STEVE RUDE ART, LLC

7000 N Cotton Ln Box 782

Waddell AZ 85355-9998

steve@steverude.com
www.steverude.com

steverudethedude
@steverudeart
@steverudethedude
@steverudethedude
steverude

FIRST PRINTING
JULY 2021
Copyright 2021 by
Steve Rude Art, llc
Printed in the USA

NOTICE OF RIGHTS
All rights reserved. No part of this
book may be reproduced without
prior permission of Steve Rude Art, llc.

TRADEMARKS
Trademarked characters that are
used in this book are copyrighted
by their owners and with no
intention of infringement.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT BY

Barry den Nijs

“Poison Ivy.” Marker.

Welcome
to the Steve Rude sketchbook
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND VARIOUS STUDIES,
COMMISSIONS, AND SOME OF THE SELECT
PUBLISHED PIECES YOU MAY HAVE SEEN
FROM ME DURING THE PAST YEAR.
Some of the changes that the Year of COVID has effected
on many artists, whatever your talents may be, has freed
us up to produce more personal work or doing tutorials for
the online crowd. Thus, you can hit the YouTube switch to
see me demoing how I approach oil painting, watercolor
techniques, and other mixed media efforts to not just help
increase the Steve Rude Art brand awareness, but to help
those who still have a hard time figuring all this art stuff out.

on YouTube you see me demoing how

I approach oil painting, watercolor
Steve’s son, Brandon
techniques, and other mixed media efforts
Even with the 100’s of always-increasing art tutorials
available from these various sites--some good, some less
so--it’s the ones that click with you personally that will always
be the most useful. Hopefully, the images on the following
pages will click with you.

Most exciting for myself, is the massive volumes of new

Nexus material that we’ll be releasing as often as we can
produce it. Beginning with the Coming of Gourmando, all of
these volumes will contain the long-awaited, all-new stories
featuring the always evolving cast within the Nexus space
Steve’s daughter, Jessica
 Steve and his wife, Jaynelle, from their engagement photos, 1995

operas which we began back in 1981. We’re hoping these new works for them. We’re all
volumes should satisfy our many astute fans who’ve endured entertainers in a sense, and
the long wait between releases. whether using pencil or hitting
the keyboard, it’s all in the name
look out for the new size nexus. It’s bold. of and having something to keep
our minds active and dreaming
It’s big. Something different, something fun. for higher, better things.
As a bonus to fans, Baron and I are currently trying an
previously untried format with Nexus, with writer Mike
Baron doing a separate storyline version of Nexus, while Into the Light,
artist Steve Rude’s version will appear as a single volume of
Sunday newspaper strips, as with the old, beloved strips of
yesteryear so sadly missing from the world today. Something
different, something fun. March 2021

Look for these new Nexus releases from Nexus creator

Mighty Mike Baron and artist Steve Rude, with the hopes of
doubling the fun and letting us know how this experiment
 “Santa.” Golden Fluid Acrylics.
Done for “The Right Stuff” TV show who commissioned Steve to do
a painting to do a painting of Santa holding a cigarette.
He redid this image for our 2020 Christmas card holding, instead,
Santa’s 2020 wish list. Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bleach, canned
goods and Birkenstocks.

PS. Please rush deliver to

the North Pole.

4 “Santa” 20.5” x 15” painting for “The Right Stuff” TV Show. Golden fluid acrylics.
Early study and note to “The Right Stuff” Show producer. 5
6 “Daredevil.” Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Batman.” Oil on illustration board. 7
8 From Sketchbook Log 35, May 2020.
“Doc Savage.” Watercolor and colored pencil commission. 9
10 Double page spread from Sketchbook Log 35, January 2020.
Includes rough pinup ideas for the 80th Anniversary Catwoman book from DC. 11
12 Work in progress for the “Catwoman” pinup. Watercolor over pencil.
“Catwoman” pinup used by DC Comics for the 80th Anniversary book.
Transparent and opaque watercolor with prismacolor touches. 13
14 Typical Rude experiments. From Sketchbook Log 35. February 2020.
Sketchbook Log 35. February 2020. Thumbnail shows an alternative pin-up for Catwoman,
seated at her sewing table, with little on, mending her torn costume. 15
16 Alternative design for the “Catwoman” pinup. Marker and colored pencil.
 HANG IN THERE,
BABY.

