Blaqtkat: Drawing in a Vacuum Can Only Go So Far, Home Thread: I Need Your Eyes to Know What Works! Options

[blaqtkat]

One Step Ahead

[uphillbrian]

The style is sweet but makes it hard to critique. It looks great. Maybe add some more background and establishing shots to remind the viewer where they are. Also be careful when figures share lines with other images. Like the victim's crotch and the television. Or the close up on page 4 where the guys face lines up with the panel border. but either way. looks tight.

[blaqtkat]

Wow -- thanks -- if I seem insecure it because my friends, who like my stuff, still wonder if this big foot stuff is even commercial. In the past, when showing my work at conventions, for instance, one big-wig at DC (jovially) scoffed: "Humor -- I can't give it away!" and the independent press at the time all steered me to RAW. I wasn't exactly looking for work at DC or Marvel and while I admired RAW that wasn't my direction either -- my work is a little softer than that. Now that was years ago. Dick Giordano was the DC guy. Jim Shooter made fun of my samples being inked prior to lettering (which back then *was* backwards, which I knew, but my lettering sucks and I wanted art samples after all) and cat yronwode was friendly but --- well, being sent to RAW got to be the joke on me with my friends. (I'm not putting down any of those names I just dropped btw -- just giving you a feel of me walking around the circuit and I suppose revealing my age) -- I don't do this for a living but I'd like to make a dime out of it after all -- I'm clearly passionate about my comics work and I've connived with my influences but "under the radar" for years. I'm at a point in my life I'd really. really like to get my work out there and though I do get compliments on the way, I don't get many offers. Actually -- I get NO offers. I've submitted things on-line but these days you don't even get a rejection letter. That has set me up to thinking that my work may be good but not good enough -- or not something enough -- to sell (taking me way back to old conventions). Or maybe it is just too odd. I'm at a put-up-or-shut-up time of my life as far as getting any attention for my artwork (both comics or fine art) and while my friends and family love me they wonder if I am all talk -- not because I don't do the work (which is harder than some think -- that is, to do work over years with only a tiny few as an audience). I feel in a weird position -- too professional to exactly be dubbed an amateur but not professional at all because I am unpublished.

[blaqtkat]

This is older stuff -- this would been something seen by the old pros at conventions many years ago --



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These are inked with a brush and probably are the closest to the "look" that I am seeking





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And this is more recent -- structurally I think the pencils are stronger than ever but the inking is done with a calligraphic chisel-point pen that goes F-A-S-T (and that is a value of mine) -- but it is perhaps too scratchy for many tastes. Making a reply to Art B from my other thread (more hits on it I notice, maybe starting a new one was a bad idea) -- point is taken about the crowded inks in smaller panels -- less is more I'd agree -- and the feedback I got about working on distinguishing the panels (from AB and JP) was very helpful

[cougar18]

I'm really digging these. One thing I have to say is that the work is ALOT stronger when inked. The last page, whether it is the scan or the ink, is lacking. What I mean is, look at the earlier pages, and see how the ink is strong, and bold, and stands out. Then the last page, even it is more recent, has a faded look. Really dull. Like the ink is of lesser quality than the previous ink. Like it is diluted or something.

[blaqtkat]

I think you are right cougar -- it's not the scan, it is a faithful representation of the page -- not that the inks are diluted but they are done with a pen rather than a brush. Putting them side by side you really *can* see the difference. So my next set of inked pages will be done in brush and we can look at it. BUT -- right now I am in the middle of the pencils of a weirdo southwestern tale called Arizona Highway. My pencils have always been the platform for the inks -- in fact I only have taken the pencils to a higher finish to show on-line (and hopefully solve some picture problems before going to inks) -- actually I've always thought myself as a terrible inker -- but maybe it is because I have to be so careful (with a brush) and I want to move fast --

[blaqtkat]

[blaqtkat]

I'm really digging these. One thing I have to say is that the work is ALOT stronger when inked. The last page, whether it is the scan or the ink, is lacking. What I mean is, look at the earlier pages, and see how the ink is strong, and bold, and stands out. Then the last page, even it is more recent, has a faded look. Really dull. Like the ink is of lesser quality than the previous ink. Like it is diluted or something.

