Do you experience a drop in productivity upon completing a comic? Have you developed methods to deal with creative lulls? What do you consider the primary obstructions of your productivity?
Nope.
Because I am principally a writer, it usually takes months or years for any given piece that I write to see print--so I'm already well into the next project. In fact the converse is probably true: depending on the publisher, pushing a book through the lettering/production process might interrupt my writing schedule for a period, so my productivity usually goes up right after a book comes out when I can settle down and get back to creative work.
After spending maybe 4-6 months solid on a book writing, drawing, colouring, lettering, assembling/pre print etc, especially ruining my body clock in the process, I can’t help but blow off a few days doing very little creatively as I recover. Read a favourite book, stare at the idiot box, dust off the Playstation for my twice a year game session etc, and maybe sleep longer than 5 hours.
But no method is better to beat this than the next pending deadline/task on the list. I remind myself “Don’t be an amateur”- This applies not only to my comic tasks, but also my sports or work practices. A pro would tough out the pending tasks and get it done. I figure I can’t reach my goals screwing about, and not bringing out new stuff. Not much of a method, berating myself mentally, but it’s true. It’s the same when I have to find the time to train for a world championship or tournament while working, studying and comicing- I might have worked all day at the day job, sat through peak hour traffic, get home to more work, an empty kitchen that needs groceries, sort a meal out, prep for the next day etc. and think the last thing I want to do is exercise. “Would an amateur relax? What would a champion do?”. There’s my answer. That comic page needs to be done by the end of the evening. “Would a pro watch TV and play video games instead?”
The fact that I hate one of my day jobs, and I have a doctoral degree to complete soon is a motivation. Improvement should always be an answer to procrastination. Don’t just “exist” in life. Accomplish things.
The enemy- Social media. A necessary evil in terms of keeping in touch, promotion etc, but you can easily get caught up looking at nothing important at all, chatting to people etc. A great time-swallower. Really though, the enemy is me. The TV or internet doesn’t turn itself on. It’s a battle, since comics can be a solitary pursuit, and the social media contact can be an alluring time-waster. But my main drive? Reminding myself that I don’t have much time; every minute wasted is potential sleep time disappearing, and that book down the track might not get done on time.
Pretty much everything Darian Zam posts on Long White Kid is fascinating to me and in many cases tangentially related to New Zealand cartooning. This recent post on establishing dates for a set of cards showcases some beautiful work done for the Four Square Supermarket chain.
The New Zealand unofficial cartoonist (Lieutenant G. Pat Hanna) enlivens the walls of the officers club. Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association : New Zealand official negatives, World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-012806-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22606412
A favourite of my mispent youth, David Tulloch and Simon Morse's Straitjacket Ninja.
The massive 230 page anthology Blood and Thunder #2 is three-fifths of the way to itsPozible campaign target with six days to go. Still time to get on board what is likely to be the most beautiful risograph produced publication this year. Pozible here.
Michael Hawkinspreviews part of his 22 page contribution to Blood and Thunder #2.
The New Zealand Roz Chast? MVH still spilling sardonic wit all over tumblr.
A recent CBLDF article that made the rounds of comics link bloggers pulled some of the best bits from an article on censorship in Australian comics byDaniel Best. Read the more detailed original here.
Sarah Laingshares commissioned portraits of New Zealand artists and writers.
Roger Langridge has digitally released a previously unpublished 70 page comic created inthe 90's, The Thirteenth Floor. Read about it here, available as aPDF and CBZ.
Langridge is also featuring in upcoming volumes of UK digital anthology Aces Weekly with The Fez Eldritch Detective.
"Aftermath", objects & drawings by Leigh Rigozzi & Lachlan Conn. Opening Friday February 8th, 6-8pm. Open Thursday - Saturday 12-5pm until Feb 24. Facebook it here.
Paul Mason writes about his cover design process for The Soldier Legacy's Strange Tales one-shot from Blackhouse Comics.
Keeping busy cleaning up scans for a book on New Zealand comics by Geoff Harrison. Here's some scans of New Zealand editions of Simon and Kirby's horror anthology series Black Magic, originally published by Prize Comics in the 1950's.
