The Artist here,
Listen. We've moved. Go here, find out what it's all about, laugh, and then link to some other comic so that they track back and find us. Woot, there she be.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Friday, March 17, 2006
062: *Nod*
Dear Blogger,
You are a royal pain in my ninja ass. I'm breaking up with you.
Love,
Me
La Casa Comics will be migrating soon to its own domain and its own hosting. The lacasacomics.com url will continue (always) to work, so if you're making links, or mad pimping our comic to your friends, that's the info to spread.
It's Friday, and it's Saint Patrick's day! How cool is that!? I'm even wearing green. I can't remember the last time that happened on this day. I always forget. Raise those guinness glasses high, folks, and if you see a snake, hit it with your sheleiligh ... sheleiliegh ... shehlielegh ... fuck. Poke it with a stick.
You are a royal pain in my ninja ass. I'm breaking up with you.
Love,
Me
La Casa Comics will be migrating soon to its own domain and its own hosting. The lacasacomics.com url will continue (always) to work, so if you're making links, or mad pimping our comic to your friends, that's the info to spread.
It's Friday, and it's Saint Patrick's day! How cool is that!? I'm even wearing green. I can't remember the last time that happened on this day. I always forget. Raise those guinness glasses high, folks, and if you see a snake, hit it with your sheleiligh ... sheleiliegh ... shehlielegh ... fuck. Poke it with a stick.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Sketch024: You Wouldn't Steal a Car, Would You?
The Artist here,
As I have mentioned before, there are many people who are stars in the world of webcomics. Jeph Jacques and Jeffrey Rowland are two of them. Jeph because he writes characters so accurate you can't help but want to kill them and Jeffrey because ... well, because he's a god. He has two comics, Wigu and Overcompensating. Last year, out of the blue, he did a crossover. This wouldn't have been anything extraordinary except that Overcompensating is a diary style comic so he himself is the main character. In the crossover he is asked to kill one of his main characters by another character. The three characters depicted here are Sheriff Pony, Topato (the yellow dude) and Princess Dongle. All of them are from Wigu.
Jeph extended a challenge and though I have neither the time, energy, nor will to execute it to the letter, this is a temporary reprieve from the mundanity of gamer comics. So, while killing two birds with one stone, I did this drawing pretty quickly so it doesn't have all the nuances (read: shading) that I orginally intended, but the point is made pretty clearly. The pony is playing the guitar and the poisonous potato and the princes are dancing to the tune while wearing sunglasses. That's a description of what I drew for all you people who can't see ... y'know, art.
Ahniwa introduced me to Questionable Content and I have gotten hooked. I got Ahniwa hooked on Overcompensating and now he is an incurable intarwub junkie. Looking for the colors for this drawing was an opportunity to go through the Wigu archives again. If you get a chance, you should read through them. The stories are very well told. I wish I had that kind of ability. I found Wigu by accident way back in the day when I came across Rowland's old comic, When I Grow Up. I loved that strip so when Wigu started I was set to enjoy it. And enjoy it I did. Overcompensating is the kind of comic I feel all artists aspire to draw. Witty, sarcastic, ironic and it has been the impetus for new words. Go forth and enjoy this new found trove of Intarwub lovin'. That's Webcestuous!
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
As I have mentioned before, there are many people who are stars in the world of webcomics. Jeph Jacques and Jeffrey Rowland are two of them. Jeph because he writes characters so accurate you can't help but want to kill them and Jeffrey because ... well, because he's a god. He has two comics, Wigu and Overcompensating. Last year, out of the blue, he did a crossover. This wouldn't have been anything extraordinary except that Overcompensating is a diary style comic so he himself is the main character. In the crossover he is asked to kill one of his main characters by another character. The three characters depicted here are Sheriff Pony, Topato (the yellow dude) and Princess Dongle. All of them are from Wigu.
Jeph extended a challenge and though I have neither the time, energy, nor will to execute it to the letter, this is a temporary reprieve from the mundanity of gamer comics. So, while killing two birds with one stone, I did this drawing pretty quickly so it doesn't have all the nuances (read: shading) that I orginally intended, but the point is made pretty clearly. The pony is playing the guitar and the poisonous potato and the princes are dancing to the tune while wearing sunglasses. That's a description of what I drew for all you people who can't see ... y'know, art.
Ahniwa introduced me to Questionable Content and I have gotten hooked. I got Ahniwa hooked on Overcompensating and now he is an incurable intarwub junkie. Looking for the colors for this drawing was an opportunity to go through the Wigu archives again. If you get a chance, you should read through them. The stories are very well told. I wish I had that kind of ability. I found Wigu by accident way back in the day when I came across Rowland's old comic, When I Grow Up. I loved that strip so when Wigu started I was set to enjoy it. And enjoy it I did. Overcompensating is the kind of comic I feel all artists aspire to draw. Witty, sarcastic, ironic and it has been the impetus for new words. Go forth and enjoy this new found trove of Intarwub lovin'. That's Webcestuous!
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
061: Billy's Balloon and the Pupae of Destruction.
Concerning yesterday's sketch, Theo says he doesn't know where the inspiration came from. If I got to choose Theo's inspiration for the sketch, I would pick the demented video known as Billy's Balloon and this drawing by Steve Adams. Of course, the Alice in Wonderland influence is also noticeable.
Concerning today's comic, there is a pirate joke. The funny thing is, people who haven't heard this joke before, when first asked it, often answer "long johns". I did, and two other people I know have. In a way, long johns aren't really socks, but it's such a cooler answer than "arrrrrgyle".
I've mentioned before that a lot of my script ideas come from odd conversations that I have with my friends. I'd like to take this moment to give credit to Amy Best. I've seen documented evidence of Amy playing checkers with pirates, and I'm now under a strict training regimen so that when we meet on the field of checkers battle, I will emerge victorious.
Unfortunately, Amy, having seen Monday's strip, has vetoed the use of monkeys, ninjas, and any and all crossbreeds of the two, and has thus thrown a wrench in my plans. I've started training ninja-caterpillars. Soon, they'll be fuzzy, cute machines of absolute destruction. If they're lucky, one day perhaps they'll metamorphose into butterflies of doom. That would be exciting.
Your days are numbered, Miss Amy.