Looking again -- I see exactly what you mean -- the quality of the black IS less dense in the last inked sample -- I'm not sure what to make of that. I could probably darken the scan but it seems odd. Over the years I've had to go to a copy shop to make the reduction before scanning -- I just got a Mustek ScanPro A3 Size but (sadly) it just conked out (right now!) after only a few scans -- I'm trouble shooting it -- but that's sort of a by-the-way comment -- the sample you are referring to was done in my old fashioned way -- copy shop to knock it down and scan on conventional scanner.

[Ron Fortier]

Wow, just found these, Blaqkat and the gun-toting gal with the veiled hat is pure Golden Age fun. Love the page layout, truly well composed for maximum impact. But the inking seems unsteady throughout and rather than clarifying your pencils to make them clear and sharp. seems in places to muddy the images. Would love to see you teamed with an ink-artist of talent to see what would result.

[ART BOWSHIER]

The stuff cleans up well. I love a definitive stylist, dude!Don't take anything I say as bad. I have an idea for a female character I call Eclipse. Your style is much what I think would work. Eclipse, The Girl Everyone failed to Notice.

And, your art screams for color....love it love it love it!!!!!

This post has been edited by ART BOWSHIER: Jul 29 2012, 01:54 PM

[blaqtkat]

Wow, just found these, Blaqkat and the gun-toting gal with the veiled hat is pure Golden Age fun. Love the page layout, truly well composed for maximum impact. But the inking seems unsteady throughout and rather than clarifying your pencils to make them clear and sharp. seems in places to muddy the images. Would love to see you teamed with an ink-artist of talent to see what would result.

Bingo on the inking comments! -- of course practice makes perfect -- but in the meantime I'd love to see a penciler-inker partnership as well.

[blaqtkat]

The stuff cleans up well. I love a definitive stylist, dude!Don't take anything I say as bad. I have an idea for a female character I call Eclipse. Your style is much what I think would work. Eclipse, The Girl Everyone failed to Notice.

And, your art screams for color....love it love it love it!!!!!

I DO love "good girl" concepts -- !

[blaqtkat]

These are the Golden Age fun gun-toting gal pencils -- more like layouts compared to the finished pencils I've put up so far -- but these are the typical finish I do for myself (not that I would ask anyone else to ink these as they are!). I have learned that finishing the pencils up a notch has allowed me to work out picture problems and I like looking at them better (online) when they are darker and the details more understood. But -- my layouts have been hallmarked in this thread -- so here a wider view of my heroic-type layouts in this story. This character and two others were slated as continuing in a GGA-oriented comic -- the scripts are pretty fun too (if I say so myself) and yes, I intended to fix the cramped title lettering (Ha! And the misspelling of her name!)















This post has been edited by blaqtkat: Jul 30 2012, 09:51 AM

[blaqtkat]

Still working on this stuff using tips and feedback -- all appreciated!

[NickSD]

I really like your style, man. Especially how you draw men and women, I wish I had those chops. I would like to see your work in full color. It's a new world of comics, and everything is in color, even unknown webcomics like mine.

[blaqtkat]

I really like your style, man. Especially how you draw men and women, I wish I had those chops. I would like to see your work in full color. It's a new world of comics, and everything is in color, even unknown webcomics like mine.

Thanks -- a lot -- I'd go for color too -- my next trick is going to be lettering (computer) -- but these pages CAN be colored (the solid B/W versions exist) -- maybe some day. Some day *soon* is better but I don't know how to pull that off yet. Thanks again -- comments mean a lot to me. I'll look at your web comic (as I type I'm assuming there is a link to it somewhere in your signature but I'm not sure)

This post has been edited by blaqtkat: Aug 7 2012, 11:35 PM

[blaqtkat]

Sort of apropos of nothing...

