No Need to Paint these Roses Red May 26, 2009

[News]

It rained today and that was lovely.

I also might need to join a support group for hopeless dreamers. I just wish my passions were a little more practical and a little less “artsy fartsy”. Maybe if I had a 12 hour personal cheer leading service I’d feel better.  They wouldn’t even have to be cute cheerleaders. If you’re peppy and optimistic I want you on my team. I’m accepting applications.

In other news I’ve had a good/ bad idea. I’m thinking about starting a battery recycling program for my old high school. This might be a dangerous idea, what with all the chemicals etc,  but maybe it’s better than the alternative (all those chemicals seeping into the soil in landfills)? And if it goes well I could try to bring it to other schools and then my university. I don’t know if it will catch on, but I figure I should go back into my ‘environmental savior’ mode.  I do wish people could be less wasteful and more environmentally conscious though.  The terrible thing is, it isn’t due to lack of knowledge but more people being lazy and/or greed-heads. I mean “I recycle my newspapers” will only get you so far. My mistake. Will only get everyone else so far, the ‘Mr./Mrs. You’ here simply doesn’t care.  So instead of sounding preachy or whining about the state of humanity, maybe I can discreetly do good and initiate some positive change? I really need to think of more projects like this.
Alas I’m but a poor university student and I can only do so much with my (severely) limited budget.  I would feel less disheartened if only I could think of a superhero that maintains a positive outlook  while being less than financially blessed. (Moral absolutist Rorschach doesn’t count because he eats cold beans and is insane. Mostly because he’s insane.) It’d also be cool if the superhero wasn’t a hooker, and even better if they were between 20 – 45 years old.  I figure I’ll do environmental aid until I get the means to do more humanitarian work.

Another thing I need to do is figure out some way to go take photos downtown (or anywhere) with out being mugged/knifed/propositioned for a threesome. Once again I think those cheerleaders could come in handy.  I mean would you want to mug a girl surrounded by a loud bright pom-pom waving crowd? I hope think not.

[The Roses]

Here is the line art for the Dripping Alice picture I’ve been working on.  From DA:

I’m working on this little lady right now. She’s one of the chicks I’ve mentioned around here, who’ll be in my webcomic Sleep Pending.
[I figured I should maybe draw out my characters at least once before throwing them on my pages officially. I really should have thought of this earlier... with all my characters... before starting the comic...]
Please don’t extrapolate the metaphors here ok. There aren’t any. And please don’t use this without my permission either.
I’m going to colour this as soon as I figure out what colour the roses should be. I probably shouldn’t have put roses in the hair of someone with red hair
This is in traditional art by the way, because the line work was all inked by hand IRL. If you think the lines are weak, you’re right, I totally botched on the inking.
And if anyone’s interested I could do a tutorial on how I did this little baby. It would be titled “How you should never ever do art like this”.
This isn’t mature content is it? Nothing naughty is showing.

I’d probably have a little more confidence in this picture if my dad didn’t keep reminding me how much disdain he has for the thing.  I’ll probably like this a whole lot more once I add some colours.

And that bit about not drawing out my characters in advance is true.  I’m hoping to get time to sketch all the main characters from Sleep Pending at least once. I only have a vague idea of what my cast should look like in my head and I’m not even sure if I can draw them  out properly ignoring the fact, of course, that I really can’t draw anything properly haha. I just need to muster up a little courage to get back to my comic, stop taking it so seriously and remember it’s just for practice.

Cheerleading fairies, I supplicate your aide !! Come unto me! [insert foreign summoning spell here.]

Lazriel’s Carnival May 20, 2009

[ME NEWS]
My twitter identity crisis went as follows:
I procured myself a twitter account some time ago because I am a sheep.
I felt like such a tool for a few hours after that.
I then realized the brand identity was actually quite adorable. Also, I love the word “twitter” all by itself.
When typing up my first entry, I couldn’t help but imagine Orxieal** bouncing along a keyboard trying* to type messages.
This image was so cute, it eradicated all tool feelings.
I then later realized that twitter is an awesome service to quickly make notes to myself to not forget things.
I’m so excited at the idea of abusing this and maybe not suffering from my short term memory haha.

