Captain America

So I have been busy but not productive. I feel like I have a pretty firm grasp on Manga Studio for inking now. I have been working on a previz method that has produced some interesting results. I was drawing right on top of the renders from zbrush but I soon got tired of it. I know a lot of artists are doing this method but it is just too rigid for me. The results look fantastic but I kept questioning the validity of the lines I was making. Was this a line that I decided to make or was the 3d mesh making that decision. My proportions were all predetermined based on the base model. The happy medium I have come to is doing previz in 3d, printing it out to size and using it as a reference for the final art. This way I can be looser with my penciling and still have the safety net of the previz to lightbox if something proves too difficult to just freehand in (for example a tank with treads ripping apart all in perfect perspective. I can light box that and not feel guilty).

I have been writing my next book. I am really excited about this book. I have an interesting distribution plan and a really solid marketing plan for it. I think its the best thing I've ever written. Megan is hard at work on the next HWID. I handed over all writing duties to her so I can focus on the new project.

Expect a lot of updating in the next few months. I have broke free of the slump and have been putting together some cool things that I cant wait to show. In the meantime enjoy this pinup of ol' Captain America posing all deliberately. 

Still alive....

Sorry for the absence. I have been super swamped with shows and with real life (non-comic book related) things. I have been making work. Just nothing terribly impressive. Here is why- I have been learning Manga Studio EX 4 in order to ink my pages digitally. This is an early page I did. I have a whole bunch of reasons that I have made the switch back to digital for interior pages. Most of these reasons include the increased speed and flexibility that digital provides.

Manga Studio is great and the perspective rulers are amazing. This program has really challenged how I think about laying out my pages. Things that worked before are not working now. My little cheats don't work the way they used to. This is a good thing though since it pushes me to get better. I am working on all sorts of problems and finding dynamic new solutions. I am really excited about this.

HWID will have a new color edition out for Wizard Chicago. I am also working on an unrelated webcomic project that I want to launch as soon as possible. The new project is going to have some of the sci-fi and fantasy elements of The Carriers but will be grounded in a reality that is much closer to our reality. I don't want to get too far into it until I have some finished pages to show but I am super pumped about it.

What I am working on this week...

So one of the things that stood out to me at C2E2 was how important color is to my work. Not for me personally. I could care less if it was black and white or full color. The story and the line art are the most important to me. But seeing people pass over HWID because it was a black and white comic just broke my heart. So I am going back into HWID #1 and coloring the first 14 pages and adding a 6 page backup called The Big Scoop. The Big Scoop is a supporting narrative for HWID it offers a glimpse of what's happening outside the safe zone. That's all I feel comfortable saying right now. Anywho...here is a crop from HWID #1 (THE GLORIOUS COLOR EDITION)-

The second issue of HWID is in production as well. I am working with my lovely and talented wife Megan Bandt again and the second issue allows us to see more of Quinney Williamson and how she arrived at the safe zone.

little late night sketching and process design

Right now I am trying to push the color schemes in my work. To do this I have started to use a color underpainting in my digital work. I really should have gone to bed two hours ago but I really wanted to run this test.

Ms. Marvel Commission

I got a last second commission at C2E2 that had to be finished up at home. Its this girl as Ms. Marvel (Marvel). Watercolor and Noodlers ink.

C2E2- a crazy weekend

Favorite moment- Hearing someone say (in front of red carpet backdrop) "I'm Tara Reid!" while pulling his shirt down. Oh yeah that was me...

So much fun. So many people to thank for kindness and support. Andrew Pepoy is the nicest guy in the world! Thanks goes out to Franchesco, Chris Mitten, Dirk Manning, Z. M. Thomas (and his smoking hot wife), Jill Thompson, Samantha LaFountaine (thanks for the hand written thank you note! you're too kind!), Mark Taylor, Greg and Fake, Jon Lennon, Ed Lee (and his brother) and anyone I missed! I feel really bad about not getting to enough people to pick up their work. I only gave myself a 30 minute run around on Sunday and I didn't pick up a quarter of the stuff I wanted to get.

