Enclose

For today's 'What the Doodle?' on Creative Juices.

Quick story: I almost lost this image to Flash Limbo when my file went corrupt on a system lock-up. This is where you click on the .fla, and Flash politely informs you that it is unable to open the file. Period. Gone for good. GAME OVER. Well, this time on a whim I tried swapping the file extension to .jpg, and then back to .fla. And when I tried to open it, it worked!—but only for a few moments until the file would crash. So, I published it as .swf to get the artwork out, and then re-imported the .swf into a new Flash file. It worked, image saved! So, it's worth a shot if you find yourself in a similar (horrible) situation.

I leave you with this thought: Wouldn't it be cool if you were inking a drawing on paper and it all of a sudden vanished (POP) from the universe? No, it wouldn't. This is what is fundamentally bad about computers. Your artwork doesn't exist anywhere outside of those 1s and 0s. Artist, beware.

Bobby Flynn and the Conjoined Panels

I'm speaking to a class of first-graders tomorrow about comics, so I spent a little time this week digging through some very old work. You may remember two earlier posts from 2009, where I showcased artwork created by a 9 to 12-year-old 'Bobby Flynn' (1, 2). If not give them a read—they're good for a laugh.

In particular, I came back to this Ninja Turtle book I created when I was around 12—Volume #17 of the Bobby's Comics series. I'd been drawing comics for maybe 2-3 years by this point, and this was one of my first attempts at a color comic book. It's a continuation of an earlier series of comics I drew where stuffed animal Ninja Turtles came to life.


Upon closer inspection, what really stood out to me were these 'pairs of panels' that kept popping up—basically, two panels connected by a little tube to tie together an animated sequence of drawings. I've circled two instances, below.



I thought, how funny and weird a device! I first wondered if it were possible that I'd seen this elsewhere and copied it, but I have a hard time recalling seeing any such comics device even now. Because, there's really no need for it, right?

But on these pages scattered with so many little squares, I can see how a grouping convention like this could have arisen. There's one on the spread below (top right).



I figured I'd dig for some evidence to see if I could have invented this quirky little device on my own.

This, is Bobby's Comics Volume #1:



It dates from 1989—so I was probably about 9 years old when I drew it. The inside page warns of age restrictions.



The first comic, which I've grouped as a sequence of images below, occurs over a series of pages—functioning almost like a flipbook. It shows a turtle mutating over 5 drawings.


Click to view large

It's practically animated, right? Weird, because this remains to be one of my favorite aspects of comics today. Your brain fills in the gaps for you. Still awesome to me.

Next, a few pages from Dino Nauts (also in the first issue):



Anyone remember Dino Riders?



That's what these guys are like, only better. Because, when they get shot with a beam of energy, they turn into robots. With more angles and sharp points. These are two drawings from two separate pages that I've spliced together. Again, very cause and effect.


(Just wanted to show you the Triceratops and T-Rex before we move on. RAD!)

I went on making comics like this for awhile. They were really more like illustrated stories with word balloons. Below are a couple of pages from the Ninja Blobs (featured in Bobby's Comics Volume #3: 1990):



Here, I cut out the turtles altogether. All you need is slime and ninja gear.



Same fashion. A drawing spanning a 2-page spread. Turn the page...



...and you see what happens. Before and after; somewhat animated.

Some time that year (now, I'm about 10), I converted over to a the more formal 'panels on a page' approach to comics. This page spread is from Zorts (Bobby's Comics Volume #9).



There's so much happening on this page that I must've felt the need to use arrows to direct you where to go. Notice the pairing up of three images to show the blast shooting out of the ship.



To create the illusion of movement, I decided to group images that occurred in rapid succession inside of a box. Really, almost like a picture frame. You'll notice all of these panels have a thick border around them.

This next spread is from Zorts 2 (Bobby's Comics Volume #12):



Each page uses one of these framed devices to group connected images. On page 12 is a double paneled 'picture frame' showing the back of an ambulance opening up. And on page 13 is a triple paneled 'picture frame' showing the character waking up. In both cases, I was trying to create the illusion of movement by pairing images together inside of a bounding box.

Which leads me back to this guy:



How do we get here? I have one theory. Around the time I started to use a pen to ink over my pencils, I switched from a thick border frame to a single line frame. I still had the same desire to connect actions for quick movements, but instead of using a picture frame, I started using a tube to link 2 panels together.



