During our time off, several of you asked that we keep the community active by giving you a place to share what you’ve been working on, thinking about, struggling with, excited about… So here we go!
Leave a comment and share any of the above. Links to your work and blogs are welcome!
{ 137 comments… read them below or add one }
Well I officially launched my web comic this week! It’s going to be about 125 pages in length. The first seven pages are up now and are sort of a prologue at the moment. The basic mood of the comic is this. Imagine if Douglas Adams(Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) had written George Orwell’s 1984. It takes place after World War 3 where mankind is ruled by a despot known only by the name of…Tod. So check it out, if you like dark humor and scifi, I think you’ll dig it.
http://www.hyperbolicdystopia.com
You can also check out my blog here: http://www.barryjgardner.wordpress.com, or just click the link on the site.
Well I’m in between gigs at the moment so I’m trying to spur up some personal creativity.
While I usually practice drawing figures from martial arts movies or gymnastic sporting events from videos on my computer, lately I’ve been trying something new.
1) Re-Watching some of my favorite movie and sketch how they are edited. Not in the kind of “storyboard” way, but more like comic book panels, with longer or shorter panels used to indicate how much time is spent viewing a subject and figuring out how to “pace” the number of panels per page so that the “beat” is carried in that page.
2) For years I’ve been coming up with goofy character names with very little in the way of backstory. So I’ve just starting sketching faces to put with a name. Its been a hot-cold experience as some names just immediately inspire a particular image while others aren’t quite as fleshed out.
Checking in again… a little late, I suppose :/
Progress on “Icefall” is going fairly steady. Although I’ve not produced as much concept or teaser art as I’d hoped by this time, the script for Chapter 1 is now complete, it’s final edits done. I’d like to give a shoutout to fellow Wingerz Sly and RobinofLeyLines for being willing to look over the script in it’s earlier forms and giving me their honest opinions. The script wouldn’t be nearly as polished without you two – thank you.
I plan to start drawing the pages this weekend (I’ve found that working weeknights on a comic just after a full day of pushing a mop doesn’t work well – so weeknights will be more for practice and drawing whatever pops into my mind). To prepare myself for this, I undertook the 24 Hour Comic Day challenge this past Saturday. Since this was my first time tackling the challenge it was no surprise that I didn’t make the full 24 pages, but I had some fun trying. Plus, it gave me a much-needed confidence-booster and some crucial lessons that will help for the long haul (one such lesson is that my hands are not as young as they once were – ow! I’ll have to make wrist exercises a regular part of my routine from now on). You can view the pages I finished for the challenge on my tumblr site: http://andrewbcrisp.tumblr.com/post/34042810875/my-24-hour-comic-day-attempt-for-2012-so-i
And that’s my progress for the past month and a bit.
Hello, all! I’ve been meaning to reply to this post forever, but work seems to be taking over. We’re opening a new exhibit in two weeks (my second full exhibit to open in the six months I’ve worked here) and it’s been super inspiring! I work as a member of the floor staff (which means I work with the public, not in the creation of the exhibit), so I have a lot of time to use my sketchbook! Our new exhibit is about the birds of paradise, which means I’ve drawn a lot of very colorful birds. In college I never reached classes that dealt with color other than ceramic glazes, so coloring the birds is something a bit new to me, but I am getting used to it! My favorite is the king bird of paradise! It’s cute and beautiful at the same time! Does anyone have any useful websites or resources for learning about color? I have used various media, and I do not currently use digital media.
I’m now toying with structure a lot more in my drawings. I use a line “skeleton” and then add a scribble gesture drawing for size, shape, movement, and bulk. I’ve found that using gesture drawings helps me capture the three dimensionality of people and animals in a way that plain lines can’t for me. I also finally started playing with digital art! Hooray! Aviary got rid of their free online tools (grrr), but I downloaded the app “Layers” onto my iPod Touch and I really, really love using layers in my drawings. I also took up the idea of one of the Wingers and started practicing drawing facial expressions. I have a lot to learn, but I’m willing to learn!
Paper Wings and Face Off, the SyFy tv show, have helped me find out my focus — I am more or less designing characters. I draw all of the characters I write about, and sometimes meet my characters through drawing. I’ve decided to use the Face Off challenges to try my hand at character design, which has been pretty cool.
Other than that, my current writing project found its main theme (hooray!) and found a central conflict. Progress is slow, however, but that is fine, as I have some rewrites to do. Also, the new exhibit has given me a chance to do some research for my story. I’ve also drawn the main characters more than once.
Hope all has been well! Can’t wait to see what is yet to come for Paper Wings!
Well it’s been awhile since I posted on my progress. Like many struggling artists I have a day-job that consumes a good part of my day but it does pay the bills so eh. *shrugs* Recently had a local position at the town paper for Graphic Artist (which I do have a degree in) show up, so I’m in the running for that. *fingers crossed* In the meantime I am building up my website/portfolio so I have something I CAN point at since most guys want you to be online anymore. They didn’t mind my physical portfolio and what I do have online, but they wanted to see more, so I’m working on it. Other than that just chipping away at my webcomic idea for fun, building it up a bit before I go live with that. You never know what the future holds, so I want to have the ability to move forward regardless of the curve-balls thrown my way. I’ll post a link to my website when I feel it satisfactory enough to share.
Thanks for the encouragement guys and keep at it all of you, we all can do this even if it’s only one little step at a time.
I just discovered paperwings podcast the other day and had to join. What a great springboard for so many talented people out there. I’ve been working in the graphic art/illustration/animation field since the 80′s and finally felt it was time to start this story in my head. Technology has finally given the indie artist great tools to achieve their dreams easily and I can only imagine things are going to get better. Check out my webcomic, “Space Farmer” when you have the chance.
Hello everyone! Just crawled out from under a rock and discivered the Paper Wings project. Awesome stuff all around.
I’m one of THOSE aspiring creative types currently juggling a full-time job, fatherhood, a webcomic and another larger-scale personal project. My current mortal enemy is Father Time.
Started up a webcomic with a friend to get the creative gears turning – hoping to parlay this experience into motivation to get moving on my other personal project.
http://crosstowncomic.com
@giantplaidmonk
I’ve launched a Kickstarter that’s trying to play with the crowdfunding-vs-retail models. People… seem to like the idea so far!