What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
Highlights? Oh man, 2012 has been very big, and extremely kind to me, so I hope I don’t bore you with my rundown. I “soldiered on” (yes, you’re damn right that pun was intended) with two more issues of ‘The Soldier Legacy’, plus a volume 1 trade paperback, published by Black House Comics. I also continued with my back up story with Christopher Sequeira in ‘Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes #8’, and another collaborative story that we’re hoping we can spin off to something larger in 2013, which I’m excited about. A sketch book also produced for my second trip to SDCC, which helped kick some goals. That trip, with the people and companies that Chris and I met with while we were over there, was a massive boost to the cartooning morale. At the very least, it was a strong validation to me that I’m not wasting my time scribbling, despite not being the most photorealistic of comic artists. (I won’t name drop; I’ll sound even more like a douche bag.) But at the very least, thank you Chris and Baden. My other highlights were thanks to the good people at Supanova Pop Culture Expo, who had me as a guest in Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane. The tours were fantastic, and chatting to the top guys of current mainstream comics was a blast. My last biggest highlight was thanks to the good folks of Oz Comic-Con, who very kindly had me, and a great line up of other Australian comic book makers, as guests at their Melbourne event. Chatting to Stan Lee about ‘The Soldier Legacy’ was very surreal. Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the
first time in 2012? I didn’t get a lot of regular comic reading in this year. But, there are a couple of creators: Tristan Jones, a Melbourne writer and artist (TMNT, Ghostbusters for IDW, and upcoming Sebastian Hawks), was also a guest at the cons I was at, and I got to see much of his illustration output as well as more of his writing. His digital illustration line has this lovely, “inky wire frame to hyper realistic” layered effect: a building of blacks, spatter, “grit” and lines that overlay and piece together these highly detailed, dark and disturbing, shadowy images.... I’m hopeless at describing them, google it. I finally got to read the complete volume of ‘The List’ by Paul Bedford, Henry Pop and Tom Bonin - I’ve been mates of Paul for a while, but wanted to wait until I had the intended completion. I really enjoyed it; it’s the sort of book that dwells on your thoughts hours after you’ve put it down. Though I think I was more disturbed by the fact that I didn’t find it disturbing. I need some therapy, I think... ;P Bobby N’s “No Map but not lost” was fantastic. The rest for 2012 are mostly older published stuff: I picked up Essential Rawhide Kid and discovered some of Jack Davis’s westerns for Atlas/Marvel. At the time I thought his figures in motion reminded me of Frank Robbins, until I was put on to Harvey Kurtzman; specifically his stories from Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline combat, during at conversation/portfolio review from Howard Chaykin (which would rival Alex Toth's review of Steve Rude. It’s almost word for word, just throw in a few “bullsh**”s ;P). I can see where I think Kurtzman’s figures, poses and ink line had influenced Jack Davis’s stuff. I’m wondering if Kurtzman did the layouts for the EC artists in some of these stories (?). And yes, Kurtzman would be another one. His stuff is fantastic- deceptively simple in detail, but thick line gives his drawings a very expressive look- contrasting with the more realistic styles that feature in the title (like Severin and Wood). The storytelling is very emotive, and layouts, much like Kirby post 1940’s, show you can still have big impact through pose, camera choice and simple panels over flashy layouts of some modern books . Corpse on the Imjin is probably my favourite, Rubble ticks all the boxes re: layouts, story, passage of time, empathy etc.
What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012? Again, I was chained to the drawing table, so didn’t get to the cinema much. I did manage to see a few pics, which I enjoyed: ‘the Avengers’, ‘SkyFall’, ‘Argo’, and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. I began lecturing in semester 2, so got to pick up a few classics on DVD that I always wanted to see, and show as parts of the class. Really though, I’m just a sucker for war and westerns, so any excuses was good enough. I enjoyed ‘The Magnificent Seven’ (not often a Hollywood remake is good, right? ;P), Clint Eastwood’s ‘Pale Rider’, and Steve McQueen’s ‘Hell is for Heroes’. I also managed to drag myself away from the drawing board, and dipped my toe back into one of my old hobbies- Taekwon-do. Specifically, tournament fighting. I honestly thought I was Danny Glover when I did my first lesson back, just before the NSW state titles. But I managed to remember enough to take out the division, then rinse and repeat at the Australian titles, and earn a place on the Australian team for my 4th stint at the World ITF Championships next year in Korea. As long as I don’t bankrupt myself or break my drawing hand on some poor competitor’s face, I’ll be ok.
Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
Hmmm, not really. I guess if someone’s interested in my nonsense, I did try to experiment with a different production method for every issue I do, if that counts. So what I mean is, for instance, with issue 4 I experimented with the Shitagaki method of writing a comic, from Colleen Doran’s Master class talk late last year (basically, post-it note sized thumbnail page layouts- no script). It’s a little Marvel method-y, but for a solo dude: thumbnail the thing, including balloon placements etc. With issue 5, I took onboard John Barber’s comments to me re: trying simplified layouts, so much of the pages contain horizontal “storyboard style” panels, rather than vertical, or diagonal layouts I tended to use for action pages. Trying to show what is needed in 1 panel, rather than 3, was another consideration I tried from talking with W. Chew Chan (so being more concise with camera choices); That sort of thing. Nothing drastic, just tune-ups based on talking it out and learning, try to take onboard as much advice as I can to hopefully improve.
What are you looking forward to in 2013?
