A few thoughts on my favorite podcast about making comics.
I enjoy listening to podcasts, so I’m starting a new feature called Podcast Spotlight where I’ll be sharing my favorite podcasts.
Process Party is a podcast hosted by two comic creators, Zach Soto and Mike Dawson, about making comics. Each episode typically starts with Zach and Mike talking about what they’ve been working on (the jibba-jabba segment) and then they interview a comic creator. There have been over 70 episodes as of writing this, with new episodes releasing weekly.
After a bit of a break between projects to focus on developing my skills, I’ve started Lunar Space Colony in earnest. I decided that I’m going to publish the project online in weekly episodes as vertical comics instead of print sized pages. Printing my last project was a good learning experience, but I want to instead focus on accessibility and publishing regular chunks of the comic.
Also, with this change, I started drawing digitally. When I started making comics last September, I set out to focus on using traditional tools because it seemed like a nice way to take a break from the computer. After taking some time to think about it, the power and ergonomic implications of digital started to really appeal to me. I don’t have space for a drafting table or a setup that would serve me best for traditional art. But I do have enough space for a tablet. I’m going to write more about this switch soon.
After taking some time to get used to drawing digitally, I began Lunar Space Colony by designing the characters.
Bri is the main character of the story.
I’ve heard so much about the benefits of meditation over the years, but I’ve never given it an honest try until now. I’m grateful I did. I’m going to do my best to continue to do it.
I haven’t had too much to share lately because I’ve been studying drawing and comics. But this week I started working in earnest on my next project, Lunar Space Colony, and I’ll be sharing concept art and details soon.
My key takeaways from Scott McCloud’s landmark work
In the months since finishing reading Drawing Words & Writing Pictures, I’ve been making my way through Scott McCloud’s trilogy of books on comics. I started with Understanding Comics, which is the first and probably most popular in the trilogy.
Continue reading “What I’ve Been Studying: Understanding Comics”
Sketches, doodles, and illustrations from the last three months
Every three months I’m going to put together a collection of my favorite drawings, doodles, and illustrations. Here’s what I’ve got for the first quarter of the year. (Wow, I can’t believe it’s already April!)
Everything I learned making my first comic
Two weeks ago I published my first multi-page comic, Terminal. It took me three months to make it, and I’m proud of what I’ve made. I’ve been reflecting upon the project since finishing it, so I thought I’d share my process and what I learned.
An atmospheric sci-fi minicomic
I finished Terminal, the comic I’ve been working on the last three months. Read the entire comic below:
I just finished inking Terminal tonight, and I’m so happy with how the process has gone. All that’s left is to scan the last three pages and then add screentone. Above is a panel from one of the pages I inked tonight.
I’m hoping to have the comic ready to share online within the next two weeks!
The best resource I’ve found for people wanting to make comics.
In January and February, I spent most of my free time going through the book Drawing Words & Writing Pictures to learn how to make comics. I stumbled across it at the bookstore while looking for books on illustration and comics. I decided to give it a try, and to my pleasant surprise, the book has been fantastic.
Continue reading “What I’ve Been Studying: Drawing Words & Writing Pictures”
Sharing the first page and some information about my first multi-page comic.
Here’s the first page from the comic project that I’ve been working on. It’s called Terminal, and I started it at the beginning of the year. I started with the script and then created the thumbnails. Since then I’ve been working on the full-size pages. It’ll be 9 pages long, and I’ve got 4 of the pages drawn and inked. I’ve begun the process of editing the pages and adding screentone in Clip Studio Paint.
It’s my first multi-page comic, and I’ve truly been enjoying the process of making it. I’ve learned a ton, and I’ll be sure to share that once the project is done. I’m hoping to finish Terminal by the end of March. I’ll upload it here and other places online to read for free once it’s done. I’m interested in printing a few copies for friends and family, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there!
