Art & Story http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?cat=362 The Art & Story podcast Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:22:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=Art & Story Art & Story is a weekly podcast where two comics creators share their experiences making comics and try to wrap their brains around the larger ideas behind their chosen art form. We are published creators, we also self-publish, we make webcomics, and we lead comics workshops. You can email us at artandstory-AT-gmail-DOT-com. Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd artandstory@gmail.com artandstory@gmail.com (Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd) Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd The Show That Digs Deep Into the Craft of Cartooning comics, webcomics, writing, art, storytelling, writing, graphic novels, comic books Art & Story http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?cat=362 Art & Story 196 – The Big Finale http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2220 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2220#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:22:13 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2220 It’s the final episode of Art & Story, and we get together for some laughs, some generous voicemails sent in by the Art & Storriors, and some news on what we’re on to next!

First we respond to a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, Art & Storrior #1, followed by some thoughts on letting your constituency have a say in their own involvement in your brand or identity.

We then talk about some of our new projects we plan to move onto:

Mark and Kevin will be starting a new show called Illustration Underground, which promises to be a more raw and visceral form of what you’ve been enjoying here.

Jerzy will continue with his Comics Are Great! podcast updating weekly and broadcast live from the Ann Arbor District Library, featuring a constantly-rotating roundtable of cartoonists and other visual storytellers. The show will continue to be released as an audio and video podcast.

And the whole A&S team (and more!) will be participating in a new online project called Lean Into Art, a service featuring live, interactive visual storytelling and illustration workshops. The project will kick off this November with a month-long “unconference” called 30 Classes in 30 Days!

We then take a listen to a voicemail from Jim Lujan, who offers a farewell to the show.

Then we get “meaty” one last time, taking on an email question from Storrior ec, who asks us for our thoughts on evaluating whether or not one should end a project. Fitting enough topic to close the series on!

We play a few more voicemails at the end, including kind words from Calmplex, Raymond Bonilla, Jon David Guerra, and Ted Seko!

Our deepest thanks to everyone for the support and encouragement we’ve received over the last four years. It means the world to us. And we hope you’ll follow along on our next projects! More great stuff to come!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2220 0 It's the final episode of Art & Story, and we get together for some laughs, some generous voicemails sent in by the Art & Storriors, and some news on what we're on to next! First we respond to a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, Art & Storrior #1, It's the final episode of Art & Story, and we get together for some laughs, some generous voicemails sent in by the Art & Storriors, and some news on what we're on to next! First we respond to a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, Art & Storrior #1, followed by some thoughts on letting your constituency have a say in their own involvement in your brand or identity. We then talk about some of our new projects we plan to move onto: Mark and Kevin will be starting a new show called Illustration Underground, which promises to be a more raw and visceral form of what you've been enjoying here. Jerzy will continue with his Comics Are Great! podcast updating weekly and broadcast live from the Ann Arbor District Library, featuring a constantly-rotating roundtable of cartoonists and other visual storytellers. The show will continue to be released as an audio and video podcast. And the whole A&S team (and more!) will be participating in a new online project called Lean Into Art, a service featuring live, interactive visual storytelling and illustration workshops. The project will kick off this November with a month-long "unconference" called 30 Classes in 30 Days! We then take a listen to a voicemail from Jim Lujan, who offers a farewell to the show. Then we get "meaty" one last time, taking on an email question from Storrior ec, who asks us for our thoughts on evaluating whether or not one should end a project. Fitting enough topic to close the series on! We play a few more voicemails at the end, including kind words from Calmplex, Raymond Bonilla, Jon David Guerra, and Ted Seko! Our deepest thanks to everyone for the support and encouragement we've received over the last four years. It means the world to us. And we hope you'll follow along on our next projects! More great stuff to come! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:22:50 Art & Story 195 – The Big Announcement http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2219 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2219#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:44:46 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2219 [private]We start off this episode talking a bit about Kevin’s recent experience creating the Comfortable Thrashing project on the fly during his weekend at the Portland Zine Symposium, but then we move on to some rather heavy news:

First off, let us start by saying that this wasn’t a decision we came by easily. This has been the result of conversations between the three of us for the past year. We’ve weighed the pros and cons of this decision heavily, with a deep appreciation for what this will mean for the thousands of supporters we’ve enjoyed for the past four years.

As of August 24, 2011, we’re concluding our run of the weekly Art & Story podcast and the Art & Story Supreme service. Episode 195, airing on August 17, contains a full discussion on our thought process behind this decision. Episode 196 will be the final episode.

The full post with details about the show’s cancellation can be found here.

We spend the rest of the episode explaining our thought process behind the decision to end the show, sharing our plans for the future of this series of content, and hint at what’s coming next from all of us.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2219 0 [private]We start off this episode talking a bit about Kevin's recent experience creating the Comfortable Thrashing project on the fly during his weekend at the Portland Zine Symposium, but then we move on to some rather heavy news: First off, [private]We start off this episode talking a bit about Kevin's recent experience creating the Comfortable Thrashing project on the fly during his weekend at the Portland Zine Symposium, but then we move on to some rather heavy news: First off, let us start by saying that this wasn’t a decision we came by easily. This has been the result of conversations between the three of us for the past year. We’ve weighed the pros and cons of this decision heavily, with a deep appreciation for what this will mean for the thousands of supporters we’ve enjoyed for the past four years. As of August 24, 2011, we’re concluding our run of the weekly Art & Story podcast and the Art & Story Supreme service. Episode 195, airing on August 17, contains a full discussion on our thought process behind this decision. Episode 196 will be the final episode. The full post with details about the show's cancellation can be found here. We spend the rest of the episode explaining our thought process behind the decision to end the show, sharing our plans for the future of this series of content, and hint at what's coming next from all of us. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:31:58 Art & Story 194 – The Big Panel Shape http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2206 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2206#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:18:54 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2206 [private]This week we take on a question put to us by Mark Harmon:

How do you approach the panel shapes on a page? Especially when you are working for a client who has in the script the set number of panels already. If I want to break from the “grid” system and do something a little more experimental, how do I make that work and not confuse the reader as to which panel goes first and so on?

We spend an hour or so responding with thoughts on communicating with the client, breaking a page into discrete areas of concern, and our own tastes in regards to panel borders.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2206 0 panel borders,panel composition,panel design,panel structure,storytelling [private]This week we take on a question put to us by Mark Harmon: How do you approach the panel shapes on a page? Especially when you are working for a client who has in the script the set number of panels already. [private]This week we take on a question put to us by Mark Harmon: How do you approach the panel shapes on a page? Especially when you are working for a client who has in the script the set number of panels already. If I want to break from the "grid" system and do something a little more experimental, how do I make that work and not confuse the reader as to which panel goes first and so on? We spend an hour or so responding with thoughts on communicating with the client, breaking a page into discrete areas of concern, and our own tastes in regards to panel borders. Links mentioned in this episode: Mark Harmon's books on The Illustrated Section Radio, Mark and Kevin's new zine The Kickstarter campaign for Mark's Dagon The Front, Chapter 2, Page 2 Jerzy will be speaking at Ignite Great Lakes on July 30 The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:10:55 Art & Story 193 – The Big Dolla http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2198 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2198#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:52:14 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2198 [private]In this episode we hear from Chris Wilson of Creative Independence, discuss some of his ideas for a KickStarter campaign, and finish with more ideas on making those dolla bills as an independent creative.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2198 0 kickstarter,money [private]In this episode we hear from Chris Wilson of Creative Independence, discuss some of his ideas for a KickStarter campaign, and finish with more ideas on making those dolla bills as an independent creative. - Links mentioned in this episode: - [private]In this episode we hear from Chris Wilson of Creative Independence, discuss some of his ideas for a KickStarter campaign, and finish with more ideas on making those dolla bills as an independent creative. Links mentioned in this episode: Mark's KickStarter Campaign Blurb Lulu Josh Ellingson Ryan Estrada Got Print Jim Lujan The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 192 – The Big Serializor http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2183 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2183#comments Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:33:17 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2183 [private]This week we discuss a topic posed by Marshall Couture, asking what are plus and minuses to making serialized comics. We do our best to dig into the the writing and structure side of things as well as what types of stories work and which ones don’t as serialized fiction.

Links mentioned in this episode:
• Jerzy on NPR
• Ignite Great Lakes
• Rob Stenzinger
• Mark’s Dagon Kickstarter campaign
• Kevin’s newly designed site

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2183 1 serialized fiction,story,structure,Writing [private]This week we discuss a topic posed by Marshall Couture, asking what are plus and minuses to making serialized comics. We do our best to dig into the the writing and structure side of things as well as what types of stories work and which ones ... [private]This week we discuss a topic posed by Marshall Couture, asking what are plus and minuses to making serialized comics. We do our best to dig into the the writing and structure side of things as well as what types of stories work and which ones don't as serialized fiction. Links mentioned in this episode: • Jerzy on NPR • Ignite Great Lakes • Rob Stenzinger • Mark's Dagon Kickstarter campaign • Kevin's newly designed site The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:20:17 Art & Story 191 – The Big CMS Decision http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2172 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2172#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2011 22:34:52 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2172 [private]This week it’s all about deciding where to put your content. Hosted wordpress? Tumblr? Posterous? Blogger? Each content management system and service proposes its own pros and cons, and we share our takes on the individual services as best we can.

We also talk a little about Google+, and our opinions may surprise you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2172 1 content,publishing,self promotion,web design,website,webstats [private]This week it's all about deciding where to put your content. Hosted wordpress? Tumblr? Posterous? Blogger? Each content management system and service proposes its own pros and cons, and we share our takes on the individual services as best we ... [private]This week it's all about deciding where to put your content. Hosted wordpress? Tumblr? Posterous? Blogger? Each content management system and service proposes its own pros and cons, and we share our takes on the individual services as best we can. We also talk a little about Google+, and our opinions may surprise you! Links mentioned in this episode: Tumblr Posterous Blogger Google+ Twitter Facebook Wordpress and Wordpress.com The Requiem Metal Podcast Big Illustration Party Time Ghettomation Comics Are Great (and the video podcasts) Mat Nastos Eric Orchard The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:20:17 Art & Story 190 – The Big KickStarter http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2129 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2129#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:28:22 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2129 [private]Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin are joined by Jamie Gambell to discuss the KickStarter campaign he is running for his new comic, with illustrator Jonathan Rector, called Hero Code. The main focus of this discussion is bouncing around ideas and sharing thoughts on running a pledge campaign for your independent project.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, Jamie, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2129 0 [private]Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin are joined by Jamie Gambell to discuss the KickStarter campaign he is running for his new comic, with illustrator Jonathan Rector, called Hero Code. The main focus of this discussion is bouncing around ideas and sharing ... [private]Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin are joined by Jamie Gambell to discuss the KickStarter campaign he is running for his new comic, with illustrator Jonathan Rector, called Hero Code. The main focus of this discussion is bouncing around ideas and sharing thoughts on running a pledge campaign for your independent project. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, Jamie, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 189 – The Big KRC Report III http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2105 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2105#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:57:31 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2105 [private]It’s time once again for a wrap-up of Kids Read Comics! Mark and Jerzy discuss the ups and downs of this year’s event, exploring the takeaways from organizing the show and how it could be used as a model for other conventions.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2105 0 Conventions,kids read comics [private]It's time once again for a wrap-up of Kids Read Comics! Mark and Jerzy discuss the ups and downs of this year's event, exploring the takeaways from organizing the show and how it could be used as a model for other conventions. - [private]It's time once again for a wrap-up of Kids Read Comics! Mark and Jerzy discuss the ups and downs of this year's event, exploring the takeaways from organizing the show and how it could be used as a model for other conventions. Links mentioned in this episode: Decibel Magazine issue 82, featuring an interview with Mark Around the Town with Linda interview with Jerzy Comics Are Great episode 14's video is now available for viewing The Comic Jam! exhibit and opening reception Jono Balliett Zach Bosteel Frank Hansen Rob Stenzinger Brandon Dayton Paul Storrie Rob Worley The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 188 – The Big Guilty Pleasure http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2079 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2079#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:21:44 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2079 [private]Everyone has that one guilty pleasure in their life that they’d like to remain a secret. We’re no different, but we are exposing ours for all to see. In this episode we discuss some of our “guilty pleasures” but soon discover none of our pleasures are guilty ones. Join us in a conversation about intent, context and imagination in storytelling telling’s more “throwaway” fair.

• Frankenstein Jr. & The Impossibles.
• Gobots
• Superfriends
• Commando
• Hawk the Slayer
• Kids Read Comics
• PDX Zine Symposium

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2079 1 guilty pleasures,honesty,story concepts,story deconstruction,storytelling [private]Everyone has that one guilty pleasure in their life that they'd like to remain a secret. We're no different, but we are exposing ours for all to see. In this episode we discuss some of our "guilty pleasures" but soon discover none of our pleas... [private]Everyone has that one guilty pleasure in their life that they'd like to remain a secret. We're no different, but we are exposing ours for all to see. In this episode we discuss some of our "guilty pleasures" but soon discover none of our pleasures are guilty ones. Join us in a conversation about intent, context and imagination in storytelling telling's more "throwaway" fair. • Frankenstein Jr. & The Impossibles. • Gobots • Superfriends • Commando • Hawk the Slayer • Kids Read Comics • PDX Zine Symposium The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 187 – The Big Lovecraft http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2066 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2066#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:59:51 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2066 [private]We love talking about our craft, and in this episode we are joined by Kim Holm to talk about H.P. Lovecraft. Mark and Kim are both doing comic adaptations of Lovecraft stories, so we use that as a spring board to talk about the challenges and thought process of doing adaptations. Of course we talk about Lovecraft as an artist as well.

Click here to read some further thoughts from Kim on H.P. Lovecraft.

Click here to check out Mark’s progress on his adaptation of Lovecraft’s “Dagon”.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, Kim, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2066 0 adaptations,H.P. Lovecraft [private]We love talking about our craft, and in this episode we are joined by Kim Holm to talk about H.P. Lovecraft. Mark and Kim are both doing comic adaptations of Lovecraft stories, so we use that as a spring board to talk about the challenges and ... [private]We love talking about our craft, and in this episode we are joined by Kim Holm to talk about H.P. Lovecraft. Mark and Kim are both doing comic adaptations of Lovecraft stories, so we use that as a spring board to talk about the challenges and thought process of doing adaptations. Of course we talk about Lovecraft as an artist as well. Click here to read some further thoughts from Kim on H.P. Lovecraft. Click here to check out Mark's progress on his adaptation of Lovecraft's "Dagon". The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, Kim, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 186 – The Big Talkie http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2050 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2050#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 20:00:51 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2050 [private]This week it’s just Mark and Jerzy talking, and they’re talking about talking! We take on the “conversation scene” in a comic as a microcosm of all of the storytelling concerns facing a cartoonist. Throughout our discussion we highlight these key areas of consideration when crafting a comics story:

  • Viewing angle
  • Setting
  • Gesture
  • Emotional content
  • Composition

We then offer a few creative exercises to help boost the number of tricks you have in your storyteller bag, from taking candid snapshots at parties to reviewing your Instagram feed.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2050 0 acting,gesture,panel design,panel sequence,panel structure,storytelling [private]This week it's just Mark and Jerzy talking, and they're talking about talking! We take on the "conversation scene" in a comic as a microcosm of all of the storytelling concerns facing a cartoonist. [private]This week it's just Mark and Jerzy talking, and they're talking about talking! We take on the "conversation scene" in a comic as a microcosm of all of the storytelling concerns facing a cartoonist. Throughout our discussion we highlight these key areas of consideration when crafting a comics story: Viewing angle Setting Gesture Emotional content Composition We then offer a few creative exercises to help boost the number of tricks you have in your storyteller bag, from taking candid snapshots at parties to reviewing your Instagram feed. Links mentioned in this episode: Kids Read Comics, and the KRC Contest that ends TODAY! Comics Are Great! starts broadcasting live Wednesdays at 12:30 pm EST The Comic Jam! Exhibit in Chelsea, MI Instagram Twilight Zone The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:12:34 Art & Story 185 – The Big Redbook http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2043 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2043#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 15:00:01 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2043 [private]This week we take on some email questions sent to us by Denver Wagner of the Illopond art group about contacting and doing business with Art Directors:

  • Do you put any images in the body of the e-mail itself?
  • Or do you just have a link to your website?
  • Do you attach a pdf portfolio?
  • How much and what kind of information do you write in the e-mail itself?
  • Do you personalize or write any specific info regarding the company or A.D. on a postcard – or just let the image speak for itself?
  • Is it a waste of time (and money) to send out postcards to the generic “Art Director” title if I can’t find an actual name for the company’s art department?
  • Do you send postcards to local businesses, schools, etc. that don’t have a specific art dept, and if so, who do you address and how do you convey the value of quality art/design to a non-artistically minded person?

We close with some thoughts on the subject of advice, reflecting on a terrific blog post by Phil McAndrew: Super Obvious Secrets That I Wish They’d Teach In Art School. We also talk about why Kevin would never work for Redbook magazine.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2043 0 [private]This week we take on some email questions sent to us by Denver Wagner of the Illopond art group about contacting and doing business with Art Directors: Do you put any images in the body of the e-mail itself? [private]This week we take on some email questions sent to us by Denver Wagner of the Illopond art group about contacting and doing business with Art Directors: Do you put any images in the body of the e-mail itself? Or do you just have a link to your website? Do you attach a pdf portfolio? How much and what kind of information do you write in the e-mail itself? Do you personalize or write any specific info regarding the company or A.D. on a postcard - or just let the image speak for itself? Is it a waste of time (and money) to send out postcards to the generic “Art Director” title if I can’t find an actual name for the company’s art department? Do you send postcards to local businesses, schools, etc. that don’t have a specific art dept, and if so, who do you address and how do you convey the value of quality art/design to a non-artistically minded person? We close with some thoughts on the subject of advice, reflecting on a terrific blog post by Phil McAndrew: Super Obvious Secrets That I Wish They'd Teach In Art School. We also talk about why Kevin would never work for Redbook magazine. Links mentioned in this episode: Kids Read Comics The Comic Jam! Art Exhibition curated by Jerzy The KRC contest, where you can win a free copy of Dave Roman's Astronaut Academy Frank Hansen's Animatic Press About.me The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 53:52 Art & Story 184 – The Big Steemer http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2021 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2021#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 22:49:55 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=2021 [private]This week we’re joined by Jim Lujan for a conversation about animation and how anyone can do it. Catering your animation to your skill set and concentrating on storytelling over refinement, is the takeaway this time. Getting in the trenches and doin’ it. Plus there is a lot of joking around.

Links mentioned this episode:

• Rod Rosse One Man Posse
• Subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel.
• Ghettomation Podcast
•

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=2021 0 animation,cartoons,character,idea generation,storytelling [private]This week we're joined by Jim Lujan for a conversation about animation and how anyone can do it. Catering your animation to your skill set and concentrating on storytelling over refinement, is the takeaway this time. [private]This week we're joined by Jim Lujan for a conversation about animation and how anyone can do it. Catering your animation to your skill set and concentrating on storytelling over refinement, is the takeaway this time. Getting in the trenches and doin' it. Plus there is a lot of joking around. Links mentioned this episode: • Rod Rosse One Man Posse • Subscribe to Jim's YouTube channel. • Ghettomation Podcast • The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:26:04 Art & Story 183 – The Big Mindset http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1991 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1991#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 00:59:23 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1991 [private]Dude, you know what would be funny? Taking a walk through the mind of a cartoonist, that’s what… In this episode we talk about approaches to coming up with ideas for stories, whether we pay attention to our reviews or not, ego searching, the rituals of getting into the mindset of dealing with critics, and finding balance when doing a lot of different kinds of work.

Links mentioned this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1991 0 [private]Dude, you know what would be funny? Taking a walk through the mind of a cartoonist, that's what... In this episode we talk about approaches to coming up with ideas for stories, whether we pay attention to our reviews or not, ego searching, [private]Dude, you know what would be funny? Taking a walk through the mind of a cartoonist, that's what... In this episode we talk about approaches to coming up with ideas for stories, whether we pay attention to our reviews or not, ego searching, the rituals of getting into the mindset of dealing with critics, and finding balance when doing a lot of different kinds of work. Links mentioned this episode: Green Brain Comics Tombs of the Blind Date Super Dinosaur Boulder and Fleet Walking Dead Mouse Guard Mice Templar Redwall Civil War Adventure Storrieville Adobe Ideas Gmail Labs The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 182 – The Big Lifestyle http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1958 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1958#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 02:00:58 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1958 [private]This week we discuss a broad overview of the cartoonist’s lifestyle. Time management, studio setup, exercise, and whether or not a standing desk is useful are all covered as we compare and contrast our different working styles for your consideration.

Links mentioned this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1958 0 freelancing,studio set up,time management [private]This week we discuss a broad overview of the cartoonist's lifestyle. Time management, studio setup, exercise, and whether or not a standing desk is useful are all covered as we compare and contrast our different working styles for your conside... [private]This week we discuss a broad overview of the cartoonist's lifestyle. Time management, studio setup, exercise, and whether or not a standing desk is useful are all covered as we compare and contrast our different working styles for your consideration. Links mentioned this episode: The Animator's Workbook The Ergonomic Knee Chair The Herman Miller Aeron Chair Tweetdeck Instagram Mark and Jerzy's upcoming appearance at Green Brain Comics on Free Comic Book Day The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:26:04 Art & Story 181 – The Big Delivery http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1921 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1921#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:44:18 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1921 [private]This time we talk about various methods for getting your comics work out to a broader audience. Libraries, comic shops, digital devices, conventions and social media are some of the delivery mechanisms we discuss in this fantastic episode of Art & Story.

Some of the links we mention:
• Webcomics Nation
• Brain Burps About Books
• The Illustrated Section
• No Flying No Tights
• Sketchbook Podcast
• Jerzy & Mark’s appearance on Free Comic Book Day

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1921 0 comic shops,delivery methods,digital devices,libraries,tumblr,youtube [private]This time we talk about various methods for getting your comics work out to a broader audience. Libraries, comic shops, digital devices, conventions and social media are some of the delivery mechanisms we discuss in this fantastic episode of A... [private]This time we talk about various methods for getting your comics work out to a broader audience. Libraries, comic shops, digital devices, conventions and social media are some of the delivery mechanisms we discuss in this fantastic episode of Art & Story. Some of the links we mention: • Webcomics Nation • Brain Burps About Books • The Illustrated Section • No Flying No Tights • Sketchbook Podcast • Jerzy & Mark's appearance on Free Comic Book Day The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 180 – The Big Commission http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1897 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1897#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:20:37 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1897 [private]Art & Storrier Number 1, Gerimi Burleigh, called in with a great topic about how he handled commissions at a recent convention. The A&S dudes chew on that meaty hoagie sandwich of content.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1897 1 [private]Art & Storrier Number 1, Gerimi Burleigh, called in with a great topic about how he handled commissions at a recent convention. The A&S dudes chew on that meaty hoagie sandwich of content. - Links Mentioned in this episode: - [private]Art & Storrier Number 1, Gerimi Burleigh, called in with a great topic about how he handled commissions at a recent convention. The A&S dudes chew on that meaty hoagie sandwich of content. Links Mentioned in this episode: Mark's Dark Imagery Lewis in the City Kim Holm Kid's Read Comics Mark Thompson The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 179 – The Big YouTube http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1855 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1855#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:03:34 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1855 [private]This week we’re joined by Jonathan Rector of the new Sketchbook Podcast for a discussion on how one might use video services like YouTube, Vimeo, Ustream, or Justin.TV as part of your identity and marketing for your comic.

There are a ton of links to be shared this episode, starting with a slew of podcasts we talked about:

And we mention these resources to start you on your journey into video:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!
Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1855 3 branding,identity,marketing,self promotion [private]This week we're joined by Jonathan Rector of the new Sketchbook Podcast for a discussion on how one might use video services like YouTube, Vimeo, Ustream, or Justin.TV as part of your identity and marketing for your comic. - [private]This week we're joined by Jonathan Rector of the new Sketchbook Podcast for a discussion on how one might use video services like YouTube, Vimeo, Ustream, or Justin.TV as part of your identity and marketing for your comic. There are a ton of links to be shared this episode, starting with a slew of podcasts we talked about: Javiland Idiot Engine Ghettomation Big Illustration Party Time Requiem Podcast Comics Are Great The Sketchbook Podcast And we mention these resources to start you on your journey into video: Kevin Nalty's book, Beyond Viral Dave Roman's Astronaut Academy trailer Raina Telgemeier's Smile trailer Kevin's Monkey Mod trailer TeacherTube Cocoapotrace (sorry, couldn't find a reliable link on this one yet!) Toon Boom Studio 5 is on sale (at the time of this recording) Audacity The Vimeo app for iOS The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:34:05 Art & Story 178 – The Big Aesthetic Breakdown Forum http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1836 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1836#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:23:22 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1836 [private]This time we talk about the aesthetics of modern design in comics, movies, etc. When you have thousands of options at your fingertips, how do you make a “good” choice? We tackle that question and begin to scratch the surface on what makes a compelling design, beyond just taste.

Some of the links we mention:
• Austin Kleon’s How to Steal Like an Artist
• Mark’s Tombs of the Blind Date Series
 • University of Michigan’s Mini-Comics Day
 • Zach Bosteel’s Steampunk Anthology
 • Kids Read Comics Super Fun Tour
 • Kevin’s blog
 • Colour Lovers
 • Think Ink App for Iphone

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1836 0 aesthetics,Color [private]This time we talk about the aesthetics of modern design in comics, movies, etc. When you have thousands of options at your fingertips, how do you make a "good" choice? We tackle that question and begin to scratch the surface on what makes a co... [private]This time we talk about the aesthetics of modern design in comics, movies, etc. When you have thousands of options at your fingertips, how do you make a "good" choice? We tackle that question and begin to scratch the surface on what makes a compelling design, beyond just taste. Some of the links we mention: • Austin Kleon's How to Steal Like an Artist • Mark's Tombs of the Blind Date Series • University of Michigan's Mini-Comics Day • Zach Bosteel's Steampunk Anthology • Kids Read Comics Super Fun Tour • Kevin's blog • Colour Lovers • Think Ink App for Iphone The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 177 – The Big S.P.A.C.E. http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1803 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1803#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:12:24 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1803 [private]Comic astronauts, Mark Rudolph and Justin Stewart, just got back from S.P.A.C.E. In this episode, they report on their adventures.

Links Mentioned:

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Justin, Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1803 0 Convention,report [private]Comic astronauts, Mark Rudolph and Justin Stewart, just got back from S.P.A.C.E. In this episode, they report on their adventures. - Links Mentioned: Mark's Tumblr Page Sara Turner's Tumblr Page Mark's Zine Pronto [private]Comic astronauts, Mark Rudolph and Justin Stewart, just got back from S.P.A.C.E. In this episode, they report on their adventures. Links Mentioned: Mark's Tumblr Page Sara Turner's Tumblr Page Mark's Zine Pronto Spider-Man New York Stories Marijuana Man Mark's haul from S.P.A.C.E. Square Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Justin, Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 176 – The Big Need For Speed http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1786 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1786#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:20:26 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1786 [private]Fresh off of his new project Pronto, Mark shares with us some thoughts on getting projects done fast. It’s not always as simple as increasing your drawing speed; there are other strategies you can employ to get your project knocked out quicker, and we do our best to highlight some of them:

  • Getting double duty out of your works
  • Focusing on what you’re passionate about
  • Starting with a theme vs. finding a theme

We also spend some time talking drawing tools this episode, specifically Pentel 0.5 mm blue mechanical leads and Copic markers.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1786 0 Artistic Development,Inking,Penciling,time management [private]Fresh off of his new project Pronto, Mark shares with us some thoughts on getting projects done fast. It's not always as simple as increasing your drawing speed; there are other strategies you can employ to get your project knocked out quicker, [private]Fresh off of his new project Pronto, Mark shares with us some thoughts on getting projects done fast. It's not always as simple as increasing your drawing speed; there are other strategies you can employ to get your project knocked out quicker, and we do our best to highlight some of them: Getting double duty out of your works Focusing on what you're passionate about Starting with a theme vs. finding a theme We also spend some time talking drawing tools this episode, specifically Pentel 0.5 mm blue mechanical leads and Copic markers. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:23:40 Art & Story 175 – The Big Cartoon http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1772 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1772#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:06:59 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1772 [private]This time we breakdown several cartoons to see what makes them tick. Everything from premise, color theory, design, pacing and storytelling is put under the microscope for this maiden cartoon voyage.

Some of the series we mention:
• Return to the Planet of The Apes
• Powerpuff Girls
• Rocky & Bullwinkle
• Venture Bros.
• Futurama
• Crusader Rabbit

    We also discuss the genesis of the term John Q. Public, The tragedy of Cap’n Crunch being taken off the market and the mobile phone credit card system, Square.

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1772 2 animation,color theory,design,pacing,story deconstruction [private]This time we breakdown several cartoons to see what makes them tick. Everything from premise, color theory, design, pacing and storytelling is put under the microscope for this maiden cartoon voyage. - Some of the series we mention: [private]This time we breakdown several cartoons to see what makes them tick. Everything from premise, color theory, design, pacing and storytelling is put under the microscope for this maiden cartoon voyage. Some of the series we mention: • Return to the Planet of The Apes • Powerpuff Girls • Rocky & Bullwinkle • Venture Bros. • Futurama • Crusader Rabbit We also discuss the genesis of the term John Q. Public, The tragedy of Cap'n Crunch being taken off the market and the mobile phone credit card system, Square. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 174 – The Big Identity http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1752 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1752#comments Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:27:31 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1752 [private]In this episode we discuss the considerations of handling identity and branding when working in different styles and/or for different age groups.

Links mentioned this episode:

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1752 0 [private]In this episode we discuss the considerations of handling identity and branding when working in different styles and/or for different age groups. - Links mentioned this episode: The Kids Read Comics Extravaganza (March 12) [private]In this episode we discuss the considerations of handling identity and branding when working in different styles and/or for different age groups. Links mentioned this episode: The Kids Read Comics Extravaganza (March 12) Mark wil be at S.P.A.C.E. this March 19 & 20! Girls Drawing Girls Brandon Dayton Kasey Van Hise Beyond Viral Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:27:31 Art & Story 173 – The Big Advocacy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1734 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1734#comments Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:00:31 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1734 [private]This week it’s an off-the-cuff but spirited discussion on the lack of funding for arts education and arts initiatives and what we can do about it! Sans Kevin, we do our best to address the problem of the public’s perception of art (and especially comics). Is it really enough to, as some artists say, “Just Make Good Comics”? What would change if we all got more involved in our local communities and created public comics events? Besides finding some art buddies, what other benefits might come out of it?

We also ask for your opinion on a new Art & Story project. Let us know if you would be interested in A&SU!

Links mentioned this episode:

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1734 2 Conventions,teaching,Teaching Arts [private]This week it's an off-the-cuff but spirited discussion on the lack of funding for arts education and arts initiatives and what we can do about it! Sans Kevin, we do our best to address the problem of the public's perception of art (and especia... [private]This week it's an off-the-cuff but spirited discussion on the lack of funding for arts education and arts initiatives and what we can do about it! Sans Kevin, we do our best to address the problem of the public's perception of art (and especially comics). Is it really enough to, as some artists say, "Just Make Good Comics"? What would change if we all got more involved in our local communities and created public comics events? Besides finding some art buddies, what other benefits might come out of it? We also ask for your opinion on a new Art & Story project. Let us know if you would be interested in A&SU! Links mentioned this episode: Comics Are Great! Episode 12 Jerzy's Ignite Chelsea Talk on the 21st Century Cartoonist (YouTube vid/Audio Podcast) The Kids Read Comics Extravaganza (March 12) Mark wil be at S.P.A.C.E. this March 19 & 20! Mark's new book "My Life With a Meteor Hunter" is on sale now! Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:27:31 Art & Story 172 – The Big Overdoing It http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1700 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1700#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2011 02:00:59 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1700 [private]Today we take on a topic proposed by Ted Seko:

How not to overwork a project… AND not “Underwork” a project…

As we share our thoughts and experiences with this ever-confounding topic, we strike on a number of points, including the following:

  • Perfection is for robots
  • Taking 24 hours to assess a piece
  • Loving the process
  • Knowing when to walk away from a piece

We mention the following links during this episode:

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1700 1 Artistic Process,Process,time management [private]Today we take on a topic proposed by Ted Seko: How not to overwork a project... AND not "Underwork" a project... As we share our thoughts and experiences with this ever-confounding topic, we strike on a number of points, [private]Today we take on a topic proposed by Ted Seko: How not to overwork a project... AND not "Underwork" a project... As we share our thoughts and experiences with this ever-confounding topic, we strike on a number of points, including the following: Perfection is for robots Taking 24 hours to assess a piece Loving the process Knowing when to walk away from a piece We mention the following links during this episode: Art & Story 170 - The Big History Brandon Dayton's excellent post on The Two Devils Steven Pressfield's The War of Art The Big Illustration Party Time podcast has returned! Kids Read Comics Extravaganza, March 12 Mark's new comic My Life with a Meteor Hunter Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:10:46 Art & Story 171 – The Big Doupon http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1677 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1677#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:59:34 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1677 [private]This time we discuss the topic of self-education brought to us by Zach Bosteel. ” I’d really love to see an episode on self-education. When your education (or lack there of) didn’t include all that you want or need to know, how do you structure your time to include study AND drawing?”. We go through our histories of education: what’s worked, what hasn’t and what we needed to learn (or doupon) ourselves.

Some links mentioned in this episode:

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]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1677 2 art school,development,education,self-education,skills [private]This time we discuss the topic of self-education brought to us by Zach Bosteel. " I'd really love to see an episode on self-education. When your education (or lack there of) didn't include all that you want or need to know, [private]This time we discuss the topic of self-education brought to us by Zach Bosteel. " I'd really love to see an episode on self-education. When your education (or lack there of) didn't include all that you want or need to know, how do you structure your time to include study AND drawing?". We go through our histories of education: what's worked, what hasn't and what we needed to learn (or doupon) ourselves. Some links mentioned in this episode: • Jerzy's comic Boulder and Fleet Adventures For Hire. • Mark's mini-comic Clint Coltrane: Meteor Hunter • Kids Read ComicsThe Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 170 – The Big History http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1665 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1665#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:58:30 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1665 [private]This episode we respond to a great topic suggested by our friend, Roger Langridge, in which he says, ” I wouldn’t mind hearing a discussion about the role of knowing your comics history, being familiar with the work of your predecessors – whether it’s a pro or a con in approaching your craft, and why. I can think of arguments for both sides, so it could be interesting.”

Some links mentioned in this episode:

Some links to comic history books mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1665 2 history [private]This episode we respond to a great topic suggested by our friend, Roger Langridge, in which he says, " I wouldn't mind hearing a discussion about the role of knowing your comics history, being familiar with the work of your predecessors w... [private]This episode we respond to a great topic suggested by our friend, Roger Langridge, in which he says, " I wouldn't mind hearing a discussion about the role of knowing your comics history, being familiar with the work of your predecessors - whether it's a pro or a con in approaching your craft, and why. I can think of arguments for both sides, so it could be interesting." Some links mentioned in this episode: Eric Powell's Video( Sorry this video was removed so we can't link to it) Sara Turner Kids Read Comics Brandon Dayton Ignite Ann Arbor Dave Roman Raina Telgemeier Some links to comic history books mentioned in this episode: Kirby: King of Comics The Art of Harvey Kurtzman Tales to Astonish Wally's World Al Williamson: Hidden Lands Winsor McCay: His Life and Art Secrets in the Shadows: The Art & Life of Gene Colan Eisner/ Miller Golden Collection of Krazy Kool Klassic Kids' Komics The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 169 – The Big Mini-Comic http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1640 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1640#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:22:46 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1640 [private]This week we leap off of some discussion that’s been going on around the Mini-Comics Dump Truck to cover why we think making mini-comics are so helpful for the cartoonist in a funk as well as the beginning cartoonist. We highlight some of the benefits to creating a short form mini-comic story: how finishing a mini-comic quickly boosts one’s morale, how the search for perfection can sometimes be antithetical to creativity, and how they can be a terrific means to learn your voice as a storyteller before jumping in to that huge graphic novel project.

Some links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1640 3 Artistic Development,drawing,Mini comics,mini-comics dump truck,Writing [private]This week we leap off of some discussion that's been going on around the Mini-Comics Dump Truck to cover why we think making mini-comics are so helpful for the cartoonist in a funk as well as the beginning cartoonist. [private]This week we leap off of some discussion that's been going on around the Mini-Comics Dump Truck to cover why we think making mini-comics are so helpful for the cartoonist in a funk as well as the beginning cartoonist. We highlight some of the benefits to creating a short form mini-comic story: how finishing a mini-comic quickly boosts one's morale, how the search for perfection can sometimes be antithetical to creativity, and how they can be a terrific means to learn your voice as a storyteller before jumping in to that huge graphic novel project. Some links mentioned in this episode: Mark's process blog on his latest mini-comic Clint Coltrane: Meteor Hunter Kevin's Monkey Mod Jerzy's 1995 mini-comic series The Black Hole Equation Art & Story Alive! Episode 92 where Kevin and Mark talk with the Storriors about the Mini-Comics Dump Truck The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:09:22 Art & Story 168 – The Big Potpourri XIII http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1618 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1618#comments Wed, 26 Jan 2011 06:23:25 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1618 [private]We got a slew of great questions from listeners again this week, so in an effort to please, here goes:

First we start off with a really serious personal question… “Who would the narrator of your life be?”

Then we get the game started as Zach Bosteel steps up to the plate and throws us a curve ball, but we manage to knock it out of the park. He asks how we keep the joy of creativity going in a long-term project and if we leave ourselves room to discover new things along the way?

Next up at bat is Sara King. She lobs us a doosie in the form of taxes and how they pertain to the cartoonist and freelance illustrator.

Heavy-hitter Raul Aguirre JR slam a double with “how do you determine what style you are gonna draw a story in?”

With bases loaded we wind down the show with a titillating conversation about Mark’s new jeans, Jerzy lays down the law about all the exciting things happening with Kids Read Comics 2011 and Kevin makes us all stand up and shout for the Mini-Comics Dump Truck. We love you and sorry for the poor attempt at working sports terminology into the show notes.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1618 0 business,long-term joy,style,Taxes [private]We got a slew of great questions from listeners again this week, so in an effort to please, here goes: - First we start off with a really serious personal question... "Who would the narrator of your life be?" - [private]We got a slew of great questions from listeners again this week, so in an effort to please, here goes: First we start off with a really serious personal question... "Who would the narrator of your life be?" Then we get the game started as Zach Bosteel steps up to the plate and throws us a curve ball, but we manage to knock it out of the park. He asks how we keep the joy of creativity going in a long-term project and if we leave ourselves room to discover new things along the way? Next up at bat is Sara King. She lobs us a doosie in the form of taxes and how they pertain to the cartoonist and freelance illustrator. Heavy-hitter Raul Aguirre JR slam a double with "how do you determine what style you are gonna draw a story in?" With bases loaded we wind down the show with a titillating conversation about Mark's new jeans, Jerzy lays down the law about all the exciting things happening with Kids Read Comics 2011 and Kevin makes us all stand up and shout for the Mini-Comics Dump Truck. We love you and sorry for the poor attempt at working sports terminology into the show notes. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 167 – The Big Broad Stroke http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1597 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1597#comments Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:00:58 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1597 [private]This time we have a bit of an overview conversation about working as professional illustrators. Though the discussion is broad and introductory, we wind up narrowing our beams on the following topics:

  • Pricing our work
  • Finding new jobs
  • Using social media in our promotions

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1597 0 freelancing,pricing,promotion [private]This time we have a bit of an overview conversation about working as professional illustrators. Though the discussion is broad and introductory, we wind up narrowing our beams on the following topics: Pricing our work Finding new jobs [private]This time we have a bit of an overview conversation about working as professional illustrators. Though the discussion is broad and introductory, we wind up narrowing our beams on the following topics: Pricing our work Finding new jobs Using social media in our promotions Links mentioned in this episode: Mail Chimp, an email marketing service Mad Mimi, another email marketing service Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines Rob Stenzinger's comic about the new Mini-Comics Dump Truck project, exclusive to subscribers to Art & Story Supreme! Art & Story Alive! episode 92, where Kevin and Mark talk about the Mini-Comics Dump Truck with the people who are participating in the project Jerzy's Justin TV channel, where you can watch him draw! Applications are open to table at Kids Read Comics! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:17:28 Art & Story 166 – The Big Potpourri XII http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1572 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1572#comments Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:37:25 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1572 [private]Its time to reach into the ole mail bag once again.

First we discuss a question submitted by Jamie Gambell about the pros & cons of self publishing versus pitching to a publisher.

Next we address a question from Jason Giglio on the current state of the illustration industry, as we see it, and how to make it as an illustrator in this crazy economy.

In closing, we touch on a topic submitted by Rene VanBelzen about goal setting versus making New Year’s resolutions.

Link mentioned this episode: “One Phone Call” by Mark Evanier

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1572 2 freelancing,goals,Illustration,publishing [private]Its time to reach into the ole mail bag once again. - First we discuss a question submitted by Jamie Gambell about the pros & cons of self publishing versus pitching to a publisher. - Next we address a question from Jason Giglio on the curre... [private]Its time to reach into the ole mail bag once again. First we discuss a question submitted by Jamie Gambell about the pros & cons of self publishing versus pitching to a publisher. Next we address a question from Jason Giglio on the current state of the illustration industry, as we see it, and how to make it as an illustrator in this crazy economy. In closing, we touch on a topic submitted by Rene VanBelzen about goal setting versus making New Year's resolutions. Link mentioned this episode: "One Phone Call" by Mark Evanier The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 165 – The Big Character IV http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1562 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1562#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:02:17 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1562 [private]It’s been a long time since we’ve tackled the topic of character design, so this one is overdue!

This week we talk about Kevin’s recent experience with the 30 Characters in 30 Days project, and leap off of his observations to dive into our process and thinking strategies when designing our own characters.

