New Blog: "This house is clear"

Incase anyone is still visiting this old Blog space i started a fresh slate over here. a bit more focused now....hopefully.

Damn it i hate to re start the blog like a douche bag but it has been too long since i last properly updated and i'm going to do it again, but rest assured a lot of update will be done both here and over on the DreamSolver Blog, a lot of news for both myself and the comic to blabber about to ears that have strayed here or there.. meanwhile i need to get to bed, just finished working on something quite fun for DreamSolver so i'm going to call it a night and leave with a little snippet of what i've been doing. please stay tuned, it will be worth it!

Sounds of the Warhouse

Today some exciting news from WarHouse. Since the main body of WarHouse was filmed and dusted Director Luke Massey and sound Guru Mark Kendrick have locked themselves into their editing office and have been slugging away for the final cut of the film. personally i cant wait to see what theyve done with the material but i have refused myself to go down to visit them at the office because i want to sit in silence and see the final piece in all its final glory!
The past week Luke and Wirter/producer Ben Read have been dwelling in the streets if london doing their buisness with the creative types, myself and Lady Trinder had the chance to meet up with them ourselves for a qucik catch up and talk of some future work.(thats a post all in itself).
Anyway my drive behind this piece if post is the exciting news that have surfaced from Ben and Luke's London buisness. they have been sat in admiration of an all male choir being recorded for sounds and music of the WarHouse Movie....i could blabber on and talk utter jibberish about it all day so i'll cut myself off and let the voices of Latin doom settle you into a calm but unholy wonder of thw WarHouse to come: WarHouse Rehearsal

Pannels and the Lowdown!

Finally i've had chance to get some form of progress to show to anyone out there!
recently ive been in full steam of Dream Solver, hardly a spare moment lost on the work , much to the pain of my partner in crime, but alas we all know it will be worth it in the end.
As the progress of the Novel has gone on and i have been steaming my pencil and ink to paper so much more frequently i can see myself evolving with this. hopefully honing my style and just getting an all round tighter process and a better standard of work. from going from page 1, to where ever i am right now! you can almost feel the progression. and see how how i'm adapting and growing as an artist. i think myself and Luke (writer) feel the same. after going through chapter 2 of Dream Solver you can see how Luke has begun to consider and utilize how he can manipulate the layout of the comic and story progression to tell the story better or in a more challenging way. and now i cant wait to work on that section of the book! but alas one at a time!


Finally i am nearing the end of chapter 1.....at least with the actual physical drawing of the comic. then alongside the Pencil and inking of the second chapter i'll be working on the colouring of the first.
i can really see from taking on pretty much all the aspects of the comics art process why comic artists will often work in teams. but i can also See why the likes of Brian Bolland would want to have total control and have it completely their own way. hats off......And now for something completely different......
Recently ive been working on doing a post on the Dream Solver Blog. This post is a quick insight into some of the visual influences i have taken from some of my illustrative Heroes such as Chris Weston, Dave Gibbons, Brian Bolland to name a few, not just their influence stylistically but on the panel layout, homages i have subtly made to some of their work etc. Often when ive read through work by some of my favorite artists ive wondered what their influence has been, whether its intentional that someones work seems to represent anothers or is it sheer coincidence? so stay tuned to the Dream Solver Blog, i'm aiming for today but i tend to get carried away with things that should have been done and dusted last week or something to that effect.

the attached images to this post each have a story to tell of the Dream solver process. the first image is a rough from the panel sketches i often do before i take a pencil to the actual panel. i tend to feel more comfortable when ive freshly practiced a more finished panel before going onto the actual page. so i tend to work through innocent pieces of paper at an alarming rate for even just one panel! This panel in particular i was quite happy with the sketch and almost cut and stuck the sketch onto the actual page. This here panel below is a completed ink panel from a finished page. Ione Rose tends to have quite an uncomfortable expression well and truly engraved on her face which i always find quite fun to draw and quite often express it myself whilst drawing...i think its all part of the process of getting well and truly of the art, but i do often catch myself doing it and wonder "why?".

Dream Solver: Prieview up......Finally!!

Just posted up the 7 page preview up on the Dream Solver Blog!

damn hapy with it but already i see things i want to change....i knwo i know but i'm happy remembering that this IS my first comic and things wont turn out the beststraight away, i'm no Dave Gibbons thats for sure but i damn well wanna be! keeping that faith train going and the work load high!
more to come with Dream Solver thats for damn sure!

