Posted by mike in illustration friday
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Joey “Da Brick” Risso – He was a massage therapist until director Alan Smithee discovered him and made him a heavy in a dozen lousy gangster films from 1934 to 1940. Joey was drafted for WWII in 1940 and came back in 1945, retired from the film industry and opened a flower shop.
2 hours in Photoshop. Click for larger image.
19 Responses to “Illustration Friday – Heavy”
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Wow, that IS HEAVY! From gangster to flower peddler. :) Very nice Mike. I love the blood splatters and joey’s shadow.
wow! Heavy heavy! amazing character and great rendering…in only two hours…wow!
Heh… thanks, Kate and Zari! Just a quick note (or 3)… Joey never existed but actors like him did. A “heavy” was a term used in the film industry for “villian” – usually a thug. And director Alan Smithee never existed but he is credited as a director of many bad movies (click his name in the text above to learn more).
I always love the stories you create with your illustrations. Fun character! Love the design style on this one. Awesome job Mike!!
Fantastic again!
Always lots o action n storytellin’
Great work.
Nice character design! 2hr photoshop turn around is impressive too!
being cast as a heavy was probably a pretty good gig, huh? great job as always, mike!
teri
His blastin’ stance is prefect. Blamm-Blamm!
Love da detail in his zut suit, right down to the the red carnation. Why wasn’t he called “pretty boy” risso?
love the view angle…he looks anchored yet light on his feet – my favorite part is the ‘thugs’ nose. Excellent illo
That guy has a gnarly set of chops! You really hit the target every time, Mike!
Cool color set.
nice character study
2 hours for this gorgeous piece?!?
Impressive!
michael, this is really astonishing, i mean, it’s really wonderful! the big arms and hand really make you focus on the fact, he’s a gangster, and pretty serious about what he’s doing!! i am never disappointed when i see a new illustration, you keep raising that bar!
a : )
Wow! Great piece, Mike! Amazing!
eeeeeeeeeeewwwwww, blood spatters and a scar!!!! and those EYEBROWS! they are the scariest! awesome, man! awesome!
nice work Mike!!
That’s one awesome character!