It's called "How to Draw Monsters" by Larry Evans and published by Troubador Press. He also did one on Prehistoric Monsters. If I find the actual book I will post the cover at least.

I thought the publisher was "Paladin Press", but they publish White Suprmacist and Compound dwelling books on guns, how to be a terrorist...

Troubador put out some great coloring books and I remembered I owned a few. On the back page, they list all their products and the Larry Evans drawing book was on one of them.

I just had this vivid memory of a "How to Draw" book from my childhood (I believe it is a 1970's release). It was my favorite book and it was filled with amazing art. The illustrations were Frazetta-esque. It was an action/hero/fantasy themed book. 2 of the example drawings in it were:
A diver confronting a giant octopus or squid I think.

The other is much more vivid for me:
It was a tarzan type figure with his back to the viewer and holding a knife and he's confronting a giant cobra.

For the life of me I cannot remember what it was called or the author/artist featured (it may have been several). I think it was a "How to Draw Monsters" book. Does anyone have any clue about this book. I just have to know so I can hunt it down!

Callahan just release his 5th or 6th book of cartoons. He was contracted to do a Saturday morning cartoon about a kid confined to a wheel chair and I am not sure whether it flew or not. I saw one episode on an obscure Nickolodeon channel and the eyes of the characters made it worth watching. It's a bit risky, but still geared for kids...

Updated 12/21/04

Have more to add and will soon...

Yeah, I guess you did. Don't feel left out, I did too.

Some guy dropped in and decided to quote my comment and then made an uncalled for reply to it. Since it is a deleted post, I can fill you in if you want through an IM.

Not too bad Brad. I will give my 2¢ though...

1. Make the light source in the cabin more dramatic. Have it blur a bit on the outer cabin wall and cast a window of light (faded or softer than the window light) on the ground.

2. Make the cabin lines a bit thicker and soften your background shades. Foreground is by nature darker and more detailed and the tones get softer and more hazy as they fade back. Think about what the central focus is and put all your dramatic lights and darks there (cabin). Then balance the others around those shades and tints. The cabin is not pushed out enough and it sort of blends with the other shades around it. Make everything else a vehicle to guide the eye to the cabin. The dramatic light works, but you have elements you can tinker with to radiate inward and guide the eye there.

3. Your sky is great, but it consumes a lot of the picture space and composition. Always think about what you want to be the central focus and make it a picture of that rather than the supporting elements.

4. Acrylic for the sky is an okay idea, but I do recommend (and abuse) correction fluid pens. I like the Bic Wite Out pas the best. You have to squeeze and shake, but they give the most consistent flow. You press the tip down and squeeze a bit and then dot where you want or spread the pool released around. I stopped using Pro Wite because I would have to do three coats before I felt satisfied with the coverage. Ayway, they will help with any corrections and to dot your sky. The other thing you might try is a liquid acrylic and mask off the areas you do not want stars. Then use a toothbrush and flick your galaxies on there. Any you don't want can be easilly blacked out.

While I question some of your materials choices, I do think it is a nice thing and can get even better. The experimentation is important. Try everything you can to get a taste or feel for the different materials, techniques and styles you can use.

There are all types of the Marvel comics...

The original and regular release (1977) has a cover price of 30¢. The price is in the square in the bottom lefthand corner with the UPC code and it books in Overstreet for $45 in NM condition.

The rare is the same issue with a 35¢ price in the square with the UPC code. It had limited distribution and they estimate about 1500 made it out for public consumption. This puppy books at $700 in NM or more.

The cheap exist too. They reprinted them and they are the same and would be hard to tell from the original except for the 'reprint' text in the upper lefthand corner of the cover or on the inside where the information is listed at the bottom of page 1 or the price and issue # are inside a diamond without a date or UPC. Both 30¢ & 35¢ issues were reprinted, so be sure if you are going for the original and not the reprint you get pictures and can verify using this info.

Issues 2-4 had both 30¢ and 35¢ versions and the 35¢ is always the more rare. Because these were reprinted with both prices, again be careful. Issue 5 and up are all 35¢ cover prices. They reprinted issues 1-9 just so you know. Just look for that 'reprint' text or the diamond.

Darkhorse has also released several TPBs with collected issues that have been recolored and they are available at Barnes and Noble or Borders usually. Same stuff with brighter color. Not sure whether I like it or not. There is just no replacing the original.

There are also the 2 Treasury Editions  and they were released in 1977 and I picked them both up for $10 recently...

http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4670.0

Hope that helps and if you have any questions or need help with authentcity or identification, let me know.

Updated 8/20/04...