It’s at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alexwilson/the-time-of-reflection or KICKALEX.com for a shortcut.
The big idea: for $3, backers get the comic, plus I’ll send an additional comic to an LCS (or other independently owned retail bookseller) of the backer’s choice. Includes shipping within the USA or to US Military bases overseas).
What do you think?
Ahoy World! I have finally posted the latest installment of my “Building an Epic!” tutorial series. It is about negative space and how to use it in awesome ways in your comic art and fantasy illustrations. Please let me know what you think and if you all are enjoying the information and the tutorial series as a whole!!!
Best be to ya!
Derrick “Captain Dutz” Utz
http://www.derrickutz.com
Thanks to you, I launched my web comic today called “Olivier Neptune and the Space Detectives” on http://micahnova.com/comics. I’ve found your helpful podcasts quite encouraging and began work earlier this year on this story for my son (who was just born 3 weeks ago). Hopefully I’ll have it completed by the time he’s old enough to read.
Thanks, Paper Wings!
Congrats on the launch, and congrats on the kid!
So glad I found this group!
Even more glad I have something to contribute! My new webcomic is officially now 24 hours old. It’s still a widdle baby, but I’ve been working on the story and illustrations for a year. Check it out at http://www.kevinzombie.com It follows the trials and tribulations of a teenage zombie who not only suffered the effects of the apocalyps but still has to attend high school.
Speaking of back to school, I want to wish a super huge bundle of luck to all the art majors out there, especially you madmen who are attempting a double major. Draw as much and as fast as you can and don’t think about the crippling debt you’re amassing. Dont forget how much you love it! @loraInnes LOVE that pic! It’s so very Klimt. I want a print.
I second the notion for a print!!! I actually have a friend that just called me today to inform me that he just made a big 24″ print of one of my new deck monster pieces ( the green/black monster ) to send to me so i am all for adding more art on the walls!
Great idea LucyE!!!
I am so two-thousand and late to this party.
I’m currently deep in study for a certain super-awesome class. So until then my webcomics are on hold. However in Oct I plan on releasing two or three new podcast interviews, as well as getting back into swing with live drawings, weekly comic updates and so on. I hate not having regular updates, but a lot of really important stuff is happening, so I’m looking to the future!
Ok Wingerz!!!!
If you jump over to my site I have posted some new art for you all to gawk at!!!!
I have a sketch dump post and a dedicated post for a new sketch series I started based off of inspirations from the Magic: The Gathering series! The series is titled “Deck Monsters Sketch Series!”
I had a blast making these and I hope you enjoy checking them out! I will try to have the new “Building an Epic” post up in the next two days or so!
Later!!!
http://www.derrickutz.com
What am I up to? — Not only did I get into my dream college (Savannah College of Art and Design), but I’m there right now! Because I did some clever planning, I’ll be double majoring in illustration and sequential art (if I’m lucky!) It’s really crazy right now, but I honestly feel like I’m living at Disney World right now. I’ve met a ton of people here who are trying to do the same things I am- there’s something that makes seuquential majors group together, and I’ve heard more than once that illustration majors are very ‘lively’ and animated.
Actually, right now I’m trying not to procrastinate (is it working?) on a computer applications project where I have to design a personal logo, and I’m using my autobiographical character. I’m roughing out design notes and poses and stuff, and having a ton of fun. Actually, it’s the same one from my contest post quite a while back, but more refined. I dare anyone to go back and try to find it. -_-.
Other than that, I’ve been getting together a student support blog, for people who have problems at SCAD, but aren’t comfortable with talking about it yet. I’ve been recommending several things: one is a healthy dose of My Little Pony episodes, and the other is a link to the PWP archives.
I’ve also decided to rebrand my internet image a bit- I was AngelBolt, but am now known as Overcaffeinated Sloth. Though that’s really more for remembrance, and for casual things. I’ve decided to officially take up the name J Styx for my artist name, because my full name is too long, and people tend to mispronounce it.
Hope you guys are all doing well- cause I am living the dream! (oh god that’s become the campus motto after this one orientation speech, and if you scream it at the right time of the day, you’ll hear applauding and stuff. I still think of this podcast whenever I hear it, though.
Ahoy J Styx!!!
I am very excited and proud of you for goig for gold at SCAD! That is actually a school i wanted to shoot for when i was younger but ended up at Dallas Art Institute instead later. Being at an art school will change your world. It was everything to me to know others were shooting for careers as creative people. I also knew i was in the right place when i was making the highest grades i had before. Kudos to you. I am now a professional graohic designer and still do design and illustration on the side for tons of things.
As for procrastination, i cant help u there buddy. i have the worst case with that at times because i end up burying projects by putting others on top till i have this living pile of work staring me down….whew, ’tis crazy! I love the rebranding stuff though. Your online prescence is vital and i have and do work a great deal on it because for many people, it may be the only “me” they meet. Ya’ gotta put your bet face forward…even if its made of bytes!
Thanks for the post and keep’em coming! We want to hear more about your classes as they move along.
best to ya!
I’ve heard nothing but good things about SCAD. Congratulations!
I recently launched a new blog, External Underpants, to house my writing about comics as well as some original comics work. Would love for people to check it out and let me know what they think!
http://externalunderpants.blogspot.com/
Here is a short comic, Deadlands, I did with artist Tom Travers–
http://externalunderpants.blogspot.com/2012/08/deadlands-comic-by-dan-phillips-and-tom_3.html
Here is the webcomic that I launched this month with writers Bryan Richmond and Joey Groah:
http://spacecorpscomic.com
We’re still trying to figure out how to make a go of the comics thing in the current landscape. I’ve really found the podcasts helpful as I begin to pursue a career in comics.
Thanks Lora and Chris!
New update, I’m halfway through painting the pages of my new picture book “Invizy & the Misfit Supers!” A friend arranged to have it distributed to nook, kindle, and ipad next month!
Ahoy! This is great Scott! Congrats!!
Once evrythibg blows over, maybe you can do a post here or on your site explaining the process to help get our books out too! I am still so new to the distrabution process so i would love it!
Keep up the awesome work!!
