Love Sick - » Sketchbook

X-mas Ornament

Speak — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:34:26 +0000

* Please note if any subscribers got an email notification of this post I apologize. Subscriptions are for comics only and I don’t want to bombard you with silly emails. My apologies. It should not happen again.

In addition to the two comic strip posts each week I’ll be posting items from my sketchbook and finished art as well. This week, I present to you one weird Christmas ornament. It is not the best drawing by any means. It was just one of those, “well, here is a piece of trash and here are some pens” moments. The particular moment came during the holidays some years ago and it ended up in the Christmas tree. Ever since, this little piece of cardboard has been packed and unpacked with all the other ornaments and displayed just like any other. And yes, my tree is already up… first one on the block!

Heading into the next year – 2010.

Speak — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:10:36 +0000

Quick head designs from the sketchbook.

I currently have about 8 weeks buffer on finished strips. I have been using this buffer to wrestle this site into something that I think will work for me. I’m in the home stretch regarding the website and that’s exciting. It’s exciting because that means it’s time to head back to the drawing board. The real one.

When I started this strip I just wanted to get something down. I wanted to see if I could make it work. I was not overly concerned that everything was perfect – and it shows. Honestly, Love Sick could be drawn better and today I pledge to take this to the next level by changing that. I don’t think everything will be perfect – but it is going to be better. Expect to see some characters evolve graphically starting early next year. That sounds like a long time away uh? It’ll be here quicker than you think.

Additionally, I’ll be changing the format. I’ll be moving from a traditional strip format into something that I think will work better both for the strip and it’s potential. What I mean by that is that the new format will allow for better story telling, interesting layouts, better design and should translate into a variety of formats, including mobile devices better. This comic this is on the web – why not embrace this freedom?

So between now and the end of the year you can expect to get a few previews of the progress of these evolutions. I hope you are enjoying it so far. Let me know!

iPhone Apps for Comics Artists

Speak — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:26:39 +0000

Earlier today, webcomics.com posted a list of useful apps for comic creators. The list included something for just about everyone. But what it lacked was something useful for the anvil on the head scenario. Sketching that idea that comes out of nowhere is vitally important to the comic artist. While on the bus, in a crowded bar or standing in line at the supermarket it is important to get that idea down before it escapes you.

And so comes in a handy little app called StoryPages that allows for more than just note taking. It allows you not only to draw your idea out, but to script it too.

Just released, the app by SpinThought® is an iPhone app for those that need to create illustrated story pages on the go. StoryPages lets you draw in the top portion of a page and then add text descriptions below your drawing, like a storyboard. You can add a background image from the Photo Gallery or take a picture to use as a semi-transparent background to set the scene if you’d like.

I’ve used it a few times and it is one of those things that if you don’t have, you are constantly thinking “if only…” Or, you can just lose your idea – it is up to you.