I can't think of anything good right now.

I thought I'd take the time to post a comic pages I did a last week.

Pigment Liner Pen Guide

Here's my collection of pigment liner pens.  It's a bit of an obsession.  I think they get a bad wrap from some artists, who poo poo them for not being hardcore enough (because drawing isn't hard enough?!?).  Not me.  I've tried using traditional nib pens, but I'm far too impatient to let things dry properly and I don't like cleaning-up after myself. I also like the freedom of being able to ink anywhere I go.

Here are my favorite brands and why I love them:

Staedtler Pigment Liner
The reason I love Staedtler is because they're cheap, everywhere, and pretty great.  I haven't tried the professional series, they tend to be more money then I'm willing to spend on pigment liners, but the regular Staedtler pens are great, they don't get runny, and if you leave then around for a few years they won't dry-up.  The only thing I don't like about these pens is that they will run if you use markers overtop.  All and all they make inking easier, faster, and are very reliable.

Copic Multiliner SP
If you can get these they're pretty sweet.  I like the SP liner over the regular pens because they're refillable.  They cost about $7-8 Canadian (I suppose American as well), and have an aluminum body.  If you treat them well they will last years.  Again, they're reliable, don't dry-out, and you can use markers overtop.  If your working on paper, virtually nothing will make them bleed.  I've had my set for years, and I've never broken a tip.  If I did brake a tip I also buy a replacement.  Furthermore, the BS tip brush is the best painterly brush I've ever used (even better then the Sakura Micron BR brush).  Not too shabby huh?

Sakura Micron
Here's the industry favorite.  Sakura microns are great.  Out of the three they have the best ink.  If you use microns with acid free paper you will have art the lasts a really REALLY long time.  Like the other two they never get runny, and like copic ink you can use markers overtop.  Furthermore, they're about half the price of the copic sp pens.  Whucha!  The only problem I've ever had with them ruining the tips.  If your not gentle you can push nibby bit back into the pen, making it impossible to write with.  Also, I recently found the Sakura Microperm pens, which as far as I can tell are the same as micron's but have different packaging.

So go get inking!

Happy new year : )

I always love the new year. It's such a good time to think about what you want, and make the changes you need to make that dream happen. This year, I've decided to finally push myself to do my own comic/graphic novel. I've started writing, drawing, and brainstorming. I don't think I've ever been quite so exited about my own projects before, so wish me luck.

I've really been thinking about story construction, and what I love most about my favorite stories. Virtually everyone's familiar with Campbell's work on the hero's quest, but the aspect I appreciate most is the transformation of the hero. Often what falls flat in a story is when the character doesn't really transform. The hero must make a sacrifice, make a change that will prove his or her worth as a hero.

Anyway, happy new years!!!!

arts arts arts! (27-41)

Time to update my sketches!!

Wow! Day 26 already?!? (20-26)

Yarrr Me Maties

More sketches.

100 Pictures in 100 Days

I've really been trying to work my portfolio the last few weeks, as well as some personal projects.  I have so much I want to get done!

How Time Does Fly

Holy crapola, I can't believe it's the end of October already.  I have a list of all the things I want to get done between now and December, and the list is looking incredibly long now.  Sheesh!

I spent the last few weeks poring myself into my portfolio.  I completed one new digital sketch and I started two more.  It took me more then 50h to complete but I'm glad it's done.  I really love spending long hours meticulously creating my images, but it can be hard to be objective when your exited about a picture you've created.  It's like my baby!  Alas, sometimes you just have to let it go and hope for the best.

Happy Halloween everyone out there!!

The Stuff Dance Parties Are For.

After pulling out a bunch of my abandoned work, I took a few of the illustrations with a lot of potential and decided to complete them.  I think some of them I may have abandoned because they were to difficult to finish, but I have a lot more experience now, so things that may have been an issue when I started drawing them, such as colour and perspective, are not issues now.  This one is pretty cool, I completed the face, now I just need to render the rest of the image.

I think the thing I have learned over the last few years is how to appreciate my art.  I'm a big time perfectionist, and virtually every time I finish a picture I'd disappointed with the results.  I tend to focus on all the little details and loose sight of what's really important.  Even if it's not exactly what you want, take pride in what you create.  Enjoy the creative process from start to finish, and don't loose sight of your vision.  The act of creating is more important then the final project!

My Thoughts on Unfinished Projects

I was listening to Chris Oatley's Podcast today.  It was episode # 49: Projects That Pitch & The Fine Art of Finishing.  ( www.chrisoatley.com ).  It was about being able to complete a project from start to finish.  While listening to the podcast, a long lost folder named "unsorted" magically appeared on my computer.  Of course, it just so happened contained a huge pile of unfinished projects and forgotten illustrations.  I think either the universe and/or my computer may be trying to tell me something...

I'm not always good at completing a projects.  I have learned a few tricks though.  These apply to art as well as a lot of other things, such as going to the gym on a regular basis.

1) Plan it from Start to Finish  
This is not always the most fun part.  Well, at least not for me.  If I'm super juiced about an art project the last thing I want to do is start making lists and deciding how many weeks/months I want to spend on something.  Screw getting my feet wet, I want to dive in head first.  Err, this never seems to work long term.  As soon as something goes wrong, I want to give-up, start fresh, and throw my work out the window.  No.  Make a list, plan how long you want to take, and work out the details of what you have to get done and when.  This may include a list on things you want to get done in a day/week/month/year.  Just make sure to be realistic.  Do expect to much out of yourself, especially if your just starting something big.  If you bite off more you can chew you'll never complete anything.  Don't hold yourself up to anyone else's standards.  Just do what you can, and plan well ahead of time.


2) Write a Journal
I think making a journal is a great idea for completing projects.  Write about your work.  Write about what you want to accomplish and what you hope to do with your project.  Writing a journal really helps me to stay focused.  If I start to fall off the wagon I re-read my entries about what I want want to accomplish, and the effort I've already put into it.  I love making journals.  They keep me focused.  I read in a book a while ago, I can't remember the name of the book for the life of me, that people who keep a journal of what they want to achieve are 80% more likely to be successful in achieving what is was they set out to accomplish.  I don't know if 80% is accurate, but it really does help.


3) Tell People About Your Project
Telling people about what you're doing keeps you accountable!  If you tell people your making a life sized smurf out cotton balls, you're more likely to complete it.  It will get you juiced about a project, and help you to complete it.  It really works.


Really truly we all just learn as we go along.  It's time to tie-up loose ends and finish what I've started.