tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post8269050476943914204..comments2024-03-16T00:16:36.318-07:00Comments on Project Waldo: Phase One, in which Doris Gets Her OatsNate Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928505378000107341noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-55824251618879455062010-02-11T07:30:10.345-08:002010-02-11T07:30:10.345-08:00Mathieu - That's right! Commitment is the hard...Mathieu - That's right! Commitment is the hardest and most important ingredient. It's a word that sounds very inspirational on paper, but in practice, it's a bitch. You have to get really fanatical about it -- at some point, you won't be able to justify what you're doing, but you'll still have to keep going. Your friends may begin to think you're crazy. Just got to shrug it off and keep pulling on that rope.<br /><br />João - Thanks, man! Yeah, I love Moebius. I think there are a lot of artists of my generation who worship the guy. He sure keeps you humble!Nate Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928505378000107341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-16734518277120395842010-02-10T05:13:25.762-08:002010-02-10T05:13:25.762-08:00Great work! I liked it very much! In that work, th...Great work! I liked it very much! In that work, there's a look, that reminds me some works of Moebius (Am I wrong?). And once more, your colours are just great. I've become a huge fan of your page! Continue showing us your inspirational drawings. And as a drawer myself, I understand you: a great job needs hard work. It's not a question of been slowly. Hurry is enemy of perfection.João Amaralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903090425906044442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-64864086500270070412010-02-09T17:13:42.713-08:002010-02-09T17:13:42.713-08:00Rigel's point 3) above is a very good one, abo...Rigel's point 3) above is a very good one, about self-doubt and the desire to "bring things up to standard." I go through that a lot myself. But whether big or small the important thing is that the project be one you're willing to work at consistently for a long period of time. Everyone has a "first project." Committing yourself to it is the key - editing can come later, or be held off by force of will. I remember in particular some early comics drawn by Jill Thompson that I thought were dreadful, but as she developed I began to dig her style - even within the same story arc!<br /><br />--MUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09289413388721346677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-16139072672458068472010-02-08T23:15:41.537-08:002010-02-08T23:15:41.537-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.發財https://www.blogger.com/profile/00480493040192575111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-17999896350169229542010-02-08T04:58:35.157-08:002010-02-08T04:58:35.157-08:00after that i started to scale down any ideas i had...after that i started to scale down any ideas i had into doable more realistic ideas.Solohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03173521373510881434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-57634566665596656892010-02-08T04:44:05.322-08:002010-02-08T04:44:05.322-08:00"Looking back, the book may have been doomed ..."Looking back, the book may have been doomed from the start. Part of the problem was that I had sat on the story for too long. Or more precisely, I had never come up with a story, but had instead accumulated a decade's worth of labyrinthine backstory. I still can't believe I drew ten pages without having any idea where the story was headed." <br />This sounds a bit like what the writer Alan Moore said when he started out.<br />Basically setting yourself up to fail. <br />Listen here: <br />http://www.stewartlee.co.uk/downloads/chainreaction-slee-alanmoore.mp3Solohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03173521373510881434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-76425227421845330742010-02-06T07:59:45.214-08:002010-02-06T07:59:45.214-08:00Rigel - Thanks for the meaty comment. I agree one ...Rigel - Thanks for the meaty comment. I agree one hundred percent with everything you've said here. Sometimes I think Miyazaki is a bit of a curse -- each of his works is such a triumph of world-building, and he's so clearly the inspiration for our entire generation of creators. We all want to do that, you know? So I wouldn't discourage people from dreaming big, but it might also be nice to have some other smaller projects on the side so that some evolution can happen. <br /><br />Of course, this is horribly hypocritical, because I'm definitely a big-project sort of guy. But I SHOULD have some small things on the side.