Why Comic Book Tribute Art?

Thinking back to my final assessment at Sheridan College’s Classical Animation Program (1981), my instructor Jim McCauley reviewed my work and said, “Steve. You’re a comic book person.” Of course, I objected. I hadn’t looked at a comic book in years. I was well passed that.

Jim countered, “If you’re raised in the church, even though you may leave it later in life, you’ll always keep those teachings with you. What was the first book that you ever read by yourself?”

It was Superman comic book, I answered.

“Steve. You’re a comic book person. Embrace that.” I immediately went out and bought a stack of comic books.

I’ve never forgotten that conversation. And in that spirit, I’ve painted a number of tribute paintings to the artists and artwork that have formed me. Adding a bit of myself in animating them, so that each painting tells a short story – capturing a moment in time.

Lenticular Art

Every painting starts with a layout, a blueprint of its final form. For lenticular paintings, I create two layouts representing key positions, drawing from classical hand-drawn animation techniques. These layouts are transferred to 140 lb. Arches hot-press watercolour paper and painted with acrylics.

A wooden matrix is built to hold the strips of paintings at right angles to each other. Once the paintings are done, they are sliced into 2 cm strips and laminated onto the matrix. Precision is crucial; inaccurate cuts can ruin the work. Custom tools ensure precise slicing. Each painting, composed of over 100 segments, is assembled without room for error due to the fast-drying adhesive used. After the painting slices have been attached to the matrix, they are hand trimmed.

Each lenticular painting takes between two to four weeks to complete.

Gallery of Comic Book Tribute Art

”One of my biggest challenges is finding two images that work together to tell a story.”

Destination: Moon

19” x 19” Acrylic on Arches hot press watercolour paper laminated onto a wooden matrix. Inspired by the legendary characters created by Hergé. In this slice of sci-fi graphic novel history, Tintin and Snowy bounce around on the moon. 2025

SMOOCH!

40” x 52” Acrylic on 140 lb. Arches hot press watercolour paper bonded to wooden matrix. The eternal love triangle between Archie, Betty and Veronica. After Dan DeCarlo. 2024

BIFF! BAM! POW!

21.5” x 29” Acrylic on 140 lb. Arches hotpress watercolour paper bonded to wooden matrix. A reimagined tribute to the legendary characters created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, as they appeared in the opening sequence of the 1966 Batman TV series. Original layout, design and animation by Lee Mishkin. After Kane, Finger and Mishkin. 2024

Secret Identity

15.5” x 39.5” Acrylic on 140 lb. Arches Hotpress watercolour paper bonded to wooden matrix. A tribute painting based on the Superman artwork of Joe Shuster as he appeared in the 1940’s Fleischer Brothers’ Animated Cartoons. After Joe Shuster, Max and Dave Fleischer. 2024