This album cover for the hardcore metal band, Killing For Christ, was a fun challenge.  The client wanted to illustrate what it might look like if all the world’s religions duked it out.  We were careful to keep the illustration dark, but still humorous, so it’s obvous that this is a tongue-in-cheek rendition of the apocalypse (throwing in a few cultural icons like Kermit and Fozzy the Bear helped with that, I think).  Of course, it’s not true heavy metal if no one gets at least slightly offended!

Killing For Christ CD Cover Killing For Christ CD Cover Killing For Christ CD Cover

El Gun Legro Logo El Gun Legro Logo

Logo design I created for the Nerd-core hip-hop artist, El Gun Legro.  This guy has a ton of personality, and we set out to create an icon and typeface that would capture that.  It was also import to retain a comic book feel, since comic conventions are a huge part of his set list.  We kicked around a couple of designs, but ultimately, we landed on this one, with a screaming mic with cords mimicing El Gun’s iconic wig.

 

Check him out here (J-Light is wearing a shirt I designed for El Gun!):

Mascot illustration of a viking playing football. Created for Great Dane Graphics using Manga Studio 5 and Adobe Photoshop Mascot illustration of an angry soccer-playing bear. Created for Great Dane Graphics using Manga Studio 5 and Adobe Photoshop Bull Dog Football PlayerBasketball Tiger

Illustration of a young girl zombie eating the stuffing out of her teddy bear, entitled “Bwains!”  You know, for kids.  Create in Manga Studio 5 and Photoshop CS6.

bwains zombie girl

Illustration for Revco BSX, featuring a welder emerging from a fiery vault.  Revco specializes in apparel for welders.  This design was created for a direct-to-garment printing process.

Fire Snake Illustration of a cobra made of fire emanating from a welding torch. Created for the Revco BSX brand, an apparel and accessory company for welders. Direct to garment printing. Illustration of a welder. Created for the Revco BSX brand, an apparel and accessory company for welders. Direct to garment printing. Illustration for Revco BSX, featuring a welder emerging from a fiery vault. Revco specializes in apparel for welders. This design was created for a direct-to-garment printing process.

Cover illustration I created for a work of fiction by Jan Ferrigan for young readers.  The story is about a group of young adventurers trekking through the national parks, meeting magic creatures along the way.

Lotto's Super Awesome Unbelievable Park Adventure Lotto's Super Awesome Unbelievable Park Adventure

Ever wonder what Hello Kitty would look like during her awkward teen years?  Introducing Goth Hello Kitty.  This illustration was created in Manga Studio 5.

Goth Hello Kitty

T-Shirt illustration I created of a viking for Total Domination Apparel.

Total Domination Viking Total Domination Viking

 

 

Product label illustration for Bonfatto’s Apocalips brand hot sauce.  Special thanks to Mark Dello of Loaded Creative (and of course, Bonfatto’s) for making all this happen.

 

I designed and illustrated the dragon character for the label, as well as the font-style.

Apocolips Hot Sauce Packaging Apocolips Hot Sauce Packaging Apocolips Hot Sauce Packaging

 

 

I just finished Issue #2 of a promotional comic series for Consol Alliance, a shipping company in Australia. Here’s a step-by-step look into the complicated process of how I create comic book art.

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These are two maps I created for the two FunPlex parks in New Jersey. It was a fun challenge to create a useable map for a place I had never been before. The maps are printed as tri-folds and distributed at the park, and are also mounted in several areas around the park, I believe. Illustrated Amusement Park Map by Brian Allen

Illustrated Amusement Park Map by Brian Allen

A Day In Rehoboth Beach has sold out!In July 2012, my brother and grandmother (also artists) created a Pop-Up Book about Rehoboth Beach Delaware.

Well, I’m pleased to announce that we sold out of all 2000 copies of the book in just two months!

We are in the process of placing a bigger order – 5000.  They will be available in many stores in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and also from our website in April/May 2013.

Thanks to everyone who bought one!

You can check out the book in detail here:  www.bythebaybooks.com

I spend a lot of time in here, so I had a photographer take some shots of the studio.  Let me know what you think!

Photographer:  Ben Kimble, GoSchoolPhoto.com

 

Digital painting for splash page of apparel company’s website.

Digital painting of the grim reaper

Digital painting of the grim reaper

I purchased the Wacom Cintiq 24HD three months ago for $2600 from Wacom.com, and I am absolutely thrilled with it. Keep in mind though, that anyone who spends $2600 on ANYTHING will say just about anything to defend their purchase! But I truly believe it’s already paid for itself. Here is my detailed review: Read more

Digital painting I created in Photoshop of a surprised boy and his new pet dragon.

Here’s a digital painting I did recently using techniques I’m learning in Bobby Chiu’s digital painting class on Schoolism.com. I highly recommend it!

Flyland Designs, The Art of Brian Allen logo

Here are 3 extremely useful pieces of software I use every day.

1.  GoodSync

This is without a doubt the best software for syncing two hard drives. I use it to sync my portable hard drive with my computer. You can set it to sync as soon as you open the program. It’s so fast: it can sink gigs of data in just a couple of minutes – way faster than dragging all the files over. It will even tell you if there are conflicts, and lets you choose which direction to sync the files. I’ve used for over a year, daily, and it’s never caused any issues.

2. Invoice Bubble

I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect invoicing program. Never found it! So I settled for the free one! This was the only free one I found that also allows you to send estimates. Very easy to use, and it’s fully integrated with PayPal, so when your client pays you with PayPal, it automatically maks the invoice as paid.

3. Toggl.com

This is a great free online time-tracking tool. It’s simple, and easy to use. It even has a desktop app.

 

Wacom Cintiq 12 WX Review

I purchased the Cintiq 12WX in July 2011, and thought I should share my review.  I beat my head against a wall for months trying to decide if the $1000 price tag was really worth it or not.  The verdict:  Oh yeah.

WHAT I USE IT FOR:  Digital painting, comic book “inking,” sketching, graphic design, photo manipulation.

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