Friday, July 08, 2005 -- 04:24:39 AM

Scanning has begun on the "24," although four pages remain to be drawn. This as-of-yet-unnamed series of strips will start running on Monday, the 18th of July, and finish up on Friday, the 9th of September. Hopefully by then I'll have re-established some sort of regular computer access.

Thursday, July 07, 2005 -- 02:02:45 AM

I've drawn and inked 16 strips out of the planned 24. Once I get them all done, I've got to scan them in and add the dialogue-- that's the step I expect to be the most tedious and time consuming. All those speech bubbles...

Anyway, I was all psyched up to shell out the money for a really ritzy set of Copic markers when it turned out that I could accomplish what I wanted with a good ol' Crayola magic marker. Nice point for detailed work, broad side for fill work. And since I'm not six years old anymore, I don't mash it into unusability. Go, Crayola!

Wednesday, July 06, 2005 -- 05:44:38 AM

I'm just about a third of the way through drawing the next 24 strips-- I'm doing it in the vein of the 24-hour comic challenge. If you're not familiar with that, it's a dare originally set up by Scott McCloud (he of Understanding Comics fame) to do a 24-page comic, from start to finish, in 24 hours. It won't be exactly that, but it feels similarly rushed. Topping the list of obstacles is the fact that they don't sell Sharpie markers in Turkey, which will make it tough to ink this the way I want to.

Friday, July 01, 2005 -- 04:10:48 AM

One week of work left. Two weeks of computer left. I'm going to have to try and pack my scanner and pen board into my luggage rather than my air freight if I want to get stuff done before October. Gotta find myself a good laptop, too.

Thursday, June 30, 2005 -- 03:06:48 PM

Yep, definitely prefer the improved strip. Inking helps. I'll have most of Monday to work on actual new stuff. Next week is my last week at my current job-- joy abounds!

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 -- 03:40:27 AM

Now that the experiment is under way, it occurs to me that this could end up being really Charles Addams-ish: macabre one-panel gags with a gray scale palette. The problem is, as a fan of Addams' art, I specifically do not want to end up imitating him. Mimicking someone else's style is not my goal. Channeling the spirit of Addams' style, yes, that's something I'd shoot for-- but mere reproduction of his lines would be lazy. Heh, besides, in terms of visual style I'd rather mimic Edward Gorey.

The "Swine & Roses" strip came out looking a little too... Ferdinand the Bull, I guess. Toothless. If I get the time (more receptions this week), I may do a darker version. Something bloody.

Monday, June 27, 2005 -- 04:23:13 PM

The next series of strips is going to be a little free-form, because I'm moving from Istanbul back to Washington, DC, and won't have access to my computer for a while. So, I need to be able to whip up a series of simple strips to act as a buffer/filler. The idea is that the accountant, listening at the window, will hear various snatches and snippets of old club standards. These snippets will in turn inspire weird little bits of imagery. I expect it to be fairly experimental.

Monday, June 27, 2005 -- 12:51:55 PM

Another whole passel of old filler strips have been moved over to the Wasted Views for quick and easy viweing. I've also finally finished titling all the archives. Time for new stuff!

Monday, June 27, 2005 -- 04:23:05 AM

The new site design is now live! Hurrah! Let us all thank the Gopher for his Herculean behind-the-scenes efforts. It now falls upon me to get the strips drawn.

Friday, June 24, 2005 -- 09:44:15 AM

Would you believe I have to go to a barbecue this weekend? And an engagement party? And that I have to take a three hour trip out to Edirne to watch Turkish traditional oil wrestling? Did you know that Turkish traditional oil wrestling involves a couple of hulking, hirsuite guys who spend about half an hour sticking their hands down each other's tight leather pants? Apparently, that's the only way they can get a grip on each other to actually wrestlee. All in all, I'd rather be drawing.

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