5, what you waiting for...

Trying something a bit looser, this is where I'm at for the main character in my submission for the upcoming 24 comic day anthology. Just about to sit down and start drawing the first page.

Stay frosty.

C

Quite stylish

Right, back onto the subject of style. I've dealt with this before over at deviantart, but I'm gonna rant a little about it here.

I'm like a magpie. I see something shiny, and I'm all over it. New gimmicks, looks, approaches, media, the lot. I like to try a bit of everything, and at this stage I've dipped my toe into about as many media as I have come across.

Where has that gotten me? A fairly broad understanding of a lot of things, but lacking in a mastery in any particular field. Its like walking down a street full of different restaurants and only getting to eat a mouthful of the cusine in each.

Yes, you taste it, but you don't get the whole meal, the subtlety, the secret behind the sauce.

I think it was something Dan Panosian said that he disliked coloring because he kept trying new things, and it stopped him from mastering any one approach. At the time, I disagreed with him, but in wholly practical terms he was right. I don't see Cheeks painting like Dan Luvisi, and I don't see Dan painting like Cheeks. Masters of different fields.

What makes them both excellent though? I hate to say it, because the idea is as old as time itself, but its the basics. Mastering the basics. Anatomy, gesture, posing, storytelling, colour, light, materials. I recently read something else that said 'style is what you leave out', and this is the main reason I use the example of Cheeks. His work is bold, and minimal. But everything's there.

Seeing as I'm talking about style, now is the time to say 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication' Maybe. It depends on the intent. We're in the business of storytelling, and style says a lot about content.

Now the key difference in this rant is WHY styles are applied, most notably in comics.

One thing I've noticed recently is that the higher line mileage in a panel, the longer I spend looking at it, the visual equivalent of using big words.
The other end of the spectrum is Scott Pilgrim, whose simple visual style is very easy to read. I got through 2-5 in just under 90 minutes, and 6 in under 30. Not rushing, just that's the speed the books took me at. I'll read them again and again, because they're a great adventure, but the upbeat pacing worked great.

The art and method of pacing is still very foreign to me. What works in a film storyboard is not what works in comics. I've so much to learn, its thrilling and terrifying.

I'm working on two projects at the moment; one of which I'm keeping to very simple lines and cartoony designs, purely as a test to see how it affects storytelling. Also, busy pages take a hella lotta time.
The other, I'm going all out on, and hoping to really make it pop in the best way.


One of these days, I'll pick one style and master it. In the interest of making all of darklight work at some point in the future, I've been gearing myself towards darker, grittier stuff. Am I just kidding myself? I dunno. I've stopped thinking like 'I love XXXXXXs work, I wish I could draw like him'. Now I'm thinking 'I need to work on my gesture/design/storytelling' In a ways, I'm saying 'screw how everyone else draws, I'm not happy with how I make things look. Gotta do something about that'

I'm guessing that's where style is born.

Kitty Fritters

(Painted directly from reference, about 10/15 mins)K

So today was spent catching up on things...writing things, tidying things and even a little bit of painting. I've done some quick pics of explosions and cats, although none of the two together as of yet.

Have written the outline for my submission for the 24 hr comics anthology. Tomorrow I'll judge whether or not its any good, and get down to the fun character design bits.
I'm not sure how exclusive the submissions for it have to be, but I'll be quite happy to post bits and pieces here as I go.

For now though, it's 1.30, and the later I leave it the harder it'll be to pry myself from my comfy comfy bed in the morning.

Expect a big long rant about style tomorrow. In the best possible way.

Stay classy,

C

Backbone of the Economy

My back's out at the moment, so drawing is a bit difficult. Trying to keep in some way productive, so here's a sort of warmup for this morning. Simple and straightforward, trying to hold back from going super saturated right away. I noticed recently that I've a lot of green in my work, but I guess that's what happens when you're surrounded by lush fields 24/7.

Also, apparently purple is indicative of indecision of the color temperature of a piece. Not sure I agree with that at all, but that's what I heard.

BOOKS, right now I'm reading more) Freakshow by Rob Curley, with Mooney and Thompson on art if I remember correctly. Usually I inhale books, but something about FS has me taking my time. Could be the black and white nature. Hmm. Anyway, its good. Supernatural without being superheroes. Realistic without being real.

Also in the pile at the moment is Atomic Robo vol 3. Great writing, and wonderful art. Chunky and cartoony, whispers of Mignola in there with a chunky animated feel to it. Great coloring throughout, well paced storytelling and at times laugh out loud funny. Anyone who hasn't read it really should.

Going back to inhalation, Scott Pilgrim 6. It was everything I wanted it to be. I got through it in about 30 mins. I guess the simpler the character/more stylised, the easier to assimilate the information. Something to remember when doing my own work.

I've to do a 5 page story for the 24hr comic event. Well, I don't HAVE to, I WANT to. Pilgrim has me wanting to try something closer to my animation roots, so we'll see how that goes. I've the bones of the story there, now I just need to flesh it out.

Those of you who follow this blog might notice I'm talking more than usual, and this is a result of my Blog CRISIS in which all of my blogs have been collapsed into THIS, which will update more regularly than before.

I won't say daily, because that'll ruin everything.

But I'll try.

For now, amorphous figures lying in a park.

C.

Psychic

Just a little story I wrote to try out Manga Studio. Grand little program it is. Now with an actual readable resolution.

A little warmup for Issue 2

Issue 2 of Darklight is going to deal more with Pete and Melissa, so here's some concept work for it.

Hot off the ...well, photoshop, this is to be the cover of my first issue of Darklight, titled 'Strength' Max kicking all sorts of monstery butt. Book should be out start of June. Enjoy.