Jenny Frison's Pipeline

Jenny Frison

About

Jenny is a comic cover illustrator. She has worked with Marvel, Image, Top Cow, IDW, DDP, Harris, White Wolf, Hasbro and is the current cover artist for IDW's "Angel" series. She lives in Chicago!
view portfolio see more
... view all creator comments see more

Sketch Book

frisonsketch001.jpg - a sketch of Athena. an awfully short Athena. 12-03-2010

frisonsketch003.jpg - a quick inkwash of William Hurt. Just did this to keep fresh. I don't do nearly enough of this kind of stuff. 12-08-2010

pdog.jpg - This is a sketch of a border collie puppy named "P" that "worked" at a ranch in Wyoming I used to work at during the summers. It was a dude ranch. P is laying on a horse blanket embroidered with the ranch's brand: "FUN". I kid you not. The "FUN" was stamped on the butt of every cow and horse the ranch owned. Awesome. 12-17-2010

frisonsketch002.jpg - A sketch I did for no apparent reason. 12-21-2010

windsketch.jpg - an unused sketch for a comic cover. 12-31-2010

poisonivysketch.jpg - a sketch of poison ivy. 01-07-2011

dreamsketch.jpg - a sketch for my final cover of IDW's "The Dreamer" 01-14-2011

dreamer5sketch.jpg - A rejected sketch for the 5th issue of IDW's "The Dreamer". The cover that was accepted was the same basic layout but less afraid and more defiant. 01-21-2011

zatanna2sketch.jpg - A prelim sketch for a colored Zatanna commission. The final was done in acrylic and pastel on toned paper. 02-04-2011

vampiauctionsketch.jpg - A prelim sketch I did for an auction pin up to benefit breast cancer. The final piece had Vampi sporting a pink costume! 02-11-2011

dejah-conan-sketch.jpg - A prelim sketch for a Conan and Dejah Thoris commission. Creepy swampland!! 02-18-2011

spitfiresketches.jpg - Here are some of the many sketches I did for my Spitfire cover for Marvel as well as a look at the final cover. Had some trouble figuring out what they were looking for for this one. Hopefully I got it in the end! 02-25-2011

redsketch.jpg - Here is a drawing for a painting I did waaaaay back in college. Little red riding hood! 04-29-2011

b&wpoppy.jpg - Here is a drawing I did for my mom back when I was at the Kubert School. 05-06-2011

Process: sketch - finish!

aliceprocess1.jpg - This is the first illustration I did for IDW's "Alice and Wonderland" book of Alice falling down the rabbit hole. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. In this one, I had originally tried to color Alice's dress yellow (as you can see in the underpainting). My editor suggested we stick with the traditional blonde hair, blue dress made popular by Disney, so I obliged. 12-01-2010

weswolfprocess.jpg - A pinup that I did for a friend's comic. A sketch, pencils and the colored piece. I love the colors for this one! 12-06-2010

aliceprocess2.jpg - Chapter 2 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland". After becoming giant and starting to cry, Alice has shrunk herself down so small she is now swimming in her own giant tears. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 12-10-2010

aliceprocess3.jpg - Chapter 3 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland". Alice curtsies to the dodo before taking the thimble. There were a lot more animals in this scene...but I only had time for the dodo. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 12-13-2010

amaltheaprocess.jpg - This piece started as a painting for a gallery show featuring art inspired by the last unicorn. I wanted a traditional painting so I sketched out my idea and played around with it until I had something I thought would look good. The next image is the actual painting that hung in the show. It is pencil, acrylic, and pastel on paper. But, luckily I managed to scan the image before it sold at the show and the next two images are the souped up digital versions! 12-24-2010

aliceprocess5.jpg - Chapter 5 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland" Alice meets the caterpillar. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 12-27-2010

aliceprocess4.jpg - Chapter 4 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland". In the rabbit's house, Alice drinks a strange unlabeled bottle and grows to the size of a giant. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 01-04-2011

aliceprocess6.jpg - Chapter 7 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland" The mad tea party. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 01-11-2011