In other news, I’ve prepped Anthony (my laptop) up and he’s all ready to be sent off to Acer. Thank goodness I bought that extended warranty.
I’ll probably be even less present online, while he’s gone. Well I’ll still be working on practicing art stuff.

*trying is the key word here
**Orxieal is a Chickadee Angel

[ARTS]
Remember this fun little picture from here? Well while rooting around for something to post up on Deviant Art, I dredged up this guys. Maybe since today seems to be on the topic of memories, I found myself remembering what I had originally thought this picture was about.
It’s a little silly I know, but I have free reign to be as silly as I want with these guys.

Anyway, this is how I think Lazriel sees the carnival at night. Specifically the reflection of the carnival’s lights in the water under the piers. Lazriel is an odd sort of lad who sees things differently than other people do. Nobody’s ever really certain what he’s picturing in that head of his (not even me).

Bonus on Laz’:

Due to a speech impediment his adopted kid (who is a robot – sort of) calls him “ass wheel” also, the bloke is sort of crazy spoiled.

Ümlauti etc May 16, 2009

[Me News]

University is finally over for the year and that means a breath of fresh air, and me hopefully, finally having some time to myself. Life’s been her usually ‘exciting’ self with me. I’d share, but whining online isn’t really my scene; It’s totally soooo un-fetch. And by “un-fetch” I mean juvenile. I’d rant about kids using the internet for virtual pity posses, but ranting isn’t really my dig either. There have been some very nice moments in my recent history of course, and that’s all fair game for the internet. 3.5 GPA by the way. I’m a little disappointed but I’ve only got myself to blame so no whining about that either. 3.5 isn’t that bad anyway I guess.

It’s spring up here in Canada, and everyday it’s smelt different and delicious outside. Today smelled like oranges, yesterday smelled of hickory smoke, day before was roses (which is strange since no roses are up yet) and the day before that was cut grass or something. That last day may not be right, but whatever it was, it did make me think of fresh cut grass…even though our grass is just turning green now. Tonight smells like hyacinths. Same story with not many flowers being up yet and this being impossible (though hyacinths come up early early spring anyway). Maybe it’s all in my head or I’ve just been (un?)lucky enough to walk into huge clouds of perfume every time I step out side. This is all dandy though, since it’s been a nice spring experience. Also, songbirds waking you ever morning is beyond fantastic. I missed them in the winter and I’ll miss them if they aren’t a phenomenon when/if I move.

Did I mention we’re having an unnaturally chilly May? How chilly? Snowing chilly. It’s snowing. Right. Now. I’m worried that if I blink, I’ll have missed spring and we’ll have jumped right into summer. That’s the thing I love about Canada-land though; the weather is always so unpredictable. I do get all four seasons at least. Sure, the seasons aren’t in equal servings, but every four years or so, they even out. And baring death by freezing, Canadian weather isn’t too dangerous either. Don’t get me started on Canadian wildlife though. Friendly woodland critters snuggling up to your tuque, don’t seem so friendly when they can easily kick your face in.

The little fleurettes of green in all the trees are quite darling to look at. Forgive my french, but the word is much too appropriate. It’s like the trees are already blossoming, and I guess they are in one sense of the word. Still, I can’t wait till more flowers actually come up. I fully intend to practice my paltry photography skills. Also, back with the image of les fleurettes, I keep thinking of Ezra Poud’s imagist poem:

IN A STATION OF THE METRO
The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.

Quite a charming image isn’t it? Even if different readings of the poem can lend to a more sinister air, both are relevant and rather appropriate. I don’t think I’ll get into poetry analysis today (or maybe ever in this blog), but if the ‘haiku’ tickles your fancy, I’d wouldn’t hesitate to recommend looking up further analysis of the thing. Pound isn’t my favoirte American modernist poets but he’s not bad. And who knows, maybe this summer is a good couple of months for poetry immersion. I might even link some more in later posts.

A long overdue haircut finally happened to me too. More on the silly events of that later. For the record, I think it’s shorter than it’s ever been. Short short pixie cut.

