preliminary sketches....

Last Thursday I met up with a fellow Capstoner (who graphic design chops) to have a serious sketching session. I practiced my main character's face to try and find one that I liked and could use as a template for further sketches.

Here is my "sad Simon" :

And this is my "less sad Simon" :

I've been working primarily on Simon this week and trying to master profiles (which are much harder than I had imagined). This week when I meet up with my sketch partner again I think I'll focus on Ruby and Ma, the other two human characters.

research, take one:

Today I read Jeffrey Brown's "Clumsy" after a meeting with my director which inspired me to steer clear of the collaboration train.

(credit: Wolf Gang)

I was apprehensive to illustrate my novel, thinking myself more of an idea woman than a talented artsy type. "Clumsy" was crudely drawn but I think it's doodle-y images made the work all the more endearing. I found myself riveted. Though the novel is autobiographical (as is "Blankets") I found the candor with which Brown dealt with uneasy subject matter to be brave and refreshing. I think it's strength was in it's simplicity. I've been constructing details story arcs and mapping out each moment from exposition to conclusion for my piece. What I so admired about "Clumsy" was how it paid little mind to chronology and displayed moments of insignificance next to very important moments. The narrative jumped around but felt genuine, it felt like life and a little like madness. I'm considering incorporating this style into my novel. 

As much as I love to be the master planner, as much as I'd like to have an extremely tight narrative I don't think it'd hurt to be a little more fluid.

I've started reading Logiccomix (philosophical metafiction, perfect research) and anticipate reading Asterios Polyp.

In other news, I've purchased a sketchbook and starting working on Simon (my protagonist) and Ruby (his muse). 

I finished Grant Morrison's "Supergods" and can't wait to compile the research I've gathered from his book as well as my EPSCOhost articles in next week's blog. As for this week, sketching will continue and I've got a lot of reading to do.

capstone! capstone! capstone!

For the culmination of my Shepherd Communications career I've decided to best showcase my abilities by creating a short graphic novel.

I've already envisioned creating something as massive as Craig Thompson's "Blankets". First on the list of things to learn is to tone down my expectations and focus on my deliverables.

(Credit: graphic novelty: 

this is a scene from blankets, a really lovely graphic novel!)

The trouble is I've never made a graphic novel from start to finish. I've never even opened Comic Life. I have a good deal of learning ahead of me in this final semester.

More than anything stylistic, I think, I need to learn how to effectively tell a story in the comic medium. I've written poetry, short fiction, even longer prose but I understand that every medium is different and the storytelling skills required are not the same for every type of fiction. In the same way that a play differs vastly from a a poem (though each may be produced using the same consonants and vowels) the graphic novel is an entirely different beast than any I have encountered. I look forward to learning to navigate the panels with my words - this is the area I most hope to gain understanding in. While I have interest in learning the technological tools that will assist me in making my own comic, it is the ability to make a compelling comic book story that most excites me.

Additionally, of course, I'll need to learn Comic Life. I may need to learn some basic sketching (if I can't find an artist to collaborate with). My writing can always be improved (and I hope to improve it through this Capstone process). I'll need to become better with time management (a phrase which makes my skin crawl but one I'll need to become comfortable with considering my full course load, part time job and extracurricular activities).

It'll be a big semester but I feel prepared. After learning about archetypes and the phenomena of language throughout my Shepherd career I look forward to sharing something really spectacular as my farewell to undergrad.