aliceprocess7.jpg - Chapter 9 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland" The queen screams "off with his head!!!" and "off with her head!!!". Interesting fact: I had to do the background of the underpainting on this one very dark because I accidentally dipped it in black paint. That's what happens when you paint 24 paintings at once. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 01-18-2011

aliceprocess8.jpg - ...Chapter 11 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland" The Mad Hatter sips tea and eats toast on the stand at the Alice's trial. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 01-25-2011

fairyframeprocess.jpg - A quick fairy drawing I did for a friend of a friend for envelopes for an anniversary party. A very fancy, midsummers night dream themed anniversary party. First and Second down on the left are the two sketches I sent. The bottom on the left are the pencils and the big image is the final inks! 01-28-2011

aliceprocess9.jpg - Chapter 1 of "Through the Looking Glass" from IDW's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Alice steps through the looking glass. I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 01-31-2011

aliceprocess11.jpg - Chapter 14 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland" Alice talks to the flowers in the garden. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 02-07-2011

aliceprocess10.jpg - Chapter 15 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland". Alice walks with a deer in the forest. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 02-14-2011

aliceprocess12.jpg - Chapter 18 of "Through the Looking Glass" for IDW's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Alice meets Humpty Dumpty. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 02-21-2011

aliceprocess13.jpg - Chapter 17 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland". Alice recovers the White Queen's shawl. Fyi, all I could think of when working on this one was Carol Channing in that "Through the Looking Glass" TV movie. I can't remember if she was the red queen or the white queen...all I remember is she turned into a goat and it was kinda scary. Anyway, all in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chaper I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 02-28-2011

sleepinggirlprocess.jpg - a drawing I did for an art book called "Introducing Vol.2" showcasing new artists. I didn't know what to draw so I just drew what what I felt like drawing: hair, vines, and a skull. Then i threw some color on it in Photoshop! 03-04-2011

aliceprocess14.jpg - Chapter 19 of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland" The lion and the unicorn fighting for the crown. All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 03-07-2011

sleepingkingprocess.jpg - an illustration I did for an artbook called, "Introducing Vol.2". This was one of my ideas for the Alice and Wonderland illustrations. When alice visits the sleeping king. Ultimately, I must have wanted to draw whatever else I drew for that chapter more because I left this one out. I was glad to get a chance to sketch it out though. Since I didn't feel the need to put Alice in it anymore, I just focused in on the King and added a little tone on the line and some textures in Photoshop. Et voila! 03-11-2011

aliceprocess15.jpg - Chapter 24th and final chapter of IDW's "Alice in Wonderland". Alice is disappointed to discover it was a dream all along...or was it! All in all, I had 3 weeks to do 24 full color illustrations. For each chapter I did a quick sketch. Once all of those were approved I drew the pencils. Next, I printed those out so I could do a quick underpainting for texture. Then each was colored in Photoshop. I chose to create a frame that I added to each image to tie them all together. With such a tight deadline I really only had time to get it right the first time. I had a little less than a day per illustration so I drew all the sketches at once. After they were all approved, I drew all the pencils. The quick underpainting were all done over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it took me a week to do the digital process. And when all was said and done, I finished them a day early. It was pretty intense. 03-14-2011

magda.jpg - A pinup I did back when I was in the Kubert School for Wave Blue World's book "Adrenaline". Magda! For this one I drew the pencils, did an underpainting, and finished it all in photoshop. This one was fun because I was still kinda figuring the whole process out. 03-18-2011

geistsprocess4.jpg - the Sin Eaters. These are some of my favorite jobs because they are so simple but still really creative. WW sent me a short description of what sort of attitude and look they want the character to have and then the description of their attributes and I get to figure it out from there. The Sin Eaters are living beings bound to a ghost. More than just a dead person, but a personification or aspect of death. This character is "the forgotten". You can see the two sketches I sent based on their description: young, urban, sexy and tough with her ghost not plainly visible...more like something wrong with her shadow. They chose the first sketch and the last image is the final illustration. 03-21-2011