[Sketches / Art bit]

I haven’t forgotten my webcomic but I’m currently so horrified with the paltry quality of my art that I just can’t force myself to post the more recent pages. Note that there are more recent pages. Give my fragile ego a little bit to get over myself, and we’ll be good to go. Concurrently, while I try to garner a little more time for myself, I’m also trying to get back into the groove of drawing/painting/ and just art in general. Maybe when I get back into the swing of thing, my comic won’t look so stiff. No promises though. It still might take me some time to get used to the comic medium.

Any-hoo, here’s some sketches I did trying to get some late night drawing practice in.

I would call this lady an ‘alien’ but that’s hardly polite behavior, now is it? She’s a relatively unimportant minor character from A Paper Flower Carnival. I Just felt like doodling her, because being an extraterrestrial [more like Extra Special amirite? -- no discrimination on my part] means that I can make up her culture and mode of dress and all that. Lots of liberties to me. Don’t you just love not being wrong?

Her name is Ümlautie. It was a hard choice on which vowel to put the umlaut, and it’s really still up in the air. I’d like to point out by the way, that she’s got ever vowel except Y in her name (a Y would have looked stupid… bit now that I think bout it, might look sort of cool with an umlaut). Since her colour scheme is white and old lady pinks, I was always calling her ‘Roza’ in my head. Digression but, I had a hardy Italian naighbour named Roza – (married to Tony and with two kids named Camilla and Carmen respectively — loved the names of everyone in that family!) – who would call me “Anna”. I would have stuck with Roza too, if it wasn’t the same amount of syllables as Tisha (and both end with an ‘A’– not a pretty lexicality). Tisha is a (huge joke of a) character, and he’s a whole bunch blue. Their babies would be purple or something.

Anyway, the red sketch was done last night and the black one on the lined paper, was done maybe 5 months ago in an English course. Both sketches were done using those fabulous 4 coloured Bic pens from France.

Points on Ümlautie’s design:

• Those weird swirly patterns on both sketches are supposed to remind me to get some visual research on those coral fish. Shame on the artist that doesn’t collect proper visual research!

• She doesn’t have large / elf / animal ears. The bigger shapes behind her head are essentially bits of her nun’s wimple.
• She has a heavy circular pattern going on, dots in her eyes, and even has an umlaut-esque headress sort of thing (I pretend they’re antennae for catching radio frequencies when her life as a nun gets too boring – it isn’t – and her nun life is boring).
• That isn’t a mask, its more a fleshy cartilage like tissue extending from her face; the same sort of biological tissue from her lower half. I drew it too red and too far separated I’ve decided. (more a note for me than anything else) .
• No that isn’t a piercing and yes she’s overdressed for a nun (in my canon).
• No she isn’t a ‘priestess’, she’s a nun. That’s different. Nun = boring repetitive devout life,  Priestess = running around barely dressed fighting ogres and being sacrificed to volcano gods.
• She’s from a place called Tebit Lamdala. Yeah. Don’t even get me started.
• Shut up, I can’t draw symmetrically, leave me alone.

.

And because this post lacks hot topless babe, here’s a sketch I’m working on right now of Alice. I know her colour scheme, I know how I want to clour this and in what traditional media… I just don’t know what to colour the roses. BRB, praying to the colour wheel god.

Don’t get too excited about this sketch though, I completely slaughtered a copy when inking it. I’m really really rusty at this whole art gig. I’d making drawings in the most uneconomical fashion imaginable. … Maybe I should make tutorials on how not to go about your art business.

.

What I’m up to right now – Edit March 30, 2009

Edit:

Well I’m pretty pleased with this whole webcomic gig, I’m having great fun and I haven’t really missed an update yet. University exams are coming up (actually they’re here now), but I expect to power them at least manage to pump out pages weekly. I’m hoping that once University is done for the year that I can update biweekly.

I think this project is so far attaining it’s goals; getting me to practice all those things I need practice on : story boarding, panel pacing, dialogue, drawing everything etc etc.

I’m currently trying to get a real site going on to host my comic on. I’m also looking into setting up Rss feeds and coordinating my live journal, wordpress blog, deviantart and comic updates.

Ok Angela, but what about your Wisterium Projects?

I’m glad you asked.

