Merlin and Vivien
on October 2nd, 2009Another something dug up from the files. I drew this in high school. This was one of my first self published efforts, a limited edition print of 50.
This is not a bad drawing for a teen, I guess.
All my early works are heavily rendered, but I was strongly discouraged from doing this by almost everyone in comics. The plate printing techniques for most comics prior to the early 1990′s could not get a clean shot of small lines. Hatching turned muddy when reproduced. For a long time, I worked in a clean line technique instead. Not entirely a bad thing, because when you render a lot, you can cover up drawing problems. There are many artists who substitute rendering for real drawing. Working in a clean line strips away artifice and forces you to see what you are doing. It builds a house with a strong foundation. Once solid drawing foundations are set, only then should you add rendering.
Science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts are great lovers of fiddly drawing. In the 1980′s, I had more success with my original art at SF shows than I did at comic shows. However, the environment was even less welcoming to young women creators.
The work I am doing on Gone to Amerikay is fairly heavily rendered and it is quite nice to explore these hatching techniques again.
hm, where’s Merli–OH! Found him. Um… oh dear…
You did that in high school? Dang. Just… dang.
Am in awe and enjoying all the fiddly bits. How you can see the teeniest little branch ends of the tree against the black sky. It looks like a closeup of a bonsai tree. That is just… dang XD
FYI, there’s no white out on this piece. Back in the day I would draw AROUND the white areas instead of picking them out with white paint.
I’m a little OCD.
This was drawn when I was 16.
Heh- I’m doing the 24 hour comics challenge tomorrow and I think I’d faint without whiteout. But we all have different approaches. I recall Reed Waller telling me a story about a Wally Wood original that was unprintable. Wood kept cutting overlays and adding underlays, using rubber cement and the x-acto to replace areas he was unhappy with, until the page looked like a topographic map – it was impossible to take a stat of it!
Of course, that’s anecdotal, but I take Waller at his word.
I’ve always been impressed with the sharp precision of your work. You’re one of a handful of comic artists who can ornament without clutter, without interfering with the layout and storytelling.
Now about those pesky last few issues of A Distant Soil….
I love that story! I can believe it! Back in the day, there was just no way to clean some stuff up!
And now I pick my stars out with white out. Funnier still, I used to refuse to draw except freehand. So, no templates. And usually no ruler.
A weird thing to do, but it did force me to learn fine motor control.
LOL! The financing just isn’t there for ADS right now. While I know we will make prints costs and a small profit, the money for me to live on for over a year while finishing it off just hasn’t shown up yet.
If anyone knows any millionaires who want to be a patron of the comic arts…
I agree with the points you make about excessive rendering. Unfortunately, excessive rendering never made my drawings any better.
Also excessive detail tends to draw attention away from the focus of the drawing. I always love inkers that are not afraid to be bold with their blacks.
That is a great drawing, but then again I always remember that you were the cute little girl with the great talent.
Awwww….That’s Sweet!