Secondlina's Panels

 Today, I gave a class in a school about manga during the lunch break. I expected maybe 40 or so teenagers. Turns out, I got 100. Yowza. I still owned though. so that was fun. It's fun to see kids excited about comics. I've got another tomorrow in another place. I love doing these things. It pays well, it's fun and it's about comics. Can't complain. 

Generally, stuff is advancing really well. The Namesake Kickstarter is almost over. Whew. 

For TCAF, I want to get a little sketchbook of my inked works printed as well. I designed the cover. I really love it. I got all my drawings scanned and prepared for the sketchbook. All that's left is to send it over.



The Namesake book is almost all done too, thanks to the efforts of myself, Megan and Link. I still need to design a few things for the necklaces (to be sold) and to draw all the kickstarter rewards. So, i,m not out of the forest yet, but I can see the lgiht shine thru the trees. I can definity go back to having a normal life after next week. Until the next insane project, that is.

I also just finished watching the BBC series of Sherlock with Link, Sherlock being a modernized version of the tales of Sherlock Holmes. It's really, really, really good. I don't know the books that well, but I did notice a few things they took from the source material. I really admire the writing team for their efforts and the actors are just brilliant.



Welp, i'm off to collaspse on a couch now. today was productive, but tiresome.

- Isa

Inspiration is a funny thing. I didn't have ideas for sketch comcis for like, ever. And now that i'm working on Jabberwocky and have no free time to speak of, I have a TON of ideas. Muse, you sneaky bitch. I noted all the ideas down though. So hopefully when i'm done... COMICS!

But for now, you guys get Jabberwocky! Page 1 :



I almost replaced the text with "Oh hai. I'm just here with mah sword. Being EPIC"

The art on my Jabberwocky pages is okay. If I had a whole year to work on this project, it totally would have been better. But for something done in a single month, it's quite good. Not bad, but not perfect either. Definitely got the woodcutter style down at least. I really hope people will find this comic pretty and pick it up. argh, so nervous. "Psychopompes" will definitely have better art. This is slightly above "Namesake" level. Don't get me wrong, "Namesake" still has some dang good art. But it's not perfect.

I'm a perfectionnist-obsessy-face-workaholic.

YES.

My art has levels and layers. Just like ogres. Or cake.

In other news, i'm happy. I love manga and anime, but I haven't had many series I was really excited about lately. We have more series and books being translated, but it kinda feels like a lot of it is crap. But, I found a few things I feel in love with. First off, FLCL. I'm falling in love again because they just re-realeased this OAV on blue-ray and despite being rather down on my cash right now, I bought it like it was on fire. I'm so happy.

My second great love of Japanese origin right now is Otomegatari (by Kaoru Mori), the story of a married couple living on the silk road back in the 1500's. Why do I love it? Well, first off, despite being manga, it feels like anyone could read it and understand the cultural aspect. The focus on the every day lives and characters is gorgeous. And finally : THE DETAILS.



HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PAGE?

This is an example of how I want my inking to look one day. So...so awesome.

This book is getting translated to English and French and should be available for pruchase in May. For now, I read the scanlations online. But I really want to buy this printed. To really take in the lavish illustrations.

Gaaah so awesome.

- Isa

 I had a bit of free time this weekend, so I drew this. You know that as soon as Minion puts them down, they are going to Accio a can of woop-ass. I love these three movies to bits, even though I haven't seen "Tangled" yet. I've seen Harry Potter though. I want to draw jokes about it, but i'm gonna wait another week and give everybody the time to see it before pummeling you guys with Potter-humor!

However, I have to say, my favorite part of the movie was the animated sequence where they told the story of the deadly hallows. Death looked great. I also want to draw pictures of the trio. A few people have asked me to, actually. They wonder what the trio would look like by my hands.

Anybody else feels Hermione is too pretty? Wasn't she suppose to be sorta homely? I guess the movies needs sex appeal. The twins grew so tall too!

I wish Voldemort was a bit more human. He looks, moves and talks very un-real and campy-like. I dunno. I would find someone who looks like THAT but talks in a dignified, regal, normal voice and moves like a gentleman to be much, much creepier. I always imagined Voldemort to move in a really regal fashion. More like Snape I guess. 

Happy late thanksgiving to all the Americans on my F-list. I hope you all celebrate with your families. I kinda want this holiday to evolve into "family and being thankful" then "Pilgrims offing some natives with guns and diseases".

- Isa

To continue on yesterday's post about how my free time most be divided between working my art and anything social or cultural I need to be doing... I feel like my cultural knowledge is going down lately. I used to read books for classes, and even in class (I was bored). I learned so many fun things. I used to keep up with newspapers too. Nowadays? Not so much. The more I seem to work to make books, the less I seem to actually read them. I have a pile of novels and comic books wanting to be read in my living room.

Really Cool Book # 1 - Read me Isa! I will teach you about German expressionism!
Isa - ....grmbl....not now. Busy.
Awesome Book #5 - No, read me! I'll teach you about Lewis Carroll and his life!
Isa - .....Guys, c'mon...
Random comic #3 - What about me? I take traditional characters in a new compelling direction with strange spooky art!
Isa - I...what.....?
Dvd I just bought #6 - DOGPILE!
Isa - Aaaaaauuuuugh! *is dogpiled*

I used to read a lot of books on the way to work. You know, back in Ottawa when it took me about an hour to get there. Nowadays, it takes 30 minutes, and that's including 10 minutes of walking and a switch between the subway and a bus. It's just harder to read.

So I decided to use technology some more. I watch movie when I draw thanks to the computers in the studio and i'm finally trying out Audio Books. Hopefully this will bring my cultural levels up. Or something. I'm beginning to feel pretty stupid when I talk to people. *laughs*

.............................................................................................................................

Aside from that, here's a little peek at "Psychopompes", the printed comic i'm working on. This book is basically based on a story by Sartre called "The chips are down". It's about a couple who awakens in a (highly texturized) version of the underworld and are told they weren't suppose to die. They are sent back for 24 hours to fall in love and fill out their roles has soulmates. I focus greatly on the character travelling thru the underworld to reach the door that leads back to the surface. The characters meet odd and terrifying creatures of all kinds and, of course, death, who doesn't really like seeing her good work being sent back up.

Hopefully this will be good. I have high hopes for this comic.

First page, when the male lead called Lucien wakes up in the underworld, not remembering who he is, or his own death. he'll remember gradually later. That knife he wakes up next to? Yeah, that's how he died. Of course, there was someone holding that knife at the time. XD



( More Psychopompes sketches below cut )

This comic is in french, but i'm going to try to get some english prints too. :)

- Isa