assetprocess.jpg - Here is a process of a cover I did for The Asset for Top Cow's Pilot Season. It was a story about a femme fatale spy who uses internet dating to manipulate and seduce people to complete missions. You can see some of the sketches I sent in the preliminary stages. The main themes they wanted were romance and manipulation. However, since internet dating was relevant to the story, they chose the one one the bottom left. They wanted it to look like a ordinary dating profile on an Ipad with some objects of intrigue thrown about. A gun and some surveillance pictures. There were some issues that made this a difficult cover. They wanted to put in a lettered profile to make it look authentic, but they didn't know what they wanted it to say so it had to be done later by someone else. Also, they knew they weren't sure they wanted the pictures. In the end I decided to do everything separately so they could move them around, put type under, or leave out pieces at their will. I got a sketch of the profile pic (Maddy) approved and moved on to the pencils. I decided I wanted it to have a painterly, almost pin up-y feel since the cover was all about how cute and benin she looked in her profile, but in reality she was a cold blooded assassin. I printed off my linework onto some toned rag paper and did a quick underpainting with acrylic and pastel. Next I created the images for the surveillance photos and drew and then toned the gun to keep it realistic so it would pop out on top of the background. Finally, I created the "Ipad" in photoshop and laid it all together. In the end, they used both the gun and the surveillance pictures just as I geve it to them and only added the profile lettering. Looked good! 03-25-2011

geistsprocess2.jpg - the Sin Eaters. These are some of my favorite jobs because they are so simple but still really creative. WW sent me a short description of what sort of attitude and look they want the character to have and then the description of their attributes and I get to figure it out from there. The Sin Eaters are living beings bound to a ghost. More than just a dead person, but a personification or aspect of death. This character is "the silent". You can see the two sketches I sent based on their description: pretty but plainly anorexic, her ghost like a skeleton reflecting her starvation. They chose the second sketch and the last image is the final illustration. You can see how I did the smoky technique with ink on a separate piece of paper to get that washy/smoky look. 03-28-2011

vampirellaprocess.jpg - This one isn't much of a process because I don't still have any of the prelim sketches for it. But here are the pencils for a Vampirella piece I did. Next you can see how I created the background for it by creating this drippy moon image with acrylic. Finally the finished Image with Vampi colored over the moon background. I love Vampirella. 04-01-2011

geistsprocess1.jpg - the Sin Eaters. These are some of my favorite jobs because they are so simple but still really creative. WW sent me a short description of what sort of attitude and look they want the character to have and then the description of their attributes and I get to figure it out from there. The Sin Eaters are living beings bound to a ghost. More than just a dead person, but a personification or aspect of death. This character is "the prey". You can see the two sketches I sent based on their description: young, outdoorsy type. For her ghost they suggested a demonic bipedal pig and some crows...I can't remember if the deer was my idea but I know I sent them that in a sketch.. They chose the second sketch and the bipedal pig. I love that weird pig. 04-04-2011

derangedpg1.jpg - A rare look at some sequential work! First page of a 3 page short story for Tim Seeley's Hack/Slash: Trailers. It doesn't really follow normal story telling rules because it was supposed to be like a movie trailer...like a teaser. The story is about a monster created when some Native Americans are killed violently while performing some kind of spirit releasing ceremony for some murdered buffalos. Then, years later, Cassie and Vlad encounter what appears to be a horrible monster composite of the indians' and buffaloes' trapped souls. The writer (Steve Seeley) and I had months to do this...but since he took all but one week to write the script, I had to do this rather quickly. I definitely would have like to have spent more time on it! Anyway, you can see my rough layouts and my pencils first. Next I printed the pencils out on grey paper so I could do some quick highlights and create the smokey technique I wanted going on. Finally, I scanned it all in and did some quick B&W "colors" in photoshop. This story is a genius idea so hopefully we get to make a full length story out of it someday. 04-08-2011