Last but not least- the fans who took a chance on HWID, Zurg, The Carriers, Gross Grandpa, and Steve Schnauzer. I know how many times I have picked up a self published book and been disappointed. I know that every time I buy something weird or obscure that it is a gamble so the fact that you guys gave us a chance means a ton to us. We hope we defied your expectations and that you stick with us. See you at Summit City Con May 12th in Fort Wayne, INDIANA. New books will be out soon. I have some commissions to wrap up after the show then on to HWID #2 (full color! Fully Painted!). Here is a Wonder Woman painting that I wrapped up today. I just wanted to see how it would look if I drew her. That's all.
Hit me up on Facebook and Twitter; I want to hear what you thought of the new books we put out.

this weekend

All the cool kids know about this....

So many cool things are going to be coming out in time for C2e2 this year.

Jake Rueth put together an amazing book called Zurg. Basically it is Alice in Wonderland if Wonderland existed inside an off brand Mp3 player. I can't stress this enough- IT IS AWESOME. Check out Jake and Zurg at our booth L16 at C2e2!

Also cool news-

Josh Filer has a short story in Jon M. Lennon's book Product of Society #5 called Moon Shits. If you know Josh's work then I shouldn't really have to describe it. If you don't know Josh's work... What the heck is wrong with you?

Josh just wrapped up Gross Grandpa #2 and is on a mad dash to get it printed in time for me to bring copies to C2E2. He wont be there because for some reason he thinks that being there for the birth of his first born son is more important. But don't fret... I will be there selling his offensive materials as if they were my own.

Links-

http://cheeselordcomics.com/

http://cubecrazy2.com/blog/

http://joshfiler.blogspot.com/

Watercolor warm up and figure drawing

HWID #1 preview 5pgs

Zero's Heroes

Hey everybody! Just wanted to show some work I did for www.newhavencomics.com . I was working on a new coloring style that I actually really like. I am working on combining more traditional medium into my work. Here I used Yarka watercolor http://www.enasco.com/product/9711245 on a separate piece of bristol after finishing the inks. This served as an underpainting for the final pages. In the future I will be making two changes. 1. More digital work to flesh out the work (for cover work that means more digital painting ala The Carrier; interiors will need more layers of flat colors to break up space). 2. I am going to use these watercolor pencils that I got from my brother for Christmas. I always thought watercolor pencils were crap, but these are actually really nice and do a good job on detail work.

life drawing

HWID COVER

This started as a sketch on board then scanned and cleaned up then printed back to the board watercolor then ink scanned again then digital painting on top. Wow busy day. Hopefully I can get the BLACK AND WHITE convention edition (signed and numbered) out in time for C2E2. A color edition will be available soon after through Graphicly.

Got a little demon girl...

Figure Drawing

Finally got back to figure drawing last night. I felt very rusty! But it was really nice to get back into the swing of it. I got the chance to see old friends and chat it up about what I am working on these days.

The Carriers and Steve the Schnauzer on Graphicly!

http://graphicly.com/cuddlefish-comics-collective

Hey everyone! I wanted to get the link out that my comics The Carriers and Steve the Schnauzer are now available for download on Graphicly. I am super pumped to see these books become available on a much larger scale.

The first issue of The Carriers is completely FREE. If you like that then check out the rest of the issues for a totally reasonable price. The print version costs $5 but the digital version is under $2!

This is a project that I have been working on in my spare time for over 3 years. Some of you have supported me the entire time and I am totally grateful. Please help me spread the word about these books being available for download.

Click here for a FREE COMIC--------------> http://graphicly.com/cuddlefish-comics-collective/carriers/1

A bit of a rant.

So I am in the early stages of production of my next book HWID (short for HOW WILL I DIE). I am about five pages into pencils and inks and I am finding that I have so much to learn! I see where my strengths and weaknesses are. One of the things that I have found that needs to change as I am working is my inking style. I am finding that the things that I like in other people's work are not things that I like in my own. I am moving away from digital painting for HWID to really push my drawing skills to the next level. I cant smudge out a bad line like I used to. Every line I put on the paper ends up in the final page.

I have been playing with a new inking style that is more angular and fractal. Elements of the fractalization can be seen in the last issue of The Carriers. As I am doing the inks on HWID I am noticing that using a brush for my lines and then also using the hard edge shapes can really clash. I started using just chisel tip nibs for the hard calligraphic lines that will do a better job of merging the two types of lines that I am using. The result has been eye opening. I haven't mastered it but by the end of HWID I should have it down pat. I find myself inking more playfully but also retaining the quality of the line that I am looking for.

The hard part of this change over has been the voice in the back of my head going- "That's not how Paul Pope would ink that line."

