Status Update

This single page represents a tiny fraction of the entire book, but shows where we are with the production. We have finished the insertion of all dialog and fx for the first book. There are about 96 pages or so like this now. The actual layout of both the text and the artwork are still rough and are mostly for basic content of the page. I'm keeping this thing alive by allowing for changes all the way to the end, however, I'm also anxious to see what a final page might look like. One of the challenges I have set up for myself is to create artwork that visually has a range of voices, yet has some coherent structure to it all. I won't treat every panel the same way, and in some case, I won't treat the subjects the same way within the same panel even. I love drawing, sketching, and painting, and I want to see if I can someway capture a little bit of all of that in the final artwork. I think I would get bored so quickly if every panel matched up exactly...although I do love that in other artist's work. But to be behind the scenes making my own project...it needs to stay fun for me. Especially since this entire series will likely take up the next few years of my life. Three books are planned and the next two might be bigger. We'll see. I hope you will join us on our journey as we create the first book.

Chapter 4 Rough Layout

This is the rough layout for the last chapter of our first book. The entire first book is really introducing you the setting...it's the exhibition of the story. You will meet the hero and see what sets him off on his journey. This chapter is violent...well more than the others, but pointedly so...after all this is the climax of this book, but just the beginning of the story... Thanks for reading this far if you started from the beginning. This blog is starting to get some legs of its own. I'll try to stay more on topic of the exposed development of this graphic novel, but if I digress, it's because you need that once in a while to stay sane. In upcoming posts I will start adding the visual development sketches for everything from characters to backgrounds, props and other visual elements that will make up this graphic novel. We really want to show our process and progress and invite you to be a part of this. Feel free to comment, show your support, or give constructive, creative, genuine criticism.

Chapter 3 Rough Layout

Chapter 3 is complete. Sorta. There are some massively epic shots that still need to be created, so for the sake of speed they were left out of this layout. The point of this exercise is to get the character story down visually which is here. This Chapter really came together in one night after meeting with the writer and going through this rough layout and comparing it to the script. We found a way that works for both of us with this chapter. He gets to see his story visualized in a way that impacts his writing and we sort out what changes need to happen either visually or in written form, or both. It's very addictive way to create because it is so dynamic as both the writer and me, the artist, are creating at the same time. We found solutions in one night much faster than a traditional email back and forth that might last days or weeks. It is a process we hope to repeat for the second and third volumes since it cuts the time down required to visualize and layout the script.

Chapter 2 Rough Layout

At last I've the time to post up Ch2 in rough layout form. I've also got Ch3 and Ch4 done as well so I'll be posting those tonight, too. Each chapter will end in a cliffhanger of one sort or another and then lead you to read the title and quote for the next chapter. After seeing this initial rough layout and adding the dialogue there are changes that are going to be made to tweak the imagery, dialogue, and layouts so that the story is flowing the way it is meant to be. This process is the same for the next two chapters which can be seen in the posts that follow this one.

Chapter 1 Rough Layout

Here is chapter one in the same form of the prologue in the post before this one. The layouts are still very rough placeholders for the final artwork but gives us a sense of the pacing and timing of the story. What is sorely missing are the tones that give focus to the images and create background, middleground, and foreground space. The two page spreads with the Hollywood sign are an indication of what that spread might be like. Also page one of chapter one is close in its tone to the final piece. I'm off to do another pass on Chapter 2 and will be posting it in this form for all the following chapters. To see how I got here take a look at the earlier post where I rapidly thumbnail out the entire story: http://n0rt0n.blogspot.com/2008/04/and-now-it-begins.html

Prologue Rough Layout

Here is an update to the Prologue of our graphic novel which you can now see is in the format of a book with double page spreads. This very rough version is the first look in book form. Reading from top left across the page is the first four pages and so forth for the next row. If you take a look at my earlier post you will see how much has changed from the earlier prologue thumbnails and what has come across intact. The writer has added text and the next version of this post will show that. There is more work to be done, so back to the drawing board.

Hollywood Burns

Finally some new work from my new graphic novel currently under way. This two minute sketch was just a place holder to be used as a two page spread. Yes, I have a palm tree brush. ;) It is not final by far, but in the time I had I got down a feel that I think I am happy with. The top part will be San Francisco but that one is not clear and needs to be redone. The final idea is to have a scene of total destruction just after "The Big One" strikes California... *shudder*...hopefully that is just part of our story I never have to live that again.

The Cutting Room Floor

Here are some thumbs I did for the first chapter of the graphic novel. In many ways it is a direct translation of the text. I've interpreted where I quickly could, otherwise, it is quite literal from the script. Once I have gathered all the ideas for the visuals here like I did in the previous post on the Prologue, I begin to edit it down to the essentials that are either truly needed to carry the story or are needed to provide visual interest. I think it is alot of fun to strike a balance between the written word and the visual image. Sometimes they can compliment each other so well, other times, you really want one or the other to dominate. You get a gold star if you any sense of a story from this without knowing the script. heheheh! My intention here is not to reveal the story, but to show my process for making a graphic novel...graphic.

Dogs like to Pee on Trees.

After taking all the thumbnails from the previous step we land here: The rough layout for one of the pages in the Prolugue. It isn't final and I think will be revisted much like the rest of the prologue. Doing the pagination layout for the visual story and script is an interesting challenge and completely different than anything I have done before. I can see I need to move the dog and tree in the first panel closer to center toward the boy. I'm not quite satisfied with the center section since it isn't reading too clear. I like the dog. There is something there I don't want to lose in the final. I may put up some more layouts from the prologue but not till I get them to at least this stage. In the meantime I have thumbnailed all of Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 which I will be posting in the future. I may also be posting some of the intial design concepts for the different settings, characters, and props. That might be a nice change up now and then. If you have read this far, thanks for your interest and please leave any constructive comments you can think of.

And now it begins...

This is the prologue of a graphic novel I'm now producing. These are very first initial thumbnail sketches to get the idea of the story across very VERY rapidly...drawings are less than a minute each...some just a few seconds or so. The thing that takes longer to do is read the script and come up with what you see in your head in the first place. This has been a great loosing up exercise for me and has got me to really see the value of using thumbnails as placeholders for bigger ideas. This also allows me the chance to search at this early stage for visual moments that can work for the given dialogue and narration that I get from the script. I haven't included that here because...well...that's the secret we won't be letting out until the book is done. Also it let's me create independently of both text and format. These are just visual ideas. There are some interesting victories and some humbling defeats but all in all, this is the very first attempt to put pen to paper and let er rip. The focus is to create the icons that will drive the visuals for the layouts and not to create the final comps themselves. I find this method to be useful because it gives the writer the flexibility to revise the story as we progress and also gives me, the artist, the flexibility to plug in new material without affecting the page layouts whatsoever. This is hardly a typical approach to comic creation, but then again, we aren't typical comic creators. In essence this is a huge mess of visual brainstorming, but don't worry, we'll sort it out in the next post.

Relax...just do it.

I needed to let loose for a change without spending any time. Very therapeutic. This may lead to something...not sure what. Oh..this is not a part of the graphic novel, although I may paint it somewhat like this. I just wanted to test some new brushes I got and do some damage.

The good, the bad, and yes...the ugly

That's what this blog is about. I intend to show the development of a graphic novel I'm working on. That means, you'll get to see all the defeats as well as the victories that go into making one. It will be me first one...so please...Be kind...rewind. Thumbnails coming soon. -Bry