Concerning today's comic, there is a pirate joke. The funny thing is, people who haven't heard this joke before, when first asked it, often answer "long johns". I did, and two other people I know have. In a way, long johns aren't really socks, but it's such a cooler answer than "arrrrrgyle".
I've mentioned before that a lot of my script ideas come from odd conversations that I have with my friends. I'd like to take this moment to give credit to Amy Best. I've seen documented evidence of Amy playing checkers with pirates, and I'm now under a strict training regimen so that when we meet on the field of checkers battle, I will emerge victorious.
Unfortunately, Amy, having seen Monday's strip, has vetoed the use of monkeys, ninjas, and any and all crossbreeds of the two, and has thus thrown a wrench in my plans. I've started training ninja-caterpillars. Soon, they'll be fuzzy, cute machines of absolute destruction. If they're lucky, one day perhaps they'll metamorphose into butterflies of doom. That would be exciting.
Your days are numbered, Miss Amy.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Sketch023: The Only Way To Escape
The Artist here,
There is a myth going around that I am, in fact, a walrus. I want to put that to rest right here and now. I am not, nor have I ever been, a walrus. Some strange breed of mutant from planet XQ11YP yes, but not a walrus. Yuck.
This was an interesting drawing to do. Dunno where the inspiration came from but I felt that it thoroughly describes, in picture form, how I feel today. I've been feeling a bit detached, a bit on edge, a bit stared at by a dog with sunglasses. It's one of THOSE days.
I checked on news from Webcomicdom today and there was nothing substantial. I left it alone.
Tomorrow's comic will rock your sawks off. Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
There is a myth going around that I am, in fact, a walrus. I want to put that to rest right here and now. I am not, nor have I ever been, a walrus. Some strange breed of mutant from planet XQ11YP yes, but not a walrus. Yuck.
This was an interesting drawing to do. Dunno where the inspiration came from but I felt that it thoroughly describes, in picture form, how I feel today. I've been feeling a bit detached, a bit on edge, a bit stared at by a dog with sunglasses. It's one of THOSE days.
I checked on news from Webcomicdom today and there was nothing substantial. I left it alone.
Tomorrow's comic will rock your sawks off. Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Monday, March 13, 2006
060: And what of the robot and the bunny?
It was an admirable and ambitious goal, that taken upon by our artist to run a seven-strip side-story in the space of one week. If you bear in mind that the normal strips take about 1/3rd the time of the Ben and Robert strips, and even then that we only post three a week (remember that we have full-time jobs, besides), it was very ambitious indeed. The math dictates that Theo would have had to draw seven times as much as he does on a normal week. As it is, he put in about four times as much work, so he certainly deserves some credit. Theo may, at some point, finish the Ben and Robert series in true comic form. Until that time, however, I have been given the go-ahead to finish the story off literary-style. This is exciting for me because it means I get to use my ending, which was originally vetoed for not being enough of a visual gag. Without further ado, I present to you The Adventures of Ben and Robert #5-7.
------------
Ben's mouth gaped open. The creature that Robert had so ironically referred to as a banana slug was much more like a case of lime jello gone bad. A really big case. With teeth. As they stood, momentarily stupefied, the creature was gnawing on the corner of a high-rise office building.
Robert looked over at Ben. “Well partner, I guess it’s time to earn our keep!”
Ben smirked, “Did you remember to bring your giant salt shaker? Figure we should try reasoning with it first? Like, ‘Hey giant slug creature, stop eating that building and we’ll buy you a donut?’ We could call Bill Cosby down here to be our negotiator.”
“Hah, even if we were lucky enough to have an alien crash on our planet that happens to speak English, I really doubt he would speak Cosby.”
“Yeah, good point. Shoot first, sell the corpse to Jello later?”
Robert raised his gun and grinned, “Sounds like a plan to me!”
Ben and Robert each unloaded a full clip into the creature. At first, it didn’t seem to take much notice, and continued to gnaw on the office building. After a few rounds, however, it dropped from the building and landed with a loud “SPLOTCH!” not far from where they stood.
Robert eyed it warily. “Do you think we killed it?”
The creature oozed it tentacle eyes around to glare at Ben and Robert angrily and began to slide towards them.
“Somehow, no, I don’t think so. We may have made it mad though.”
Robert sighed, “How come things always get mad when we shoot them? I mean, isn’t it fair? You eat our buildings, we shoot at you. No need to get all personal about it! So, what’s plan B?”
Ben shrugged, “Does plan B ever change?”
“Come to think of it, I guess not. Run!”
They took off running towards the river, when suddenly Ben turned left towards the university district. “Wait, I have an idea. Lead it this way!”
For an oozing jello-beast, the creature made pretty good time, and Ben and Robert were huffing and puffing by the time they got near the university. They’d gained some distance from the creature, but it was still sliming its way towards them with a vengeance.
Ben crouched over to catch his breath. “That’s it, I have to cut back on the carrot cake. You’re a robot, though, why are you wheezing?”
Robert shrugged. “To make you feel better. Also, it adds drama.”
“Ah. Umm, thanks, I think.”
“So what’s the plan now?”
Ben pointed towards an apartment building. “We hide in there.”
Robert eyed the building suspiciously. “Student apartments? This isn’t another trick to make me participate in a panty raid, is it?”
Ben shoved Robert in the door with the creature hot on their heels. “Oh c’mon, that only happened … three times. The last time you were quite a hit!”
They sprinted up the stairs. “Maybe, but I felt so used!”
As they kicked in the door to an apartment, they could see the creature sliding up the wall past the second floor. Attracted by the motion, it caught sight of Ben and Robert, and angrily started grinding its teeth against the wall. The room shook slightly as Ben looked around frantically. He shouted to Robert, “Here, help me grab this futon!”
They each took hold of one side of the futon, and had it raised over their heads just as the slug chewed through the wall. Robert, face to face with a waving eye, shouted, “Alright, now what!?”
“Throw it into its mouth!”
The creature looked about ready to eat Robert’s head as they lofted the futon into its gelatinous maw. At first, it seemed to just disappear into the monster’s gut, and Robert momentarily feared for his head. Suddenly the creature stopped, and gave out a massive belch. A warm gust of semi-digested brick and drywall filled the room, and Ben and Robert fell back into the hallway.
Ben covered his mouth and looked ill. “That’s totally disgusting.”
No sooner had he spoken than a rumble came from the apartment, and the creature exploded. Green goo flooded the hall, and the duo was swept back down the stairs and into the street.