Conjoined panels.

I used these the same way I did the ones with a thick border, except I never seem to pair more than two at a time.



Here's another comic book called The Racoons, created around the same time as the Ninja Turtles book. At this point, it's about 1992 (I'm twelve?).



Can you spot all the conjoined panels above?



This page has a large one—spanning the full width, with a noticeably thicker connection tube.

I'd like to think these 'conjoined panels' naturally evolved as my own little device. But who knows, maybe I did see them used elsewhere, and copied them. I've looked, but I haven't found evidence yet (specific examples, anyway). If you can point me to some comics that use them, I'd love to see them. It's such a weird thing that could only be useful on a page with a lot of stuff happening (as a device to help guide the reader).

Before I wrap up, here's one page I was REALLY excited about after I drew it. I remember showing it to my Dad, declaring it the best thing I'd ever drawn.



To which he replied something in the way of, "if you keep drawing, you'll make something even better." At the time, that seemed impossible (I loved this page!). But I'd say there was a shred of truth to it.

Thanks, Dad!

Finally, the official 'comics seal' I used in Bobby's Comics.

Mucky

My laptop came back from repairs last night (new logic board!) just in time for me to quickly work up something for today's What the Doodle: Mucky! ...Hard to pass that one up.

Check out what everyone else did here.

A Pair of Archaeocyathids

These guys are reef-builders from the early Cambrian—525 million years ago! Though, they didn't have eyes (I couldn't help myself).

And as these things go, a few other color experiments.

Heeby Jeeby @ MeCAF

The Heeby Jeebys are descending on Portland, Maine this weekend for the Maine Comics Arts Festival (MeCAF)!

This will be my second year attending, and Dan Moynihan will be joining in the fun as well. In fact, we'll be doodling FREE Monster Drawings and giving them away to everyone who stops by our table!

Of course we'll have plenty of Heeby Jeebys for sale, prints, and more!



Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 10am - 5pm
at Ocean Gateway in Portland
(located on the waterfront)

Admission is only $5 and kids 12 and under get in FREE!!!

dripwalk

An 18-frame cycle.

Cat Rackham meets Mola Mola

Yesterday was declared International Draw Cat Rackham Day by one such Nedroid. The world listened—I set on my course as soon as I got home from work and fired it off last night.

This image was inspired by the doodle Steve Wolfhard (creator of Cat Rackham) drew in my book at TCAF.



(looks like he didn't get away, Steve...try as he may.)


There's a pretty awesome set growing over on Flickr with contributions from various artists.

Also, be sure to check out all the Cat Rackham comics online, and look for Steve's new book out with Koyama Press, 'Cat Rackham Loses It!'—easily one of my favorite pick-ups from TCAF.

Cloudy Collection + Ed Emberley

While I mentioned the newest Cloudy Collection would be debuting at TCAF this past weekend, it just officially went live to the rest of the world. (WOOOO!)

The theme of the collection is 'Monster Parade'—here's my design:



a photo of the the 4-color screenprint...



and the set of all 15 of them!



The official word from Cloudy Collection:

Ed Emberley and fourteen of his biggest fans have also created set of screen prints, also titled 'Monster Parade'. All 15 four-color images are on 4″x6″ paper, and come wrapped in a custom, die-cut, letterpress slipcase, printed in purple. The colors on the prints are matched to Ed Emberley’s wonderful Make-a-World book, in green, blue, red, and black. This edition is limited to 100 hand-numbered sets, and includes art by Ed Emberley, his daughter Rebecca Emberley, S. Britt, Tad Carpenter, Maura Cluthe, Becky Dreistadt, Bob Flynn, Meg Hunt, David Huyck, John Martz, Caleb Neelon, Heather Ross, Souther Salazar, Bwana Spoons, and Nate Wragg. And don’t miss the bonus fold-out print by Cloudy Collection curator, David Huyck.

View the collection of 15 prints --> here!
(there are only 100 sets, so I'd hurry if I were you)

There's also a four-layer, 8″x10″ letterpress print by Ed Emberley himself. See the website for more details.