[ART BOWSHIER]

I like the style and the pencil technique of the first pages at the top --the psuedo-Lovecraftian head in a jar toon. The older stuff is too dark, it needs shades between black and white. There are two Playboyesque Splash pages. The golden age chracter throwback is muddy with the hands in a panel and the whole male character below that. Then the blacks get better as you get more sure of yourself. Your style is Picasso -ish and brilliant. I see the fun in what you do...and the sexuality of the Lady Luck type character you have. This stuff is ready for a book in the near future. Sometimes your art is really--really busy- where it could be black or white or grey. Expecially if you know you have dialog to cover it up.Ron Fortiers assessment of your atyle and feel being golden age rings so true... Do you or have you ever visited the Digital Comic Museum online? The older stuff may help you with your storyytelling. The devilbat/dogman thingie reminds me of maybe something I might draw. Your style is rough but, unmistakeable. I always grabbed the Kirby, Ditko, Gene Colan, Gill Kane, Neal Adams, Marshall rogers,Wrightson, and Simonson books...just to be awestruck at the different styles and the recognizability of their personal styles.My sister says she can spot my work anywhere. Even when I try a different style. I take it from your comments that you are an older artist amd not a young lion. It's like the goldpanners say; the flakes may be small, but they still shine in the shade. And one does know gold when you see it.
By the way, I am ditching the insignia on my character AIR FORCE ONE and doing a simpler design I can replicate easier shown here.


This post has been edited by ART BOWSHIER: Aug 8 2012, 11:18 PM

[blaqtkat]

I like the style and the pencil technique of the first pages at the top --the psuedo-Lovecraftian head in a jar toon. The older stuff is too dark, it needs shades between black and white. There are two Playboyesque Splash pages. The golden age chracter throwback is muddy with the hands in a panel and the whole male character below that. Then the blacks get better as you get more sure of yourself. Your style is Picasso -ish and brilliant. I see the fun in what you do...and the sexuality of the Lady Luck type character you have. This stuff is ready for a book in the near future. Sometimes your art is really--really busy- where it could be black or white or grey. Expecially if you know you have dialog to cover it up.Ron Fortiers assessment of your atyle and feel being golden age rings so true... Do you or have you ever visited the Digital Comic Museum online? The older stuff may help you with your storyytelling. The devilbat/dogman thingie reminds me of maybe something I might draw. Your style is rough but, unmistakeable. I always grabbed the Kirby, Ditko, Gene Colan, Gill Kane, Neal Adams, Marshall rogers,Wrightson, and Simonson books...just to be awestruck at the different styles and the recognizability of their personal styles.My sister says she can spot my work anywhere. Even when I try a different style. I take it from your comments that you are an older artist amd not a young lion. It's like the goldpanners say; the flakes may be small, but they still shine in the shade. And one does know gold when you see it.

Let's see -- where to start. Yes -- my work is pretty busy -- no doubt about it. Which is what makes the inking so critical -- how to keep it all there but push and pull it with the blacks to make it easy on the eyes. My desire is to be an inking mechanic like Jack Davis or Bill Elder (well -- my bar is high whether I reach it or not) -- I am (recently) aware of the Digital Comic Museum and enjoyed a tour not too long ago through Madam Satan -- my kind of stuff. But I have a tidy collection of vintage stuff -- reading condition -- that has me know a Jack Kamen from a Matt Baker pretty handily (not even mentioning Wally Wood et al) -- yep -- my panel layouts have a direct inspiration from old stuff and my EC Library is amplified by the the Canadian Superior line as well -- not contemporary-edgy as EC but very.strange.stuff. Art by the Iger Studio -- the mix & match of hands on the work is under-rated and there is something extra lurid in being not quite Kamen or Baker or Cole or whoever -- I like it. Bizarre stories -- of course I have the Atlas and Harvey and all that other stuff too. And -- back to EC -- I am as much a Johnny Craig fan in the writing as I am of Al or Harvey. I am not an young lion but perhaps an old lion (I ain't lyin' *choke good lord*) . And I deal with kids all the time in my day job and I am pleased to report my stuff hits them at a gut level. But I only give them a glance. I'm not competing with video games in my world -- and I think the attitude I have about today's trends in that I just don't care serves me well -- (that said -- some of these new-style graphics are pretty cool)

This post has been edited by blaqtkat: Aug 8 2012, 08:43 PM

[blaqtkat]

Hmm Picasso -- I am a painter too -- now this picture uses comics motifs very especially -- and they are never too far away -- but this one is specifically comics/old TV specific in it's morality play of luv -- Curiously I have gotten the Picasso nod before (though he is in the stratosphere compared to my little efforts) and while I love his stuff I've looked at other artists as much and perhaps more -- but many make the comparison so there must be something there. I blush. What a comparison, more gratifying than I really deserve.



This post has been edited by blaqtkat: Aug 8 2012, 08:59 PM