Update: Drawing, drawing, drawing...!

All I do anymore is draw. That's it. Seriously. And it's weird. And there's so much distracting stuff that happens while you're trying to draw, it's amazing that any drawing gets done at all.

I also just purchased a new Multi-Function Center (ooooooooo! aaaaaaaahhhh!), which is a fancy tech term for a copier/printer/scanner/fax machine. This is notable because in all the years I worked in print services, I've never owned a printer...'cause I never had to. AND this is my first scanner that allows me to scan ledger-size pages, so no more piecing together artwork in multiple scans for this cartoonist!

I actually want to write a long, rambling entry on these subjects, but I'm going back to the drawing table now. In the meantime, here's a peek at the thumbnail layout and pencils (which I scanned on my new scanner!) for the first page of issue 2.

Actual size: 2.75" x 4.25"

Actual size: 11" x 17"

Real quick before I go, I mentioned last time that I was gonna have a special request of some of you soon. I meant it, so stay tuned...I'm gonna let you in on a way you can help keep me even more inspired than you already do!

Yesterday's Music: Vincent Ingala; The Osmonds; The Carpenters; Bobby McFerrin; Lambert, Hendricks & Ross

Issue Two, Page One

Here we go again.

I'm not on sabbatical now, per se, but I do have time to work on the book and a new deadline, so we'll see how this comes together. The plan is to debut H.C.I. #2 (of 6) on May 5th, and I'll give folks a heads-up as to the where and when as the days draw closer. Suffice it to say, I'm at the drawing board again, and in many ways it's like I never left.

I actually started the preliminary work for this issue a while back, and kicked it into high gear last week by jumping back on my layout scroll. For those of you not familiar with this, I start most of my issues now by throwing a long roll of paper on the floor and blocking out the pages in black marker (highlighted with whatever else is laying near me). It looks like this when it's completed:

 

From beginning to end, from end to the beginning...
that's right y'all, I'm winning! 

I actually started on this months ago at PIX (the Pittsburgh Indy-comics eXpo) where I was seated at an eight-foot long table, and was rather inspired for two days. Sitting down on the floor to pick up where I'd left off, I realized two things...

1.) I'm getting older. Sitting on the floor for extended periods of time? Used to be no big deal. Now? Cramp-inducing!

2.) It wasn't flowing as smoothly as last time. At least, not right off the bat.

I spend more time at this stage debating the arrangement of everything than I'd care to admit. The reason I started working this way was because of the free-form, stream-of-consciousness manner that the storytelling unfolded.  I could work in a straight line, or circles, or jump backward whenever I wanted. Stray thoughts and conscious decisions all had a place, and somehow the best ideas tended to make it to the next stage. Great, right?