Final “Catwoman” pinup used by DC Comics for the 80th Anniversary Catwoman book. 17
18 Gal Godot as “Wonder Woman”. Pen and Ink.
“Gal Godot.” Watercolor. 19
20 “Mary Jane Watson” from Spider-Man. Colored marker and colored pencil.
My friend, Deb. Watercolor and colored pencil. 21
22 Jessica Alba as “Nancy Callahan” from Sin City. Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Breeze from Below.” Watercolor and colored pencil. 23
24 “James T. Kirk.” Watercolor over pencil.
Another “Captain Kirk”. Opaque watercolor and colored pencil. 25
26 “Sherry Jackson” from Star Trek. Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Captain Kirk” commission. Drawn inside a Nexus Chronicles book. 6B Pencil. 27
28 Progress shots for a painting for Steve’s friend, actor Gary Lockwood.
Final illustration. Watercolor and colored pencil. 29
30 Progress shots for painting of Mitch Pileggi as “Skinner” from the X-Files.
Finished painting. Watercolor and colored pencil. 31
 From Sketchbook Log 35, May 2020.
32 Roughs for “Star Trek Continues” television series.
“Star Trek Continues” finished piece presented to show’s star, Vic Mignogna.
Watercolor and colored pencil. 33
 “Alfred E. Newman” from Mad Magazine.
34 Watercolor and colored pencil commission.
Tom Baker as 4th “Doctor Who” with the Tardis. Watercolor commission.
Featured during the Free Comic Book Day Livestream on Facebook, also posted to YouTube. 35
36 Sketchbook Log 35, May 2020. And a thoughtful note from fellow illustrator, Joe DeVito.
Uma Thurman, “The Bride” from Kill Bill. Opaque watercolor and prismacolor. 37
 “Princess Leia.”
38 12” x 9” Watercolor and colored pencil. 2017.
“Carrie Tribute.” 15.5” x 11.5” Pastel pencil on Pastelmat paper.
Featured on the “May the Fourth be With You” 2020 livestream on Facebook. 39
40 “Luke Skywalker.” Study in pastel pencil.
Sketchbook Log 35, August 2020. 41
42 “Luke Skywalker.” Watercolor and colored pencil study.
Sketchbook Log 35, July 2020. 43
44 Both pages: More Drew Struzan studies, one of Steve’s favorite illustrators.
Sketchbook Log 35, July 2020. 45
46 Sketchbook Log 35, March 2020.
Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020. 47
48 Both pages feature mixed media experiments with handwritten notes. February 2020.
Rude has always loved the work of illustator Drew Struzan.
above: More trial pieces done on Fabriano watercolor paper. 49
 Who’s up for a How-To?
Most artists or fans who read this column might be curious about the process of painting. I’ve
talked about it at conventions often enough with live demo’s, in the event that someone out
there might benefit from it. Even with the literal hundreds, maybe thousands, of How-To books
published in the last 30 years, or all the You-Tube vids on the subject, only a few tutorials might
actually be the ones that click in your head. To that end, I’m going to give it my own shot.

I’ll start with the usual 1,2,3 steps of what goes into Make your mistakes, and
painting something, in this case, a little boy’s head. screw up all you want, but Step 2
To give you some comfort from the get-go, just know keep learning, thinking, and
that whether it’s a person’s head, a soup bowl, or practicing. And with that
an elephant’s foot, the rendering process is actually ever-present practice, we
identical for everything you paint. So breath easy and might actually get better, a
let’s see if I can describe this ordeal different than the little bit at a time.
usual, 1,2,3, bang, you’re done version.
The photo shown here of
Painters have a process they go through that involves the boy’s head, by the way,
some pretty basic things. Why? Because things need to was taken from 1945 photo reference sent to me by
stay basic or the process can get too overwhelming in longtime illustrator, Robert Barren, recently deceased.
the beginning. That’s why we break it down into steps.
Think about riding that bike when you were five. Before Photo Reference
crashing to the ground, there were steps you had to
learn and think about first. If not, you keep crashing.