Good idea, Derrick. I will also be writing an extensive blog post documenting my process and discussing how writing my book was comparable to developing a short film (which I have also done, although my book is MUCH better!) including links to all the amazing resources I’ve found (PaperWings especially) – I think it will be a great resource for visual storytellers – be it comics, illustration, animation…
There will be a section on Distribution – because my friends at Startdoingbusiness.com have BLOW MY MIND on that front. Zach loves the paperwings and chrisoatley.com content I showed him and I think the future is bright for all of us!
Great news Scott! Good on you, I look forward seeing the results! Let us know when we can get a hold of your book!
I work at a smaller, but healthily growing software and game company as a concept artist/general art monkey by day and do my own stuff in evenings and weekends.
I’ve been making busy outlining and writing for a bigger comic project that I feel is none the less manageable since I’m confident I can dissect it into smaller chunks if need be since I’ve done a lot of two to ten pagers. Problems I’m running into are design related and a reluctance to start writing the actual script because I want a smooth way to get the reader up to speed on the premise. I really want to avoid obstructive infodumping.
Really dug all the storytelling articles and interviews.
Ahoy Wingerz!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sorry it has been so long since I posted progress for you all! Its been a little crazy on board but I will have more on that as the week progresses! I just wanted to jump on and let you all know that I have a quick post I made for the debut of my children’s/all ages book character, Kodi the Starfish on his blog!
This is showing photos of the first story and a few sections I helped with plus some original art that my customers purchased. I will soon do a special post showing some of the art and links to the other great contributors in the anthology.
I am working on the second short story for the space anthology #2 so I will let you all know how that is going.
Link: http://kodithestarfish.blogspot.com
Later this week:
I look to have probably 3 more posts by the end of the week; a sketch dump, a fun post about a new sketch series I am working on for myself and then the second post in the “Building An Epic” tutorial series. That next post is about negative space and how to plan/accommodate for it’s impact in your art.
My best to ya and I look forward to talking about all of these exciting things with you!
Take care,
Captain Dutz!
Good stuff Derrick! Personally, I look forward to seeing your sketch dump. I have a thing for scribbles, doodles and rough sketches. They can often convey so much and it can be hard to bring that spontaneity to a tightly rendered illustration!
Long live Kodi !
Talk soon!
Wouter
Ahoy Wouter!!
Sorry for the late response! Thanks! Yeah, i have a thing for sketches too. it is one of the few places you can really catch the remnants of how the artists was thinking before it is cleaned up. i will hopefully have more of these soon bit i look forward to finishing a few things before i go nuts in the sketchbook again. whan i do though, i think i will add in a new streatch of fantasy pieces that will include elves, dragons and ents (elemental creatures). Gunna be a blast!
Thank you for the Kodi excitement! I am getting back to working on it as my main project now and will have updates for it soon i hope.
you are awesome, all of you!!
Hey PWP! Congrats to Chris and Lora for all your success thus far.
Since you guys are going to be at CTN Expo this year, any chance there will be a Paperwings meet up or something? Who else is going??? If anyone wants to meet up, just look for the palest person in California and that’ll be me.
I’m a background painter on Disney’s Jake and the Neverland Pirates, you can find my stuff at my homepage by clicking on my name. And hit me up on my tumblr blog, http://www.modgnik.tumblr.com I’m currently writing and designing my first webcomic, and working on my portfolio for CTN EVERYYY DAYYYY
We’re trying to figure something out for the show. Yes, we’ll be at our table all weekend long and more than that, just keep your eyes here on the blog because we will be sure to let you know!
Hey chaps and chapessess!
I’ve been a PW lurker, and still working my way through all the podcasts, reading all your posts and comments, and trying to soak up all the helpfullness on this site.
Chris and Lora – hats off to your both for creating such a positive, friendly and resourceful site. Everyone else in the PW community, you make this mighty gathering a pleasure to be around (even if I do feel somewhat out of my depth!)
Keep up the good work guys, long may PaperWings continue to thrive!
Oatley Academy. Learning so much. SOOO Awesome!!!
mind is officially blown
I have been listening to the podcast for a few weeks now catching up on all of the wonderful content. I am a professional fine artist who has shown in galleries and museum internationally. Throughout my many years of study and activity within the “fine art” sector of the vast art world I never understood the self imposed segregation of artist. Fine art, commercial art – I think they are one in the same both are created by talent, both entertain, and both communicate.
So with that said I am attempting to find my place in both – it is all art after-all. But, as I have put all of my energies in the “fine art” world I do not know the internal workings of the “commercial art” social structure. You both have mentioned a circle of trust on many occasions, and how I can connect through this community, so I am throwing in my proverbial hat and introducing myself.
Please feel free to look at my work on my website and make comments.(www.hoopsnakegraphics.com).
Thank you for giving people a starting place.
Best Regards
I am so fargin’ late to the party. ARRRGHH.
How I’m spending my highly late summer vacation:
Just finished my first term of art school. I think it well. I learned a lot. Super excited for next term…
Just finished my Valkyrie Squadron book 3 (woot!) and the books should be ready to print in the next day or so. Super excited about that. (Why, yes I did do about half of VS 3 while I was in school. AAAGHHHH)
Had to put the VS site on a short break to recharge my batteries. Holy crap, doing a webcomic with two color pages a week on top of a full time school schedule, on top of freelance work, is really gruelling. Needed some time to breathe.
Finishing up the first chapter script for another comic I’m planning. Yeah, ANOTHER comic. However, this one might actually turn into a pitch and a publication rather than just another web comic. Or it may turn into nothing at all. We’ll see.
I just took a two week vacation to visit family. While I was out I filled up 12+ plages on a sketchbook. Something I haven’t done in a while. Luckily for an extensive buffer my comic kept on trucking and here I am back working on it. Looking to do a short comic in the future to sell for some much needed “Pay-the-bills” funds.
I have a tumblr where I complain and post fanart of things no one cares about but me. http:///kaileighblue.tumblr.com
I’m trying to transition my brain from playwright to novelist. It’s not easy. I blog about storytelling and learning how to write (stories in general, sometimes novels specifically).
At the same time, I’m trying to get back in the habit of drawing because I am SO out of practice. I’ve scheduled a block of time to do both each day of the week. We’ll see how it goes!
My blog is http://writelarawrite.wordpress.com, and I tweet about the writing process at @larathelark.
Good luck everyone on your endeavors!
Ahoy Lara!!!