geistsprocess3.jpg - the Sin Eaters. These are some of my favorite jobs because they are so simple but still really creative. WW sent me a short description of what sort of attitude and look they want the character to have and then the description of their attributes and I get to figure it out from there. The Sin Eaters are living beings bound to a ghost. More than just a dead person, but a personification or aspect of death. This character is "the torn". You can see the two sketches I sent based on their description: a well built, possibly african-american military man in civilian clothes. His ghost, some sort of composite thing of screaming multitudes...which I thought was awesome. As before, I sent them a couple sketches. They those the one without a weapon but asked me to be sure to add smokey tendrils wrapping around his legs so it didn't look like a screaming fart. Screaming fart is the best thing ever. 04-11-2011

derangedpg3.jpg - First page of a 3 page short story for Tim Seeley's Hack/Slash: Trailers. It doesn't really follow normal story telling rules because it was supposed to be like a movie trailer...like a teaser. The story is about a monster created when some Native Americans are killed violently while performing some kind of spirit releasing ceremony for some murdered buffalos. Then, years later, Cassie and Vlad encounter what appears to be a horrible monster composite of the indians' and buffaloes' trapped souls. The writer (Steve Seeley) and I had months to do this...but since he took all but one week to write the script, I had to do this rather quickly. I definitely would have like to have spent more time on it! 04-15-2011

bride.jpg - Here is another concept illustration I did for White Wolf. For this one I was asked to create a "hot, biker-chick vampire holding a shotgun and a cigarette". So that is what I did. It was a pretty quick turn around so I sent them a few sketchs of what I was thinking. I think I sent them three sketches that were full length, close up, and medium respectively. They chose the medium one (shown). The whole concept was that she should look totally bad ass. 04-26-2011

paperdoll.jpg - Here is another concept illustration I did for White Wolf. For this one I was asked to create a creature that was essentially a puppet or avatar that a vampire could construct as a decoy by sewing together bits of his or her skin. I pretty much thought that was the coolest thing ever. I wanted it to look as creepy as possible, sitting lifelessly in a chair with visible stitches everywhere, long quill like fingers and no eyes. (The description explained that when an enemy vampire came near, the puppet would morph to look just like it's master/skin donor and scratch the enemy's eyes out...so cool.) I drew the sketch and hurried up and did the illustration (again, quick turn around). 05-02-2011

yazata.jpg - Another concept illustration for White Wolf. This time I had to draw an entire pantheon. Each god had a different personality and mood that they wanted portrayed in the illustration. However, they wanted them in modern day dress. I sketched out how I intended to arrange them all to fit into the half page/double spread and drew their faces separately so the editor could get a sense of their characters. I think the most difficult part was fitting everyone in and keeping it looking natural. Also, I was really worried I would forget someone! 05-09-2011

trueblood2.jpg - Here is my process for the cover to True Blood vol 2 issue 2. My editor asked me to draw Jessica and Bill on a truck in the country with Jessica going berserk fighting Bill while Bill is just trying to calm her down. After my first sketch they said they liked the layout but wanted Jessica on the hood with one leg tucked in and one leg spread out. I suspected it would look better with both Jessica's legs tucked under her so I quickly sketched both. They chose the third one and you can see the final cover! 05-16-2011

Pipeline Comments

03/04/2011 05:47 PM

Jenny Frison

Dreamflux,
I've only done a couple Vampirella covers and the Zatanna piece was for a commission. If I get some time I'll try to play around with them on my own. But as for covers, they are two of my favorite characters! I'd draw them again in a heartbeat!

As for the cancer fundraiser, I can't really remember how much that piece went for...a couple hundred or so..? Not totally sure. But every little bit helps!
Jenny

02/11/2011 11:17 AM

Dreamflux

Will there be any other process pieces for Vampi and Zatanna? I tried to find them on the web. How much did you help raise for Breast Cancer?

12/02/2010 12:49 PM

Kris

That process piece is SWEET! I love seeing the stages of your art from beginning to end, very cool. :)

Need help? Have questions? Email support@comicspipeline.com
privacy policy

© Copyright 2013, all rights reserved, Comics Pipeline