Throughout our discussion we cover the following:

  • Using shape to investigate character
  • Working from a personality concept towards the outer appearance
  • Working from a story role to a personality to an outer appearance
  • Working from an outer appearance to a personality
  • The role of line type, style, and abstraction in designing characters

Links mentioned in this episode:
Kids Read Comics – Table applications opening up soon!
Jerzy’s new email newsletter on the Comics Are Great site.
Jerzy’s design for Princess Win
Mark’s Subterra process blog
Kevin’s 30 characters

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1562 1 Character Design,character development,design,Writing [private]It's been a long time since we've tackled the topic of character design, so this one is overdue! - This week we talk about Kevin's recent experience with the 30 Characters in 30 Days project, and leap off of his observations to dive into our ... [private]It's been a long time since we've tackled the topic of character design, so this one is overdue! This week we talk about Kevin's recent experience with the 30 Characters in 30 Days project, and leap off of his observations to dive into our process and thinking strategies when designing our own characters. Throughout our discussion we cover the following: Using shape to investigate character Working from a personality concept towards the outer appearance Working from a story role to a personality to an outer appearance Working from an outer appearance to a personality The role of line type, style, and abstraction in designing characters Links mentioned in this episode: Kids Read Comics - Table applications opening up soon! Jerzy's new email newsletter on the Comics Are Great site. Jerzy's design for Princess Win Mark's Subterra process blog Kevin's 30 characters The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:18:20 Art & Story 164 – The Big Re-evaluation II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1550 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1550#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:44:43 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1550 [private]It’s that time of year again. The time when we have to think realistically about how much time we actually have pursue new projects and how we’ll approach existing ones in the coming year.

We discuss some changes in store for the A&S show and personal strategies for narrowing our focus to maximize the next year.

Links mentioned this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1550 3 Personal projects,priorities,projects,work [private]It's that time of year again. The time when we have to think realistically about how much time we actually have pursue new projects and how we'll approach existing ones in the coming year. - We discuss some changes in store for the A&S show a... [private]It's that time of year again. The time when we have to think realistically about how much time we actually have pursue new projects and how we'll approach existing ones in the coming year. We discuss some changes in store for the A&S show and personal strategies for narrowing our focus to maximize the next year. Links mentioned this episode: Comics Are Great! Laser Beams Go Decibel write up Mark's Etsy store The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:07:33 Art & Story 163 – The Big Potpourri XI http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1541 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1541#comments Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:14:34 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1541 [private]It’s another silly episode this week as we give ourselves a holiday gift by letting our hair down to discuss a bunch of topics potpourri style!

We start off with a discussion of the Rankin/Bass holiday specials and how they took simple Christmas legends and propelled them into the realm of mythology.

We then talk a bit about pricing original artwork. How much should one charge for their work? Should one’s “status” as a cartoonist come into play, and what does the price have to say about the work and about illustration in general?

After that there’s a bit of a tributary as we talk about why we don’t like seeing movies in the theatre anymore, but it doesn’t last long.

We close with some thoughts on the mystery of storytelling and offer a few thoughts on how to kickstart your own story into some kind of narrative shape!

Links mentioned this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1541 0 business practices,cartoons,storytelling,Writing [private]It's another silly episode this week as we give ourselves a holiday gift by letting our hair down to discuss a bunch of topics potpourri style! - We start off with a discussion of the Rankin/Bass holiday specials and how they took simple Chri... [private]It's another silly episode this week as we give ourselves a holiday gift by letting our hair down to discuss a bunch of topics potpourri style! We start off with a discussion of the Rankin/Bass holiday specials and how they took simple Christmas legends and propelled them into the realm of mythology. We then talk a bit about pricing original artwork. How much should one charge for their work? Should one's "status" as a cartoonist come into play, and what does the price have to say about the work and about illustration in general? After that there's a bit of a tributary as we talk about why we don't like seeing movies in the theatre anymore, but it doesn't last long. We close with some thoughts on the mystery of storytelling and offer a few thoughts on how to kickstart your own story into some kind of narrative shape! Links mentioned this episode: Saturday Supercast Episodes 24 and 25 Art & Story 114 - The Big Xmas Special Mark's Etsy store The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:07:33 Art & Story 162 – The Big User Interface http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1515 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1515#comments Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:51:36 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1515 [private]This episode we’re joined by Rob Stenzinger to talk about web site user interface and how to use your comics storytelling skills to create the most appropriate design for your site. We also discuss the workshop he led at the Up! Fair Storytelling to Make Your User Interface Awesome.

Also the following sites/programs appear in our conversation:
Usability.net
UXmyths Blog
Design Critique Podcast
WordPress for Dummies
CSS Edit
Fire Bug add on for Firefox
iPhone App: Think Ink
Rob’s PDF of his UI workshop from the Up! Fair.
Guitar Fretter

Don’t forget the Up! Fair art auction is still going! Thanks to everyone for your support. This auction is to benefit next year’s event.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Rob, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1515 0 UI Design,user interface,web design,wordpress [private]This episode we're joined by Rob Stenzinger to talk about web site user interface and how to use your comics storytelling skills to create the most appropriate design for your site. We also discuss the workshop he led at the Up! [private]This episode we're joined by Rob Stenzinger to talk about web site user interface and how to use your comics storytelling skills to create the most appropriate design for your site. We also discuss the workshop he led at the Up! Fair Storytelling to Make Your User Interface Awesome. Also the following sites/programs appear in our conversation: Usability.net UXmyths Blog Design Critique Podcast Wordpress for Dummies CSS Edit Fire Bug add on for Firefox iPhone App: Think Ink Rob's PDF of his UI workshop from the Up! Fair. Guitar Fretter Don't forget the Up! Fair art auction is still going! Thanks to everyone for your support. This auction is to benefit next year's event. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Rob, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 161 – The Big Teachable Moment II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1500 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1500#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 23:05:51 +0000 Kevin Cross http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1500 [private]Its been since episode 91 that we’ve talked extensively about teaching comics and cartooning, so we are back with a fresh take on the subject. This time we are pleased to be joined by Ben Ivey, who is a Professor of Illustration and Design at Mississippi College. With Ben’s help, we answer why we teach, working with a curriculum and when to improvise, managing a classroom, and how teaching can make us better at our craft. Ben also provided us with a great book recommendation on this subject called “Teaching Illustration” by Steven Heller and Marshall Arisman.

Don’t forget the Up! Fair art auction has begun! Thanks to everyone for your support. This auction is to benefit next year’s event.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Ben, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1500 0 teaching [private]Its been since episode 91 that we've talked extensively about teaching comics and cartooning, so we are back with a fresh take on the subject. This time we are pleased to be joined by Ben Ivey, who is a Professor of Illustration and Design at ... [private]Its been since episode 91 that we've talked extensively about teaching comics and cartooning, so we are back with a fresh take on the subject. This time we are pleased to be joined by Ben Ivey, who is a Professor of Illustration and Design at Mississippi College. With Ben's help, we answer why we teach, working with a curriculum and when to improvise, managing a classroom, and how teaching can make us better at our craft. Ben also provided us with a great book recommendation on this subject called "Teaching Illustration" by Steven Heller and Marshall Arisman. Don't forget the Up! Fair art auction has begun! Thanks to everyone for your support. This auction is to benefit next year's event. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Ben, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 160 – The Big UP! Fair Report http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1481 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1481#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:38:19 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1481 [private]We’re all back and (somewhat) recovered from the UP! Fair, and we’ve gathered some of the event co-organizers to discuss how the darned thing went!

We talk with Sara Turner about some of the work that went on behind the scenes, the Friday night lead-in festivities, and the full day of tabling and programming at the UP! Fair on November 20 in Lexington, Kentucky.

From the UP! Fair website:

Media, and indeed our culture itself, owe a lot to independent creators.

Independent creators invent. Unencumbered by corporate mandates to target the widest possible audience, independent creators often make works of singular vision, servicing the narrowest of niches and sometimes creating entirely new genres.

Independent creators innovate. Whereas a mass media conglomerate must move slowly to adopt new business models, independent creators have the latitude to move quickly with the times, exploring new technologies and delivery mechanisms.

Independent creators inspire. An independent publishing venture is often a financially risky endeavor, so independent creators are primarily motivated by the love of doing what they’re doing. They are accessible to their audiences and to their peers, and they are eager to share their knowledge with others.
They’re excited about the future and their chance to contribute to it. They never stop looking up.

The first annual UP! Fair was conceived of and designed to celebrate these people, their works, and most of all, their philosophy.

The fair will be a free event to the public held in Lexington, Kentucky. Our goals are to promote the works of independent creators, inspire the next generation of authors and cartoonists, and provide resources and learning opportunities for other independent creators. To that end, the event will feature:

  • An exhibition floor featuring independently published authors and cartoonists.
  • Free hands-on workshops and demonstrations led by the guest cartoonists and authors, open to the public.
  • Professional development workshops for independent creators.

Links mentioned in this episode:
The UP! Fair photo galleries
Jerzy and Jim Lujan talk about the Drink & Draw Party on Audioboo
Shawn and Carrie Robare
Jim Lujan
Krishna Sadasivam
Kim Holm
Steve Harpster
Justin Stewart
Rob Stenzinger’s UP! Fair wrapup report

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Sara, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1481 1 Conventions,Workshops [private]We're all back and (somewhat) recovered from the UP! Fair, and we've gathered some of the event co-organizers to discuss how the darned thing went! - We talk with Sara Turner about some of the work that went on behind the scenes, [private]We're all back and (somewhat) recovered from the UP! Fair, and we've gathered some of the event co-organizers to discuss how the darned thing went! We talk with Sara Turner about some of the work that went on behind the scenes, the Friday night lead-in festivities, and the full day of tabling and programming at the UP! Fair on November 20 in Lexington, Kentucky. From the UP! Fair website: Media, and indeed our culture itself, owe a lot to independent creators. Independent creators invent. Unencumbered by corporate mandates to target the widest possible audience, independent creators often make works of singular vision, servicing the narrowest of niches and sometimes creating entirely new genres. Independent creators innovate. Whereas a mass media conglomerate must move slowly to adopt new business models, independent creators have the latitude to move quickly with the times, exploring new technologies and delivery mechanisms. Independent creators inspire. An independent publishing venture is often a financially risky endeavor, so independent creators are primarily motivated by the love of doing what they’re doing. They are accessible to their audiences and to their peers, and they are eager to share their knowledge with others. They’re excited about the future and their chance to contribute to it. They never stop looking up. The first annual UP! Fair was conceived of and designed to celebrate these people, their works, and most of all, their philosophy. The fair will be a free event to the public held in Lexington, Kentucky. Our goals are to promote the works of independent creators, inspire the next generation of authors and cartoonists, and provide resources and learning opportunities for other independent creators. To that end, the event will feature: An exhibition floor featuring independently published authors and cartoonists. Free hands-on workshops and demonstrations led by the guest cartoonists and authors, open to the public. Professional development workshops for independent creators. Links mentioned in this episode: The UP! Fair photo galleries Jerzy and Jim Lujan talk about the Drink & Draw Party on Audioboo Shawn and Carrie Robare Jim Lujan Krishna Sadasivam Kim Holm Steve Harpster Justin Stewart Rob Stenzinger's UP! Fair wrapup report The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Sara, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:07:01 Art & Story 159 – The Big Thanksgiving http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1463 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1463#comments Thu, 25 Nov 2010 04:15:47 +0000 Mark http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1463 [private]We’re back from the UP! Fair and before we give you a full wrap up, we thought it might be nice to take a moment and give thanks for all… well, what we’re thankful for. Joining us live in the studio is Kim Holm.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, Kim & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1463 1 [private]We're back from the UP! Fair and before we give you a full wrap up, we thought it might be nice to take a moment and give thanks for all... well, what we're thankful for. Joining us live in the studio is Kim Holm. - [private]We're back from the UP! Fair and before we give you a full wrap up, we thought it might be nice to take a moment and give thanks for all... well, what we're thankful for. Joining us live in the studio is Kim Holm. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, Kim & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:07:15 Art & Story 158 – The Big Silly http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1443 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1443#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:00:44 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1443 [private]With only a few days until the UP! Fair, we congratulate ourselves for all the show prep by letting our hair down and have a relaxed, somewhat silly conversation about comics. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t slide some content in between the silliness! We start out by taking on some Storrior voicemails:

First we answer a question from Jono, who asks us about where one should stay in Lexington during the UP! Fair. If you’re coming out last-minute, we recommend you stay here.

Then we discuss some questions put to us by Rob Stenzinger, who asks about the future of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series we did a while back and whether or not we might take on a “Business of Comics” series. This leads us into some thoughtful ruminations about the future of the “How To” book.

We then spiral off to talking about a recent two-page spread Mark recently completed, revisiting a topic we haven’t discussed since episode 1 of the Art & Story podcast: Artistic thresholds–what does it take to achieve them, and how are we changed afterwards (special bonus: we rant a bit about the role of “backgrounds” in comics storytelling and some common misconceptions over their usage).

Looking forward to seeing you at the UP! Fair! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for updates all weekend long.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1443 0 Artistic Development,Artistic Process,backgrounds,drawing,Writing [private]With only a few days until the UP! Fair, we congratulate ourselves for all the show prep by letting our hair down and have a relaxed, somewhat silly conversation about comics. But that doesn't mean that we don't slide some content in between t... [private]With only a few days until the UP! Fair, we congratulate ourselves for all the show prep by letting our hair down and have a relaxed, somewhat silly conversation about comics. But that doesn't mean that we don't slide some content in between the silliness! We start out by taking on some Storrior voicemails: First we answer a question from Jono, who asks us about where one should stay in Lexington during the UP! Fair. If you're coming out last-minute, we recommend you stay here. Then we discuss some questions put to us by Rob Stenzinger, who asks about the future of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series we did a while back and whether or not we might take on a "Business of Comics" series. This leads us into some thoughtful ruminations about the future of the "How To" book. We then spiral off to talking about a recent two-page spread Mark recently completed, revisiting a topic we haven't discussed since episode 1 of the Art & Story podcast: Artistic thresholds--what does it take to achieve them, and how are we changed afterwards (special bonus: we rant a bit about the role of "backgrounds" in comics storytelling and some common misconceptions over their usage). Looking forward to seeing you at the UP! Fair! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter for updates all weekend long. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:13:47 Art & Story 157 – The Big Outside Inspiration http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1420 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1420#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2010 02:48:25 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1420 [private]As a counterpoint to last week’s episode, this time we have a discussion on what inspires us and keeps us motivated. We’re joined by Sara Turner for a roundtable on outside influences (meaning beyond comics): What they are, why they thrill us, and how we incorporate those influences into our work.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1420 1 Artistic Development,Artistic Process,idea generation,inspiration,storytelling,Writing [private]As a counterpoint to last week's episode, this time we have a discussion on what inspires us and keeps us motivated. We're joined by Sara Turner for a roundtable on outside influences (meaning beyond comics): What they are, why they thrill us, [private]As a counterpoint to last week's episode, this time we have a discussion on what inspires us and keeps us motivated. We're joined by Sara Turner for a roundtable on outside influences (meaning beyond comics): What they are, why they thrill us, and how we incorporate those influences into our work. Links mentioned in this episode: A past episode of Art & Story Extreme!! where Mark is "interviewed" by William Shatner The UP! Fair is next week! PPV: Pay-Per-View, a mini-series Jerzy did back in 2002 Sara's comics File 49 and The Ghosts of Pineville Silver and the Periodic Forces Sugary Serials Art & Story 82 - The Big Bad Guy Shell Scott pulp novels The Horror Etc podcast The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:21:13 Art & Story 156 – The Big Ennui http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1412 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1412#comments Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:37:55 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1412 [private]This time we share some thoughts on dealing with something a lot of us cartoonists face when the economy gets tough–finding time to draw for yourself when making ends meet. Or, if you can’t find time to draw at all, how do you cope with it? Each of us chimes in with our own answers and methods to this eternal problem.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1412 1 crisis call,time management [private]This time we share some thoughts on dealing with something a lot of us cartoonists face when the economy gets tough--finding time to draw for yourself when making ends meet. Or, if you can't find time to draw at all, how do you cope with it? [private]This time we share some thoughts on dealing with something a lot of us cartoonists face when the economy gets tough--finding time to draw for yourself when making ends meet. Or, if you can't find time to draw at all, how do you cope with it? Each of us chimes in with our own answers and methods to this eternal problem. Links mentioned in this episode: Mark's process blog for his new comic, Subterra The 30 Characters challenge UP! Fair is nearly here! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:08:29 Art & Story 155 – The Big APE 2010 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1366 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1366#comments Wed, 27 Oct 2010 03:02:53 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1366 [private]Kevin’s back for a report on his experiences at APE 2010. Throughout our discussion we highlight some of the changes in the crowds this year, engaging with your audience, and how one must think like an art director when designing a table display.

You can see what the show looked like thanks to this great video by Jim Lujan:

Links mentioned in this episode:

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1366 0 Convention prep,Conventions [private]Kevin's back for a report on his experiences at APE 2010. Throughout our discussion we highlight some of the changes in the crowds this year, engaging with your audience, and how one must think like an art director when designing a table displ... [private]Kevin's back for a report on his experiences at APE 2010. Throughout our discussion we highlight some of the changes in the crowds this year, engaging with your audience, and how one must think like an art director when designing a table display. You can see what the show looked like thanks to this great video by Jim Lujan: Links mentioned in this episode: Art & Story Extreme!!, where Kasey Van Hise and I duke it out over self-promotion Art & Story 124 - The Big Convention Field Guide A recent episode of Art & Story Alive! on the topic of self-promotion and social media nemu*nemu Monster Commute Jim Lujan Raul Aguirre Jr Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier of Comics Bakery Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 21:43 Art & Story 154 – The Big Reboot http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1354 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1354#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:16:24 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1354 [private]It’s about making old things new this week, as we take on a topic supplied by Rene van Belzen:

What to do to revive an old property, how to make more current or fitting to your current work.

We do our best to give an answer to the question, performing some thought experiments with some of our old stinkers of projects as an example. We also share some experiences dusting off some of our old comics properties in the past few years.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1354 2 Character Design,character development,drawing,world building,Writing [private]It's about making old things new this week, as we take on a topic supplied by Rene van Belzen: What to do to revive an old property, how to make more current or fitting to your current work. We do our best to give an answer to the question, [private]It's about making old things new this week, as we take on a topic supplied by Rene van Belzen: What to do to revive an old property, how to make more current or fitting to your current work. We do our best to give an answer to the question, performing some thought experiments with some of our old stinkers of projects as an example. We also share some experiences dusting off some of our old comics properties in the past few years. Links mentioned in this episode: The UP! Fair Kids Comic Con's Kickstarter campaign to get them to Africa Silver and the Periodic Forces (you can read the original 1986 comic here!) The Black Hole Equation, a mini-comic series Jerzy did in 1995 The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:10:48 Art & Story 153 – The Big Potpourri X http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1342 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1342#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:44:56 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1342 [private]It’s a classic yet new episode of Art & Story, as Mark and Jerzy take on an episode sans Kevin Cross! We answer some Storrior mail this episode, tackling two topics put to us by Jon David Guerra of Nightmare Pro Wrestling and Kaiki of http://kaiki.me:

Here’s what Kaiki was wondering about collaborations:

Collaborations, what should a writer bring? Who decides pacing via panels? The gritty stuff.

We then do our best to answer the question Jon had for us:

I’m planning on doing a homage to a scene from TF the movie (animated). Can I get the reader to differentiate between homage & rip-off?

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1342 1 collaboration,Personal projects,projects,Writing [private]It's a classic yet new episode of Art & Story, as Mark and Jerzy take on an episode sans Kevin Cross! We answer some Storrior mail this episode, tackling two topics put to us by Jon David Guerra of Nightmare Pro Wrestling and Kaiki of http://k... [private]It's a classic yet new episode of Art & Story, as Mark and Jerzy take on an episode sans Kevin Cross! We answer some Storrior mail this episode, tackling two topics put to us by Jon David Guerra of Nightmare Pro Wrestling and Kaiki of http://kaiki.me: Here's what Kaiki was wondering about collaborations: Collaborations, what should a writer bring? Who decides pacing via panels? The gritty stuff. We then do our best to answer the question Jon had for us: I'm planning on doing a homage to a scene from TF the movie (animated). Can I get the reader to differentiate between homage & rip-off? Links mentioned in this episode: The NEW Art & Storriors Studio blog, inspired by the A&S Challenges spearheaded by Bob Learned! Art & Story 97 - The Big Storrie Art & Story 78 - The Big Value Paul Storrie UP! Fair, this November 19th and 20th! Jon's Nightmare Pro Wrestling webcomic Art & Story Supreme PPV: Pay-Per-View, a comic by Jerzy Drozd and Tom Root The Galactic League of Marshals, a comic by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd Kim Holm and Jerzy duke it out on Art & Story Extreme!! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:07:49 Art & Story 152 – The Big Critique http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1312 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1312#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 04:18:01 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1312 [private]This time it’s all about evaluating and empowering each other with peer critiques, and we’re happy to have a special guest in the roundtable to discuss the subject. Jono Balliett recently led a fantastic workshop at the Ann Arbor District Library’s Comic Artists Forum on the topic, so we’re grateful to have him aboard to help us discuss what makes for a successful critique.

Topics covered include:

Elements of design

  • Form
  • Line
  • Shape
  • Color
  • Texture
  • Space
  • Value

Principals of design

  • Emphasis
  • Balance
  • Harmony
  • Variety
  • Movement
  • Rhythm
  • Proportion
  • Unity

Jono included in his workshop a terrific video animatic demonstrating a critique gone wrong, which you can see in this highlight reel from the workshop below:

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1312 1 Artistic Development,Artistic Process,critique,critiquing [private]This time it's all about evaluating and empowering each other with peer critiques, and we're happy to have a special guest in the roundtable to discuss the subject. Jono Balliett recently led a fantastic workshop at the Ann Arbor District Libr... [private]This time it's all about evaluating and empowering each other with peer critiques, and we're happy to have a special guest in the roundtable to discuss the subject. Jono Balliett recently led a fantastic workshop at the Ann Arbor District Library's Comic Artists Forum on the topic, so we're grateful to have him aboard to help us discuss what makes for a successful critique. Topics covered include: Elements of design Form Line Shape Color Texture Space Value Principals of design Emphasis Balance Harmony Variety Movement Rhythm Proportion Unity Jono included in his workshop a terrific video animatic demonstrating a critique gone wrong, which you can see in this highlight reel from the workshop below: Links mentioned in this episode: Jono's comic Smedley An interview on the Spark podcast with Clifford Nass about his book The Man Who Lied to His Laptop The UP! Fair is coming soon! Art & Story Supreme, our premium service where you can get 29 extra shows a month plus videos and forum access! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:09:51 Art & Story 151 – The Big Process III http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1283 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1283#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:44:20 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1283 [private]Jumping off of the discussion we had last week, we dive into some process talk as we develop and update our new comics. How has our individual approaches to our projects’ process changed over the years? We talk extensively about the work Mark’s been doing documenting his process on his blog, and touch on the following talking points:

  • Junk writing
  • Taking a break from your notes as you write and edit
  • Creating “promo images” based on other stories/films/comics you may like
  • Finding surprises in the writing process

At the time of this post, there’s less than 24 hours to lend your support to the UP! Fair Kickstarter fundraiser! Make a pledge and get cool stuff!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1283 1 Artistic Process,Character Design,drawing,Thumbnailing,Writing [private]Jumping off of the discussion we had last week, we dive into some process talk as we develop and update our new comics. How has our individual approaches to our projects' process changed over the years? [private]Jumping off of the discussion we had last week, we dive into some process talk as we develop and update our new comics. How has our individual approaches to our projects' process changed over the years? We talk extensively about the work Mark's been doing documenting his process on his blog, and touch on the following talking points: Junk writing Taking a break from your notes as you write and edit Creating "promo images" based on other stories/films/comics you may like Finding surprises in the writing process At the time of this post, there's less than 24 hours to lend your support to the UP! Fair Kickstarter fundraiser! Make a pledge and get cool stuff! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:02:30 Art & Story 150 – The Big Neue Project http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1273 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1273#comments Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:05:51 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1273 [private]For our 150th episode we talk about the special concerns and considerations that face a cartoonist when starting a new project, particularly a personal project. How much research is appropriate before setting pencil to paper? What kind of scheduling works to ensure that you finish what you start? Are there any aspects of your comic project that might inspire new methods of spreading the word or delivering the comics to your audience?

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] ]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1273 2 distribution,marketing,Personal projects,print comics,projects,webcomics [private]For our 150th episode we talk about the special concerns and considerations that face a cartoonist when starting a new project, particularly a personal project. How much research is appropriate before setting pencil to paper? [private]For our 150th episode we talk about the special concerns and considerations that face a cartoonist when starting a new project, particularly a personal project. How much research is appropriate before setting pencil to paper? What kind of scheduling works to ensure that you finish what you start? Are there any aspects of your comic project that might inspire new methods of spreading the word or delivering the comics to your audience? Links mentioned in this episode: Mark's progress blog on his new project Subterra Kevin's Monsters Are Go! Kim Holm's Space Monkey The Your Comic From The Ground Up series The UP! Fair The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:13:39 Art & Story 149 – The Big SPX http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1250 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1250#comments Fri, 17 Sep 2010 21:42:51 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1250 [private]We’re back from the Small Press Expo, and we’re pleased to have Sara Turner on for a report on the event! Throughout our discussion we do our best to paint a picture of the event, highlighting some takeaways and lessons learned from tabling there, as well as some comparisons/contrasts with other events we’ve attended.

Some useful tabling tips discussed:

  • Give the attendees something “to do” at your table
  • Printing different books at similar sizes, maximizing table space and creating a pleasing display
  • Verticality vs laying items flat on the table
  • Having a focus on what items you want people to purchase

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1250 0 Conventions,marketing,table setup [private]We're back from the Small Press Expo, and we're pleased to have Sara Turner on for a report on the event! Throughout our discussion we do our best to paint a picture of the event, highlighting some takeaways and lessons learned from tabling th... [private]We're back from the Small Press Expo, and we're pleased to have Sara Turner on for a report on the event! Throughout our discussion we do our best to paint a picture of the event, highlighting some takeaways and lessons learned from tabling there, as well as some comparisons/contrasts with other events we've attended. Some useful tabling tips discussed: Give the attendees something "to do" at your table Printing different books at similar sizes, maximizing table space and creating a pleasing display Verticality vs laying items flat on the table Having a focus on what items you want people to purchase Links mentioned in this episode: The UP! Fair is looking for art and book donations Dave Roman & The Comics Bakery Kasey Van Hise Mark Mariano Krishna Sadasivam The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:04:38 Art & Story 148 – The Big Digital Distribution Debate http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1221 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1221#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:27:43 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1221 [private]

Paul and Jerzy face off again!

This week we’re graced with the return of an old friend of the show, Paul Storrie, who sits in to discuss some thoughts on the future of comics and distribution models. Recently Mark Waid made some remarks on the topic during his keynote at the Harvey Awards, and we do our best to parse what he said and debate the pros, cons and difficulties that face us comics creators in the decades to come.

Some of the points we discussed:

  • Proprietary formats (iPad, Android, Kindle, etc): Facing creating a version for every OS.
  • Aspect ratios of various reading devices: without standardization, reading experience will be somewhat hamstrung by the device through which one reads.
  • Archiving. Will these formats be around in years to come? How does the obsolescence of last year’s technologies affect how we keep books around?
  • Theft. Is it a concern?
  • Giving back to the culture. How important is it?

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1221 15 copyright,distribution,marketing,new media [private] - This week we’re graced with the return of an old friend of the show, Paul Storrie, who sits in to discuss some thoughts on the future of comics and distribution models. Recently Mark Waid made some remarks on the topic during his keynote a... [private] This week we’re graced with the return of an old friend of the show, Paul Storrie, who sits in to discuss some thoughts on the future of comics and distribution models. Recently Mark Waid made some remarks on the topic during his keynote at the Harvey Awards, and we do our best to parse what he said and debate the pros, cons and difficulties that face us comics creators in the decades to come. Some of the points we discussed: Proprietary formats (iPad, Android, Kindle, etc): Facing creating a version for every OS. Aspect ratios of various reading devices: without standardization, reading experience will be somewhat hamstrung by the device through which one reads. Archiving. Will these formats be around in years to come? How does the obsolescence of last year’s technologies affect how we keep books around? Theft. Is it a concern? Giving back to the culture. How important is it? Links mentioned in this episode: The Big iPad Jerzy's appearance on Ted Seko's Idiot Engine podcast The UP! Fair's Kickstarter drive Jerzy and Mark will be at SPX this weekend! Paul Storrie (and Stan Lee!) will be at Detroit Fanfare The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:24:40 Art & Story 147 – The Big Zine http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1211 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1211#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:00:50 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1211 [private]We often talk about the web, apps, and print-on-demand as means for the independent publisher to bring their work to a widening and enthusiastic audience. However, all of these methods require some level of technical skill, some degree of research and study in order to avail one’s self of the technologies of the day. To that last point, these technologies are always changing. There is always a new challenge in clearly incorporating one’s art and ideas into an enjoyable form for their readers.

What if I were to tell you that there’s a tried-and-true technological standard that’s been in existence for decades, where all you truly need is a pencil, paper, and access to a photocopy shop in order to turn your ideas into a hand-held object for others to enjoy? What if this method was even more immediate and intimate than a blog, where your readers truly felt that they were engaged with what you had to say?

Welcome to the world of zines. We take an hour and change to talk about the philosophy and ethic behind zine making, how they relate to comics and comics publishing, and the role librarians are playing in keeping the medium alive. We even share a few resources on how to get your zine into public and private libraries!

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1211 0 Mini comics,publishing,publishing models,self promotion [private]We often talk about the web, apps, and print-on-demand as means for the independent publisher to bring their work to a widening and enthusiastic audience. However, all of these methods require some level of technical skill, [private]We often talk about the web, apps, and print-on-demand as means for the independent publisher to bring their work to a widening and enthusiastic audience. However, all of these methods require some level of technical skill, some degree of research and study in order to avail one’s self of the technologies of the day. To that last point, these technologies are always changing. There is always a new challenge in clearly incorporating one’s art and ideas into an enjoyable form for their readers. What if I were to tell you that there’s a tried-and-true technological standard that’s been in existence for decades, where all you truly need is a pencil, paper, and access to a photocopy shop in order to turn your ideas into a hand-held object for others to enjoy? What if this method was even more immediate and intimate than a blog, where your readers truly felt that they were engaged with what you had to say? Welcome to the world of zines. We take an hour and change to talk about the philosophy and ethic behind zine making, how they relate to comics and comics publishing, and the role librarians are playing in keeping the medium alive. We even share a few resources on how to get your zine into public and private libraries! Links mentioned in this episode: What is a Zine? video from the Baltimore County Public Library Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine? Library collections of zines (University, Public, and Private) Jono's zine how-to video Wired article on the future of media distribution through apps (thanks, Dave Anderson!) Issuu Jerzy's 1995 mini-comic, The Black Hole Equation Brandon Dayton Mark and Jerzy will be at the Small Press Expo this September 11-12! RADIO: Truly Crucial Rock N Roll, a new zine by Mark and Kevin, is on sale now! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729 [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 40:22 Art & Story 146 – The Big Funk Breaker II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1163 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1163#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:00:53 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1163 [private]It’s our third anniversary, and to celebrate we take a step back to revisit a topic we haven’t broached since our first and sixty-fourth episodes; namely, how to break an artistic funk and increase your visual vocabulary.

We share a bunch of exercises and strategies for conquering new territories in your art, including:

  • Examining other artist’s styles and experimenting with them
  • Creating small projects and adding only one new element you’re not used to drawing
  • The 12/12 Experiment (See A&S 31 & 36)
  • Setting strict time limits when sketching things you’re not used to drawing
  • Collecting and examining art books of all kinds

Books mentioned in this episode:

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1163 1 artistic developmet,Artistic Process [private]It's our third anniversary, and to celebrate we take a step back to revisit a topic we haven't broached since our first and sixty-fourth episodes; namely, how to break an artistic funk and increase your visual vocabulary. - [private]It's our third anniversary, and to celebrate we take a step back to revisit a topic we haven't broached since our first and sixty-fourth episodes; namely, how to break an artistic funk and increase your visual vocabulary. We share a bunch of exercises and strategies for conquering new territories in your art, including: Examining other artist's styles and experimenting with them Creating small projects and adding only one new element you're not used to drawing The 12/12 Experiment (See A&S 31 & 36) Setting strict time limits when sketching things you're not used to drawing Collecting and examining art books of all kinds Books mentioned in this episode: Links mentioned in this episode: Mark and Kevin's new Radio 'zine is now for sale Kevin will be at the Portland Zine Symposium August 28 & 29 Kasey Van Hise's Winters in Lavelle audio commentary featuring co-host Jerzy Jerzy and Mark will be at SPX this September Kim Holm's Cartoonarchy Krishna Sadasivam's new portfolio site Art & Story Supreme, where you can get access to the A&S forums! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:04:32 Visual Cues Pt 2 – Line http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1155 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1155#comments Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:48:13 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1155 [private] We’re back with a new episode of our Visual Cues series, where we’ll be exploring the various aspects of visual storytelling that add up to what some of us call “style”. This time we wonder aloud about the role of line in visual storytelling, citing our own works as well as the works of others as a basis of meditation.

We set forth to answer the following questions:

What do lines indicate or suggest?

  • Emotion
  • Energy
  • Tone
  • Texture

What qualities differ in lines between artists’ styles?

  • Value
  • Roughness
  • Smoothness
  • Density (highly rendered images vs countour)

We talk about the following cartoonists throughout our discussion:

  • Michael Cho
  • Walt Simonson
  • Walt Kelly
  • Charles Burns
  • R. Crumb
  • Ernie Colon
  • Bernie Wrightson
  • Jack Davis
  • Harvey Kurtzman
  • Barry Windsor-Smith
  • Masatsuki Yamakami
  • Cyril Pedrosa
  • Craig Thompson

See ALL of the examples we talked about during our discussion here!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1155 1 drawing,line value,storytelling,visual cues [private] We're back with a new episode of our Visual Cues series, where we’ll be exploring the various aspects of visual storytelling that add up to what some of us call “style”. This time we wonder aloud about the role of line in visual storytelling, [private] We're back with a new episode of our Visual Cues series, where we’ll be exploring the various aspects of visual storytelling that add up to what some of us call “style”. This time we wonder aloud about the role of line in visual storytelling, citing our own works as well as the works of others as a basis of meditation. We set forth to answer the following questions: What do lines indicate or suggest? Emotion Energy Tone Texture What qualities differ in lines between artists' styles? Value Roughness Smoothness Density (highly rendered images vs countour) We talk about the following cartoonists throughout our discussion: Michael Cho Walt Simonson Walt Kelly Charles Burns R. Crumb Ernie Colon Bernie Wrightson Jack Davis Harvey Kurtzman Barry Windsor-Smith Masatsuki Yamakami Cyril Pedrosa Craig Thompson See ALL of the examples we talked about during our discussion here! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 24:40 Art & Story 145 – The Big Intervention http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1136 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1136#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:22:20 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1136 [private]This week we spend an hour and a half talking about the sea change that’s been happening in the world of conventions. With new shows popping up like Intervention, the Up! Fair, and Kids Read Comics, all featuring a heavy a focus on interactive workshops and a spotlight on the independent creators, some questions arise: Why is the open sharing of information and expertise so important with these new shows? If we accept the notion that access to learning materials has never been easier thanks to the internet, why attend these physical shows at all? What makes these shows different than the traditional North American comics convention?

We tackle these questions and more with the organizers of the Intervention, Onezumi Hartstein and James Harknell, as well as Intervention guest and Art & Story Alive! co-host Krishna Sadasivam. Throughout our discussion we attempt to get to the heart of our philosophies behind our upcoming conventions/conferences/fairs.

You can help raise funds for the Up! Fair and get cool stuff! Check out our Kickstarter page for more info.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1136 0 Conventions,marketing,teaching [private]This week we spend an hour and a half talking about the sea change that's been happening in the world of conventions. With new shows popping up like Intervention, the Up! Fair, and Kids Read Comics, [private]This week we spend an hour and a half talking about the sea change that's been happening in the world of conventions. With new shows popping up like Intervention, the Up! Fair, and Kids Read Comics, all featuring a heavy a focus on interactive workshops and a spotlight on the independent creators, some questions arise: Why is the open sharing of information and expertise so important with these new shows? If we accept the notion that access to learning materials has never been easier thanks to the internet, why attend these physical shows at all? What makes these shows different than the traditional North American comics convention? We tackle these questions and more with the organizers of the Intervention, Onezumi Hartstein and James Harknell, as well as Intervention guest and Art & Story Alive! co-host Krishna Sadasivam. Throughout our discussion we attempt to get to the heart of our philosophies behind our upcoming conventions/conferences/fairs. You can help raise funds for the Up! Fair and get cool stuff! Check out our Kickstarter page for more info. Other links mentioned in this episode: Only a few days left to apply for a table at the Up! Fair Onezumi & Harknell's recent appearance on the TGT Webcomics podcast Frumph.net Brandon Dayton and Kevin Cross will be appearing at the Portland Zine Symposium at the end of this month Mark and Jerzy will be at SPX this September 11-12 The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:33:33 Art & Story 144 – The Big Re-Evaluation http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1114 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1114#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:35:06 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1114 [private]Today we get a little candid with the listeners and share some of our frustrations and disappointments in our workflow over the last few years. We take this as an opportunity to re-evaluate our personal project productivity as well as re-evaluate our growth as cartoonists by revisiting some of our old notes and projects. Will we ever learn to bite off more than we can chew? What are the warning signs that you’re taking on too many things at once?

Throughout our discussion we highlight the following areas of concern:

  • Time management
  • Identifying projects we are invested in vs ones we can table for another time
  • Prioritizing our projects
  • Note taking strategies

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1114 0 Artistic Development,artistic growth,Personal projects,time management [private]Today we get a little candid with the listeners and share some of our frustrations and disappointments in our workflow over the last few years. We take this as an opportunity to re-evaluate our personal project productivity as well as re-evalu... [private]Today we get a little candid with the listeners and share some of our frustrations and disappointments in our workflow over the last few years. We take this as an opportunity to re-evaluate our personal project productivity as well as re-evaluate our growth as cartoonists by revisiting some of our old notes and projects. Will we ever learn to bite off more than we can chew? What are the warning signs that you're taking on too many things at once? Throughout our discussion we highlight the following areas of concern: Time management Identifying projects we are invested in vs ones we can table for another time Prioritizing our projects Note taking strategies Links mentioned in this episode: The Up! Fair Kickstarter fundraiser Less than 2 weeks left to apply for a table at the Up! Fair! Mark's recent appearance on The Idiot Engine Mark's Curse of the Pharaohs The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 54:43 Art & Story 143 – The Big Potpourri IX http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1089 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1089#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:43:12 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1089 [private]It’s another multi-topic episode this week as we answer some questions from you, the Storriors!

We start with some talk on continuity in comics storytelling as we respond to a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, who was himself responding to something Kim Holm said in a recent episode of Art & Story Extreme!!. Does continuity automatically take the fun out of a story? Does it always make things more serious?

We then respond to a wondering pitched at us by Jonathan Rector: What strategies are available to pare down a story in order to fit a certain page size? How do we tame the flood of creativity that comes with making art on a regular basis?

After that we take on some questions emailed to us by Robert May:

With regards to conventions I was wondering how you guys come up with prints and other merch that aren’t comic books or mini-comics. By that I mean how do you come up with subject matter for prints or shirts or buttons? Is it all related to your personal creations or do you have a few references to more “mainstream” things like GI Joe, Batman, Transformers, etc. at your tables? And as a sub-question to that, does your process for prints follow the same process as your comic pages or do you spend a lot more time in inking and clean-up to create the highest quality for sale?

And

I currently work as a freelance graphic designer, and it makes me enough to pay the bills, but not a whole lot more than that. I want to expand to more potential clients and shift my focus more on to illustration and less on design. Could you share some tips on getting more gigs that have worked for you?

Don’t forget–applications to table at the Up! Fair will only be accepted until August 15, 2010! Sign up now!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1089 1 Conventions,marketing,promotion,storytelling,Writing [private]It's another multi-topic episode this week as we answer some questions from you, the Storriors! - We start with some talk on continuity in comics storytelling as we respond to a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, [private]It's another multi-topic episode this week as we answer some questions from you, the Storriors! We start with some talk on continuity in comics storytelling as we respond to a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, who was himself responding to something Kim Holm said in a recent episode of Art & Story Extreme!!. Does continuity automatically take the fun out of a story? Does it always make things more serious? We then respond to a wondering pitched at us by Jonathan Rector: What strategies are available to pare down a story in order to fit a certain page size? How do we tame the flood of creativity that comes with making art on a regular basis? After that we take on some questions emailed to us by Robert May: With regards to conventions I was wondering how you guys come up with prints and other merch that aren't comic books or mini-comics. By that I mean how do you come up with subject matter for prints or shirts or buttons? Is it all related to your personal creations or do you have a few references to more "mainstream" things like GI Joe, Batman, Transformers, etc. at your tables? And as a sub-question to that, does your process for prints follow the same process as your comic pages or do you spend a lot more time in inking and clean-up to create the highest quality for sale? And I currently work as a freelance graphic designer, and it makes me enough to pay the bills, but not a whole lot more than that. I want to expand to more potential clients and shift my focus more on to illustration and less on design. Could you share some tips on getting more gigs that have worked for you? Don't forget--applications to table at the Up! Fair will only be accepted until August 15, 2010! Sign up now! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 23:45 Art & Story 142 – The Big Logo http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1075 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1075#comments Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:43:01 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1075 [private]Logos we've usedThis week we take on a topic put to us by Michael Cruz: What is our creative process on designing comics project logos? In a bit of a freeform discussion (with a few technical glitches) we break the topic down into the following realms of concern:

  • Whether to title your story with a specific audience in mind
  • Aesthetic integration
  • Modifying an out-of-the-box font
  • Color balance

Don’t forget–applications to table at the Up! Fair will only be accepted until August 15, 2010! Sign up now!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1075 1 design,fonts,Lettering [private]This week we take on a topic put to us by Michael Cruz: What is our creative process on designing comics project logos? In a bit of a freeform discussion (with a few technical glitches) we break the topic down into the following realms of conc... [private]This week we take on a topic put to us by Michael Cruz: What is our creative process on designing comics project logos? In a bit of a freeform discussion (with a few technical glitches) we break the topic down into the following realms of concern: Whether to title your story with a specific audience in mind Aesthetic integration Modifying an out-of-the-box font Color balance Don't forget--applications to table at the Up! Fair will only be accepted until August 15, 2010! Sign up now! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:15:17 Art & Story 141 – The Big Online Presence http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1041 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1041#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:00:11 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1041 [private]It’s a bit of a business-y discussion this week as we talk with special guest panelist Dan Nowak about building an online presence. Dan helps us walk through the basics of purchasing a URL, exploring hosting options, and good use of design and social media to promote your project. Is your content more important than your site’s “message”? Or is the “message” what drives people to enjoy your content? What are the pros and cons of “free” hosting services vs. paid hosting? We kick around a few thoughts to get to the bottom of these questions and more.

