SPQR Blues 3 part LXIII

[spqrblues]

Chapter 3 part LXII is posted in the previous entry.







When I was a teenager and desperately wanted to become a comic book artist, I was in despair that the fastest I could draw was a page day. You see, comic books come out once a month, so it must be that they are drawn, assembled, and printed, all in thirty days or less. I bemoaned my inability to draw more than a page a day, to my friends, to anyone who would listen. They generally said, Yeah, that's too bad.

I mention this because, after years of hand trouble, and arm trouble, and damaged nerve trouble, I have at long last for the first time in quite some time, drawn the equivalent of an entire page in (the equivalent of) a day. It might not be brilliant work, but I did it. This may not seem like such a big deal, but it's not bad for a mere 2100 or so drawings into the count.

Only now I know you don't actually have to draw a page a day to call yourself a comic book artist.

Comments

[kyleen66.livejournal.com]

It's sooooo saaadddd!

But on your note of being able to draw a page in a day... you are fab darling! Absolutely the best.

Also note, that most "comic" artist have inkers and colorists too. It's not "all" typically done by one person.

I think you're the bestest ANYWAY. You just never believe me because I luv you.

:-)

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

Of course, back then I was mostly drawing elves and spunky girl thieves dressed as boys and their indomitable roguish sidekicks (hey, it's a great formula, and I don't knock it--what girl doesn't want to go off on unfettered adventures?), plus the occasional pegasus. Who knew I'd get myself hooked on drawing a bunch of Romans instead?

I kick myself now for letting myself get so discouraged and waiting so long to try doing a comic again, but you know my mantra: "not good enough, not good enough, not good enough..." :P

Vitalis will have to have a big send off. I'll call the caterers.

[ladyqkat.livejournal.com]

I have a couple of artistic stories I follow regularly - SPQR Blues is one and Twilight Agency is the other and you both have the similar difficulty with thinking that your work is good. I am slightly envious that you cannot only relate a good tale, but that you can do it in pictures. I can use words to spin a story, but there are times I would like to be able to show what my mind's eye sees.

[akycha.livejournal.com]

I continue to be impressed with the beauty of your art, your composition, and the gorgeous clean lines you use. I just wanted to mention that.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :) I have to admit I really do spend a lot of time, way too much time, thinking, Why aren't I as good as...(whoever). But I think I'm kinda stuck with the style I have :) Thank you for the encouragement.

Time to buy new pens, though, or the clean lines will get a little furry. Pens do not last long around here....

[wootsauce.livejournal.com]

Being able to draw 4 pages in a day isn't any good if you can't make yourself do it consistently, though (my problem.) You're doing great!

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

Four pages in a day, every day--if I could do that, after a couple of weeks I think eventually I'd simply self-destruct. But that's pretty much what I expected to be able to do, way back when I gave up on comics entirely because I couldn't reach a faster pace. Maybe we're all being too hard on ourselves? :)

[wootsauce.livejournal.com]

When I have nothing else to do (IE, feeling sorry for myself on summer vacation) I can do it and it's great, but as soon as I have to do anything else (class or work) I do self destruct. There's gotta be a happy medium somewhere, but apparently I'm an all-or-nothing kind of person.

[ndgmtlcd.livejournal.com]

Right you are!

When I was growing up I read the weekly European Tintin magazine. It serialized several comics stories at the same time in each issue. The traditional rate was two pages per issue for any given story. In other words, two colored pages per week. Those were quality pages (in all senses of the word and for the medium as well as the message) when compared to the US comics I sometimes glanced at. There were only a few exceptions. After about 48 weeks of any given story they would print a hardbound "Bande dessinée" or BD, or graphic novel, if you please. They sold it at an outrageously high price compared to US comics, but it was worth it.

You're straight in the European BD tradition, everyway I look at it.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

If ever anyone says my comic doesn't fit into any proper categories (manga, "American," newspaper strip, etc.), I'll say it's in the European BD tradition, thank you very much :)

I wonder if copies of Tintin magazine can be found over here in the States? (What am I saying? Can't everything be found via eBay, eventually?) I also wonder if there are any magazines like that now in the US (other than imported translated Japanese magazines). Every now and then I hear people talk about how something like that would be great. TokyoPop might be serialising their books before printing them in digest format, I'm not sure.

Actually, I suppose that's the role of the webcomic now, in some ways.

As for SPQR Blues, I'd like to have chapter 2 (and maybe chapter 3? could happen) in printed format by October. Laying it out should be easier than for chapter 1, which had inconsistent widths and heights. I hope.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Nooooooooo!!!!!! Not Vitalis*!!!!! *sniff* I can't believe how sad this is making me - you have created characters with whom your audience truly engages.

(*or do we call her Mortalis now?)

Felix has his determined face on. Nobody better break his stride.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

I'm going to miss Vitalis, myself. Maybe Iusta will recover from her adolescence and grow up to be as tough-minded as her mom, and it'll be like having a little Vitalis back. Though I have to say, signs are not pointing in that direction.

In other news: Felix is determined, and someone's about to get into a whole lot of trouble.

Could be Felix, though.

[hieran.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on this huge milestone of being able to draw the full page in a day! You know I'm always proud of all your accomplishments, but I also know this one means a lot to you. You have gone through so much with that hand/arm situation, and it's not going to fully heal as long as your job and your hobbies all involve those fine motor skills. (As an aside, every time I hear that phrase, I imagine someone saying in this sort of would-be-hip-hop-DJ voice, "Girl, you got some fiiiine motor skilz!")

Ahem. Well, anyway, Brava! :-)