Painting Demo Step 1

The first one is drawing, or draftsmanship. You have to
be able to draw that elephant’s foot before it can look
convincing. That’s #1.
Then, using paint, you go Step 1
over the drawing. Paint
and color--that’s what’s
going to make something
look real. Elephants feet
are grey, but how light or
dark is that grey? Look at
it, and paint it that shade
of grey.Some people
draw in things tightly Illustrator great, Harry Anderson, as adult model for
before than begin painting. Others just start in with fellow illustrator, Robert Barren
swishing paint around and do their drawing with their
brush. It’s the same process, but people do it differently Photo Reference
based on their personalities. Yeah, that’s Robert’s friend, illustrator great Harry
Anderson, standing in for the adult figure. I painted
Before you sign your name to your masterpiece, all this study of the kid’s head in my sketchbook using
finished paintings need to have the same basic thing gouache, or opaque watercolor, as I like to call it.
before it can look real. You get this by taking the right
color and putting it in the right place. That’s #2. Questions? If you have any questions beyond what I’ve
briefly described here, probably a few hundred, know
Painting Demo Step 2 that as soon as you start practicing on your own, many
That’s what it comes down to. So congratulations--a few of those questions will answer themselves. Remember,
hundred years of practice and you’re ready for the big most things are only simple in theory. That’s why it’s
leagues. Hey, don’t feel bad--we Illustrators spend our the dogged practice that makes you good!
entire lives trying to do just that!
The best of luck to you!
Everyone ready? Just grab a brush and start painting.
That would be step #3--it’s called diligent practice. S.D.R.

50 Study done in Log 35, 2020 and featured in Steve Rude blog article at www.steverude.com.
Sketchbook Log 35, March 2020. 51
52 “Super Skrull” from the Fantastic Four. Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Metamorpho” from the Outsiders. Colored marker. 53
54 “Darkseid.” Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Galactus.” Colored marker. 55
56 “Magneto.” Colored marker.
“Arnim Zola” from Kirby’s 70’s Captain America period. Colored marker. 57
58 Jack Kirby’s “Mister Miracle”. Colored marker.
Rude’s re-do commission of OMAC #1 cover. Marker. 59
 “Vampirella.” Watercolor and colored pencil.
60 Original request was for color marker and Steve got a little carried away.
Customer originally requested marker, but happily accepted a complimentary pen and ink upgrade. 61
62 “Death.” Marker and gouache.
“Death.” Pen and ink. 63
64 “Wrightson” style “Frankenstein”. Pen and Ink.
“Vampirella.” Pen and Ink. 65
66 “Reed Richards” from the Fantastic Four. Pen and Ink.
Jack Kirby’s “Lightray” commission request. Pen and Ink. 67
68 “Mister Miracle.” Colored Marker.
Another “Mister Miracle”. This time in black and white marker. 69
70 “Orion” of Jack Kirby’s New God’s series. Marker.
Jack Kirby’s “Etrigan the Demon”. Marker and 3B pencil. 71
72 Jack Kirby’s monster “TORR”. Marker.
Jack Kirby’s “Infinity Man” from the 1970’s series the Forever People. Marker and colored pencil. 73
74 “Sue Storm” commission from the Fantastic Four. Colored marker.
“Little kid.” Opaque watercolor. Done for Steve’s longtime friend and fellow artist, Steve Huston. 75
76 “Wonder Woman.” Colored marker and colored pencil.
“Sundra Peale” from Nexus. Colored marker and colored pencil. 77
78 Jack Kirby’s “Big Barda” from Mister Miracle. Colored marker.
“Superman.” Watercolor and colored pencil. 79
80 “Superman.” Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Superman.” Watercolor. 81
 “Wonder Woman.” Colored pencil on Pastelmat paper.
82 (Another example of Steve overdoing a colored marker commission.)
“Wonder Woman.” Colored marker and colored pencil. 83
84 “Green Goblin” from Spider-Man. Marker.
“Spider-Man.” Marker and 3B pencil. 85
86 “Scarlet Witch.” Marker.
“Scarlet Witch.” Marker. 87
88 “Scarlet Witch.” Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Ultraman.” Colored marker and colored pencil. 89
90 “Doctor Doom” cover commission. Colored marker.
“Doctor Fate.” Colored marker and colored pencil commission. 91
92 “Metal Men” cover for DC Comics. Opaque watercolor.
Jack Kirby’s “Beast”. Marker. 93
94 “Red Sonja.” Shown in both black & white and color marker.
“Red Sonja.” Watercolor. Another case of Steve going overboard
on a color commission which he ended up redoing twice. 95
96 “Red Sonja.” Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Red Sonja.” Watercolor, color marker, and colored pencil. 97
98 “ROM.” Marker with colored pencil touches on logo.
Jack Kirby’s “Angry Charlie” from Jimmy Olsen. Marker. 99
 Scan the QR code
to see the
full painting
demonstration
of both paintings.