Just a not to the “I’m trying to get back in the habit of drawing.” I recently picked up a great sketchbook at Wal Mart for $4. It has good quality paper, 80 sheets or so and is spiral bound. It is sooooooo easy to pull out and just drop a 10 min sketch in and I am actually working up a new short series of sketches in big part due to the fact that I have had it so readily available. I will post a link to it soon.
Keep on trucking and I look forward to learning from how you work between the differing approaches to writing. I still have so much to learn about this!
Thanks and see you soon!
Dutz!
Hey all,
I’ve been listening to the podcast for a long time but haven’t yet chimed in on the comments. Firstly, as with everyone else here, I find these resources extremely useful and inspiring, and it’s invigorating to see what everyone’s working on and not feel like I’m working in a vacuum!
I have a site called See Mike Draw (seemikedraw.com.au) and although it certainly doesn’t have the artistic merit of a lot of the work I’m seeing here, I do get some really positive feedback on it which keeps me going. I’m currently working on a series of expanded, more professionally rendered comics (1-2 pages each), which will hopefully become a themed book. If you do happen to visit the site, please forgive the first few which are particularly low brow!
Hello my name is Mark and I have been on the planet for quite a while but I am super new to comics! (I’m not an alien by the way, I’m just strangely literal and also very late to the comics party)
I have joined forces with my bff Tim to make a comic but we still have bunches to learn. Paper Wings has been invaluable for that! I started a blog about our journey into comics but as a disclaimer please note: We are silly and enjoy other silly people!
Please visit… If your silly! Or if you are working toward that goal. markwilhelm.blogspot.com
Awesome Mark! I am silly to the MAX so I will check it out soon! Welcome aboard!!!
I’m working like a man possessed at the moment so I can get my webcomic complete for the next couple of months! Life as come a knocking. It’s a shame really as I’ve had to stop doing commissions while I sort out jobs, somewhere to live and all the jazz. I’m new here, Paperwings started following us on Twitter so I figured I’d check ‘em out. Going to try and be a bit more active on here when I’ve got the internet again!
Okay, yikes. First time posting, now that I’ve caught up with all the amazing content here. It took me a while to realise the comments are half the site – I’m so used to tuning out comment on places like youtube. You guys are incredible, though! What a range of interesting projects, and what a great atmosphere. I’ll definitely have to get in the habit of participating. So, starting as I mean to go on…
- I’m currently working on my webcomic, Mythos. It’s something I’ve been building up to for years, and finally launched (the day I graduated) in July. It’s about mythology, folklore, gods and monsters, and so far it’s been much harder work than I anticipated. It’s also been unbelievably fulfilling, and I know now the sheer joy of making comics is something in the core of me.
- Right now I’m thinking about writing. Specifically, approaches to pacing a longform story at three pages a week. I loved Lora’s point about giving each individual page a satisfying development, and the tip about having a pivotal moment in the middle of an arc was really really helpful. I’m trying to come up with a writing schedule that balances improvisational writing (which feels more natural, but pushes up the pagecount), and heavily structured writing (which does a more efficient job of exposition, but loses a lot of character). Right now I plan full arcs down to the level of scenes, then fill in dialogue and action as I work on a set of three pages each week…but I keep caving to improvisation, and the story keeps getting longer.
- I’m struggling with self promotion. I get the impression a lot of youngish artists have trouble with this. I’m just not very comfortable selling myself, especially since I don’t have any formal art qualifications. It’s ridiculous when you think about it – it’s a free comic! Who wouldn’t want that? It’s not like I’m selling elephant insurance door-to-door. Yet advertising my work feels so much like cold soliciting, especially when I don’t have time to join many forums or communities. I just don’t know where to start.
- Finally, I’m excited about starting a weekly life drawing class this month! I’ve been to life classes before, but most of them in my area are prohibitively expensive, so it’s been a few years. I really miss it, and I’m massively stoked about going back. I’m reading up on Bridgeman and Hogarth before I go, to try and get the absolute most out of it.
WOW Rosa! This is great stuff! I have a few bits for each of your points and will jump on later to discuss. Just know that you are in the right place to start your journey of learning your craft of both the creation of a story/art/book and that of becoming yourself, a product.
This is literally where I began to do it just over a year ago and I have had over 3000(!) hits to my blog since I started it following the lessons I learned from the contest last year.
Kudos to you and don’t worry, we are all here learning and will back each other up along the way!
Take care and I will chime back into your comment here soon.
Cap’n!
Whoa, thanks for the response. PW really seems like an exciting hub of talent, I can’t wait to get to know all you regulars properly. I’m still picking through all the comments here and browsing over people’s projects, and already learning a whole lot.
Re. that first post, I just found out the life class is full and can’t take me, which is kind of a bummer, but nevermind. Back to sketchbooks in the park, I guess!
I have two projects at the moment; the first is a just-for-fun podcast with some friends of mine on MangaMagazine.net (latest episode here: http://screeentones.podbean.com/2012/08/29/promotions-advertising/ ), and I’m also working on the comic Shamrock over on MM as well (readable here: http://www.mangamagazine.net/manga-and-comics/Shamrock/detail-page/50?lang=en ). I’m super excited about both projects. :>
I am attempting to build a comic book making co-operative come on over to my facebookpage and check it out.
I currently draw for a webcomic, http://surrealscience.comicgenesis.com if anyone’s interested in taking a look. I usually post a shameless plug for it, but actually I’m more interested in sharing the intense workload kids, home, independently studying art & design, finishing my science degree via distance learning and drawing for the webcomic creates.
I’m looking forward to scraping some pennies together for short art courses run in my local area and I still have some work to do for a suprise opportunity that presented itself to do some illustration work for a book for charity. It unlikely I’ll get the gig, but you’ve got to try!
I’m finding Matt Kohr’s tutorials useful, especially his Unplugged series I’m following at the moment and he suggests the order you might want to do them in which, although its a small thing, takes a load off. So I’m working my way through that and a couple of books on composition and basic drawing skills.
Whoo, boy, I’ve been hard at work on a tabletop card game! Can’t reveal much just yet, hehe. As for personal work, I’m trying to get some submissions to themed books and gallery shows for October! Lots on mah plate.
Please have a look-see at my arty goings-on! -> laurenchaikin.com; laurenchaikin.tumblr.com
Ooooh! I love a good card game! I feel like Munckin is part of a balanced diet!
