This blog has become a wonderful alternative, I can justify to myself spending twenty minutes (ha!) on this whilst having a coffee and then of course I'll get right back on the housework... no really I will... honest.
Last year in October, I entered for the second year the 'Comica Graphic Short Story' competition, of course I got nowhere with it but it did manage to fill up some endless hours over the summer holidays whilst the kids increased the likelihood of drought this year with maximum sprinkler usage.
I was very proud of last years entry. The previous year, my frustration with my lack of technical ability to produce something professional looking overcame me even before I had finished it and now although I can appreciate the story itself- which wasn't half bad- I don't even really like to look at it as I feel the art work really lets it down. It's a shame because the 'rough' sketches were much larger and of a better quality than the smaller finished pictures which didn't quite have the effect that I wanted.
This years entry was slightly contentious within the household, Saul felt that the story was weak and the artwork 'not my best' although by the time it was finished I had appeared to sway him towards it!
The spec for the competition is that you have approx 6 weeks to design a fully original self-contained, previously unpublished 4 page short graphic story. It's difficult to get yourself in gear and ensure that your story is a good enough concept to work on (which debatably mine wasn't as it didn't get anywhere!) However I feel it was of a much higher standard than the previous years and for me it has been a great practise in self-discipline in working towards a deadline, as one of my problems has always been finishing things in good time or even finishing them at all.
The story is called 'Yesterday 8.07am' and the rough concept was 3 frames per page, each one with a still of a person and their thoughts for the one minute during 8.07am. Each panel was colour coded, this was partially to try and depict the mood of the character and also, I confess to make the page look 'pretty' from a distance in an attempt to make it stand out from the other entries! I also find I get much better results working in any monochrome pallet. The background was an extension of each panel in black and white line drawing. This was to try and make it appear as if the frame of the picture was in some way allowing the reader to have access to the characters inner thoughts before they passed onto the next.
Here follows the artwork and I hope this time the text is large enough to read unassisted!
I must confess that the second page is definitely my favourite overall. I think the colour mix was balanced really well and the final picture (purple close up of woman) was the best of the piece- however others have stated preference for alternative panes. I would be interested to hear what people think works well and which ones do not. As far as text goes, I absolutely love the mini-stories of the characters who are clearly quite bonkers- the green man on the first page being my favourite- closely followed by the third page bottom pane of the blue and green eye.
Night Terrors continues well- I have finished another page but have to wait to finish the final two until I can get Saul to pose for me after drawing a blank on google images. But hopefully soon....soon....
PS. This took me an hour- not quite the quick break I had envisionaged- surprise surprise!
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