13 - Run Away, Run Away

First page here. 

In case you were wondering, the title of this page is indeed a Monty Python reference. 

Got a lot of wrinkling despite the use of my BIG dictionary to flatten it on the scanner. 

As usual I like some bits more than others. 

My latest micro obsession is simulating something closer to manga style gray tones using ink wash and over my very un-manga style. 

I'd say my style is not remotely settled because I have far too much still to learn, but currently is mostly influenced by Arthur Adams, 80s Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, and lately the Sickles/Caniff/Toth lineage. At least that's what I can see in the bones. Gaijin Studios alumni who I love to death are not showing any presence in my style yet. Just observing. 

So anyway the ink heavy styles I'm used to have a very different approach to gray tones, use of light and dark, line, shapes compared to most manga. I'm trying to find my place in the grays. I'm looking at Toth's Zorro, Caniff's Terry and the Pirates and various manga, most recently Full Metal Alchemist (which I am re-reading) and the original GITS and Appleseed by Masamune Shirow. Quite disparate, but fun to try and figure out what to do, especially not using computers. 

Here's another ink sketch relevant to nothing except my beautiful beautiful brush. 

Anyhoo, have a good one. 

Nick. 

12 - Batter Up

First page HERE. 



Comic is moving along fairly well. I'm about 10 pages ahead of this page and the tone is changing, getting a little darker. 

Just listened to Mike Mignola talk to some art school kids on Youtube and it was great. It was very encouraging to hear him be like - "I have no idea what I'm doing, but people seem to keep paying me." Although, that's more a paraphrase than a quote. 

I too feel like I don't know what I'm doing but I'm unpaid of course. This IS the process of improving and learning what I'm doing. Ya know? So it's all good. 

Cool tips during sketching in these Sean Murphy Vids - one, two, three. 

In particular the 70/30 rule in art composition. Basically every page or panel should be dominated by black or white. Whatever is 30% will naturally be the focal point and use that to storytelling advantage to direct attention. I noticed a murkiness to some of my pages and felt they didn't work very well, but didn't know why. My instincts were correct and now I know why. Excellent!

Anyway... here are some more ink practices using some characters I made up with my wife - The Stolen Binz - rock star/monster hunter/Scoobies. Inspired by The Amazing Joy Buzzards. All the drawings are way off model and style but they're just practice. I love brush no matter the results. It's magical. 

Still using pencil, paper, tech pens, brush, ink/wash, scan, scale, post method. Low tech.

11 - Lodged

START HERE if you're late to the comic. Otherwise...

So I like this page better than some others. I have better control of the figures and it approached how it looked in my head. I especially like the lightning in the first panel and the arm through ghoul in the second. I usually dislike my work so this is good progress for my head space. 

Most ink wash work by the American pro comic artists tends to focus on the painterly aspects and/or an accurate depiction of light. I think I want to use it more like manga tones which sometimes accurately depict light but other times use it more expressively. 

I'll be going back and forth between the two approaches, rather unconsciously over the next few pages, and more consciously later. 

Here's another ink practice piece. Nothing special. 

New time. 

Nick

10 - Charge

Alright plan is going alright. I only penciled a page, so this weekend is big catch up, ink 1 page, pencil/ink the next. 

Here's a free inking practice sketch. When I first got my Winsor Newton Brush.

Until next time. 

Nick

9 - Sneak Attack

So I created a buffer of 10 pages and So far the buffer remains. I've finished another page as I'm posting this one. 

Process wise, still the same. Sketches. 8 1/2x11 paper. Rough in blue and/or red pencils. Tightening in HB lead. Inking first with tech pens. Then come in with Winsor & Newton series 7, size 6 brush (my favorite). Brush the blacks, Then I usually go from lightest wash (watered down inks) to darkest. Scan in as a B&W image. Re-size using GIMP. Post. 

This is going to be the same process for some time. Presume it is about the same for the foreseeable future. 

Still learning. 

Enjoy. 

Nick