A huge congratulations goes out to David Huyck for organizing such a unique collection of artwork. Tons of hard work and planning surely went it to this. And a very special thank you to Anne Koyama (of Koyama Press) for helping to fund this Cloudy Collection edition.

I have to say, I'm very honored to be alongside all of these amazing artists, especially Ed, who inspired me when I was a kid, and still does today.

Toronto Comic Arts Festival! (continued)

So, you already know about Koyama Press and 'Root Rot' (see previous post). Here's what else is on the agenda for TCAF 2010.



The Cloudy Collection is debuting a new print edition featuring Ed Emberley (info). There's a limited edition (250) 8" x 10" letterpress print by Ed, and 15 four-color 4" x 6" "Monster Parade" -themed screen prints (100) with art by Ed Emberley, his daughter Rebecca Emberley, S. Britt, Tad Carpenter, Maura Cluthe, Becky Dreistadt, (myself), Meg Hunt, David Huyck, John Martz, Caleb Neelon, Heather Ross, Souther Salazar, Bwana Spoons, and Nate Wragg.

You can find these prints at the Koyama Press table (142-144).
Be on the look-out for Cloudy Collection founder, David Huyck, who we can thank for this awesome collection of prints, with funding from Anne Koyama.




I'm also on an Adventure Time panel (info)

Comics & Animation:
A Conversation with the Artists of Adventure Time
Panelists: Michael DeForge, (myself), Andy Ristaino, Steve Wolfhard, and special guest Creator of Adventure Time Pendleton Ward! —Moderated by Phil Rynda
Location: The Pilot, 22 Cumberland Street
(across from Toronto Reference Library)
Time: Saturday, 2:15 – 3:15


You can find me at Table 154. Look for the brain!



I'll be sharing a table with Graham Annable—we're basically sitting at Doublefine row with artists including Scott C., Nathan Stapley, and Joe Lambert to name a few. Crazy times await.

Of course, the Heeby Jeebys will be out in full force!



You can pick up signed copies of issues #1 and #2.
And I'll have the usual assortment of prints & extras for sale.

The Toronto Comic Arts Festival
Saturday May 7th, 9am-5pm
Sunday May 8th, 11am-5pm
at the Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge St., Toronto, Canada

Admission is Free.

Everything you need to know can be found on the official website.

See you in Toronto!

Root Rot @TCAF

If you follow the comics world, you probably know that an amazing event is about to happen this weekend in Toronto: TCAF (otherwise known as the Toronto Comic Arts Festival). This will be my first year attending (bio!), and I have a bunch of news and info to unleash on you over the next few days.

So, let's start with 'Root Rot'.



...a forest themed anthology co-edited by Michael DeForge and Anne Koyama. I was invited to contribute a 2-page comic, the first page I'm sharing below.



Contributors include:
Jon Vermilyea, Derek M. Ballard, Dan Zettwoch, T. Edward Bak, Robin Nishio, Ines Estrada, Lizz Hickey, Mickey Zacchili, Jesse Jacobs, Jason Fischer, Hellen Jo, Angie Wang, Greg Pizzoli, Joe Lambert, Bob Flynn and Chris “Elio” Eliopoulos. Book design by Diana McNally.
Softcover, 72 pages, Color


Here's a fantastic interview/review combo over at Squidface & the Meddler with a ton more information and images from the book. Definitely have a look.

There's also an officicial 'Root Rot' release event at TCAF from 10:15 - 11:15 in Learning Center 1. Featuring: T. Edward Bak, Michael DeForge, Ines Estrada, Bob Flynn, Jesse Jacobs, Hellen Jo, Joseph Lambert, Diana McNally, Robin Nishio, Angie Wang and Mickey Zacchilli.

Inés Estrada, Mickey Zacchilli and I will be drawing. And there will be artist signings & giveaways!

If you're attending TCAF, you would be crazy NOT to visit the Koyama Press table (142-144). The publisher, Anne Koyama (the coolest, kindest, most genuine and supportive publisher you'll find in comics today) is debuting 7 new titles this weekend. More info here.

Lastly, here's a little something I drew up:



My interpretation of the Kick Ass Annie logo.

A number of artists and cartoonists have taken a stab at it, which you can view over at this Flickr set. I have to say, though, nothing beats the original design by Aaron Leighton.

That's all for this TCAF update. A couple more will follow.