Frog Scout

This was a drawing I did back in late 2007 for the now abandoned Gonzo Smartfruit blog that my roommate Dan Duncan and I were posting to. We would take turns coming up with assignments that we would both do. The blog didn't last long, as I would fall behind in our assignments because at the time I was unemployed and desperately looking for a job, and I was not drawing much. The drawing started reminding me of an ex-girlfriend, which was distressing, so I stopped wanting to work on it, and did.

Three years later, I found the old sketch I did (the sheet of tracing paper taped on top of it where I was reworking the anatomy and everything), and decided to finish it. I'm on friendly terms with my ex and things are ok on that front, so I fully embraced the resemblance aspect that initially distressed me and decided to go for her likeness 100%. And so I did. The end.

What a great story, right? Very exciting.

No colors yet, but I do plan on coloring it. I'll be doing some digitally painted jungle scenery in the background, and I intended for there to be rain drizzling down (it being a rainforest), which is also why the rider has that expression on her face (she loves the rain and it's cooling her down).

Here are the original pencils from '07 that you can find over on Gonzo Smartfruit—

PIN-UP - "The Call Shot"

My pin-up for Mark Andrew Smith's upcoming graphic novel, Sullivan's Sluggers.

I must say, this wasn't the palette/color scheme I planned on AT ALL when I drew it. It was going to be all warm colors of yellow and orange, it wasn't going to be nighttime, there wasn't going to be a super-blue lighting effect, etc, etc, etc. But when it came down to it, I made it nighttime, and everything kind of fell in line behind that choice.

It reminds me of Star Wars, which isn't the feel of the actual book at all... AT ALL.

Bonus! Here are the inks and the breakdown sketch-

My First Ever 24 Hour Comic Book

Happy (Belated) 24 Hour Comic Book Day

I just participated in my very first 24 Hour Comic Book Day. I was not able to complete the story I did breakdowns for when the clock started ticking. I ran out of time after page 6. I had to wrap it up with 16 splash pages featuring a stick figure. Yeesh. Drawing 22 pages of narrative with pencils and inks and letters and no nap-breaks is a rough time. It definitely teaches you to prioritize!

I had a lot of fun though, and I definitely want to do it again. I would like to actually finish the breakdowns I did, so maybe I'll do a 16-page comic in 24 hours? Or maybe two 8-page comics in two different blocks of 24 hours. Either way, really. (But really, it should all be done at once).

So this panel here is my favorite bit I pumped out in the last 24 hours. It actually has a stat panel that follows it, but really- I think this panel says it all. I know I've felt like that when an employer has needed me to do something outside of my regularly scheduled working hours. ^_^

Once I scan all my pages I'll be posting them here, so keep your eyes peeled. They'll be up really soon.