I suppose one of the terrifying parts about doing a comic without planning it ahead of time is that you can crash and burn pretty much at any step along the way. From a writer’s perspective, I think I’ve got this covered — ten years of manuscript-writing is adequate preparation. But from an illustrator’s perspective, I seriously have a lot to learn.
What I think I struggle with the most is that I’m getting better. Lots better, I think, and I’m more and more happy with every new page I draw and ink and color and finish. But meanwhile, here on the site, the story is still plodding its way through pages I finished six or seven months ago… and there are some that I really don’t like looking at anymore.
This one’s a prime example. I’m happy to admit it. I think this page is terrible. The first panel on this page is probably the worst one you’ll ever see in the pages of Eleanor. I’m flaunting the laws of perspective all over the place. (Granted, I’m still doing that, 25 pages later, but I’m doing it with a sense of purpose. Plus it just looks good.)
This weekend is Labor Day weekend, which for me, like most people, means it’s three days long instead of two. Saturday and Sunday were primo working days for me, and I finished lettering and coloring four pages of the next chapter. Because I feel bad about the quality of the page up above, I thought I’d share some of the work I did this weekend, and give you a little sneak peek at the story to come.
Sneak peek: Page 34 inks, and the finished page.
Sneak peek: Inks for page 35, and the finished colors. No lettering this time. Can't spoil too much of the story so far in advance!
Other than posting the new page today, however, I’m not working on Eleanor. The wife and I are making breakfast, then continuing to prepare the house for our impending arrival this December. There’s so much to do!
So in the meantime, I highly recommend saving some of your comic energy for Anne Szabla’s excellent and beautiful Bird Boy. All you’ll need to see is the cover and you’ll be hooked, just like I was.
Happy Labor Day!
This has been one of my favorite pages because of the 2nd and 3rd panels. I adore the second panel and love the other similar shot like it that is used elsewhere. And that third panel has wonderful detail and the way you’ve used the color is fantastic. It’s a powerful page. I’m glad you’re improving and that you’re happy with the improvement, but what you’re “growing” from was pretty great to begin with.
Thanks, Mike. We all tend to be our harshest critic, I guess!