Another one of these, perhaps more grotesque than the last. I've decided to mix the animal parts with the human parts a little differently in a less aesthetically pleasing way perhaps. And so what? Humans aren't all beautiful. I'm not. And I think there's something more interesting in this than if the face were just flawless. Pretty can be dull. Often makes for a boring portrait. In case it's not obvious (and it's not) this is an otterboy.

Another version of Joe, this one taken to more of an extreme. He's kind of ugly, but I kind of like him that way.

Three evening warmups. Joe Flash was a character that came out of nowhere. I don't draw him much, just when I'm in a particular mood. Though he's generally very stylized, I was using reference tonight which totally changed how I approach making him. I don't think it's better or worse, just different. There's nothing like a little ink in the evening.

This is one of the main reasons I like working in Illustrator. The smaller image is the actual size and the other is a blown up version. I often do details in 300-600% mag so I can get them right. I'm likely making more work for myself than is necessary, but it makes me happy.

Just a bit of warmup.

One more for the day.

Morning warm up. Have to learn to draw the coyote in the style of the new comic.

A page of one of the other things I'm working on. In progress.

Back and forth on this... like a lot. Just got back from Italy, which was very cool. This is my first drawing in a long while. I did one sketch while away. I just generally never draw while on vacation. Anyway, putting stuff aside can sometimes help me see things more freshly later on. Lots of thought going on about the bunnies as well as everything else. Have to finish the Crawford story by the end of October which is a whole other kind of style. It's like having to utterly change clothes as I go from project to project; it's awkward and takes me time to get ready. Should just choose the one style and be done with it. Huh. Anyway, this is Benny again though I'm trying to bring back some of the lost detail as well as go with a face that seems to be more unique, less general. This project has to wait, though. Too much else to do.

Haven't done one of these in awhile. Had too much else to do.

Redid this first page of an upcoming short story. I could draw the figures better as well as balance the color a LOT better, so I did.

A quickly thrown together progression chart of Sharp's development. The earliest versions bear little resemblance to what I will eventually use but that's the way of things, right? The armor is really what carries through. All I can say is; never throw away those sketchbooks. You never know what will be useful down the road.

There are a couple of iterations missing but this is the current 'timeline' of development for my comic, "Delve Deep." Perhaps I've been pouring too much energy into this thing. On the other hand, I'm happiest with the current version of the character style and design. Considering the original drawing of Sharp came to me in one sketch, I've had a hell of a time beating this thin into something more solid. Now I have to hope that the work will be worth it.

This one's out of order. Should go before the last one.

One more...

One more for today. There would have been more but I went out to be social.

Another panel update or two.

Finished the panels, adding the Benny one. Huh. Ponder ponder.

So, yet another version of this image. A friend commented about the last one, suggesting a sparser style so the images would read better in smaller sizes. Herge's name was mentioned so I took the suggestion and did this. Can't leave well enough alone.

Sample panel of the comic in the new style and a morning warm up drawing of Crawford with another ensemble yanked from an old Our Gang photo. Great period costumes there.

Couple of quick and dirties. First is that same pose I had Sharp in when I was playing with styles a couple of days ago. I have to admit that I've drawn that same damned pose about four times between that version and this one. For some reason, the first image I did of the new Sharp worked well and every other one I did sucked. So I've been really trying to get my head wrapped around what I want to do. Benny, on the other hand, came together just fine which is what happened when I designed the character as a human a few years ago. Came out in one sketch, pretty much finished. The other one is just a warmup sketch of Crawford. I used some visual reference from some old Our Gang photos. There's some nifty costume stuff there.

And here's today's version. I think that the versions from yesterday just weren't me, easy and fun though they were to draw (I have six pages of sketches in that style). This one's a bit more hare-ish, which is something I like. Again, something I enjoyed drawing though I worry about it's appeal. It's a hard edge to balance; wanting to succeed and wanting to enjoy what I'm doing. EDIT: And here's Benny in the same style.

Morning warmup. I was looking through a nifty book I have on Tezuka and one thing led to another. I second guess myself a lot and now wonder if a change, a drastic change in style isn’t in order. Yes, this project is likely more commercially oriented than anything else I’ve done and why not? I hate retail and I’ve been here too long. So, yah. Pondering and sketching.

Still working on that short story. Decided to throw together a shot of 'process.' I work everything out in pencil first, using it as a guide, then assemble the shapes over that in Illustrator.

And one more of these. Got to get back to the actual comics.

More work from the latest comic. One's the second page, the other a comp of Cromwell done in the new style. It's so weird not using lines at all.

Quickie drawing of Smatt from the previous page. Always keep track of your bit players; you never know when you might need them again.

There. First page redone and I'm much happier with it.

Pushed the text on this a bit more as I wasn't satisfied. Now I have dialogue and a metaphor at the same time. That feels better. :"D This is part of the first page but is also a proof of concept for the editor of a comics anthology I was asked to be a part of.

Just a morning warmup using me as reference.

Finished concept page for that comic. Shameless recycling of a Tamino background as well as bit players. A final version will have a background that's easier to read.

...and his pal Smatt. Think I've worked out the look for this next comic. Now I have to do it but keep it under wraps as the anthology I'm doing it for won't come out til late this year or early next.

More on the style of that short story I'm doing. Man, I sure am busy with this stuff for not making a cent off it!

Finally got another one of these done. Work schedule's been a bitch, so I've been slow.

Another bit of play with aesthetic.

First up is a morning warmup I did as I work out an aesthetic for a short comic I'm doing for another anthology. Same crow, different style and story. The other image is, well, me after a little shopping trip today. Yah, so hip I can barely walk. (Totally kidding.)

Creativity has been slow this week as I've had all early shifts and I am NOT an early morning person. So I get home, sleep for a couple hours and wake up still groggy. Oh, well. So the first day I'm up late I get another third of the page done. Also, a biography comic starring a little statuette a friend's daughter made me.

Two more panels down...

Had to redo this page as the composition in the last panel of the original just wasn't working at all. The word balloons were being read out of order and things weren't balanced. Also, by separating that 'shadowy figure,' but keeping him linked to the background, I hope I both accented him and connected him more. Now I can move on.

A little morning warmup. I always loved "Blue Boy." Now I want to see it in person to see if it's really blue. The version I looked at was decidedly green as I sampled it when coloring this.