Charon Chapter One

I've spent most of my day today typesetting the first Charon Continuum chapter (Written by Dominic Archer and available to read online for free here) for viewing online and then re-editing it for the Kindle, when it eventually gets published on there.

My poster illustration from the post before is actually being used as the front cover. (Yay!)

I've actually really enjoyed working on the Charon Continuum, but I feel I might have to take a step back for a bit, because I feel like I haven't worked on my own projects in a while, through no fault but my own of course.

So far, in my sketchbooks I have three fully scripted out mini comics to draw up; further journal comics to do; as well as the main Graphic novel I'd like to finish scripting and then actually draw. So, yeah....a lot to be getting on with really.

Charon Poster

More Charon Work, this one's a Poster Design to use for Promotional purposes. For some reason the original jpeg I have keeps going funny colours when uploaded to blogspot, so I've had to use the low-res version from deviantart. 

Charon Continuum

It's been a bit of manic day again today. Been doing a fair bit of design work for the Charon Continuum Project, which I'm part off.

Generally, I've taken a bit of an Admin/Organisational role for the project, but the website needed a bit of work to look nicer and we're in need of some posters and postcards to hand out for recruitment.

First, I sorted out the Wordpress site; it looked a bit of a mess. A little bit confusing, and not very user friendly. I changed the theme sorted out some settings, then I made a new header (below) for it.

I tried to make the header a bit Sci-Fi but also kind of 'trendy' and simple. I think it came out nicely considering I only done it all quickly this morning.

Now I'm working on the postcards/flyers to hand out at conventions and events this year. I'm trying to get at least one design completely finished before the start of May, so we can get them printed to hand out at the Bristol Comic Expo on the 11th-12th of May.

I've worked about 10 thumbnails so far, still need to do a few more, but I'm happy enough with one of the designs to carry on with for now.

It's a fairly simple design, copying the format of a newspaper, displaying both the subject of the first short story of the project and also all the needed information for new recruits and readers. Here's a screenshot of it in progress.

Ctrl + Shameful

It's been a while since my last update, completely shameful on my part. Life has been pretty hectic recently. But hey, even the unemployed have errands to run.

Been thinking about improving my digital painting skills recently, as they are relatively nonexistent. I can colour flat comic-book styled works to an extent but actual digital painting is another thing.

I didn't just start painting on Photoshop, because frankly, it's such a massive subject, I didn't know where to start.

Thankfully, through searching for tutorials on Google, I came across Ctrl+Paint.

Ctrl+Paint is run by Matt Kohl, an experience concept artist. The site is a free resource for digital painting with extensive video library.

After only discovering it 3 days ago, I've already watched quite a few of the videos and I've found each video to be both in depth and easy to understand.

Along side some of the videos, exercise worksheets are given to help work through topics such as Brush Control and Blending, which is a fantastic idea and really helps with the learning process.

Below, I've worked through one of the Brush Control exercises, this is the first exercise I've completed from Ctrl+Paint, and the first time I've used the painterly technique in Photoshop. So bearing that in mind, I don't think my efforts have been too bad.

 

Brush Control Exercise.
The right of each pair is my practice of each given shape. 

Dino Love

Started a new comic today, its about Love and Dinosaurs. 

Above is the first page, I've left out the dialogue for now, to keep the story a bit of a mystery. 

Noticeboard.

Here's some of the illustrations I've made up using Photoshop, for the New Saints group's noticeboards. I've used the colours and some photographs from the groups website and blog, to help create almost a brand familiarity for the group.

Hopefully when all the text is sorted for boards, the illustrations will go nicely placed around the information and brighten it up a bit and look a bit more fun.

Chuffed.

I've had this lineart saved my computer for ages meaning to use it as colouring practice.  Finally got round to colouring it today, pretty chuffed with the result actually. 

I think the original lineart (Above) was by Ed Benes, if I'm wrong could someone let me know please. 

NOPE.

Pencil and Photoshop.

My continuing disagreement with inking using brushes.

