This week we’re joined again by Kevin Cross for a discussion on the various print formats we’ve explored over our publishing histories, highlighting the pros and cons of each. While there are many more formats beyond what we’ve outlined here, we focus on the ones we’ve personally used and share our opinions based on experience. Sizes Standard... [Read more]
This week we explore some of the minor artistic victories we’ve had throughout our own careers in an effort to highlight some strategies we’ve used to improve our cartooning. Listen for some overlap between us and the differences in how we achieved those little triumphs, as it demonstrates how there’s more than one way to punch at... [Read more]
Is inspiration a magical thing that only happens in a place of pristine isolation, capriciously visiting you in your studio only when it sees fit? Of course not! This week we’re joined by Kevin Cross to discuss the techniques we’ve developed over the years to make inspiration part of our daily lives. Some of the techniques/tools we mention... [Read more]
We’re back with another installment of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series, and this time it’s all about digitizing, toning, and coloring! As with previous episodes, we begin with a theoretical discussion on this stage of the process, followed by some practical strategies to make your comic a reality. Theory Considerations when choosing... [Read more]
We tackle two Storrior-provided topics this week with the help of our pal Kevin Cross: First up, at which size should we draw our pages? We break our discussion into the following realms of concern: Artistic advantages/disadvantages of drawing big/small Technical advantages/disadvantages of drawing big/small After that we address a question posed... [Read more]
Inspired by some recent sketches we’ve been working on at the Go! Go! Illustration sketch blog, we tackle the subject of dynamism in comics storytelling. That is to say, how to achieve a sense of movement in our images despite their static nature. We break our discussion into the following realms of concern: Construction Finding the “moments... [Read more]
We jump off of the excitement over today’s news about the new Apple product to have a discussion about what this new device means for the independent creator/publisher, and what it could mean for publishing in general. For the sake of framing the discussion, we feel obliged to point out that we’re operating on the following premises: Apple... [Read more]
It’s a special live recording this week with Barry Gregory and Thomas Florimonte of Ka-Blam Digital Printing, IndyPlanet, and ComicsMonkey! We start with an overview of their print on demand services, how IndyPlanet works as an online fulfillment service, and what they hope to achieve with their latest endeavor, the ComicsMonkey distribution service. Throughout... [Read more]
We’re joined by Kevin Cross and Sara Turner to formally announce the first annual UP! Fair to be held in Lexington, Kentucky this November 19-20! We spend an hour or so discussing our vision for the event, the philosophy behind it, and how you can get involved. If you are an independent cartoonist, we think you’ll get something out of this... [Read more]
We’re back with another installment of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series, and this time it’s all about the inks! As with previous episodes, we begin with a theoretical discussion on this stage of the process, followed by some practical strategies to make your comic a reality. Why use ink at all? Though inking techniques were developed... [Read more]
We close out the year with Sara Turner of Cricket Press and Make Like a Tree Comics for a discussion on what most of us are thinking about this time of year–resolutions. We begin with talking about categorizing our resolutions and “Designing a Narrative” for our projects throughout the year. As we discuss our specific goals for 2010... [Read more]
It’s true, you know. It’s that special time of year, and Mark has decked the halls for the first annual Art & Story Xmas Special! Our musical numbers are punctuated by a series of visits from some very special guests, ready to spread holiday cheer with some great illustration and cartooning content. Guests include: Sara Turner, who stops... [Read more]
This week we answer an email from Storrior Ross Hardy: Ego (The Big Ego?) Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of ego in the comics industry (and I suppose in art in general). I’d love to hear your thoughts on egoism in comics in art, your own struggles with ego, etc. Maybe some advice for budding comics artists about avoiding getting sucked... [Read more]
It’s this year’s last episode of Art & Story Alive! We start with an announcement that we’ll be moving the live show to UStream next year. More details to come soon, but you can get a sense of what the show will look like with some of our test streams currently posted there. Our main topic comes by way of Storrior Mark Harmon: I’d... [Read more]
We’re following up a discussion started in Art & Story 82 -The Big Bad Guy, with a mammoth discussion on some broad archetypes on the other side of the line! We tried to chart these archetypes on a continuum, but we soon discovered that it was nearly impossible. Unlike villains, even the most simplistically written good guys are difficult... [Read more]
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