Monday, March 14, 2011

Double Cheez

I'll Take Two, Please
I'll Take Two, Please, 2011 • graphite and Photoshop®

I've been checking LetterCult probably from the very beginning, although I can't remember how I found out about it. It might've been via Drawn, if I think about it carefully. Anyway...all that matters is that LetterCult is among the spots to be when it comes to custom lettering.

Last year, they started a thing called Alphabattle, where folks from everywhere did their take on letters A to Z, the results of which, when submitted to LetterCult via email, would end up posted on the site. I don't have to tell you that last year was nuts, so I never found the time to contribute (or didn't properly allot time, really). Having reached Z, they're messing with numbers now. While the 1 round slipped past my consciousness, I wasn't about to miss messing with the 2. With my current situation, I've decided to refocus my creative energy, and participating in this helped greatly.

By the way, I have to single out fellow Alphabattle dude Rory Phillips for posting amazing work each and every time. Take a look.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

International Women's Day "Women In Comics" Shout-Out

Zatanna and Sarah!
My friend Vanda (as Zatanna) and Sarah at the 2009 Central Canada Comic Con (which is now owned by Wizard)

Since today is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, I thought I'd tip my hat to my favorite cartoonists that just happen to be female:
  • Jen Wang: This was my introduction to her work. I LOVE the way she draws hands. Go pick up her book, Koko Be Good. It's pretty sweet!
  • Kate Beaton: No one in the comics biz makes me laugh more than this lady. No one. If you're not yet familiar with Hark, A Vagrant, prepare to laugh your ass off...about historical stuff! And Nancy Drew!
  • Danielle Corsetto: The day I discovered Danielle's Girls with Slingshots, I went through the site's archives and read every strip. There was something compelling about the characters she created and the way she drew them. Reading GWS is a very fun part of my nightly web-surfin' ritual.
  • Yuko Ota: Yuko is the drawrin' half of the Johnny Wander comic team. Charm and skill flows from her pen (and whatever other tool she happens to be using). See what I mean via her Tumblr blog.
  • Kelly Turnbull: Remember that set of cool tutorials and drawing advice in my last post? They're hers! I'm relatively new to her comic Manly Guys Doing Manly Things, but it was a hoot for me from the get-go.
  • Becky Cloonan: When I first saw Becky's work via gigposters.com, I was not only blown away, but I also had no idea that she was already a name in comics. You're gonna want to keep tabs on what she's doing, so check her blog out.
  • Jess Fink: Before it became a Top Shelf release (droppin' in May, y'all!), Jess published her entire Chester 5000 comic online, and I'll be the first to tell you that it's an amazing and captivating erotic love story. Don't be surprised if you sweat a little while you read it. Read some of her other stuff at her site.
  • Liz Suburbia: Been keeping tabs on Liz's Sacred Heart comic via her LJ. It's SO good. Her clear line style is so tight, and I wasn't a partygoer in high school, but her depiction of an out-of-control house party makes me feel like I've been there before.
  • Liz Prince: This Liz does cute, loose comics about the single life, cats, and punk. Endlessly endearing.
  • Jill Thompson: This woman slays with watercolor, f'real. Go to her blog and see for yourself. She's responsible for the thing of beauty that is Beasts of Burden (with the awesome Evan Dorkin), and she's quite a wrestling fan, too! (Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan is among her admirers)

Thursday, March 03, 2011

Tips and Processes!

A work in progress
A work in progress 7: Done!
The making of the Western Confrontation diptych. Go here for the rest of the pics.

Going through my Google Reader items recently (a daily ritual), I found a bunch of links worth sharing that kinda fell under the "tips/processes/how I pulled this off" banner.
Go forth, and use the knowledge I've bestowed you with wisely.