Messages

 ^^^ Cheers for putting that on here for me CFM, you're a bloody good bloke. 

Stew.

 I enjoyed the first issue more than I thought I would, both from a story and art perspective. The MC1 flashback page being a favourite. The cheep looking, saturday morning cartoon styling of Dredd's face is my only real beef (Oh and Dredds reckless endangerment of the other cits in the car chase was a bit...) I'll definitely be getting the second issue. 

Stew.

 That cit (and the city) looks fantastic John. I see the Newscaster is featured in the Big Meg sketch too. Really looking forward to seeing more.

Stew.

 Wooohhh! The new year has got off to a fantastic start on the good ol' Art Comp. Superb entries from all.

Stew.

 Hi Shaolin, as bolt says the NEC has plenty of parking, but last time I was there it was £10 for the day  Hoping to be there sunday myself with my mate and his kids, looking forward to seeing all the judges.

Stew.

 Well done all. Another great comp.

Stew.

 Looks great. I'm hoping to make it to Cardif next time round so i'll definitley pick up a copy.

All the best with this strip.

Stew.

 Another month of incredible, magnificent, splendiferous entries...

1. Jake Rowlinson - Jonathan Alpha Esq.
2. judda fett - Shakara.
3. allied72 - Steampunk Anderson.

HM. Doombot - Anderson.
       jum - Maniac 5.
       W1LL01 - Ace Trucking Co.
       Pictsy - Uncouth Company.
       Martin Buckingham - Judge Steam.

I'd like to second Steve Denton in his call for a Zarjaz Steampunk Special. Great idea.

...And an extra slice of cake for CFM. Nice one.

Stew.

 The picture of Mr Blessed bellowing at you has made me laugh each time I've looked at it. Great stuff CF.

Stew. 

I have that issue of Starblazer and it deserves an over-size treatment, if the art still exists.

Now that would be fantastic.

...And talking of fantastic http://tuggingyourcoat.com/2013/09/27/hellboy/ Mignola/McMahon. I'm one happy bunny.

Stew.

 First off, I love your pixel art.

Secondly, I don't see anything wrong with your sketching technique in the 'cuddly dinosaur' example above. Nothing to feel embarrased about. It has form, a light source, proportion (all be it exaggerated) It is what it says on the tin, a cuddly dinosaur.

As others have said "Draw from life" Take a life drawing class if you feel you need to, the tutors feedback may be very helpful. If you don't feel confident enough to sit with others drawing, then the pause button on your DVD player could prove useful. Pause a film, sketch the figures in a set time.
Use a mirror to help with facial expressions, it can also be an aid if you want to draw hands from a different angle.
Looking at books on anatomy may also be of assistance with muscle structure and skeletal limitations. There are also plenty of books around with sections on perspective and composition.

I wouldn't copy other artists work, I suggest you find your own way to draw things. As a comic reader you will absorb how the professionals' 'do' things anyway, without resorting to mimicry.

If you can't draw from life, use referance photos/images when ever possible. I've just compleated a splash page for a strip, before I started it, I did three sheets of A4 sketches of crows, ostriches and storm clouds. Google images has saved me a lot of trips to the library.

If you do post your work on the forum here, then I'm sure the great and the good will offer you first-class creative criticism and helpful advice.     

And finally, as the old joke goes "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"  "Practice, practice, practice"

I hope some of my ramblings* may be of some use to you... Enjoy your drawing.

Stew. 

  *Disclaimer: I am in no way a professional artist and pick up litter for a living.        

Honestly men have minds like lasers while we women have minds like torches... Guess whose is most useful in a majority of situations?

Is it the laser? 

(If we were in the same room, I wouldn't be so brave...)

Stew.

 Wow! Another cluster of creative excellence. September is shaping up to be another top comp.

Stew.

  Jack should be written into Eastenders as the late Mark Fowler's real Dad/clone/long lost twin or something similarly plausible. 

Bloody hell, It's like looking into a mirror. Only Jacks got more hair and less worry lines than me, no wonder I'm miserable. 

Cheers Tordelback. 

Stew.

More "gardening" today...

So I have to dig around in the shed (which is the modern equivalent of Mary Poppins' carpet bag the amount of rubbish that is in there) to find the garden shredder. Oh yes, this is a beast. It has a hopper at the top and a big spinny blade thing that mangles up branches and leaves to fine shreddings...

"Conifer shreddings are ideal for rough paths because of their slow decomposition rate, also because of their acidity they make a fine mulch for Rhododendrones. When composting though, it's best to layer them with other materials."    That was one of my 'speeches' from when I was doing the Shredder Man job, one of the few gardening tips I can remember.

Today I foolishly told my wife that I had to book a week off work before the end of September, otherwise I'd loose the holiday. Before I had completed the sentance, she had a 'list' of jobs ready for me. How do they do it?

Stew.