Links mentioned this episode:

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy,  Kevin, & Dan on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1041 3 branding,business model,hosting,marketing [private]It's a bit of a business-y discussion this week as we talk with special guest panelist Dan Nowak about building an online presence. Dan helps us walk through the basics of purchasing a URL, exploring hosting options, [private]It's a bit of a business-y discussion this week as we talk with special guest panelist Dan Nowak about building an online presence. Dan helps us walk through the basics of purchasing a URL, exploring hosting options, and good use of design and social media to promote your project. Is your content more important than your site's "message"? Or is the "message" what drives people to enjoy your content? What are the pros and cons of "free" hosting services vs. paid hosting? We kick around a few thoughts to get to the bottom of these questions and more. Links mentioned this episode: Domain.com Dreamhost Host Gator Media Temple Laughing Squid Bluehost Webcomics Nation Drunk Duck Blogger 1 & 1 Hosting Squarespace Blubrry Powerpress Wordpress Backup Piknik Books mentioned in this episode: The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy,  Kevin, & Dan on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:31:34 Art & Story 140 – The Big Memoir http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1020 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1020#comments Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:16:21 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=1020 [private]This week we’re happy to have special guest panelist Raina Telgemeier aboard to discuss making a memoir comic, using her new book Smile as our basis for meditation on the topic.

We approach the discussion under the following realms of concern:

Sincerity

  • How important is it to you to put yourself back in the mindset of the time in which you are writing about? If it is important, how do you achieve that?

Writing Process

  • Writing at the thumbs, or start with notes/script? How is this different than fiction?
  • Paneling. Was the traditional layouts of the pages a deliberate choice? Would a non-traditional panel layout be inappropriate for this kind of story?

Construction/Art

  • Brush inks. How does this change your process of rendering non-organic elements?
  • First person POV in some shots. How does this change our relationship with the main character?
  • Color vs. Black and White. How did this decision change the way the book was marketed?

And for those interested in getting a free hardcover copy of Smile, you can enter to win it by posting a link to Raina’s Website on Twitter or Facebook between now and midnight EDT, July 14! Just email the link to your post to artandstory-AT-gmail-DOT-com to enter. The winner will be randomly selected to receive a hardcover edition absolutely free!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy,  Kevin, & Raina on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=1020 0 Artistic Process,autobio,drawing,Inking,Writing [private]This week we’re happy to have special guest panelist Raina Telgemeier aboard to discuss making a memoir comic, using her new book Smile as our basis for meditation on the topic. - We approach the discussion under the following realms of conce... [private]This week we’re happy to have special guest panelist Raina Telgemeier aboard to discuss making a memoir comic, using her new book Smile as our basis for meditation on the topic. We approach the discussion under the following realms of concern: Sincerity How important is it to you to put yourself back in the mindset of the time in which you are writing about? If it is important, how do you achieve that? Writing Process Writing at the thumbs, or start with notes/script? How is this different than fiction? Paneling. Was the traditional layouts of the pages a deliberate choice? Would a non-traditional panel layout be inappropriate for this kind of story? Construction/Art Brush inks. How does this change your process of rendering non-organic elements? First person POV in some shots. How does this change our relationship with the main character? Color vs. Black and White. How did this decision change the way the book was marketed? And for those interested in getting a free hardcover copy of Smile, you can enter to win it by posting a link to Raina's Website on Twitter or Facebook between now and midnight EDT, July 14! Just email the link to your post to artandstory-AT-gmail-DOT-com to enter. The winner will be randomly selected to receive a hardcover edition absolutely free! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy,  Kevin, & Raina on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 23:34 Art & Story 139 – The Big Publishing Debate http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=971 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=971#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:00:33 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=971 [private]To self-publish or to seek a publisher? It’s a tough question, and the short answer is “It depends on the project.” Still, we take time this week to explore some of the pros and cons of each side, citing our own experiences to back up our points.

Pros:

Self-Publishing

  • More control to express the artist’s ideas
  • Wider range of formats available to the artist
  • Variety of marketing strategies available

Traditional Publishing

  • Editorial input
  • Deeper understanding of marketing
  • Larger pool of marketing resources
  • Perceived respectability

Cons:

Self-Publishing

  • Lack of resources for marketing/promotion
  • Artist must also be a businessperson

Traditional Publishing

  • Editorial input may compromise artist’s vision
  • Difficult to get published by some publishing houses

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=971 0 marketing,publishing,publishing models [private]To self-publish or to seek a publisher? It's a tough question, and the short answer is "It depends on the project." Still, we take time this week to explore some of the pros and cons of each side, citing our own experiences to back up our poin... [private]To self-publish or to seek a publisher? It's a tough question, and the short answer is "It depends on the project." Still, we take time this week to explore some of the pros and cons of each side, citing our own experiences to back up our points. Pros: Self-Publishing More control to express the artist's ideas Wider range of formats available to the artist Variety of marketing strategies available Traditional Publishing Editorial input Deeper understanding of marketing Larger pool of marketing resources Perceived respectability Cons: Self-Publishing Lack of resources for marketing/promotion Artist must also be a businessperson Traditional Publishing Editorial input may compromise artist's vision Difficult to get published by some publishing houses The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:10:46 Art & Story 138 – The Big Personal Project http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=969 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=969#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:00:33 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=969 [private]With Kids Read Comics behind us, we look ahead to the remaining months of the year and feel excitement about taking on some new comics projects. This week we share some of our thinking process, creative strategies, and execution/distribution ideas for personal projects we plan to take on later this year.

Don’t forget: Applications for table space at the Up! Fair will be accepted until August 15!

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=969 0 Artistic Process,drawing,Process,Writing [private]With Kids Read Comics behind us, we look ahead to the remaining months of the year and feel excitement about taking on some new comics projects. This week we share some of our thinking process, creative strategies, [private]With Kids Read Comics behind us, we look ahead to the remaining months of the year and feel excitement about taking on some new comics projects. This week we share some of our thinking process, creative strategies, and execution/distribution ideas for personal projects we plan to take on later this year. Don't forget: Applications for table space at the Up! Fair will be accepted until August 15! Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:07:55 Art & Story 137 – The Big KRC Report II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=951 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=951#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:00:57 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=951 [private]

L to R: Krishna Sadasivam, Jerzy Drozd, Kevin Cross, Mark Rudolph, and Sara Turner

In part two of our Kids Read Comics 2010 wrap up, we reflect a bit on the event and our experiences there. We follow this up with the recording we did at KRC on Sunday, June 13, 2010. For the first time ever, all of the Art & Story hosts were in the same place!

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=951 1 Conventions,podcasting,teaching,Teaching Arts [private] - In part two of our Kids Read Comics 2010 wrap up, we reflect a bit on the event and our experiences there. We follow this up with the recording we did at KRC on Sunday, June 13, 2010. For the first time ever, [private] In part two of our Kids Read Comics 2010 wrap up, we reflect a bit on the event and our experiences there. We follow this up with the recording we did at KRC on Sunday, June 13, 2010. For the first time ever, all of the Art & Story hosts were in the same place! Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:27:14 Art & Story 136 – The Big KRC Report I http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=948 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=948#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:13:57 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=948 [private]

L to R: Krishna Sadasivam, Brandon Dayton, Ryan Estrada, Mark Rudolph, Jerzy Drozd, Kevin Cross, Laura Cross, and Sara Turner.

During the weekend of Kids Read Comics 2010, Jerzy recorded a handful of AudioBoo mini-casts with Mark, Kevin, and a bunch of the great guests who came from all over the world to be a part of the event.

We’ve collected these mini-casts into this special extra episode of Art & Story, so you can listen in one sitting to our reactions and experiences over the weekend as they happened. Pay special attention to a story that’s told around the 47 minute mark–it’s truly the best comics story you’re likely to hear.

Folks appearing throughout the episode:
Sara Turner
Anne Drozd
Krishna Sadasivam
Roger Langridge
Brandon Dayton
Ryan Estrada
Jono
Zach Bosteel
Stephanie

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
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Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=948 0 Conventions,teaching,Teaching Arts [private] - During the weekend of Kids Read Comics 2010, Jerzy recorded a handful of AudioBoo mini-casts with Mark, Kevin, and a bunch of the great guests who came from all over the world to be a part of the event. - [private] During the weekend of Kids Read Comics 2010, Jerzy recorded a handful of AudioBoo mini-casts with Mark, Kevin, and a bunch of the great guests who came from all over the world to be a part of the event. We've collected these mini-casts into this special extra episode of Art & Story, so you can listen in one sitting to our reactions and experiences over the weekend as they happened. Pay special attention to a story that's told around the 47 minute mark--it's truly the best comics story you're likely to hear. Folks appearing throughout the episode: Sara Turner Anne Drozd Krishna Sadasivam Roger Langridge Brandon Dayton Ryan Estrada Jono Zach Bosteel Stephanie Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:03:52 Art & Story 135 – The Big Potpourri VIII http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=941 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=941#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:49:51 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=941 [private]This week we let our hair down a bit with a mail bag episode, and we’re joined in-studio by Roger Langridge!

Together, we take on some questions from the Art & Storriors:

Kyle Smart asks us to weigh the pros and cons between some popular different digital comics formats (PDF, CBR, Epub, and Apps).

Gerimi Burleigh (Art & Storrior #1) requests some brief discussion on whether or not we indy creators should accept credit cards at conventions, and if so, which ones?

We then answer a voicemail from a listener who asks us about our respective processes. How do we know when to stop noodling and move on? How does one streamline an artistic process?

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=941 0 Artistic Process,Conventions,distribution,format,Process [private]This week we let our hair down a bit with a mail bag episode, and we're joined in-studio by Roger Langridge! - Together, we take on some questions from the Art & Storriors: - Kyle Smart asks us to weigh the pros and cons between some popular... [private]This week we let our hair down a bit with a mail bag episode, and we're joined in-studio by Roger Langridge! Together, we take on some questions from the Art & Storriors: Kyle Smart asks us to weigh the pros and cons between some popular different digital comics formats (PDF, CBR, Epub, and Apps). Gerimi Burleigh (Art & Storrior #1) requests some brief discussion on whether or not we indy creators should accept credit cards at conventions, and if so, which ones? We then answer a voicemail from a listener who asks us about our respective processes. How do we know when to stop noodling and move on? How does one streamline an artistic process? Links mentioned in this episode: ProPay Square Comical FFView Art & Story Extreme!! - Nicknames!! In which Sara Turner describes her experience using ProPay The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:03:46 Art & Story 134 – The Big All Ages Debate http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=916 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=916#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:27:30 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=916 [private]As we gear up for Kids Read Comics, we’re joined by guest panelist Dan Mishkin for a discussion about the importance and validity of All Ages Comics. In an attempt to put this one to rest once and for all, Jerzy assumes the role of the person arguing against All Ages Comics, with Dan, Mark, and Kevin arguing pro.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=916 2 audience,format,storytelling,theme,Writing [private]As we gear up for Kids Read Comics, we're joined by guest panelist Dan Mishkin for a discussion about the importance and validity of All Ages Comics. In an attempt to put this one to rest once and for all, [private]As we gear up for Kids Read Comics, we're joined by guest panelist Dan Mishkin for a discussion about the importance and validity of All Ages Comics. In an attempt to put this one to rest once and for all, Jerzy assumes the role of the person arguing against All Ages Comics, with Dan, Mark, and Kevin arguing pro. Links mentioned in this episode: Kids Read Comics The Art & Story Contest - ENDS JUNE 5! Art & Story Supreme The Up! Fair The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:16:41 Art & Story 133 – The Big Dialogue http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=898 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=898#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 02:00:51 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=898 [private]This week we have an informal conversation about our own thoughts on writing dialogue in comics. We bounce around many different aspects of the topic, ranging from rhythmic choices to more visual approaches such as when one should and shouldn’t bold text. Towards the end we get on a minor tangent about the role of color in comics storytelling, but it stems from a wondering we have over whether or not it’s appropriate to use different word balloon styles in one’s comic.

Topics covered:

  • Getting inside your characters
  • Asking yourself :Is this the way only this character can say this?
  • Listening for vocal rhythms in your dialogue
  • Font and lettering style choices

Some books to check out for terrific lettering and how-tos:

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=898 0 characters,dialogue,Word Balloons,Writing [private]This week we have an informal conversation about our own thoughts on writing dialogue in comics. We bounce around many different aspects of the topic, ranging from rhythmic choices to more visual approaches such as when one should and shouldn'... [private]This week we have an informal conversation about our own thoughts on writing dialogue in comics. We bounce around many different aspects of the topic, ranging from rhythmic choices to more visual approaches such as when one should and shouldn't bold text. Towards the end we get on a minor tangent about the role of color in comics storytelling, but it stems from a wondering we have over whether or not it's appropriate to use different word balloon styles in one's comic. Topics covered: Getting inside your characters Asking yourself :Is this the way only this character can say this? Listening for vocal rhythms in your dialogue Font and lettering style choices Some books to check out for terrific lettering and how-tos: Links mentioned in this episode: We're giving away a free subscription to Art & Story Supreme! Kids Read Comics - This June 12 & 13 The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:16:36 Art & Story 132 – The Big POV http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=872 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=872#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 15:59:00 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=872 [private]“What I told you was true–from a certain point of view”
– You know who said this, come on.

A critical element in telling your story is which point of view you decide to use. This week we’re joined by Brandon Dayton for a discussion on the various types of POV we have to choose from, what each one’s strengths and weaknesses are, and how they can be applied specifically in comics storytelling.

We begin with some definitions of the various narrative modes:

From Wikipedia:

First-person narrative is a narrative mode where a story is narrated by one character at a time, who explicitly refers to themselves using words and phrases involving “I” (referred to as the first-person singular) and/or “We” (the first-person plural). This allows the reader or audience to see the point of view (including opinions, thoughts, and feelings) only of the narrator, and no other characters. In some stories, first-person narrators may refer to information they have heard from the other characters, in order to try to deliver a larger point of view. Other stories may switch from one narrator to another, allowing the reader or audience to experience the thoughts and feelings of more than one character.

The second-person narrative is a narrative mode in which the protagonist or another main character is referred to by employment of second-person personal pronouns and other kinds of addressing forms, for example the English second-person pronoun “you”.

The third-person omniscient is a narrative mode in which both the reader and author observe the situation either through the senses and thoughts of more than one character, or through an overarching godlike perspective that sees and knows everything that happens and everything the characters are thinking. Third-person omniscient is virtually always the narrative mode chosen for sprawling, epic stories such as J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, George Eliot’s Middlemarch, or the great Russian novels of the nineteenth century.

We spend a bit of time discussing “Third Person Limited Omnicient”, which most comics seem to use.

After this we refer to Brandon’s blog post on Point of View and creating empathy for our characters. We use examples like Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” and the French film “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” to illustrate how telling your story from a certain character’s point of view can drastically change how your reader interprets your story.

Books and films mentioned in this episode:

Links mentioned in this episode:
- Kids Read Comics
- Shrem Cohen’s Cartoon Snap blog
- The Man Vs. Art Podcast
- Brandon’s blog and artcasts

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=872 4 character,character development,storytelling,themes,Writing [private]"What I told you was true--from a certain point of view" – You know who said this, come on. - A critical element in telling your story is which point of view you decide to use. This week we're joined by Brandon Dayton for a discussion on the... [private]"What I told you was true--from a certain point of view" – You know who said this, come on. A critical element in telling your story is which point of view you decide to use. This week we're joined by Brandon Dayton for a discussion on the various types of POV we have to choose from, what each one's strengths and weaknesses are, and how they can be applied specifically in comics storytelling. We begin with some definitions of the various narrative modes: From Wikipedia: First-person narrative is a narrative mode where a story is narrated by one character at a time, who explicitly refers to themselves using words and phrases involving "I" (referred to as the first-person singular) and/or "We" (the first-person plural). This allows the reader or audience to see the point of view (including opinions, thoughts, and feelings) only of the narrator, and no other characters. In some stories, first-person narrators may refer to information they have heard from the other characters, in order to try to deliver a larger point of view. Other stories may switch from one narrator to another, allowing the reader or audience to experience the thoughts and feelings of more than one character. The second-person narrative is a narrative mode in which the protagonist or another main character is referred to by employment of second-person personal pronouns and other kinds of addressing forms, for example the English second-person pronoun "you". The third-person omniscient is a narrative mode in which both the reader and author observe the situation either through the senses and thoughts of more than one character, or through an overarching godlike perspective that sees and knows everything that happens and everything the characters are thinking. Third-person omniscient is virtually always the narrative mode chosen for sprawling, epic stories such as J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, George Eliot's Middlemarch, or the great Russian novels of the nineteenth century. We spend a bit of time discussing "Third Person Limited Omnicient", which most comics seem to use. After this we refer to Brandon's blog post on Point of View and creating empathy for our characters. We use examples like Kurosawa's "Rashomon" and the French film "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" to illustrate how telling your story from a certain character's point of view can drastically change how your reader interprets your story. Books and films mentioned in this episode: Links mentioned in this episode: - Kids Read Comics - Shrem Cohen's Cartoon Snap blog - The Man Vs. Art Podcast - Brandon's blog and artcasts The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Audio hosting for Art & Story is provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:11:08 Art & Story 131 – The Big Chief Emotion http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=854 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=854#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 22:47:49 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=854 [private]This week we focus once more on character design, but specifically about finding and expressing the inner lives of your comics characters in a single image!

Based off of one of Jerzy’s classroom activities, we talk about finding and drawing your character’s “Chief Emotion”. We’ve talked in past A&S episodes about the value of creating a one-line description, or log line, for each of your characters. The description becomes a yard stick to measure your writing by, to see if you’re staying true to the character throughout the story. Eventually you throw out the description as you get to know the character better, but it’s a wonderful starting point. But can you also create that log line visually? If so, how?

As is our want, we break our discussion into a series of concerns as a means to dig at the topic.

The Log Line
The character’s “theme”. This is different than story theme. Story theme is what you’re trying to say with the work, what the message is. The character’s “theme” is a summary of why they do what they do. Their motivation. There can be layers and contradictions in your character, but most people can be summed up with a general expression of who they are. The Transformers File card.

Examples:
Peter Keating (The Fountainhead) – I’m Only as Good as They Say I am. (NEEDS others to validate his talent, and even his existence)
Peter (The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe) – Adventure
Edmund (The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe) – Danger
Conan – Self-Made Man
Spider-man – Responsibility

Gesture/Body Language
The Spine: A key element of a pose. Demonstrates the level of energy in an action. Betrays the emotional status of the character. (Hunched shoulders: Glum, frustrated. Arched forward: Dangerous, coiled. Arched back: Proud, shocked)

Arms & Legs: Expansive poses demonstrate receptiveness & ease (imagine a car salesman with his lower arms spread wide, elbows locked at the hips VS same guy with arms outstretched wide), but also can be used to express shock and alarm (though your character’s chief emotion isn’t “shock and alarm”, is it?). Or insanity, depending on how twisted and/or energetic the pose.

Off-Balance Pose: Suggests insecurity, inappropriately casual behavior (Dick & Torpedo Black’s poses in The Front, Chapter 2, Page 22).

Balanced Pose: Suggests rigidity, confidence, or sophistication.

Facial Expression: Many of the same elements of pose apply to facial expressions. Wide, expansive expressions can demonstrate receptiveness, but can also be used to show manic behavior. Imbalance can demonstrate sophisticated emotions, a casual personality, or insecurity.

Character Shape: Angular vs rounded: Can indicate a characters inner life. More angular shapes coupled with line style being more jagged and deliberate can represent a harsher/angrier tone, while softer more symmetrical shapes can communicate a more approachable, identifiable character. Also reoccurring angles/lines within a character can further reinforce a tone, for instance a stoic character who is frowning, incorporate that same angle into his jaw shape, check bones and eye shapes.

Exercise
Write out some general or abstract emotions (cheerfulness, frustration, avoidance, generosity). Draw a shape that corresponds to each emotion. Try to map your character’s body language to that shape.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=854 2 acting,character,Character Design,drawing,gesture,Writing [private]This week we focus once more on character design, but specifically about finding and expressing the inner lives of your comics characters in a single image! - Based off of one of Jerzy's classroom activities, [private]This week we focus once more on character design, but specifically about finding and expressing the inner lives of your comics characters in a single image! Based off of one of Jerzy's classroom activities, we talk about finding and drawing your character's "Chief Emotion". We've talked in past A&S episodes about the value of creating a one-line description, or log line, for each of your characters. The description becomes a yard stick to measure your writing by, to see if you're staying true to the character throughout the story. Eventually you throw out the description as you get to know the character better, but it's a wonderful starting point. But can you also create that log line visually? If so, how? As is our want, we break our discussion into a series of concerns as a means to dig at the topic. The Log Line The character's "theme". This is different than story theme. Story theme is what you're trying to say with the work, what the message is. The character's "theme" is a summary of why they do what they do. Their motivation. There can be layers and contradictions in your character, but most people can be summed up with a general expression of who they are. The Transformers File card. Examples: Peter Keating (The Fountainhead) - I'm Only as Good as They Say I am. (NEEDS others to validate his talent, and even his existence) Peter (The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe) - Adventure Edmund (The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe) - Danger Conan - Self-Made Man Spider-man - Responsibility Gesture/Body Language The Spine: A key element of a pose. Demonstrates the level of energy in an action. Betrays the emotional status of the character. (Hunched shoulders: Glum, frustrated. Arched forward: Dangerous, coiled. Arched back: Proud, shocked) Arms & Legs: Expansive poses demonstrate receptiveness & ease (imagine a car salesman with his lower arms spread wide, elbows locked at the hips VS same guy with arms outstretched wide), but also can be used to express shock and alarm (though your character's chief emotion isn't "shock and alarm", is it?). Or insanity, depending on how twisted and/or energetic the pose. Off-Balance Pose: Suggests insecurity, inappropriately casual behavior (Dick & Torpedo Black's poses in The Front, Chapter 2, Page 22). Balanced Pose: Suggests rigidity, confidence, or sophistication. Facial Expression: Many of the same elements of pose apply to facial expressions. Wide, expansive expressions can demonstrate receptiveness, but can also be used to show manic behavior. Imbalance can demonstrate sophisticated emotions, a casual personality, or insecurity. Character Shape: Angular vs rounded: Can indicate a characters inner life. More angular shapes coupled with line style being more jagged and deliberate can represent a harsher/angrier tone, while softer more symmetrical shapes can communicate a more approachable, identifiable character. Also reoccurring angles/lines within a character can further reinforce a tone, for instance a stoic character who is frowning, incorporate that same angle into his jaw shape, check bones and eye shapes. Exercise Write out some general or abstract emotions (cheerfulness, frustration, avoidance, generosity). Draw a shape that corresponds to each emotion. Try to map your character's body language to that shape. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy & Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:24:31 Art & Story 130 – The Big Man Vs. Art http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=827 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=827#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 22:50:03 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=827 [private]We have a special guest panelist for this week’s episode–Raul Aguirre Jr., host of the fun and insightful Man Vs. Art podcast! Raul, a veteran animator and cartoonist, sits down with us to discuss how we have to think visually when writing comics or storyboarding, and share some strategies we use to write entirely in thumbnail form.

We discuss a bevy of concerns facing a cartoonist when approaching a new comics project including the following:

Pre-Visualization

  • Finding the story’s tone, feeling, and moments before laying lines down on the page

Choosing Moments

  • Capturing the emotion of the moment/scene
  • Expressing the inner life of the characters

Thumbnails from Equalizers of the Divide

Choosing Paneling

  • Determining when non-traditional paneling is appropriate and when it is not

Choosing Levels of Abstraction

  • Line usage
  • Shape usage
  • Icon usage

Choosing Word Balloons/SFX

  • Finalizing dialogue/sfx on the thumbnails
  • Leaving dialogue/sfx for later

Spontenaeity

  • Finding those happy accidents that surprise, delight, and inspire you

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, Kevin, & Raul on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=827 3 Artistic Process,drawing,Process,Thumbnailing,Writing [private]We have a special guest panelist for this week's episode--Raul Aguirre Jr., host of the fun and insightful Man Vs. Art podcast! Raul, a veteran animator and cartoonist, sits down with us to discuss how we have to think visually when writing co... [private]We have a special guest panelist for this week's episode--Raul Aguirre Jr., host of the fun and insightful Man Vs. Art podcast! Raul, a veteran animator and cartoonist, sits down with us to discuss how we have to think visually when writing comics or storyboarding, and share some strategies we use to write entirely in thumbnail form. We discuss a bevy of concerns facing a cartoonist when approaching a new comics project including the following: Pre-Visualization Finding the story's tone, feeling, and moments before laying lines down on the page Choosing Moments Capturing the emotion of the moment/scene Expressing the inner life of the characters Choosing Paneling Determining when non-traditional paneling is appropriate and when it is not Choosing Levels of Abstraction Line usage Shape usage Icon usage Choosing Word Balloons/SFX Finalizing dialogue/sfx on the thumbnails Leaving dialogue/sfx for later Spontenaeity Finding those happy accidents that surprise, delight, and inspire you Links mentioned in this episode: The Ghettomation Podcast Ted Seko's excellent process videos Kids Read Comics Art & Story Supreme! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, Kevin, & Raul on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:20:43 Art & Story 129 – The Big Just Do It http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=803 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=803#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:41:27 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=803 [private]In what might be considered a follow-up to Art & Story 80 – The Big Beginner, we’re joined by Sara Turner for a discussion on the virtues of just jumping in and making comics, whether or not you feel you are ready. Though we make a lot of fuss about analysis and process on this podcast, the only way you can really learn how to make comics is to start putting some pages together for yourself. Sara is a terrific example of how one can learn an awful lot in a relatively short time just by barreling through a few hundred pages of artwork, and she stops by to share some of her experiences and lessons learned through her career in comics.

Throughout our discussion we evaluate how a cavalier attitude, art buddies, faith in the process, and love of the craft are all one needs to get started. After a few years of practice and dedication, you’ll find that you’ve accomplished quite a bit.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, Kevin, & Sara on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=803 3 Artistic Process,drawing,Process [private]In what might be considered a follow-up to Art & Story 80 - The Big Beginner, we're joined by Sara Turner for a discussion on the virtues of just jumping in and making comics, whether or not you feel you are ready. [private]In what might be considered a follow-up to Art & Story 80 - The Big Beginner, we're joined by Sara Turner for a discussion on the virtues of just jumping in and making comics, whether or not you feel you are ready. Though we make a lot of fuss about analysis and process on this podcast, the only way you can really learn how to make comics is to start putting some pages together for yourself. Sara is a terrific example of how one can learn an awful lot in a relatively short time just by barreling through a few hundred pages of artwork, and she stops by to share some of her experiences and lessons learned through her career in comics. Throughout our discussion we evaluate how a cavalier attitude, art buddies, faith in the process, and love of the craft are all one needs to get started. After a few years of practice and dedication, you'll find that you've accomplished quite a bit. Links mentioned in this episode: Mark and Jerzy's upcoming appearance at Green Brain Comics on Free Comic Book Day File 49 Cricket Press Make Like A Tree Comics The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, Kevin, & Sara on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:17:33 Art & Story 128 – The Big Magazine Cover http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=779 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=779#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:56:59 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=779 [private]What makes for an interesting and compelling cover to your comic? Is it an eye-catching design, a beautifully rendered illustration, a point of drama that invites prediction? How much is too much on a cover? This week we spend nearly two hours on a discussion concerning good cover design. And as usual, we break our discussion into some distinct areas of concern and use the work of others as examples, as well as some covers we’ve used for our own work.

The Prediction Cover
Usually a striking image highlighting the threshold of drama in the story. Used a lot in serialized fiction comics. The cliffhanger.

Examples:

The Plot in Abstract Cover
Distilling the essence or events of the story into a single image. It may or may not happen within the story exactly as it appears on the cover, but it’s an intriguing image that summarizes the story’s “aboutness”. What’s interesting about this particular cover is it calls upon the skills we use to condense multiple moments within panels.

Examples:

The Plot in Montage Cover
A composite or montage of events from the story, arranged in an interesting or visually pleasing way.

Examples:

The Homage Cover
An image sending tribute to a more well-known image. A dicey area in terms of ethics. Erik Larsen talked about this some years ago.

Examples:

The Design Cover
An image whose mandate is only to be beautiful in its own right, only loosely related to the content within.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=779 4 covers,design,drawing,storytelling [private]What makes for an interesting and compelling cover to your comic? Is it an eye-catching design, a beautifully rendered illustration, a point of drama that invites prediction? How much is too much on a cover? [private]What makes for an interesting and compelling cover to your comic? Is it an eye-catching design, a beautifully rendered illustration, a point of drama that invites prediction? How much is too much on a cover? This week we spend nearly two hours on a discussion concerning good cover design. And as usual, we break our discussion into some distinct areas of concern and use the work of others as examples, as well as some covers we've used for our own work. The Prediction Cover Usually a striking image highlighting the threshold of drama in the story. Used a lot in serialized fiction comics. The cliffhanger. Examples: The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 1 Fantastic Four #340 The Transformers #6 Justice League America #53 The Transformers #71 Conan the King #4 Conan The King #20 Mulligan's Run #1 The Amazing Spider-Man #50 The Plot in Abstract Cover Distilling the essence or events of the story into a single image. It may or may not happen within the story exactly as it appears on the cover, but it's an intriguing image that summarizes the story's "aboutness". What's interesting about this particular cover is it calls upon the skills we use to condense multiple moments within panels. Examples: The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 6 Fantastic Four #345 Justice League America #58 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #6 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #22 Challengers of the Unknown Adventures Into the Unknown #11 Invaders #1 Doom Patrol #93 Kamandi #1 Dio: Holy Diver (album cover) Two-Fisted Tales #26 The Plot in Montage Cover A composite or montage of events from the story, arranged in an interesting or visually pleasing way. Examples: The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 5 The Transformers #69 Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 Alpha Flight #18 Uncanny X-Men #139 The Spirit #16 The Homage Cover An image sending tribute to a more well-known image. A dicey area in terms of ethics. Erik Larsen talked about this some years ago. Examples: Justice League America #27 What If...? #20 What If...? #21 What If...? #28 Howard the Duck #19 Mulligan's Run art card Zombies and Broken Hearts #1 The Design Cover An image whose mandate is only to be beautiful in its own right, only loosely related to the content within. The Transformers #1 Red Sonja #1 (1983) Alpha Flight #6 Detective Comics #583 John Oxbow: Man out of Time #1 Daredevil the graphic novel Links mentioned in this episode: Cover Browser Kids Read Comics Up! Fair (on Facebook and Twitter, too!) Mark & Jerzy's upcoming appearance at Green Brain Comics The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:58:02 Art & Story 127 – The Big Potpourri VII http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=756 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=756#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:28:28 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=756 [private]This week we dig in to some listener-supplied topics!

We start with some talk on business heroes, inspired by a recent voicemail sent to us by Gerimi Burleigh.

Business Heroes
Leo Laporte
What we like about his plans: He keeps operations lean, and he’s always looking for new ways to create & distribute content (streaming the iPad announcement, smartphone apps w/streaming audio/video). As a result, he’s making over $1.5 Million a year just from podcasting.
What we don’t like about his plans: Ad supported. Fine for someone doing a topic with wide appeal, but I don’t think it necessarily works for little niche people like us.
What he teaches us: You can be ambitious in your goals while still being a small operation. You don’t need hundreds of people to make a professional project.

Sara & Brian Turner
What we like about their plans: They provide highly specialized designs and services that make them a unique resource. Also a good mix of global and hyper-local business.
What we don’t like about their plans: I can’t think of any drawbacks to what they’ve accomplished. It’s a pretty solid business they’ve constructed.
What they teach us: The internet is not the end-all solution to business. A physical presence in a plugged-in community is another part of the puzzle. PLUS: You can help CREATE a plugged-in community, even if it’s not a “hip” town.

Some podcasts we can recommend for more listening about small businesses:
This Week In Media
smBizz

We can then kick over to some talk about freelancing, based on a voicemail from Jonathan Rector.

Freelancing

  • How much money should we have saved up?
  • How many clients should we have?
  • How much money should we be making from freelance before we quit the day job?
  • What unexpected pitfalls did we discover once we took the plunge?

From there we can take on this topic proposed by Corey Johnston w/a book recommendation of Picture This By Molly Bang.

Finally, we close out with an email from Dave Anderson, who asks us about how tightly we pencil when working with inkers.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=756 2 advertising,business,business model,design,freelance,freelancing,marketing,Penciling,visual cues [private]This week we dig in to some listener-supplied topics! - We start with some talk on business heroes, inspired by a recent voicemail sent to us by Gerimi Burleigh. - Business Heroes Leo Laporte What we like about his plans: He keeps operatio... [private]This week we dig in to some listener-supplied topics! We start with some talk on business heroes, inspired by a recent voicemail sent to us by Gerimi Burleigh. Business Heroes Leo Laporte What we like about his plans: He keeps operations lean, and he's always looking for new ways to create & distribute content (streaming the iPad announcement, smartphone apps w/streaming audio/video). As a result, he's making over $1.5 Million a year just from podcasting. What we don't like about his plans: Ad supported. Fine for someone doing a topic with wide appeal, but I don't think it necessarily works for little niche people like us. What he teaches us: You can be ambitious in your goals while still being a small operation. You don't need hundreds of people to make a professional project. Sara & Brian Turner What we like about their plans: They provide highly specialized designs and services that make them a unique resource. Also a good mix of global and hyper-local business. What we don't like about their plans: I can't think of any drawbacks to what they've accomplished. It's a pretty solid business they've constructed. What they teach us: The internet is not the end-all solution to business. A physical presence in a plugged-in community is another part of the puzzle. PLUS: You can help CREATE a plugged-in community, even if it's not a "hip" town. Some podcasts we can recommend for more listening about small businesses: This Week In Media smBizz We can then kick over to some talk about freelancing, based on a voicemail from Jonathan Rector. Freelancing How much money should we have saved up? How many clients should we have? How much money should we be making from freelance before we quit the day job? What unexpected pitfalls did we discover once we took the plunge? From there we can take on this topic proposed by Corey Johnston w/a book recommendation of Picture This By Molly Bang. Finally, we close out with an email from Dave Anderson, who asks us about how tightly we pencil when working with inkers. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:43:36 Visual Cues Pt 01 – Preface http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=711 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=711#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:00:16 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=711 [private]We’re excited about this week’s episode, as it launches a brand-new mini-series for the podcast! In the Visual Cues series, we’ll be exploring the various aspects of visual storytelling that add up to what some of us call “style”. But don’t let the name trick you into thinking that we’ll only be focusing on the illustration aspects of visual cues. Throughout this series we plan to explore how lines, colors, shapes, moment choices, page layouts, and dialogue rhythms all contribute to the style of the visual storyteller.

In this first part we begin by discussing the definition of style that we plan to operate under. We use an excerpt from an entry on “style” from the Grove Dictionary of Art as our starting point:

…modern accounts of style have ascribed to it a characteristic regularity or reiteration…

In other words, what is consistently used throughout the work, whether it is a certain type of paneling, line weights, moment choices, rendering techniques, or color families.

We then answer the question: Why dig deep at defining and exploring the components of style at all? Does it have practical value to an artist, or is it merely philosophical navel-gazing?

We complete our introduction with some preliminary discussion on the topics we will investigate in subsequent episodes.

Some links to related past episodes:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=711 0 Layout,moment,storytelling,style,visual cues,Visual Rhythms [private]We're excited about this week's episode, as it launches a brand-new mini-series for the podcast! In the Visual Cues series, we'll be exploring the various aspects of visual storytelling that add up to what some of us call "style". [private]We're excited about this week's episode, as it launches a brand-new mini-series for the podcast! In the Visual Cues series, we'll be exploring the various aspects of visual storytelling that add up to what some of us call "style". But don't let the name trick you into thinking that we'll only be focusing on the illustration aspects of visual cues. Throughout this series we plan to explore how lines, colors, shapes, moment choices, page layouts, and dialogue rhythms all contribute to the style of the visual storyteller. In this first part we begin by discussing the definition of style that we plan to operate under. We use an excerpt from an entry on "style" from the Grove Dictionary of Art as our starting point: ...modern accounts of style have ascribed to it a characteristic regularity or reiteration... In other words, what is consistently used throughout the work, whether it is a certain type of paneling, line weights, moment choices, rendering techniques, or color families. We then answer the question: Why dig deep at defining and exploring the components of style at all? Does it have practical value to an artist, or is it merely philosophical navel-gazing? We complete our introduction with some preliminary discussion on the topics we will investigate in subsequent episodes. Some links to related past episodes: Art & Story 85 - The Big Visual Narrative 1 Art & Story 89 - The Big Visual Narrative II Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 3 Art & Story Supreme 01 - Supreme Style The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:17:17 Art & Story 126 – The Big Supporting Character http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=679 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=679#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:00:52 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=679 [private]This week we return to discussing characters, but this time focusing on the secondary or tertiary characters who contradict, support, and otherwise help flesh out our protagonists.

As always, we try do divide our discussion into areas of concerns. These are some of the things we like to think about when creating supporting characters:

  • How are they opposite of the lead?
  • What do they lack that the lead has?
  • What do they have that the lead lacks?
  • In what way, if at all, do they work better together than apart (this can be a pure literary choice–it could be they work terribly together in the story, but it’s a more interesting read that way)?
  • How is the theme of the story supported or argued for through these characters?

We then meditate on some of our favorite supporting characters from comics, film, and literature, including Justice League Unlimited, Human Target, Beast Wars, and C.S. Lewis’ The Space Trilogy.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=679 1 Character Design,character development,story,storytelling,themes,Writing [private]This week we return to discussing characters, but this time focusing on the secondary or tertiary characters who contradict, support, and otherwise help flesh out our protagonists. - As always, we try do divide our discussion into areas of co... [private]This week we return to discussing characters, but this time focusing on the secondary or tertiary characters who contradict, support, and otherwise help flesh out our protagonists. As always, we try do divide our discussion into areas of concerns. These are some of the things we like to think about when creating supporting characters: How are they opposite of the lead? What do they lack that the lead has? What do they have that the lead lacks? In what way, if at all, do they work better together than apart (this can be a pure literary choice--it could be they work terribly together in the story, but it's a more interesting read that way)? How is the theme of the story supported or argued for through these characters? We then meditate on some of our favorite supporting characters from comics, film, and literature, including Justice League Unlimited, Human Target, Beast Wars, and C.S. Lewis' The Space Trilogy. Links mentioned in this episode: Thunder Punch Daily 06 - Where Jerzy discusses some of his thoughts on writing opposites in support of a story's theme Art & Story Supreme, our new premium content project featuring over 29 monthly shows The Kids Read Comics convention, this June 12 and 13 in Dearborn, MI The Kids Read Comics Charity Art Auction--you're invited to submit artwork! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:19:03 Art & Story 125 – The Big Time Management http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=636 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=636#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:00:56 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=636 [private]Does a structured schedule diminish creativity? How does one manage the demanding and capricious nature of being a contractual illustrator? How does one find the time to work on personal projects while still attending to the responsibilities of a job and a family? This week we all throw in to answer a voicemail from Jamie Gambell, who asked some of those questions.

Time is invisible, which makes it easy to lose track of. Creating a visual representation of time is key to managing it. We discuss the following strategies we use as an answer to that:

Routine

Having a regular schedule for creating your content trains you to intuitively mark your week with days where you just have to get the stuff done. Even if you only have an hour a day, just setting aside a lunch hour three times per week to put some work in will add up to a lot of work; it will also get you accustomed to having that work as part of your weekly experience. When that happens, your week will feel “off” if you skip a day. You’ll learn to rely on that time for creativity.

Check email/twitter only twice a day. Turn off the internet/phone during certain hours a day. Give clients office hours. Employing these little things can give you a good chunk of uninterrupted work time that is more productive.

Even if you only have 20-30 minutes at the end of your day, these small increments add up fast if you stick to a routine.

Wall Calendar & Task List

A large desk calendar for daily scheduling and a seperate list for overall tasks. With this system, one must evaluate and coordinate them every day. The task list is made weekly, and entered onto the calendar on a daily basis. A chisel-tip marker is great for crossing out finished to-do items for maximum satisfaction. This system is especially useful for the artist who mistakingly sets the alarm clock for PM instead of AM by mistake–it’s all analog, so no GIGO problems (usually).

Google Calendar (or any digital calendar app)

Creates a visual representation of what needs to be done, so you can easily spot schedule conflicts. Also offers the chance to create alerts for deadlines (like an alarm clock), so even if you’re not at the computer all the time, you’ll be reminded via email that a deadline is approaching. This means you will have to be diligent in adding events to your calendar as jobs come in, but you benefit in the long run by having a robot assistant reminding you of things you scheduled out weeks in advance.

Peg Board System (from past design jobs)

An “IN” and “OUT” hook for each day, holding collections of small jobs spaced out throughout your week. Creates a visual representation of what needs to be done, which both boosts morale as well as gives you a daily reminder of what you hope to accomplish. If you don’t finish everything on today’s hook, you move what’s left to the next day’s hook. Like a calendar app, requires a bit of maintenance, as you have to update the hooks each week with what you need to do (this is where a routine can help).