Have you ever listened to the games with Garfield podcast? Awesome stuff about designing board and card games! I have been working on a card game to coincide with my comic and they have some great tips that helped me a lot!
I’m late to the party as usual but this time I’ve got an excuse. Just back from a looong time away in rural Nova Scotia (we go there every year, almost) with hardly any internet at all. I’ve been spending the last 24 hours catching up on sleep, tweets and other modern day social networking things… So, in no particular order:
Congrats Chris!!! I was already away when sent the word out on the Oatley Academy but I still wish you all the best with it, as you would say: It’s AWESOME! and yes, you too are awesome!!!
Congrats Lora! You are obviously THE person to talk to when it comes to the Revolutionary War. It’s great to see you being involved with more and more projects, just goes to proves that following your passion and dreams is worthwhile and not only good for one’s sanity! Also, kudos on the video message, you and Chris are always so forthcoming and honest in everything you do, it’s just great. I hope that you will manage to find the time to post new podcasts in the future, they ARE a great help to all of us (talk about stating the obvious…), even on the other side of the Atlantic!
Last I’ll finish by not being completely off-subject and telling you about what I’m up to. As I said I just spent some time away with my family, it’s some we try to do every year and so far it’s forked out. So for a few weeks, we have no internet, no phone, no TV. We do have electricity and the kids can watch shows on the TV via an old iPod – we’re not that cruel – but basically it’s our opportunity to switch off a bit. I do take my work with me, and by that I mean my graphic novel work. This time however, I hardly touch my laptop and Intuos, I almost exclusively worked with paper and a fine liner and finished storyboarding volume 2 of Cpt Wayne. Actually I just finished an hour ago and I’m back home but technically I’m still on holiday so I achieved the goal I had set myself.
So there, now I’m back and I can take the time to yet again say how much you, Lora & Chris, and all you other wingers make a difference in my life as an aspiring comic artist. So, Thanks a bunch and see you soon!
Ahoy Wouter!!!!!
No worries mate!! I too am late in the game. I just havent been planning the greatest lately. I am at this moment working on special original sketch tip-in pieces that were sold with the first copies of my first anthology short story contribution to the “8 in Spaaaace” book. I sold 27 copies and about 18-20 of them paid extra for a sketch edition so I created a special template that I had printed on cardstock and now I am working up special original sketches for those people so they have a piece of art to keep with the book or frame for their kids that received the book.
Having alot of fun and it is giving me the opportunity to do something I have needed to badly do; just draw more Kodi stuff. I have been very bad about working on getting to know him more illustratively so this has supplied the perfect opportunity.
I have neat stuff to share and may wait until next weeks window and do a cool post here but I will also have a super post on my blog too.
I am glad to see you check in and very glad you got time to get away with family. That is something that makes all of this more worth while!!
Best to ya!!!!
Hey Captain! Always good to hear from you and it’s great to hear ’8 in Spaaaace’ is doing well. I’m still working on an idea for a short that could fit in one of your endeavours but the short format proves to be quite a challenge as most of my energy and focus is directed to Volume 2 of Cpt Wayne which looks as though it will be the exact same format as Vol. 1 – must be how my brain works at the moment, dunno.
The time away was great because I could just leave my day job behind and solely focus on my family, time off AND my comic! My schedule wasn’t as rigorous as usual but I managed to get loads done and meet my target!
Can’t wait to see what you have to share with the WIngerzzzzz!
Take care!
Hey everyone! I just found this site, this site is great, I think I will be sticking around this site.
I do a comic called Buffet of Lies. (http://buffetoflies.com/) I started it a year and a half ago, as a place to post dumb comics about nothing, but it has gradually evolved into a place where I post LONG dumb comics, about something.
I HOPE YOU LIKE IT
Well I’ve been at band camp at college for the last week, so I’ve had almost no time. xD So currently my plans are just to get ready for classes to start school and then see where I am for art production during school.
I am HOPING to keep a page-every-two-weeks schedule on Everdusk, which I know is terribly slow but I seriously doubt I can handle any more than that.
One of my friends suggested maybe posting WIPs in between updates just to tide people over, and I kind of like that idea (since that’ll also keep me going even when school seems overwhelming). What are other people’s thoughts?
Thanks for subscribing on my site, Annamarie. Your post has inspired me on the subject of my next newsletter – something like “The Secrets to Retaining Your Education”. I think you are wise to take such a slow pace on Everdusk – it shows you know yourself well and that you have made a plan to stay on for the long hall. As for the updates, I really like how Lora gives you a preview of ONE panel when you vote for her comic. It helps to leverage her product and at the same time wets our palates.
I’m honored, Scott! Can’t wait to see that newsletter from you!
And yes, despite the many roadbumps I’ve hit, I’ve actually kind of impressed myself with my own determination to stick with Everdusk. I think I can owe a lot of that to the slow pace I’ve forced on myself–even when I came up with the idea four years ago and was very excited about it, I made myself really work on the story, characters, and world-building before I touched a single comic or script page. That steadiness has definitely helped me stick with Everdusk when other stories and projects I’ve attempted in the past have fallen by the wayside because I lost focus or motivation.
I really like that idea as well! I’ve used previews as vote incentives on TWC in the past, so I think I’ll continue to do so, perhaps even with colors or several panels occasionally. Thanks, Scott!
Woh. That is a really great drawing Lora. I think kissing is really hard to draw convincingly.
I’ve been finishing up Chapter 3 of “Hominids” and prepping for Chapter 4.
All the while, I’ve also been looking at successful Kickstarters and figuring out what really is working for them.
This one was funding in less then a day and it’s right up your guys alley. It’s all about making comics, how to’s, and what not.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bravecadet/i-draw-comics-sketchbook-and-reference-guide?ref=live
Miss the show and can’t wait for it to come back.
Oh my gosh! That book looks really awesome. I may have to consider pledging it to get a pre-order.
Thanks for the great link, Jordan!
Looking at successful Kickstarters is a good idea, too, since so many of us have started relying on it for indie projects.
Hey guys… never posted before on the site proper, but I thought this might be a good time. I’ve recently started work on my first serious comic project, but am still in the planning stages. Paper Wings has been a great help!
