Ginger Nightmares and Horrible Color Choices

First off, Happy Halloween to all you folks out there. In somewhat related posting is the Ginger Monster from a dream I had a few nights back that I decided to sketch out:

I dunno, it was some kind of a demon possessed urban garden and the only thing I got a good look at was the ginger before I got out of there. It does look a lot like how I like to render my ghosts, which meant the dream was pretty cool, but this also makes me want to get back into monster design. I'm thinking I'll tackle kale next.

Also, since we're on dreams, the final page of my random dream comic. In lettuce related posting, the music I listened to while doing this piece was from Salad Fingers so there you go.

And finally, the complimentary drawing of Plato to the one I did of Ace with bonus fugly color scheme.

Seriously, it's like all the worst parts of a 70s living room decided to throw themselves at him to see what would stick. I know he's supposed to have terrible, terrible taste in outfits but I'm just eternally grateful that City of Cards is being done in gray scale so I don't have to look at that orange more than I have to. No offense to orange. Some of my favorite snacks are orange.

Next time will be Candy. She has good taste in color, thankfully.

Dream 3 and I My Attempt at Something Small and Cute

The third page of the dream comic. At least, I suppose if anything, this kind of drawing may prepare me for the ghost parts of City of Cards. I'd like them to have an intense feel to them that's different from the rest of the story.

As far as the main comic? I'm pretty much halfway done with the pencils for Chapter One right now and the feeling is almost overwhelming. It's seeing something actualized and I feel like if I slow down it'll sink in and really hit me that I'm actually doing this. I want the hurdle of the first chapter done as soon as possible because once I get to Chapter Two then I can really say I've begun.

Once I get a little further in that, I'll post some more. Till then, here's a quick color picture of Ace I drew that I'll probably use as a profile picture for my thesis presentation or, I dunno, a website? Sure, why not.

He pretty much only wears black and white so doing stuff with him in color is kinda weird since I'm just not used to thinking in color. I should do more of that though. Also, this is about as close as I can get to drawing something "chibi". I kinda fail at that and it doesn't really fit with the kind of art I like to do. This to me is my visual compromise.

I have Plato and Candy drawn as well so I'll get to coloring those when I get the chance. Halloween this year may not be anything exciting but I kinda want to see Paranormal Activity 2 since I liked the first one. I like a good horror film that relies a little less on ripping people apart and a little more on just making the audience feel really unsettled.

Other than that, the weather can stay as nice as it was today for the rest of the year for all I'm concerned. 70s with a slight breeze and gorgeous leaves? Uh, yeah, sounds perfect to me.

Bigfoot Spotted in Urban Area

So while reworking some pages, I drew this. In fact, this was almost a panel in my comic, but Canto helped me figure out a better way of approaching that panel. Still, this was worth saving.

Followed by my next dream comic page:

Ugh, what a crazy, tiring, disease infested week. But still, stuff keeps moving along.

I got and finished reading Fogtown as well this week. It's definitely a book that's much better when you don't know the secrets. I mean, it's a noir crime story with a twist, that pretty much shouts "Don't spoil the mystery!". But, even though I had been spoiled I still really enjoyed it. It was dark, violent, and suspenseful and had everything you'd want out of this genre. Good read.

CoC Chapter 1 Progress Report and Peep Show

Whoa, updating in a timely manner? It's happening!

For the next few weeks I'll post the strangeness that is my four page dream comic. I gave myself a couple of criteria in order to loosen up my art, practice working with a tablet, get used to large area of blacks, and to get something done FAST. All this doesn't make for oh wow beautifully perfect art, but it is a good challenge for me.

So yeah, each panel I set a loop of a moody song that lasts about ten minutes and had to finish each panel by the end of that song straight in digital inks. Some ran a tiny bit over, several I didn't even get to the limit, so it evened out.