Ben wiped the slime from his face and spit a few times. “Ugh, well it definitely doesn’t taste like jello!”
Robert smiled, “I turned my taste receptors off, so I’ll gladly take your word on that one. You mind telling me what just happened?”
Ben tried to get the clean of the slime, but gave it up as a lost cause. “Where do students buy their furniture?”
Robert scratched his head. “Sears?”
“You’ve obviously never been a student,” Ben sighed. “The universal home of student furniture is Ikea. And where does Ikea furniture come from?”
Robert shrugged.
“Sweden! And have you ever tried to eat Swedish food!?”
Robert brightened slightly, “Ahhh, I’m beginning to understand your plan. Nicely done!”
“Thanks. I’d feel a whole lot better about it if I weren’t completely covered in concrete-flavored pudding snack right now.”
“I know what’ll cheer you up!”
“A shower?”
“Cruising through town in a spaceship!”
“Ooh, you make a good point. You mean you’re actually going to let me drive?”
“Only if you promise to be nice.”
Ben grinned, “Hah, like that ever works. Think we should call someone to clean this up?”
“I’m sure they’ll figure it out.” Robert shrugged, “Besides, even if it does taste like concrete, I hear college students will eat anything.”
“Ugh, once again you speak the truth. And once again, the truth is totally disgusting. Let’s roll.”
------------
And thus ends the story of Ben and Robert. For now. If you've actually read this far, kudos to you. I hope you enjoyed it!
------------
Ben's mouth gaped open. The creature that Robert had so ironically referred to as a banana slug was much more like a case of lime jello gone bad. A really big case. With teeth. As they stood, momentarily stupefied, the creature was gnawing on the corner of a high-rise office building.
Robert looked over at Ben. “Well partner, I guess it’s time to earn our keep!”
Ben smirked, “Did you remember to bring your giant salt shaker? Figure we should try reasoning with it first? Like, ‘Hey giant slug creature, stop eating that building and we’ll buy you a donut?’ We could call Bill Cosby down here to be our negotiator.”
“Hah, even if we were lucky enough to have an alien crash on our planet that happens to speak English, I really doubt he would speak Cosby.”
“Yeah, good point. Shoot first, sell the corpse to Jello later?”
Robert raised his gun and grinned, “Sounds like a plan to me!”
Ben and Robert each unloaded a full clip into the creature. At first, it didn’t seem to take much notice, and continued to gnaw on the office building. After a few rounds, however, it dropped from the building and landed with a loud “SPLOTCH!” not far from where they stood.
Robert eyed it warily. “Do you think we killed it?”
The creature oozed it tentacle eyes around to glare at Ben and Robert angrily and began to slide towards them.
“Somehow, no, I don’t think so. We may have made it mad though.”
Robert sighed, “How come things always get mad when we shoot them? I mean, isn’t it fair? You eat our buildings, we shoot at you. No need to get all personal about it! So, what’s plan B?”
Ben shrugged, “Does plan B ever change?”
“Come to think of it, I guess not. Run!”
They took off running towards the river, when suddenly Ben turned left towards the university district. “Wait, I have an idea. Lead it this way!”
For an oozing jello-beast, the creature made pretty good time, and Ben and Robert were huffing and puffing by the time they got near the university. They’d gained some distance from the creature, but it was still sliming its way towards them with a vengeance.
Ben crouched over to catch his breath. “That’s it, I have to cut back on the carrot cake. You’re a robot, though, why are you wheezing?”
Robert shrugged. “To make you feel better. Also, it adds drama.”
“Ah. Umm, thanks, I think.”
“So what’s the plan now?”
Ben pointed towards an apartment building. “We hide in there.”
Robert eyed the building suspiciously. “Student apartments? This isn’t another trick to make me participate in a panty raid, is it?”
Ben shoved Robert in the door with the creature hot on their heels. “Oh c’mon, that only happened … three times. The last time you were quite a hit!”
They sprinted up the stairs. “Maybe, but I felt so used!”
As they kicked in the door to an apartment, they could see the creature sliding up the wall past the second floor. Attracted by the motion, it caught sight of Ben and Robert, and angrily started grinding its teeth against the wall. The room shook slightly as Ben looked around frantically. He shouted to Robert, “Here, help me grab this futon!”
They each took hold of one side of the futon, and had it raised over their heads just as the slug chewed through the wall. Robert, face to face with a waving eye, shouted, “Alright, now what!?”
“Throw it into its mouth!”
The creature looked about ready to eat Robert’s head as they lofted the futon into its gelatinous maw. At first, it seemed to just disappear into the monster’s gut, and Robert momentarily feared for his head. Suddenly the creature stopped, and gave out a massive belch. A warm gust of semi-digested brick and drywall filled the room, and Ben and Robert fell back into the hallway.
Ben covered his mouth and looked ill. “That’s totally disgusting.”
No sooner had he spoken than a rumble came from the apartment, and the creature exploded. Green goo flooded the hall, and the duo was swept back down the stairs and into the street.
Ben wiped the slime from his face and spit a few times. “Ugh, well it definitely doesn’t taste like jello!”
Robert smiled, “I turned my taste receptors off, so I’ll gladly take your word on that one. You mind telling me what just happened?”
Ben tried to get the clean of the slime, but gave it up as a lost cause. “Where do students buy their furniture?”
Robert scratched his head. “Sears?”
“You’ve obviously never been a student,” Ben sighed. “The universal home of student furniture is Ikea. And where does Ikea furniture come from?”
Robert shrugged.
“Sweden! And have you ever tried to eat Swedish food!?”
Robert brightened slightly, “Ahhh, I’m beginning to understand your plan. Nicely done!”
“Thanks. I’d feel a whole lot better about it if I weren’t completely covered in concrete-flavored pudding snack right now.”
“I know what’ll cheer you up!”
“A shower?”
“Cruising through town in a spaceship!”
“Ooh, you make a good point. You mean you’re actually going to let me drive?”
“Only if you promise to be nice.”
Ben grinned, “Hah, like that ever works. Think we should call someone to clean this up?”
“I’m sure they’ll figure it out.” Robert shrugged, “Besides, even if it does taste like concrete, I hear college students will eat anything.”
“Ugh, once again you speak the truth. And once again, the truth is totally disgusting. Let’s roll.”
