Kaluta Eyes

One of the most enduring influences on my work is one very specific rendering by comic book artist Mike Kaluta. He drew a cover for a comic book entitled Doorway To Nightmare with a character named Madame Xanadu. The way he drew her eyes, staring straight at the viewer, but with a wry little smile across her lips, made such an impression on me that I always remember it whenever I try to draw the same expression. Even my male model Max is probably a reminder of Kaluta, because he looks like a male version of Xanadu, with those large, lidded eyes.