The next step has been taken. I spent a little bit of this latest paycheck to purchase an 18"x18" drawing board complete with handsome carrying case (for smuggling into work) as well as a tablet of 18"x12" drawing paper.
Some miscalculations lead to not enough area to draw on, but this is still progress. There is a clipboard clip on the drawing board which cuts down on the work space by just enough to make the paper hang off the end. *shrugs* I guess I just won't use that side of it =] It also looks like I misplaced my long straightedge and I will have to get another that measures at least 18".
Almost bought a $200.00 "L" shaped desk complete with hutch (that part that has the shelves and cabinets behind/above the desk). Would have saved $128.00 +/-. Thought better of it. Would have loved to have the additional workspace at home for drawing. But it's just not in my budget.
Priced some Wacom Cintiq Tablet Monitors... even refurbished they run over $1k... just another dream I guess. Maybe someday I will work for a company that uses them.
A sudden realisation that all my clothing possessed holes prompted some emergency clothes shopping. Holes filled, so to speak.
Venge design board nearing completion. A slight hiatus onset by unexpected sickness (not supplied by my girlfriend, by the way) caused delays in its completion. Here is a quick scan plus mods of my current progress. I am having some personal questions about coloration for this latest design.
Since my Graphic Novel with consist of only 1 color, I have to take extra care in where I use that color. The story will be told in shades of black/white/grey and red. Had this idea since before Sin City so no duping there. Venge's 'costume' will consist of only black and white. The current idea is for white hair, mask, gloves, boots, and elbow and knee pads. The chest, upper arms/legs will be black along with certain detail areas (fingers, toe of boots, and the 'dots' located on the mask, gloves, boots, and pads). I am not yet sure if I want the straps to be black to blend in or white to stand out. I am sure that either direction I turn will be extreme. They will totally blend in or totally stand out.
Now that I have made this scan I can slop some 'ink' on it with Photoshop and see which I like better. I do apologise about the lack of scanned detail. This is only and rough draft and it will get darker and have more defined lines before completion. Been pounding my mind's eye for colorization realisation.
Either way will make or break this design. If you are thinking of feedback, I would like you to consider these design elements that I have been working with and want to incorporate into the design.
1) Reaper - hooded robe, scythe, skull/skeleton
2) Fencer - fencing jacket, gloves, tight pants and shoes
3) Insane - straitjacket, buckles, straps
4) Balance - can't be all black/white, cannot have red, equal portions
While I was sick and did not have the motivation to draw (I really attempted, but just succeeded in staring at the page) I did do some reading about designing graphic novels/comics. In addition to the other book I mentioned in a previous blog entry, I also ordered a 3 volume set of the quintessential bible for the medium. Will Eisner's: Comics and Sequential Art, Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative, & Expressive Anatomy for Comics and Narrative. The man was a genius. So much so that they named an award after him. Every artist in the industry will list these as required reading. And, in as much as I have discovered, rightfully so.
I hope my next post will be a great unveiling of the finished product. We'll see what grabs my mind before then.