------------
And thus ends the story of Ben and Robert. For now. If you've actually read this far, kudos to you. I hope you enjoyed it!
The Lord Taketh...
The Artist here,
Yeah, so that project went up in flames. I appreciated The Writer's calculations about time spent on projects. It's funny, going into a project such as Ben and Robert, I had a LOT of energy. Loads. 6 hours JUST coloring? Meh. But then, 'round about page three, I just couldn't take it anymore. So I ended it on a cliffhanger and then let The Writer use his skills.
It was a good experience though. I enjoyed it thoroughly and hope to attempt it or something like it again at some later point.
I want to address a point here in this addendum that only a handful of audience members will read. That point is, I take my art seriously.
La Casa is done in a particular style, as are the comics that are up on my blog. The style for La Casa is very 'cartoon'y and I know that doesn't compare with the Applegeeks crew, but it's not supposed to. Penny Arcade is much more what I'm trying to emulate...as if it couldn't be more obvious. Ben and Robert was something of a wild ride. I used the Applegeeks process but with more of a cartoon feel.
I've mentioned at least once that I have never taken an art class. Ever. Not once. And sometimes it shows. Its one reason why I enjoy doing comics: perspective doesn't matter. It is whatever I happen to draw it that day. I try to remain consistent, but as a comic artist I am given a LOT of leeway. I was invited to take an art class starting next month. I have accepted that invitation and will give constant, if not consistent updates. The comic will stay the same, essentially, but I'm going to use the tools I learn in this class and apply them in a comic-y way. La Casa is a blank canvas and I'm gonna be goin' crazy.
Perspective may be a bitch, but at least she's my bitch.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Yeah, so that project went up in flames. I appreciated The Writer's calculations about time spent on projects. It's funny, going into a project such as Ben and Robert, I had a LOT of energy. Loads. 6 hours JUST coloring? Meh. But then, 'round about page three, I just couldn't take it anymore. So I ended it on a cliffhanger and then let The Writer use his skills.
It was a good experience though. I enjoyed it thoroughly and hope to attempt it or something like it again at some later point.
I want to address a point here in this addendum that only a handful of audience members will read. That point is, I take my art seriously.
La Casa is done in a particular style, as are the comics that are up on my blog. The style for La Casa is very 'cartoon'y and I know that doesn't compare with the Applegeeks crew, but it's not supposed to. Penny Arcade is much more what I'm trying to emulate...as if it couldn't be more obvious. Ben and Robert was something of a wild ride. I used the Applegeeks process but with more of a cartoon feel.
I've mentioned at least once that I have never taken an art class. Ever. Not once. And sometimes it shows. Its one reason why I enjoy doing comics: perspective doesn't matter. It is whatever I happen to draw it that day. I try to remain consistent, but as a comic artist I am given a LOT of leeway. I was invited to take an art class starting next month. I have accepted that invitation and will give constant, if not consistent updates. The comic will stay the same, essentially, but I'm going to use the tools I learn in this class and apply them in a comic-y way. La Casa is a blank canvas and I'm gonna be goin' crazy.
Perspective may be a bitch, but at least she's my bitch.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Friday, March 10, 2006
059: And It Was Good.
The Artist here,
What's there to say anymore? Haven't we said it all? 59 strips in and we haven't covered everything. How sad.
There's not much to say about this Ben and Robert strip. Not much at all. Which is why I'm going to tempt you with a tasty prize. The first 10 people to e-mail me Iffyatbest[at]gmail[dot]com. get a free La Casa sketch this weekend. You don't have to be a regular reader. Hell, you could just be some random guy/gal who got here by hitting "Next Blog." Just jet me an e-mail and I'll fulfill your every desire (for a sketch).
In other news, if you're interested in serious brain dammage, check out Pirate and Alien. This comic will make your eyeballs fall out and give you gangreen. Seriously. I'm so against it, I'm not even gonna provide you with a link.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
What's there to say anymore? Haven't we said it all? 59 strips in and we haven't covered everything. How sad.
There's not much to say about this Ben and Robert strip. Not much at all. Which is why I'm going to tempt you with a tasty prize. The first 10 people to e-mail me Iffyatbest[at]gmail[dot]com. get a free La Casa sketch this weekend. You don't have to be a regular reader. Hell, you could just be some random guy/gal who got here by hitting "Next Blog." Just jet me an e-mail and I'll fulfill your every desire (for a sketch).
In other news, if you're interested in serious brain dammage, check out Pirate and Alien. This comic will make your eyeballs fall out and give you gangreen. Seriously. I'm so against it, I'm not even gonna provide you with a link.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Webcomics News
A couple things to mention today in the wubulous world of webcomics.
First off, Fleen has a new column called "This Week! In Webcomics Boning". Much like this fellow, I don't really like Fleen. I thought this column, however, was actually pretty funny. Until I noticed the columnists name: Tuesday Crimson.
In case you don't get it: the "Webcomics Boning" idea started when Gary at Fleen read the Websnark post, Submitted without protection, which was in response to this Checkerboard Nightmare strip. Gary coined webcomics boning, and the response was good enough that they decided to make it its own column.
Of course, the websnark post was from Wednesday White. So, Tuesday Crimson. Yeah. Now that you get it, it's still really, really not very funny.
The problem, and Mr. Knooren has a good point, is that webcomics are getting really, really incestuous. It's great that we're all a big community and all, but we're spiralling into a self-referencing hole of inside jokes and inaccessibility. I'm on the inside. I get it, I understand the references, I read ALL of the required material to understand what people are talking about. But should I have to?
Overcompensating has been having a heydey lately with self-referential webcomics innuendo, but then, it IS a webcomic about things that sort of happen in his life, and his life is 99.9% involved with webcomics (the other .1% involves sleeping and eating and breathing), so that kind of makes sense.
And since I love Jeffrey Rowland (in that I think he's cool and a mad genius), I would like to mention this post, in which is coins the term Blogodrome. Also worth mention, the iBlogoscope Pro might be a cool invention, and blogsturbate is a word worth keeping around, even if Jeff admits he didn't come up with it.
Come back over the weekend for the finale to the Ben and Robert series. Next week we'll be back to regular old La Casa. Oh, I mean, super awesome La Casa. Rock on, Blogodrome!
First off, Fleen has a new column called "This Week! In Webcomics Boning". Much like this fellow, I don't really like Fleen. I thought this column, however, was actually pretty funny. Until I noticed the columnists name: Tuesday Crimson.
