Some time in the sketchbook.

(NOTE: These images are fixed now.)

Blogger is giving me a bit of trouble with the images. I don't have the time to work on getting them to pop up right, so you'll just have to squint to try and make out my handwriting - if you care.

I'm trying to figure this book and these characters out. The kids sometimes feel way too young, but I don't think I mind that so much.


I've been trying to prep myself to start this story. After few days of thoughtful deliberation regarding the nuts and bolts of production (drawing size, materials, etc.) as well at narrative format I think I've got it all figured out. Of course finding myself talking to others about how I plan on working has helped a great deal. Kristie and Jarret both helped me think through my process.

I've got to wait until we get our property taxes paid before I order my art supplies. Just out of curiosity, what is your favorite paper to draw on? I usually love Canson Smooth Bristol; I find that it's better for me than Strathmore 300 or 400.


I'm looking for something even smoother and heavier though. I'm looking to order in bulk online as well. I don't want to spend a fortune on paper.
I'll put a few more sketches up soon.

More from Alabama.

Here are a few more of the 400+ pictures I took back in Alabama this weekend.

My dad prepares some meat while our cat (Catbert the Evil HR Director) hangs out (or hangs over):

I nosed around the woods in Happy Hollow looking for an old mine. I didn't find it, but I think I was really close. I'm going to try and look again in the same area when we go home for the 4th of July.

Sunday was Decoration day at the cemeteries where our family is buried. I didn't take any pictures as Morris Cemetery. This one is from Liberty:

Alabama Report.

A bit of my research while back in Alabama.

Crooked Creek:

Morris:

Mullberry Fork:

Robinwood:

Bangor:

More in the Bangor woods:

An upturned Jeep in the woods.

Bangor Cave. This Cave used to be a sort of night spot in the 1930s. There was a bandstand and a bar and other such facilities deep in this cave.

Now the cave has plenty ofvandalism.

Alright.

Reading and rereading.

The only thing worse than writing a story is having to reread it over and over. I'm already sick of my writing. I've still got a great deal to go. I think I have the story laid out, but the specifics are still a bit thin in places. No dialog yet. I'll work out all of that after I'm sure of how I'm going to lay out the plot.

Kristie helped me put up some shelves in my office. The house is that much closer to a library.

Post Editors' Day - Time to write.

Well. Editors' Day has come and gone. Our department had a lovely bunch of visiting editors that came to visit with the students and review a crazy amount of portfolios. Marvel, DC/Vertigo, TokyoPop, Top Shelf, Alternative Comics, Nickelodeon Magazine, and Devil's Due were are represented. They all spoke highly of the professionalism of our students and how receptive they were of criticism and compliment.

It was good to see Chris Staros and James Lucas Jones again. Very nice fellows. And Mike O'Sullivan is always a hoot and a half. It's great to be able to bring all of the editors in to the department.

Kristie is super busy getting ready for her ICE show in June in Atlanta. I doubt that I'll be able to go up with her because SCAD graduation is that same day. As always I must put my job before family.

Julie's show Whigmaleerie is up at the Gallery Espresso and the reception is this Thursday from 6-8pm. If you are in town, you should stop by. Her work is lovely.

Me? I've been doing a great deal of writing. I'm planning another research trip back home to Alabama next week. I need to have my story completely fleshed out before then so I can know what I need to get while I'm there. This will probably be my last chance to really finish my planning on this story before I get to work on it. I want to have it started well before San Diego Comic Con in late July. I've spent almost the last year researching and planning for this story and I will probably spend the next year (or more) drawing it. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a cruddy book.

This story is very important to me and since it's based on so much speculation and unproven theories I'm having to construct a 'definitive' version for myself of what may have happened to those missing boys in 1956. It tough because sometimes I find contradicting elements that I think are both interesting, but I don't want it to be a multiple choice story (like Hollywoodland), so I have to choose one over the other. I then have to try and make it make sense with all of the other elements. I'm used to writing stories with characters that sort of write themselves. I'm not used to juggling so much action and plot and information.