?!

SOON!

What!? ....

I know....i know.....whay isnt it up yet? why havnt you finished!?
well i say to you...if any one is questioning the whereabouts of the preview i promised. well ive been abit delayed. rest assured every waking hour is going into these babies. but my slow process and so far near constant re draw of the pannels has kept me back abit!
very soon i promise. then i can feel safe with my self and get back to the rest of the book! to be sure me and Luke have been nit picking at the preview so far and id say were feeling its looking good. as always i'm unsure about my won work but its my first go and i'm putting myself into it so i let you be the judge....stay tuned for that.
Meanwhile. took a trip last weekend to the London excel MCM convention. damn it was intense. a convention of a differernt kind to the likes of the BICS. so much cosplay madness and full of the latest games and film previews. it was fun for sure. checked out with envy at some of the comic villae stalls. goddamn ive set myself a newshpere of influence now a high standard to try and step up to for sure.
anyway back to my work!

Dream Solver: Visual Splendor on the horizon!

On Some other Exciting News! asme an Luke Will both be sneaking around the London MCM convention in london next week we've decided to put up a preview of our coming 'Dream Solver' Novel. it should be up in time for the convention next week providing i don't go insane by the middle of next week! so be sure to fly by the Dream Solver Blog if you haven't already but most importantly go there when we have the preview up to see what kind of visual splendor we have in store!

Meanwhile i thought id share a sneaky peek at one of the panels to come with this preview....

Insomnia available on PSP!

Well Just about the Most Exciting thing has gone and happened at The Publishers of Dream Solver. I'll Let the following post from insomnia explain it all!

In the blackest hours before dawn, when all good comic readers were tucked up in bed, the Insomniacs crawled into their dreams.

What were they whispering into the darkness? What did they wish for, lost in the sleep of the innocent?

No less than:

• To be able read Insomnia comics anywhere, at any time
• Take their entire comics collections wherever they went
• To listen to their own music while reading
• To navigate pages their own way
• To find and buy comics easily and access content instantly from the PlayStation®Store

All this will be on offer for PSP owners in December 2009, with the opening of the Digital Comics Store on the PlayStation®Network.

Red Eyed and bushy tailed, Insomnia Publications will be standing proud on launch day as our critically acclaimed books take their place on the virtual shelves, next to world famous names in comic book publishing.

Insomnia Publications’ graphic novels will be presented in the store as single-issue length chapters, following the publication of the book. The first chapter of every book will be offered free to readers as a “taster” of the story.

Crawford Coutts, Managing Director of Insomnia Publications, says:

“We are incredibly excited to be partnering with Sony in the launch of the Digital Comics Service.

Insomnia is committed to nurturing the very best new art, new writing and new concepts in its original graphic novels and the unprecedented scope of this Comics Store will connect independent publishers and readers around the globe.

The help and guidance we have received from Sony throughout truly demonstrates their commitment to support the medium, the publishers, the readers and the comics industry itself.

Many of our creators are gamers themselves and so were delighted to hear that their work will be offered through PlayStation Network.”

Along with all of the Insomnia graphic Novels that are out right now such as 'Cancertown', 'Buskers' and most recently 'Burke and Hare' 'Dream solver' Will most defiantly be part of this, so any curious users of the PSP will be able to download the whole novel and take it anywhere!....i would!

Off To Never Never Land....

Dream Solver will be pushing itself out there and in your faces from now on...hopefully. Myslef and luke have got the Dream Solver Blog up and ready to go.
Firstly we start with our leaflets. earlier on i posted a plan for our promotional flyers and here as you should see above is the finsied piece. we printed a load of these off so we can give out some awareness of what were doing and bring attention to ourselves! so if you make it to the BICS this weekend be sure to pick one up and have our first printed work! not much i know but its all your getting just now.
The Dream solver Blog has been kicked of by Luke giving a nice little intro and qucik fire fact on the coming story lines and characters. this post has come with some new quick character sketches, they have more of the appearence of the actual comic rather than my previous photoshop sketches id shown before, i think it shows how i'm working with it and how i'm trying to get to grips with inking and colouring!
anyway enough of me. go to Blog! get some reading done and i'll have a post up of my visit to the BICS convention as soon as i get back!

Dream Solver Blog!