In case you don't get it: the "Webcomics Boning" idea started when Gary at Fleen read the Websnark post, Submitted without protection, which was in response to this Checkerboard Nightmare strip. Gary coined webcomics boning, and the response was good enough that they decided to make it its own column.
Of course, the websnark post was from Wednesday White. So, Tuesday Crimson. Yeah. Now that you get it, it's still really, really not very funny.
The problem, and Mr. Knooren has a good point, is that webcomics are getting really, really incestuous. It's great that we're all a big community and all, but we're spiralling into a self-referencing hole of inside jokes and inaccessibility. I'm on the inside. I get it, I understand the references, I read ALL of the required material to understand what people are talking about. But should I have to?
Overcompensating has been having a heydey lately with self-referential webcomics innuendo, but then, it IS a webcomic about things that sort of happen in his life, and his life is 99.9% involved with webcomics (the other .1% involves sleeping and eating and breathing), so that kind of makes sense.
And since I love Jeffrey Rowland (in that I think he's cool and a mad genius), I would like to mention this post, in which is coins the term Blogodrome. Also worth mention, the iBlogoscope Pro might be a cool invention, and blogsturbate is a word worth keeping around, even if Jeff admits he didn't come up with it.
Come back over the weekend for the finale to the Ben and Robert series. Next week we'll be back to regular old La Casa. Oh, I mean, super awesome La Casa. Rock on, Blogodrome!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Sketch022: The Obvious Conclusion is Dismissed
The Artist here,
No, I am not a slacker, I just have a life. And sometimes that life makes it so that I need to get some sleep and don't have a chance to finish the comic. Tonight I have no plans though. My goal is to finish TWO, count 'em, TWO pages of the story and have them up for perusal on the 'morrow.
But this sketch has it's own little back story. A couple months ago my girlfriend asked me to design a tattoo that was a combination of the letters of her first name and those of her two sisters. I did this and made a really awesome logo (if I do say so myself). All three girls got the tattoo on the top of their feet. I was proud.
Another friend, a bartender, saw the tattoo and saw a couple other sketches I've done and asked me to design a tattoo of a bear for him. This is not the original, nor is it the second. The ones I designed for him were black lines w/o shading and I thought were really classy. I included this one with the others because he really didn't specify what type of drawing he was looking for. That's one thing that I love, having delved into graphic arts recently. People have very clear visions of what they're looking for when they make requests, but when it comes to helping the person who will be actually DRAWING it, they have a very difficult time describing it. "Just draw me a bear. Angry." So, along with the serious ones, I did this cartoon bear.
He decided to get a non-color version of this one on the inside of his fore-arm.
Fascinating, I know. It was for me. This weekend, look for the exciting conclusion to the Ben and Robert story. Yes, that's right folks, La Casa is posting 7 days this week. Double your pleasure tomorrow and then a comic for both Saturday AND Sunday. Who rocks? We rock.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
No, I am not a slacker, I just have a life. And sometimes that life makes it so that I need to get some sleep and don't have a chance to finish the comic. Tonight I have no plans though. My goal is to finish TWO, count 'em, TWO pages of the story and have them up for perusal on the 'morrow.
But this sketch has it's own little back story. A couple months ago my girlfriend asked me to design a tattoo that was a combination of the letters of her first name and those of her two sisters. I did this and made a really awesome logo (if I do say so myself). All three girls got the tattoo on the top of their feet. I was proud.
Another friend, a bartender, saw the tattoo and saw a couple other sketches I've done and asked me to design a tattoo of a bear for him. This is not the original, nor is it the second. The ones I designed for him were black lines w/o shading and I thought were really classy. I included this one with the others because he really didn't specify what type of drawing he was looking for. That's one thing that I love, having delved into graphic arts recently. People have very clear visions of what they're looking for when they make requests, but when it comes to helping the person who will be actually DRAWING it, they have a very difficult time describing it. "Just draw me a bear. Angry." So, along with the serious ones, I did this cartoon bear.
He decided to get a non-color version of this one on the inside of his fore-arm.
Fascinating, I know. It was for me. This weekend, look for the exciting conclusion to the Ben and Robert story. Yes, that's right folks, La Casa is posting 7 days this week. Double your pleasure tomorrow and then a comic for both Saturday AND Sunday. Who rocks? We rock.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
058: Baked Goods, Well Baked
The Artist Here,
Doing this little side project has taught me a lot about pacing. The pacing of a comic is incredibly important. The quality of the drawings shouldn't be dismissed as a tool for conveying a point, but if that point is mangled before the author even gets to the pictures, *thud*. Failure.
I don't know if I succeeded or not on this one. So far so good and I'm really enjoying doing these full color editions. Good times.
But...I can't wait to get back to the regular strip. As you can see with Yesterday's posts by both Ahniwa and myself, the regular, four panel strip is the life-blood of this endeavor and, honestly, I like not having to come up with the script/stories. But that's between you and me.
I've been slowly making my way through Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. For those of you who enjoy Anime, it's worth watching. As with all Anime tv shows (as opposed to the movies) it has these wierd goofy moments that don't make any sense and are VERY culture-centric. But the show has have at least one redeeming quality in that it attacks the same philosophical questions as the movie of what makes us human and when we start enhancing humanity with machines, where does humanity end? I'm only on disk 3 but I like it thus far.
Speaking of thus far, my breakfast of coffee and donuts is astounding! God bless the cruller.
If there's anything else, I'll letcha know.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Doing this little side project has taught me a lot about pacing. The pacing of a comic is incredibly important. The quality of the drawings shouldn't be dismissed as a tool for conveying a point, but if that point is mangled before the author even gets to the pictures, *thud*. Failure.
I don't know if I succeeded or not on this one. So far so good and I'm really enjoying doing these full color editions. Good times.
But...I can't wait to get back to the regular strip. As you can see with Yesterday's posts by both Ahniwa and myself, the regular, four panel strip is the life-blood of this endeavor and, honestly, I like not having to come up with the script/stories. But that's between you and me.
I've been slowly making my way through Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. For those of you who enjoy Anime, it's worth watching. As with all Anime tv shows (as opposed to the movies) it has these wierd goofy moments that don't make any sense and are VERY culture-centric. But the show has have at least one redeeming quality in that it attacks the same philosophical questions as the movie of what makes us human and when we start enhancing humanity with machines, where does humanity end? I'm only on disk 3 but I like it thus far.
