Mt. Moriah Studios

As I mentioned in my previous post, I figured it was time that I started posting some sketches.  This is just something I was messing around with this weekend.  It’s not for anything in particular.  I just wanted to work on a digital technique that I had never tried.  Let me know what you think.  I will post some actual sketch book stuff later in the week.

I am about halfway through with Bone.  It has finally started to pick up and I am really getting into it.  And the Bone web site is full of interesting things about the author/artist (see above link).

This Sundays comic update will be in watercolor. I have always enjoyed working with watercolors. They are quick to dry, and create the most subtle light and shadow effects of any medium. However, they can also be a bit unforgiving if you make a mistake.

Also, I have realized that a blog without pictures can be a bit boring. So next week, I will post some sketches to liven up the party.

Anyway, that’s all for now. New comic Sunday, and more blogging next week. Have a good weekend.

Similar to other cartoonists and artists, I rise early most mornings before anyone else is awake, and spend time writing and drawing.  Of writing and drawing, the writing process is by far the toughest part of my weekly updating process.  I can sit at my drawing board on a Monday and Tuesday morning just staring at a blank piece of paper for two hours; trying to think of something clever to draw.  After two days of this, I start getting paranoid that I don’t have anything else to say artistically; that I’ve tapped all my creative energy forever.  Then, suddenly, something will come to me.  Maybe not the best idea, or the most funny, but an idea none the less.  “Thank God,” I think, “I haven’t totally used up my creative resources.”  I’m sure that I am not alone in this paranoia.  But I DO sometimes get in the dumps; feeling that all my best work is behind me, and that I am just struggling to hang on to the idea of being an artist.  I eventually snap out of it, or at least I don’t think it is as bad as all that, and I continue to work at it.

Speaking of that:  Yesterday I finalized the writing for this week’s comic update.  I didn’t mean for it to have an Easter theme, but it kind of does – well, at least it has bunny rabbits in it.

I’m sure that most of you have visited the Drawn (an  illustration and cartooning blog) site, but if not, it is quite interesting and is full of great links to young cartoonists and illustrators.  I generally check it out a couple times a week, and find that I waste a good half hour jealously drooling over pretty pictures.

I am happy to report that I am finally starting to get into reading Bone.  All of the little side stories are finally starting to come together.

Again, I thought I would share some of my early artistic influences.

Jim Henson:  My sister and I religiously watched the Muppets, and Fragle Rock growing up.  And the last movie I ever went to with my father before he died was Dark Crystal.  Jim Henson and his creatures really fostered my inner artist from a young age, and like my father, he died to young.

Winsor McCay:  I would assume that every cartoonist has been either knowingly, or unknowingly been influenced by the work of Winsor McCay.  He is a cartoonist god.  I don’t know if anyone has ever matched his line work and character rendering.

Again, please share some of your influences in the comments section.  I love to hear about new artists, and what motivates you.

On another note, it’s Monday, so that means I sat in my studio this morning and contemplated the week’s update.  For the first time, I am thinking about creating a sequel to a previous comic.  I’m not totally convinced that I want to revisit old territory, but in the end I may.  What do you think?

I have to confess:  I’m addicted to going to my local library.  I generally go every weekend and check out more books than I could ever read, but I love the idea that I can go in there and take whatever I want – FOR FREE!   One of my recent finds is Bone.  I’m guessing that most of you have seen it, read it, or at least heard of it.  I’m about a third of the way through, but it hasn’t overwhelmed me yet.  I love the line work, but after putting it down after reading a chapter or two, I don’t at all feel compelled to pick it back up.  I’m not sure if I’ll finish it.  Does anyone know if it gets better?  I’m always looking for a good book too, especially Sci-fi.  So if anyone has a good book, or series of books drop a comment.

I’ve started penciling the new comic.  It should be finished on time and consist of nine panels.  Sometimes I have to commit to an idea before I’m fully satisfied with it, but this one I like.  Hopefully you’ll agree.

I’ll post another update on Friday.  Have a good rest of your week.

As I do on most Mondays, today I attempted to narrow down my idea for next Sunday’s comic.  Essentially, that means I sit at my desk for a couple of hours drinking coffee and looking over old scribblings for ideas that might be worth developing into a full comic.  I have a few ideas so far, but we’ll see where it goes.

As I was working, I was also thinking about some of my artistic influences.  Two came to mind…

Richard Scarry , a now deceased children’s book artist who just owns animal caricatures.  As a youngster, I would pour over all the little details of his illustrations.  His line work is so loose, and clean.  Beautiful.

And

Jack Unruh, a commercial illustrator whose work I only recently discovered.  Great stuff.

I’m always interested in checking out different artists, so leave a comment with your biggest influences.   I’ll continue to share some of mine over the coming weeks.

Anyway, I’m not sure if anyone will really enjoy reading about the day-to-day details of my artistic adventures, but I hope to update this site every couple of days or so.  So let me know what you think, or anything you would like to know about my process.