Another many-character page, page 11 has just been completed! Only 7 pages to go in issue#1! (Well, plus 2 covers — one for issue #1 and one for issue #2, which appears at the end as a sneak preview). Not a lot to write on this one (I'll let the image do all the talking), so it's on to page 12!
Having completed page 9 yesterday early, I was able to get a great start on page 10, which, in turn, allowed me to complete it in just one day after releasing the last preview.
The great thing about doing comics digitally is the ability to change layouts easily without having to redraw a page. After looking at the original pencil drawing, I can decide to change the layout slightly, enlarging the figures in some, moving figures within a frame in another, as well as adjusting the frames themselves. This was one of those pages (I had also taken the time to "adjust" 4 other pages that I have yet to ink and paint.) I like the new layouts so much more. I take time to review each page's layout as a whole after everything is drawn. This allows me to make these adjustments for better flow or impact that is not always apparent when I am drawing each panel individually. And sometimes, after a few days, I may no longer like a layout exactly as it was, and can then make some adjustments to bring it to a higher level.
We're now at the halfway mark with the completion of page 9 for the new grOw/cOmic#6, "Milking the Plot"! I worked late last night to get this page finished, but was so tired at the end that I didn't have the strength to post it online (plus I had to run and make sure I didn't miss the next-to-last-ever episode of "Sons of Anarchy"!).
Nine pages to go, plus the cover to issue#1 (which is still undecided).
Better late than never. I actually finished this up yesterday, but forgot to post. Took a day off to celebrate the U.S. holiday Thanksgiving with family, but got right back to work on Friday. Another detailed page, this one took the bulk of two days to finish. I also took the time to "fine tune" a few items: adjusted the new word balloon style I am using in this series; and reworking the layout of four upcoming pages. Some were too crowded (7 panels) after following a sparse page of only (3 panels). Sometimes, both these layouts work, depending on the action. But this time, they didn't. I reworked the pages so that 1 panel was moved to the sparse page (making it 4), and the other had an extra one combined with another (leaving 5, including the 1 moved). In addition, I resized some of the action, making it larger. I love Photoshop for giving me the ability to do this, without having to redraw the page.
Enjoy the preview! Things are starting to take off now!
I just completed page 7 of issue 1, which was another page of a great amount of details — characters, faces, details, etc. The first part of the first issue has to introduce everyone, and allow them to set the plot on course. This requires the six characters to all interact and be in many panels together. The good part about having this many characters is having plenty of "expansion fodder" (wink, wink). So, all this extra work in the beginning is worth it. But, as you can see by this preview (which is the ink and paint version of one of the preview pencils from a few posts back), things are getting interesting quickly (it's only page 7 out of a series that will be over 100 pages).
Chugging along, late into the evening, I was able to complete page 6 of the new grOw/cOmic#6, "Milking the Plot", the (semi)sequel to "Milk Farm" (grOw/cOmic#1). This was a very busy page, like the last one, with many characters, faces, bodies, and specific camera angles that had to line-up with the rendered background. We are now at the one-third mark for the inking and paint! Whoot! I'm making very good progress!
Well, this last page took an extra day or more. A few "real life" projects also slowed the latest page's completion. As you can see by this small preview, this page was quite detailed and full of characters, which, of course, takes more time. Unfortunately, page 6 has some similar qualities, but luckily not quite as much. Enjoy the preview!
