The Penguin by Brian Stelfreeze

Ive always been a fan of Brian Stelfreeze's art. I love his dynamic use of color, detailed line work, clean inking, and his ability to capture character likeliness. Over the years, I've tried a few times to get on his commission list. Luck wasn't on my side, and either I was a few people too late, or I wasn't chosen during one of his at home commission drops. When Brian was announced at OAX, I reached out to Jason from Essential Sequential (who was repping him for the show) to set up a commission. I let him know that I was going to be out of the country at the time, but would arrange for someone else to pick it up for me. I was a bit late in my inquiry, but made the list. I was told there were no promises and understood.

Well, OAX came and went and I didn't think this commission was meant to be. The first person I arranged to pick up the commission got injured so was unable to go. The second person changed their mind about going the weekend of, and the third forgot to go check in at the Essential Sequential booth. I messaged Jason after the show, apologizing for the poor planning and thinking I would try next time. Jason was super understanding and said not to worry as Brian started the commission but was unable to finish it and would take it home. About 10 days later, I got a message from Jason saying Brian just completed it. My original request to Brian was a black and white 9x12 of Danny Devito's Penguin from Batman Returns (my favorite Batman movie). What I got was this amazing color version. I was told that Brian had fun with it and decided to do it in color!

I love this vibrant, stylized take on the classic Batman villain. Stelfreeze captures Devito's iconic portrayal. The penguin's eyes are bloodshot and intensely focused, giving the character a menacing and mad look. His piercing gaze draws the viewer in, and highlights his dangerous nature. The sharp lines in the wrinkles around his mouth, his nose, and not to mention his grotesque smile make him particularly unsettling. I love the light from the cigarette and how it illuminates his face, hair and attire. The smoke swirls fit well with the aesthetic of the movie. The contrast in the color palette - purples, greens, and yellows make it pop. Lastly I love the details in the top hat and polka-dot tie. I was blown away with Brian's interpretation. I've found that sometimes when you ask an artist to draw something with specific likeliness, their own style may get lost. Here, I think Brian was able to make it his own.

Now to get a matching Michael Keaton Batman.