“Supergirl.” Pen and Ink. Part of a painting demonstration

100 filmed for the Museum of Wisconsin Art.
“Supergirl.” Opaque watercolor. Also part of the demo filmed for MOWA. 101
102 “Supergirl.” GoldenFluid acrylics. Unused cover done for DC Comics.
Sketchbook Log 35, March 2020. 103
104 Both pages showing “Captain America” sketches in marker.
105
 See full painting
demonstrations on
Steve’s YouTube
channel.

YouTube video of John Singer Sargent’s

106 “The Honorable Victoria Stanley”. Pastel on pastel paper.
Study of John Singer Sargent’s “Mrs. Waldorf Astor”. Oil on board.
Full painting demonstration also available on Steve’s YouTube channel. 107
108 Sketchbook Log 35, April 2020.
Sketchbook Log 35, April 2020. 109
110 Sketchbook Log 35, May 2020.
Sketchbook Log 35, March 2020. 111
112 Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020.
Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020. 113
114 Sketchbook Log 35, March 2020.
Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020.
Rude trying to understand and teach himself new methods of illustration. 115
116 More studies. Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020.
Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020. More Struzan studies. 117
118 More experiments. Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020.
Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020. 119
 Nexus
Bonus
Pages

120 Kickstarter Stretch Goal - A booklet of Nexus art commissions. Watercolor and colored pencil.
“Nexus.” Watercolor and colored pencil commission. 121
122 “Nexus.” Watercolor and colored pencil sketch commission on the 2015-2020 Sketchbook.
“Nexus.” Watercolor and colored pencil.
Original art sewn inside “Nexus: The Coming of Gourmando” original art edition book. 123
 Steve was asked to recreate a panel from Nexus: The Origin.
124 Shown here are studies in his sketchbook, Log 35. May 2020.
Original panel from 1991 Nexus: The Origin shown at Bottom, redo from 2020 on top.
Sketchbook Log 35. May 2020. 125
126 Reference and stages for the Nexus redo panel.
Finished commission. 22” x 15” Opaque watercolor and colored pencil. 127
128 “Nexus.” Colored pencil commission sketch inside a Nexus Chronicles book.
“Nexus.” Marker and colored pencil commission sketch inside a Nexus Chronicles book. 129
130 “Nexus.” Marker and colored pencil commission sketch inside a Nexus Chronicles book.
“Nexus.” Pen & Ink commission sketch inside a Nexus Chronicles book. 131
132 “Sundra.” Watercolor and colored pencil study.
“Sundra.” Pen & Ink study inside a Nexus Chronicles book. 133
134 “Sundra.” Watercolor and colored pencil painting study.
“Nexus.” Golden Fluid Acrylics painting titled “Circular Reasoning”. 2020. 135
136 Water studies. Sketchbook Log 35. May 2020
“Sundra.” Watercolor and colored pencil painting. 137
138 “Sundra.” watercolor sketch inside a Nexus Chronicles book.
“Nexus.” Pen & Ink and marker sketch inside a Nexus Chronicles book. 139
140 “Sundra.” Pen & Ink sketch inside a Nexus Chronicles book.
“Nexus” double page spread. Pen & Ink sketch inside a Nexus Chronicles book. 141
142 “Zatanna.” Marker.
Rude’s notes and quotes to help educate himself. Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020. 143
144 Sketchbook Log 35, June 2020.