Well the Bics is coming up. still going at the panels and our promotion material is being pulled together. as part of our promotion and for anyone interested in following our progress and abit of behind the scenes of the comic, Myself and Luke have set up a blog dedicated towards the Dream solver novel. We will be updating with the likes of origins of our work where we've been influenced along the lines of creation, any news updates and General Progress of the novel. it should be right up the street for anyone wanting to know how we go about putting together a novel like this and how we ourselves are learning as we go!
Luke will be kicking off the Blog with an introduction post very soon. so stay tuned on that.also an easy link will be inserted into the top right of this blog and you can easily link between my blog the Dream Solver Blog and the Insomnia news blog! Keep an eye out!

Ink Practice

Quick ink practice on one of the pannels. prity messy but to be fair hasnt had a clean up yet.
hopefully some sign of improvment will show soon.....?

Promotion and Looming Events!

Well back from holiday. recharged and ready to go. began again with the pannels of dream solver. abit slow to start off but hopefully going to pick up the pace and get back on track.
Also The BICS Comic con is a mere two weeks away and counting so trying to get some head way on some promotional work to hand out. as i mentioned before i should be doing some sketches on the Insomnia table, Both me and Luke will be there talking. meeting fellow creaters and anyone who has an interest in what we're doing so i'll have my best english voice on! so far as promotion to take along we'll have some flyers possibly looking like the mock up attached (yet to be inked and coloured). the image is an actual pannel from the Dream Solver novel a very significant pannel...but i'll say nay more on that. anyway should have some pannel updates throughout the week. until then.....

Proof!

Well Finally got chance to get an update. Proof i am working!
Plugging away at the panels for Dreamsolver. so far ive been working mostly in pencil. i should really be using blue to get a better scan but i cant help it right now i need to be in my comfort zone!
havnt worked as quickly as i would have hoped recently as a pooch's attention was constantly needingto be fulfilled otherwise i got dirty looks! otherwiseworking late into the night to make some for of progress on the panels! the first few panels are having alot of detail at the moement so theyve taken a big chunk of time to make a mark on. the featured piece is a scetion of one panel. so you can see where i'm coming from. the rest of teh comic wont be all too detailed not as much as this....maybe. not too sure i dont think i will until i get this first chapetr in the bag and see how my work methods need changing and what not.
anyway. being the slacker i am i'm finnaly taking a little holiday for a week. but it will be full steam ahead once i return! Adure

Dreams and a pooch

Currently working away at the Dream Solver Comic, Started on the Real Pannels now, about 95% of the planning for the pannels is completed now aiming to have all the planning done by this weekend. currently doing some dog sitting so i'm working in a make shift drawing area at the moment with an attention grabbing pooch! so its been harder than usual to get my head down to the work but still there should be no room for excuses so i'll say nay more on that.
My current situation has found me out of reach of my scanner so visual updates will be a tad bit sparse but i'll get some evidence up here soon.


To Be Continued.....

Dream Solver: Ink and Play

Still plugging away at the layouts. having som much fun with this comic stuff. i think i may have found my calling in the art realms! still trying to get to grips with the inking and colouring. but much play and experimenting is prooving to be a good thing to do!

Warhouse: New Scenareio

Ben Read has posted one of the latest pictures from the warhouse set.
its looking nice.

Dreamsolver: Thumbs Thumbs Thumbs!

During the trip to Warhouse ive still been working on the thumbnail layouts of the whole comic. its going swell.
Heres another. not too much but its something!
Insomnia have given us a promo on thier page with my previous glimpse at the main characters and another rough story outline so if you want to refresh on a little of the outline by all means. some awesome work on other comics being shown on there too! feels good to be part of it all. oh also Myself and Luke Foster (writer of Dream solver) will be at the BICS (Britiah International Comics show) convention this year with Insomnia and other writers and artists putting out wrok with them. promoting our works and doing some sketchings, its looking like its going to be awesome. a personal favorite of mine Sean Phillips will be there so i'm taking along some Incognito stuff to get signed.....and beg for advice!

Warhouse: quick trip!

Again i found myself at the warhouse for a day trip, watching the visions unfold and the drawings come to life. Ben Read the Writer/Producer and me had a childish giggle and MAN hug at the great James Faulkner taking on the role of the 'the King Below'He Looked exactly as we had imagined and how i had drawn him, Mr Falkner brought a booming voice and pressence to the role so i cant wait to see how it turns out with the final piece.

Dream Solver: Jacob Revison

Weve had abit of a revison of The Jacob chracter from Dream solver. heres a more recent profile sketch of him, just more fuller in the face and more of an unkept appearence. an all round good egg still.