Page 2
Dancing Bear, Ring Master, Apparition, Husband, Faithful Hound
April 30, 2012
April 29, 2012
366 Page Comic Challenge 120/366
Page 1
The other day, this incredible illustration/print showed up on my Tumblr dash and I thought I’d put it to use. I printed out 12 copies of the illustration and threw 5 darts at each. Each epic tale had to incorporate all 5 of the randomly picked characters in order and fit into one page.
This one included: The King, The Broken Man, The Giant, The Magic Cow, The Sniper and The Hairy Beast (I had 6 for this story but decided 6 was too many).
April 26, 2012
366 Page Comic Challenge 117/366
Part 4: Scanning and tweaking
After I erase all my blue lines I scan in the sketches and put them on the page in InDesign.
Then I adjust the text to fit the illustrations and add the word balloons.
April 25, 2012
366 Page Comic Challenge 116/366
Part 3: The Drawing
After I’ve sketched things out on my printed out pages (and in this case torn apart and rewritten page 5 with my lovely and talented editor), I get to the drawing part. I draw my panels loose in my sketchbook, first in blue pencil and then ink. I hemmed and hawed about what medium to use, but finally decided on my Copic brush pens because they give me great line quality and shrink down nicely. I number each panel starting with 0101 (page 1, panel 1) so I don’t get confused when I’m scanning them in later.
April 24, 2012
366 Page Comic Challenge 115/366
Part 2 Layouts:
My next step is to take my scratchy notes and translate them onto the page in InDesign. This helps me get a sense of the flow and pacing for the book and allows me to get an edit or two in before I start the artwork. I also get a spell check in there.
I’m a lazy artist, so if I see that a panel is going to be all covered up with word balloons, I know not to put a lot of detail into that panel. This also helps me know what size and shape I should draw my stuff. I’ve always had a hard time staying in my panel borders and this is my convoluted work-around.
After I have it laid out to my liking, I print out the pages and make some rough sketches and notes for important visual gags, etc.
Editor’s note: This is part of my submission for the upcoming Digestate Anthology by Birdcage Bottom Books
April 23, 2012
366 Page Comic Challenge 114/366
Part 1: Scripting:
I’m working on a piece for a food-themed anthology being put together by my good pal JT over at Birdcage Bottom Books. Instead of giving it all away here, I thought I’d take the opportunity to go through some of my process. Here is how most of my comics start out (that is, if I’m not winging it straight to the page). I scrawl barely legible notes/scripts in my sketchbook, usually while in the bath. I write faster than I type, and it allows me to get a first edit in when I translate my chicken scratch to the actual page.
April 22, 2012
366 Page Comic Challenge 113/366
16 weeks of comics so far. 113 pages. Nearly a third of the way through it. go, go, GO!
