Blog 2

Having started on the comic I’ve gotten about five pages in with the design work. I’ve got two pages to ink, and touch-ups on the others, but it’s coming along. There are currently piles of hick-ups, and I’ll list them here so I can get some feedback and comments from you folks.

1) Scanning them: I need an 11×17 scanner for the pages, as they’re 11×17! I have an 8×11, and that’s, um, not good enough. Maybe I should start designing pages that are easily divided into two halves, so I can scan one, then the other, then somehow paste them together. That sounds awful, though. However, it does explain why so many web comics are only three panels in a row. Other than the newsprint roots, and that they fit on a screen, I’m sure it’s easier to work on smaller pages of Bristol board with a home scanner.

2) Word bubbles: I need to add them to the finished pages. Yes, I am aware that I could draw them directly on the page, but as a fickle person I want to re-write as I go along.

3) Script: NO LONGER A PROBLEM. Well, sort of. I got a great freeware program that lets me write up my stuff in any format I want, including comics, and it is a huge timesaver. Before that I was either just drawing ideas or scribbling in a notebook; edits are a pain if you have to write them by hand.

4) Drawing board tote: I want to be able to carry one page with me when I go out. For days at work or school when I’m taking a break, I want to finish more of my stuff. I’ve lost a portfolio, so I want something that can fit into my backpack. I don’t want to risk losing everything, so keeping it to a minimum of one or two pages at a time would be best. Along with that, and as I need a new backpack in general, I want a pack that can fit both my art-board-with-paper-holding-section, and my laptop (for typing up notes and editing the script). More productivity!

My materials are slowly coming together. I’ve got a non-repro blue mechanical pencil, which is pure win. I’ve got some nice pens, and an old calligraphy set from the Mrs, which I’m playing around with. I’ve got an old drawing board, also good, and a smaller one from my old roommate that is helpful. I’ve also got my collection of art books, which are so good. I realize now that reading them is even more helpful than simply owning them, which now that I think about it also applies to school.

Artistically the pages that I’ve done so far are some of the best I’ve ever drawn, but I know I need work on anatomy, perspective, and I’m sure composition. The inking is also a concern: do I start with the forms like pencilling, or should I start with shadow areas and then do details? When to hatch and when to fill in with a swatch of black ink? I am a little worried only about whether I need to use thicker lines when inking: will my work show up when photocopied and shrunk down? If I use thicker lines, I’m worried that finer details will be lost. Do I have to use thicker lines and ignore details like facial features? I hope not.

I’ve been doing these exercises with ink technique, which was the inspiration for page 1, sort of “elements coming together” and breaking the 4^th wall. Fun stuff. I’ll try to keep posting more boxes, as a regular thing, to make sure I keep my hand in. If you think of any other drawing exercises I can do, email me here!