That voice is a pain in the ass to deal with. Hey voice... I am not Paul Pope! Paul Pope has enough people trying to draw like him!

Really hunkering down and keeping at this new technique has really quieted that voice down. I am starting to see that its an original voice that I am using now. The line doesn't seem like I am trying to be someone else. I would post some of the work I have been doing in this style but it's all been in my sketchbook and none of it is really all that impressive unless you know what you're looking for. I am going to wrap up the opening scene in HWID and really delve deep into the new approach for the rest of the book. I don't think that the change will be all that jarring from one page to the next.

Also a love letter to zip tone. I love zip tone. I love it a lot. A LOT. Your itty bitty dots make things seem way more detailed than they are and they cover up some of my screw ups. P. S. I love zip tones.

So if you suffered through that bit of literature then #1- You must be awesome. #2. You're probably wondering when I will post some new stuff up.

I will post two pages of HWID up in two weeks. These two pages will feature the new approach to inking. They will be in full color and lettered. Promise.

I'm working on things.... HWID

The Carriers #4 is donezo = Happy Birthday to me!

So yeah here is the last page of Volume 1 of The Carriers. This took forever to do! Not just this page but the entire book! I have learned so much though that it was all worth it. The next book will seem like a departure from The Carriers but in actuality it will just be introducing some of the changes to my style that I thought would be too jarring to implement in the middle of a book. These changes should help me go faster and push my art in the direction that seems most natural. HWID's plot is done and I am moving on to scripting. I really want to get the thing done for C2E2... Oh yeah hey! I got into C2E2! Yay me! Josh wont be able to attend this year but Gross Grandpa #2 should be ready in time. Jake will be boothing up with me. I get to get all jealous over all the girls he sells his art to. This guy kills at shows. He owes me a Carriers pin up too! I've been wanting one for like forever!

Carriers #4 goes to print this Friday! Steve Schnauzer should be back from the printers this week.

new page

Merry X-mas 2011

Merriment abounds. I am pretty much going to try and lay low today before making the trek to the northern woodlands of Pardeeville Wisconsin to see family. I will be hitting the interstate around 8am X-mas day. Should be good.

These were gifts for family members that I thought turned out alright. Yeah I am a cheapskate and make paintings rather than buy gifts. That's how I roll.

Ninth Gate Vogue and a crook of the neck

Hey-O

So I have been swamped with stuff for the holidays. Steve Schnauzer #1 print files are out! Just waiting for the books to show up at my doorstep. I have a bit of work to do on The Carriers and then I am done with that too.

The first image was done as a commission for a guy I work with. He really digs the movie The Ninth Gate. I was really into making the borders. I was totally aping Mark Buckingham's Fables borders! But it was a ton of fun.

I saw a picture a friend had uploaded to facebook. In the picture was a girl with her head tilted in just the strangest way. I was really facinated by the question of why she had crooked her neck this way. Did she think that was her best angle? Must have been since it facinated me so much that I put her in my sketchbook. I don't think that the sketch really gives the girl justice.

Also some Vogue models in my sketchbook.

Still got a few pages to go before the end of The Carriers.

I have just a few more pages to color up before the fourth and final issue of The Carriers goes to print. It feel really good to be walking away from these characters for a bit and into something new. I am planning on returning to them someday in some form or another. Until then I have to really step up for the next book. HWID will present drawing challenges that I haven't tackled in quite a long time. HWID will also be painted in an entirely new method (see post below). Lots of work to do!

I am not sure about this...

I am getting a lot of compliments on the watercolors lately (pats self on back 5x) and it has me wondering about doing original art for comics with watercolor. I love digital though and it took a lot of work to get to where I am with it. So maybe a mashing of the two might work for me. I am enjoying the results on the tests that I have done. It is kind of cool to have base colors to work with in the original scans. It also allows me to be more selective with where I want to spend my time fleshing out the painting. Final art will be a combo of sumi ink, watercolors and digital paint added in post. I know I am not the first one to work this way but it isn't about that. It is about finding a working process that works for me. This feels right to me.

Ignore the shitty test quality of this. Instead think about buying full color orignial art from me at the next show you see me at. Yeah... That would be cool.

watercolors etc.

So at MIX I picked up a nice set of Russian Watercolors that are the bees knees. I have been futzing around with them. Tell me what you think.

New page yo!

