Almost spring time.



Unlike the drawing I did today, which i did because it's very cold today, I'm happy. I feel like I'm moving forward, even if only slowly, and that I am, indeed, telling stories.

I did a wonderful page today.

My book is almost ready.

This just in:

I didn't want to create a post just for this, but it's well worth the read: Erik Larsen urging creators to create.

Search for the ARTIST.

other view of the same work.

Funny stuff I saw on the net. I feel like that sometimes, and I'm sure a lot of you also feel the same, so I thought I'd share.

So...

Do you want to see the first scripted pages of Casanova? It sure shows how Matt Fraction writes his comics. If you're interesting, click here.


I can't wait to see Ba drawing this thing.

Practice 6.



For a moment, I thought I was doing this little exercises for others to see what you have to attend to when doing a comic book. After I had fun with the first two ones, I realized that I was doing it for myself.

I'm the one practicing.

I'm the one learning.

You're just watching along the way as I go.

You should always practice. Even if you already have published work somewhere else, if you're not working on something that will make you use a specific kind of artistic muscle, this muscle will lose it's strength.

And the practice I'm doing is the only one we should never stop doing.

That's where the story is really told.

Practice 5.


I'm curious.

When and how did you decide to become what you are now?
When did you decide to become a doctor? A lawyer? A publisher?

Where were you, and what were you doing, when you realized that was the path you should follow?

Practice 4.



There's no easy way to comics. No matter how you get into comics, you'll always have to work hard. Even if you suck at it, you'll have to do it day in, day out, more days than you would want, more hours than you'd like.

Only working hard you'll get anywhere.

You'll fuck up a lot.

That's the only way you'll learn.


artwork by Fabio Moon.

One day late. Remember the mistakes of the past so you don't repeat them in the future.

Practice 3.


I wonder if this could be a trend and if it could spread. A also wonder if, this way, some artists who have no idea of what storytelling means will finally see the light.

I wonder if most people who dream of becoming comic book artists realize it's not a day in the park, it's a life sentence of never ending hard work.

Beaten.

artwork by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba.

Fight the laziness. You might get a little bruised along the way, but it's worth it.

You'll see. With your good eye, at least.

Ouch.

Practice 2.


I should play more often with letters and sound effects. They can also be very graphic if used right.

Practice.


I've been thinking of doing something like this for a long time, and every time someone starting out complains to me that they only "write" comics and so they can't really show their work, I remember this idea.

Expect more of this soon.

The new wave.

sketchy artwork by Fabio Moon.

I'm doing this illustration about surf. I tried the "comic book approach", but it did not work. They want a single image with all the moves. You know, from the distance. Front view. Tiny little surfers on a big chunk of blue.

Boring.

Not so boring is the super hero script I just finished reading. Quite the opposite. Expect more on that soon, as I start working on these characters.

And, to continue our regular broadcast of reviews, click here for the latest one about Smoke and Guns.