grOw/cOmic#5, page 94 completed!

With another page done for the final issue of grOw/cOmic#5, we are one step closer the release of the issue that will end this series. Page 94 sees the series begin to wrap up as the explosive final issue comes to a close. Only 3 more pages to go!  Hang in there!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 93 completed!

Chip, chip, chip... and then even more chipping.  I worked extra late tonight because I wanted to make sure I finished page 93 today. It was a serious effort, as the page has quite a few panels and lots of special effects. I was a little skeptical that I would complete the page, but I did it! Only 4 more pages to go! Hang in there!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 92 completed!

By finishing page 92, I have now passed the 75% mark towards the completion of issue 5 of grOw/cOmic#5, "grOwing Appreciation"!  This was a very detailed page that pushed me into new areas of effects and coloring. I think it turned out great! With only half the day gone, I will now have the other half to get a good jump on the next page, which is also a very detailed one filled with lighting, effects, and special features. As for the preview, you will notice it is more vague than previous ones. This will continue as these last few pages are the end of the issue and the series. As I have done for previous issues, the final previews are less revealing so as not to give too much away.

You may have wondered at the speed I have been able to produce the last few pages. Though you can't see the full detail of each page (yet), I have been able to do much more in less time than usual, as well as put some more details with greater ease. How? Well, in talking to a friend who is also a graphic designer, I mentioned my goal of obtaining a Wacom Cintiq screen. He said, "Oh, yeah!  Those! Really cool. I picked one up a little while back." When my jaw dropped and I asked him why didn't he tell me before, he replied "You didn't ask." After some prodding, and him admitting that we didn't have any current jobs that required him to use it, he lent it to me to try. Needless to say, I did more than try, I USED! This thing is awesome! And, even better, my hand/wrist/arm fatigue is noticeably retreating! Hopefully, I can convince him to let me continue using it for my "current project that is on a strict deadline" (wink wink). After issue 5 is released, I will renew my efforts to complete my Cintiq Fundraiser so that I can purchase one of these beauties.

As for issue 5, due to the above, I think you may notice an uptick in the art!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 91 completed!

I worked extra long tonight to finish page 91 since I was sooo close to making it a one-day completion. And I did it!  Some panels took some experimenting on some new effects, and others were quite detailed. The big panel alone took about 3 hours from start to finish.  Only 6 pages to go, and the next page will pass the 75%-done mark.

grOw/cOmic#5, page 90 completed!

I really thought I would finish this page yesterday, but page 90 proved to be a bit more complicated than I originally thought. There was definitely a lot of detail and overlapping body parts which made shading and coloring slower with all the added masking and selecting. But it's a great page — fun and hot!  Chip, chip, chip — I am whittling away at the completion of the issue. Only 7 pages to go!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 89 completed!

I've been making great progress, finishing page 89 just one day after the last page. These are the last pages of the series, so the story is coming to a close; the images have been fun to draw, to say the least!  :P~  Only 8 more pages to go!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 88 completed!

I nearly had this page completed yesterday, but various delays (mostly "real life" work) slowed my down. I finished page 88 this afternoon, and hope to immediately begin the next page. Only 9 pages to go in this 22-page issue. The page progress map has been updated, so you can visually see the work done so far. Also note that future previews may begin to get more "vague", so as not to give away the ending of this issue (or, for that matter, the whole series). Enjoy the preview! I'm going to continue to stay cool in AC as the outside temps rise to 95°F with a heat index of 104°F (35°C/41°C).  Maybe it's just the "hotness" of this issue that's raising temps around here — ha ha!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 87 completed!

Well, I was hoping this would have been a 1-day turnaround since the last page, and thus, post this preview yesterday; but I was just barely able to complete page 87 by this afternoon. "Real life" work gave me a wallop yesterday, and half of today, so much so that I didn't think I would even get to this latest page at all today. But the problems finally cleared up, and I was able to get back to "grOw"! As we now step into the second half of the issue, we've past the hump and are now counting down.  10 pages to go...

grOw/cOmic#5, page 86 completed!

With the completion of page 86, we've hit the halfway mark for issue 5!  11 pages down, 11 to go!  While there are 4 more pages than usual in this issue, I won't have to make a cover for the next issue (that is usually shown in the back as a sneak preview) since this is the final chapter of this series. Enjoy the preview! 

Also... from Friday July 12, 10:00pm EST until about Saturday, July 13, 5:00am EST ( July 13, 2:00am–9:00am GMT), my website may be down as my host (Network Solutions) does some major server maintenance. If you are looking for some Friday night fun tonight by making a purchase, better do it soon!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 85 completed!

I was finally able to complete page 85 today, a page that turned out to be more detailed than I had originally thought. I had hoped to finish it and post a preview yesterday; but, alas, that was not to happen. What looked like straight forward panels turned into fairly extensive visuals with overlapping characters, clothing, backgrounds, and props.  Just 1 more page to the halfway mark!  Hang in there!

grOw/cOmic#5, page 84 completed!

I was so close, but I just couldn't quite finish page 84 last week on Friday. I was able to wrap up this one today, and am embarking on the beginning of the next page. 

With 9 out of 22 pages completed, we are well past the third-way mark and are quickly approaching the halfway mark! Whoot!  You can visually see the progress in this chart. 

grOw/cOmic#5, page 83 completed!

Well, I am certainly off to a great start of the second run of inking and painting of issue 5 of grOw/cOmic#5. With the completion of page 83 in a single day, I am hoping I can match a similar pace over the next 14 pages and release issue 5 as soon as possible. So, enjoy the first preview of the final run of previews for the last 15 pages of the series. The countdown begins...

grOw/cOmic#5, pencils completed!

It's been a while since my last update, but lots of things have been going on.

1)  Pencils for the last 15 pages of issue 5 (and, basically, of the whole series) were completed today!  Whoot!  Tomorrow begins the inking and painting of the final pages of "grOwing Appreciation".  I am, unfortunately, way further behind than I had anticipated (I was hoping for a release late June to early July). I hope, if things go just right, to have a released end of July.

2) The "Wacom Cintiq Fundraiser" is still being worked on, but I am getting close. I finally figured out the reward tier level structure. It will be a 2-tier structure in which rewards will be based on the amount you contribute, as well as how much everyone contributes as a whole. I will have a contribution mascot who will "grow" as contributions go up. She will sort of be like my old NaviGirls. However, what is even better, is that YOU will be able to determine the amount of growth and what kind.  Each dollar contributed will add growth to either breast, butt/hip, or height — and you can even mix and match.  More details to come.

Causes of the delay since my last post were a combination of creating many, many Poser "set ups" for the last 15 pages of issue 5, working on the Wacom Cintiq Fundraiser (and mascot), and general "RL" work. There are so many Poser-assisted panels in this issue due to the many dramatic camera angles, and more GTS to normal human size interactions. Maintaining proper proportions is key.

So get ready for a new stream of color previews over the next few weeks, leading up to the release of the final chapter in grOw/cOmic#5. I will focus on this issue more than the Fundraiser for now, to make sure there are less delays.