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=636 0 scheduling,time management [private]Does a structured schedule diminish creativity? How does one manage the demanding and capricious nature of being a contractual illustrator? How does one find the time to work on personal projects while still attending to the responsibilities o... [private]Does a structured schedule diminish creativity? How does one manage the demanding and capricious nature of being a contractual illustrator? How does one find the time to work on personal projects while still attending to the responsibilities of a job and a family? This week we all throw in to answer a voicemail from Jamie Gambell, who asked some of those questions. Time is invisible, which makes it easy to lose track of. Creating a visual representation of time is key to managing it. We discuss the following strategies we use as an answer to that: Routine Having a regular schedule for creating your content trains you to intuitively mark your week with days where you just have to get the stuff done. Even if you only have an hour a day, just setting aside a lunch hour three times per week to put some work in will add up to a lot of work; it will also get you accustomed to having that work as part of your weekly experience. When that happens, your week will feel "off" if you skip a day. You'll learn to rely on that time for creativity. Check email/twitter only twice a day. Turn off the internet/phone during certain hours a day. Give clients office hours. Employing these little things can give you a good chunk of uninterrupted work time that is more productive. Even if you only have 20-30 minutes at the end of your day, these small increments add up fast if you stick to a routine. Wall Calendar & Task List A large desk calendar for daily scheduling and a seperate list for overall tasks. With this system, one must evaluate and coordinate them every day. The task list is made weekly, and entered onto the calendar on a daily basis. A chisel-tip marker is great for crossing out finished to-do items for maximum satisfaction. This system is especially useful for the artist who mistakingly sets the alarm clock for PM instead of AM by mistake--it's all analog, so no GIGO problems (usually). Google Calendar (or any digital calendar app) Creates a visual representation of what needs to be done, so you can easily spot schedule conflicts. Also offers the chance to create alerts for deadlines (like an alarm clock), so even if you're not at the computer all the time, you'll be reminded via email that a deadline is approaching. This means you will have to be diligent in adding events to your calendar as jobs come in, but you benefit in the long run by having a robot assistant reminding you of things you scheduled out weeks in advance. Peg Board System (from past design jobs) An "IN" and "OUT" hook for each day, holding collections of small jobs spaced out throughout your week. Creates a visual representation of what needs to be done, which both boosts morale as well as gives you a daily reminder of what you hope to accomplish. If you don't finish everything on today's hook, you move what's left to the next day's hook. Like a calendar app, requires a bit of maintenance, as you have to update the hooks each week with what you need to do (this is where a routine can help). Links mentioned in this episode: Art & Story Supreme, our new bevy of premium content! Thunder Punch Daily #10, where Jerzy talks a little more about Time Management The Kids Read Comics Charity Art Auction - you're invited to participate! Google Calendar The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:28:53 Art & Story 124 – The Big Convention Field Guide http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=616 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=616#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:03:39 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=616 [private]Though we’ve talked about conventions in many past episodes of Art & Story, we’ve never formally discussed our thought process behind convnetioning in general. This week we answer a question from Jonathan Rector, who asks us to share some of our thoughts on preparing for tabling as we enter the convention season for 2010.

We start with an overview of the kinds of conventions we’ve attended throughout the years, highlighting the pros and cons of each, and giving a general sense of what kind of creator is suited for them:

  • “Mainstream” Conventions (Wizard World, SDCC, Emerald City, Heroes Con, etc)
  • Indy Comic Cons (MoCCA, APE, SPX, SPACE, etc)
  • Art Fairs/Book Fairs (Miami Book Fair, Kerrytown Book Fest, Portland Zine Symposium, etc)

We then give an overview of what kinds of costs and materials one should consider when preparing to exhibit at a convention. We’ve even included a handy spreadsheet with the materials we bring to shows and examples of setups to show how quickly the costs add up.

NOTE: these costs are estimates and averages! Obviously they will change depending on the show you decide to attend and how you choose to print your materials. This spreadsheet is only meant to give you a demonstration of how the costs can break down.

Links mentioned in this episode:

More episodes on conventioning:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=616 3 Conventions,Mini comics,POD,print on demand,printing,screenprinting [private]Though we've talked about conventions in many past episodes of Art & Story, we've never formally discussed our thought process behind convnetioning in general. This week we answer a question from Jonathan Rector, [private]Though we've talked about conventions in many past episodes of Art & Story, we've never formally discussed our thought process behind convnetioning in general. This week we answer a question from Jonathan Rector, who asks us to share some of our thoughts on preparing for tabling as we enter the convention season for 2010. We start with an overview of the kinds of conventions we've attended throughout the years, highlighting the pros and cons of each, and giving a general sense of what kind of creator is suited for them: "Mainstream" Conventions (Wizard World, SDCC, Emerald City, Heroes Con, etc) Indy Comic Cons (MoCCA, APE, SPX, SPACE, etc) Art Fairs/Book Fairs (Miami Book Fair, Kerrytown Book Fest, Portland Zine Symposium, etc) We then give an overview of what kinds of costs and materials one should consider when preparing to exhibit at a convention. We've even included a handy spreadsheet with the materials we bring to shows and examples of setups to show how quickly the costs add up. NOTE: these costs are estimates and averages! Obviously they will change depending on the show you decide to attend and how you choose to print your materials. This spreadsheet is only meant to give you a demonstration of how the costs can break down. Links mentioned in this episode: Ka-Blam Digital Printing Busy Beaver Buttons Got Print DennPhil - An Ebay seller specializing in vertical banners Dick Blick More episodes on conventioning: Art & Story 116 - The Big Up Fair Art & Story 110 - The Big Book Fair Big Art & Story Party Time, Episode 6 Art & Story Alive! Episode 86 Art & Story 94 - The Big Chelsea Art & Story Alive! Episode 58 Art & Story 65 - The Big Detroit Art & Story 48 - The Big Ypsi II Art & Story 45 - The Big Chicago The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed Hotline: (262) 299-3729[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:35:02 Art & Story 123 – The Big Format II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=586 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=586#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:32:14 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=586 [private]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 Size: (roughly 6.5×10.25″)

Pros:

  • Most recognized American comics size. Offers lots of vertical space w/good horizontal space for ambitious layouts. Good for books where the art takes center stage.
  • Print costs. Usually standard sizes are cheaper to get printed.

Cons:

  • When page count exceeds 100+ pages, format can seem kind of big and unwieldy nowadays.
  • Form factor. Not all stories are a good fit for this size. Might have a less intimate feel than, say, a mini-comic.

Manga Size: (roughly 5×7.5″)

Pros:

  • More and more comics are being published in this format. The popularity of Manga has made smaller books more favorable with people. Plus it’s a much more portable form factor.

Cons:

  • Smaller page size means the art has less room to breathe and sing. Plus, some cartoonists may not want their work being associated with Manga.

Digest: (roughly 4.5×8.5″)

Pros:

  • Easy to print at a local kinkos or copy shop, while also printing it as a POD or offset book.
  • Very little difficulty in collating or assembly, since it’s based on standard paper sizes.

Cons:

  • Depending on the audience, your comic may be assumed to be the work of a hobbyist (depending on the production values).

Rudy: (roughly 5.5×7.25″)

Pros:

  • The smaller print size means smaller original art, which usually means quicker turnaround for books.
  • Form factor. There is a totally different feel to a mini comic, than a standard size comic. The size changes the reading experience when you can throw it in your back pocket.

Cons:

  • The smaller size also means you can’t use (at least we can’t) brush for as much of the rendering as you may like. Your tool choice becomes limited from the page size restriction.

Mini-Comic: (roughly 4.5×5.5″)

Pros:

  • Possibly the most personal and intimate of the formats. Complete lack of pretense (depending on the production values), which allows the reader to just jump right in.
  • Time. A mini can be completed relatively quickly compared to a standard comic.

Cons:

  • Still some backlash from the days when they were considered “ashcans”. Some folks overlook them as being less “serious” works.
  • Limited space means layouts and rendering style need to be evaluated before committing. For instance, a very detailed style might become muddy at such a small finished size, so typically an opened line or simplified style seems to communicate best.

Book & Record: (roughly 6×6″)

Pros:

  • The square size (or any non-standard size) creates a perceived difference in content from standard comics, which can be appealing to non comics fans.
  • Novelty. Format alone can imply to your readers that this is somehow special.

Cons:

  • You almost loose 1 of the typical 3 tiers of a rectangular comics page. From experience, it can make layouts more challenging dealing with more horizontal flow than vertical.

Hammy: (roughly 8.5×3.75″)

Pros:

  • Offers a unique reading experience. Fun to hold, and reads more like a comic strip. Novel, for now.

Cons:

  • You’re working with a single tier of a standard comics page, so the storytelling changes. Also, the Tiny Hamilton book was a bit of a pain to collate and staple.

Page Count

8-page:

Pros:

  • Immediate satisfaction of a completed work. Audience can enjoy the work in a single browsing. A great exercise in brevity. Some readers enjoy reading a book they can take in quickly.

Cons:

  • Obviously not a lot of space to fully explore a world or characters. Working with severe space limitations. Also may be a harder sell as a mini (perceived value).

16-page:

Pros:

  • A reasonable size for a done-in-one story. Seems more substantial a value when printed.

Cons:

  • Like the 8-pager, might be a harder sell when printed on its own.

24-page:

Pros:

  • A page count most often used in serialized American comics. Readers associate a sort of “gold standard” in value with this size (though that’s changing?). A good length for doing a 3-act story (8 pages per act).

Cons:

  • With the rapid changes in comics format and publishing, is this a dying format? If doing a done-in-one, still dealing with page restrictions.

100+ page:

Pros:

  • If the story calls for it, you can dwell on scenes for prolonged amounts of pages to get a point/feeling/tone across. In shorter form comics, you have to find a more expedient solution.

Cons:

  • Time commitment. You have to live with those characters/situations for a lot of pages. There isn’t the more immediate gratification that comes with shorter comics.
  • A freedom of page count might open the opportunity to ramble. You must be extra judicious about choosing moments that best tell the story.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=586 2 ka-blam,POD,print comics,print on demand,printing [private]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, [private]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 Size: (roughly 6.5x10.25") Pros: Most recognized American comics size. Offers lots of vertical space w/good horizontal space for ambitious layouts. Good for books where the art takes center stage. Print costs. Usually standard sizes are cheaper to get printed. Cons: When page count exceeds 100+ pages, format can seem kind of big and unwieldy nowadays. Form factor. Not all stories are a good fit for this size. Might have a less intimate feel than, say, a mini-comic. Manga Size: (roughly 5x7.5") Pros: More and more comics are being published in this format. The popularity of Manga has made smaller books more favorable with people. Plus it's a much more portable form factor. Cons: Smaller page size means the art has less room to breathe and sing. Plus, some cartoonists may not want their work being associated with Manga. Digest: (roughly 4.5x8.5") Pros: Easy to print at a local kinkos or copy shop, while also printing it as a POD or offset book. Very little difficulty in collating or assembly, since it's based on standard paper sizes. Cons: Depending on the audience, your comic may be assumed to be the work of a hobbyist (depending on the production values). Rudy: (roughly 5.5x7.25") Pros: The smaller print size means smaller original art, which usually means quicker turnaround for books. Form factor. There is a totally different feel to a mini comic, than a standard size comic. The size changes the reading experience when you can throw it in your back pocket. Cons: The smaller size also means you can't use (at least we can't) brush for as much of the rendering as you may like. Your tool choice becomes limited from the page size restriction. Mini-Comic: (roughly 4.5x5.5") Pros: Possibly the most personal and intimate of the formats. Complete lack of pretense (depending on the production values), which allows the reader to just jump right in. Time. A mini can be completed relatively quickly compared to a standard comic. Cons: Still some backlash from the days when they were considered "ashcans". Some folks overlook them as being less "serious" works. Limited space means layouts and rendering style need to be evaluated before committing. For instance, a very detailed style might become muddy at such a small finished size, so typically an opened line or simplified style seems to communicate best. Book & Record: (roughly 6x6") Pros: The square size (or any non-standard size) creates a perceived difference in content from standard comics, which can be appealing to non comics fans. Novelty. Format alone can imply to your readers that this is somehow special. Cons: You almost loose 1 of the typical 3 tiers of a rectangular comics page. From experience, it can make layouts more challenging dealing with more horizontal flow than vertical. Hammy: (roughly 8.5x3.75") Pros: Offers a unique reading experience. Fun to hold, and reads more like a comic strip. Novel, for now. Cons: You're working with a single tier of a standard comics page, so the storytelling changes. Also, the Tiny Hamilton book was a bit of a pain to collate and staple. Page Count 8-page: Pros: Immediate satisfaction of a completed work. Audience can enjoy the work in a single browsing. A great exercise in brevity. Some readers enjoy reading a book they can take in quickly. Cons: Obviously not a lot of space to fully explore a world or characters. Working with severe space limitations. Also may be a harder sell as a mini (perceived value). 16-page: Pros: Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:32:02 Art & Story 122 – The Big Little Triumphs http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=574 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=574#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:35:45 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=574 [private]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 this cartooning jazz!

Jerzy’s:

1-point perspective down-shot of a person

Difficult because it uses extreme foreshortening, & easy to goof up.

Solution: Use 1-point perspective trick in “How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way” to map the human form onto a 1-point perspective box. This helped to make cars make more sense, too.

Cartoony faces for women

Difficult because each line counts for so much.

Solution: Learned a lot about drawing contours from experimenting with Manga for a few years. Taught me how to use smooth lines for maximum effect.

People just standing

Difficult because people just standing are still in some kind of motion, & easy to make them look stiff.

Solution: applied the trick learned from Mike Grell, turning/angling the shoulders in opposition to the waist, & thinking of the spine as a fluid shape that is always in movement.

Eye Acting

Difficult because you’re drawing two opposite objects that must work together, show the perspective of the head, & delivers huge amount of acting content.

Solution: Learned a lot about eye acting with the Brigadier General in The Front. When you only have eyes (& body language) to show the emotion, they eyes are your primary vehicle. Also learned a lot from drawing manga eyes in terms of perspective uses.

Blocking

Difficult because you can get lost in the data of acting and illustration work. Easy to overlook the basics.

Solution: Working with Mark on Galactic League of Marshals & Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz. Also developed exercise with students which wound up teaching me to look at my shots from a shape/depth standpoint.

Mark’s:

Capturing “celebrity” likeness

Difficult because everyone knows what they look like.

Solution: Filling up several sketch books with drawings from tabloid magazines and learning how to focus on specific features.

Drawing women

Difficult because you can’t fudge a woman’s body like you can a dude. Every line counts.

Solution: Life drawing, learn the component shapes, how they move different from a man’s (the hips, waist, legs in particular) as stylized in comics.

Staying on model

Difficult because you have to draw the same thing the same way repeatedly.

Solution: The key here is that it must appear to be the same. One way I’ve found a bit of latitude with staying on model, is creating several distinct features on each character. Instead of having a guy with subtle features I eggagerate. For instance, John Oxbow has a v in his hairline and overly hooked nose, that way I only need to focus on getting a few things right over and over.

Understanding Perspective

Difficult because you can’t fake it and have it look right.

Solution: Tracing photographs to find vanishing points instead of starting with a horizon line and placing your vanishing points. That helped me understand where in space an object is and how the fundamentals of perspective work easier than reading tutorials.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=574 0 acting,Artistic Process,drawing,expression,gesture,perspective,Process [private]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 ach... [private]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 this cartooning jazz! Jerzy's: 1-point perspective down-shot of a person Difficult because it uses extreme foreshortening, & easy to goof up. Solution: Use 1-point perspective trick in "How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way" to map the human form onto a 1-point perspective box. This helped to make cars make more sense, too. Cartoony faces for women Difficult because each line counts for so much. Solution: Learned a lot about drawing contours from experimenting with Manga for a few years. Taught me how to use smooth lines for maximum effect. People just standing Difficult because people just standing are still in some kind of motion, & easy to make them look stiff. Solution: applied the trick learned from Mike Grell, turning/angling the shoulders in opposition to the waist, & thinking of the spine as a fluid shape that is always in movement. Eye Acting Difficult because you're drawing two opposite objects that must work together, show the perspective of the head, & delivers huge amount of acting content. Solution: Learned a lot about eye acting with the Brigadier General in The Front. When you only have eyes (& body language) to show the emotion, they eyes are your primary vehicle. Also learned a lot from drawing manga eyes in terms of perspective uses. Blocking Difficult because you can get lost in the data of acting and illustration work. Easy to overlook the basics. Solution: Working with Mark on Galactic League of Marshals & Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz. Also developed exercise with students which wound up teaching me to look at my shots from a shape/depth standpoint. Mark's: Capturing "celebrity" likeness Difficult because everyone knows what they look like. Solution: Filling up several sketch books with drawings from tabloid magazines and learning how to focus on specific features. Drawing women Difficult because you can't fudge a woman's body like you can a dude. Every line counts. Solution: Life drawing, learn the component shapes, how they move different from a man's (the hips, waist, legs in particular) as stylized in comics. Staying on model Difficult because you have to draw the same thing the same way repeatedly. Solution: The key here is that it must appear to be the same. One way I've found a bit of latitude with staying on model, is creating several distinct features on each character. Instead of having a guy with subtle features I eggagerate. For instance, John Oxbow has a v in his hairline and overly hooked nose, that way I only need to focus on getting a few things right over and over. Understanding Perspective Difficult because you can't fake it and have it look right. Solution: Tracing photographs to find vanishing points instead of starting with a horizon line and placing your vanishing points. That helped me understand where in space an object is and how the fundamentals of perspective work easier than reading tutorials. Links mentioned in this episode: How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way John Oxbow: Man out of Time The Galactic League of Marshals The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:13:44 Art & Story 121 – The Big Inspiration/Motivation http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=541 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=541#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:40:29 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=541 [private]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 during our discussion:

  • Reading
  • Keeping a sketch journal/Moleskine
  • Photographing anything that seems interesting

We close out the discussion with some thoughts on keeping ourselves motivated, inspired by a voicemail sent to us by Jim Lujan.

Some of the motivational items we discuss during our discussion:

  • Art Buddies
  • Great Works
  • Personal Progression
  • Author Essays

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=541 0 ideas,inspiration,motivation,Process,reference material,Sketching,Writing [private]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 o... [private]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 during our discussion: Reading Keeping a sketch journal/Moleskine Photographing anything that seems interesting We close out the discussion with some thoughts on keeping ourselves motivated, inspired by a voicemail sent to us by Jim Lujan. Some of the motivational items we discuss during our discussion: Art Buddies Great Works Personal Progression Author Essays Links mentioned in this episode: What It Is, by Lynda Barry Evernote Go! Go! Illustration UP! Fair Monkey Mod Ghettomation The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:35:14 Art & Story – Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 7 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=514 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=514#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:20:53 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=514 [private]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 between coloring and toning your comic:

Thematic Tones

Determine the level of vibrancy/sophistication in your story’s tone

  • A wider range of colors lends to a more energetic, bombastic storytelling style
  • Limited color palettes lend to a more sophisticated or subdued storytelling style
  • Greyscale color palette leaves more opportunities for the illustration itself to deliver tonal data (can be bombastic OR subdued, but linework/layout/blocking/moment choice delivers more of this data)

Rendering Style

Regardless of color palette, the style of rending affects story tone and clarity

  • Don’t compete with your line style (ex. over render colors on highly detailed line style)
  • Choose a rendering style that contributes to the tone of the work
  • Flat colors/tones
  • Painterly
  • Gradient
  • Mechanical Tones/Ben Day Dots

Delivery Mechanism(s)

Will it be digital only, or will you print it, too?

  • In digital distribution, color is virtually free (though you have to worry about audience monitor calibration)
  • Color is expensive in print, and you have to learn a little more about file prep

Time

Choosing between color and b&w and which rendering style you land on will affect the time required to complete a page!

  • It’s okay to choose a rendering style with this as your top concern–the rest of your production values/style will adjust to fit

A few thoughts on Digital vs. Analog coloring/rendering

Pros for digital

  • Easy to edit/redo
  • Easy to store
  • Easy to prep for printing
  • No tools to clean

Cons for digital

  • More tricky to make it look analog (if that’s what you want)
  • Software/hardware is expensive
  • Storage solutions get expensive

Pros for analog

  • Immediacy of completed work
  • Original artwork to display/sell
  • Cheap to store

Cons for analog

  • Tool maintenance
  • Tools may be hard to find
  • Digitizing may be trickier, depending on image size

Practical

Digitizing and Cleanup:

Scanning

  • Scan line art @ 600dpi grayscale (no sharpening or filters–raw scan)
  • Open in Photoshop
  • Image>Adjustments>Levels (input levels set to 129, 1.00, 131)
  • Image>Adjustments>Threshold (set slider around 128)
  • Use Pencil tool to clean up lineart (fixing inking errors, filling in blacks)
  • SAVE THIS VERSION IN A FOLDER CALLED “INKS”
  • If grayscale or color, reduce file size to 300 dpi If pure B&W, leave at 600 dpi
  • SAVE THIS VERSION IN A FOLDER CALLED “COLORS” OR “TONES”

Flats Prep

  • Once line art is cleaned up, duplicate the layer and call the copy below “flats”
  • Isolating lineart on its own layer (tutorial here)
  • Using Cocoapotrace to turn lineart into vector art
  • Hide line art layer and use Bpelt plugin
  • Finish cleaning up flats (using magic wand & lasso tools w “Anti Alias” OFF)
  • Duplicate flats layer and name it “colors” or “tones”

Coloring/Toning

  • Lasso Tool
  • Quick Mask
  • Creating a color/tone Swatch Palette
  • Color holds
  • Using layers to create color harmonies

Analog Coloring/Toning

  • Preferred Brushes
  • Paper
  • Using Mechanical Tones

Assignment for this episode:

  • One chapter of comic cleaned up and toned/colored.

For more on the subjects covered in this episode, check out these past Art & Story podcasts:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=514 2 analog tools,coloring,digital tools,Scanning,toning,Your Comic From The Ground Up [private]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, [private]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 between coloring and toning your comic: Thematic Tones Determine the level of vibrancy/sophistication in your story’s tone A wider range of colors lends to a more energetic, bombastic storytelling style Limited color palettes lend to a more sophisticated or subdued storytelling style Greyscale color palette leaves more opportunities for the illustration itself to deliver tonal data (can be bombastic OR subdued, but linework/layout/blocking/moment choice delivers more of this data) Rendering Style Regardless of color palette, the style of rending affects story tone and clarity Don’t compete with your line style (ex. over render colors on highly detailed line style) Choose a rendering style that contributes to the tone of the work Flat colors/tones Painterly Gradient Mechanical Tones/Ben Day Dots Delivery Mechanism(s) Will it be digital only, or will you print it, too? In digital distribution, color is virtually free (though you have to worry about audience monitor calibration) Color is expensive in print, and you have to learn a little more about file prep Time Choosing between color and b&w and which rendering style you land on will affect the time required to complete a page! It’s okay to choose a rendering style with this as your top concern--the rest of your production values/style will adjust to fit A few thoughts on Digital vs. Analog coloring/rendering Pros for digital Easy to edit/redo Easy to store Easy to prep for printing No tools to clean Cons for digital More tricky to make it look analog (if that’s what you want) Software/hardware is expensive Storage solutions get expensive Pros for analog Immediacy of completed work Original artwork to display/sell Cheap to store Cons for analog Tool maintenance Tools may be hard to find Digitizing may be trickier, depending on image size Practical Digitizing and Cleanup: Scanning Scan line art @ 600dpi grayscale (no sharpening or filters--raw scan) Open in Photoshop Image>Adjustments>Levels (input levels set to 129, 1.00, 131) Image>Adjustments>Threshold (set slider around 128) Use Pencil tool to clean up lineart (fixing inking errors, filling in blacks) SAVE THIS VERSION IN A FOLDER CALLED “INKS” If grayscale or color, reduce file size to 300 dpi If pure B&W, leave at 600 dpi SAVE THIS VERSION IN A FOLDER CALLED “COLORS” OR “TONES” Flats Prep Once line art is cleaned up, duplicate the layer and call the copy below “flats” Isolating lineart on its own layer (tutorial here) Using Cocoapotrace to turn lineart into vector art Hide line art layer and use Bpelt plugin Finish cleaning up flats (using magic wand & lasso tools w “Anti Alias” OFF) Duplicate flats layer and name it “colors” or “tones” Coloring/Toning Lasso Tool Quick Mask Creating a color/tone Swatch Palette Color holds Using layers to create color harmonies Analog Coloring/Toning Preferred Brushes Paper Using Mechanical Tones Assignment for this episode: One chapter of comic cleaned up and toned/colored. For more on the subjects covered in this episode, check out these past Art & Story podcasts: A&S 105-The Big Tone The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:55:24 Art & Story 120 – The Big Potpourri VI http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=508 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=508#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:30:34 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=508 [private]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 to us by Stef of Sarah Zero:

Personality-what do we think about in our personal and professional dealings online? We divide our discussion into the following concerns:

  • Attitude
  • Social Networking
  • Peer & client relations
  • Approachability
  • Congeniality

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=508 0 Inking,marketing,Penciling,persona [private]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: - [private]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 to us by Stef of Sarah Zero: Personality-what do we think about in our personal and professional dealings online? We divide our discussion into the following concerns: Attitude Social Networking Peer & client relations Approachability Congeniality Links mentioned in this episode: Go! Go! Illustration UP! Fair Monkey Mod Big Illustration Party Time Ghettomation Brandon Dayton's Photoshop Brush giveaway The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:31:28 Art & Story 119 – The Big Dynamism http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=490 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=490#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:33:42 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=490 [private]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 between the keyframes” (as opposed to How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way’s chart)punch chart
  • Turning shoulders in opposition to the waist
  • Spread/fan fingers
  • Remember the spine as key to acting/action
  • Strong, but off-balance poses
  • Contrast (Either with color or b/w) creates a through line on the page. Can lead the eye, but also emphasizes impact.
  • Exaggeration. Not only in poses, but in body construction. Look at a figure drawn by Mort Drucker, then one by John Buscema.

Lines

  • Smooth
  • Short/Brisk
  • Jagged

Framing/Viewing Angleartandstory_119_art01

  • Worm’s Eye View
  • Tilted viewing angle
  • Constructing your shots. Bending reality to make a more dramatic shot. Similar to German Expressionist Film’s use of shadow.

Special Effects

  • Subjective imagery behind the character (burst lines, psychedelic montage describe the emotions dynamically)
  • Panel border effects (Jagged, rhomboid, round, etc)
  • Size relationships (big=emphatic)

UPDATE: We’re joined for a special addendum to this episode by Luis Escobar. He was kind enough to lend a few more points to the discussion in an effort to clarify some of Jerzy’s earlier points in the episode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

And here are some books mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=490 1 acting,blocking,body language,drawing,facial expression,gesture,page layout [private]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 nat... [private]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 between the keyframes" (as opposed to How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way's chart) Turning shoulders in opposition to the waist Spread/fan fingers Remember the spine as key to acting/action Strong, but off-balance poses Contrast (Either with color or b/w) creates a through line on the page. Can lead the eye, but also emphasizes impact. Exaggeration. Not only in poses, but in body construction. Look at a figure drawn by Mort Drucker, then one by John Buscema. Lines Smooth Short/Brisk Jagged Framing/Viewing Angle Worm's Eye View Tilted viewing angle Constructing your shots. Bending reality to make a more dramatic shot. Similar to German Expressionist Film's use of shadow. Special Effects Subjective imagery behind the character (burst lines, psychedelic montage describe the emotions dynamically) Panel border effects (Jagged, rhomboid, round, etc) Size relationships (big=emphatic) UPDATE: We're joined for a special addendum to this episode by Luis Escobar. He was kind enough to lend a few more points to the discussion in an effort to clarify some of Jerzy's earlier points in the episode. Links mentioned in this episode: Go! Go! Illustration Sketch Blog (particularly the Man-E-Faces and She-Ra sketches) Jerzy's 1995 mini-comic The Black Hole Equation UP! Fair Big Illustration Party Time Hangover Art & Story 108 - The Big Acting Art & Story 85 - The Big Visual Narrative I Art & Story 87 - The Big Visual Narrative II And here are some books mentioned in this episode: The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:27:21 Art & Story 118 – The Big iPad http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=486 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=486#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:09:52 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=486 [private]ipadWe 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 will probably sell a lot of these devices
  • The later iterations of the device will be cheaper and more powerful
  • Apple will eventually open up the iBook store to allow all publishers to sell ebooks through their store

We talk about the three ways this device presents independent publishers for getting their content to readers and further develop “super fans”:

  • Webcomics presented through the Safari browser, perfectly suited to page-style comics
  • The iBook store, with EPUB format books
  • Putting one’s content into an App

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=486 1 digital tools,Inking,media,publishing,self promotion [private]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. - [private]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 will probably sell a lot of these devices The later iterations of the device will be cheaper and more powerful Apple will eventually open up the iBook store to allow all publishers to sell ebooks through their store We talk about the three ways this device presents independent publishers for getting their content to readers and further develop "super fans": Webcomics presented through the Safari browser, perfectly suited to page-style comics The iBook store, with EPUB format books Putting one's content into an App Links mentioned in this episode: nemu*nemu, a webcomic by Scott Yoshinaga and Audra Furuichi This Week in Media podcast The Go! Go! Illustration sketchblog A video of Jerzy doing a daily sketch Kevin Cross Sara Turner The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:20:18 Art & Story 117 – The Big Ka-Blam http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=482 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=482#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:37:34 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=482 [private]It’s a special live recording this week with Barry Gregory and Thomas Florimonte of Ka-Blam Digital Printing, IndyPlanet, and ComicsMonkey!

kb468x60We 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 our conversation we explore how important the independent publisher and POD will be in the changing landscape of publishing, some general advice on how to avail one’s self of their products and services, and we even take some calls from listeners.

Links mentioned in this episode:

To read a transcript of the chat client from this or any episode of Art & Story Alive, and to hear from all of the great listeners who couldn’t make it into the audio, check out this Talkshoe Transcript Generator, and type in the Show ID 49181. Jenni Gregory was in the chat throughout the episode answering many questions that did not make it into the discussion, so it’s worth a read!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=482 0 ka-blam,marketing,print comics,print on demand,publishing,self promotion [private]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, [private]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 our conversation we explore how important the independent publisher and POD will be in the changing landscape of publishing, some general advice on how to avail one's self of their products and services, and we even take some calls from listeners. Links mentioned in this episode: Ka-Blam's Technical Specifications Page The Ka-Blam Message Center Pantone huey Pro MEU113 IndyPlanet on Twitter To read a transcript of the chat client from this or any episode of Art & Story Alive, and to hear from all of the great listeners who couldn't make it into the audio, check out this Talkshoe Transcript Generator, and type in the Show ID 49181. Jenni Gregory was in the chat throughout the episode answering many questions that did not make it into the discussion, so it's worth a read! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:41:05 Art & Story 116 – The Big UP! Fair http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=476 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=476#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:00:45 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=476 [private]UP! FairWe’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 event, and we hope you’ll help spread the word! You can follow the UP! Fair on Twitter for updates.

Links mentioned this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=476 0 Conventions,Teaching Arts,up! fair,Workshops [private]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, [private]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 event, and we hope you'll help spread the word! You can follow the UP! Fair on Twitter for updates. Links mentioned this episode: Kevin Cross' appearance on the Process Diary and Chris Oatley's ArtCast The Kids Read Comics convention Art & Story 110 - The Big Book Fair Art & Story 45 - The Big Chicago The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:01:58 Art & Story – Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 6 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=472 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=472#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:56:53 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=472 [private]Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 6We’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 in order to make art reproducable using old technologies, the types of lines discovered by the past generations of cartoonists have contributed much to the language of comics. Lines communicate tone, emotion, and action–crucial story data in your comic.

When mindfully investigating how to best communicate your ideas through your comic, a careful meditation on how ink lines work will provide you with an even wider array of options and tools to make your story everything you want it to be.

Theory

3 Basic Considerations of Lines
Line Value
Line Style
Line Clarity
Line Value

The variation of line widths that comprise your shapes–tends to give your illustrations a more “subjective” feel
Heavy Lines

  • Around curves
  • Around “heavy” objects
  • Around objects closer to the viewer

Thinner Lines

  • Around longer, straighter shapes
  • Around “lighter” objects
  • Around distant objects

Fixed-Width Lines–tend to feel “objective”

  • Used for inanimate objects
  • To create an image without an explicit “feeling”–even people

Line Style

The kinds of lines you use will contribute to the tone of the work

  • “Contour” style
  • Heavy blacks and/or texture
  • Brush style (both clean and dry)
  • Mechanical style (Rapidographs or Microns)

Line Clarity

The combination of line styles you use will also contribute to the tone of the work–in this way, you can consider the various line styles as “primary” components of your overall style that can be combined into “secondary” components (yes, I know it’s McCloudian to say that!)

  • “Contour” style
  • Heavy blacks
  • Brush style (both clean and dry)
  • Mechanical style (Rapidographs or Microns)

front_inks01Choosing your Inking Method

Pros and Cons when Determining Inking Method:
Pencil “Inks”
Analog Inks
Digital Inks

Pencil “Inks”

Pros

  • Don’t have to learn another tool
  • One less step in the process

Cons

  • Line value is more laborious to achieve
  • Might have to use “fixativ” to prevent smudging
  • Can sometimes look “lifeless”

Analog Inks

Pros

  • Line value is easier to achieve
  • Wide variety of effects available to use on the page
  • Finished artwork ready to sell
  • Happy accidents

Cons

  • Many tools to choose from
  • Learning a good inking tool takes years
  • Certain tools are expensive or difficult to find
  • Permanent–difficult to fix mistakes

Digital Inks

Pros

  • Easy to fix mistakes–Control-Z
  • Using layers means you can throw out entire swaths of work if you don’t like it
  • Simple to adjust entire segments of artwork
  • No storage of final artwork

Cons

  • No final artwork
  • You can fall into the “infinite noodling” afforded by Control-Z
  • Software/graphics tablets can be expensive

Practical

Inking Tools

  • Brush
  • Brush pen
  • Crow Quill
  • Rapidographs
  • Microns
  • Higgins’ Black Magic

Inking Assist Tools

  • Paper towel or tissues
  • Glass of water
  • Scrap sheet of bristol for tool warm up
  • French curves (beveled edge)
  • Triangles (beveled edge)

Procedure

  • Warming up with the inorganic elements
  • Working on a flat surface vs. an angled surface
  • Printing out your pencils in “blue line” in case you screw up

Assignment for this episode:

  • One chapter of inks completed
  • If lettering by hand, ink word balloons and sfx as well

For a lot more on the subjects covered in this episode, check out these past Art & Story podcasts:

And here are some links to art supplies mentioned in this episode:

Find even more on the Dick Blick website!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=472 2 analog tools,digital tools,Inking,Winsor Newton Series 7 Sable brush #2/3 [private]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, [private]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 in order to make art reproducable using old technologies, the types of lines discovered by the past generations of cartoonists have contributed much to the language of comics. Lines communicate tone, emotion, and action--crucial story data in your comic. When mindfully investigating how to best communicate your ideas through your comic, a careful meditation on how ink lines work will provide you with an even wider array of options and tools to make your story everything you want it to be. Theory 3 Basic Considerations of Lines Line Value Line Style Line Clarity Line Value The variation of line widths that comprise your shapes--tends to give your illustrations a more “subjective” feel Heavy Lines Around curves Around “heavy” objects Around objects closer to the viewer Thinner Lines Around longer, straighter shapes Around “lighter” objects Around distant objects Fixed-Width Lines--tend to feel “objective” Used for inanimate objects To create an image without an explicit “feeling”--even people Line Style The kinds of lines you use will contribute to the tone of the work “Contour” style Heavy blacks and/or texture Brush style (both clean and dry) Mechanical style (Rapidographs or Microns) Line Clarity The combination of line styles you use will also contribute to the tone of the work--in this way, you can consider the various line styles as “primary” components of your overall style that can be combined into “secondary” components (yes, I know it’s McCloudian to say that!) “Contour” style Heavy blacks Brush style (both clean and dry) Mechanical style (Rapidographs or Microns) Choosing your Inking Method Pros and Cons when Determining Inking Method: Pencil “Inks” Analog Inks Digital Inks Pencil “Inks” Pros Don’t have to learn another tool One less step in the process Cons Line value is more laborious to achieve Might have to use “fixativ” to prevent smudging Can sometimes look “lifeless” Analog Inks Pros Line value is easier to achieve Wide variety of effects available to use on the page Finished artwork ready to sell Happy accidents Cons Many tools to choose from Learning a good inking tool takes years Certain tools are expensive or difficult to find Permanent--difficult to fix mistakes Digital Inks Pros Easy to fix mistakes--Control-Z Using layers means you can throw out entire swaths of work if you don’t like it Simple to adjust entire segments of artwork No storage of final artwork Cons No final artwork You can fall into the “infinite noodling” afforded by Control-Z Software/graphics tablets can be expensive Practical Inking Tools Brush Brush pen Crow Quill Rapidographs Microns Higgins’ Black Magic Inking Assist Tools Paper towel or tissues Glass of water Scrap sheet of bristol for tool warm up French curves (beveled edge) Triangles (beveled edge) Procedure Warming up with the inorganic elements Working on a flat surface vs. an angled surface Printing out your pencils in “blue line” in case you screw up Assignment for this episode: One chapter of inks completed If lettering by hand, ink word balloons and sfx as well For a lot more on the subjects covered in this episode, check out these past Art & Story podcasts: Art & Story 105 - The Big Tone Big Art & Story Party Time, Episode 01 Big Art & Story Party Time, Episode 02 Mark's video demonstration of inking with a brush And here are some links to art supplies mentioned in this episode: Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 30:32 Art & Story 115 – The Big Resolution http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=469 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=469#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:02:41 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=469 [private]2010resolutionsWe 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 we highlight lessons learned from 2009, as well as why it’s important to recognize one’s achievements. We close our talk with some casual futurism wonderings about ways to incorporate various emerging technologies into our independent businesses in the coming years.

Links mentioned in this episode:

  • Sara’s recent appearances on the Big Illustration Party Time podcasts, episodes 41 and 42
  • nemu*nemu, by Audra Furuichi and Scott Yoshinaga

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Sara on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=469 0 marketing,organization,projects,time management [private]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 ... [private]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 we highlight lessons learned from 2009, as well as why it's important to recognize one's achievements. We close our talk with some casual futurism wonderings about ways to incorporate various emerging technologies into our independent businesses in the coming years. Links mentioned in this episode: Sara's recent appearances on the Big Illustration Party Time podcasts, episodes 41 and 42 nemu*nemu, by Audra Furuichi and Scott Yoshinaga The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, & Sara on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:23:27 Art & Story 114 – The Big Xmas Special http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=462 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=462#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:43:30 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=462 [private]xmasIt’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.

Special Guests!Guests include:

Sara Turner, who stops by to share some advice on managing to-do lists.

Krishna Sadasivam, who gives us some schooling in focus and goals for 2010.

Gerimi Burleigh, who enlightens us about the paradoxical nature of being a cartoonist.

Jim Lujan & Ted Seko, who both share holiday greetings.

Shawn Robare, who reminds us to expect the unexpected when designing a project.

And Kevin Cross, who extolls the virtue of maintaining a personal project.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=462 0 Artistic Development,Artistic Process,projects,time management [private]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, [private]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 by to share some advice on managing to-do lists. Krishna Sadasivam, who gives us some schooling in focus and goals for 2010. Gerimi Burleigh, who enlightens us about the paradoxical nature of being a cartoonist. Jim Lujan & Ted Seko, who both share holiday greetings. Shawn Robare, who reminds us to expect the unexpected when designing a project. And Kevin Cross, who extolls the virtue of maintaining a personal project. The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:26:34 Art & Story 113 – The Big Ego http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=458 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=458#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:00:59 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=458 [private]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 into egoism.

humblismAt the risk of treading the territory usually reserved for motivational speakers, Mark and I do our best to share some of our own experiences dealing with ego and where the balance lies (at least for us). We break our discussion into three sections, covering the following topics:

Problem #1 – Lack of Ego
How we can easily talk ourselves out of taking on a project

  • This isn’t my best stuff
  • Someone else already did it, and did it well, so who am I to try?
  • He/She is way more famous/successful than I’ll ever be
  • Everyone will call me out as a fraud when they see my work or read my writings

Problem #2 – Too much Ego
How we can find ourselves resting on our laurels and no longer creating and innovating

  • There are a LOT of talented creators out there besides you
  • You can always learn from someone else
  • Don’t buy into your own hype
  • There are far better ways to achieve celebrity than making comics

Solution – It’s Self-Esteem, not Ego
We should be proud of the work we do, but our pride should reside in the work, not ourselves.

  • Doing good work makes you feel better about yourself, so do the best work that you can, and don’t compare or compete with anyone else
  • It’s fun to compete, but in a spirit of play
  • It’s never too late, and you have time to improve
  • Fake it ‘til you make it

For more listening on these sorts of topics (from sources far more qualified to talk about them!):

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=458 1 Artistic Development,ego,Process [private]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, [private]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 into egoism. At the risk of treading the territory usually reserved for motivational speakers, Mark and I do our best to share some of our own experiences dealing with ego and where the balance lies (at least for us). We break our discussion into three sections, covering the following topics: Problem #1 - Lack of Ego How we can easily talk ourselves out of taking on a project This isn’t my best stuff Someone else already did it, and did it well, so who am I to try? He/She is way more famous/successful than I’ll ever be Everyone will call me out as a fraud when they see my work or read my writings Problem #2 - Too much Ego How we can find ourselves resting on our laurels and no longer creating and innovating There are a LOT of talented creators out there besides you You can always learn from someone else Don’t buy into your own hype There are far better ways to achieve celebrity than making comics Solution - It’s Self-Esteem, not Ego We should be proud of the work we do, but our pride should reside in the work, not ourselves. Doing good work makes you feel better about yourself, so do the best work that you can, and don’t compare or compete with anyone else It’s fun to compete, but in a spirit of play It’s never too late, and you have time to improve Fake it ‘til you make it For more listening on these sorts of topics (from sources far more qualified to talk about them!): Chris Oatley's Artcast The Sound of Young America - Merlin Mann on being creative and getting over your fear of sucking Ted Seko's Idiot Engine The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:10:56 Art & Story 112 – The Big Good Guy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=451 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=451#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:12:25 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=451 [private]coltWe’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 to peg on a chart between fun and serious stories.

