadows that first page is supposed to occur at night, not blazing dawn.

[matlopes]

Hei guys, first, thanks for watching my gallery.

Solid color choices for the most part. I think your backgrounds are coming across as a little more haphazard than they probably should. I'm finding it difficult to get a sense of the environment from your backgrounds. Skipping from yellows to reds to greens to blues isn't helping to establish a mood when it's done randomly. Rather, you should look to do something like that to add effect or emotion to a particular panel. You did a solid job of establishing the scene in the motel panels, but the Superman and the Batman panels are all over the place.

Also, every single color you use is way saturated. In some panels it's hard to figure out what is dominant. Mixing it up a bit would greatly help you. For instance, that Superman speed streak would look a whole lot more realistic if the reds and blues were washed out.

I see what you guys mean, and I aprecciate the crits. Well, about the saturated thing, I think I already fixed that (cuz I heard that before, and its not very dificult to change and I did those pages in 11/01). About the background, yeah, you're totally right, and this is more complicated to fix and it requires more study, practice and time. But I'll definitely keep an eye on this, thanks.

And another thing, judging from the shadows that first page is supposed to occur at night, not blazing dawn.

Yeah, I thought so too. But I asked the inker (because you never know), and he said it was early morning. Well, it turned out it was night. I guess he didnt get the question.
But thats ok, lets pretend that it was day light!

[matlopes]

Whats up, here another 2 pages in a difenrent style.

[John Rauch]

The Albequerque stuff looks great to me!

[MarkR]

The Albequerque stuff looks great to me!

I agree. Really nice palette and rendering.

[Ross Hughes]

Thirded! I'd like to see a little bit more depth though. Rogue and the jet are reading as being on the same plane to me. But I love what you've done with the city. Top notch!

[MBirkhofer]

Great stuff! Really solid.

You wouldn't believe how often things like "is it supposed to be day or night" comes back with, I dont know. Coloring comics is like playing the telephone game in 3rd grade sometimes.

I don't have any issues with overall saturation. Print will tone alot of that down, and having it be sharp on screen will probably look better.
Although extra attention to planes might be something to watch. The superman pages do blend together in a few places. Page with Lois and Clark in bed. Bottom 3 panels could really use some blue, and less saturation to push the back wall back and frame the figures/bed, for example.

Bat pages great again. the red sky doesn't really set any real time at all. fictional gotham red sky really could be any time. the really bright interior confuses the time. Pg1 panel 5's yellow background is confusing. Its not a particularly action packed panel. Page 3's red/yellow backgrounds are great any time of day due to action. woodwork throughout the pages has alot of red in it. Drop that down to a blue/brown instead, and that whole interior scene will cool off, and get darker. And it will sit on the same plane as the green walls better as well.

[matlopes]

John Rauch and MarkR: Thank you guys! I aprecciate it.

Ross Hughes: Thanks, I really liked the city too because it was my first time coloring a view like that. About the Rogue and the jet, I chose to leave them in the (almost) the same plane, cuz I thought both of them had the same importance for the scene.

MBirkhofer: Thank you, man. I see what you mean, and I will keep an eye on the points you've pointed!

[matlopes]

2 more pages I've done for my portfolio




Hope you like it.

[matlopes]

Hey guys! It's been a while...
Justing posting 'new' stuff. This time Im trying to improve my 'painted' style.









Any thoughts?

[DCJosh]

You've got some really great look stuff here man!

Especially diggin your last couple posts!