Long time; it’s been eleven years since I last posted anything here. If you somehow made it here and are reading this, check out this space for more stuff coming soon. Life is good :)
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Too hard on myself...?
Okay--maybe I am being too hard on myself in regards to the inking. I'm kind of a perfectionist, I guess. I just watched some youtube videos on inking, and they were awful. I'm certainly better than those guys. I found a small wealth of micron pens, and I was using those last night. Maybe I need to go the route of a ink nib pens and/or brushes, opposed to technical pens. Get better line weights that way, anyway.
Guess I'll try it again tonight. Zoinks.
Guess I'll try it again tonight. Zoinks.
Another day...
Not feeling so great today. Last night was a disaster. I tried to ink for about an hour, but it was coming out horrible. I think I am biting off far more than I can chew.
I am a penciler. That is my strength. Unfortunately, I am not very strong at inking. I don't think I can wing it with rough layouts and finish with inking. I still want to give it a shot, but I think I will have to pretty much do full pencils before putting ink to paper, which will take more time. I guess I don't have to be a picky about erasing erroneous lines until after the inking is done, which will save some time, but still, this is a blow to the ego.
I just need to sit down, buckle down, and draw. Last night, I didn't get home until close to 8pm, because of my full time job obligations. Not really an excuse, but between eating dinner, spending time with family, showering, shaving, doing some chores, the art gets pushed way down the line; in this case, until past 10pm.
I wish I could afford to hire an inker to take over that responsibility, but with my making $60 per page, well, I am pretty sure my publisher won't be willing to pay someone else to ink it, so I'd have to hire someone on my own, and take money out of my own fee (which isn't really an option). So, I'm stuck with myself. I'll just have to accept that I'll have a few crappily inked pages to get through before I start to improve. (but man, it sure would make my life easier).
I also have to remember that ALL artists start with the same demoralization. As long as I keep with it, I'll improve. I mean, what did I expect? I literally took years off of drawing and art. I'm lucky I still remember how to hold a pencil, let alone someone willing to pay me to draw.
I have to have faith in the process. Keep drawing. Keep improving. The artwork doesn't have to be a Rembrant or Picasso; just get paid and move on.
I am a penciler. That is my strength. Unfortunately, I am not very strong at inking. I don't think I can wing it with rough layouts and finish with inking. I still want to give it a shot, but I think I will have to pretty much do full pencils before putting ink to paper, which will take more time. I guess I don't have to be a picky about erasing erroneous lines until after the inking is done, which will save some time, but still, this is a blow to the ego.
I just need to sit down, buckle down, and draw. Last night, I didn't get home until close to 8pm, because of my full time job obligations. Not really an excuse, but between eating dinner, spending time with family, showering, shaving, doing some chores, the art gets pushed way down the line; in this case, until past 10pm.
I wish I could afford to hire an inker to take over that responsibility, but with my making $60 per page, well, I am pretty sure my publisher won't be willing to pay someone else to ink it, so I'd have to hire someone on my own, and take money out of my own fee (which isn't really an option). So, I'm stuck with myself. I'll just have to accept that I'll have a few crappily inked pages to get through before I start to improve. (but man, it sure would make my life easier).
I also have to remember that ALL artists start with the same demoralization. As long as I keep with it, I'll improve. I mean, what did I expect? I literally took years off of drawing and art. I'm lucky I still remember how to hold a pencil, let alone someone willing to pay me to draw.
I have to have faith in the process. Keep drawing. Keep improving. The artwork doesn't have to be a Rembrant or Picasso; just get paid and move on.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Time Commitments
I haven't gotten nearly as much done with the artwork as I wanted, unfortunately. It's tough. Hopefully what I am experiencing now is just growing pains to get used to drawing and commiting to the artwork for a set number of hours per week. Hopefully.
I've laid out the first page, which is a "splash" panel, meaning it is one giant frame. I am doing it to introduce the reader to the environment that the story takes place in. Lots of different levels, lots of perspective in play. It's not an easy page to draw. I don't have a light table, so I am pretty much forced to either keep the vanishing points on the 11x17 sheet of paper I am drawing on, or tape pieces of paper to the sides of the artboard, and get my vanishing points that way. It's crazy. One of my vanishing points is so far off the page that I needed to tape together three sheets of paper to the artboard, and also tape together two rulers, so I could even reach the vanishing point. Sheesh.