Speaking of thus far, my breakfast of coffee and donuts is astounding! God bless the cruller.
If there's anything else, I'll letcha know.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
057: The Little Things
The Artist here,
I'm not really certain who, if anyone, reads, enjoys or even understands my posts about how I actually create the comics. Since the majority of you probably don't care, I'm gonna just not talk about this one. Suffice it to say that it went easier than most. I've streamlined the process.
Seriously, after this seven-page stint, going back to four panels is gonna be FUN!
I've been looking around the internet for new comics, new art, new anything, really. I found Drawn! which is an amazing art blog. The guy who collects the links to post really has good taste. Another one, that The Writer tossed to me yesterday, is C'est Juste! It's all in French, but the art is spectacular. AND, for good measure, here's Bear Skin Rug. Go. Chew on those tasty morsels. Let me know what you think.
A brief explanation of who we are and what we're about:
La Casa Comics is more of a concept than a comic. I mean, it IS a comic, in that thus far there have been regular characters and storylines. But it's also a place for the writer and I to explore different avenues of graphic storytelling. I've been wanting to do this Ben and Robert comic for a while now. And by "a while" I mean 3-4 years. The Writer finally agreed to let me post it, and next Monday we'll be back to the regular comic again.
We are here to play, to have fun, and to romp. We're only 50-some-odd strips into this thing and I'm really excited to see where the next 50 will take us. I love the fact that we've become more regular about posting the M/W/F comic and sketches, but I have a feeling that it's the little side stories that will keep us sane and productive. I know they're helping ME to learn more about my craft.
As for who we are, well there's an About section for that.
We love you. Trust us.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
I'm not really certain who, if anyone, reads, enjoys or even understands my posts about how I actually create the comics. Since the majority of you probably don't care, I'm gonna just not talk about this one. Suffice it to say that it went easier than most. I've streamlined the process.
Seriously, after this seven-page stint, going back to four panels is gonna be FUN!
I've been looking around the internet for new comics, new art, new anything, really. I found Drawn! which is an amazing art blog. The guy who collects the links to post really has good taste. Another one, that The Writer tossed to me yesterday, is C'est Juste! It's all in French, but the art is spectacular. AND, for good measure, here's Bear Skin Rug. Go. Chew on those tasty morsels. Let me know what you think.
A brief explanation of who we are and what we're about:
La Casa Comics is more of a concept than a comic. I mean, it IS a comic, in that thus far there have been regular characters and storylines. But it's also a place for the writer and I to explore different avenues of graphic storytelling. I've been wanting to do this Ben and Robert comic for a while now. And by "a while" I mean 3-4 years. The Writer finally agreed to let me post it, and next Monday we'll be back to the regular comic again.
We are here to play, to have fun, and to romp. We're only 50-some-odd strips into this thing and I'm really excited to see where the next 50 will take us. I love the fact that we've become more regular about posting the M/W/F comic and sketches, but I have a feeling that it's the little side stories that will keep us sane and productive. I know they're helping ME to learn more about my craft.
As for who we are, well there's an About section for that.
We love you. Trust us.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
"Finally agreed"?
The Writer here,
I'd just like to take a moment to let everyone know that I never held Theo back from doing the Ben and Robert strips. Okay, so maybe I said "NO SIDE PROJECTS UNTIL WE POST OUR COMIC ON SCHEDULE", but really, what's a little bloodshed and overuse of capitalization between friends?
Also, I have to agree with Theo on his point concerning what we're about. Perhaps to our detriment, we are not strictly concerned with one overall story that we will stick to come hell or highwater. We're not even that concerned about format continuity, character continuity, or any continuity at all, actually. We don't have anything against it, but in the end we're here to see what we can do, and if we buckle down to one format right off the bat and never change, we'll be limiting ourselves and our abilities. This is, more than anything else, a fun adventure for Theo and I.
Hopefully, even in the absence of the "normal" characters, it's fun for you too. In any case, as Theo said, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled strip next Monday. For awhile, anyway.
And there'll be pirates.
I'd just like to take a moment to let everyone know that I never held Theo back from doing the Ben and Robert strips. Okay, so maybe I said "NO SIDE PROJECTS UNTIL WE POST OUR COMIC ON SCHEDULE", but really, what's a little bloodshed and overuse of capitalization between friends?
Also, I have to agree with Theo on his point concerning what we're about. Perhaps to our detriment, we are not strictly concerned with one overall story that we will stick to come hell or highwater. We're not even that concerned about format continuity, character continuity, or any continuity at all, actually. We don't have anything against it, but in the end we're here to see what we can do, and if we buckle down to one format right off the bat and never change, we'll be limiting ourselves and our abilities. This is, more than anything else, a fun adventure for Theo and I.
Hopefully, even in the absence of the "normal" characters, it's fun for you too. In any case, as Theo said, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled strip next Monday. For awhile, anyway.
And there'll be pirates.
Monday, March 06, 2006
056: The Adventure Begins
The Artist here,
Sooo, this is the first page of the Ben and Robert story that I wrote and drew. These comics are fun to do, but LABOR INTENSIVE. I don't like that aspect of them.
I've looked around this morning and there doesn't seem to be any controversy in webcomicdom. But it's early. If anything comes up, you'll be the first to know.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Sooo, this is the first page of the Ben and Robert story that I wrote and drew. These comics are fun to do, but LABOR INTENSIVE. I don't like that aspect of them.
I've looked around this morning and there doesn't seem to be any controversy in webcomicdom. But it's early. If anything comes up, you'll be the first to know.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Friday, March 03, 2006
055: My History of Webcomics
My own, my precious.
Oh, sorry. Ummm, right. Webcomics.
Back when I was a gamer, and by gamer I mean someone who devotedly plays video games (I'll always be a gamer at heart), I got way into Everquest for awhile. Okay, so it was, like, four years. During that time I was, as most EQ players are, a member of an Everquest forum, and it was there, on the Crossroads of Zebuxoruk, that I first found webcomics.
Writing for the gaming audience is a good idea. They're an active and talkative community, they use forums, and if they like something they share it. I think GU is a horrible comic, honestly, but I read it because when I was playing EQ he had some salient and funny strips. These days, I rarely chuckle at them, but there is certainly a nostalgia factor. Penny Arcade is really and truly the comic opiate of the gaming masses. Between their reviews and their posts and their strips, they hit gamers on every level.
