The Impact Monster WIP

Is only half colored but I feel like I've already learned a ton about working in color, and how to be more efficient in terms of the actual workflow of making a full color comic. For one thing it will be done all in Photoshop and Manga Studio next time. No 3rd party stuff...

Two More Colored Pages

Didn't realize how labor intensive this would be. Its become a lot bigger in scope than I originally planned, but I've already been able to show it to prospective clients as a portfolio piece, and I've learned a TON in the process, so that is good.

Flatting in Manga Studio 5

Welp, no one's winning any awards for this image, but it marks an important step in my journey of making my own graphic novel, and that is learning all the tools available to me, and how the pros are pulling this sh*t off. I realized the look I'm going for is a flat, cel shaded anime look (no surprises there...) Special thanks to my badass friend Jules Rivera the indie comic book diva for jumping on Google hangouts with me yesterday and giving me a quick tutorial on how to use ref layers in manga studio to quickly flat an image (check her out - julesrivera.com). Tutorials on youtube are awesome but there's nothing like having a live person there to show you the ropes and field any questions. Jules's is currently in the process of setting up her own patreon right now so stay tuned for that. All good things!

Below is Bianca pictured in the sexist environment of her father's Auto repair shop where she works as the secretary and service advisor. Anca secretly dreams of working on cars with the guys, but doesn't dare speak up about it because that would most certainly cause a righteous shit storm. It's a major point of contention between Anca and her father Santino, who is very conservative and doesn't believe women belong in the garage. Every day Anca waits for everyone to go home and then gears up and works on friends and neighbors cars through the night and into the wee hours of the morning. Read- GALS, if you were born to do something, don't let anyone or anything get in your way!

Below are a few process images-

Starts as a rough sketch stained with whatever I ate for lunch that day..

Inked in manga studio

Flatted in Photoshop, before I knew about manga studio

Added BG

Flatted in Manga Studio, WIN! So much easier than PS

Finally, add deets, shadows, highlights and lighting

Screens! And other tests

Testing out some new SCREEN brushes that can make your work look like a comic! Thanks Mari!

 

People have been asking about Sly's race. Sly is mixed race, half Italian half Japanese, and for a very specific reason. His race informs his backstory. As a kid growing up in a predominantly white setting, Sly was tormented endlessly for being a half breed, a mutt and a misfit. As an adult his race is also a source of adversity, as many of the antagonists use Sly's race as an excuse to question his loyalty. Either way his race serves as constant reminder of his social status as an outcast.

Paint Tool Sai

My friend Mari came to stay with me this past weekend and gave me some really cool goodies, among them paint tool SAI. I wanted to try it out immediately so I used it for a likeness test I did for work of Mariah Carey. Making it my mission to excel at drawing, and color!