I am also having some anxiety with the inking. It makes sense to make rough layouts with no real detail to them, and just get those details laid down in the inking stage. Otherwise, I am essentially drawing the same page twice. I am not nearly as confident in my inks, so it's tough to get myself to sit down and do it. I'll get it done, but let's just say I am happy that the deadline for this book is months away. I have inked before, and more or less understand the bare fundamentals, but still, haven't done it too often.
It's funny. I look at other artists as examples of what is possible. For example, I know Todd McFarlane, back when he was drawing Spider-Man, has stated that his layouts were essentially just blobs, to show roughly where the people are standing. He does all of his details and drawing with ink. Am I stupid to think that if he can do it, then so can I? Besides, if I am trying to get faster, I need to take shortcuts. This seems like a good way to save a couple hours.
My time went okay, over the 3-day weekend. I took Friday night off to spend some time with my wife, but Saturday I drew for a good 4-5 hours. That's okay. But, again, I did spend some time pacing the house to get over some mild anxiety with the art, but overall, I did at least, as I stated above, get the layout done for the first page. Sunday was tough to get anything done, which was mostly my fault; I could have done more in the morning. In the afternoon, we were pretty much gone all day at my Father-in-law's place, and didn't get home until close to 9pm, as I recall. Monday we went to a SF Giants game, so no work got done at all. Hopefully, tonight will fare better.
I've adjusted my time frames a little bit. I think so as long as I can get 60 pages of art done between now and November, I'd be pretty happy. I plan to use the money I make from this gig to help pay down some debt before my baby is born. If I get more done, great, but 60 pages would bring in enough money to make our lives a lot easier come the end of November. Also, I'll still be able to meet my publisher's plan to get the comics in stores in January, and still have at least another issue in the bin ready to go (and hopefully another one close to being done, as well).
I'll let you know how tonight goes. Hopefully, I'll get some inking done.
I've laid out the first page, which is a "splash" panel, meaning it is one giant frame. I am doing it to introduce the reader to the environment that the story takes place in. Lots of different levels, lots of perspective in play. It's not an easy page to draw. I don't have a light table, so I am pretty much forced to either keep the vanishing points on the 11x17 sheet of paper I am drawing on, or tape pieces of paper to the sides of the artboard, and get my vanishing points that way. It's crazy. One of my vanishing points is so far off the page that I needed to tape together three sheets of paper to the artboard, and also tape together two rulers, so I could even reach the vanishing point. Sheesh.
I am also having some anxiety with the inking. It makes sense to make rough layouts with no real detail to them, and just get those details laid down in the inking stage. Otherwise, I am essentially drawing the same page twice. I am not nearly as confident in my inks, so it's tough to get myself to sit down and do it. I'll get it done, but let's just say I am happy that the deadline for this book is months away. I have inked before, and more or less understand the bare fundamentals, but still, haven't done it too often.
It's funny. I look at other artists as examples of what is possible. For example, I know Todd McFarlane, back when he was drawing Spider-Man, has stated that his layouts were essentially just blobs, to show roughly where the people are standing. He does all of his details and drawing with ink. Am I stupid to think that if he can do it, then so can I? Besides, if I am trying to get faster, I need to take shortcuts. This seems like a good way to save a couple hours.
My time went okay, over the 3-day weekend. I took Friday night off to spend some time with my wife, but Saturday I drew for a good 4-5 hours. That's okay. But, again, I did spend some time pacing the house to get over some mild anxiety with the art, but overall, I did at least, as I stated above, get the layout done for the first page. Sunday was tough to get anything done, which was mostly my fault; I could have done more in the morning. In the afternoon, we were pretty much gone all day at my Father-in-law's place, and didn't get home until close to 9pm, as I recall. Monday we went to a SF Giants game, so no work got done at all. Hopefully, tonight will fare better.