With that, we leap into our conversation about the following types of good guys (and gals!):

The Smiling Good Guy
What you see is what you get. No baggage, just a sincere desire to do good. They cannot be flummoxed, which aggravates the villains that much more. Often the “Keepers of the peace”.

Examples:

Justice/Compassion
Operates out of a sense of inequality or injustice in the world, and takes action to rectify that. Tends to be a bit more “serious” or “intense” than the smiling good guy.

Examples:

Ideal/Restorative
The least “realistic” of the good guys. These heroes represent the highest ideals of their respective culture, and thus act as a yard stick to measure ourselves by. In stories, they tend to be characters who restore or redeem the world through their actions. They can also be perceived as “preachy” when handled by certain authors.

Examples:

Redemption
Good guys who fall from grace and later redeem themselves through their actions in the story. One of the more popular kinds of characters, these good guys teach us that we each have the power to be a good guy, no matter what came before.

Examples:

rick
Reluctant/Coming of Age
The good guy who doesn’t feel that he/she is up to the challenge placed before them, yet discovers that they are capable of great things.

Examples:

Leave Me Alone
The capable good guy who just wants to lead a simple life. Events in the story pull him or her back in to reluctantly fix a problem in the story. They resist throughout the first two acts, but by the end they are terrifying to evildoers.

Examples:

gaelinStinker
A sub-category of Leave Me Alone and Reluctant/Coming of Age, this good guy makes things rough for the rest of the characters with their obnoxious personality during down-times, yet are great to have during a crisis.

Examples:

Spiritual
The good guy who finds inner strength through a “higher power”. Not magic necessarily–more of a deeper understanding of the larger ideas of being a good guy.

Examples:

Revenge
The good guy who is after justice, but it’s a personal fight as well. The Anti-Hero fits under this description, as the Revenge character’s actions often fall outside of “heroic” or “noble” definitions.

Examples:

Everyman vs Faceless Horde
The normal person faced against the overwhelming power of the bureaucracy, or the millions. Often the protagonist used in darker stories.

Examples:

Dual Nature
The walking contradiction, often used in various iterations of Star Trek. This character lives and operates in a world with a certain system of values, while also maintaining an aspect of their character that is utterly at odds with the people around him or her. This character is not usually at ease with him or herself.

Examples:

Leader
A good guy with a lot of baggage but an unflinching dedication to do good. These characters have to make the most difficult decisions in Western stories, often putting the welfare of the greater good before their own happiness. Some of them have to compromise their principles in order to serve that greater good, which might easily swing them over to villainy.

Examples:

We close out our discussion with some comments from Zach BoSteel, who offers up a few more categories worth consideration.

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=451 2 Character Design,character development,Writing [private]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, [private]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 ... Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:49:06 Art & Story – Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 5 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=447 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=447#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:34:08 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=447 [private]Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 5We’re back with another installment of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series, and this time it’s a full-on discussion on deciding what lettering tools to choose, followed by some talk about penciling.

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

Determining Analog or Digital Lettering

Considerations when Determining Lettering Style:

Aesthetic Cohesion
Regardless of method, the lettering should look like it belongs in the work:

  • Balloons and letters should match your line style
  • A freehand line style may call for a freehand balloon
  • A cleaner, draftsman-like line style will allow more “computerized” balloons

Clarity
Word balloons are the first narrative guide in your story:

  • Use word ballon placement to guide the reader’s eye
  • Choose a lettering style that is easy to read

Expression
It’s a fine line when using text effects to achieve sound:

  • Bold and italicized words lend to a rhythm in your word balloons, but can easily be overdone
  • Avoid using different fonts for different character “voices” unless using it for effect
  • A little difference in size goes a long way–avoid changing font sizes too often

Hand-drawn vs Computer
Pros for hand-drawn:

  • Easier to match to your artistic style
  • Irregularity of letters lends a more personal touch
  • Fully integrated into the final art for resale
  • “Easier” to plan on the page how much room you have for balloons
  • Easier to create irregular effects like “singsong” dialogue
  • Don’t have to know programs like Photoshop or Illustrator to hand letter

Cons for hand-drawn:

  • Takes a lot more time
  • More effort to create bold and italicized effects
  • Difficult to fix errors

wordballoon
Pros for computer:

  • Easy to edit spelling errors and balloon placement
  • Easier to create bold and italicized effects
  • Many fonts to choose from – Don’t need neat lettering
  • Clearer lettering than hand-drawn (most of the time)

Cons for computer:

  • Easy to pick a crummy font or aesthetically mismatched balloons
  • Some technical knowledge needed to create irregular effects
  • Need programs like Photoshop or Illustrator
  • Somewhat tedious to edit balloons to match them aesthetically
  • Easier to miscalculate space for word balloons

Penciling
3 Concerns of Penciling: Form, Fluidity, & Line = PLAUSIBILITY

Form and structure
Anatomy
Regardless of cartooning style, you want your characters and props to stay relatively “on model”. Consistency is key to developing a plausible world and story.

Draftsmanship
Does your story depend on a lot of visual information about a location? Are you intentionally avoiding drawing difficult 3-point perspective shots, or are they unnecessary to your narrative? Either way, a knowledge of perspective goes a long way.

Fluiditypencils021
Gesture
Do your characters’ poses effectively communicate the emotion/action of the moments?

Acting
Are you getting the acting moment you need for the emotional content of the story?

Movement
Are you using a through-line to effectively convey the movement of your characters?

Line
Loose vs tight pencils
Are you pencilling for the inks, or are you inking the pencils?
Type of line
How are the types of lines you use contributing to the story’s aesthetics? Do they contribute to the mood, tone, or overall feeling of the moments?

Practical

Penciling

This assumes you’re looking to achieve somewhat of a “classic” comics style. You can use any illustration tools to make a comic, but these are the ones we like to use.

Tools

  • Blue line
  • Graphite
  • Digital process
  • Lightbox process
  • Bristol vs. “plain” paper

pencils01

Tightness

  • Penciling for yourself
  • Penciling for others
  • Line/production values

Procedure

  • 1st stage blocking
  • 2nd stage blocking
  • Final pencils
  • Using a lightbox vs doing all the art on one page

Assignment for this episode:

  • One to two pages of pencils with an ink test, to see how tightly you need to pencil
  • If lettering by hand, pencil word balloons and sfx as well
  • If lettering digitally, begin importing your pencils and creating word balloons and SFX

For a lot more on the subjects covered in this episode, check out these past Art & Story podcasts:

And here are some recommended reads mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=447 0 acting,analog tools,design,digital tools,gesture,Layout,Lettering,Penciling,Sound Effects,Your Comic From The Ground Up [private]We're back with another installment of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series, and this time it's a full-on discussion on deciding what lettering tools to choose, followed by some talk about penciling. - As with previous episodes, [private]We're back with another installment of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series, and this time it's a full-on discussion on deciding what lettering tools to choose, followed by some talk about penciling. 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 Determining Analog or Digital Lettering Considerations when Determining Lettering Style: Aesthetic Cohesion Regardless of method, the lettering should look like it belongs in the work: Balloons and letters should match your line style A freehand line style may call for a freehand balloon A cleaner, draftsman-like line style will allow more “computerized” balloons Clarity Word balloons are the first narrative guide in your story: Use word ballon placement to guide the reader’s eye Choose a lettering style that is easy to read Expression It’s a fine line when using text effects to achieve sound: Bold and italicized words lend to a rhythm in your word balloons, but can easily be overdone Avoid using different fonts for different character “voices” unless using it for effect A little difference in size goes a long way--avoid changing font sizes too often Hand-drawn vs Computer Pros for hand-drawn: Easier to match to your artistic style Irregularity of letters lends a more personal touch Fully integrated into the final art for resale “Easier” to plan on the page how much room you have for balloons Easier to create irregular effects like “singsong” dialogue Don’t have to know programs like Photoshop or Illustrator to hand letter Cons for hand-drawn: Takes a lot more time More effort to create bold and italicized effects Difficult to fix errors Pros for computer: Easy to edit spelling errors and balloon placement Easier to create bold and italicized effects Many fonts to choose from - Don’t need neat lettering Clearer lettering than hand-drawn (most of the time) Cons for computer: Easy to pick a crummy font or aesthetically mismatched balloons Some technical knowledge needed to create irregular effects Need programs like Photoshop or Illustrator Somewhat tedious to edit balloons to match them aesthetically Easier to miscalculate space for word balloons Penciling 3 Concerns of Penciling: Form, Fluidity, & Line = PLAUSIBILITY Form and structure Anatomy Regardless of cartooning style, you want your characters and props to stay relatively “on model”. Consistency is key to developing a plausible world and story. Draftsmanship Does your story depend on a lot of visual information about a location? Are you intentionally avoiding drawing difficult 3-point perspective shots, or are they unnecessary to your narrative? Either way, a knowledge of perspective goes a long way. Fluidity Gesture Do your characters’ poses effectively communicate the emotion/action of the moments? Acting Are you getting the acting moment you need for the emotional content of the story? Movement Are you using a through-line to effectively convey the movement of your characters? Line Loose vs tight pencils Are you pencilling for the inks, or are you inking the pencils? Type of line How are the types of lines you use contributing to the story’s aesthetics? Do they contribute to the mood, tone, or overall feeling of the moments? Practical Penciling This assumes you’re looking to achieve somewhat of a “classic” comics style. You can use any illustration tools to make a comic, but these are the ones we like to use. Tools Blue line Graphite Digital process Lightbox process Bristol vs. “plain” paper Tightness Penciling for yourself Penciling for others Line/production values Procedure 1st stage blocking 2nd stage blocking Final pencils Using a lightbox vs doing all the art on one page Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:40:52 Art & Story 111 – The Big Thankful http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=445 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=445#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:06:23 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=445 [private]Let Us Be ThankfulWe take the beginning of the holiday season in the USA as a cue for this week’s show topic. We’re joined by Kevin Cross of Big Illustration Party Time and Sara Turner of Cricket Press and the Straight No Chaser podcast for a discussion on what we’re thankful for in regards to our beloved art form. Whether it’s technological improvements in production and distribution, changes in reader demographics, or the rising popularity of “boutique” mini-comics, we’re in a much better place now than we were 15 years ago.

Some of the topics discussed:

  • Digital technology (Photoshop, Illustrator)
  • Print on demand publishing (Ka-Blam)
  • The proliferation of multiple comics genres
  • Manga
  • “Boutique” mini-comics
  • The next generation of cartoonists
  • Art buddies via the internet
  • Libraries
  • Social media (Twitter, Facebook)

Some newsy-type links relative to this week’s hosts/topic:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, Sara, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=445 0 [private]We take the beginning of the holiday season in the USA as a cue for this week's show topic. We're joined by Kevin Cross of Big Illustration Party Time and Sara Turner of Cricket Press and the Straight No Chaser podcast for a discussion on what... [private]We take the beginning of the holiday season in the USA as a cue for this week's show topic. We're joined by Kevin Cross of Big Illustration Party Time and Sara Turner of Cricket Press and the Straight No Chaser podcast for a discussion on what we're thankful for in regards to our beloved art form. Whether it's technological improvements in production and distribution, changes in reader demographics, or the rising popularity of "boutique" mini-comics, we're in a much better place now than we were 15 years ago. Some of the topics discussed: Digital technology (Photoshop, Illustrator) Print on demand publishing (Ka-Blam) The proliferation of multiple comics genres Manga "Boutique" mini-comics The next generation of cartoonists Art buddies via the internet Libraries Social media (Twitter, Facebook) Some newsy-type links relative to this week's hosts/topic: New items in the Cricket Press store Kevin's Monkey Mod mini-comic is on sale The Switch Runners pre-order sale is still accepting orders The Front: Rebirth is now available in a new format at a lower price The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, Sara, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:06:49 Art & Story 110 – The Big Book Fair http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=442 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=442#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:09:00 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=442 [private]Comics are not what comic book conventions say they are.
-Dan Mishkin

Book Fairin' ItOn the weekend of November 13-15 I tabled and led workshops at the Miami Book Fair, as a road crew member of Kids’ Comic Con. As some of you may have already heard on an episode of Art & Story Extreme, I had a pretty good time there, and in almost every respect the show was a success. But rather than give a blow-by-blow account of my adventure in Miami, Mark and I sit down to do a comparison of our experiences at comic conventions with my recent experience at the Book Fair. The verdict? If you are an independent cartoonist with a niche comic property, art fairs and book fairs are definitely something worth investigating.

We break the discussion into the following categories for comparison:

  • Audience size, type, & what they are there for
  • How the exhibitors are treated by the organizers
  • Types of attending cartoonists
  • Venue-indoors vs. outdoors
  • Types of activities-panel discussions vs. workshops
  • Booth space

Links to people mentioned in this episode:

And don’t forget to check out Jim Lujan’s new cartoon, Day of the Unicorn, featuring some Art & Story cameos!

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=442 0 Conventions,marketing,self promotion,selling,teaching,Teaching Arts [private]Comics are not what comic book conventions say they are. -Dan Mishkin - On the weekend of November 13-15 I tabled and led workshops at the Miami Book Fair, as a road crew member of Kids' Comic Con. [private]Comics are not what comic book conventions say they are. -Dan Mishkin On the weekend of November 13-15 I tabled and led workshops at the Miami Book Fair, as a road crew member of Kids' Comic Con. As some of you may have already heard on an episode of Art & Story Extreme, I had a pretty good time there, and in almost every respect the show was a success. But rather than give a blow-by-blow account of my adventure in Miami, Mark and I sit down to do a comparison of our experiences at comic conventions with my recent experience at the Book Fair. The verdict? If you are an independent cartoonist with a niche comic property, art fairs and book fairs are definitely something worth investigating. We break the discussion into the following categories for comparison: Audience size, type, & what they are there for How the exhibitors are treated by the organizers Types of attending cartoonists Venue-indoors vs. outdoors Types of activities-panel discussions vs. workshops Booth space Links to people mentioned in this episode: Alex Simmons Dan Mishkin Anne Sibley O'Brien Jerry Craft Carol-Anne McFarlane Maurice Novembre Dawud Anyabwile Manny Aguilera And don't forget to check out Jim Lujan's new cartoon, Day of the Unicorn, featuring some Art & Story cameos! The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:21:43 Art & Story – Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 4 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=440 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=440#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:18:20 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=440 [private]logo_comicfromgroundup4It’s another installment of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series, and this time we give an hour and change over to a discussion on editing! Time to put away the Art Mullet and get brutally honest and analytical about what’s working with what you’ve done so far and what is not.

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 editing the Thumbnails:
The 3 Big Qualities, Clarity/Flow/Aesthetics
& The 3 Big Concerns, Story/Moment/Page

Clarity

Clarity of Story: Break out your theme (remember your theme from pt 1?) and re-examine your story to see if it clearly reflects the theme.

  • Are the characters’ motivations clear?
  • Are the characters’ actions logical and reflective of the theme?
  • Does the climax (see pt 2) express your theme in a physical or emotional way (or both)?
  • Any threads in the story that you didn’t resolve by the end?

Clarity of Moment – Evaluate each and every moment choice in your story and ask what it is essentially “about”. What is the 1 important thing you need to communicate in that panel, and did you pick the moment to effectively communicate that?

Types of considerations when evaluating the “important” moment:

  • Acting moment (character story data)
  • Information moment (objective story data)
  • Aesthetic moment (tonal/style story data)

Clarity of Page – Do the panels and overall composition “read” smoothly? Do you have a visually interesting composition on the overall page that doesn’t work against the information (see previous 3 points) that you want to convey?

Flow

Flow of Story – Have you chosen a pacing style that communicates the tone and energy level you intended?
Lots of scene breaks indicate a fast, high-energy story
Less scene breaks, longer scenes indicate a slower, more contemplative story

Flow of Moment – Do the images in your panel (all elements, including word balloons) interact in a way to guide the reader’s eye in the intended direction?

Flow of Page: Do the images in your panels interact with the surrounding images in a logical manner? Does the end point of one panel lead you to the beginning point of the next?
Cacophony or ambiguity may be what you want as well, but in most cases the reader should know where to “go” next.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics of Story – Have you chosen a visual style to best communicate the tone and feel of the theme/story? Is your story dark and brooding, or light and airy? If so, how does the art style you’ve come up with lend to that?

Aesthetics of Moment – Do the images in your panel (all elements, including word balloons) create a visually interesting or pleasing moment? Can you tweak the arrangement of elements (blocking) or the illustrative details to make it more interesting or pleasing?

Aesthetics of Page – Does the page look like a visually interesting or pleasing piece on its own? When looking at facing pages, do they lead into one another or complement one another?

Practical

Editing

Let 2 Kinds Of People Read Your Thumbnails

People who know you and are familiar with comics storytelling (Art Buddies–even better!)
What they have to offer you:

  • They’ll consider your voice and intent
  • They’ll evaluate the clarity of information and tone
  • They’ll best evaluate your perspective, anatomy, acting moments
  • They’ll best evaluate whether or not your aesthetic choices contribute to the tone/story data

People who know you and are unfamiliar with comics storytelling

What they have to offer you:

  • They’ll best evaluate the clarity of story and of each page–but won’t necessarily be able to tell you WHY they feel what they feel!
  • A good way to get a spell- and grammar-check

What kinds of things change when you edit?

New scenes
Sometimes you’ll need to add scenes to clarify certain points or reinforce certain thematic elements in your story.

Delete scenes
You may have to cut entire sequences that don’t have anything to do with the story.

New Page Layouts
You may find a more interesting or visually pleasing way to construct a page even after final thumbs–or else you may have to change a layout to make the information more clear.

Move Scenes Around
You may decide to insert a scene in the middle of a longer scene, or switch two scenes in a sequence altogether.

Making The Changes

  • Tape pages within document or overtop deleted pages
  • If loose leaf, draw new pages in margins, insert new scenes between pages

Assignment for this episode:

  • Finish all of your thumbnails
  • Complete your style tests & evaluate how much was done digitally or analog–we’re going to determine our lettering tool choices and talk about penciling next time.

For more helpful information about topics covered in this episode, check out these past episodes:

Another great resource mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=440 0 Composition,editing,panel composition,panel design,panel sequence,panel structure,storytelling,Writing,Your Comic From The Ground Up [private]It's another installment of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series, and this time we give an hour and change over to a discussion on editing! Time to put away the Art Mullet and get brutally honest and analytical about what's working with wh... [private]It's another installment of the Your Comic From The Ground Up series, and this time we give an hour and change over to a discussion on editing! Time to put away the Art Mullet and get brutally honest and analytical about what's working with wh... Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:27:19 Art & Story 109 – The Big Potpourri V http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=437 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=437#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:06:07 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=437 [private]Switch Runners Preorder Sale!Mark and I take a breather from the Your Comic From The Ground Up series to answer a few Storrior emails and voicemails this week. It’s a bit of a laid-back episode, featuring the return of some tributaries and laughs, but not at the expense of good ol’ Art & Story content.

We play a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, who gets us going for a bit about Sloppy Drawing and the usefulness of dry-erase boards and/or chalkboards as a brainstorming tool, but also as a means to loosen up as an illustrator.

After that we go on a bit of a long discussion on tools, based on an email we received from Shadowing Tronix. We talk about and evaluate the following art tools:

  • Rolling Rulers
  • Ruling Pens
  • French Curves
  • Clickable Erasers
  • Compasses
  • Flexible Curves
  • Lightboxes
  • Pencils – Mechanical vs. Wood
  • Triangles
  • T-Squares

If the tools we talk about sound like they might be useful, you can purchase some of them with the links below, and we get a bit of Amazon kickback for it! Yet another way to support the show.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=437 0 analog tools,Inking,Penciling,pencils,pens,Sketching,tools,Writing [private]Mark and I take a breather from the Your Comic From The Ground Up series to answer a few Storrior emails and voicemails this week. It's a bit of a laid-back episode, featuring the return of some tributaries and laughs, [private]Mark and I take a breather from the Your Comic From The Ground Up series to answer a few Storrior emails and voicemails this week. It's a bit of a laid-back episode, featuring the return of some tributaries and laughs, but not at the expense of good ol' Art & Story content. We play a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, who gets us going for a bit about Sloppy Drawing and the usefulness of dry-erase boards and/or chalkboards as a brainstorming tool, but also as a means to loosen up as an illustrator. After that we go on a bit of a long discussion on tools, based on an email we received from Shadowing Tronix. We talk about and evaluate the following art tools: Rolling Rulers Ruling Pens French Curves Clickable Erasers Compasses Flexible Curves Lightboxes Pencils - Mechanical vs. Wood Triangles T-Squares If the tools we talk about sound like they might be useful, you can purchase some of them with the links below, and we get a bit of Amazon kickback for it! Yet another way to support the show. Links mentioned in this episode: The Switch Runners Artist Edition Preorder Sale is Go! New items in our Zazzle store Jerzy will be appearing November 13-15 at the Miami Book Fair Mark has his Metal Cards Set for sale We'll both be tabling at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair November 21 Josh Kemble's recent page illustration process video Cocoapotrace, a handy vectorizing tool recommended to us by Dave Anderson and Roger Langridge The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:46:41 Big Art & Story Party Time – Episode 6 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=431 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=431#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:36:21 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=431 [private]A&SbiptlogoIt’s another crossover event between Art & Story and Big Illustration Party Time! In this second part of our recap of Mark’s and Kevin’s experience at the 2009 Alternative Press Expo, we do our best to have a discussion about lessons learned from this and past conventions, knitting together a strategy guide for those Storriors who plan on tabling at shows in the near future.

Some of the topics covered:

  • Networking
  • Keeping costs low
  • Perceived value of items on the table
  • Effective self-promotion
  • The value of booth babes

Be sure to check out the first part of this discussion over on the Big Illustration Party Time website: Big Art & Story Party Time – Episode 5! You won’t be sorry.

Follow Jerzy, Mark, Josh, and Kevin on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=431 1 Conventions,displays,marketing,merchandise,self promotion,selling [private]It's another crossover event between Art & Story and Big Illustration Party Time! In this second part of our recap of Mark's and Kevin's experience at the 2009 Alternative Press Expo, we do our best to have a discussion about lessons learned f... [private]It's another crossover event between Art & Story and Big Illustration Party Time! In this second part of our recap of Mark's and Kevin's experience at the 2009 Alternative Press Expo, we do our best to have a discussion about lessons learned from this and past conventions, knitting together a strategy guide for those Storriors who plan on tabling at shows in the near future. Some of the topics covered: Networking Keeping costs low Perceived value of items on the table Effective self-promotion The value of booth babes Be sure to check out the first part of this discussion over on the Big Illustration Party Time website: Big Art & Story Party Time - Episode 5! You won't be sorry. Follow Jerzy, Mark, Josh, and Kevin on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:06:54 Art & Story – Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 3 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=426 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=426#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:56:13 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=426 [private]logo_comicfromgroundup3It’s time for part 3 of our series Your Comic From The Ground Up! This week we focus on finalizing our thumbnails, with a special emphasis on dialogue, acting moments, and moment choices. We’re not concerned with illustrative beauty yet–our main focus is on communicating your story visually.

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

Thumbnailing
Choosing Your Moment
Moment compression – Finding the “perfect” that essentially summarizes the flow of moments in your story. This is primarily achieved through imagining the scenes and finding the moments that stick with you, but you can also consider the following criteria in designing your narrative visually:
Consider your subject -

  • Is the focus of the shot best placed on your subject (character)?
  • How do things change when you have your subject off panel?
  • When is it appropriate to have more than one subject in the panel?

Consider your shot Objectively or Subjectively-

  • Wide shots often allow for more clarity (objective)
  • Tight shots often increase reader participation in character’s emotions (subjective)
How does the panel on the left feel different than the panel on the right?

How does the panel on the left feel different than the panel on the right?


Consider your acting moments-

  • Remember that comics affords us the opportunity to show a ton of story data visually, including emotions that defy a succinct explanation. See A&S 108 – The Big Acting
  • Is this a moment where a character can tell more story through expression, gesture, pose?

Consider your shot aesthetically-

  • How can you arrange elements to coexist in a visually pleasing manner?
  • How can you find shots in your story to put your reader’s eye in interesting places?
  • How can you create a visual flow on your page that a reader will find easy to read, while still retaining a sophisticated amount of story data?

Consider your use of Word Balloons-

  • How do your word balloons contribute to the visual flow of your images?
  • Do the balloons lead the eye to the interesting or notable points in your narrative?
  • See A&S 95 – The Big Balloon II

Looking for moments that can be told best through comics -

You can use the rules of art to defy traditional reading directions!

You can use the rules of art to defy traditional reading directions!


Hashing out the Story Some More
Dialogue Does It Best When It Does It Twice
Think of what essentially needs to be communicated in your moment, and ask yourself how your character can express that information as only they can. Dialogue should both propel the narrative forward as well as tell the reader how your characters are different.

*This is where the character personality interaction chart is so useful, at least at first!

Comics Gives You More Words For Your Money!
You can, within limits, fit considerably more dialogue in a comics moment than what would fit in a screen narrative. This is most likely due to the elastic nature of time in a comic–the static moment represents a compressed flow of moments in the narrative, so readers don’t notice when you push the dialogue just a little beyond the realistic point.

Speaking The Lines Out Loud Doesn’t ALWAYS Work
Some dialogue choices just look and read better in text than they do in a live performance. Even though your character is “speaking” in the reader’s mind, it’s often through a fuzzy representation of their voice.
Also, we cartoonists act ON THE PAGE, and as cartooning exaggerates and distends realistic acting, so too can comics dialogue. So unless you have some screen/stage acting skills, don’t rely only on speaking lines out loud.

Practical

Thumbnailing, Part 2 (second draft)
Collect your random sketches and first round of thumbs and re-investigate the story.
Look at each page through the lens of the above criteria, and ask yourself if each sketched page uses the criteria to best communicate what your moments are about (the theme, remember?).

Take some letter-sized sheets and staple them in the middle. Re-thumbnail the pages, editing as you go, one page per half of letter-sized paper.

Don’t be precious about the illustration, but at this point you should be taking care to loosely sketch your settings, locations, and roughing out the fancy perspective shots and acting moments.

Tool Selection
As you begin establishing the world and visual rhythms of your story, you can break up the process of building your story to do some more style studies by trying out various tools. Check out the works of cartoonists you admire and find out what tools they use and what kinds of tones they’re able to achieve with those tools.

You can take some key moments from your thumbnails and try them out with different tools to see how those moments feel different.

Promotional Shots
Now that you have your characters finalized and your story is well underway, you can get double-duty out of tool/style tests by creating some promotional shots of your characters/story (desktops, posters, banners, etc). It’ll be a great way to help psychologically prepare yourself for the work you’re committing to, as well as a way to start the real gruntwork of your book with a bunch of work ready to show off.

Assignment for this episode:

  • Have at least one chapter of your story in final thumbnails
  • Have a handful (2-20) style tests complete, and at least a third of them fully rendered

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private] ]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=426 0 analog tools,dialogue,digital tools,Thumbnailing,tools,Word Balloons,Your Comic From The Ground Up [private]It's time for part 3 of our series Your Comic From The Ground Up! This week we focus on finalizing our thumbnails, with a special emphasis on dialogue, acting moments, and moment choices. We're not concerned with illustrative beauty yet--our m... [private]It's time for part 3 of our series Your Comic From The Ground Up! This week we focus on finalizing our thumbnails, with a special emphasis on dialogue, acting moments, and moment choices. We're not concerned with illustrative beauty yet--our m... Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:55:41 Big Art & Story Party Time – Episode 4 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=422 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=422#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:34:24 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=422 [private]A&SbiptlogoThe second crossover between Art & Story and Big Illustration Party Time continues with this second part of our discussion on, as Mark put it:

“Films do it in the can (Cannes), comics do it in the panel”.

In other words, what storytelling advantages does comics have over screen media?

This section of the discussion focuses mostly on the cartooning aspects of comics making (line usage, flexibility of style, and image compression). In the first part, Big Art & Story Time Episode 3, we focused more on things like page turns, composition, and panel usage.

Follow Jerzy, Mark, Josh, and Kevin on Twitter!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=422 1 cartooning,Illustration,line value,panel borders,panel design [private]The second crossover between Art & Story and Big Illustration Party Time continues with this second part of our discussion on, as Mark put it: "Films do it in the can (Cannes), comics do it in the panel". - In other words, [private]The second crossover between Art & Story and Big Illustration Party Time continues with this second part of our discussion on, as Mark put it: "Films do it in the can (Cannes), comics do it in the panel". In other words, what storytelling advantages does comics have over screen media? This section of the discussion focuses mostly on the cartooning aspects of comics making (line usage, flexibility of style, and image compression). In the first part, Big Art & Story Time Episode 3, we focused more on things like page turns, composition, and panel usage. Follow Jerzy, Mark, Josh, and Kevin on Twitter! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 59:55 Art & Story – Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 2 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=417 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=417#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:39:03 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=417 [private]Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 2Our multi-part series of Your Comic From The Ground Up continues this week on Art & Story. This time it’s all about finding the climax and how it reflects the theme of your story, world building, and beginning work on your thumbnails!

Like before, we open with some theoretical discussion followed by some practical techniques.

Theory

World Building (establishing your story’s logic)
How can your location be a character in your story?

  • Designing a “real” world
  • Designing a “fantasy” world
  • Mixing and matching elements when designing props and settings
  • Questioning the obvious in terms of architectural shapes

Hashing Out The Story

  • Find your climax and work backwards
  • Identify your character’s crisis

Thumbnailing

This is the level of detail found in my first round of thumbnails

This is the level of detail found in my first round of thumbnails

  • Feeling out the moments visually
  • Sloppy drawing, not necessarily in sequence
  • Visual rhythms, finding the “beats” on your pages

Thinking About Format
Good for web & print:

  • Square
  • Horizontal (approx 10.5″W x 7.5″H)
  • Strip

Not so good for web, but good for print:

  • Vertical (approx 7.5″W x 10.5″H)
When I get to my second round of thumbnails, I add more detail and dialogue.

When I get to my second round of thumbnails, I add more detail and dialogue.

Practical

Building a Reference Library

  • Google/Flickr image search
  • Photograph locations yourself
  • Magazines & catalogues – Great for costume ideas and poses
  • Google Sketchup

Thumbnails

  • Work on a letter-sized piece of loose paper, measuring out 4 pages of story per sheet
  • Draw loosely in whatever writing utensil handy
  • Don’t work too much on dialogue, just focus on the visual rhythms and story flow

Building a Theme Library
Compile a library of music, films, or TV shows to have going on in the background while you work on your sketches, style studies, and/or thumbnails. These media should be reflective of the tone or “feel” of the story you’re working on. This isn’t to rip ideas off from others–it’s to help massage your brain into the state it is in when those stories speak to you.

Links mentioned this episode:

Assignment for this episode:

  • Begin a reference library (physical or digital)
  • Begin thumbnailing your story (4-up to a letter-sized sheet, keep it loose)
  • As you work on your thumbnails, re-examine your character designs and relationship charts to see if anything needs revision

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=417 1 story,storytelling,theme,Thumbnailing,world building,Writing,Your Comic From The Ground Up [private]Our multi-part series of Your Comic From The Ground Up continues this week on Art & Story. This time it's all about finding the climax and how it reflects the theme of your story, world building, and beginning work on your thumbnails! - [private]Our multi-part series of Your Comic From The Ground Up continues this week on Art & Story. This time it's all about finding the climax and how it reflects the theme of your story, world building, and beginning work on your thumbnails! Like before, we open with some theoretical discussion followed by some practical techniques. Theory World Building (establishing your story’s logic) How can your location be a character in your story? Designing a "real" world Designing a "fantasy" world Mixing and matching elements when designing props and settings Questioning the obvious in terms of architectural shapes Hashing Out The Story Find your climax and work backwards Identify your character's crisis Thumbnailing Feeling out the moments visually Sloppy drawing, not necessarily in sequence Visual rhythms, finding the "beats" on your pages Thinking About Format Good for web & print: Square Horizontal (approx 10.5"W x 7.5"H) Strip Not so good for web, but good for print: Vertical (approx 7.5"W x 10.5"H) Practical Building a Reference Library Google/Flickr image search Photograph locations yourself Magazines & catalogues - Great for costume ideas and poses Google Sketchup Thumbnails Work on a letter-sized piece of loose paper, measuring out 4 pages of story per sheet Draw loosely in whatever writing utensil handy Don't work too much on dialogue, just focus on the visual rhythms and story flow Building a Theme Library Compile a library of music, films, or TV shows to have going on in the background while you work on your sketches, style studies, and/or thumbnails. These media should be reflective of the tone or “feel” of the story you’re working on. This isn’t to rip ideas off from others--it’s to help massage your brain into the state it is in when those stories speak to you. Links mentioned this episode: Closing Doors John Oxbow: Man Out of Time Mulligan's Run Equalizers of the Divide The Front Assignment for this episode: Begin a reference library (physical or digital) Begin thumbnailing your story (4-up to a letter-sized sheet, keep it loose) As you work on your thumbnails, re-examine your character designs and relationship charts to see if anything needs revision The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:51:01 Art & Story 108 – The Big Acting http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=408 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=408#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:29:57 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=408 [private]It’s a wombo-sized 2-hour episode where we discuss acting in comics with friend of the show, cartoonist Kim Holm!
An example of the acting found in Kim's work.

An example of the acting found in Kim's work.


We break our discussion into a theoretical segment followed by some practical strategies for finding the acting style most appropriate to your comic.

Theory

Show, Don’t Tell
In any storytelling medium, especially the visual ones, we have the ability to make an audience believe in the world we are constructing. That believability will be more sustained if we deliver emotion, tone, and other story data through the visuals. Don’t tell us that a character is angry, make us say that he/she is angry.

Thoughtful Acting Delivers Story Tone
More emphatic acting leads to a more “theatric” style of storytelling. Naturalistic or subtle acting leads to a more sophisticated or complex tone of story. Subdued acting can be used to create a sense of irony.

Types of Acting

maguire_kojima

  • Cartoon – Loud, exuberant acting usually used for comedic or theatrical effect.
    Examples: Manga, Aragones, Will Eisner

aragones_eisner

giffen_jason

Practical

How to get the acting we want in our stories

  • Gesture
  • Facial Expression
  • Body Language
  • Type of Line
  • Artistic Effects (Use of color, stroke, iconic imagery)
  • Worldly Effects (Light-sourcing, using shadows, obstructing the view)

Questions of interest:

  • How do we decide what style of acting a story requires?
  • When can we break the style?
  • When can “not showing” be more effective than showing?
  • How do you build a “library” of emotional expressions, and charicatures?

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kim on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=408 0 acting,Artistic Process,body language,drawing,facial expression,gesture,storytelling,Writing [private]It's a wombo-sized 2-hour episode where we discuss acting in comics with friend of the show, cartoonist Kim Holm! - We break our discussion into a theoretical segment followed by some practical strategies for finding the acting style most app... [private]It's a wombo-sized 2-hour episode where we discuss acting in comics with friend of the show, cartoonist Kim Holm! We break our discussion into a theoretical segment followed by some practical strategies for finding the acting style most appropriate to your comic. Theory Show, Don't Tell In any storytelling medium, especially the visual ones, we have the ability to make an audience believe in the world we are constructing. That believability will be more sustained if we deliver emotion, tone, and other story data through the visuals. Don't tell us that a character is angry, make us say that he/she is angry. Thoughtful Acting Delivers Story Tone More emphatic acting leads to a more "theatric" style of storytelling. Naturalistic or subtle acting leads to a more sophisticated or complex tone of story. Subdued acting can be used to create a sense of irony. Types of Acting Naturalistic - Acting to describe sophisticated & complex emotions. Examples: Kevin Maguire, Goseki Kojima Cartoon - Loud, exuberant acting usually used for comedic or theatrical effect. Examples: Manga, Aragones, Will Eisner Subdued - Less acting, puts more story responsibility on words. Creates a sense of irony. Examples: Giffen, Daniel Clowes, Jason, Chris Ware Practical How to get the acting we want in our stories Gesture Facial Expression Body Language Type of Line Artistic Effects (Use of color, stroke, iconic imagery) Worldly Effects (Light-sourcing, using shadows, obstructing the view) Questions of interest: How do we decide what style of acting a story requires? When can we break the style? When can "not showing" be more effective than showing? How do you build a "library" of emotional expressions, and charicatures? Books mentioned in this episode: The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark, Jerzy, and Kim on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 2:02:46 Art & Story – Your Comic From The Ground Up, Pt 1 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=402 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=402#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:04:29 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=402 [private]Your Comic From The Ground UpWith this episode we begin a multi-part series called Your Comic From The Ground Up, through which we hope to more formally document all of the cartooning strategies we’ve used thus far when developing our comics from concept to completion.

In this first part we concern ourselves with previsualization–starting from scratch. We break our discussion into a section on the theoretical concerns, followed by a section on practical techniques.

Theory

Beginning with a character or characters:

  • Aspiration & Terror as character motivations
  • Finding surprises within characters
  • Discovering whether or not the character(s) will achieve their goals
  • Character and story themes
  • Sensible endings

The Art Mullet
Beginning with a concept:

  • Meaning/themes
  • The twist
  • Merging genres
  • Tonal exploration

Practical

Character-based
development strategies:

  • Collecting actors
  • Gesture studies
  • Ink studies/style studies
  • Turnaround/full character design
  • The one-sentence description

Concept-based development strategies:

  • Visualize key scenes
  • Rough outline

Links mentioned this episode:

Items/books mentioned in this episode:

Assignment for this episode:
Complete 50-100 pages of random sketches:

  • Character designs
  • One-sentence descriptions of your characters
  • A character relationship chart (this is how character A feels about character B, this is how character B feels about character A, etc)
  • “Big moments” in your story
  • Exploration of your story’s theme
  • Your story’s chapters outlined in one-paragraph descriptions

The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by
Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=402 3 Artistic Process,Character Design,character development,Plotting,premise,previsualization,Sketching,theme,Writing,Your Comic From The Ground Up [private]With this episode we begin a multi-part series called Your Comic From The Ground Up, through which we hope to more formally document all of the cartooning strategies we've used thus far when developing our comics from concept to completion. - [private]With this episode we begin a multi-part series called Your Comic From The Ground Up, through which we hope to more formally document all of the cartooning strategies we've used thus far when developing our comics from concept to completion. In this first part we concern ourselves with previsualization--starting from scratch. We break our discussion into a section on the theoretical concerns, followed by a section on practical techniques. Theory Beginning with a character or characters: Aspiration & Terror as character motivations Finding surprises within characters Discovering whether or not the character(s) will achieve their goals Character and story themes Sensible endings Beginning with a concept: Meaning/themes The twist Merging genres Tonal exploration Practical Character-based development strategies: Collecting actors Gesture studies Ink studies/style studies Turnaround/full character design The one-sentence description Concept-based development strategies: Visualize key scenes Rough outline Links mentioned this episode: Closing Doors Say It In Slugs John Oxbow: Man Out of Time Mulligan's Run Equalizers of the Divide Switch Runners The Front Items/books mentioned in this episode: Assignment for this episode: Complete 50-100 pages of random sketches: Character designs One-sentence descriptions of your characters A character relationship chart (this is how character A feels about character B, this is how character B feels about character A, etc) "Big moments" in your story Exploration of your story's theme Your story's chapters outlined in one-paragraph descriptions The Art & Story Theme is written and performed by Mike Gilmore & Mike Johnston of The Northwoods Improvisors. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 107 – The Big Implicit/Explicit Story http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=399 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=399#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:37:29 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=399 [private]This week Mark and I delve into a nerdy conversation about the differences between stories whose content is comprised of implicit and explicit story data. We evaluate the differences under the following criteria:


Implicit

Explicit
Character
Rich, Developed, Contradictions
Vibrant, Distinct, Consistent
Plot Development
Slow
Quick
Theme Devlopment
Complex, Many
Straightforward, Fewer
Focus
(Thematic & Character)
Varied
Direct
Composition & Delivery
Serialized
Episodic

We take these criteria and attempt to chart some well-known stories along a line between implicit and explicit stories. We’ve even got a handy graphic to assist in the discussion!

Click the image for a larger version of the chart.

And please note, this is diagrammatic thinking, which means we use broad generalizations in our discussion as a means to meditate on the topic. You may disagree with where we placed these stories, or even the criteria by which we judged them. If so, we’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

We also read a few emails from Ros Archer and Viro Indovina, who were kind enough to share some book recommendations:

Other newsy-type links:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=399 0 [private]This week Mark and I delve into a nerdy conversation about the differences between stories whose content is comprised of implicit and explicit story data. We evaluate the differences under the following criteria: [private]This week Mark and I delve into a nerdy conversation about the differences between stories whose content is comprised of implicit and explicit story data. We evaluate the differences under the following criteria: Implicit Explicit Character Rich, Developed, Contradictions Vibrant, Distinct, Consistent Plot Development Slow Quick Theme Devlopment Complex, Many Straightforward, Fewer Focus (Thematic & Character) Varied Direct Composition & Delivery Serialized Episodic We take these criteria and attempt to chart some well-known stories along a line between implicit and explicit stories. We've even got a handy graphic to assist in the discussion! Click the image for a larger version of the chart. And please note, this is diagrammatic thinking, which means we use broad generalizations in our discussion as a means to meditate on the topic. You may disagree with where we placed these stories, or even the criteria by which we judged them. If so, we'd love to hear your thoughts on it! We also read a few emails from Ros Archer and Viro Indovina, who were kind enough to share some book recommendations: Other newsy-type links: We've released The Lone Cartoonist anthem for download and distribution Mark's new book WAR is available for pre-order, featuring a special Artist's Edition Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:42:30 Art & Story 106 – The Big Catharsis http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=393 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=393#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:19:47 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=393 [private]primalscreamThis week we explore some of the more negative aspects of being a cartoonist/freelance illustrator. Mark and I have an open conversation about being frazzled, losing our focus, and riding the wild mood swings that seem to be part and parcel of our chosen careers. This is less of an advice-giving episode; our goal is to let you listen in on one of our various studio conversations as we try to talk ourselves back to the desk.