Any who. Since Kristie and got to go see Meet the Robinsons, I've been enamored with the film. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to whoever thinks that it might not be a good film. I thought it was lovely. Not just because it was in 3D either.

I must get back to writing.

San Francisco Report.

I spend this past weekend in San Francisco. I knew I was in San Francisco (because I got on the right plane and) because the buildings looked like this:

Plus you can see boats in the bay from China Town.


I didn’t take many pictures at the exhibition (because it seems particularly unprofessional in a setting where I’m trying to be as less of a dork as possible).



I had to get a picture of Mike in his mini-comic felt sandwich board:


…as well as this fun drawing on the side of a building.


I was able to talk to many people there (artists and editors and such), and felt really good about the show. APE is the nicest convention that I’ve ever been to. San Diego Comic Con is a great event, but it’s such a circus. APE is a bit more focused and laid back. I was able to talk to editors about coming out for SCAD’s Editors’ Day next spring, and a few artists about Comic Arts Forum in the fall

It seems odd to visit San Francisco because so many of my friends are out there. Patrick (my best man) is still living out there (when he’s not doing lighting design for a traveling show). I got to meet his girlfriend, who is lovely. She designs fancy clothes and owns her own business. We all met on Saturday night and went out for some fancy sushi and Andie met us there. Andie is living in San Francisco while Natasha works on a documentary for a few months. I think they should move to Savannah, but that’s just my opinion.

Then on Sunday night we met Ian, his girlfriend, and his sister. All lovely people. We had some Mexican/South American tapas. Mmmm.

The worst part of the trip was flying back on the plane of course. It was an all day thing.

Now I'm back to working on SCAD paperwork. Ugh.

Getting Ready for APE.

I silk-screened the covers to my book for APE. I had to have Kristie help hang the prints as I pulled them. She also took these pictures.

Notice the FLCL poster on the wall. I had to use my laptop for music since I don’t have a decent sound setup in the garage. The garage is more spacious that it looks.



Don’t ask about the mess I made in the bathroom when I was exposing the screen… We don’t talk about it around the house.

You can read the story here:


I’ve got to figure out a way to keep these files from looking so pixilated online.

Fluke!

Saturday Mike and I travelled up to Athens for the Fluke mini-comics festival. I must say that the show seemed much better than last year. Still a good turn out, but the quality of the work seemed to rise a bit.

Several scad kids were present including Mike (seen above),

Kevin and Tyler (Tyler didn't exhibit),

Jon (and what's-her-name),

Brett,

and Alex.

Those not pictured, but present include: Joe, Barbara, Pranas, Amy, Andrew, and probably someone else I'm forgeting. There were several other scad kids there but weren't exhibiting.

It was a fun show, just as before. After the show we hung out at Drew and Eleanor's little home for quite a while. As to be expected this was delightful. Many thanks to both of them for being so wonderfully hospitable and warm (the transition from the cold night into their heated house was easily the best experience of the chilly night). They have at least one really nice cat - the other I didn't have much a conversation with. It was nice meeting Yoder, Robert, Patrick and Chris Wright. A perfectly delightful evening indeed.

Our cat may not live through the day...

This is why cartoonists who have cats should never leave the lid off the ink when they step away from the drawing.
I've spent the last hour and a half cleaning up cat prints.


Argh.

Still not enough sleep around here.

Kristie's been working hard on her ceramics stuff in preparation for her national TV debut. I've managed to pencil 6 pages in two days time. Tonight I've laid out the rest of the story. I didn't have a steady enough hand to ink, so I'll save that for tomorrow.

Kristie's been up until 4 the last few nights working on her stuff. I just stay up as best I can, I don't have the willpower to stay up like I used to.

I did manage to make my best batch of Welsh Rarebit ever tonight. Kristie even hate it. She responded with a round of cinnamon toast - a Duncan staple of late.

We're watching To Kill a Mocking Bird now. These people sound like they're from Georgia, not Alabama...

I tried to be nice to Kristie, but she made ugly faces at me. I guess I've learned my lesson.

Fluke is next weekend!

Later.