<br /><br />Thanks again for writing!Nate Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928505378000107341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-30918472177135944962010-02-05T11:52:41.488-08:002010-02-05T11:52:41.488-08:00Great post! It's rare to find such insightful ...Great post! It's rare to find such insightful self-assessment. <br /><br />>>"Part of the problem was that I had sat on the story for too long. Or more precisely, I had never come up with a story, but had instead accumulated a decade's worth of labyrinthine backstory."<<<br /><br />This perfectly describes the problem of many of the most talented artists I know, but it's something they have to waste many years figuring out themselves because it's too close to their heart to see objectively. And you can't tell them.<br /><br />Other major "doomed" approaches I see time and again include:<br /><br />1. Probably the biggest error I see made by new artists is that desire to create "universes" and huge, sprawling epics; these almost always fail for many reasons, not the least of which is that it's inherently nearly impossible to finish something of that magnitude on one's own (sans paying publisher), let alone even muster the will to begin. It inevitably becomes easier to keep thinking about the details and drawing character portraits than actually telling the story. This illusion of progress prevents any real advancement. <br /><br />2. Another common pitfall is the inability to let go of ideas and characters created in childhood that, out of the personal context of childhood, aren't original or interesting enough to ever be successful to a wider audience who've seen it all before. Generally, anyone who (for some reason) proudly states their work is based on childhood creations makes me shake my head and say "ah, that explains it." <br /><br />3. New artists are constantly getting better (at least they should be). Starting small with short works would help avoid the endless loop I commonly see of an artist looking back at pages that are a year old and deciding they must be redrawn to match the quality of the newest. This leads to a comic never getting very far before being restarted, again and again. If such artists had started with shorter works, they could keep moving forward, but 1 & 2 above tend to keep them chained to the past and they never get anywhere, leading to discouragement, stagnation, or surrender. <br /><br />Again, thanks for the great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-68665839070191277982010-01-30T11:07:59.400-08:002010-01-30T11:07:59.400-08:00Dang it, I knew it was spelled Stephen...Dang it, I knew it was spelled Stephen...Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644073673767687343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-46508355638401321392010-01-30T08:00:32.019-08:002010-01-30T08:00:32.019-08:00Barry - When people ink the hundredth pages of the...Barry - When people ink the hundredth pages of their graphic novel, there should be a parade with bagpipes. Especially when they're as good as yours! Congratulations! I don't think there are many people on Earth who can understand what an achievement that is. Your blog looks really good, too -- I'm going to try out the podcasts that you mentioned in your recent post. <br /><br />But the page-a-day thing still blows my mind. I consider it a win if I can bang out a page in three days. Except that such pages are often my worst ones. So I suppose there are different kinds of winning.<br /><br />Damn you, Dave Sim!Nate Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928505378000107341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-37366740557985784312010-01-30T01:10:46.931-08:002010-01-30T01:10:46.931-08:00I'm not sure that the danger of having set pie...I'm not sure that the danger of having set pieces that don't add to the overall story is really an "artist" thing; it's something all writers face. (Writers even have an expression for it, "killing your darlings").<br /><br />I listened to that same interview with Bryan Lee O'Malley. And I've been trying to be in that mindset; I have good days, I have bad days, but good or bad day pages get drawn. (Today I inked the 100th page of my upcoming graphic novel).<br /><br />Recently, I've been trying to motivate myself by thinking of it as a sport. If I don't do ink at least a page a day, then I've lost that day. If I can do a page and a half or more, then I won the day. Inbetween, and the day's a draw. Of course, you have to set a goal that's reasonably possible (albeit difficult) for the speed you draw at; I stole this approach from Dave Sim, who considers it a win if he draws two pages in a day. I can't even imagine completing two pages, from start to finish, in one day.Barry Deutschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08796981762797604817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-59983339057157379462010-01-30T00:27:54.717-08:002010-01-30T00:27:54.717-08:00Eagle - I also love Stephen's Sloth. And I als...Eagle - I also love Stephen's Sloth. And I also love how the audiobook narrator pronounces "sloth." I fully agree that it should rhyme with "both."