I've adjusted my time frames a little bit. I think so as long as I can get 60 pages of art done between now and November, I'd be pretty happy. I plan to use the money I make from this gig to help pay down some debt before my baby is born. If I get more done, great, but 60 pages would bring in enough money to make our lives a lot easier come the end of November. Also, I'll still be able to meet my publisher's plan to get the comics in stores in January, and still have at least another issue in the bin ready to go (and hopefully another one close to being done, as well).
I'll let you know how tonight goes. Hopefully, I'll get some inking done.
Friday, July 1, 2011
DC's New 52
DC Comics announced last month that, this Fall, they will be relaunching their entire line of comics books; there will be 52 new titles (they love the whole 52 thing), each starting with issue # 1. A collector's dream. A great jumping on point for new readers. But, alternatively, a great jumping OFF point for current buyers. It's funny, that I think more new people who haven't purchased a comic book in ten years will likely be the majority, but the faithful that have been buying for those said ten years will quite possibly jump off the wagon and move on. Funny.
Comic book collectors, or the popular term "Fanboys" or "Fangirls", just love to complain about comic books. In fact, I heard of a major protest, picket line and all, happening this year at the San Diego Comic Convention, protesting DC's relaunching event. Again, funny.
I have always been a huge fan of comics. But, I've evolved somewhat, I guess. I've always been more of a fan of the creator's, the artists and writers, than the characters represented therein. Now that I am actually involved in creating a comic book, and seemingly, I really hope, a new "comic book" universe, I am no longer a fan, per se, but an actual pro working in the industry. Which, possiblily, if all goes well, could lead to future work with the larger comic book publishers (Marvel or DC). Maybe I am being very naive, but I've always kind of known, hey, if SOMEONE gives me a shot at creating a comic, I will not let them down, and the train will keep on going. The momentum will likely not stop, so as long as I have work to produce.
Anyway, my point. My point of all the above goobley gook, DC and Marvel have always been in direct, somewhat fierce competetion with each other. There have been times when they've done books together, and collaborated, but lately, it's gotten to be a little more cutthroat (in my opinion). DC is making a huge push to be the premier comic book company, and outdistance Marvel. And, it could quite possibily happen.
DC is also making a huge push for digitial distribution. And for the first time ever in the industry, they will be offering brand new issues for digital sale through their website on the same day as the actual comic book at stores. So, if digital sales begin to improve, and especially if digital sales begin to overtake those of the comic book stores themselves, this could lead to just 100% digital distribution, and comic book stores will be left with 1/2 their sales just gone.
DC recently made another comment about how those that do not have comic book stores near them, or can't get to them for one reason or another to get their weekly fix of new comics, can simply log on to their website and buy the digital copy. Now, I think comic book stores RELY on people to drive through bad weather, 20 miles, after work to buy their comics. If these stores, again, relied on those that live within 5 miles of their store as their sole customers, again, they would close. Man, what a fragile industry.
So where does that leave the small publishers? Image, Dark Horse, Boom, IDW, they pretty much follow in the dust trails of Marvel and DC, because without the "big two", there would be no comic book stores. If DC or Marvel suddenly decided to either go 100% digital with their output, or stop publishing altogether, then the other publishers would have to follow suit, because comic book stores would cease to exist. They could not stay open. From a business standpoint, well, the comic book store owners must have a TREMENDOUS amount of faith in Marvel and DC, to stand by them and make sure they are taken care of. I just have my doubts that they will stand by them, especially since the larger parent owned corporations have taken a notice of comic books since Hollywood has invested in the brand and characters.
I just think, in the 21st century, business will not take care of it's own anymore. A little cynical, I know, but with a pretty bad economy, and with most businesses just trying to survive, can they afford to be nice to a smaller sub-industry, and give them what they want? Maybe it's always been that way. I don't know. I've only been a working adult for 7 years or so. I don't know.
I say this because Marvel and DC are the ONLY reason comic book stores still exist in America. I believe it is only a matter of time before either one stops publishing comic books, and goes digital.
So, small publishers would have to either close down, or also go 100% digital. Comic book newstands at your 7-Elevens and Safeway and AMPs are gone the way of the dinosaur. Sure, some are still around, but the vast, vast majority do not carry a comic book rack. So, you certainly can't rely on selling your products in those outlets.