I have finished all the penciling and inking of The Carriers Vol. 1 (ending on chapter 4). The next two projects that I am working on have really got me pumped up! I have to put together a short story to go into a comic that I want ready for con season 2012. The short story will be put out as a convention exclusive and will feature all three Cuddlefish artists. It is in the early stages and I always underestimate the amount of time it will take to put something out. I do have the goal to get it done before February 2012. I will also be putting out a ton of Steve the Schnauzer over the next few months. I might have two Steve Books out in print by c2e2 2012. That is the goal at least.

New page of the Carriers!!!!

This page was a lot of fun to do. I skipped the value stage of the coloring and just went at it with straight color. Lots of fun stuff to paint on this page!

Let me know what you think!

Ah MIX and other things

So where to begin. Well I think I need to start at the begining of last week. I can't start to describe the week without acknowledging the passing of my amazing grandmother. Cancer is a really horrible thing and it was really hard to watch her go. The whole thing stirred up so many emotions and memories that I am pretty sure that I was walking around in a fog all week. Between Thursday (the wake) and Saturday (1am) I went without sleep. We buried my grandmother at noon on Friday and by 2pm I was on my way to Minneapolis for MIX (Minneapolis Indie Expo). We went to the Cloud Show at Pink Hobo first. I was really impressed with the work on the wall. It really made me want to get back into printmaking. Pink Hobo is a really beautiful place with all sorts of cool things on the wall.

Jake Reuth and I bounced off to get some Indian Food. It was delicious and spicy. After diner we headed back to Pink Hobo. There was an organized Drink and Draw event here. Not really knowing anyone, we decide to find a bar and put on our own little drink and draw. We found a little Irish Pub (fitting place to end the night at considering where the day started). We drank. We Drew. We Threw darts.

We got up early Saturday (6 hours of sleep for me) and headed down to the Soap Factory. We were greeted by the beautiful and incredibly nice/ hard working/ organized/ etc etc... Sarah Morean. We got to our table and set up. I hadn't brought much because I knew that this wouldn't be a show where I would do a lot of commissions or sell a lot of originals.

Andy Krueger bopped over and said hello. I kinda thought he was a crazy person at first. But then I realized who he was and I totally got why he was so excited. For Sarah and Andy this must have been pretty amazing to see this show come together. This was a total DIY show and it was really something to see it all come together.

Saturday was a fairly slow day for us. Hell it was slow for everyone. I realized I wouldn't make any money at this show so I should try and get around to as many people as I could and introduce myself (social awkwardness and all). It turned into a nice little networking show. Jake still was able to sell a bunch of prints to little girls that dug his colorful creatures. My stuff looks too much like the superhero stuff that the rest of these guys are rebeling against. I get it though. I don't read a ton of superhero stuff. I would much rather read an indie book that is hand stapled and hand printed.

We headed up to the Bulldog Bar and Grill and grabbed a bite to eat before heading to The MIX Mixer. It was sort of awkward again. Not really knowing people at this show really made things tough. Though I got to sit and hang out with Jake and get into some really deep geek talk.

Sunday was much the same as Saturday. But had a few really cool moments mixed in. I decided that I didn't care if I made a single sale. I made a point of going out into the show and finding new comics that would inspire me. I picked up a Paul Pope comic from the Adhouse guys. They could have taken all my money. They had the most amazing books I have ever seen. They all had this handmade feeling but on a mass production scale. The books all smell of soy ink and expensive paper. I could gush on and on... I picked up Britney Sabo's new book Those Who Travel Alone. This comic is short but awesome. B. Sabo is a real talent! I picked up Blammo #6 by Noah Van Sciver. I finally bought Pranas T. Naujokaitis Beard. He was awesome. It was weird because I don't know him personally but I felt like I knew him since I have been reading his Ink Dick comic all along. I suppose that is the downfall of having an autobio comic up on the web. Lastly, I picked up Lale Westvind's Hyperspeed to Nowhere. This book was my impulse buy. It was so good though in a crazy "I don't give a fuck" kind of way.

I was happy to meet a few publishers and some new friends. That is what I got out of MIX (and I found out what an Arnie Palmer was....sosoooooo goooood!).

I recuperated Monday... Accomplishing absolutely nothing. Tuesday was better.

Links

http://lalewestvind.blogspot.com/

http://www.bsabo.com/

http://nvansciver.wordpress.com/

http://www.adhousebooks.com/

http://ghostcarpress.com/

http://blogchickablogblog.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mplsindiexpo/6323568658/in/pool-1783867@N23