<br /><br />Kevin - I haven't heard of the book -- and while I haven't yet tried my hand at webcomics, I'm keenly interested in learning more about that process. After all, it's only a matter of time before all comics are digital, right? Thanks for the lead. I'll check it out!Nate Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928505378000107341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-22860133277147227632010-01-28T16:28:30.053-08:002010-01-28T16:28:30.053-08:00He's not making a webcomic. Print comics have ...He's not making a webcomic. Print comics have very different requirements.Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644073673767687343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-84419958102376820472010-01-28T15:23:39.425-08:002010-01-28T15:23:39.425-08:00Hey Nate, have you ever heard of the book How To M...Hey Nate, have you ever heard of the book How To Make Webcomics? It's by a group of guys who call themselves HalfPixel. I highly recommend it to you, particularly if you want your comic to be more popular through the internet. <br /><br />HalfPixel also has a podcast called "Webcomics Weekly" I suggest you check out too.<br /><br />Keep on postin'!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15304592381593676864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-21719863296756339192010-01-28T10:18:49.025-08:002010-01-28T10:18:49.025-08:00I love the sloth Steven brought aboard in HMS Surp...I love the sloth Steven brought aboard in HMS Surprise.Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644073673767687343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-3772131919991120312010-01-28T09:05:37.059-08:002010-01-28T09:05:37.059-08:00The seaman's sense of humour seems to be prett...The seaman's sense of humour seems to be pretty well in line with my own.Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644073673767687343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-17833740383316287342010-01-28T07:46:41.294-08:002010-01-28T07:46:41.294-08:00Eagle - Flatter! Ha! I get it! Keep up the great w...Eagle - Flatter! Ha! I get it! Keep up the great work, man.Nate Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928505378000107341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-74921464038203082222010-01-27T09:08:20.955-08:002010-01-27T09:08:20.955-08:00Aw, you flatter. :x
The green is too much in that...Aw, you flatter. :x<br /><br />The green is too much in that the light reflecting off Hulk shouldn't be affecting the entirety of Spidey. Light coming from in front of him shouldn't be hued by it. And the white is too much in that it would take quite a bright sun to turn his blue into solid white.<br /><br />That certainly sounds like a decent idea. I can't wait. Bring it on!Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644073673767687343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-8197003993130140802010-01-27T07:30:51.664-08:002010-01-27T07:30:51.664-08:00kingworks - If I understand your blog correctly, y...kingworks - If I understand your blog correctly, you have a non-comics day job, you have a family at home, and you have multiple, unrelated projects. And yet you've somehow gotten through 50 pages already? And here's the kicker: you're REALLY GOOD at drawing. Well, my hat's off to you. You're a shining example of the triumph of persistence -- right up there with Andy from The Shawshank Redemption. I enjoyed your blog, and Men with Pens looks like a great resource. Thanks for sticking your head above ground here!<br /><br />Eagle - I knew it! I knew you'd be awesome. Those colors are great! I guess I'm not leveled-up enough to perceive the too-muchness of either the green or the white. I think they're tops. And as for flatting -- I'm going through pretty heavy page revisions right now, and I want to finish the linework for the whole issue before diving into color again. But you're the first guy I'll call when I'm done (and with any luck, you'll have an opening!). Thanks, man.<br /><br />Michael - I'm looking forward to reading about your process. I see lots of mysteriously cool stuff happening, and I don't have any idea how you did most of it. Is this book out on the stands yet, by the way?<br /><br />Jessica - Anachronism? Jeez, now you're making me feel old. All my favorite people (Brandon Graham, Moritat... me) use the word "rad" liberally. I'll stop using it when there's a new word that has the same conciseness, punch, and radness. Thanks for the kind words, though. When are you going to set up a blog for your comic, by the way? The path to radness is paved with public proclamations of intent. Once you've told the internet you're going to do something, it's very hard to back down!