And you know, one webcomic, that's a gateway drug. I started reading Diesel Sweeties, 8-bit Theater, Get Fuzzy, PvP, Sinfest, and Unshelved early on. It's not a big list, but at the time, that's about as far as my interest went, and frankly it can be difficult sometimes to find the good webcomics out there amidst all of the banal eyesores. It wasn't until I came back to Washington from Ohio that my interest in webcomics really blossomed. Nowadays, I consider it a full-on addiction. In no particular order, the top three things on my mind at any one time are: swing dancing, webcomics, and girls. Starting my own webcomic has really helped me appreciate more what other people are doing in the field. Having Theo around to talk to about webcomics (which we do, ALL THE TIME), has also spurned the obsession.
And I'm discovering new (to me) webcomics all the time. A couple weekends ago, I read through all of Wapsi Square in an evening. I loved every second, I laughed a lot, and I cried at least twice. I started reading Gunnerkrigg Court recently, and it's really a lovely story. Every week I'll look at a handful of comics I've either never seen or never payed attention to before, and every once in awhile, something will hook me.
When this happens I really try to focus on what it is about the comic I liked, because I'd really love for ours to be one of those comics that people check out, and somehow, magically, it hooks them. Honestly, we're not there yet, but we're mad-monkey growing up in here, so there's always hope. Until then, our gratitude to those of you who ARE hooked. Hang in there. You're totally indie if you like us right now, but we hope you'll still read La Casa after it becomes the cool thing to do.
Oh, sorry. Ummm, right. Webcomics.
Back when I was a gamer, and by gamer I mean someone who devotedly plays video games (I'll always be a gamer at heart), I got way into Everquest for awhile. Okay, so it was, like, four years. During that time I was, as most EQ players are, a member of an Everquest forum, and it was there, on the Crossroads of Zebuxoruk, that I first found webcomics.
Writing for the gaming audience is a good idea. They're an active and talkative community, they use forums, and if they like something they share it. I think GU is a horrible comic, honestly, but I read it because when I was playing EQ he had some salient and funny strips. These days, I rarely chuckle at them, but there is certainly a nostalgia factor. Penny Arcade is really and truly the comic opiate of the gaming masses. Between their reviews and their posts and their strips, they hit gamers on every level.
And you know, one webcomic, that's a gateway drug. I started reading Diesel Sweeties, 8-bit Theater, Get Fuzzy, PvP, Sinfest, and Unshelved early on. It's not a big list, but at the time, that's about as far as my interest went, and frankly it can be difficult sometimes to find the good webcomics out there amidst all of the banal eyesores. It wasn't until I came back to Washington from Ohio that my interest in webcomics really blossomed. Nowadays, I consider it a full-on addiction. In no particular order, the top three things on my mind at any one time are: swing dancing, webcomics, and girls. Starting my own webcomic has really helped me appreciate more what other people are doing in the field. Having Theo around to talk to about webcomics (which we do, ALL THE TIME), has also spurned the obsession.
And I'm discovering new (to me) webcomics all the time. A couple weekends ago, I read through all of Wapsi Square in an evening. I loved every second, I laughed a lot, and I cried at least twice. I started reading Gunnerkrigg Court recently, and it's really a lovely story. Every week I'll look at a handful of comics I've either never seen or never payed attention to before, and every once in awhile, something will hook me.
When this happens I really try to focus on what it is about the comic I liked, because I'd really love for ours to be one of those comics that people check out, and somehow, magically, it hooks them. Honestly, we're not there yet, but we're mad-monkey growing up in here, so there's always hope. Until then, our gratitude to those of you who ARE hooked. Hang in there. You're totally indie if you like us right now, but we hope you'll still read La Casa after it becomes the cool thing to do.
P.S.
If you're interested in the general field of webcomics, and with the current hubbub, you should go read Eric's very excellent snark on T Campbell and the History of Webcomics.
[p.p.s]Gary from Fleen.com chimes in about the History of Webcomics book, and mostly about Kurtz's response to it. I'm not particularly fond of Fleen, and this post, in particular, doesn't really offer much. So why did I link it? I guess I just like to share.
To make up for it, here is Jeph's response, via indietits. Well said, dude.
[p.p.s]Gary from Fleen.com chimes in about the History of Webcomics book, and mostly about Kurtz's response to it. I'm not particularly fond of Fleen, and this post, in particular, doesn't really offer much. So why did I link it? I guess I just like to share.
To make up for it, here is Jeph's response, via indietits. Well said, dude.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Sketch021: When the Whipper Wills
The Artist here,
Yes, I know her breasts are going in two very distinct and different directions. Yes, I know that her pigtails are standing off the side of her head as if animatronics were involved in the production of this sketch. But do you like it!?
Now, an update from around the webcomics world:
T. Campbell is publishing a book. Not just any book, but a history of Webcomics (proper noun, capitalize that shiznit). Kurtz and Coffman have fascinating posts up about this so I'm not gonna go into the details of the debacle. Suffice it to say that this guy is insane. Despite Coffman's claim that webcomics will eventually be the new "thing", I doubt that it will happen very soon. And it certainly hasn't happened yet. I agree that there are seven or eight supremely successful webcomics out there, but there are also a GAZILLION that won't stand the test of time (and by time I mean a month). Our old (self-imagined) rivals, Trunks and Soto, have lost their page (ed note: page is, sadly, back up). Our new (self-assigned) rival is Pirate and Alien. Do not click on that link. Do not give that man the satisfaction of a referral!
Moving on...
In QC today ... just read it. I really am starting to love that comic. Took me for freakin' ever!
Congratulations to Chris Crosby. 8 years, man. Good on ya! Makes 5 months and 50 strips seem pidly.
Last, but definately not least, Penny Arcade recieved 1,200 donuts from Smedley at Sony Online Entertainment. There are benefits beyond the monetary kind for being the most popular webcomic ever (and making fun of companies that at least have a sense of humor).
Lots of stuff happening around webcomicdom (is this even a word? adjective maybe? hyperbole...? shit). Go ahead, hit the 'webcomics' link at the top of this page and read what some other people are doing and drawing. Then come back and admire Ms. Pigtails.
