Erik Morales in ink

Erik Morales, Micron pen and Pentel Pocket Brush Pen on 5.5" X 8.5" sketch paper.

I've been having some fun with these ink studies I've been doing lately. They're relatively quick to conceive and finish and they keep things artistically fresh. What makes these studies super-interesting are my subjects. A stark, comic book-ish approach doesn't exactly work for everyone (or maybe it does and I just have to get better at it) but when you have someone with a distinct look or face, that can make all the difference.

Take legendary four-division titleholder Erik Morales (yeah, another boxer. Sue me) for instance. "El Terrible" has such unique and sharp facial features that when he made weight for some of his most legendary bouts, he looked downright gaunt. Such jutting and angular features are often ripe for swelling and cutting. Even in his retirement (and with a few extra, well-deserved pounds), the former, 122, 126, 130 and 140-pound champion is still recognizable, albeit with more smiles these days.

So here's another strictly ink study, done with Micron pen and Pentel Pocket Brush Pen on 5.5" X 8.5" sketch paper. (He kind of has a Bart Sears feel to him; don't you think? I hope my fellow comic book art geeks are picking up the groove I'm laying down!) I hope you dig it - especially if you're an Erik Morales fan!


Questions? Comments? Complaints? Commissions? Hit me up at artofthepaw@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @CoyoteDuran, on Instagram @CoyoteDuran and on Facebook @CDCreationNation.