<br /><br />Rickart - Thanks, man. I'll bet Seoul looks like a different planet from what you saw a quarter of a century ago. I know the high-tech area where I lived (Gangnam) was just farms back then. Why did your brother live there for so long? Military? I'll see you next Tuesday (and this time I promise I'll talk less and draw more!).Nate Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928505378000107341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-63061990477810694282010-01-26T21:48:55.355-08:002010-01-26T21:48:55.355-08:00Great post Nate! I love this story and I think yo...Great post Nate! I love this story and I think you have put your finger on a lot of what faces an inspired artist when he or she actually starts following his/her muse.<br /><br />BTW, my brother lived in Seoul for 17 years and I visited him there once (about 25 years ago). It was an amazing trip and a fantastic place. I probably wouldn't recognize Seoul now, but even then it was starting to get built up.<br /><br />Hope to see you this Tuesday at TAG.Rickarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730754739317666560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-2711193529818475792010-01-26T15:47:51.320-08:002010-01-26T15:47:51.320-08:00Oh, the pathos! Really cute slice of life blog po...Oh, the pathos! Really cute slice of life blog post, Nate. You have a way with words as well as the pencil. (Excepting the egregious use of the anachronism "Rad", of course). The long walks along the river, and cicada filled evergreens had me swooning!Jessica Cuda Shoulda Wouldahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01682259565403464986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-6044225475775426432010-01-26T11:28:38.924-08:002010-01-26T11:28:38.924-08:00Thanks for the shout out, Nate!
I've got a blo...Thanks for the shout out, Nate!<br />I've got a blog where I'm uploading the chapter one pages, but I'm not delving into the process with them.<br /><br />I'd like to convert it to a production blog once I finish uploading chapter one, to give actual, in-the-now insight on the current workload and thought process.Michael Maynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07292194637505658089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-14757687596802103812010-01-26T09:55:59.155-08:002010-01-26T09:55:59.155-08:00Ha! You've got some of the same things in your...Ha! You've got some of the same things in your favourites as me. Sweet.Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644073673767687343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-57874099372670775202010-01-26T09:24:34.710-08:002010-01-26T09:24:34.710-08:00What I meant was I don't -feel- like an "...What I meant was I don't -feel- like an "artist". I haven't really achieved anything of proper note. In my opinion. But then, thanks to my mother's critical training, I'm the hardest person for me to please.<br /><br />John Rauch has taught me tons about rendering colour picking and shared his most vital brushes.<br /><br />Here's my devART anyhow: http://sqarr.deviantart.com/<br /><br />I do need to redo Spidey v Hulk page 1 to match pages 2 and 3 for the sake of possibly having in a portfolio, but I'll still keep the version I have up now also because I'm just chuffed about it. Except for all the excess green in the last panel and the excess white on him in the second.<br /><br />Yes, I'd be happy if you considered it an offer. It occurred to me that I'm altogether too interested in your work to let such a chance pass me by.Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644073673767687343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587758133406204752.post-31090602635894469962010-01-26T07:58:39.921-08:002010-01-26T07:58:39.921-08:00Wow, Gordon and the Stareater looks way better tha...Wow, Gordon and the Stareater looks way better than anything I've done. Thus, I'm obligated to hate you now. -_-"<br /><br />Actually, some of the best advice I've ever run across about making comics had nothing to do with drawing, and everything to do with writing - ideas like "Don't draw a single line until the story is finished," and articles like "Is your character a Mary Sue?" have helped me immensely. Men with Pens is a personal favorite for writing advice.<br /><br />I guess I don't have to feel so bad now about only having 50 of 100 pages written and I'm already considering a rewrite. It's been 5 years since I started writing it. So I guess I've got 5 years to go. ;-)<br /><br />Your blog is an inspiration. Thanks for sharing this journey!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14143452805171680347noreply@blogger.com