We answer a voicemail from Zach Bosteel, who asks us about writing women characters and provides us with some great book/link recommendations.

After that we play a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, who offers some great advice on starting up a freelance career while still in college.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Book recommendation this week:

Other newsy-type links:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=393 0 [private]This week we explore some of the more negative aspects of being a cartoonist/freelance illustrator. Mark and I have an open conversation about being frazzled, losing our focus, and riding the wild mood swings that seem to be part and parcel of... [private]This week we explore some of the more negative aspects of being a cartoonist/freelance illustrator. Mark and I have an open conversation about being frazzled, losing our focus, and riding the wild mood swings that seem to be part and parcel of our chosen careers. This is less of an advice-giving episode; our goal is to let you listen in on one of our various studio conversations as we try to talk ourselves back to the desk. We answer a voicemail from Zach Bosteel, who asks us about writing women characters and provides us with some great book/link recommendations. After that we play a voicemail from Gerimi Burleigh, who offers some great advice on starting up a freelance career while still in college. Links mentioned in this episode: Art & Story Alive! Episode 81 Big Illustration Party Time Sean Gordon Murphy The Colodin Project Sara Turner's File 49 The Replacements Switch Runners Art & Story 46 - The Big Commentary: Switch Runners Book recommendation this week: Other newsy-type links: We've released The Lone Cartoonist anthem for download and distribution Jerzy's 1995 mini-comic series The Black Hole Equation, has been put online--here's why Mark posted some pages from his upcoming book, WAR Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:31:24 Art & Story 105 – The Big Tone http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=386 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=386#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:55:31 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=386 [private]This week Mark and I explore how a cartoonist’s style contributes to the tone of their work. We’re specifically talking about the visual style as a vehicle of storytelling in terms of use of line, use of color, and use of composition and character design/pose.

We break down some broad categories of frequently-used tones, but these are by no means a definitive or complete list:

Dynamism
dynamism
Artists mentioned: Jack Kirby, Walt Simonson, Jerry Ordway, Bruce Timm
Characterized by

  • Clarity
  • Boldness
  • Variety of line weight
  • Dramatic Black Spotting

Sophistication
sophistication
Artists mentioned: Charles Burns, R. Crumb, Seth, Craig Thompson, Chris Ware
Characterized by

  • Use of feathering
  • Graphical style
  • Smooth lines
  • Rigidity of poses
  • Texture
  • Fixed-width linework

Cheerfulness
cheerfulness
Artists mentioned: Carl Barks, Curt Swan, Jerry Ordway, Bruce Timm, Craig McCraken
Characterized by

  • Contour line
  • Simplification of form
  • Smoother lines
  • Varying line weight

Depravity
depravity
Artists mentioned: Bill Sienkiewicz, R. Crumb, Berni Wrightson, Eddie Campbell
Characterized by

  • Impressionistic detail
  • Savage lines

We examined each grouping through the following questions:

  • What are they doing with lines?
  • What are they doing with color?
  • What are they doing with composition/pose?

Check out these books by the cartoonists we’ve mentioned throughout this week’s show:

Links mentioned in this episode:

And thanks to Jim Lujan for the voicemail this week!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=386 0 [private]This week Mark and I explore how a cartoonist's style contributes to the tone of their work. We're specifically talking about the visual style as a vehicle of storytelling in terms of use of line, use of color, [private]This week Mark and I explore how a cartoonist's style contributes to the tone of their work. We're specifically talking about the visual style as a vehicle of storytelling in terms of use of line, use of color, and use of composition and character design/pose. We break down some broad categories of frequently-used tones, but these are by no means a definitive or complete list: Dynamism Artists mentioned: Jack Kirby, Walt Simonson, Jerry Ordway, Bruce Timm Characterized by Clarity Boldness Variety of line weight Dramatic Black Spotting Sophistication Artists mentioned: Charles Burns, R. Crumb, Seth, Craig Thompson, Chris Ware Characterized by Use of feathering Graphical style Smooth lines Rigidity of poses Texture Fixed-width linework Cheerfulness Artists mentioned: Carl Barks, Curt Swan, Jerry Ordway, Bruce Timm, Craig McCraken Characterized by Contour line Simplification of form Smoother lines Varying line weight Depravity Artists mentioned: Bill Sienkiewicz, R. Crumb, Berni Wrightson, Eddie Campbell Characterized by Impressionistic detail Savage lines We examined each grouping through the following questions: What are they doing with lines? What are they doing with color? What are they doing with composition/pose? Check out these books by the cartoonists we've mentioned throughout this week's show: Links mentioned in this episode: Eric Talbot's influence on Jerzy's work Thomas James' Escape From Illustration Island Podcast is now updating! New episode of the Saturday Supercast is up, featuring part two of our discussion of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Season One! And thanks to Jim Lujan for the voicemail this week! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:48:17 Art & Story 104 – The Big Renaissance http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=385 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=385#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:17:57 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=385 [private]We’re celebrating our two-year anniversary with an interview with two excellent examples of the kinds of renaissance creators we independent cartoonists should be!

Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal are actors, writers, producers, and voice actors who never stop working.

Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal

In addition to recently completing pre-production work on an independent film, they’ve also just finished work on a book about voice acting called Voice-Over Voice Actor, What it’s Like Behind the Mic (featuring comic strips and illustrations by me!).

Tara and Yuri spend some time with us to discuss the challenges of managing a collaborative project, why it’s important to always be working on something, their process of writing, and how they find and develop characters with their voices. Tons of great food for thought for any independent creator out there.

If you enjoyed listening to the discussion this week, be sure to check out their book!

Click here to pre-order Voice-Over Voice Actor, What it's Like Behind the Mic!


Links mentioned in this episode:

Other newsy-type links this week:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=385 2 [private]We're celebrating our two-year anniversary with an interview with two excellent examples of the kinds of renaissance creators we independent cartoonists should be! - Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal are actors, writers, producers, [private]We're celebrating our two-year anniversary with an interview with two excellent examples of the kinds of renaissance creators we independent cartoonists should be! Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal are actors, writers, producers, and voice actors who never stop working. In addition to recently completing pre-production work on an independent film, they've also just finished work on a book about voice acting called Voice-Over Voice Actor, What it's Like Behind the Mic (featuring comic strips and illustrations by me!). Tara and Yuri spend some time with us to discuss the challenges of managing a collaborative project, why it's important to always be working on something, their process of writing, and how they find and develop characters with their voices. Tons of great food for thought for any independent creator out there. If you enjoyed listening to the discussion this week, be sure to check out their book! Links mentioned in this episode: Voice-Over Voice Actor, What it's Like Behind the Mic - Now available for pre-order! Tumbling After, Tara and Yuri's independent film Tara Platt's website Yuri Lowenthal's website Other newsy-type links this week: More items in the Art & Story Zazzle store! Storriors mugs now on sale! A reminder to check out items in Mark's store. We practice what we preach, so if you enjoy our show, you'll probably enjoy his comics! Thomas James' Escape From Illustration Island podcast launches this week! Mark appeared on the last two episodes of Big Illustration Party Time (eps 29 & 30) Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:26:54 Art & Story 103 – The Big Escape http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=384 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=384#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:01:20 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=384 [private]This week we have a special co-host for a continuation of our recent discussions on building communities and connecting with other artists. Thomas James of the upcoming Escape From Illustration Island podcast talks with us about how he plans to use his website and podcast to invite fellow cartoonists, illustrators, and animators to join him in amassing as many great resources for artists as possible. In this way he hopes to create a hub for cartoonists to gather around and get to know one another, and maybe even remove the negative connotations surrounding the word “networking”.

At the top of the episode we respond to a voicemail sent by Gerimi Burleigh, who shares some thoughts explored in Art & Story Alive! #78–namely, the future of digital distribution of comics in regards to the rumored Apple Mediapad.

Other newsy-type links mentioned in this episode:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=384 0 [private]This week we have a special co-host for a continuation of our recent discussions on building communities and connecting with other artists. Thomas James of the upcoming Escape From Illustration Island podcast talks with us about how he plans t... [private]This week we have a special co-host for a continuation of our recent discussions on building communities and connecting with other artists. Thomas James of the upcoming Escape From Illustration Island podcast talks with us about how he plans to use his website and podcast to invite fellow cartoonists, illustrators, and animators to join him in amassing as many great resources for artists as possible. In this way he hopes to create a hub for cartoonists to gather around and get to know one another, and maybe even remove the negative connotations surrounding the word "networking". At the top of the episode we respond to a voicemail sent by Gerimi Burleigh, who shares some thoughts explored in Art & Story Alive! #78--namely, the future of digital distribution of comics in regards to the rumored Apple Mediapad. Other newsy-type links mentioned in this episode: Mark appeared on the last two episodes of Big Illustration Party Time (eps 29 & 30) New items in our Zazzle store! Bumper stickers and more mugs! A wrap-up of Mark's trip to Portland can be found in some recent episodes of Art & Story Extreme!! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:33:58 Art & Story 102 – The Big Call-In II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=383 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=383#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:39:23 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=383 [private]Due to a snafu with our original recording of A&S 102 (check out our AudioBoo on that for more info), we had to be creative in making this week’s episode happen. We took the opportunity to do our first late-night live show since A&S episode 5, and we’re joined by a stellar group of cartoonists to discuss the topic of Finding Inroads to Art Communities, or Finding Your Art Buddy.

Guests this episode include:

Chris Oatley is an artist, writer, and aspiring director who lives in Los Angeles, California, works in the entertainment industry, and his goal is to inspire you with his excellent ArtCast.
Matt Munn is the creator of Zed Reckoning, one of the most awesome horror/action comics on the internet.
Ryan Dow is a regular on our weekly live show, Art & Story Alive! He’s also the cartoonist behind Introspective Comics.
Kevin Cross is one half of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, but he also works as a freelance illustrator when he’s not preparing to launch his new webcomic Monkey Mod! He joins Shawn Robare and myself as a co-host on the Saturday Supercast!
Javier Hernandez is the host of the Javiland podcast, but he’s also known for his work as a cartoonist on El Muerto, Demolition Dove, and his upcoming Man Swamp from Xomix Comix!
Jim Lujan is the creator of many wonderfully strange animated cartoons. He also produces the Fakesplosion podcast!

We recorded this episode live through Talkshoe, which means that a bunch of terrific cartoonists were in the chat client sharing their thoughts. You can read a transcript of the chat by going to the Talkshoe Transcript Generator and entering show ID 49181.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=383 0 [private]Due to a snafu with our original recording of A&S 102 (check out our AudioBoo on that for more info), we had to be creative in making this week's episode happen. We took the opportunity to do our first late-night live show since A&S episode 5, [private]Due to a snafu with our original recording of A&S 102 (check out our AudioBoo on that for more info), we had to be creative in making this week's episode happen. We took the opportunity to do our first late-night live show since A&S episode 5, and we're joined by a stellar group of cartoonists to discuss the topic of Finding Inroads to Art Communities, or Finding Your Art Buddy. Guests this episode include: Chris Oatley is an artist, writer, and aspiring director who lives in Los Angeles, California, works in the entertainment industry, and his goal is to inspire you with his excellent ArtCast. Matt Munn is the creator of Zed Reckoning, one of the most awesome horror/action comics on the internet. Ryan Dow is a regular on our weekly live show, Art & Story Alive! He's also the cartoonist behind Introspective Comics. Kevin Cross is one half of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, but he also works as a freelance illustrator when he's not preparing to launch his new webcomic Monkey Mod! He joins Shawn Robare and myself as a co-host on the Saturday Supercast! Javier Hernandez is the host of the Javiland podcast, but he's also known for his work as a cartoonist on El Muerto, Demolition Dove, and his upcoming Man Swamp from Xomix Comix! Jim Lujan is the creator of many wonderfully strange animated cartoons. He also produces the Fakesplosion podcast! We recorded this episode live through Talkshoe, which means that a bunch of terrific cartoonists were in the chat client sharing their thoughts. You can read a transcript of the chat by going to the Talkshoe Transcript Generator and entering show ID 49181. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:30:41 Art & Story 101 – The Big Workout http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=381 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=381#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:27:52 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=381 [private]This week’s topic was inspired by an email we received recently from Carl Mefferd, who asked for our thoughts on how we stay focused and motivated to keep making comics. While it’s a topic broached before in past shows (and on Art & Story Alive!), it’s always worthwhile to revisit these subjects to see if we’ve developed any new strategies, or if old ones have ceased being useful to us.

We organize our thoughts under an analogy of a workout regimen. Those who are much healthier than either Mark or I suggest a combination of endurance and strength training to stay in shape. We discuss the following strategies to stay in shape artistically, while trying to find the analogs for them in the world of physical fitness:

  • Getting over the fear of sucking
  • Just get through it
  • Sloppy drawing
  • Doodling without previsualization
  • Procedure & not over-working an illustration
  • Art Buddies

In addition to an exercise routine, most people agree that good nutrition is important. Of course we have our creative-types analogs in the following strategies:

  • Intellectual comfort food
  • Keeping the Analytic Eye opened

Links mentioned in this episode:

We’re also pleased to play a voicemail by Juan Navarro, who shares a few book recommendations with us:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=381 0 [private]This week's topic was inspired by an email we received recently from Carl Mefferd, who asked for our thoughts on how we stay focused and motivated to keep making comics. While it's a topic broached before in past shows (and on Art & Story Alive! [private]This week's topic was inspired by an email we received recently from Carl Mefferd, who asked for our thoughts on how we stay focused and motivated to keep making comics. While it's a topic broached before in past shows (and on Art & Story Alive!), it's always worthwhile to revisit these subjects to see if we've developed any new strategies, or if old ones have ceased being useful to us. We organize our thoughts under an analogy of a workout regimen. Those who are much healthier than either Mark or I suggest a combination of endurance and strength training to stay in shape. We discuss the following strategies to stay in shape artistically, while trying to find the analogs for them in the world of physical fitness: Getting over the fear of sucking Just get through it Sloppy drawing Doodling without previsualization Procedure & not over-working an illustration Art Buddies In addition to an exercise routine, most people agree that good nutrition is important. Of course we have our creative-types analogs in the following strategies: Intellectual comfort food Keeping the Analytic Eye opened Links mentioned in this episode: Merlin Mann's speech at MaxFunCon New Additions to the Art & Story Zazzle store We're also pleased to play a voicemail by Juan Navarro, who shares a few book recommendations with us: Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 100 – The Big ‘Un http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=379 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=379#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:37:20 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=379 [private]We’re joined by our biggest roundtable yet to help celebrate reaching our 100th episode! No special topic this time–more of a general discussion about why we love the comics medium so much, from our various points of view.

Here’s our lineup of special guests:

Shawn Robare is the man behind Branded in the 80s, a blog that remembers what it’s like to be a kid! He is also one of the co-hosts of the recently relaunched Saturday Supercast, a podcast about the cartoons of the 60s, 70s, and 80s!
Krishna Sadasivam is the cartoonist behind PC Weenies, a comic for tech nerds and the people who love/tolerate them, and Uncubed, his autobiographical comic. He is also the co-host of our weekly live show, Art & Story Alive!
Kevin Cross is one half of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, but he also works as a freelance illustrator when he’s not preparing to launch his new webcomic Monkey Mod! He joins Shawn Robare and myself as a co-host on the Saturday Supercast!
Joshua Kemble is the other half of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, and he also works as a freelance illustrator and is a Xeric Award-winning cartoonist!
Diana Nock is the cartoonist repsonsible for The Intrepid Girlbot, Imaginary Friends Forever, and many more comics found on her Jinxville site!
Javier Hernandez is the host of the Javiland podcast, but he’s also known for his work as a cartoonist on El Muerto, Demolition Dove, and his upcoming Man Swamp from Xomix Comix!
Jim Lujan is the creator of many wonderfully strange animated cartoons. He also produces the Fakesplosion podcast!
Last but not least, we have Gerimi Burleigh, who recently completed his graphic novel, Eye of the Gods. He currently is working on some new comics which will no doubt be available on his Optic House website soon.

Our deepest thanks to all of these folks who took time out of their busy schedules to rap with us for a while. We certainly had fun during the recording.

And we certainly thank you for downloading and listening!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=379 1 Art,Artistic Development,Artistic Process,comics,storytelling,webcomics,world building [private]We're joined by our biggest roundtable yet to help celebrate reaching our 100th episode! No special topic this time--more of a general discussion about why we love the comics medium so much, from our various points of view. - [private]We're joined by our biggest roundtable yet to help celebrate reaching our 100th episode! No special topic this time--more of a general discussion about why we love the comics medium so much, from our various points of view. Here's our lineup of special guests: Shawn Robare is the man behind Branded in the 80s, a blog that remembers what it's like to be a kid! He is also one of the co-hosts of the recently relaunched Saturday Supercast, a podcast about the cartoons of the 60s, 70s, and 80s! Krishna Sadasivam is the cartoonist behind PC Weenies, a comic for tech nerds and the people who love/tolerate them, and Uncubed, his autobiographical comic. He is also the co-host of our weekly live show, Art & Story Alive! Kevin Cross is one half of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, but he also works as a freelance illustrator when he's not preparing to launch his new webcomic Monkey Mod! He joins Shawn Robare and myself as a co-host on the Saturday Supercast! Joshua Kemble is the other half of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, and he also works as a freelance illustrator and is a Xeric Award-winning cartoonist! Diana Nock is the cartoonist repsonsible for The Intrepid Girlbot, Imaginary Friends Forever, and many more comics found on her Jinxville site! Javier Hernandez is the host of the Javiland podcast, but he's also known for his work as a cartoonist on El Muerto, Demolition Dove, and his upcoming Man Swamp from Xomix Comix! Jim Lujan is the creator of many wonderfully strange animated cartoons. He also produces the Fakesplosion podcast! Last but not least, we have Gerimi Burleigh, who recently completed his graphic novel, Eye of the Gods. He currently is working on some new comics which will no doubt be available on his Optic House website soon. Our deepest thanks to all of these folks who took time out of their busy schedules to rap with us for a while. We certainly had fun during the recording. And we certainly thank you for downloading and listening! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:48:58 Art & Story 99 – The Big Wood http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=375 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=375#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:03:52 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=375 [private]This week we spotlight Wally Wood’s famous “22 Panels That Always Work”

wallywood22panel1We discuss several of the panels in this image and discuss how they have affected our storytelling, why and how we think they work, and how we’ve used them in our own comics.

Some of the panels highlighted:

  • Big Head
  • Extreme Closeup
  • Back of Head/Part of Head
  • Profile
  • Open Panel
  • Small Fig
  • Down Shot
  • L-Shape
  • White Ben Day BG and Silhouette
  • Three Stage
  • Contrast

Some of our comics mentioned using these techniques:

For more about Wally Wood’s witticisms and his work, check out the following books:

More newsy-type links:

Special appearance by Brian Turner of Cricket Press! Thanks for the testimonial, Brian!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=375 0 Art,blocking,comics,craft,Layout,storytelling [private]This week we spotlight Wally Wood's famous "22 Panels That Always Work" We discuss several of the panels in this image and discuss how they have affected our storytelling, why and how we think they work, [private]This week we spotlight Wally Wood's famous "22 Panels That Always Work" We discuss several of the panels in this image and discuss how they have affected our storytelling, why and how we think they work, and how we've used them in our own comics. Some of the panels highlighted: Big Head Extreme Closeup Back of Head/Part of Head Profile Open Panel Small Fig Down Shot L-Shape White Ben Day BG and Silhouette Three Stage Contrast Some of our comics mentioned using these techniques: Hitomi & The Girl Commandos Part 5, Page 1 (Contrast) The Front Part 3, Page 39 (Contrast) The Replacements, Book Three, Page 23 (Small Fig) Curse of the Pharaohs, Page 04 (Silhouette) Curse of the Pharaohs, Page 23 (Silhouette w/rim lighting) John Oxbow, Man Out of Time (Profile) For more about Wally Wood's witticisms and his work, check out the following books: More newsy-type links: The Art & Story coffee mug is now on sale! Only $15! Krishna's Rebootus Maximus is still up for pre-order! Art & Story Alive! And Art & Story Extreme!! both celebrate anniversaries this week! I recently led a test of the Ustream service, which I hope to use again in the near future Special appearance by Brian Turner of Cricket Press! Thanks for the testimonial, Brian! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:30:57 Art & Story 98 – The Big Book Recommendation http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=371 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=371#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:37:11 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=371 [private]recommendations1I’m sure most of you out there have a cherished book in your library that you discovered by way of a friend’s recommendation. This week we share some of the cherished reads/listens/watches from our media libraries in that same spirit. These aren’t resources like “how to” books–instead we spotlight some of the books that electrified and inspired us as storytellers. The kind of book that changes the way you think about your craft.

Jerzy’s Picks:

Mark’s Picks:

And the surprise book recommendation that I couldn’t remember the name of during the recording:

Other newsy links of note:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=371 0 Artistic Development,blocking,craft,problem solving,story,storytelling,theme,Writing [private]I'm sure most of you out there have a cherished book in your library that you discovered by way of a friend's recommendation. This week we share some of the cherished reads/listens/watches from our media libraries in that same spirit. [private]I'm sure most of you out there have a cherished book in your library that you discovered by way of a friend's recommendation. This week we share some of the cherished reads/listens/watches from our media libraries in that same spirit. These aren't resources like "how to" books--instead we spotlight some of the books that electrified and inspired us as storytellers. The kind of book that changes the way you think about your craft. Jerzy's Picks: Thomas Carlyle On Heroes, Hero-Worship And The Heroic In History The Power of Myth, with Joseph Campbell & Bill Moyers The Four Loves, by C.S. Lewis (also available in audio on iTunes, which I highly recommend) The Romantic Manifesto, by Ayn Rand Mark's Picks: The Twilight Zone - Season 1 (The Definitive Edition) The Twilight Zone Companion The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set Also available on Hulu.com, totally free! Star Trek The Original Series - The Complete First Season Also available on YouTube, totally free! Superman - The Movie (Four-Disc Special Edition) The Contract with God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue (A Contract With God, A Life Force, Dropsie Avenue) Eisner/Miller I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson And the surprise book recommendation that I couldn't remember the name of during the recording: Mirrors: Stories of Almost Everyone Other newsy links of note: Krishna Sadasivam's PC Weenies Rebootus Maximus is up for pre-order! Get a copy for a tech-savvy, non-comics reader today! The Saturday Supercast has returned, hosted by Kevin Cross, Shawn Robare, and yours truly! Our first new ep is an exploration of the 1980s cartoon series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero! We've added a page to the site detailing what we plan to spend donation dollars on in order to improve the podcast. New video on our Vimeo site, showing what a recording of an A&S Extreme!! episode looks like. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:36:51 Art & Story 97 – The Big Storrie http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=367 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=367#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:07:56 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=367 [private]

Paul Storrie and Jerzy face off!

We have our second-ever in-studio guest this week, as we’re joined by Paul Storrie, a comics writer whose work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel, IDW, and more. Paul stopped by to share some of his thoughts on making comics from a writer’s perspective, some of the more theoretical/philosophical aspects of writing, and some advice/strategies for exploring a writing career in comics.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Also, we must thank Jim Lujan, Gerimi Burleigh, Thomas James, and Kevin Cross for the wonderful testimonials submitted for A&S Extreme!! Thanks a million, guys!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=367 0 craft,format,Process,story,storytelling,theme,Writing [private] - We have our second-ever in-studio guest this week, as we're joined by Paul Storrie, a comics writer whose work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel, IDW, and more. Paul stopped by to share some of his thoughts on making comics from a wr... [private] We have our second-ever in-studio guest this week, as we're joined by Paul Storrie, a comics writer whose work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel, IDW, and more. Paul stopped by to share some of his thoughts on making comics from a writer's perspective, some of the more theoretical/philosophical aspects of writing, and some advice/strategies for exploring a writing career in comics. Links mentioned in this episode: Chuck Dixon's website, where you can find samples of full comics scripts Big Illustration Party Time, the definitive freelance illustration podcast, now with more audio quality Krishna Sadasivam's PC Weenies Book is still up for pre-order The new Art & Story video podcast, featuring an inking tutorial Art & Story Extreme!! Also, we must thank Jim Lujan, Gerimi Burleigh, Thomas James, and Kevin Cross for the wonderful testimonials submitted for A&S Extreme!! Thanks a million, guys! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:53:35 Art & Story 96 – The Big Money http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=364 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=364#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:14:46 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=364 [private]It’s all about the bills this week as we answer a question from Stef of Sarah Zero–namely, how do we make money doing what we’re doing? And what does all this nerding out over comics process junk have to do with making the monies?

It may surprise none of you to hear that we believe that delving deeply into the process of comics making figures in largely to making a living as a cartoonist. We break down our strategies for survival into the following categories and sub-categories, explaining at every point how our love of comics has made us more marketable to clients:

Freelancing

  • Comics
  • Illustration
  • Storyboards
  • Character Design
  • Logo Design

Teaching

  • Illustration
  • Storytelling

Links related to this episode’s topic:

Other Newsy-links:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=364 0 Artistic Development,business model,Character Design,freelancing,Illustration,storytelling,Teaching Arts [private]It's all about the bills this week as we answer a question from Stef of Sarah Zero--namely, how do we make money doing what we're doing? And what does all this nerding out over comics process junk have to do with making the monies? - [private]It's all about the bills this week as we answer a question from Stef of Sarah Zero--namely, how do we make money doing what we're doing? And what does all this nerding out over comics process junk have to do with making the monies? It may surprise none of you to hear that we believe that delving deeply into the process of comics making figures in largely to making a living as a cartoonist. We break down our strategies for survival into the following categories and sub-categories, explaining at every point how our love of comics has made us more marketable to clients: Freelancing Comics Illustration Storyboards Character Design Logo Design Teaching Illustration Storytelling Links related to this episode's topic: Art & Storrior Gerimi links to this interesting talk about comics economics with Jeph Loeb Optimum Wound's 23 Ways for a Comic Artist to Survive and Thrive in any Economy Big Illustration Party Time - the definitive podcast for those seeking a freelance career Webcomics Weekly - A great podcast for those who want to know more about the business end of comics Other Newsy-links: The BIPT Art Auction is still going! Bid early, bid often! Krishna Sadasivam's first book is available for preorder! Get 2 of them! Art & Story now has a video podcast site! Still looking for voicemails with testimonials for A&S Extreme!! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:38:58 Art & Story 95 – The Big Balloon II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=359 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=359#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:38:35 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=359 [private]This week we try to answer an email from Storrior Jose Gonzalez, specifically about some tricky word balloon uses he plans on trying in one of his comics.

We take the opportunity to revisit a topic we haven’t formally explored since episode 08–namely the role and function of word balloons in a comics narrative. We broke our discussion into the following areas of concern:

Definitions

  • Word Balloons
  • Thought Balloons
  • Caption Boxes
The Front, by Jerzy Drozd

Marmalade Bear and Yuki Bear, as played by Dick and Torpedo Black

Theoretical

  • Balloon shape
  • Distance between the text and the outside of the balloon
  • Tails & Trunks
  • Fonts/hand lettering
  • Color

Practical

  • Allowing space in the illustrations for balloons
  • Using Adobe Illustrator to letter our comics

We’ve also created a video podcast to show some of our Illustrator techniques, as supplementary material for this episode!

Other examples mentioned in this episode:

Other links mentioned:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=359 1 Adobe Illustrator,Color,Composition,dialogue,fonts,Lettering,Word Balloons [private]This week we try to answer an email from Storrior Jose Gonzalez, specifically about some tricky word balloon uses he plans on trying in one of his comics. - We take the opportunity to revisit a topic we haven't formally explored since episode... [private]This week we try to answer an email from Storrior Jose Gonzalez, specifically about some tricky word balloon uses he plans on trying in one of his comics. We take the opportunity to revisit a topic we haven't formally explored since episode 08--namely the role and function of word balloons in a comics narrative. We broke our discussion into the following areas of concern: Definitions Word Balloons Thought Balloons Caption Boxes Theoretical Balloon shape Distance between the text and the outside of the balloon Tails & Trunks Fonts/hand lettering Color Practical Allowing space in the illustrations for balloons Using Adobe Illustrator to letter our comics We've also created a video podcast to show some of our Illustrator techniques, as supplementary material for this episode! Other examples mentioned in this episode: The Front, Part 5, pg 14, where Dick and Torpedo Black use puppets to taunt Thirsty Curse of the Pharaohs, pg 1 Switch Runners, pg 4 Diana Nock's Imaginary Friends Forever, pg 3 Mulligan's Run, pg 8 John Oxbow, Man Out of Time, pg 4 Echoes From Asteroid X, pg 5 Mark's Bionic Man tribute comic Other links mentioned: Krishna Sadasivam's Rebootus Maximus is now available for pre-order! Art & Story Extreme!! is updating Mondays through Thursdays! Mark and I were guests on Big Illustration Party Time, episode 23! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:34:48 Art & Story 94 – The Big Chelsea http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=355 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=355#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:09:41 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=355 [private]Kids Read Comics!The first Kids Read Comics convention is over, and we’re back with our full report of the event. We’re joined by Sara Turner for a blow-by-blow retelling of the event along with our commentary and analysis.

Overall, we agree that the event was a great success. While there were a few minor setbacks and conundrums that faced both the artists as well as the organizers, the positive outcomes easily outweighed any frustrations.

More links to check out for Kids Read Comics coverage:

Also, we’ve added a new Thankcast to our site, featuring a discussion with Sara Turner about our top 3 film influences on our work. Contribute any amount via the buttons on the upper left of the website to get access to it. And thanks for your support!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=355 0 [private]The first Kids Read Comics convention is over, and we're back with our full report of the event. We're joined by Sara Turner for a blow-by-blow retelling of the event along with our commentary and analysis. - Overall, [private]The first Kids Read Comics convention is over, and we're back with our full report of the event. We're joined by Sara Turner for a blow-by-blow retelling of the event along with our commentary and analysis. Overall, we agree that the event was a great success. While there were a few minor setbacks and conundrums that faced both the artists as well as the organizers, the positive outcomes easily outweighed any frustrations. More links to check out for Kids Read Comics coverage: Art & Story Extreme!! episodes Equestrian!!, Elbow!!, Kids!!, and Yayus!!, where Mark, Sara, and I wrapped up our experience on a day-by-day basis Art & Story Alive! episode 70, where Mark, Krishna, Ryan Dow, and I did an informal discussion about the event Kids Read Comics podcast episode 03, featuring a recording of one of the panel discussions from the event Photos of the event on our Flickr page Also, we've added a new Thankcast to our site, featuring a discussion with Sara Turner about our top 3 film influences on our work. Contribute any amount via the buttons on the upper left of the website to get access to it. And thanks for your support! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 93 – The Big Open Source Protagonist http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=352 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=352#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:52:41 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=352 [private]Mark and I return to the creative end of the spectrum in our comics discussions this week with a modeling exercise first explored in Episode 53, only this time we focus on creating a protagonist.

We turned on the mic and let you listen in on our process of generating an idea for a protagonist/hero starting from scratch. Some of the techniques used in our discussion include:

  • Starting with a theme
  • Starting with a premise
  • Starting with a plot
  • Letting the visuals determine our choices
  • Inspiration from other sources

But as we stated during the discussion, there’s no one “tried and true” path that we use every time, and had we chosen a different starting point for our character, he/she would have turned out differently. This discussion is more or less a means to let you in on the back and forth in our decision-making process, and to show how ideas can quickly be thrown out to make way for more interesting ones.

We’d love to hear your take on our starting point. You can email us or post your thoughts in the comment thread.

Other links/news of note:

Sugary SerialsWe answer some listener email this week, and it just so happens that two of the questions are about our experiences running and participating in the Sugary Serials comics anthology.

Robin White asks us about our experience with the business end of starting a comics anthology, specifically:

I’m wondering about how you deal with contracts, expectations, etc, with contributors to Sugary Serials. I’m sure the creators retain copyright of their creations, but what do you offer them in terms of payment, if anything? I think you’ve said on the show that you haven’t made much money off the project, but what if you do? Are the creators going to receive a cut or do you guys get to keep it? Do the creators sign a contract with you before you use their material?

From there we cover some topics that not only apply to an anthology, but any comics project–having a clear vision for the project, knowing how to express that vision, drawing in the right people to participate in the project, and managing contracts and compensation for all parties involved.

Links and tips mentioned during this segment:

  • Private forums (PHPbb is a decent one): good for managing a group project
  • Basecamp, from 37 Signals. You can sign up for a free, one project account, and it’s a terrific tool for managing a group project

We then move on to answer an email from listener Mark Harmon, who asks us to share our thoughts on marketing all-ages comics at conventions. Long-time listeners will no doubt recall our experiences at Wizard World Chicago versus our time spent at events like the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, but we revisit the subject in an attempt to explore some options that cartoonists have when thinking about a potential audience for their project. The most interesting part of the conversation, for me, was hearing myself suggest that maybe pointing out that it’s an “all-ages” comic is not the best idea at a convention, book show, or art fair.

Other news/links of note:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=352 0 brainstorming,Character Design,character development,structure,theme,Writing [private]Mark and I return to the creative end of the spectrum in our comics discussions this week with a modeling exercise first explored in Episode 53, only this time we focus on creating a protagonist. - [private]Mark and I return to the creative end of the spectrum in our comics discussions this week with a modeling exercise first explored in Episode 53, only this time we focus on creating a protagonist. We turned on the mic and let you listen in on our process of generating an idea for a protagonist/hero starting from scratch. Some of the techniques used in our discussion include: Starting with a theme Starting with a premise Starting with a plot Letting the visuals determine our choices Inspiration from other sources But as we stated during the discussion, there's no one "tried and true" path that we use every time, and had we chosen a different starting point for our character, he/she would have turned out differently. This discussion is more or less a means to let you in on the back and forth in our decision-making process, and to show how ideas can quickly be thrown out to make way for more interesting ones. We'd love to hear your take on our starting point. You can email us or post your thoughts in the comment thread. Other links/news of note: The Big Illustration Party Time Benefit Auction is running now! Ends next week, so get in there and bid to show your support of the BIPT guys! Kids Read Comics is this coming weekend! Come on out and say hello to Mark and me. Art & Story Extreme!! is still going, and will be updating extra days this week. Tiny Hamilton and the second edition of Echoes From Asteroid X are now on sale in our Etsy store! The entire 6-part video series of my Graphic Novel Academy is now online for viewing! We answer some listener email this week, and it just so happens that two of the questions are about our experiences running and participating in the Sugary Serials comics anthology. Robin White asks us about our experience with the business end of starting a comics anthology, specifically: I'm wondering about how you deal with contracts, expectations, etc, with contributors to Sugary Serials. I'm sure the creators retain copyright of their creations, but what do you offer them in terms of payment, if anything? I think you've said on the show that you haven't made much money off the project, but what if you do? Are the creators going to receive a cut or do you guys get to keep it? Do the creators sign a contract with you before you use their material? From there we cover some topics that not only apply to an anthology, but any comics project--having a clear vision for the project, knowing how to express that vision, drawing in the right people to participate in the project, and managing contracts and compensation for all parties involved. Links and tips mentioned during this segment: Private forums (PHPbb is a decent one): good for managing a group project Basecamp, from 37 Signals. You can sign up for a free, one project account, and it's a terrific tool for managing a group project We then move on to answer an email from listener Mark Harmon, who asks us to share our thoughts on marketing all-ages comics at conventions. Long-time listeners will no doubt recall our experiences at Wizard World Chicago versus our time spent at events like the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, but we revisit the subject in an attempt to explore some options that cartoonists have when thinking about a potential audience for their project. The most interesting part of the conversation, for me, was hearing myself suggest that maybe pointing out that it's an "all-ages" comic is not the best idea at a convention, book show, or art fair. Other news/links of note: Be sure to check out Art & Story Extreme!! our new daily (Monday-Thursday) show! The Kids Read Comics! convention is less than 2 weeks away! The Big Illustration Party Time Benefit is still going strong, with lots more entries posted. Why not throw in your hat and draw for a good cause? Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:27:44 Art & Story 92 – The Big Anthology http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=350 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=350#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:45:14 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=350 [private]Sugary SerialsWe answer some listener email this week, and it just so happens that two of the questions are about our experiences running and participating in the Sugary Serials comics anthology.

Robin White asks us about our experience with the business end of starting a comics anthology, specifically:

I’m wondering about how you deal with contracts, expectations, etc, with contributors to Sugary Serials.  I’m sure the creators retain copyright of their creations, but what do you offer them in terms of payment, if anything?  I think you’ve said on the show that you haven’t made much money off the project, but what if you do?  Are the creators going to receive a cut or do you guys get to keep it?  Do the creators sign a contract with you before you use their material?

From there we cover some topics that not only apply to an anthology, but any comics project–having a clear vision for the project, knowing how to express that vision, drawing in the right people to participate in the project, and managing contracts and compensation for all parties involved.

Links and tips mentioned during this segment:

  • Private forums (PHPbb is a decent one): good for managing a group project
  • Basecamp, from 37 Signals. You can sign up for a free, one project account, and it’s a terrific tool for managing a group project

We then move on to answer an email from listener Mark Harmon, who asks us to share our thoughts on marketing all-ages comics at conventions. Long-time listeners will no doubt recall our experiences at Wizard World Chicago versus our time spent at events like the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, but we revisit the subject in an attempt to explore some options that cartoonists have when thinking about a potential audience for their project. The most interesting part of the conversation, for me, was hearing myself suggest that maybe pointing out that it’s an “all-ages” comic is not the best idea at a convention, book show, or art fair.

Other news/links of note:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=350 0 all-ages,organization [private]We answer some listener email this week, and it just so happens that two of the questions are about our experiences running and participating in the Sugary Serials comics anthology. - Robin White asks us about our experience with the business... [private]We answer some listener email this week, and it just so happens that two of the questions are about our experiences running and participating in the Sugary Serials comics anthology. Robin White asks us about our experience with the business end of starting a comics anthology, specifically: I'm wondering about how you deal with contracts, expectations, etc, with contributors to Sugary Serials.  I'm sure the creators retain copyright of their creations, but what do you offer them in terms of payment, if anything?  I think you've said on the show that you haven't made much money off the project, but what if you do?  Are the creators going to receive a cut or do you guys get to keep it?  Do the creators sign a contract with you before you use their material? From there we cover some topics that not only apply to an anthology, but any comics project--having a clear vision for the project, knowing how to express that vision, drawing in the right people to participate in the project, and managing contracts and compensation for all parties involved. Links and tips mentioned during this segment: Private forums (PHPbb is a decent one): good for managing a group project Basecamp, from 37 Signals. You can sign up for a free, one project account, and it's a terrific tool for managing a group project We then move on to answer an email from listener Mark Harmon, who asks us to share our thoughts on marketing all-ages comics at conventions. Long-time listeners will no doubt recall our experiences at Wizard World Chicago versus our time spent at events like the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, but we revisit the subject in an attempt to explore some options that cartoonists have when thinking about a potential audience for their project. The most interesting part of the conversation, for me, was hearing myself suggest that maybe pointing out that it's an "all-ages" comic is not the best idea at a convention, book show, or art fair. Other news/links of note: Be sure to check out Art & Story Extreme!! our new daily (Monday-Thursday) show! The Kids Read Comics! convention is less than 2 weeks away! The Big Illustration Party Time Benefit is still going strong, with lots more entries posted. Why not throw in your hat and draw for a good cause? Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:31:36 Art & Story 91 – The Big Teachable Moment http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=347 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=347#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 03:13:09 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=347 [private]classroomTo our (pleasant) surprise, we got some requests for more information about our roles as workshop leaders/teaching artists, so we spend this episode exploring some of the strategies we’ve developed in bringing comics content to the classroom. I like to think that this topic also speaks to general ideas of fostering one’s own creativity in the studio as well.

For more on our teaching check out:
• Teaching For The Future episodes 102 & 103: Host Dave LaMorte interviewed me about my work in the classroom
• The Idiot Engine Podcast, where I talked art philosophy with the amazing Ted Seko
• The Ann Arbor District Library website, featuring a video of one of my comics workshops

Also, be sure to check out Art & Story Extreme!! our new daily (Monday-Thursday) show!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=347 0 Process,teaching,Teaching Arts [private]To our (pleasant) surprise, we got some requests for more information about our roles as workshop leaders/teaching artists, so we spend this episode exploring some of the strategies we've developed in bringing comics content to the classroom. [private]To our (pleasant) surprise, we got some requests for more information about our roles as workshop leaders/teaching artists, so we spend this episode exploring some of the strategies we've developed in bringing comics content to the classroom. I like to think that this topic also speaks to general ideas of fostering one's own creativity in the studio as well. For more on our teaching check out: • Teaching For The Future episodes 102 & 103: Host Dave LaMorte interviewed me about my work in the classroom • The Idiot Engine Podcast, where I talked art philosophy with the amazing Ted Seko • The Ann Arbor District Library website, featuring a video of one of my comics workshops Also, be sure to check out Art & Story Extreme!! our new daily (Monday-Thursday) show! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:38:33 Big Art & Story Party Time – Episode 2 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=345 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=345#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 03:34:05 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=345 [private]asbiptlogo-smallerThis is part two of a special podcast crossover event with the fellas of Big Illustration Party Time. In Episode One we explored some of the more theoretical aspects of inking–the roles of form and structure, draftsmanship, as well as the role of the line itself and how we use them to communicate what we want in our illustrations and comics.

In this second half we explore the practical aspects of inking: what tools do we use and why, how tightly we ink, how inking differs between inking one’s own work and inking the work of another, and what our procedures are when inking a page of artwork.

