Just get on with it.
A gentle reminder that’s all it takes.
Just get on with it.
I’ve heard that said numerous times throughout my life & as it turns out it’s a great bit of advice, especially when it comes to making comics. I lost count of the amount of times I spent wondering if there was some kind of hidden secret to putting a comic together, puzzled over the obvious alchemy that laid before me as I poured longingly over others work? The hours (not to mention the money) spent on numerous ‘how to’ books…well, to be fair, some have been very useful. But even as I read them I felt as though I wasn’t taking much of it in, more like trying to absorb the information from the diagrams alone.
It was down to sheer stubbornness alone that made me forge on, a need to see if I could just produce a story from start to finish & actually see it through?
I did & I can.
But it takes time.
I need to remind myself of that every now & then.
SPACEBOY & THE FUTURE KING 2 is nearing ready for launch!
I’ve spent some time this weekend working on the Kickstarter page readying it for the launch. As it stands I only have to finish the little video & fill out the rewards section which includes me coming up with some new designs for promo etc. With any luck I should be able to launch on the 31st of May so keep your eyes peeled on the socials over the next few weeks!
I’m able to work on this as & when I can at the moment as I appear to have a life now. Suddenly I seem to have a full calendar with all kinds of things lining up to be done, from opticians appointments to day trips out & family visits to concerts. These things land on weekends mainly which after 20+ years in hospitality is a wonderful feeling being able to go do!
The week days are committed to JINGLE SQUAD which is bouncing along nicely with it currently racing towards the first third being completed in the inking stage & around the halfway mark in rough thumbs. I expect to have the inks done on that first third by the middle of the week.
Action is ramping up in JINGLE SQUAD.
In amongst the drawing schedule I occasionally get a little surprise arrive in the post, usually a preorder of something from months ago that has long since vanished from my mind. This weeks offerings were the latest book from GUY DELISLE MUYBRIDGE…
If you’ve never seen his work I can highly recommend him, there’s something about his simple yet provocative style in both his drawings & writing that works for me? BURMA CHRONICLES, HOSTAGE & JERUSALEM: CHRONICLES FROM THE HOLY CITY are among some of his best in my opinion.
I was also delighted to stumble over the opening pages of the new UMBRELLA ACADEMY: PLAN B by Gerard Way & Gabriel Bá over on ALTERNATIVE PRESS MAGAZINE which I believe is coming out very soon.
UMBRELLA ACADEMY PLAN B by Gerard Way & Gabriel Bá published by DARK HORSE COMICS.
The other little joy I found trying to pick my pockets…SHORT ROUND! Acracking little action figure with a good few extras.
I took this pic from the web as it’s late & I don’t want to go into the studio to photograph the actual figure.
Talking of the studio, or spare bedroom/ dumping room as it’s better known I’m also long over due giving it a good sort out & tidy up, I’ve not really worked in there all winter as it can be a very cold room to sit still in for long periods & with the arrival of my mobile studio (MacBook & Wacom movink13) I’ve fallen into the habit of working from the kitchen table because, well, it’s nearer the kettle & the fridge. I think I’ll set up in there again this week seeing as it’s getting warmer.
While I think about it I could probably do a little piece about the studio space next time, I’m fascinated by other people’s work areas & often find myself during our weekly meetings looking past the guys at their shelves of wonderful things. I can’t make my mind up about my work station, I envy seeing some folks with their clean & clutter free spaces with just the bear essentials in but I also love to see the chaotic collections of some showing a love that’s dangerously close to getting out of hand.
I’ll pop some better looks at the shelf porn in next weeks.
Well I think that about wraps it up for now.
Keep chipping away.
Rory.