Welcome to the site, Ashley. I think you’ll find these are good people to bounce ideas off of. Good luck with the comic!
Awesome to see you posting, Ashley! This is a great community, so if you need any help on your comic, feel free to ask around!
I’m in the same boat and (and joining this community by way of this reply because…) finding this podcast helpful too.
It’s been a while since I’ve been active in “THE COMMUNITY.” By that, I mean the world of the comics online. Back in the good ol’ days I had my own piece of internet real estate and had a moderate bit of success on the news and reviews side of things. Now I return but to sit on the other side.
I’m a bit farther along on the planning stages of what I’m up to. Art is actually happening, which, after seventeen years of developing this story, is like seeing my child born into the world. Yeah, yeah, overly dramatic but I think people around here will “get” me.
Anyway, I’ve started listening to the PW podcasts and it’s been educational. I fully intend to stick around and learn more.
~A
I really love the site. It has been inspirational. I wish I had found it before I started on my comic, but oh well, it’s never too late to improve. Here is a link to my Kickstarter if anyone is interested. The comic is about a young girl who is forced to choose sides in an Arab-Spring-type uprising in future China.
Art is by the incredible Carlos Gomez
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/884592321/black-lotus-empire-issue-1
Wow.
Haha, what Scott said: Wow. That looks awesome. Good luck on your Kickstarter!
Hi! I’ve been listening to the Paper Wings podcast and rarely posted on the comments. Thank you for this podcast! It’s been very helpful and encouraging!
I’m currently in college and studying graphic design but my main passion is drawing comics. My first published work was penciling a comic for a comic book anthology called Womanthology.
My current project is a web comic that’s still in the early stages of development and illustrating a children’s book.
Hi! I’ve been listening to the Paper Wings podcast and earely posted on the comments. Thank you for this podcast! It’s been very helpful and encouraging!
I’m currently in college and studying graphic design but my main passion is drawing comics.
My current project is a web comic that’s still in the early stages of development and illustrating a children’s book.
Sorry for the double post. ^_^;
Holy WOW!
That drawing is GORGEOUS, Lora!
I promise to never make fun of you on the show again if you’ll teach me to draw like that. And I’ll even throw in three months of instigation-free public communication!
I will cut your lawn for the summer and repave your driveway if you teach me to draw like that! XD
Just launched ScottWiser.com, complete with an article on surviving vs thriving and the announcement of my upcoming comic/picturebook Misfit Supers. In the meantime, I’m still working to break back into the animation industry.
Now subscribed!
Thanks Tegan! Now the pressure is on
I’ve got to pump out some great content!
Subscribed! I’m looking forward to tons of awesome stuff from you, Scott!
Nice reel, Scott! As soon as I saw the quality of the acting I thought, “I bet Scott was a student at Animation Mentor!” Can’t wait to see Misfit Supers. It looks fun!
I’m *slowly* making progress on my first comic attempt, Bluewillow. I’m planning to complete all 8 pages (it’s a prologue to a bigger story, actually) and then post it online as a whole, so there’s nothing to see yet, unfortunately. I’ve got a pretty solid script, and I’ve penciled the pages. That’s it so far. Paper Wings has been a GREAT resource for me throughout this whole process.
I’m probably taking WAY too long to do this, but since I’m learning as I go, maybe it’s a good thing. It’s a bit scary, because none of my family or close friends are comics-literate. I don’t know if I’m doing it right. I guess I’ll find out when I finish…
Ahoy Rachel!!!
I am glad you are here and taking yer first stab at the world o’ comics!! Dont stress too much about taking too long, just concentrate on doing it right. speed comes later. this is something that Chris and Lora have talked about before and i too am dealing with this issues too and i have probably been at this a bit oonger than you. currently i am making the switch to digital and that is very rough on me and my mental time clock so i am being rough on it too.
here is a suggestion. do not wait till the end to know f you are doing it right. pst the pages to a hidden page on your site and link it to the community here. these members are amazing and can glance at your pages, without even know what your story is, and tell you if ideas are clear or visuale structures need attention. they have been a huge help for me and can do the same for you!!
Go Wingerz!!
Speaking as someone who’s made his own share of mistakes in comics, going slow is sometimes the only way. “Measure twice, cut once” applies to more than just carpentry!
Also, with regards to not having comic-savvy friends and family to help, I do believe that’s something this community can help with. I’ve reached out to one of the Wingerz for critiques on my script, and she was able to help me with problems I didn’t realize were there. So, as Captain Dutz said, there are people here who can help you too.
Hey guys, long time! Well I have just started studying at the Chris Oatley Academy so If you would like to follow my blog or facebook page, I am getting really excited about my future posts!
http://teganclancy.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tegan-Clancy/158126820919150
Hope everyone is as inspired as I am!
Those city sketches are unbelievable!
Thanks Lora, and it’s only from listening to you guys that I actually started sketching in marker again, so thanks!
I’m so glad to hear this! I already liked your work and I’m sure Chris is helping you take things to the next level. Keep it coming!
Gotta say, those cityscape sketches are beautiful!
Thank you for the motivation, I can’t wait to put what I am learning into practice!
Really nice Tegan. I’m blown away by your city sketches.
thanks Gannon! goodluck with your web comic!
Jeez, Lora. Your line work is killin’ me. Brush? Pen? Brushpen?
Wazzap, fellow Wingers! I don’t think I have to say “I hope everyone’s grinding away” because it’s evident that you’re all hauling arse on your projects. So. Much. Inspiration. Without further ado, I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, and let me drop a link to the progress of my comic that I’m bout’ to share: http://thegraffiteslive.blogspot.com/
I admit that the updates are few & far between, and focusing on progress over perfection has to be the most difficult hurtle for me personally. Needless to say, I’m doing my best to stay organized, focused and grounded in my journey. Does anyone happen to have an art monkey that I can train to attack me when I start veering?
art monkeys would be handy…. totally loved your art-site!
There’s a nice The Last Airbender feel to your characters!
You don’t need an art monkey, but I would say if it takes you forever to finish a page, save them up. I know it’s not as satisfying as posting right away, but you can put a whole chapter up at a time. This sustains a readers interest more than a page once a month, or more infrequently than that.