I'm also gonna give a bump to the pinup calender I did a piece in because all the girls involved are amazing and deserve promotion. This is the piece I did:

We all drew names out of a hat and I got to draw the lovely Mia for the month of September. Yes, that is a crab smoking a cigarette. Lena Chandhok did a fantastic job with the cover and layout work and she was co-editor with Nomi Kane. Here's a list of all the contributors aside from myself, note that Betsey who drew me does not have a website yet: Lena Chandhok, Nomi Kane, Betsey Swardlick, Laura Terry, Holly Foltz, Melanie Gillman, Jen Vaughn, Bailey Sharp, Amelia Onorato, Beth Hetland, Colleen Frakes

Next, I've finished the thumbnails for the rest of chapter one of City of Cards and have started doing a little bit of penciling as well. I've gotten some good critiques so I'm in the process of reworking some of my pages, but also trying to keep moving forward. I've gotta say its an interesting experience especially since the parts I'm working on now are all pages centered around Ace and Plato. I've really enjoyed watching their personalities take shape and am kinda amazed at how much they've grown on me.

Also, a quick shout out to my buddy Canto for getting me reference pictures of him digging through a dumpster. Sure, he was going to do it anyway, but I live for accuracy. Seriously, the best friends in the world are the ones that'll go dumpster diving for art's sake.

Aaron Renier spoke here at CCS recently which gave me some surprising insight into how to approach my work. I found the way he feels stories gestate with him resonated a lot with me. I guess it's not always such a bad thing to forget stuff because if it doesn't stick with you then it probably doesn't matter. I think I need to be better about this approach and my massive pile of STUFF.

Speaking of stuff, I also picked up the new Cyanide and Happiness book and it's fantastic. The games at the back of the book are hilarious and I'm amazed at how funny I find some of these strips even after having read them multiple times. So yeah, if you're a fan of those guys, pick up their book. It's not for everyone, but it's my kind of humor.

And Now for the Rest of the Show

Deadline over! But really, not really. In all truth the sixteen page deadline was a kick in the butt with a steel-toed-boot made of a false sense of accomplishment. Oh yeah, I'm totally happy to have dug in my heels and gotten down to work but this really is only the beginning. I got twelve pages of City of Cards almost completely done for that deadline so that did get me going, and I'll probably post the strangeness that is my dream comic up here as well that made up the other four pages.

From now on, it's all me and my amazing thesis advisor setting the pace and getting this work done. I'm ready, I'm excited, and there'll be a lot more to show in the next few months and beyond. I have plans. Oh yes, I have plans. First, some more from the pages of City of Cards I've been working on including the full version of page eight and some panels from the beginning of chapter 2 with Alex:

And now, sketch dump time. This is probably the best sketch of Candy I have drawn so far:

I have also realized that Plato will never, ever learn to shut up:

And I've been continuing with my brush pen environment sketches because they are really very relaxing:

Other than that, things have been awesome. John Higgins, the colorist on Watchmen and The Killing Joke, gave an impromptu talk this past Tuesday and even if I don't have a lot of free time I'm having an amazing time just hanging out with people in the studio.


Hopefully soon I'll figure out a proper update schedule. Till then I'll just try to keep up this once about a weekish thing I've got going.

Ink and Tone Test

So I'm in the process of figuring out a new process of inking and toning and I thought I'd toss up some panels to see how they work on the web. I'm pretty darn happy with the results and how this comic is going in general. I love the polish that I get with digital tones and inks.

First, two panels of Plato from page 8 of City of Cards:

Next, a panel of Lily from page 11:

So far, not looking too bad. There's still a bit of a learning curve but again, the results are worth the effort. I also need to redo my model sheets so I'll see about getting those done in the next couple of weeks.

Also, I've finally been able to get some much needed sleep. Deadlines aside, thesis is rocking. Can't think of too much else except Ugly Americans starts again tomorrow and I can't wait to watch that.

So, uh, woo bye for now!

Hah, What?

So I couldn't really come up with much for an update this week, but I wanted to post something so here's a panel of Plato I inked for the sixteen pages I'm working on due the 11th.

On the plus side this means I'm getting a lot of work done and soon there will be actual significant updatage?

Ah yeah that's what that means.

Also, year two thesis is blowing my mind. Who would have ever thought I'd get to work on something I love so much.