I’m looking at 2013, and it already has me wincing :P Comic book wise; failing an apocalypse, my current story arc will wrap up in 2013, so I’m looking forward to that. A new TPB of the last couple of issues will probably be on the cards, a possible issue of this new project maybe? Yes. Let’s stay open-minded. I think a one-shot of the ‘Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes’ back up story is planned once I wrap up the last chapter. I’m looking forward to finishing this damn Doctoral thesis- I struggled this year to balance the drawing commitments with the reference reading, writing and typing commitments this thing demands.
There are a couple of things collaboratively that I’m waiting on, and hoping to hear news of. But in the meantime, I’m not struggling to find something to do. And travel. Lots and lots of travel planned in the diary. I think ultimately, I’m just looking forward to seeing what 2013 can do for me; I figure all we can ever do is “stick to the plan”, whatever that may entail in your or my case (unless your plan is “sit around, doodle, and pray.” That plan sucks. Don’t do that plan). Work hard.
Been a busy week relaxing in a little beach-side community. Amongst the bars, fish and chip shops, and cafes I found a little book exchange which yielded this beaten up gem below.
I have half a dozen Al Hartley drawn Spire Christian Comics. Fascinating in their optimistic biographical depictions of lives touched and turned around by faith and all illustrated with the supple flair Hartley used for Atlas and Archie comics. I love picking up comics like these from the seventies, cheap and disposable. Kids these days won't get to experience the joy of rifling through the corner store spinner rack with a handful of coins. Me, I'll keep digging up these treasures in the back corners of little shops in provincial towns around Australasia.
Here's some bit and pieces I've found in the ether of last week..
Veteran Melbourne cartoonist Bruce Mutard joined the internet not too long ago and has a site here with a portion of his work for various publishers. I gather this may still be a work in progress so check in for updates. I have a lengthy interview with Bruce gathering dust in the cupboard, I'll attempt to dust it off this week.
Fil Barlow writes about his recent animation shorts and comparing his original painted work with published pages from his 1980's Zooniverse mini series.
Wonder Woman photoshoot from Large magazine (2000).
The State Library of Victoria has a touring exhibition of Australian comics featuring at The Ballarat Library Monday, 17 September, 6:00 - 7:30. Bernard Caleo and State Library staff will offer presentations covering the past, present and future of
the comics medium.A selection of modern comics for young and old, as well as rare
items from the SLV collection, including original newspaper comic strips
from the 1920s and classic Australian science fiction and superhero
comics from the 1940s to the '60s, featuring art by John Dixon, Stanley
Pitt and Keith Chatto.
Melbourne's open studio of comic creators, Squishface Studios, have an exhibition of art created on cardboard beer coasters in the upcoming Melbourne Fringe Festival. Details here.
Go follow the Squishface tumblr for coverage of Squishface events like their Ladies' Drawing Auxilary nights (own dedicated blog here), and their recent Exhibitchin' here and here, as well as other Australian comic happenings.
A Man and a Comic
Michael Hawkins teases a page from his contribution to Pat Ausilio's forthcoming faux Marvel anthology Marvel Comics Presents 6 on his tumblr.
Alex Hallatt recently celebrated 5 years of her KIng Features syndicated strip, Arctic Circle. Alex recently returned to England after nine years living in Australia and New Zealand. An Arctic Circle e-book was recently made available here. I'm preparing an interview with Alex for the Pikitia Press Book, she commented the following regarding her transition from clinical research into cartooning:
"Yeah, I hated it. It was working in an office. It was working with science. It was working in the pharmaceutical industry which is everything you think it would be. Which is not good. So I had this dream, you know some people say, it's a lottery, but I just thought one of these days I'm going to get my cartoons syndicated and that was always my dream. I'd do that on the side and send that off and get rejected."
Killeroo creator Darren Close has solicited for submissions to the first annual Gangwars anthology featuring stories set in the world of Killeroo. More details here.
I posted the third part of the Skinny arse speeches in a previous post. here are the first two featuring Bernard Caleo (MC), J Marc Schmidt, Tohby Riddle, David Blumenstein, and Gregory Mackay courtesy of Dark Matter Fanzine.
David Holloway reviews Winter City and interviews creator Patrick Purcell here.
Original board of Don Harley illustrating Dan Dare
Paul Mason writes a stream of conscious post on reading reviews, the realities of independently producing a comic in Australia, and some process notes behind his Soldier Legacy comic here.
Pikitia Press Headquarters have the next volume of Ballantyne from Peter Foster due on the publishing schedule. Below is a page from one of the first stories Peter did for DC Thomson in 1979, Detective Sargeant Crag, a hard nosed copper who featured in Crunch. Sadly these stories are unlikely to ever be reprinted, like a lot of material produced for DC Thomson and their rival IPC the realities of a modern audience for the work is so minor to make reprints not financially viable. Perhaps these comics will get a digital afterlife at some stage.
Crag illustrated by Peter Foster, Writer Unknown, Copyright 2012 DC Thomson