I think I successfully lost complete track of what my point was. Let's just call all of that venting, and be done with it.
:)
Maybe my point is that the comic book industry is very fragile. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few years.
Comic book collectors, or the popular term "Fanboys" or "Fangirls", just love to complain about comic books. In fact, I heard of a major protest, picket line and all, happening this year at the San Diego Comic Convention, protesting DC's relaunching event. Again, funny.
I have always been a huge fan of comics. But, I've evolved somewhat, I guess. I've always been more of a fan of the creator's, the artists and writers, than the characters represented therein. Now that I am actually involved in creating a comic book, and seemingly, I really hope, a new "comic book" universe, I am no longer a fan, per se, but an actual pro working in the industry. Which, possiblily, if all goes well, could lead to future work with the larger comic book publishers (Marvel or DC). Maybe I am being very naive, but I've always kind of known, hey, if SOMEONE gives me a shot at creating a comic, I will not let them down, and the train will keep on going. The momentum will likely not stop, so as long as I have work to produce.
Anyway, my point. My point of all the above goobley gook, DC and Marvel have always been in direct, somewhat fierce competetion with each other. There have been times when they've done books together, and collaborated, but lately, it's gotten to be a little more cutthroat (in my opinion). DC is making a huge push to be the premier comic book company, and outdistance Marvel. And, it could quite possibily happen.
DC is also making a huge push for digitial distribution. And for the first time ever in the industry, they will be offering brand new issues for digital sale through their website on the same day as the actual comic book at stores. So, if digital sales begin to improve, and especially if digital sales begin to overtake those of the comic book stores themselves, this could lead to just 100% digital distribution, and comic book stores will be left with 1/2 their sales just gone.
DC recently made another comment about how those that do not have comic book stores near them, or can't get to them for one reason or another to get their weekly fix of new comics, can simply log on to their website and buy the digital copy. Now, I think comic book stores RELY on people to drive through bad weather, 20 miles, after work to buy their comics. If these stores, again, relied on those that live within 5 miles of their store as their sole customers, again, they would close. Man, what a fragile industry.
So where does that leave the small publishers? Image, Dark Horse, Boom, IDW, they pretty much follow in the dust trails of Marvel and DC, because without the "big two", there would be no comic book stores. If DC or Marvel suddenly decided to either go 100% digital with their output, or stop publishing altogether, then the other publishers would have to follow suit, because comic book stores would cease to exist. They could not stay open. From a business standpoint, well, the comic book store owners must have a TREMENDOUS amount of faith in Marvel and DC, to stand by them and make sure they are taken care of. I just have my doubts that they will stand by them, especially since the larger parent owned corporations have taken a notice of comic books since Hollywood has invested in the brand and characters.
I just think, in the 21st century, business will not take care of it's own anymore. A little cynical, I know, but with a pretty bad economy, and with most businesses just trying to survive, can they afford to be nice to a smaller sub-industry, and give them what they want? Maybe it's always been that way. I don't know. I've only been a working adult for 7 years or so. I don't know.
I say this because Marvel and DC are the ONLY reason comic book stores still exist in America. I believe it is only a matter of time before either one stops publishing comic books, and goes digital.
So, small publishers would have to either close down, or also go 100% digital. Comic book newstands at your 7-Elevens and Safeway and AMPs are gone the way of the dinosaur. Sure, some are still around, but the vast, vast majority do not carry a comic book rack. So, you certainly can't rely on selling your products in those outlets.
I think I successfully lost complete track of what my point was. Let's just call all of that venting, and be done with it.
:)
Maybe my point is that the comic book industry is very fragile. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few years.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The Direct Market of 2011
Warren Ellis recently wrote on his website and interesting snipet about the current status of the direct market of comic books (ie: sales through comic book stores):
"For as long as I’ve known him, Dan Didio has believed the key to a resurgent DC is reclaiming all the readers the commercial medium lost in the 90s… It’s all about accessing that hypothetical lost fan base. The impression the recent statements have left is Dan saying “comics used to sell loads back then, let’s do that again.” And that can’t happen in print.Comics used to sell loads back then, yes. But a big part of that — and this is the part he isn’t mentioning — is that there were ten thousand comics shops back then. And now there are, optimistically and rounding up, about two thousand. There simply aren’t the number of outlets left to sell the kind of volume comics could shift in the 90s.