This method has worked very well for Daniel Lieske: http://www.wormworldsaga.com Granted, there’s a lot more to his success than just his update schedule, but I think the way he keeps his readers informed of his progress lets them know he’s working and the new chapter is coming!
Plus, when he *does* release the new chapter, it’s long and satisfying.
As for my drawing, I did that with Micron pens. Sizes 005, 01 and 05.
I struggle to keep up with my webcomic (www.doodze.com) at the best of times, and a page a week is about all I can handle right now. Currently coming off a summer break too. I’ve been wondering this too, of I’d be better off just saving them up and posting a chapter at a time. Of course leaning to work faster would help too…
Thanks for *drawing* that parallel, Lora! :B Daniel Lieske is such a powerhouse in my book, I automatically think nothing I do can equate to that level of thoroughness. Might be a subconscious thing I do when seeing such establishment. But your suggestion to releasing in those increments sounds like something I can actually do. Gotta open my eyes more to see these things! Thanks again!
I know for me it was useful to say “I don’t want perfect pages — I want perfect reliability.”
In other words, I set a monthly goal of finishing pages that was reasonable for my level at that time. And then I focused on meeting that page goal, not on getting the 100% perfect page.
That doesn’t mean you skimp on quality. It just means you forgive yourself for the little flaws that most people never see. It also becomes easier to measure progress, because you have finished product to look at at the end of the month.
Might be worth trying!
Monthly goals sound so good. I’ll definitely give that a shot! Thanks, Robin!
Hello! I just started listening to PaperWings not too long ago and this is my first time commenting
I just moved in to my first apartment and I’ll be starting art college next week! Yikes! I’m majoring in illustration. Wish me luck!
Best of luck!! Sounds like a lot of big and exciting changes are ahead of you! Go for it!!
Being equipped with the content on this blog before starting college is such a great start. Good luck, Andy!
Good luck, Andy! And welcome aboard.
Good luck! Welcome to the site!
I recently discovered paperwingspodacst, and I just want to say thank you to Lora, Chris, and the entire paperwingspodcast community for this amazing resource. It’s really been a fantastic source of inspiration for me, and I hope that I can be a member of the community as well. Currently, I am working on my own webcomic (The Cause). I have published a few pages, but I am on “hiatus” right now, redrawing pages 7-10 of my webcomic and working on the buffer for my newest chapter.
The Cause can be read at http://www.thecausecomic.com.
I welcome any response or critiques.
I haven’t had time to read it in depth, but that’s a great-looking comic, Larry! I really like your color work, and that sepia technique you use for the flashbacks. Very nice work.
Kevin, thanks a bunch. I really appreciate your comments (I get so few visitors/readers), and I have to admit that I get a little discouraged at times. Please stop by whenever you get the chance to read it a bit more.
I actually had a real pisser of a writing struggle that I was…uh, struggling with and was writing it out in painful detail to try and get some help from the Wingerz! However, in writing it out, a problem that me and the Mrs had talked about for *hours* this weekend, magically -fixed itself- while I was writing it out!
So in a roundabout way, thanks for all your help! XD
Haha … glad to have … helped?? Congrats on the breakthrough!
Just the act of writing out the whole problem caused me to think about the problem in a new way…and it was what I was looking for. If I wouldn’t have written it down, I don’t know that the answer would’ve came.
That commission piece is a stunner, Lora! You draw hair so beautifully — hair is such an important element in romance art, maybe THE most important.
One of my favorite superhero webcomics, Al Schroeder’s MINDMISTRESS, recently wrapped up, and I drew a pin-up to congratulate him on his ten-year run: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u313/JKCarrier/In%20Progress/sm_color.jpg
As for “struggles”…well, maybe not a struggle, but something that gave me pause. My style on GLORIANNA ( http://www.webcomicsnation.com/jkcarrier/glorianna ) is on the simple side, and lately I’ve gotten a few comments from colleagues that maybe it’s *too* simple and cartoony for the kind of adventure stories I’m doing (one guy said that he liked the story but he wished John Buscema could’ve drawn it. Well geez, me too!
). So now I’m wondering if I’m inadvertently undercutting my own drama…
Nice pin-up!
As for drawing too simply…it’s really if YOU like it or not. Mike Allered has a similar style and I think it’s fine. The thing about being too simple for your story, as it were, is you can always add more to it.
Thanks, Alan. I’ve gone through periods when I tried to do more textured inking, but I always back off and revert back to the graphic look. Maybe it’s time to play around again…
Thank you.
I’m the opposite. I keeping wanting to make my work more simple, but have to keep fighting the urge to add too many lines and details.
Lately my projects have been why I haven’t been around PW (or most of my online haunts)as much. Lots of time going elsewhere. Most of it I can’t show, sadly. Some of it’s for pitches and some for contract art assignments that won’t be posted for a few more months. That said, I’m mostly done with the work I can’t show, and am now working on clearing my commission backlog.
Bits and pieces from those projects, plus some commission work can be found on my blog in case anybody’s interested. http://jakeekiss.blogspot.com/
I’m excited because, after I clear my plate I’ll be diving back into my much neglected webcomic, and with a studio mate helping me on inking chores, I think I’ll actually be pretty productive over the next few months.
I love that shot of the wagon full of pigs, really well-drawn and even kind of sweet. Neil Kleid is a great writer, good luck with your pitch!
Thankya! I’m pretty happy with those pigs. I really got to enjoy drawing them. Thanks for the well wishes. I’m crossing my fingers!
I have started ramping up my next webcomic project and trying to decide on the format I want to tell it in. I am getting ready to start the second chapter of our Creephouse Comics book Never Send a Monster. I am knee deep in sketch card sets and am moving steadily along with Teenage Love Zombies which has just hit its half way point and two year anniversary. I have to start planning out what I want to do with it for Halloween and get ready for some upcoming show. No rest for the wicked
Hey Guys! The name is Matt!
I’ve been lurking the site for quite some time now (I’m an emigrant from Chris Oatley’s site.) and after some prodding by a podcast here, I decided to register a Gravatar to join in the fun. The people here are amazing and talented and I hope to learn from you guys and maybe contribute what I know about the craft.
I’m a visual storyteller myself, with a career change towards illustration, character design, comics and maybe storyboards. As long as it involves shaping a story, I’m there.
