The Inkwell Awards Offer a Challenge Spotlight on David Finch

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Graphic Policy Team

The Inkwell Awards, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting the art of comic book inking, will auction the artwork for their fourth annual Sinnott Inking Challenge Spotlight, which focuses on DC’s Batman pencil art of award-winning creator David Finch. The fundraiser event debuts on June 23.

The Sinnott Inking Challenge Spotlight, which grew out of the Inkwell’s original Joe Sinnott Inking Challenge, showcases various contemporary, fan-favorite talents on a limited scale with veteran published inkers who may or may not have participated in other challenges. The previous three pencilers were Jim Lee, Neal Adams, and Erik Larsen.

This year’s 24 participating ink artists (in alphabetical order) are:

Gerry Acerno
Ken Branch
Brett Breeding
AJ Cassetta
Keith Champagne
Kevin Conrad
Marc Deering
John Dell
Guy Dorian Sr.
John Floyd
Scott Hanna
Tony Kordos
Jay Leisten
Criss Madd
Jose Marzan Jr.
Mark McKenna
Andrew Pepoy
Rodney Ramos
Bill Sienkiewicz
Andy Smith
Mark Stegbauer
LeBeau Underwood
Keith Williams
Walden Wong

Founder/director Bob Almond said:

We are excited to see the amazing work from such a skilled and talented group. We realize schedules are tight and ever-changing so we are grateful to those able to step up for this one. I want to credit committee vet Erick Korpi for not only initiating this year’s program but for recruiting A.J. Cassetta, the Kubert School student recipient of the 10th annual Dave Simons Inkwell Memorial Scholarship Award, to the line-up!

The Challenge Spotlight furthers the inking advocacy’s dual mission of promoting the artform and educating the public. Blue-lined art boards featuring a tightly pencilled David Finch Batman pinup were sent to the artists to finish and/or embellish in ink. Each inked page is signed by Finch and the inker, and includes a certificate of authenticity signed and numbered 1 to 24 by Almond. All pages will be auctioned off on eBay as a fundraiser. Fans will be able to see the difference in the pencilled and inked versions through a gif to better understand how much inkers contribute to the artform.