Pastor gets some answers from Ray about Alicia Patterson.
I’m not entirely happy with the way the drawing in this strip turned out. Something didn’t quite gel this week. The only part I can look at without wincing is the small image of Ray in the first panel. Not too long ago, that doubt would have created an artistic vapor lock, and I would have shoved the page into a drawer forever. This time I pressed on, because my promise to you, faithful reader, is that I will update my strip every Wednesday. I have a quote from Karl Kerschl (The Abominable Charles Christopher) that I framed and placed above my drawing table to remind myself of that pledge. It reads:
So I got on with it.
“Don’t wait to start the things that you’re passionate about. You’ll never be as ready as you want to be, so just get on with it and learn as you go.
Above all, don’t be afraid of anything.”
See you Friday!
- JEP
I don’t understand why you’re so hard on yourself. Looks good – as usual – to me.
That’s what artists DO! Salmon swim back to their birthing pools to spawn, eagles fly, and artists indulge in self-criticism. The point is not to let it stop you!
Man, this strip looks great! Love the dutch angle in the first panel and the expression of horror in the final panel. The strip captures the grime of the era and it’s perfect! But I know how you feel. I hate my work all the time!
The last panel reminds me of the infamous GL panel where Kyle finds his dead girlfriend in the frig. There is something extra grizzly about that panel, b/c you cropped out here head. It almost gives the reader the impression that she has been decapitated. I’m not sure if that was your intent, but that is how it comes across to me. If not you might have cropped it differently to show here head without showing her features or anyhting else you were trying to hide from the reader at this time. That is my only crit. It looks good, maybe not as slick as you’d like, but still very, very good.
Andy – Thanks! You’re way too kind. This whole thing is such a fascinating learning process. Sometimes I have these happy accidents where things work out. I’ve been experimenting with larger page sizes, paste ups, negative drawing, and whatever I can think of. We’re about three strips away from Pastor’s confrontation with a certain red-headed detective.
Hmm, Pirate Musketeer. You might be on to something there…
Kerschl’s words are so, so true.
Again, I love your brush work. Wednesdays don’t get here soon enough.
Yeah, I’m not seeing the “problems” here. I think it looks great. More please!
Simon – Thanks, man! Maybe it’s just one of those things where you can only see what’s WRONG, and not what’s RIGHT. I appreciate it though.
John – I’ve been trying to master the brush, and it really does get easier every week, so that means a lot for you to say that. Along with the Williamson stuff, I picked up a book of black & white Brian Bolland strips. Dude, the linework is so beautiful, it just makes you want to cry! Precise, crisp, but still bursting with personality.