Well friends here we are again back on The Isle of Terror after a couple weeks off over the holidays. I hope you liked the Joey-centric intermission. There is a very interesting footnote to be mentioned about this particular strip, it is the first one I digitally toned using my new Wacom tablet. Yup, that's right I finally joined "the now" and got one. Well, the credit all goes to Jillian, she found an awesome deal and made it happen. So the credit is entirely hers.
My hope for the tablet is to speed up the coloring/toning step of the process (which seem's the most laborious IMHO). It's pretty obvious that there's a learning curve but being able to test the waters some with this week's strip gave me hope that this new tool will indeed cut down the production time without sacrificing the quality I want to put into it.
I drew the Checkered Man sketch above in my newly evolving "sketchcard" style over the Christmas holiday and chose it to be the first thing I colored with the tablet. The "sketch" below is my attempt to doodle my layout thumbnails digitally as well. Egad! The sketch below is evidence of such an attempt. Enjoy!
Until next week...
Denver, I liked the intermission strips–hey, I’m just a fan. But, I also bought a Wacom tablet a few months ago. I still haven’t gotten used to it, and I haven’t used it in the manner in which I should, but I think it has definitely helped me with some of the thumbnailing and roughs for my pages. One I get more time (I don’t know from wehre that will come), i hope to really delve into using the tool appropriately. I’m sure you’ll master it in no time.
Love the new page–keep’em coming.
Very nice! And also, there’s something about that last panel and Squid Girl’s pose that really just pops!
Did you update the website’s background, too??
@FRANK: Thank you sir! That’s very encouraging.
@LARRY: I had fun w/ the intermission strips too, and I’d love to do more of those Joey comics when the mood strikes me as well. The tablets fun, but like any other tool (brush, marker, pen, etc.) it takes time to get comfortable with.
@CHAD: Thank you! Yes, I’ve been doing some tinkering with the cosmetic components to the site. Whattya think?
Denver, Glad to have you and TCM back. That’s cool that you got your hands on a wacom. Wasn’t sure which one you got but when I got my intuos I had trouble adjusting at first. What helped me get comfortable was to use the pen and tablet for my day to day mouse. Since I spend more time surfing the interwebs than drawing it helped my quickly learn hand eye coordination and fluidity of motion. Looking forward to more TOTCM!
I think when you get really comfortable, you’ll really be glad you have it. Awesome page today! Loving the story.
Just great, big, bold images. Really great stuff Denver.
welcome to the digital dark side.
Glad to see The Checked Man back. And I also like the subtle website changes you’ve made.
@SEAN: Thanks! I’m glad you like the site changes as well!
Egad, is right! Funny thing I noticed–all the above commenters have their own comic strips (except for me). That must mean that TOACM is the comic strip artist’s comic strip, and also that I should be doing my own comic strip, otherwise I’m the odd man out! Meh, then I’d have to learn how to draw, since I don’t really want to do stick figures.
@MAC: However, one of my all-time favorite cartoonists Matt Feazell is a master at stick figure comics: http://home.comcast.net/~mattfeazell/index.htm Give his work a look! You’ll see! No excuses…
=o)
You’ll have lot’s of fun with that Wacom…. looks like you’ve already started to!
Yikes! All that talk about the “pieces.” You set up the creepy mood really well here.
Squid girl’s “hair” is looking more and more like pigtails every time I see her…
Which is great!