The gamble here is this: that hypothetical lost fan base is older, has credit cards and disposable income, and an internet connection that can bring the DC Comics section of a notional comics store right to their desks. That, in fact, digital comics services will do the work of those eight thousand stores that don’t exist anymore."
It's a shame, but true. Comic book sales are very limited to the number of comic book outlets actually open to sell your merchandise. The 1990s were a comic book boom, because, well, as you read above, there were 5x more stores actually open, so, theoretically, that would mean 5x more sales.
Interesting to see where the comic book industry will be in 10 years.
"For as long as I’ve known him, Dan Didio has believed the key to a resurgent DC is reclaiming all the readers the commercial medium lost in the 90s… It’s all about accessing that hypothetical lost fan base. The impression the recent statements have left is Dan saying “comics used to sell loads back then, let’s do that again.” And that can’t happen in print.Comics used to sell loads back then, yes. But a big part of that — and this is the part he isn’t mentioning — is that there were ten thousand comics shops back then. And now there are, optimistically and rounding up, about two thousand. There simply aren’t the number of outlets left to sell the kind of volume comics could shift in the 90s.
The gamble here is this: that hypothetical lost fan base is older, has credit cards and disposable income, and an internet connection that can bring the DC Comics section of a notional comics store right to their desks. That, in fact, digital comics services will do the work of those eight thousand stores that don’t exist anymore."
It's a shame, but true. Comic book sales are very limited to the number of comic book outlets actually open to sell your merchandise. The 1990s were a comic book boom, because, well, as you read above, there were 5x more stores actually open, so, theoretically, that would mean 5x more sales.
Interesting to see where the comic book industry will be in 10 years.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Script is approved
So my publisher approved the script I've written for him. Which means, time to tackle the art.
The first issue comes out in January, but I'd like to have at least three issues done by then. As I write this, it is around the end of June, so I have about 6 months. Theoretically, that should be plenty of time. More than plenty of time. But, again, I don't do this full time. I can't afford to do it full time. My time is limited until after I get home from my "real" job, and to the weekends.
I won't repeat what I've said in other posts on my blog, but time management is going to be incredibly important. I've got to impose deadlines on myself, otherwise, I can see it taking one month just to get a few pages done. And if that is the case, well, I just hope I can sort through it and make it work.
So, tonight, I figure I'll sort through my art supplies, and see what I need to buy. The timing of all this is actually good, because I've a three-day weekend with July 4th coming up; I can spend some time getting back in the swing of doing art in a timely manner, opposed to drawing for five minutes and walking around to take a break. lol I tend to have anxiety issues when I draw, so I find it hard to concentrate. It's like trying to push an ocean through a cocktail straw sometimes. But, need to do it. It will be challenging on a personal level.
I just have to keep reminding myself, Jack Kirby could do it, Jack Kirby could do it.
And we're off.
The first issue comes out in January, but I'd like to have at least three issues done by then. As I write this, it is around the end of June, so I have about 6 months. Theoretically, that should be plenty of time. More than plenty of time. But, again, I don't do this full time. I can't afford to do it full time. My time is limited until after I get home from my "real" job, and to the weekends.
I won't repeat what I've said in other posts on my blog, but time management is going to be incredibly important. I've got to impose deadlines on myself, otherwise, I can see it taking one month just to get a few pages done. And if that is the case, well, I just hope I can sort through it and make it work.
So, tonight, I figure I'll sort through my art supplies, and see what I need to buy. The timing of all this is actually good, because I've a three-day weekend with July 4th coming up; I can spend some time getting back in the swing of doing art in a timely manner, opposed to drawing for five minutes and walking around to take a break. lol I tend to have anxiety issues when I draw, so I find it hard to concentrate. It's like trying to push an ocean through a cocktail straw sometimes. But, need to do it. It will be challenging on a personal level.
I just have to keep reminding myself, Jack Kirby could do it, Jack Kirby could do it.
And we're off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)