We refer to several examples throughout our conversation, all of which can also be found in the show notes to Episode One, but here they are again for your convenience:

Kevin Cross’ Monkey Mod:

A page from Mark’s Mulligan’s Run:

Some examples of my inking procedure on The Front:

A reminder–Episode One of this crossover event can be found on the Big Illustration Party Time website. You can’t have Episode Two without Episode One, so check it out!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed
[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=345 2 brushes,digital tools,Inking,Penciling,Process,tools,Winsor Newton Series 7 Sable brush #2/3 [private]This is part two of a special podcast crossover event with the fellas of Big Illustration Party Time. In Episode One we explored some of the more theoretical aspects of inking--the roles of form and structure, draftsmanship, [private]This is part two of a special podcast crossover event with the fellas of Big Illustration Party Time. In Episode One we explored some of the more theoretical aspects of inking--the roles of form and structure, draftsmanship, as well as the role of the line itself and how we use them to communicate what we want in our illustrations and comics. In this second half we explore the practical aspects of inking: what tools do we use and why, how tightly we ink, how inking differs between inking one's own work and inking the work of another, and what our procedures are when inking a page of artwork. We refer to several examples throughout our conversation, all of which can also be found in the show notes to Episode One, but here they are again for your convenience: Kevin Cross' Monkey Mod: A page from Mark's Mulligan's Run: Some examples of my inking procedure on The Front: A reminder--Episode One of this crossover event can be found on the Big Illustration Party Time website. You can't have Episode Two without Episode One, so check it out! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean Art & Story 90 – The Big Pencil http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=339 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=339#comments Wed, 13 May 2009 04:35:59 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=339 [private]This week we spend the majority of our discussion on penciling–that is to say, the preliminary drawings we do before taking them to final printable art. While we pencil using actual graphite and paper, I think our exploration easily applies to illustrators and cartoonists who work entirely digitally.

We break the discussion into the following areas of concern:

Penciling Theorypencils021

Form and structure

  • Anatomy
  • Draftsmanship
  • Detail

Fluidity

  • Gesture
  • Acting
  • Movement

Line

  • Penciling for inkspencils03
  • Type of line

Penciling Practical

Tools

  • Blue line
  • Graphite
  • Digital Process
  • Lightbox Process

Tightness

  • Penciling for yourself
  • Penciling for others
  • Line/production values

Procedure

  • 1st stage blocking
  • 2nd stage blocking
  • Final pencils
  • Using a lightbox vs. doing all the art on one pagepencils01

We refer here and there to some examples of our own pencils and inks:

Other links mentioned in this episode:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=339 0 [private]This week we spend the majority of our discussion on penciling--that is to say, the preliminary drawings we do before taking them to final printable art. While we pencil using actual graphite and paper, [private]This week we spend the majority of our discussion on penciling--that is to say, the preliminary drawings we do before taking them to final printable art. While we pencil using actual graphite and paper, I think our exploration easily applies to illustrators and cartoonists who work entirely digitally. We break the discussion into the following areas of concern: Penciling Theory Form and structure Anatomy Draftsmanship Detail Fluidity Gesture Acting Movement Line Penciling for inks Type of line Penciling Practical Tools Blue line Graphite Digital Process Lightbox Process Tightness Penciling for yourself Penciling for others Line/production values Procedure 1st stage blocking 2nd stage blocking Final pencils Using a lightbox vs. doing all the art on one page We refer here and there to some examples of our own pencils and inks: Equalizers of The Divide, page 1 Equalizers of The Divide back cover The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz, page 8 pencils The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz, page 8 inks John Oxbow: Man Out of Time, page 19 pencils John Oxbow: Man Out of Time, page 19 inks WAR! pencils WAR! inks Other links mentioned in this episode: Google Sketchup - A great resource for designing buildings and vehicles Art & Story Extreme!! - Our new daily podcast Art & Story 57 - The ep where we covered Thumbnailing, the step that precedes penciling for us. Art & Story 46 - Mark and I go deep into our process with lots of examples while talking about our comic, Switch Runners Vanishing Point: Perspective for Comics From the Ground Up - A fantastic resource to help you with your environments in your comics Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:49:40 Art & Story 89 – The Big Visual Narrative II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=334 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=334#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 04:00:15 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=334 [private]We return to a topic first broached back in episode 85, where we explored some of the various advanced storytelling techniques available to us cartoonists in creating our narratives through visuals.

Once again we broke the discussion into the following topics, with examples of our own work to show that we practice what we preach:

The Replacements, Book 3, pg 26Information Compression
• Delivers LOTS of story content with visuals–but intuitively
• Usually takes advantage of the simultaneous nature of images on a page
• Can be used to defy “linear” storytelling to deliver a wider sense of story or pacing
Examples:
The Replacements, Book 3, pg 26
Equalizers of the Divide, pg 1
Closing Doors, Part 1, pg 7

Multi-Moment Panels
• Economical–get multiple moments out of one panel
• Can lend a “zoom” to pull back from a subject and regard a larger scene
• Can’t be happening all at once, so the cartoonist must construct the scene to guide the eye through the sequence in proper order
Examples:
Galactic League of Marshals, “The Ballad of Silver & Gold” pg 6
Switch Runners, pg 12

The Front, Part 5, pg 14Panel Unity
• Can be used to lend a rhythm to an overall scene through repeated use of similarly-sized panels
• Shape of panels is less about “time” as they are about symbolic and tonal unity
Example:
The Front, Part 5, pg 14

Panel Border Unity
• Can lend tonal rhythms within a page
• Offers opportunity to use the symbol of the panel to communicate the tone
Examples:
The Front, Part 2, pg 10
The Front, Part 2, pg 16

For more comics that use these techniques (much more effectively than we do!) check out the following books:

Links mentioned this episode:
• Basajaun, by Rosemary Van Deuren
• Guy Davis
• Matt Feazell
The Second Thankcast!Another reminder–a new Thankcast, a recording of my presentation called “Why Superheroes Communicate to Us” is available for a contribution amount of your choice. Just check out the buttons on the top left of the site!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=334 0 Art,condensed storytelling,Layout,Lettering,page layout,Visual Rhythms [private]We return to a topic first broached back in episode 85, where we explored some of the various advanced storytelling techniques available to us cartoonists in creating our narratives through visuals. - [private]We return to a topic first broached back in episode 85, where we explored some of the various advanced storytelling techniques available to us cartoonists in creating our narratives through visuals. Once again we broke the discussion into the following topics, with examples of our own work to show that we practice what we preach: Information Compression • Delivers LOTS of story content with visuals--but intuitively • Usually takes advantage of the simultaneous nature of images on a page • Can be used to defy "linear" storytelling to deliver a wider sense of story or pacing Examples: The Replacements, Book 3, pg 26 Equalizers of the Divide, pg 1 Closing Doors, Part 1, pg 7 Multi-Moment Panels • Economical--get multiple moments out of one panel • Can lend a "zoom" to pull back from a subject and regard a larger scene • Can't be happening all at once, so the cartoonist must construct the scene to guide the eye through the sequence in proper order Examples: Galactic League of Marshals, "The Ballad of Silver & Gold" pg 6 Switch Runners, pg 12 Panel Unity • Can be used to lend a rhythm to an overall scene through repeated use of similarly-sized panels • Shape of panels is less about "time" as they are about symbolic and tonal unity Example: The Front, Part 5, pg 14 Panel Border Unity • Can lend tonal rhythms within a page • Offers opportunity to use the symbol of the panel to communicate the tone Examples: The Front, Part 2, pg 10 The Front, Part 2, pg 16 For more comics that use these techniques (much more effectively than we do!) check out the following books: Links mentioned this episode: • Basajaun, by Rosemary Van Deuren • Guy Davis • Matt Feazell Another reminder--a new Thankcast, a recording of my presentation called "Why Superheroes Communicate to Us" is available for a contribution amount of your choice. Just check out the buttons on the top left of the site! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:49:39 Art & Story 88 – The Big Exhibition http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=327 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=327#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:13:59 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=327 [private]More and more galleries and museums are taking interest in exhibiting comics art, which seems like a great way to raise awareness for our own comics projects as well as evangelizing the art form. But this movement raises some interesting questions:

  • Are these gallery shows creating new lovers of the art form, or are they merely validating an existing group of people?
  • Should we design the shows to not only feature the work, but also educate the non-enthusiast to how the medium works, or would that be too much?
  • Do we lose something when we enjoy a page of comics work out of the context of its story?

comix_exhibit

We’re joined by my comics collaborator Sara Turner, who is also one half of the print and design company Cricket Press. She recently participated in a gallery exhibition, Comix, in Lexington, KY, and she shares her thoughts on promoting one’s comics through these venues. Photos of the event can be found on Sara’s Flickr page.

Mark and I also recently attended the Visual Storytelling exhibit at the Gallery Project here in Ann Arbor, and we contribute what thoughts we have based on our experience there. Photos of the event can be found on our Flickr page.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Don’t forget–both Mark and I will have a table at Green Brain Comics this coming Saturday for Free Comic Book Day! Come on by and let’s nerd out about comics!

And once again, our deepest thanks to all for donating to the Camera Fund! We’ll be starting the video podcasts very soon!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=327 0 Conventions,exhibitions,galleries,Process,teaching [private]More and more galleries and museums are taking interest in exhibiting comics art, which seems like a great way to raise awareness for our own comics projects as well as evangelizing the art form. But this movement raises some interesting quest... [private]More and more galleries and museums are taking interest in exhibiting comics art, which seems like a great way to raise awareness for our own comics projects as well as evangelizing the art form. But this movement raises some interesting questions: Are these gallery shows creating new lovers of the art form, or are they merely validating an existing group of people? Should we design the shows to not only feature the work, but also educate the non-enthusiast to how the medium works, or would that be too much? Do we lose something when we enjoy a page of comics work out of the context of its story? We're joined by my comics collaborator Sara Turner, who is also one half of the print and design company Cricket Press. She recently participated in a gallery exhibition, Comix, in Lexington, KY, and she shares her thoughts on promoting one's comics through these venues. Photos of the event can be found on Sara's Flickr page. Mark and I also recently attended the Visual Storytelling exhibit at the Gallery Project here in Ann Arbor, and we contribute what thoughts we have based on our experience there. Photos of the event can be found on our Flickr page. Links mentioned in this episode: Cricket Press, Sara's design and printing business File 49, Sara's first graphic novel The Boys of the Den, Sara's contribution to Sugary Serials The Replacements, a comic I collaborated on with Sara Big Illustration Party Time, possibly the finest cartooning podcast to be listened to Kids Read Comics Convention, coming this June Paul Storrie, a fellow comics creator I hung out with after my recent comics presentation Don't forget--both Mark and I will have a table at Green Brain Comics this coming Saturday for Free Comic Book Day! Come on by and let's nerd out about comics! And once again, our deepest thanks to all for donating to the Camera Fund! We'll be starting the video podcasts very soon! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:46:41 Art & Story 87 – The Big Negative Nelly http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=324 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=324#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:59:44 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=324 [private]
jrz_mark_angry

Mark and Jerzy, circa 1991. Angry even then.

It’s been a tough week for both Mark and myself. What with the studio construction deadline looming over us, and not having had time to do any drawing at all, and  experiencing technical difficulties in trying to record another interview this week, we’re just about at the end of our ropes. Figuring that this feeling is common amongst our fellow cartoonists, we decided to turn the mic on and vent a little bit both as a means of charting some of the frustrations that come with the freelance cartooning gig, as well as to explore some of the various aspects of the industry/community that eats away at our optimism from time to time.

Is it whining, or is it a genuine discussion about some of the negative aspects of the life we cartoonists have chosen? You decide.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=324 0 Artistic Development,community,crisis call,inspiration,perseverance,time management [private] - It's been a tough week for both Mark and myself. What with the studio construction deadline looming over us, and not having had time to do any drawing at all, and  experiencing technical difficulties in trying to record another interview t... [private] It's been a tough week for both Mark and myself. What with the studio construction deadline looming over us, and not having had time to do any drawing at all, and  experiencing technical difficulties in trying to record another interview this week, we're just about at the end of our ropes. Figuring that this feeling is common amongst our fellow cartoonists, we decided to turn the mic on and vent a little bit both as a means of charting some of the frustrations that come with the freelance cartooning gig, as well as to explore some of the various aspects of the industry/community that eats away at our optimism from time to time. Is it whining, or is it a genuine discussion about some of the negative aspects of the life we cartoonists have chosen? You decide. Links mentioned in this episode: My recent interview on Teaching For The Future: Part 1, Part 2 My recent character design workshop at MOCAD Our upcoming appearance at Green Brain Comics on Free Comic Book Day, May 2nd My upcoming Superhero presentation & workshop this coming weekend at the Ann Arbor District Library Kids Read Comics--still accepting guests! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:34:25 Art & Story 86 – The Big Printing http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=321 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=321#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:09:32 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=321 [private]echoesinside1It’s a roundtable episode this week as we’re joined by Kevin Cross of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, as well as A&S Alive! co-host Krishna Sadasivam of PC Weenies and Uncubed, for a discussion on printing our comics. With all of the printing technologies available to us cartoonists these days, it becomes more important than ever to think through your decisions on which avenue you use to print your work, and we do our best to explore the options and make our cases as to why we stand where we do.

Topics explored:

  • POD services like Ka-Blam
  • Printing “sampler” books
  • Size/Format of the printed book
  • Repurposing content between different formats
  • When to begin printing an online comic
  • How Gocco printing compares to screen printing
  • Printing banners using GotPrint.com

Be sure to check out the latest Art & Story Alive! for an appearance by Josh Kemble, the other half of Big Illustration Party Time! It’s a BIPT kind of week!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=321 0 print comics,print on demand,printing,screenprinting [private]It's a roundtable episode this week as we're joined by Kevin Cross of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, as well as A&S Alive! co-host Krishna Sadasivam of PC Weenies and Uncubed, for a discussion on printing our comics. [private]It's a roundtable episode this week as we're joined by Kevin Cross of the Big Illustration Party Time podcast, as well as A&S Alive! co-host Krishna Sadasivam of PC Weenies and Uncubed, for a discussion on printing our comics. With all of the printing technologies available to us cartoonists these days, it becomes more important than ever to think through your decisions on which avenue you use to print your work, and we do our best to explore the options and make our cases as to why we stand where we do. Topics explored: POD services like Ka-Blam Printing "sampler" books Size/Format of the printed book Repurposing content between different formats When to begin printing an online comic How Gocco printing compares to screen printing Printing banners using GotPrint.com Be sure to check out the latest Art & Story Alive! for an appearance by Josh Kemble, the other half of Big Illustration Party Time! It's a BIPT kind of week! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:59:38 Art & Story 85 – The Big Visual Narrative http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=306 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=306#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:00:30 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=306 [private]It’s all about narrative through visuals this week, as Mark and I highlight some techniques we enjoy using to create immersive comics storytelling.

We broke the discussion into the following topics, with examples of our own work to show that we practice what we preach:

Bleed behind panels
• Moment hold
• Serves similar purpose to a splash, but more economical
• Can be used for mid-page transitions
Examples:
The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 4, pg 31
Equalizers of the Divide, page 6

Nested Panels
• Simultaneity
• Economical storytelling
• Clarity
Examples:
The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz, page 1

05_jared_b6_copy1Ambiguous Layouts
• Invites multiple interpretations of the narrative flow
• Not as clear as a traditional reading experience – May confuse readers
• Lends a more expansive sense of time
Examples:
The Origin of Jared, page 5
The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 2, page 18
John Oxbow: Man out of Time

Composition: Panel Flow
• Leads the eye in a smooth and intuitive fashion
• Can lend clarity to an otherwise cluttered page
• Provides a unique reading experience beyond “1-2-3-4″ panels
• Great way to express story pacing
Examples:
The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 3, page 36
Closing Doors, Part 2, page 47
Equalizers of the Divide, page 24

Composition: Panel Interiors
• Like Panel Flow, leads the eye around the page in an intuitive fashion
• When used well, can bolster emphatic moments or story rhythms
• Can be used together to provide an overall page composition
Examples:
Switch Runners, page 6
The Replacements, Book 2, page 39
The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz, page 4

sr_example_as852Composition: Word Balloons
• Can lead the eye in an intuitive fashion around the page
• Can lend clarity to an otherwise ambiguous sequence
• Adds to the overall visual rhythm of the page
• When used effectively, can lend to the overall composition of the page as a whole
Examples:
Switch Runners, page 4
Through The Cracks, page 4

For more comics that use these techniques (much more effectively than we do!) check out the following books:

Links mentioned in this episode:
• Naomi Jardine’s Flatland on Sugary Serials, as well as the Saturday Supercast interview I did with her about the comic.
• Matt Munn’s excellent Zed Reckoning comic
• Big Illustration Party Time, a fantastic podcast about freelance illustration
• Javiland, another terrific comics podcast
• Kids Read Comics Convention

These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=306 2 Art,condensed storytelling,Layout,Lettering,page layout,storytelling,Visual Rhythms,Word Balloons,Writing [private]It's all about narrative through visuals this week, as Mark and I highlight some techniques we enjoy using to create immersive comics storytelling. - We broke the discussion into the following topics, [private]It's all about narrative through visuals this week, as Mark and I highlight some techniques we enjoy using to create immersive comics storytelling. We broke the discussion into the following topics, with examples of our own work to show that we practice what we preach: Bleed behind panels • Moment hold • Serves similar purpose to a splash, but more economical • Can be used for mid-page transitions Examples: The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 4, pg 31 Equalizers of the Divide, page 6 Nested Panels • Simultaneity • Economical storytelling • Clarity Examples: The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz, page 1 Ambiguous Layouts • Invites multiple interpretations of the narrative flow • Not as clear as a traditional reading experience - May confuse readers • Lends a more expansive sense of time Examples: The Origin of Jared, page 5 The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 2, page 18 John Oxbow: Man out of Time Composition: Panel Flow • Leads the eye in a smooth and intuitive fashion • Can lend clarity to an otherwise cluttered page • Provides a unique reading experience beyond "1-2-3-4" panels • Great way to express story pacing Examples: The Front: Rebirth, Chapter 3, page 36 Closing Doors, Part 2, page 47 Equalizers of the Divide, page 24 Composition: Panel Interiors • Like Panel Flow, leads the eye around the page in an intuitive fashion • When used well, can bolster emphatic moments or story rhythms • Can be used together to provide an overall page composition Examples: Switch Runners, page 6 The Replacements, Book 2, page 39 The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz, page 4 Composition: Word Balloons • Can lead the eye in an intuitive fashion around the page • Can lend clarity to an otherwise ambiguous sequence • Adds to the overall visual rhythm of the page • When used effectively, can lend to the overall composition of the page as a whole Examples: Switch Runners, page 4 Through The Cracks, page 4 For more comics that use these techniques (much more effectively than we do!) check out the following books: Links mentioned in this episode: • Naomi Jardine's Flatland on Sugary Serials, as well as the Saturday Supercast interview I did with her about the comic. • Matt Munn's excellent Zed Reckoning comic • Big Illustration Party Time, a fantastic podcast about freelance illustration • Javiland, another terrific comics podcast • Kids Read Comics Convention These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 2:04:45 Art & Story 84 – The Big Art Week http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=300 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=300#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:23:03 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=300 [private]We break format a little this episode by letting our discussion about our art week spill out into the rest of the show. The result is a four-topic discussion, starting with:
A comic by Jared, the abominable snowman from The Front
• A comic that I’m considering taking on in the near future, as a bit of extra content when I start updating The Front again. Mark and I talk about my concerns about and hopes for the project, which spirals into a general discussion on extra content for a comic or webcomic. More photos of the Jared comics pages can be found on our Flickr page.

• The Right Tool For The Job. Mark talks about a recent experience he’s had with inking, specifically a compulsion to use a specific tool on every project, when sometimes one needs to employ different tools for different projects.

• A&B Stories. Jumping on some thoughts Mark’s been having during the making of his latest mini-comic, we explore some of the strategies and uses of A-Stories and B-Stories in a comics narrative.

• Business Models. We talk a bit about the difficulties facing a cartoonist trying to make a living with their dream project, how we’ve subsidized our own comics with freelance work, and some of our decision-making process when deciding on what comics projects we plan to work on next.

Links mentioned in this episode:
• The Kids Read Comics Convention. A new podcast episode is up, explaining the kinds of programming you can expect there this June 12-13!
• Tim Hengeveld’s comic Alison is now available for pre-order as part of the Side B anthology. Use the order code APR090973 to pre-order from Diamond’s Previews Catalog!
• Gerimi Burleigh, who provided us with the excellent idea for an Art & Story T-Shirt, “The Art Mullet: Analysis in front, Creativity in the back!”

These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=300 2 business model,comics,Inking,marketing,Mini comics,print comics,web design,webcomics,Writing [private]We break format a little this episode by letting our discussion about our art week spill out into the rest of the show. The result is a four-topic discussion, starting with: - • A comic that I'm considering taking on in the near future, [private]We break format a little this episode by letting our discussion about our art week spill out into the rest of the show. The result is a four-topic discussion, starting with: • A comic that I'm considering taking on in the near future, as a bit of extra content when I start updating The Front again. Mark and I talk about my concerns about and hopes for the project, which spirals into a general discussion on extra content for a comic or webcomic. More photos of the Jared comics pages can be found on our Flickr page. • The Right Tool For The Job. Mark talks about a recent experience he's had with inking, specifically a compulsion to use a specific tool on every project, when sometimes one needs to employ different tools for different projects. • A&B Stories. Jumping on some thoughts Mark's been having during the making of his latest mini-comic, we explore some of the strategies and uses of A-Stories and B-Stories in a comics narrative. • Business Models. We talk a bit about the difficulties facing a cartoonist trying to make a living with their dream project, how we've subsidized our own comics with freelance work, and some of our decision-making process when deciding on what comics projects we plan to work on next. Links mentioned in this episode: • The Kids Read Comics Convention. A new podcast episode is up, explaining the kinds of programming you can expect there this June 12-13! • Tim Hengeveld's comic Alison is now available for pre-order as part of the Side B anthology. Use the order code APR090973 to pre-order from Diamond's Previews Catalog! • Gerimi Burleigh, who provided us with the excellent idea for an Art & Story T-Shirt, "The Art Mullet: Analysis in front, Creativity in the back!" These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:59:10 Art & Story 83 – The Big Story http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=299 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=299#comments Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:33:50 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=299 [private]We’ve broached the subject of turning an idea into a story before, but all good topics deserve a revisitation, and so here we are again to discuss our strategies of turning an idea into a story.

Highlighted methods in this episode include:
• Finding your theme: What are you ultimately trying to say with your story?
• Establishing limitations or parameters: Sometimes, placing limitations on the work frees you to think creatively about how to work within them.
• Discovering plot and theme through characters: As with themes, if you wrap your character within a one-sentence description, it will help guide your story building choices.

For more discussion on this subject, check out some of our past episodes:
Art & Story 75 – Where we discuss the pros and cons between writing long stories and short stories
Art & Story 72 – Premise-based vs. character-based starting points in building a story
Art & Story 62 – Mark and I deconstruct two of our favorite TV show episodes to figure out how they were written
Art & Story 57 – We talk about our process of “thumbnailing” our stories, which is to say, writing them with pictures
Art & Story 53 – Where we model the activity of creating a story from the ground up, starting with a character
Art & Story 30 – We discuss using limitations or parameters as a strategy for story building

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=299 3 character,character development,plot,theme,Writing [private]We've broached the subject of turning an idea into a story before, but all good topics deserve a revisitation, and so here we are again to discuss our strategies of turning an idea into a story. - Highlighted methods in this episode include: [private]We've broached the subject of turning an idea into a story before, but all good topics deserve a revisitation, and so here we are again to discuss our strategies of turning an idea into a story. Highlighted methods in this episode include: • Finding your theme: What are you ultimately trying to say with your story? • Establishing limitations or parameters: Sometimes, placing limitations on the work frees you to think creatively about how to work within them. • Discovering plot and theme through characters: As with themes, if you wrap your character within a one-sentence description, it will help guide your story building choices. For more discussion on this subject, check out some of our past episodes: Art & Story 75 - Where we discuss the pros and cons between writing long stories and short stories Art & Story 72 - Premise-based vs. character-based starting points in building a story Art & Story 62 - Mark and I deconstruct two of our favorite TV show episodes to figure out how they were written Art & Story 57 - We talk about our process of "thumbnailing" our stories, which is to say, writing them with pictures Art & Story 53 - Where we model the activity of creating a story from the ground up, starting with a character Art & Story 30 - We discuss using limitations or parameters as a strategy for story building Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:49:20 Art & Story 82 – The Big Bad Guy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=295 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=295#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:13:56 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=295 [private]It’s all about the bad guys this week as Mark and I spend an hour and a half talking about the various types of antagonists in fiction and strategies for creating our own.

We break bad guys down into the following types:
Megalomaniac: The character who wants to control everything and will stop at nothing to achieve that. Examples: Cobra Commander, Beast Wars Megatron, Skeletor, Doctor Doom, RJ Fletcher.
Madness: The crazy villain, either a victim of society or a victim of his or her own hubris. Examples: The Joker, Green Goblin, Two-Face.
Revenge: The villain who seeks revenge (or, in the villain’s mind, “justice”) against a hero. Examples: Khan, Magneto.
Greater Good: The villain who does something morally reprehensible in the name of solving an insurmountable problem. Examples: Kodos, Magneto.
Force of Nature: Not having an evil intent as such, this character is often an expression of the repercussions of mankind screwing something up. Examples, The Gill Man, Moby Dick, Jason Voorhees, Maskatron.
Sociopath: The character utterly without a sense of right and wrong, who does dark deeds by compulsion. Examples: Anton Chigurh, from No Country For Old Men.
Tamas, or Dark Inertia: A villain who destroys for destruction’s sake. No creative impetus. Almost demonic. Examples: Ellsworth Toohey, Birgil.

Just for the fun of it we put together a McCloudian-style chart indicating where we feel each character type fits in on a scale ranging from fun stories to serious stories:
Villain Chart

Links mentioned in this episode:
• Kevin Cross’ new webcomic site for his comic Monkey Mod. You can check out more images of Monkey Mod in progress on his Flickr page.
• The Horror Etc Podcast

These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=295 5 character,Character Design,villains,Writing [private]It's all about the bad guys this week as Mark and I spend an hour and a half talking about the various types of antagonists in fiction and strategies for creating our own. - We break bad guys down into the following types: [private]It's all about the bad guys this week as Mark and I spend an hour and a half talking about the various types of antagonists in fiction and strategies for creating our own. We break bad guys down into the following types: Megalomaniac: The character who wants to control everything and will stop at nothing to achieve that. Examples: Cobra Commander, Beast Wars Megatron, Skeletor, Doctor Doom, RJ Fletcher. Madness: The crazy villain, either a victim of society or a victim of his or her own hubris. Examples: The Joker, Green Goblin, Two-Face. Revenge: The villain who seeks revenge (or, in the villain's mind, "justice") against a hero. Examples: Khan, Magneto. Greater Good: The villain who does something morally reprehensible in the name of solving an insurmountable problem. Examples: Kodos, Magneto. Force of Nature: Not having an evil intent as such, this character is often an expression of the repercussions of mankind screwing something up. Examples, The Gill Man, Moby Dick, Jason Voorhees, Maskatron. Sociopath: The character utterly without a sense of right and wrong, who does dark deeds by compulsion. Examples: Anton Chigurh, from No Country For Old Men. Tamas, or Dark Inertia: A villain who destroys for destruction's sake. No creative impetus. Almost demonic. Examples: Ellsworth Toohey, Birgil. Just for the fun of it we put together a McCloudian-style chart indicating where we feel each character type fits in on a scale ranging from fun stories to serious stories: Links mentioned in this episode: • Kevin Cross' new webcomic site for his comic Monkey Mod. You can check out more images of Monkey Mod in progress on his Flickr page. • The Horror Etc Podcast These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:45:50 Art & Story 81 – The Big Green Brain http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=294 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=294#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:06:15 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=294 [private]It’s another interview episode, this time with one of the organizers behind the Kids Read Comics Convention that I’ve been talking a bit about lately.
Green Brain Comics
Dan Merritt of Green Brain Comics sits down with us for an hour to discuss the business of comics from the comics store proprietor’s standpoint, where the industry is headed, what the recent Diamond announcements mean for folks him, as well as what projects like Comics Monkey could mean for folks like him.
Green Brain Comics
And by the way, Mark and I will have a table at Green Brain Comics (Here’s a map) on Free Comic Book Day, May 2nd! We’ll be handing out free editions of our comics, signing books, and broadcasting a live show from the event. I hope some of you will come out to see us there. Keep your eye on the Green Brain Comics website, and on this one, for more details.
Green Brain Comics
More photos can be found on our Flickr Page.

And don’t forget to check out the Kids Read Comics website if you want to be a part of the event!
Kids Read Comics!

Links discussed in this episode:
• Sugary Serials #10 now on sale!
• The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz is complete online, for free!
• Friends of Lulu
• Kids Read Comics Convention
• Big Illustration Party Time
• The Idiot Engine Podcast

These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=294 2 comics,Conventions,distribution,events,graphic novels,print comics,publishing [private]It's another interview episode, this time with one of the organizers behind the Kids Read Comics Convention that I've been talking a bit about lately. - Dan Merritt of Green Brain Comics sits down with us for an hour to discuss the business o... [private]It's another interview episode, this time with one of the organizers behind the Kids Read Comics Convention that I've been talking a bit about lately. Dan Merritt of Green Brain Comics sits down with us for an hour to discuss the business of comics from the comics store proprietor's standpoint, where the industry is headed, what the recent Diamond announcements mean for folks him, as well as what projects like Comics Monkey could mean for folks like him. And by the way, Mark and I will have a table at Green Brain Comics (Here's a map) on Free Comic Book Day, May 2nd! We'll be handing out free editions of our comics, signing books, and broadcasting a live show from the event. I hope some of you will come out to see us there. Keep your eye on the Green Brain Comics website, and on this one, for more details. More photos can be found on our Flickr Page. And don't forget to check out the Kids Read Comics website if you want to be a part of the event! Links discussed in this episode: • Sugary Serials #10 now on sale! • The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz is complete online, for free! • Friends of Lulu • Kids Read Comics Convention • Big Illustration Party Time • The Idiot Engine Podcast These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:48:30 Art & Story 80 – The Big Beginner http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=292 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=292#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:12:13 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=292 [private]This week we abandon all of our previous advice in an effort to address an email sent to us by Cameron Callahan: What would we say to someone who is just starting out with this comics creating jazz?

For all of our talk about specific tools, techniques, business strategies, there is one piece of advice that trumps all else: Just get to it and make some comics. It doesn’t matter what tools you use, nor does it matter if your ideas are well-formed and researched. The only way you’ll get to being a cartoonist is to just buckle down and make comics. Any comics. And make lots of them.

Mark and I back up our statement by taking a trip down memory lane and discuss our clumsy (and often arrogant) exploration through tools, formats, and stories. We didn’t just pick up a Hunts 102 Crow Quill and start creating the kinds of comics we do now–it took years of trial and error to land on the process and techniques we use today. And what’s more, we don’t feel like we’re anywhere near being done yet. As I say on the show (and have said elsewhere), I hope my best page will be the one I draw right before I die. If our growth as cartoonists ever halts, what’s the point of doing it after that?
A panel sequence from my comic
A panel sequence from my comic “The Men”, drawn when I was 16, using ball point pen on regular typing paper.

Links discussed in this episode:
• The video podcast of week 1 of my Comic Book Academy workshop from Summer 2008.
• Cameron Callahan’s Red Shoes comic.
• Ryan Dow’s Introspective Comics.
• Big Illustration Party Time. If you haven’t checked this podcast out yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=292 4 Art,Artistic Development,Artistic Process,format,Process,tools [private]This week we abandon all of our previous advice in an effort to address an email sent to us by Cameron Callahan: What would we say to someone who is just starting out with this comics creating jazz? - For all of our talk about specific tools, [private]This week we abandon all of our previous advice in an effort to address an email sent to us by Cameron Callahan: What would we say to someone who is just starting out with this comics creating jazz? For all of our talk about specific tools, techniques, business strategies, there is one piece of advice that trumps all else: Just get to it and make some comics. It doesn't matter what tools you use, nor does it matter if your ideas are well-formed and researched. The only way you'll get to being a cartoonist is to just buckle down and make comics. Any comics. And make lots of them. Mark and I back up our statement by taking a trip down memory lane and discuss our clumsy (and often arrogant) exploration through tools, formats, and stories. We didn't just pick up a Hunts 102 Crow Quill and start creating the kinds of comics we do now--it took years of trial and error to land on the process and techniques we use today. And what's more, we don't feel like we're anywhere near being done yet. As I say on the show (and have said elsewhere), I hope my best page will be the one I draw right before I die. If our growth as cartoonists ever halts, what's the point of doing it after that? A panel sequence from my comic "The Men", drawn when I was 16, using ball point pen on regular typing paper. Links discussed in this episode: • The video podcast of week 1 of my Comic Book Academy workshop from Summer 2008. • Cameron Callahan's Red Shoes comic. • Ryan Dow's Introspective Comics. • Big Illustration Party Time. If you haven't checked this podcast out yet, you're doing yourself a disservice. These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:43:47 Art & Story 79 – The Big Sound Effect http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=288 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=288#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:13:12 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=288 [private]It’s all about about sound this week, as Mark and I spend an entire episode geeking out over the role of sound effects in comics. Whether you’re the kind of cartoonist who likes a hearty “Zok!” or “Bam” sound effect, or if you prefer to capture the gentle breeze blowing through the barley in your stories, this one is for you.

We start out by highlighting our process and concerns when designing sound effects, citing our own work as examples:
• Phonetics – The “spelling” of the sound, or onomatopoeia.
• Timbre or Sound Quality, which can be expressed using the following:
Line
Color
Font or Shape
Shape Design
• Cadence, which can be expressed using the following:
Shape Design
Line
Color
Some of the sound effects we mention in this ep. Follow the links below to see more!
We mention pages from the following comics:
• The Galactic League of Marshals
• Switch Runners
• The Origin of Jared
• The Front
• The header image on Mark’s CV Comics website

We also talk briefly about integrating sound effects into our pages, and point out a few other resources that may be of interest to anyone looking to dig deeper into sound effect design and typography:

• Blambot Fonts
• The Joe Kubert font, used in many of our comics
• Helvetica, a documentary about the history of that particular font, with lots of great thoughts on font design

These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page.

And don’t forget–The Front is now on sale! Save $3 on 230 pages of action and fun, but only until March 2nd! Click here to order it on IndyPlanet!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=288 2 Adobe Illustrator,design,fonts,Layout,Lettering,Sound Effects [private]It's all about about sound this week, as Mark and I spend an entire episode geeking out over the role of sound effects in comics. Whether you're the kind of cartoonist who likes a hearty "Zok!" or "Bam" sound effect, [private]It's all about about sound this week, as Mark and I spend an entire episode geeking out over the role of sound effects in comics. Whether you're the kind of cartoonist who likes a hearty "Zok!" or "Bam" sound effect, or if you prefer to capture the gentle breeze blowing through the barley in your stories, this one is for you. We start out by highlighting our process and concerns when designing sound effects, citing our own work as examples: • Phonetics - The "spelling" of the sound, or onomatopoeia. • Timbre or Sound Quality, which can be expressed using the following: Line Color Font or Shape Shape Design • Cadence, which can be expressed using the following: Shape Design Line Color We mention pages from the following comics: • The Galactic League of Marshals • Switch Runners • The Origin of Jared • The Front • The header image on Mark's CV Comics website We also talk briefly about integrating sound effects into our pages, and point out a few other resources that may be of interest to anyone looking to dig deeper into sound effect design and typography: • Blambot Fonts • The Joe Kubert font, used in many of our comics • Helvetica, a documentary about the history of that particular font, with lots of great thoughts on font design These links, as well as links mentioned in past episodes, can also be found on the Art & Story Delicious page. And don't forget--The Front is now on sale! Save $3 on 230 pages of action and fun, but only until March 2nd! Click here to order it on IndyPlanet! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:49:40 Art & Story 78 – The Big Value http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=284 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=284#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:59:27 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=284 [private]This week’s topic was inspired by a recent comment made by Jason Calacanis on an episode of This Week in Tech. A rough paraphrasing runs something like this: In a bad economy, the best thing you can do is build your value.

If we accept that statement, then the next question is: how can we independent comics creators apply this advice to our beloved art form and industry? Mark and I run down a few ways we cartoonists (and comics writers) can widen our skill sets, thus raising our value to potential publishers and collaborators:

• Web Design, in particular learn how to customize WordPress.
• Learn Lettering and Balloon Spotting. Some fantastic tutorials can be found on the Comicraft Balloon Tales site.
• Flatting. We talk at length about a great Photoshop Plugin called Bpelt (thanks to Danny for the link!).
• Writing. A great start would be listening to podcasts like Michael Stackpole’s The Secrets.
• Take some drawing classes. Going out on a limb, here, but I think that anyone can learn to draw.

We close it out with a bit of a rant about the role of passion in our work, exploring whether or not it can be engendered in a cartoonist. Are there are just some poor inert souls who are incapable of taking their craft “all the way”? We don’t think so. But that assumption means that there’s no excuse for the creator who fails to do so.

Other links mentioned in this episode:
• Webcomics Weekly, a fantastic resource for learning the business end of making an independent comic.
• Big Illustration Party Time, an indispensable part of your arsenal to begin and maintain a career in illustration.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=284 1 Adobe Illustrator,Art,coloring,design,flatting,Illustration,Lettering,web design,Writing [private]This week's topic was inspired by a recent comment made by Jason Calacanis on an episode of This Week in Tech. A rough paraphrasing runs something like this: In a bad economy, the best thing you can do is build your value. - [private]This week's topic was inspired by a recent comment made by Jason Calacanis on an episode of This Week in Tech. A rough paraphrasing runs something like this: In a bad economy, the best thing you can do is build your value. If we accept that statement, then the next question is: how can we independent comics creators apply this advice to our beloved art form and industry? Mark and I run down a few ways we cartoonists (and comics writers) can widen our skill sets, thus raising our value to potential publishers and collaborators: • Web Design, in particular learn how to customize Wordpress. • Learn Lettering and Balloon Spotting. Some fantastic tutorials can be found on the Comicraft Balloon Tales site. • Flatting. We talk at length about a great Photoshop Plugin called Bpelt (thanks to Danny for the link!). • Writing. A great start would be listening to podcasts like Michael Stackpole's The Secrets. • Take some drawing classes. Going out on a limb, here, but I think that anyone can learn to draw. We close it out with a bit of a rant about the role of passion in our work, exploring whether or not it can be engendered in a cartoonist. Are there are just some poor inert souls who are incapable of taking their craft "all the way"? We don't think so. But that assumption means that there's no excuse for the creator who fails to do so. Other links mentioned in this episode: • Webcomics Weekly, a fantastic resource for learning the business end of making an independent comic. • Big Illustration Party Time, an indispensable part of your arsenal to begin and maintain a career in illustration. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:45:28 Art & Story 77 – The Big Love http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=282 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=282#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:51:15 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=282 [private]It’s a special Valentine’s Day episode of Art & Story, and the topic on the docket is creating comics with a high degree of romance–in other words, love stories.

Since Mark and I don’t swim too deeply in those waters, we surrounded ourselves with a stellar round table of cartoonists who are at ease making comics that deal in cupid’s shenanigans, including:

• Kevin Cross, creator of the mini-comic Down By the Water
• Sara Turner, creator of File 49, The Boys of the Den, and my co-author on projects like The Replacements and Equalizers of the Divide
• Tim Hengeveld, cartoonist behind Dinerdate, who also talks about his latest project, Alison, soon to be collected in print!

We try our best to dig at what it takes to make a good love story, what to avoid, and what affordances are granted to us through comics to that end.

Other links mentioned and relating to this episode:
• Cricket Press, a custom printing company run by Sara Turner and her husband Brian
• Big Illustration Party Time, a fantastic podcast about the ins and outs of freelance illustration, co-hosted by Kevin Cross
• The 2009 Sugary Serials Valentines Set. Be sure to give one to every kid in class.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=282 2 Art,Composition,Layout,love,love story,romance,storytelling,Writing [private]It's a special Valentine's Day episode of Art & Story, and the topic on the docket is creating comics with a high degree of romance--in other words, love stories. - Since Mark and I don't swim too deeply in those waters, [private]It's a special Valentine's Day episode of Art & Story, and the topic on the docket is creating comics with a high degree of romance--in other words, love stories. Since Mark and I don't swim too deeply in those waters, we surrounded ourselves with a stellar round table of cartoonists who are at ease making comics that deal in cupid's shenanigans, including: • Kevin Cross, creator of the mini-comic Down By the Water • Sara Turner, creator of File 49, The Boys of the Den, and my co-author on projects like The Replacements and Equalizers of the Divide • Tim Hengeveld, cartoonist behind Dinerdate, who also talks about his latest project, Alison, soon to be collected in print! We try our best to dig at what it takes to make a good love story, what to avoid, and what affordances are granted to us through comics to that end. Other links mentioned and relating to this episode: • Cricket Press, a custom printing company run by Sara Turner and her husband Brian • Big Illustration Party Time, a fantastic podcast about the ins and outs of freelance illustration, co-hosted by Kevin Cross • The 2009 Sugary Serials Valentines Set. Be sure to give one to every kid in class. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:43:13 Art & Story 76 – The Big Potpourri IV http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=280 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=280#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:55:57 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=280 [private]We had intended on making the focus of this one “Honesty and Sincerity in one’s work”, but addressing the recent news about ComicsMonkey, as well as responding to an email from Ted Seko, took up a larger chunk of the show than we thought it would. Hence another in our series of multi-topic “potpourri” episodes. (For even more discussion on the ComicsMonkey thing, check out Art & Story Alive! Episode 51)

At about the hour mark we do address the topic of honesty and sincerity, based on some comics we came across recently. The thesis runs something along the lines of “making sure that we’re being honest in our intent behind the work”, but I can’t help but think that we’re going to ruffle a few feathers with this one. Send your angry missives to artandstory-AT-gmail-DOT-com.

This week’s episode also features the return of Stephanie, who does a Big Honor segment for one of her favorite cartoonists, Peter Bagge. She reviews his Buddy Bradley collection Buddy Does Seattle.

