New Middles

Well, if you read my last post you know that I've decided to start the latest issue over. That's not really as big a deal as it sounds. I hadn't gotten very far...at all.

I wanted to update you and let you know that I've indeed decided to ditch the digital--at least for the time being--and I've just today broken ground on the re-imagining of Issue #5. I'm a little disappointed that the style is going to change in the middle of an "epi

sode" (That's what I'm calling each 3-issue collection.), but we do what we must.

The good news is that I think this change will be for the better. Not only am I going with a different style, inspired in large part by the great Will Eisner, but in going back to pen & ink I'm also switching to using full-size comic board, rather than the piddly 9"x5" sketch paper I had been using for everything so far.

I had been very adamant about

drawing in that small format for so long because I felt it was how I was at my best. The fact of the matter is, though, I think it was a way to keep myself from having to try harder. But when you've done four issues and everyone still tells you your artwork is the weakest element, it's time to just face facts: You need to be better.

And if I'm going to continue to draw "Yellow" on my own, better is someone I have to be.

So I've set up a drafting table in our until-now-unused home office, and I think having a special spot that's all set up just for my comic will (hopefully) go a long way to making the whole creation process less tedious. I can leave everything out when I am done for the day, and pick it up again at a moment's notice when I can steal a few minutes from the day to work on it.

This is theoretically much better than even having the l

ittle sketchpad, which I could carry around with me, because using that meant that I had to also carry around all my pens/pencils/rulers/sharpeners/erasers/etc., and that's just not convenient.

Above: This is my "Wall of Inspiration." From right to left: An awesome zombie by my friend and someday-collaborator D. Ryan Allen; actress Mira Furlan as Daniel Rousseau on LOST, who actually autographed a page of my comic and hopefully will become a regular customer (see previous post); the man himself, Alan Moore--or at least a cool drawing of him, done by S.P. Burke; and a drawing of Frankenstein's Monster by local comic artist Steve Daniels, of Dark Hopper fame (Thanks, Steve!); There's more, and once I get it all officially put up I'll take another photo.

So my goal still stands: At least two more issues done by March 2011. And with the new set up, the new approach, and the new inspiration I believe I can make it happen!