Hello and thanks.
Here’s how it generally goes:
1) I break down one or two script pages at a time into very small thumbnails. They are usually no bigger than an inch (or 3cm) high.
2) This is followed by sketching directly on the art board with Prismacolor Turquoise non-photo blue. Sometimes it’s the whole page, sometimes just one panel or tier of panels.
3) Then finished pencilling on top, sometimes clarifying with frankenphotoreference, GPOY or 3D modelling software. There’s also a lot of erasing at this stage, but typically, a shadow of the blueline stays until Wade turns it into gold.
4) Cookies.
You’re right, the answer is no for a multitude of reasons. Not the least of which is that you’d have to own a four wheel drive vehicle and show up before dawn. Having said that, I was a terrible student and am likely a worse teacher. In all honesty, I can’t even fathom how that would work. I’m not sure that there’d be much to learn from observation and there is simply no time in the day for me to be focused on someone’s tutelage. As far as the schedule… we’re up pretty early, drink coffee. I do the morning dog walk, Kathryn makes breakfast. We’re in the office by 8 or so. A little email and dicking around. People email me less than they call and people almost never call. Lunch at 12:30 and we both try to wrap up by 3. Kathryn walks the dog. Then outside stuff usually involving moving rocks or running a chainsaw. Then yoga everyday, then dinner. I try not to work on the weekends because I’ve got shit to build and things to chop down.
We would have replied to this privately but it wasn’t possible. HOWEVER, we did really want to acknowledge that it means rather a lot when people take the time to drop a line. It’s a moment out of your day when you could have been doing something else, something pleasurable, like ordering cupcakes online or playing ping pong. So thank you. Truly.
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #655
KATHRYN IMMONEN (W)
VALERIO SCHITI (A)
Cover by JEFF DEKAL
The planet-shattering conclusion to Seeds of Destruction…!
• Gaea gets in touch with her monstrous side?!
• To save the ganGREEN goddess, Sif and Beta Ray Bill race to stop the mysterious Ark ship in the (nearly!) scuttled Skuttlebutt!
• The finish line? Asgardia!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
ALL-NEW X-MEN #15
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • DAVID LAFUENTE (A)
Cover by STUART IMMONEN
• Love is in the air!
• Cyclops heart and future start to fade before his eyes.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Sue Storm sketches, c. 2004. Client: Marvel. Job: Ultimate Fantastic Four
K: Stuart and I started out self-publishing about 25 years ago. I went on to spend many years working as a costume designer, (some film, mostly theatre) while Stuart made his way in(to) mainstream comics. But during that time we continued to produce small run books and do the odd gig for others. I had gone back to school to do my MFA and the Marvel Comics Presents Hellcat thing happened right at the end of that, as did spending two months in upstate New York at the Women’s Studio Workshop, editioning an artist’s book. That was basically the beginning of returning to comics and books full time. And satisfying? sure, absolutely, not least of which is because Stuart and I get to hang out and make work together all the time.
S: Thanks for reading and thanks for the kind words. The answer to your question is yes and yes. After reading the script, I decide what may be the most appropriate style in which to draw the story. It may be cartoonish (Nextwave), naturalistic (Superman: Secret Identity), spare (Moving Pictures) or mainstream action/adventure (All-New X-Men). The tone of the story dictates and I take it from there.
Right over the house. While we were eating lunch. CAN’T THEY LEAVE ME ALONE?!
Preview art for Uncanny X-Men & All New X-Men, in this weeks Axel in Charge
It’s All-New X-Men #11 day. And we’re having a new guest room mattress delivered.
