Tuesday, October 18, 2011

'Oktopus #1, Page 6'

I never draw vehicles, so this garbage truck took me a lot of effort--and the end result was mixed at best. As challenging as drawing cars is for me, I didn't want to "cater" to my weaknesses when doing this comic. How else am I going to get better if I don't tackle my weaknesses/crutches head-on?

'Oktopus #1, Page 5'

Had fun with this page--the first page in the book that I felt like I wasn't a nervous wreck while drawing. I think the garbage truck was a bit easier to draw from this angle and looks better overall--although it's just a matter of opinion...

'Oktopus #1, Page 4'

Page 4 was very challenging for me--and I would still say the end result leaves a lot to be desired. The garbage truck(that's what the large mass behind Oktopus is supposed to be) was a pain to render. I did attempt to use reference, but I hardly ever draw vehicles, so it didn't come out all that well. Hopefully, I will improve in the future as I continue, and I'll be able to look back on this with humor/horror as the "crude drawing days". Hmm. Maybe. But maybe not. lol.:D

'Oktopus #1, Page 3'

This page was my attempt at "comedic" cartooning--something that I had not practiced seriously up until that point.  I grew up on the more dramatic cartooning (X-Men, Batman, Spawn), and so this was quite a new endeavor for me.  I didn't think I drew this page well, but found that many readers actually like this page, and that the comedy I was aiming for--came cross fairly well.:)  As I'm now actively practicing a more exaggerated, animated style for the future issues of Oktopus, I will more than likely return to this type of cartooning--hopefully a more "refined" type...

'Oktopus #1, Page 2'

Again, This page was my attempt at just "diving right in"--as Cerebus creator Dave Sim suggested.  It took me a few pages to relax.  I don't think I started to relax and accept my style of drawing until around page 5...

'Oktopus #1, Page 1'

The first page of my first official self-published comic book.  The art is quite awkward (in fact, the entire 1st issue is).  All I can say is that it was my first, honest attempt at completing a full story (22 pages of comics) since I was 16 yrs. old.  Funky art or not, I managed to reach the goal, with the help of my wife and friends Andy Iwamasa and Ollie Jenkins, and quite a few others that believed in me and my work.  Lord willing, I'll look back at these pages a decade from now, and casually laugh at its awkwardness.:)