Evolution of a Page

I don’t script my book out in the traditional sense of the the word. Generally I do a rough page layout + script combo. This is generally illegible to anyone other than myself. This is really the only way I have found that I can write with any type of quality. I thought that I was completely useless as a writter because of this. However, I heard that both Paul Pope AND Jeff Smith write in this manner, so I feel better about myself now.

Page Rough – Done in a crappy sketchbook, usually 2 to a page.

Pencil – Done on regular Bristol Board 11×17 with a 2H pencil.

Ink – I use regular India Ink with a #2 Round Brush almost exclusively.

For me, Inking is the most tedious part but it is also the step that adds the real soul of the page. There is just something about lines from a brush that you can’t get with any type of pen. Brush strokes are dynamic, organic, and alive. From beginning to end this page took me somewhere around 9 hours to draw. I am still a little slow.

Black

Whoever said showing up is 90% of success never tried to make comics.

I have been thinking about the story for ‘Black’ for about the last two years. I even tried to start drawing it a few times. However nothing materialized. Partially because I didn’t have the skills, but also because I didn’t have a definite goal of when I would finish, I didn’t have a fully fleshed out story, and I didn’t have the discipline that it takes to make comics.

On June 21, 2008 I am going to have my pitch (the first 20-22 pages) for ‘Black’ finished. I am going to Heroes Con in Charlotte, North Carolina and I will tell as many editors, publishers, writers, and artists in the comic industry about my comic, and why it matters.

This blog is the chronicle of my adventure. I hope you enjoy, and I look forward to your feedback, advice , and criticisms. Thanks