Posted By Dan Greenfield on Sep 9, 2025 | 1 comment

DESPOP TUESDAYS!

As comic-book readers, we’re accustomed to seeing art in its finished form — colored, lettered, perfected. But there’s something visceral and fascinating about seeing line art that stands on its own. It can be pencilled and it can be inked, but what always strikes me is the vibe — you can feel the artist’s hand at work.

It’s a particular brand of compelling when it’s an illustrator like our pal Des Taylor. Des’ finished work is marked by an animated feel: His stills don’t look so much like panels as they do cels. The color, the shading, the superb use of perspective. That requires a specific set of skills that can easily be taken for granted because it looks so easy.

It’s not.

Economy of line work requires a sure hand and an understanding of anatomy and movement. You can’t hide mistakes with cross hatching or an abundance of rendering. What you put down on paper, or on the screen, has to stand on its own.

At this, Des is a master. You may rightfully love his color work, but dig these 13 black-and-white sketches:

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Want more DESPOP TUESDAYS? Come back next week!

Want a commission? Buy prints? Buy Des’ comics? Check out his Despop Art website!

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MORE

— WHO NEEDS VALENTINE’S DAY: Dig This Gallery of Superlovers. Click here.

— YO JOE! The GI JOE Stylings of DES TAYLOR. Click here.

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DES TAYLOR is the man behind creator-owned comic properties Scarlett Couture, The Vesha Valentine Story, The Trouble With Katie Rogers and a new property in the works The Blue Lotus Strikes. His client list includes DC Comics, La Perla, FHM, Cosmopolitan, Universal Music, ITV Studios America and many more. When he’s not working on his own properties or churning out commissions, Des spends his spare time… working some more, hating Arsenal and raising his two baby daughters, Scarlett and Leia-May.