In this entry, I will cover some background information and what I hope to accomplish with this series of art and blogs.
Go to YouTube to watch the video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2jhXZlsOz0
This log (not a blog XD) will be a account of my current projects in illustration. While finishing the comic, Edme, I began thinking about what my next move would be. I have decided to use traditional illustration in my next projects. I want to develop a style and practice methods with a few particular goals in mind: Save the energy of the pencil line, become more familiar with more coloring mediums, get away from technology. I’m also really excited about storytelling and want to keep drawing stories and a variety of characters. The coming logs will follow my journey of illustration and book making, and I’ll share everything I can about the process for those who might be interested in doing it for themselves.
Without further delay, the first log:
Why am I here, learning how to draw again?
Long story short, working on Edme, my 188 page comic, available now (click here!) XD, taught me a few things. For a while I was really hung up on the style of the comic. I was pulled between what I’m capable of, what I think it should be, and what I want it to be. I was committing myself to a very long process and was putting on myself a lot of pressure for the success of the book. I was going to put a lot of time into this book and because of the sacrifice of time needed, it needed to be done right. I put way too much pressure on myself in regards to the style.
What I‘m capable of
Edme was trouble from the start. I wanted it to be highly detailed. There are comics and art that I admire and I wanted it to be like those. Illustrators such as Gustave Doré and Albrecht Dürer were, and still are, particularly inspirational and motivational to me. Through the process of making the comic I have learned this style of illustration is not for me.
(Samples of Doré and Dürer below.)
In some of my art you can see me trying and exploring that style (below). For example, this early concept for Edme. They don’t touch the quality of Doré, but you get the idea (maybe (-_-;)).
(The Images above where all ink with pen on paper and (if colored) colored on the computer.
The original size of the inking being 11x14in. The first two images are concept art for Edme)
So I had to come up with a plan-B: Foregoing more detailed illustrations for something more simple, modern, and duplicateable. (I enjoy working in this style but not all the time and not for a 188 page comic).
What I think it should be
Unknowingly, I was trying to mimic what I thought an acceptable comic is. It was not natural for me to draw this way nor was it even any fun. It took a while for me to realize that I had unintentionally placed a condition on myself as to how the comic should look. These ideas naturally came from the input of the influences around me: social media, comic shops, other artists, everything. Eventually I learned I’m not interested in drawing these ways either. What a dumb and scary thing to be subconsciously steered by other people’s ideas. (not that anyone was forcing me) Now I know. I did the whole first issue in this way then after it was done and in my hands I realized this is not what I want. And admittedly the drawing was weak. What on earth was I thinking.
What I want it to be
So, then, I was left with the questions of “what do I want the comic to be?” I did not know. Years went by, I did other work and would struggle with my own on and off. But, this is how I found my current direction. Through a series of events, I was learning how really not much in life matters. I was set on things making sense and being a certain way. But, things can be many ways.
As long as the most important thing remains the most important thing (that is another story). But this though also applies to my art.
I had started drawing in my sketch book with pen. I found, the less I cared about the outcome of the sketch, the better it was. I learned to not care. I learned to let the lines be what they will be. Suddenly, I was having fun. I was excited about shapes, and I leaned into it. I thought, if nobody else likes Emde, that is fine. I am going to draw it the way I want to draw it.
I feel this is a break-through I should have had years ago, but what am I going to do about that? And so I had gone from this to that. The first the comic images are from some years ago and the next three are the final pages from the book.
More important then my drawing style or skill is my new mind set which is projecting these new projects and processes. Not much matter, draw carefree, you have more freedom and options then you know. Since then, and while finishing Edme, I have been thinking about how I want my art to be moving forward. In the next entry, I will reveal my experimentation’s!