Right now, I’m building up a portfolio and sharpening my skills. In between that, I’m generally known for my Adventure Time fan-comics (http://illeity.deviantart.com/journal/Comic-Index-314022677), which focus on scenes that are only implied to occur outside the main episodes.
Welcome Matt. My first impression while looking at you work was your nice color choices. Good luck building your portfolio and let us know if you need an eye.
So many things, so much excitement!! The next four weeks are SO BUSY with so many GREAT THINGS that I’m going to have to time my head down to keep it from floating away!!
What I’m the MOST excited about are:
1. Volume Two Book Trailer! The best part is all the voice acting auditions I’m being sent for the project – so much energy and talent! Every time I listen to a track, I get giddy! Speaking of which, if you’re a voice actor that would like to lend your talents, auditions are open until September 15th! More on the scripts & roles here: http://leylinescomic.com/leylines-trailer/
2. Third Annual Original Character Tournament! A little under two weeks remain for auditions to Cory & my most recent Original Character Tournament: Project Hades. The setting?
Something is wrong with the Greek underworld — it’s sucking up souls that don’t belong there! When gods of Egyptian, Japanese, Norse, and Voodoo pantheons come to collect their dead, the ferryman disappears, trapping everyone inside! The displaced souls (ie, the contestants) are tasked with finding the Ferryman, but all the other gods have an ulterior motive or two as well, and they’re recruiting…Open to writers, illustrators, animators, radio hosts, etc. More info at: http://moko-oct.deviantart.com/
**For people that WANT to do a webcomic or webnovel, but aren’t sure if it’s really for them, I HIGHLY recommend joining an OCT. Why?
1. It’s a short-term challenge on a deadline, so you can see if you’re up to the task of consistently creating content.
2. You get feed-back, win or lose, from a panel of judges to help you improve.
3. Connection to other creative people — my two color blockers for LeyLines I met through an OCT three years ago!**
A book trailer with voice acting is a genius idea! What kind of hardware/software are you using to put it together?
iMovie is what I’m using. Which isn’t the most versatile program ever, but if you’re clever about how you use it, you can do a lot with it! I even figured out how to add some rudimentary animation by creating a Photoshop Action set to make many stills that are all sllliiiiiightly different. I was able to put together everything but the vocals on the trailer in less than a day — music and all!
And I should add that my music selection is from http://www.newgrounds.com/ – which has a lot of amazing music that is free to use, in most cases.
Well done, my friend!
Thank you! I’m so excited to share the final product. I might be biased, but even without the voices in there, it still gives me chills each time I watch the draft video.
Hey Robin, I like the way you are putting your trailer together – great idea! I’d never heard of an OCT, they sound like fun – good luck and let us know how that turns out.
We’ve run two others in the past few years and they’re always fun. Judging and critiquing the work of others allowed me to make so many improvements in my own writing. One always notices the things one is most guilty of!!
Right now I’m just bracing for the deadline. There’s always a huge last-minute rush in auditions. (Last year we got 70 in an hour! I nearly lost my mind! 0_o )
Currently I’m working on a commission for a friend of a friend who looks to have a picture of himself and his cat fighting a mutant tentacled hell-beast, done up in the style of an old comic book cover like House of Mystery or Conan the Barbarian.
I’m still doing research and sketching out the composition. So far, so fun.
LOL!
I’ve been slowly but surely working on a superhero based video game project in Construct 2. Right now I’m trying to get a based lighting and color design for the city while animating the character. Its a lot of fun, but I’m stumbling around the program a little.
I’m also participating in Ingenuity Fest in Cleveland with the rest of the Rust Belt Monster Collective (www.rustbeltmonster.com) and working on a video showcasing some of the ideas that one of the local school’s students came up with. Kind of a World of Tomorrow news real kind of thing.
I’ve been hard at work redesigning my webcomic Icefall from the ground up these past two months. The comic is now going to be a 4 chapter tale – 96 pages in length – and the script for Chapter 1 is now into its second draft, which I hope to send out to some beta-readers this week. I’m planning on a launch in December – I want to have most or all of the pages for Chapter 1 drawn and the site redesigned before I release the comic into the wild.
I’ve also been working on redesigning some of the settings where the comic will take place, and Google Sketchup has been a huge help for me here – my tumblr blog (andrewbcrisp.tumblr.com) has some images of my set work so far – I’ll be posting more setting and character concepts for the comic there until the December launch.
Sounds like you’re doing an incredible amount of work to make sure the final product is the absolute best it can be! That’s fantastic! Best of luck with the December launch!
Thank you, Robin. In a sense this is the third time in the past year I’ve attempted to launch this comic. It has certainly been an education getting to this point (of which the Paper Wings blog has become a critical component, so thanks to Chris, Lora, and the other Wingers for helping to open my eyes a little). So, yes I’m determined to put as much effort as I can spare into making the comic the best I can.
That Prep Room “stage” looks really sharp. I need to spend some quality time with Sketchup…I’m still at the “ooh, I can make cubes!” stage…
Sketchup is a GREAT tool (Chris Oatley did a good “intro-to” tutorial video on this site about a couple of months back), especially for someone like me who really fusses on getting perspective and details right. One time-saver that helped was the ability to make components, which also allows me to adjust some items for different scenes as needed. The airlock door, for example, is one component, which I can “open” if the script calls for it or even remove if I need a camera shot but the door is in the way. Can’t recommend it enough
Yup, Chris’ video is what finally got me to download the program. I can see that people are doing amazing things with it, I just need to set aside some time and really dive in. Not enough hours in the day…
The interface is very intuitive. Give yourself a weekend, you’ll be surprised by what you can do.
Wow! I’ve only recently started modeling a 2D illo which embodies the style I want for my BGs. I’m finding it pretty difficult to get the proportions the way the piece depicts them but it’s definitely a huge learning process! How long did it take you to model the EVA Prep Room? It looks pretty awesome from what I see. Reminiscent of a futuristic Hyperbolic Time Chamber if you don’t mind me saying.
I think it took me upwards of 5 hours of work to complete the EVA prep room and associated components (handrails, spacesuit backpacks, and the airlock door). Of course, that wasn’t all in one sitting.
I had to google “hyperbolic time chamber” to figure out what you were referring to. Um, thanks? Sorry, I never got into Dragon Ball Z – more of a Macross and Gundam man myself when it comes to anime