Who knew Robyn snored? Best to find out now… And a little more fan service today too.
I’m gonna try my best to put out five this week… not because of the confusion of last week, but because the sequence with Robyn this week should be all together. It would lose some impact if you had to wait until next week for the entire sequence to play itself out. I’ve got two done already. We’ll see how it goes.
I have to compliment the drawing software Manga Studio for their incredibly easy to use line tools that made the third panel a breeze to ink. In the day, we would use t-squares to get nice straight lines, but inking with a straight edge of any type is a gamble at best as the ink has a tendency to run *under* the edge and spread like butter, thus ruining a great comic strip. Today’s digital tools eliminate that and then some. I can draw perspectives… that comes from my drafting days (I was going to draw one way or another), so having great line tools just makes my job easier. Nice.
ZZ Top once more. I have most of their stuff and when in the proper mood, this little ol’ band from Texas can get my blood flowing. Their 1983 release “Eliminator” was a big change in their sound and coupled with a trio of sizzling MTV videos, ZZ found a new audience and managed to keep most of their old fans too. I being one of them. Nearly saw ZZ Top in 1976, but the bass player managed to break his leg in a motorcycle accident and canceled the show. Way to go, man. So, here’s “Sleeping Bag” as Robyn could use one in today’s comic.
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In the words of Han Solo, ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this…’
😀
BTW Robyn’s hand in panel 1 is yet another win. Well done!
Without sounding cocky, I can pretty much draw hands now. I hate “standard” poses, so I work with a web cam and study my own hands. You should see the still images I’ve captured… funny as hell.
Whatever works 🙂
BTW I agree with Hughbeehayve – while I DEFINITELY don’t read ‘100 comics strips a day’ (in fact, I read *none*, simply because none of the ones various people have shown me come within an astronomical unit of being good enough visually to bother with), I’ve seen enough to know that your artwork, even though it continues to evolve, is the shiznit.
One of the things that most impresses me is the relative subtlety of your colours. I know you’ve banged on about how hard colouring is, but whatever blood and sweat you’re putting in is totally!worth!it! Other webcomics tend to have this creepy, oily, hyper-real, almost Lovecraftianly alien feel to the colours; yours OTOH are warm and welcoming and, dare I say it, earthy-looking – an Earthling sort of earthiness 😀
… uh, I ,,,uhm … hmmmm. Yep. I remain a very interested and loyal Robyn fan. 😀 How’s she managing to keep frosting from getting all over her ..?
I expect she’s gonna wake up just a tad on the grumpy side. That’s gonna be a cramped and hot little space. Would like to offer her a hot shower, cold beer & rub down at my place to work the kinks out of her neck …
I’m pretty interested to see your comment on Manga Studio. I’ve been eyeing the possibility of getting a copy and trying to teach myself some digital illustration/drawing basics. The package literature sure makes it look interesting, and I’ve seen some pretty solid recommendations around teh ‘Netz.
Considering I’m a complete amateur with no formal training, but I have used Photoshop & Illustrator a fair bit and, when I have time, I do seem to have some sketching talent … would you recommend this as a good one to start with?
I can’t afford more than one package (well, can’t really afford even one, if I’m being serious with myself) … but if I could, would this be The One to invest in? Your humble opinion. Also, I have half a dozen years’ experience drafting & was quite good, very meticulous; although all my tools of that trade were abandoned in Latvia last March … 🙁
(P.S. – see my comment on the last strip for funny music video link.)
You’re like me. Not a trained artist, but have Photoshop experience. The keyboard shortcuts in Manga Studio are the same as Photoshop. Very handy.
I would highly recommend Manga Studio. Start with Debut for $50 and then upgrade if you like it. I have the full version right from the start as I dove in with both feet. I’m that way. But, I did try others and Manga Studio, for me, was the best choice.
I love the pencil mode… looks and feels like a real sketch (all my sketches are done in Manga Studio by the way… I have not done a “real” sketch in years).
I’d have to say the lines and the coloring are totally awesome. I read about 100 comics strips a day and this is one of my faves. I did see ZZ at the Aud in Buffalo, great show, the Degüello tour. The band played on a stage shaped like the state of Texas and feature a maneuver which Hill and Gibbons both tossed their guitars in the air to one another and continued playing, without missing a beat, the other’s instrument. The show did rock and was a total doobiefest.
ZZ has great music and great shows. I didn’t see them in the 80s on the Afterburner tour, but heard it was a gas. Saw them on some damn DTV channel playing in concert just recently and they played their butts off. Old or new songs. You can just tell they’re into it. Plus, they’ve been together for like 40 years now (or close to it). A lot of marriages never make it that far!
And thanks for the compliment on the comic! It means a lot to me. I’m not classically trained as an artist (that may be good or bad depending on your point of view) so when someone takes the time to comment on my style, I get a big kick out of it and it makes my day! You’ve helped start this week off on the right foot!
Now it is a cute snore. When she is 30 years older and 60 lbs heavier it will suck.