Be sure to check out Mark’s Jason illustration and interview on the Mania website as part of their 13 Faces of Jason feature!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=280 1 big honor,comicsmonkey,etsy,honesty,indyplanet,ka-blam,marketing,peter bagge,print comics,print on demand,selling,sincerity [private]We had intended on making the focus of this one "Honesty and Sincerity in one's work", but addressing the recent news about ComicsMonkey, as well as responding to an email from Ted Seko, took up a larger chunk of the show than we thought it wo... [private]We had intended on making the focus of this one "Honesty and Sincerity in one's work", but addressing the recent news about ComicsMonkey, as well as responding to an email from Ted Seko, took up a larger chunk of the show than we thought it would. Hence another in our series of multi-topic "potpourri" episodes. (For even more discussion on the ComicsMonkey thing, check out Art & Story Alive! Episode 51) At about the hour mark we do address the topic of honesty and sincerity, based on some comics we came across recently. The thesis runs something along the lines of "making sure that we're being honest in our intent behind the work", but I can't help but think that we're going to ruffle a few feathers with this one. Send your angry missives to artandstory-AT-gmail-DOT-com. This week's episode also features the return of Stephanie, who does a Big Honor segment for one of her favorite cartoonists, Peter Bagge. She reviews his Buddy Bradley collection Buddy Does Seattle. Be sure to check out Mark's Jason illustration and interview on the Mania website as part of their 13 Faces of Jason feature! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:50:08 Art & Story 75 – The Big Short vs. Long Story http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=274 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=274#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:54:03 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=274 [private]Ryan Dow of Introspective Comics suggested this week’s topic–the pros and cons of creating a short comics story (strips, comic books), and a long comics story (graphic novels). Having done both in our artistic careers, Mark and I discuss our past projects and try to determine what benefits/drawbacks each format offers.

Long Story Pros:
• Slowly develop themes & characters
• Opportunities to explore pacing
• Explore a variety of inflections on a theme
• Create a story that lingers in the audiences mind? (at least length suggests legitimacy to some people)

Long Story Cons:
• Living with characters for a long time
• Less immediate gratification for a reader
• Art style may evolve before story is complete
• You may run out of steam before story is complete

Short Story Pros:
• Opportunities to explore pacing tricks and cheats
• Get to the heart of characters efficiently and effectively
• Immediate gratification for a reader
• Not living with characters for as long–you can “love ‘em and leave ‘em”

Short Story Cons:
• Shorter length suggests cheapness? (the high-falutin’ Graphic Novel vs. the lowly Comic Book)
• Pacing issues–can’t linger on a moment
• Must be ruthless with writing–you must throw out anything that doesn’t point to the story’s “Big Idea”

We refer to many of our comics throughout this episode. Here are the links to them:
The Front, by Jerzy Drozd
Equalizers of the Divide, by Jerzy Drozd and Sara Turner
The Replacements, by Jerzy Drozd and Sara Turner
Closing Doors, by Mark Rudolph
Say it in Slugs, by Mark Rudolph
Curse of the Pharaohs, by Mark Rudolph
The Galactic League of Marshals, by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd
Switch Runners, by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=274 1 Art,character,Character Design,characters,dialg,Layout,pacing,Process,Writing [private]Ryan Dow of Introspective Comics suggested this week's topic--the pros and cons of creating a short comics story (strips, comic books), and a long comics story (graphic novels). Having done both in our artistic careers, [private]Ryan Dow of Introspective Comics suggested this week's topic--the pros and cons of creating a short comics story (strips, comic books), and a long comics story (graphic novels). Having done both in our artistic careers, Mark and I discuss our past projects and try to determine what benefits/drawbacks each format offers. Long Story Pros: • Slowly develop themes & characters • Opportunities to explore pacing • Explore a variety of inflections on a theme • Create a story that lingers in the audiences mind? (at least length suggests legitimacy to some people) Long Story Cons: • Living with characters for a long time • Less immediate gratification for a reader • Art style may evolve before story is complete • You may run out of steam before story is complete Short Story Pros: • Opportunities to explore pacing tricks and cheats • Get to the heart of characters efficiently and effectively • Immediate gratification for a reader • Not living with characters for as long--you can "love 'em and leave 'em" Short Story Cons: • Shorter length suggests cheapness? (the high-falutin' Graphic Novel vs. the lowly Comic Book) • Pacing issues--can't linger on a moment • Must be ruthless with writing--you must throw out anything that doesn't point to the story's "Big Idea" We refer to many of our comics throughout this episode. Here are the links to them: The Front, by Jerzy Drozd Equalizers of the Divide, by Jerzy Drozd and Sara Turner The Replacements, by Jerzy Drozd and Sara Turner Closing Doors, by Mark Rudolph Say it in Slugs, by Mark Rudolph Curse of the Pharaohs, by Mark Rudolph The Galactic League of Marshals, by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd Switch Runners, by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:52:02 Art & Story 74 – The Big Panel Border http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=270 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=270#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:25:38 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=270 [private]Most of us cartoonists accept that developing one’s writing and art are essential to making communicative comics. But is that all? This week we dive into a discussion on an aspect of comics storytelling that we feel is overlooked too often–the role of the panel border and shape.

Our discussion of the topic is divided into two categories:
Panel Line
• Jagged
• Wavy
• No Line
• Sound Effects

Panel Shape
• Square
• Rectangle (wide or tall)
• Angular (irregular polygon)
• Inset
• Circle

We use the work of Joann Sfar and Walt Simonson as examples of creators who not only illustrate in compelling ways, but use the shape, size, arrangement, and line weights of their panels to more effectively deliver the data in their stories.

The intro for our episode was provided by my buddy HooveR.

Other links mentioned in this episode:
Dreamform Defenders, by Chet Lucero
Same Difference, by Derek Kirk Kim
Posey Simmonds
Suspended in Language, by Jim Ottaviani, Leland Purvis, Roger Langridge, Jay Hosler, Steve Leialoha, Linda Medley, and Jeff Parker.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=270 3 line value,panel borders,panel composition,panel design,Panels,Sound Effects,storytelling,Writing [private]Most of us cartoonists accept that developing one's writing and art are essential to making communicative comics. But is that all? This week we dive into a discussion on an aspect of comics storytelling that we feel is overlooked too often--th... [private]Most of us cartoonists accept that developing one's writing and art are essential to making communicative comics. But is that all? This week we dive into a discussion on an aspect of comics storytelling that we feel is overlooked too often--the role of the panel border and shape. Our discussion of the topic is divided into two categories: Panel Line • Jagged • Wavy • No Line • Sound Effects Panel Shape • Square • Rectangle (wide or tall) • Angular (irregular polygon) • Inset • Circle We use the work of Joann Sfar and Walt Simonson as examples of creators who not only illustrate in compelling ways, but use the shape, size, arrangement, and line weights of their panels to more effectively deliver the data in their stories. The intro for our episode was provided by my buddy HooveR. Other links mentioned in this episode: Dreamform Defenders, by Chet Lucero Same Difference, by Derek Kirk Kim Posey Simmonds Suspended in Language, by Jim Ottaviani, Leland Purvis, Roger Langridge, Jay Hosler, Steve Leialoha, Linda Medley, and Jeff Parker. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:58:39 Art & Story 73 – The Big Illustration Party Time http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=267 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=267#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:55:22 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=267 [private]There’s a new cartooning podcast on the block, and it’s looking lean and mean. It’s the Big Illustration Party Time with Kevin Cross and Joshua Kemble. We invited the hosts to sit in on Art & Story and share their reasons for starting up the podcast, as well as give us a preview of some of the content they’ll be covering on their show. If you’re a cartoonist looking to subsidize your income by doing some freelance work, I’m confident that you’ll find Kevin’s and Joshua’s content compelling and useful.

Please note: I misspoke the URL to Big Illustration Party Time during the episode. The correct URL is www.illustrationparty.blogspot.com. But why deal with the hassle of remembering the address? Why not bookmark it, or subscribe to the RSS feed?

This week’s show also features the return of Stephanie, who brings us another Big Honor segment. James Kochalka is spotlighted this week, in particular his American Elf work (which you can find on Amazon here).

Steph also talks about some of Kochalka’s music videos, available on YouTube.
Hockey Monkey
Wash Your @$$
Pee

Links to sites mentioned in this episode:
• Google Sketchup
• Big Illustration Party Time
• Kevin Cross
• Joshua Kemble
• Ted Seko’s Idiot Engine
• Krishna Sadasivam
• Javier Hernandez
• Ryan Dow
• Stephanie
• Art & Story 71 – The Big Voice
• James Kochalka

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=267 1 Art,comics,Illustration,Inking,Penciling,podcasting,Podcasts,print comics,web comics [private]There's a new cartooning podcast on the block, and it's looking lean and mean. It's the Big Illustration Party Time with Kevin Cross and Joshua Kemble. We invited the hosts to sit in on Art & Story and share their reasons for starting up the p... [private]There's a new cartooning podcast on the block, and it's looking lean and mean. It's the Big Illustration Party Time with Kevin Cross and Joshua Kemble. We invited the hosts to sit in on Art & Story and share their reasons for starting up the podcast, as well as give us a preview of some of the content they'll be covering on their show. If you're a cartoonist looking to subsidize your income by doing some freelance work, I'm confident that you'll find Kevin's and Joshua's content compelling and useful. Please note: I misspoke the URL to Big Illustration Party Time during the episode. The correct URL is www.illustrationparty.blogspot.com. But why deal with the hassle of remembering the address? Why not bookmark it, or subscribe to the RSS feed? This week's show also features the return of Stephanie, who brings us another Big Honor segment. James Kochalka is spotlighted this week, in particular his American Elf work (which you can find on Amazon here). Steph also talks about some of Kochalka's music videos, available on YouTube. Hockey Monkey Wash Your @$$ Pee Links to sites mentioned in this episode: • Google Sketchup • Big Illustration Party Time • Kevin Cross • Joshua Kemble • Ted Seko's Idiot Engine • Krishna Sadasivam • Javier Hernandez • Ryan Dow • Stephanie • Art & Story 71 - The Big Voice • James Kochalka Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:35:24 Art & Story 72 – The Big Approach http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=265 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=265#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:33:54 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=265 [private]There seems to be two major approaches we cartoonists take to building a comics story:

• Starting with a group of characters and building a story around them, or
• Starting with a premise and creating characters to suit it and the story.

Having done both in our comics projects over the years, Mark and I set out to explore the pros and cons of each. As usual, we cite our own work as a basis for meditation on the subject. Comics discussed include:

Approaching with a group of characters first:
The Front, by Jerzy Drozd
Mulligan’s Run, by Mark Rudolph

Approaching with a premise first:
Equalizers of the Divide, by Sara Turner and Jerzy Drozd
The Galactic League of Marshals, by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd
Switch Runners, by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd
John Oxbow: Man Out of Time, by Mark Rudolph

Other links mentioned in this episode:
• The Mini-Comics Dump Truck, the comics club for which Mark and I created some comics such as John Oxbow and Tiny Hamilton.
• Javiland, a podcast we participate on regulary.
• We talk about the Duck Tales cartoon twice in this episode, and if we’ve tweaked your curiosity, you can get the first season DVD set on Amazon.

And don’t forget, The Sequential Artists’ Pub records this Saturday at 9 p.m. EST! Stop on by with a frosty beverage and your comics topics!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=265 0 Art,Character Design,character development,characters,premise,story,story development,storytelling,Writing [private]There seems to be two major approaches we cartoonists take to building a comics story: - • Starting with a group of characters and building a story around them, or • Starting with a premise and creating characters to suit it and the story. - [private]There seems to be two major approaches we cartoonists take to building a comics story: • Starting with a group of characters and building a story around them, or • Starting with a premise and creating characters to suit it and the story. Having done both in our comics projects over the years, Mark and I set out to explore the pros and cons of each. As usual, we cite our own work as a basis for meditation on the subject. Comics discussed include: Approaching with a group of characters first: The Front, by Jerzy Drozd Mulligan's Run, by Mark Rudolph Approaching with a premise first: Equalizers of the Divide, by Sara Turner and Jerzy Drozd The Galactic League of Marshals, by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd Switch Runners, by Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd John Oxbow: Man Out of Time, by Mark Rudolph Other links mentioned in this episode: • The Mini-Comics Dump Truck, the comics club for which Mark and I created some comics such as John Oxbow and Tiny Hamilton. • Javiland, a podcast we participate on regulary. • We talk about the Duck Tales cartoon twice in this episode, and if we've tweaked your curiosity, you can get the first season DVD set on Amazon. And don't forget, The Sequential Artists' Pub records this Saturday at 9 p.m. EST! Stop on by with a frosty beverage and your comics topics! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:39:03 Art & Story 71 – The Big Voice http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=253 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=253#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:35:49 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=253 [private]This just in–Mark’s latest mini-comic, John Oxbow, Man Out of Time is now on sale in the Tiny Astronaut store!

To celebrate, we dig into the artistic process behind Mark’s work on the mini and highlight some of the triumphs that this project represents for him. We spend quite a bit of time talking about our experiences as cartoonists in pursuit of our storytelling and artistic “voices”, as well as the role of lettering and sound effects in comics.

Speaking of which, don’t miss the fonts sale on the Comicraft website! All day on January 1st, and only on January 1st, they price their fantastic comic book fonts at the year in cents–that means fonts that usually cost $100 or more can be had for as little as $20.09!

Quick correction to what we say in the episode about the fonts sets in terms of US and International ones: The International sets feature characters in addition to the ones found in US sets, so if they are the same price, it couldn’t hurt to get the International ones. Thanks to Roger Langridge for pointing that out!

Special thanks to Neil Kaplan for the great intro this episode. You can check out his comic I, of the Wolf on the Trigger Street website. While you’re there, please leave a review for him! Consider it another Art & Story Challenge.

In this episode I briefly talk about an article Krishna linked to about a comics writer Christopher Priest and the “Priest Curse”. You can read the article here.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=253 3 Art,Artistic Development,fonts,Lettering,Process,Sound Effects,story,Writing [private]This just in--Mark's latest mini-comic, John Oxbow, Man Out of Time is now on sale in the Tiny Astronaut store! - To celebrate, we dig into the artistic process behind Mark's work on the mini and highlight some of the triumphs that this proje... [private]This just in--Mark's latest mini-comic, John Oxbow, Man Out of Time is now on sale in the Tiny Astronaut store! To celebrate, we dig into the artistic process behind Mark's work on the mini and highlight some of the triumphs that this project represents for him. We spend quite a bit of time talking about our experiences as cartoonists in pursuit of our storytelling and artistic "voices", as well as the role of lettering and sound effects in comics. Speaking of which, don't miss the fonts sale on the Comicraft website! All day on January 1st, and only on January 1st, they price their fantastic comic book fonts at the year in cents--that means fonts that usually cost $100 or more can be had for as little as $20.09! Quick correction to what we say in the episode about the fonts sets in terms of US and International ones: The International sets feature characters in addition to the ones found in US sets, so if they are the same price, it couldn't hurt to get the International ones. Thanks to Roger Langridge for pointing that out! Special thanks to Neil Kaplan for the great intro this episode. You can check out his comic I, of the Wolf on the Trigger Street website. While you're there, please leave a review for him! Consider it another Art & Story Challenge. In this episode I briefly talk about an article Krishna linked to about a comics writer Christopher Priest and the "Priest Curse". You can read the article here. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:56:32 Art & Story 70 – The Big Hero II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=251 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=251#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 04:33:02 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=251 [private]It’s been over a year since we’ve set aside an entire episode to talking about writing heroes–last time was episode 11! So, after a cursory yet lengthy report (30 minutes or so!) on my recent trip to Washington, D.C., we address a topic that’s been eating at Mark a bit, namely: Why is it we see so few of the “Really Really Good Guys” in fiction? Characters like The Fall Guy’s Colt Seavers, the Christopher Reeves Superman, Jackie Chan, or the Filmation He-Man thrill audiences, yet are often dismissed as being less-than-sophisticated in terms of how they’re written.

We do our best to find the common elements between these kinds of heroes, citing specific examples from their respective stories. A little time is spent on why it is that these kinds of characters are so few and far between, but we come to no conclusion. We’d love to hear what you think about it.

Note: We spend a lot of time this week talking about The Fall Guy and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The good news is, you can check out both series, absolutely for free, on Hulu!

He-Man on Hulu

The Fall Guy on Hulu

We take an hour and change to talk about the future of comics in terms of format and delivery mechanisms. On the top of our minds primarily is the elusive tablet-style/iPhone device that will surely revolutionize comics. We also talk about possible collaborative models and how comics might benefit from them, and some other random future plans for our careers.

Also featured this week is the return of The Big Honor, with Stephanie. This week she discusses The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Omnibus (Warning: This comic is definitely not for kids!)

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=251 1 Character Design,character development,heroes,story,Writing [private]It's been over a year since we've set aside an entire episode to talking about writing heroes--last time was episode 11! So, after a cursory yet lengthy report (30 minutes or so!) on my recent trip to Washington, D.C., [private]It's been over a year since we've set aside an entire episode to talking about writing heroes--last time was episode 11! So, after a cursory yet lengthy report (30 minutes or so!) on my recent trip to Washington, D.C., we address a topic that's been eating at Mark a bit, namely: Why is it we see so few of the "Really Really Good Guys" in fiction? Characters like The Fall Guy's Colt Seavers, the Christopher Reeves Superman, Jackie Chan, or the Filmation He-Man thrill audiences, yet are often dismissed as being less-than-sophisticated in terms of how they're written. We do our best to find the common elements between these kinds of heroes, citing specific examples from their respective stories. A little time is spent on why it is that these kinds of characters are so few and far between, but we come to no conclusion. We'd love to hear what you think about it. Note: We spend a lot of time this week talking about The Fall Guy and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The good news is, you can check out both series, absolutely for free, on Hulu! He-Man on Hulu The Fall Guy on Hulu We take an hour and change to talk about the future of comics in terms of format and delivery mechanisms. On the top of our minds primarily is the elusive tablet-style/iPhone device that will surely revolutionize comics. We also talk about possible collaborative models and how comics might benefit from them, and some other random future plans for our careers. Also featured this week is the return of The Big Honor, with Stephanie. This week she discusses The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Omnibus (Warning: This comic is definitely not for kids!) Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:56:49 Art & Story 69 – The Big Prognostication http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=244 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=244#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:08:01 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=244 [private]We take an hour and change to talk about the future of comics in terms of format and delivery mechanisms. On the top of our minds primarily is the elusive tablet-style/iPhone device that will surely revolutionize comics. We also talk about possible collaborative models and how comics might benefit from them, and some other random future plans for our careers.

Also featured this week is the return of The Big Honor, with Stephanie. This week she discusses The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Omnibus (Warning: This comic is definitely not for kids!)

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=244 0 business model,format,marketing,webcomics [private]We take an hour and change to talk about the future of comics in terms of format and delivery mechanisms. On the top of our minds primarily is the elusive tablet-style/iPhone device that will surely revolutionize comics. [private]We take an hour and change to talk about the future of comics in terms of format and delivery mechanisms. On the top of our minds primarily is the elusive tablet-style/iPhone device that will surely revolutionize comics. We also talk about possible collaborative models and how comics might benefit from them, and some other random future plans for our careers. Also featured this week is the return of The Big Honor, with Stephanie. This week she discusses The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Omnibus (Warning: This comic is definitely not for kids!) Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:30:39 Art & Story 68 – The Big Isenberg http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=242 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=242#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:25:12 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=242 [private]It’s another interview episode, stuffed to the gills with content. This week we had the pleasure of talking with Marty Isenberg, story editor behind the fantastic Transformers: Animated cartoon series.

We talk about character building techniques, writing “a” and “b” stories, and how collaboration with the art director is an essential part of an animation writer’s repetoire. A lot of our conversation revolves around his work on the Transformers: Animated series, but I’m confident that the bulk of the discussion will be useful to cartoonists, young and old. Besides, you could do a lot worse than check out the series, and if my gushing about it back in The Big Deconstruction wasn’t enough to convince you, maybe this episode will get a few of you to watch the first three episodes, at least. It’s so much better than shows like Lost–you don’t have to watch from the very first episode in order to enjoy it!

Please note: Some of the Amazon links above are for the “Cine-Manga” collections of the Transformers: Animated series. The series we referred to is called “The Arrival”.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=242 8 Character Design,character development,characters,plot,Process,theme,Writing [private]It's another interview episode, stuffed to the gills with content. This week we had the pleasure of talking with Marty Isenberg, story editor behind the fantastic Transformers: Animated cartoon series. - [private]It's another interview episode, stuffed to the gills with content. This week we had the pleasure of talking with Marty Isenberg, story editor behind the fantastic Transformers: Animated cartoon series. We talk about character building techniques, writing "a" and "b" stories, and how collaboration with the art director is an essential part of an animation writer's repetoire. A lot of our conversation revolves around his work on the Transformers: Animated series, but I'm confident that the bulk of the discussion will be useful to cartoonists, young and old. Besides, you could do a lot worse than check out the series, and if my gushing about it back in The Big Deconstruction wasn't enough to convince you, maybe this episode will get a few of you to watch the first three episodes, at least. It's so much better than shows like Lost--you don't have to watch from the very first episode in order to enjoy it! Please note: Some of the Amazon links above are for the "Cine-Manga" collections of the Transformers: Animated series. The series we referred to is called "The Arrival". Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:34:38 Art & Story 67 – The Big Kaplan http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=239 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=239#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:18:31 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=239 [private]It’s another interview episode, and it’s one I’ve been really looking forward to.

 This week we talk with Neil Kaplan, actor, comic book writer, and possibly best known for his voice work on Power Rangers, Digimon, and as Optimus Prime in the Transformers: Robots In Disguise series.

Neil was kind enough to share his thoughts on storytelling, both from his perspective as an actor and as a comics creator. We talk a bit about his upcoming graphic novel I, of the Wolf, and why showing fantastical violence seems to be more acceptable to an audience than having a character curse. You can check out a special preview of Neil’s graphic novel at the Trigger Street website, and you can post a review of the book there.

We also spend some time talking about another of Neil’s projects, Optimoose, which was born from a gag made while recording an episode of TF:RID, but now has a following behind it and promises to make its animated debut on the web. Check out the Optimoose Facebook group for more information.

You can also contact Neil or send him fan mail (and why wouldn’t you?) by checking out his contact page.

And just for the heck of it, here’s some TF:RID for you to check out.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=239 0 acting,Process,storytelling,voice,Writing [private]It's another interview episode, and it's one I've been really looking forward to. - This week we talk with Neil Kaplan, actor, comic book writer, and possibly best known for his voice work on Power Rangers, Digimon, [private]It's another interview episode, and it's one I've been really looking forward to. This week we talk with Neil Kaplan, actor, comic book writer, and possibly best known for his voice work on Power Rangers, Digimon, and as Optimus Prime in the Transformers: Robots In Disguise series. Neil was kind enough to share his thoughts on storytelling, both from his perspective as an actor and as a comics creator. We talk a bit about his upcoming graphic novel I, of the Wolf, and why showing fantastical violence seems to be more acceptable to an audience than having a character curse. You can check out a special preview of Neil's graphic novel at the Trigger Street website, and you can post a review of the book there. We also spend some time talking about another of Neil's projects, Optimoose, which was born from a gag made while recording an episode of TF:RID, but now has a following behind it and promises to make its animated debut on the web. Check out the Optimoose Facebook group for more information. You can also contact Neil or send him fan mail (and why wouldn't you?) by checking out his contact page. And just for the heck of it, here's some TF:RID for you to check out. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:53:10 Art & Story 66 – The Big Turkey http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=230 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=230#comments Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:49:16 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=230 [private]Anticipating that no one will download this episode, as it falls on a holiday week, Mark and I decided to take a more relaxed approach to this episode and let the art week spiral out into as many tributaries as we could handle. Let this be a warning to you–it’s a rambly one.

However, this isn’t to say that we avoid comics topics altogether. In fact, Mark and I spend a bit of time towards the end discussing a recent inking experiment he took on and got quite a bit out of. You can check out photos and more of Mark’s thoughts on this by clicking over to the last blog post.

This episode also features the return of The Big Honor, this time with Stephanie, one of the students in a weekly cartooning class I’ve been teaching. Steph recommends Jeffrey Brown’s I Am Going To Be Small, published by Top Shelf.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=230 2 Artistic Development,Inking,interviewing,Penciling,podcasting [private]Anticipating that no one will download this episode, as it falls on a holiday week, Mark and I decided to take a more relaxed approach to this episode and let the art week spiral out into as many tributaries as we could handle. [private]Anticipating that no one will download this episode, as it falls on a holiday week, Mark and I decided to take a more relaxed approach to this episode and let the art week spiral out into as many tributaries as we could handle. Let this be a warning to you--it's a rambly one. However, this isn't to say that we avoid comics topics altogether. In fact, Mark and I spend a bit of time towards the end discussing a recent inking experiment he took on and got quite a bit out of. You can check out photos and more of Mark's thoughts on this by clicking over to the last blog post. This episode also features the return of The Big Honor, this time with Stephanie, one of the students in a weekly cartooning class I've been teaching. Steph recommends Jeffrey Brown's I Am Going To Be Small, published by Top Shelf. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:55:00 Art & Story 65 – The Big Detroit http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=222 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=222#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:28:11 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=222 [private]Last Saturday we exhibited at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, and we’re back with our report.

We’ve been comparing our convention/show experiences in past episodes, such as our weekend at Wizard World Chicago as well as our winter and summer turns at the Shadow Art Fair. Throughout these wrap-ups we’ve tried to evaluate the show itself and our performance there. In this episode we confirm a lot of assumptions we’ve made about art shows in the past, and learn a bit more about the role of packaging and displays at a public event.

Our photos from the event can be found on our Flickr page. More photos from past and present DUCF events can be found here.


DUCF 2008 from Dan Nixon on Vimeo.

You can get the mini-comics stand template mentioned in this episode here. Big thanks to Kevin Cross for pointing us at it!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=222 3 art fair,Conventions,detroit urban craft fair,handmade detroit,packaging,presentation,tinyastronaut [private]Last Saturday we exhibited at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, and we're back with our report. - We've been comparing our convention/show experiences in past episodes, such as our weekend at Wizard World Chicago as well as our winter and summer ... [private]Last Saturday we exhibited at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, and we're back with our report. We've been comparing our convention/show experiences in past episodes, such as our weekend at Wizard World Chicago as well as our winter and summer turns at the Shadow Art Fair. Throughout these wrap-ups we've tried to evaluate the show itself and our performance there. In this episode we confirm a lot of assumptions we've made about art shows in the past, and learn a bit more about the role of packaging and displays at a public event. Our photos from the event can be found on our Flickr page. More photos from past and present DUCF events can be found here. DUCF 2008 from Dan Nixon on Vimeo. You can get the mini-comics stand template mentioned in this episode here. Big thanks to Kevin Cross for pointing us at it! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:36:05 Art & Story 64 – The Big Funk Breaker http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=220 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=220#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:49:36 +0000 Jerzy http://642115426 [private]I think it’s safe to say that all cartoonists fall into artistic funks from time to time–nothing is happening the way you want on the page, you’re stuck on an idea, or you come back to the page two days later and notice some glaring errors. So how do you break out of that crummy mindset? How do you fall in love with the process of making comics again?

Mark and I present a few strategies this week for breaking that funk, complete with cute teacher-esque activity names like “Composition Cut-Out”, and “Pictures to Sketches”. We follow up with some more general techniques to break away from the frustration and come back to the desk with a clean mind.

For those in the Detroit area, come see us at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair this weekend!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=220 4 Composition,panel composition,panel design,Panels,photography,problem solving,Process,production,Sketching [private]I think it's safe to say that all cartoonists fall into artistic funks from time to time--nothing is happening the way you want on the page, you're stuck on an idea, or you come back to the page two days later and notice some glaring errors. [private]I think it's safe to say that all cartoonists fall into artistic funks from time to time--nothing is happening the way you want on the page, you're stuck on an idea, or you come back to the page two days later and notice some glaring errors. So how do you break out of that crummy mindset? How do you fall in love with the process of making comics again? Mark and I present a few strategies this week for breaking that funk, complete with cute teacher-esque activity names like "Composition Cut-Out", and "Pictures to Sketches". We follow up with some more general techniques to break away from the frustration and come back to the desk with a clean mind. For those in the Detroit area, come see us at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair this weekend! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:17:24 Art & Story 63 – The Big Ratner http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=217 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=217#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:43:29 +0000 Jerzy http://1758019734 [private]It’s another interview episode, but what an interview! This week we were grateful to get a chance to pick the brain of Bill Ratner, one of the world’s great voice talents, often recognized as the voice of Flint from G.I. Joe.

We talk with Bill about how a voice actor “Writes With Voice”–how do voice actors find their characters and paint a picture of them using inflection, cadence, and timbre? As with our previous interview with animator and storyboard artist Tom Sito, we’re given a lot of food for thought to bring into our own work, and we have an entertaining conversation to boot.

During the interview we mentioned The Secrets of Voice-Over Success, in which Bill has an essay sharing more of his thoughts on the subject. You can order it here.

As a special feature this week, we’re also offering the episode in a higher bitrate format, so you can better enjoy Mr. Ratner’s fantastic voice. You can get the file here. It’s a big one, so don’t try downloading on dial-up.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=217 1 acting,animation,character,character development,Writing [private]It's another interview episode, but what an interview! This week we were grateful to get a chance to pick the brain of Bill Ratner, one of the world's great voice talents, often recognized as the voice of Flint from G.I. Joe. - [private]It's another interview episode, but what an interview! This week we were grateful to get a chance to pick the brain of Bill Ratner, one of the world's great voice talents, often recognized as the voice of Flint from G.I. Joe. We talk with Bill about how a voice actor "Writes With Voice"--how do voice actors find their characters and paint a picture of them using inflection, cadence, and timbre? As with our previous interview with animator and storyboard artist Tom Sito, we're given a lot of food for thought to bring into our own work, and we have an entertaining conversation to boot. During the interview we mentioned The Secrets of Voice-Over Success, in which Bill has an essay sharing more of his thoughts on the subject. You can order it here. As a special feature this week, we're also offering the episode in a higher bitrate format, so you can better enjoy Mr. Ratner's fantastic voice. You can get the file here. It's a big one, so don't try downloading on dial-up. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:11:35 Art & Story 62 – The Big Deconstruction http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=215 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=215#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:49:30 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=215 [private]We’ve been playing around with a method of deconstructing stories lately, and we thought it might be fun to share it with you, the listener. Here’s how we did it:
1) Determine the thesis, or theme of the story
2) Write out a brief synopsis of the story
3) Identify the “Character Crisis” for the main players in the tale–in other words, what is the challenge presented to the character that opposes his/her precondition in the story?
4) Determine the “Plot Crisis” of the story. What is the problem that must be solved?
5) See if you can chart how the Character Crises tie into how the Plot Crisis is resolved. If there’s more than one character explored in the story, how do the Character Crises augment or contradict each other?
6) Determine how the Characters’ arcs are addressed through the Character Crises. Are they different? Are they “reset to zero” at the end?

We apply this method to two TV shows that have recently captured our imaginations. The good news is that they’re currently available on YouTube, so you can watch them yourselves and compare your analysis with our own. But really, you should probably get the eps at your local library or video rental store, or better yet, purchase them!

Mark’s Pick: Star Trek: Voyager Episode 40, “Tuvix”
Part 01
Part 02
Part 03
Part 04
Part 05

Jerzy’s Pick: Transformers: Animated Episode 20, “Garbage In, Garbage Out”
Part 01
Part 02
Part 03

Or, choose your own TV Show/Movie/Book to try this method out on. We’d love to hear what you come up with!

Other podcasts worth checking out on the subject of story deconstruction:
The Secrets
Sam & Jim Go To Hollywood

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=215 2 story,story development,story structure,storytelling,Writing [private]We've been playing around with a method of deconstructing stories lately, and we thought it might be fun to share it with you, the listener. Here's how we did it: 1) Determine the thesis, or theme of the story [private]We've been playing around with a method of deconstructing stories lately, and we thought it might be fun to share it with you, the listener. Here's how we did it: 1) Determine the thesis, or theme of the story 2) Write out a brief synopsis of the story 3) Identify the "Character Crisis" for the main players in the tale--in other words, what is the challenge presented to the character that opposes his/her precondition in the story? 4) Determine the "Plot Crisis" of the story. What is the problem that must be solved? 5) See if you can chart how the Character Crises tie into how the Plot Crisis is resolved. If there's more than one character explored in the story, how do the Character Crises augment or contradict each other? 6) Determine how the Characters' arcs are addressed through the Character Crises. Are they different? Are they "reset to zero" at the end? We apply this method to two TV shows that have recently captured our imaginations. The good news is that they're currently available on YouTube, so you can watch them yourselves and compare your analysis with our own. But really, you should probably get the eps at your local library or video rental store, or better yet, purchase them! Mark's Pick: Star Trek: Voyager Episode 40, "Tuvix" Part 01 Part 02 Part 03 Part 04 Part 05 Jerzy's Pick: Transformers: Animated Episode 20, "Garbage In, Garbage Out" Part 01 Part 02 Part 03 Or, choose your own TV Show/Movie/Book to try this method out on. We'd love to hear what you come up with! Other podcasts worth checking out on the subject of story deconstruction: The Secrets Sam & Jim Go To Hollywood Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:18:42 Art & Story 61 – The Big Scary Story http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=213 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=213#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:48:52 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=213 [private]It’s closing in on Halloween, so we take the opportunity to try to pick at the topic of Horror stories. We’re joined by guest Shawn & Carrie Robare for a discussion on what goes into making a scary story, using some of our favorite horror films and comics as examples.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out the second half of our conversation over at Branded In The 80s, where Shawn leads us in a discussion of Halloween from a more general and nostalgic point of view.

For more scary podcasts, be sure to check out the upcoming episode of the Requiem Metal Podcast. Mark and the crew have a Halloween-themed discussion about some of the better metal bands out there.

Also, check out the Horror Etc. podcast, which updates every week with some fantastic discussions on the genre. I do warn you that they enjoy their share of salty language, though!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=213 0 film,horror,Writing [private]It's closing in on Halloween, so we take the opportunity to try to pick at the topic of Horror stories. We're joined by guest Shawn & Carrie Robare for a discussion on what goes into making a scary story, [private]It's closing in on Halloween, so we take the opportunity to try to pick at the topic of Horror stories. We're joined by guest Shawn & Carrie Robare for a discussion on what goes into making a scary story, using some of our favorite horror films and comics as examples. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out the second half of our conversation over at Branded In The 80s, where Shawn leads us in a discussion of Halloween from a more general and nostalgic point of view. For more scary podcasts, be sure to check out the upcoming episode of the Requiem Metal Podcast. Mark and the crew have a Halloween-themed discussion about some of the better metal bands out there. Also, check out the Horror Etc. podcast, which updates every week with some fantastic discussions on the genre. I do warn you that they enjoy their share of salty language, though! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:51:11 Art & Story 60 – The Big Sito http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=211 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=211#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:51:14 +0000 Jerzy http://1209923641 [private]This week’s show features an interview with animator, director, and storyboard artist Tom Sito. He has worked on many of the cartoons that have delighted audiences over the years ranging from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe to The Lion King to Click & Clack’s As The Wrench Turns. We were grateful for the opportunity to pick Tom’s brain on the craft of visual storytelling as it relates to both animation and cartooning in general.

We also talk about Tom’s book DRAWING THE LINE: The Untold Story of the Animation Unions from Bosko to Bart Simpson, which I highly recommend. You can order it online here.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=211 2 animation,Art,cartooning,Teaching Arts,Writing [private]This week's show features an interview with animator, director, and storyboard artist Tom Sito. He has worked on many of the cartoons that have delighted audiences over the years ranging from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe to The Lion ... [private]This week's show features an interview with animator, director, and storyboard artist Tom Sito. He has worked on many of the cartoons that have delighted audiences over the years ranging from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe to The Lion King to Click & Clack's As The Wrench Turns. We were grateful for the opportunity to pick Tom's brain on the craft of visual storytelling as it relates to both animation and cartooning in general. We also talk about Tom's book DRAWING THE LINE: The Untold Story of the Animation Unions from Bosko to Bart Simpson, which I highly recommend. You can order it online here. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:38:15 Art & Story 59 – The Big Block II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=208 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=208#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:06:19 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=208 [private]This week we revisit the topic of a panel’s “innards”–the content of the panel itself. We talk about staging, “blocking” our shots, composition, scene transitions, and how studying photography and theatre performances could help a struggling cartoonist find new inroads to creating interesting panels.

We meant to get at two topics this week, but we just plumb ran out of time.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed

[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=208 0 blocking,Composition,design,panel composition,panel sequence,Process,staging,storytelling [private]This week we revisit the topic of a panel's "innards"--the content of the panel itself. We talk about staging, "blocking" our shots, composition, scene transitions, and how studying photography and theatre performances could help a struggling ... [private]This week we revisit the topic of a panel's "innards"--the content of the panel itself. We talk about staging, "blocking" our shots, composition, scene transitions, and how studying photography and theatre performances could help a struggling cartoonist find new inroads to creating interesting panels. We meant to get at two topics this week, but we just plumb ran out of time. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed [/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:31:53 Art & Story 58 – The Big Process II http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=206 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=206#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:20:54 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=206 [private]This week’s episode is a bit of a follow-up to last week’s talk about thumbnailing, or plotting. Mark and I discuss the procedural nature of how we create comics. By breaking our process into smaller stages, we’re afforded the luxury of putting a lot of focus, consideration, and concern into each stage. We broached this subject originally in episode 09, but we thought we’d revisit it both for the sake of new listeners and to see if anything has changed in our process since then.

For more discussion on our thoughts on process, you can check out our commentary track for our Switch Runners project.

In other news, be sure to check out my interview on Planet Comic Book Radio! My thanks once again to Javier Hernandez for being a great host and interviewer.

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=206 0 Art,Inking,Lettering,Penciling,Plotting,Process,Thumbnailing,Writing [private]This week's episode is a bit of a follow-up to last week's talk about thumbnailing, or plotting. Mark and I discuss the procedural nature of how we create comics. By breaking our process into smaller stages, [private]This week's episode is a bit of a follow-up to last week's talk about thumbnailing, or plotting. Mark and I discuss the procedural nature of how we create comics. By breaking our process into smaller stages, we're afforded the luxury of putting a lot of focus, consideration, and concern into each stage. We broached this subject originally in episode 09, but we thought we'd revisit it both for the sake of new listeners and to see if anything has changed in our process since then. For more discussion on our thoughts on process, you can check out our commentary track for our Switch Runners project. In other news, be sure to check out my interview on Planet Comic Book Radio! My thanks once again to Javier Hernandez for being a great host and interviewer. Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:43:07 Art & Story 57 – The Big Thumbnail http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=201 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=201#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:52:23 +0000 Jerzy http://563726573 [private]This week we explore what our concerns are when creating the plots, or thumbnails, of our comics stories. As we’ve stated elsewhere and in other podcasts, this is, for us, the most intellectually labor-intensive part of making comics. We do our best to chart some of the many battles we pick when we write our stories with pictures.

Our focus mostly rests on an unfinished project of Mark’s, but we compare his process on that to past projects such as Switch Runners and The Galactic League of Marshals.

Also, one more reminder about Mark’s upcoming workshop at the Ann Arbor District Library this Sunday!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=201 1 Art,Plotting,Process,Sketching,Thumbnailing,Writing [private]This week we explore what our concerns are when creating the plots, or thumbnails, of our comics stories. As we've stated elsewhere and in other podcasts, this is, for us, the most intellectually labor-intensive part of making comics. [private]This week we explore what our concerns are when creating the plots, or thumbnails, of our comics stories. As we've stated elsewhere and in other podcasts, this is, for us, the most intellectually labor-intensive part of making comics. We do our best to chart some of the many battles we pick when we write our stories with pictures. Our focus mostly rests on an unfinished project of Mark's, but we compare his process on that to past projects such as Switch Runners and The Galactic League of Marshals. Also, one more reminder about Mark's upcoming workshop at the Ann Arbor District Library this Sunday! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:33:50 Art & Story 56 – The Big Comfort Zone http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=194 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=194#comments Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:08:37 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=194 [private]Mark and I spend a lot of time on this show talking about struggling to analyze, practice, and otherwise improve our work. However, as a cartoonist works on his/her craft, he/she will inevitably amass a “bag of tricks” to help expedite their comics endeavors. You just get better as time goes on, though we don’t always see it happening. So this week we back off of the digging deep into our craft and reflect on what we consider to be our strengths as comics storytellers and how our latest comics project, The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz, is being created from our “comfort zones”.

Also, one more reminder about Mark’s upcoming workshop at the Ann Arbor District Library this month!

Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter!

Subscribe through iTunes
RSS Feed[/private]

]]> http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?feed=rss2&p=194 0 comics,Inking,Layout,Penciling,Process,theme,Writing [private]Mark and I spend a lot of time on this show talking about struggling to analyze, practice, and otherwise improve our work. However, as a cartoonist works on his/her craft, he/she will inevitably amass a "bag of tricks" to help expedite their c... [private]Mark and I spend a lot of time on this show talking about struggling to analyze, practice, and otherwise improve our work. However, as a cartoonist works on his/her craft, he/she will inevitably amass a "bag of tricks" to help expedite their comics endeavors. You just get better as time goes on, though we don't always see it happening. So this week we back off of the digging deep into our craft and reflect on what we consider to be our strengths as comics storytellers and how our latest comics project, The Cosmic Adventures of Gena Kranz, is being created from our "comfort zones". Also, one more reminder about Mark's upcoming workshop at the Ann Arbor District Library this month! Follow Mark and Jerzy on Twitter! Subscribe through iTunes RSS Feed[/private] Mark Rudolph & Jerzy Drozd clean 1:33:47 Art & Story 55 – The Big Podcaster http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=183 http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=183#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:50:01 +0000 Jerzy http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/?p=183 [private]I’ll warn you now–this one is more of a “meta episode” where we discuss a lot of the ideas that go into making the Art & Story podcast. But both topics are requested by listeners, so I’m still hopeful that mos