Sleep Pending has my focus right now…. which of course means that the ideas are flowing for Damned If You Do – Damned If You Don’t, Angel Device, Paper Flower Carnival, Two (too,) is Two Too Many and most interestingly  SP–DT.  Unfortunately I’ve got no word on updates for One Man till June. This isn’t a bad thing, really I’ve too much on my plate as it stands.

For SP–DT:

I’ve thought of a premise for the story that allows me to go darker and bring up a more serious side of the thing without being repetitive or juvenily focused on interpersonal relationships.

For Paper Flower Carnival:

It’s now focusing on the politics of Laz’s world and works on an allegorical level comparing our present political and economical sets ups and the effects of such. Also, this should come as no surprise; I’m looking at the environment and technology as well.

For Damned If You Do – Damned If You Don’t:

I’ve decided how to start the damn thing finally without being too heavy handed and presenting this like some cliche. It’ll start right as Noell C. Corbeau realizes the  grain transport plane they are one is going to explode. This leads to Altiel putting 2 and 27 together and figuring out who exactly Cor actually is. Then I can start the damn thing which what the hell leads up to that situation.

Bad news: I still can’t find my original scripting details for Sleep Pending, so everything is done on the fly. This makes me nervous since I’ve got so much plot work floating around. Honestly, loose ends scare me.

I also need to finish The Red Room, which I surprisingly don’t hate. I expect I will eventually though. It’s a shame that everything I’ve so far written that hasn’t been boat loads of fail are all things I can’t share. Pity that.

I’ve also updated the REAL personailty sheets but … probably won’t post those yet.

I’d like to make a flash based game of sorts explaing the character relationships between everyone. Don’t get your hopes up, this should take a few years, like I was saying, I certainly don’t have the time right now for this.

Damian Grey Wip – maybe February 27, 2009

Really, I am quite fond of this guy.

Not only is he a gruff, calculating and an unrefined cold blooded hitman,

his age and face let me draw features I usually don’t get the chance too.

He’s from the One Man Till June story.

[Mr. Grey is / was also the inspiration for the Hobo-from-third-street]

‘Dimitri’ is also starting to sound better and better…

Click here for an earlier version of Mr. Grey when I was still drowning in the anime style.

Icky Sticky Top Post February 27, 2009

Are you looking for the Sleep Pending Webcomic?

Well It’s been moved to it’s own site now.

Hold tight for links.

Click image to go to the archive

Jack-et List December 31, 2008

Ok, terrible title is pretty terrible, I’ll admit.

For kicks (or maybe not), I’m going to try to amass a list of all words/phrases/ sundry that include the word “Jack.”

This list will be continuously updated.

• Monterey Jack
• Jack of all trades
• Jack o’ lantern
• Jack Frost
• Jackfruit
• Jackknife
  
• Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candle stick
• Jack Sprat could eat no fat, and his wife could eat no lean
• Jackrabbit
• Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water, Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after
• Jacks (the game)
• Jack (the playing card)
• Crackerjack
• Jack in the box
• Don’t know Jack (don’t know anything)
• Jackass (male donkey)
• Jackhammer
• Jackfish (the ghost town in Ontario)
• Jack [fish] (a type of fish in the Carangidae family- there are several fish that have ‘Jack’ in their name)
  • includes Almaco jack, Amberjack , Bar jack, Black jack (fish) ,  Crevalle jack , Giant trevally or ronin jack, Jack mackerel, Leather jack, Yellow jack
• Jack tar (syn: sailor, see Jack Tar)
• Union Jack
• Jack the ripper
• Spring heeled Jack
• Jackalope (that imaginary animal)
  
• Jackal
  

Protected: Damned if you Do, Damned if you Don’t holiday gift. December 30, 2008

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

sketch teaser November 29, 2008

Just a teaser of some sketches I worked on.  I’ll upload these some day.

monkey puppy sketch November 29, 2008

This is that elusive Monkey Puppy creature. The bane of one gentleman’s life, the plague to another and surrogate child to the Hobo from 3rd street – maybe.  Just a quickie (old-ish) sketch that I don’t actually dislike that much. [Truth be told, even I don't know this kid's age or gender. (S)He is by far my most ambiguous character.]

If Lemadame and Damian Grey  ever got together and had a little urchin child (God forbid), it would probably be the kid you see up there.  Also, yes, that is crayon.