Hey all.

A couple of years ago, I tried my hand at colouring a five-page sequence from Tomb of Dracula #11, art by Gene Colan, inked by Jack Abel.

I did this as a test of techniques, and because I had just bought Essential Tomb of Dracula Volume 1. I wanted to try a soft, romantic look to the pages.

I've decided to post 'em up here:

Now, these are coloured in a very lush, saturated style. I like that I tried it once...

I'm actually thinking of colouring a three-issue sequence in Volume 2, with a more restrained colour palette. Perhaps more of a European mid-seventies vampire movie feel, rather than this more soap-opera feel in these pages.

I dunno. It depends on me finding the time for it.

I like it. I'd love to see your colors (modern-style) on some Kirby and Ditko pages.

I will now send you my Essential Iron Man vol 1 and 2 to color, just for fun. Oh, and you can send it back when you're done, I won't mind that it's been altered.

NICE!

So many cool colour effects employed here.
The transition from the guys on the bikes riding through the night to the interiors of the Harker estate works nicely. Love the way in which you convey nighttime scenes as well as your handling of indoor lighting.The sequence of the bike thugs through Dracula's red eyes is very nice as well.
Bravo, Ian!

Y'know, Ian, those are good enough you could consider becoming a professional colourist... or in the USA, even a colorist.

Gorgeous stuff. Just stunning.

Nice work Ian

I liked the look but it's hard to make the vampire scary with such a warm look.

I agree completely - that is one of the reasons I'm hesitant to work with precisely this style again in this type of book.

Although I do like that Drac's skin tone is more of a neutral grey when compared to the warm tones of everyone else - I do find it pretty annoying when I'm reading a funnybook where the vampires have darker tans than the humans...

Simple is better. Ian, you are the king of simple. Not in a bad way, and I know there is a TREMENDOUS amount of time and expertise that you put into your stuff, but time and again I see colorist that overwork stuff. It looks overworked. I know you've said it before that you like to work subtly, and you hit it ever time.

Beautiful stuff. I think the rich colors looked great.

Thanks, Judge

I still have yet to play around with that second sequence I mentioned...

So many decisions from palette to lighting to cuts to grads. The good ones make it look easy. Nice warm, cohesive feel to these pages. Good job Ian.

Thanks, Derek