Quick 10min drawing in my sketchbook, coloured on Photoshop.

Quick ten minute sketch using Faestock stock imagery from Deviantart. 

Another quick 10min sketch, this time drawn from stock by Jaymasee on DeviantArt

Broken Tech, Pencil Sketch

Unfortunately my printer has decided to break and as such I can no longer scan anything to enlarge it and ink it. I was planning of finishing this sketch today, inking and colouring it, however now I can't until the printer is fixed. So here's the pencil sketch any how.

New Draft pages.

Inked most of pages up, now just for adding colour. Decided to use a limited colour palette so you don't get too bogged down with colour and detail when you read it.

Here's two pages, when the comic is in printed form, they will read as a double page spread.

These are still only drafts, so they could end up changing and getting redone by the time I colour the rest of the pages.

Page 2 Teaser!

...also known as HALF THE FRIGGING PAGE, because I couldn't pick between which panel to use.

First Original Comic.

Taken some time recently and sat drawing and finalizing my Domestic Abuse comic from University  (Title still to be decided....any ideas?) 

Gotten a few pages drawn up, colouring them inbetween my searches for employment.  Two pages basically done.

Hope you enjoy the teaser above. 

Taking Chances

So I've recently just completed the commission for Inez Meerema's Book, Taking Chances, which you can read here.

I actually learnt a lot doing this commission, especially digital painting-wise; which I've never completely mastered. But I think you can tell by the background of this piece, I've come a long way.  Below I've included some of my work up to the final.

Hand inked and scanned in.

Digitally coloured on CS6 Photoshop. (Cleaned up left hand and knee later on in process)

Final image with digitally painted background, without text.

First Commission!

I got my first commission since leaving University the other week and I've been working on it recently.

The commission is for a front cover for a book called 'Taking Chances' by Inez Meerema.

I started off with some quick sketchy thumbnails based on a short blurb she sent me about the book (I believe it's on wattpad).

I emailed these thumbs back to Inez, giving her some detailed descriptions of what I was going to do with each cover idea. She came back to me with her opinion, deciding upon number 4 as both her favourite and most appropriate for the story.

With the cover she chose, I took a lot of influence from classic comicbook poses/covers - which you may be able to tell.

The last two days I been working and reworking the two main characters designs and poses, trying to find the right combination and balance. Thankfully I bought a new light box recently, I found it made redrawing a hell of a lot easier, don't know what |I would have done without it.

Also, even within those few days my anatomical drawing skills have improved quite a bit (With help from the ComicTools blog- Thank you!) Starting to get pretty chuffed with my improvement- I need to learn to draw everyday, even if I don't feel like it.

I've ended up with the below as the final draft sketch for the two main characters on the cover. Now just to wait for my new paintbrushes to get here and I can start inking this up, and then onto my favourite part - the colours!

Chloe Noonan Fan Art

Here's some Chloe Noonan  fan art I drew this afternoon.

For some reason I found it hilarious if at some point Chloe lost her staff and had to steal a Lollipop Lady's sign to fight off monsters. I forget why now, but it amused me.

Chloe Noonan is a series of small press comics by Marc Ellerby. You can find his tumblr here. You should read them. 

Armour

Hand drawn, scanned in and then coloured using Photoshop.

Drawn using stock imagery from Grinmir Stock. 

Busy, Busy, BUSY.

Had a bit of free time recently and I managed to get hold of a old Wolverine Graphic Novel by Claremont Miller in the library and decided to redraw Storm from one of the panels. Turned out quite nicely actually. Pretty chuffed with it, although I need to learn how to do backgrounds properly.  Thoughts? Improvements? 

Aqualetes

Just moved back in with my parents after finishing University; found I needed to have a clear out of a some of my old Graphic Design A-level work to free up some space. Came across my Aqualetes Swimming club branding work and I decided to update them all, in order to add some more work to my portfolio and build it up some more. The results above are my new versions. I think they came out a lot nicer than the originals, thankfully.