Archive for January, 2009
12 items.
That’s why HDMI has so many gotchas, like HDCP. It would make men obsolete if it were designed for full-house HD video / surround-sound audio distribution. Thankfully those engineers at Scratchmoore Industries know what they’re doing. Maybe we’ll see them again sometime.
Though frankly, I’m still surprised women keep men around what with insect sprays and all-in-one TV/DVD players…
These are definitely two competing parts of my personality. I’ve got lots of ideas I think are great, and instead of failing in execution I just fail to execute entirely. Ideas aren’t worth the bar napkin they’re sketched on. On which they’re sketched. Point being, any sci-fi fan (or scientist) worth his (or her) salt knows people have had ideas that are, quite truly, decades to centuries ahead of their time.
If you have a good idea, go out there and try it out. It doesn’t have to be a world-changing scientific breakthrough. Even simple things, like having the idea to do a comic, can put a smile on a face. Even if it doesn’t work out it’s worth failing in execution. Call it a deferred success if it sounds better, but don’t be too afraid (or lazy) to give it a shot.
And for reference, Amazon is selling “Highest Grade” sea salt for $3.95 per pound. Not including shipping, a 160-pound scientist (we’ll assume they’re tall and gangly) would be worth $632.00 in salt, not including tax and shipping.
I’m trying new shading, trying to convey an evening feeling. I’m not sure it came across, but I’m not entirely dissatisfied with the results. I guess that’s good? I put the lobster back in his Hawaiian shirt because I thought it was pretty funny. I get a kick out of drawing the lobster in different clothes, and I got to play with two outfits this arc.
Unfortunately, my art is getting stale. I’ve been on the express train to Talking Headville lately (that’s a metaphor) and I need to do something to jazz that up. Not sure what yet, but I’ll figure it out eventually. Really, I’m improvising this whole thing as I go along, and I’ve managed to make it 246 installments.
I’m experimenting with different background colors to express different emotions. I’m not happy yet, but I’m still learning. I hope it’s evident that they’re sitting in the car. I didn’t want to draw it twice, especially in 1/4 of the strip space. Also, notice that the grass and sky colors are partially desaturated in the rear-view mirror. I did that to hint at the mirror, and it makes the lobster on his bike pop out. I also darkened his jacket so it didn’t blend in with the road as much, though I could probably do better if I played with it more.
I got a watercolor set over Christmas break and have yet to complete anything with it. I have stuff in progress though. I really need to get back to it. What little I’ve learned so far, though, I’ve been able to start applying to my comic landscapes. The blue highlights in the cloud aren’t quite right, and the tone fading into the foreground for the grass isn’t quite there yet, but my perspective is better. When I get something finished, I’ll be sure to put it in the gallery.
I’m really digging the old guy. I wish I could use these other characters more often, but seeing as I can’t muster 12 panels most weeks (3 updates, 4 panels at best) I don’t know how I’m supposed to do that. I considered today starting blogs for some of the characters. That’d be nice and easy, comparatively: Log in to a pre-built site, dash out the part of the story line you can’t see from the characters’ perspectives, post it. That’d be MUCH quicker than drawing up a few measly panels, and I’d get to use all the stuff I write that I end up dropping to meet (read: run over) my deadlines. Plus, I may be able to do that more often, and if I’m rushed (read: I’m watching 24) I can still post something.
I’ve also toyed with black and white. On the one hand, this is great coloring practice, and I’ve been doing it so long (242 strips, give or take a few uncolored ones) that it would look weird. On the other hand…More updates! It’s a tough call.
Of particular interest in today’s strip, the three ovals are all slightly different, enough to be quite noticeable but not enough (I think) to totally stand out. I did this intentionally. I’m experimenting with different positions/sizes to see what I like. If you have any comments, as always, please speak up. E-mail link is above and I do read (and usually respond, at this point) to every e-mail I get.
I like the old guy. I’ll have to write him in at some point in the future.
I also like the lobster in his Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap. It just seems fitting that he should be dressed up to go out in public. It’s a pretty common theme in surreal comics where animals, aliens, etc. walk around in broad daylight and nobody is the wiser. It’s a stock humor idea, I know, but I enjoy it.