--TAFKA Theo
Yes, I know her breasts are going in two very distinct and different directions. Yes, I know that her pigtails are standing off the side of her head as if animatronics were involved in the production of this sketch. But do you like it!?
Now, an update from around the webcomics world:
T. Campbell is publishing a book. Not just any book, but a history of Webcomics (proper noun, capitalize that shiznit). Kurtz and Coffman have fascinating posts up about this so I'm not gonna go into the details of the debacle. Suffice it to say that this guy is insane. Despite Coffman's claim that webcomics will eventually be the new "thing", I doubt that it will happen very soon. And it certainly hasn't happened yet. I agree that there are seven or eight supremely successful webcomics out there, but there are also a GAZILLION that won't stand the test of time (and by time I mean a month). Our old (self-imagined) rivals, Trunks and Soto, have lost their page (ed note: page is, sadly, back up). Our new (self-assigned) rival is Pirate and Alien. Do not click on that link. Do not give that man the satisfaction of a referral!
Moving on...
In QC today ... just read it. I really am starting to love that comic. Took me for freakin' ever!
Congratulations to Chris Crosby. 8 years, man. Good on ya! Makes 5 months and 50 strips seem pidly.
Last, but definately not least, Penny Arcade recieved 1,200 donuts from Smedley at Sony Online Entertainment. There are benefits beyond the monetary kind for being the most popular webcomic ever (and making fun of companies that at least have a sense of humor).
Lots of stuff happening around webcomicdom (is this even a word? adjective maybe? hyperbole...? shit). Go ahead, hit the 'webcomics' link at the top of this page and read what some other people are doing and drawing. Then come back and admire Ms. Pigtails.
--TAFKA Theo
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
054: Coffee Avenger
If baristas really could go into robotista mode, I would be hanging out at cafes ALL THE TIME. If Coffee of Doom were nearby, I'd be hanging out there all the time, even if a robotista worked across the street.
Hot indie barista girls? A triple-shot, please.
Hot indie barista girls? A triple-shot, please.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Sketch020: Paranoid Schizophrenic
The Artist here,
Not to go on and on about what's gonna happen next week, but this is a quick concept sketch I did for the cover.
On Bolt City, Kazu posted a little blurb about how long it takes to do a page. This got me thinking about my process and how I go about creating my comics. For a full color La Casa page, I go through a several step process, outlined here.
The sketch usually takes me 10-15 minutes to do. If I have all three scripts for the week I try and do all of them around the same time because then the art is a little more consistent through the week.
I save the image and then open it in Photoshop for inking. The inking process is also relatively quick, usually about 30 mins per strip. I've changed the way I ink a couple times, but now that I know I'm going to color it in, I've developed a process that is fairly uniform.
The coloring process takes a while, usually 1.5 to 2 hours per comic. Most of this is time spent selecting the right colors, but once I have them it goes pretty quickly. I don't use a "flats" layer on La Casa, but for the Ben and Robert strips I do because they're so much more detailed.
In the end the La Casa strips take about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete. And they're worth every second.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Not to go on and on about what's gonna happen next week, but this is a quick concept sketch I did for the cover.
On Bolt City, Kazu posted a little blurb about how long it takes to do a page. This got me thinking about my process and how I go about creating my comics. For a full color La Casa page, I go through a several step process, outlined here.
The sketch usually takes me 10-15 minutes to do. If I have all three scripts for the week I try and do all of them around the same time because then the art is a little more consistent through the week.
I save the image and then open it in Photoshop for inking. The inking process is also relatively quick, usually about 30 mins per strip. I've changed the way I ink a couple times, but now that I know I'm going to color it in, I've developed a process that is fairly uniform.
The coloring process takes a while, usually 1.5 to 2 hours per comic. Most of this is time spent selecting the right colors, but once I have them it goes pretty quickly. I don't use a "flats" layer on La Casa, but for the Ben and Robert strips I do because they're so much more detailed.
In the end the La Casa strips take about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete. And they're worth every second.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Monday, February 27, 2006
053: Coffee Achiever
Our friend Tim works at a well-known big coffee chain, so I thought it would be fun if I could get him to draw some related strips. He delivered three excellent comics, so stay tuned this week for some fun La Casa action, Tim style.
The drinks that the woman orders were shamelessly borrowed from the specials board at Coffee of Doom, the hip cafe in Questionable Content. If you go to the wikipedia article there's a nice list of crazy drinks. If I were a barista, I would go through and try to make most of them, just for the hell of it.
Just on a side note, if I were only going to read two comics right now (aside from La Casa, of course), I'd read QC and Achewood. These two right now, for me, really exemplify the pinnacle of what webcomics are all about.
The drinks that the woman orders were shamelessly borrowed from the specials board at Coffee of Doom, the hip cafe in Questionable Content. If you go to the wikipedia article there's a nice list of crazy drinks. If I were a barista, I would go through and try to make most of them, just for the hell of it.
Just on a side note, if I were only going to read two comics right now (aside from La Casa, of course), I'd read QC and Achewood. These two right now, for me, really exemplify the pinnacle of what webcomics are all about.
053: Captain's Log, supplemental
The Artist here,
Just wanted to drop in and include a link to Tim's blog. I know it's already on the sidebar, but I thought it needed a link anyway. Here it is.
Tim will be doing the comics this week, but I will still have a sketch up for your perusal on Tuesday and Thursday.
In the meantime I'm working on a special project for next week. I did the first page of it already and the others are coming along nicely. It's the first full color comic book style comic that I've ever done and so far I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. It's a Ben and Robert (the rabbit and the robot characters) comic and in it they fight a big, green alien guy with an appetite for medium sized apartment buildings. The Writer and I have scheduled it to run all five days next week. It's a pretty big deal.
On the subject of other webcomics, I really love what QC is doing. The Writer turned me on to the comic in the first place but I really haven't been able to get into it. The main character just pissed me off with his wussie-ness and abandon of reason for a girl so completely off her rocker as to make a cucumber go limp. I've wanted him to hook up with Dora for a long time and now that it's happened, I am in full support of Jeph's comic. (It probly won't last, but it's definately worth reading now!)
As for Achewood, I've loved this comic from day one. It has a zany, minimalistic feel to it that reminds me of an Edward Gorey comic (one of my favorite artists of all time). Onstad's story lines are zaney and could only exist in the Achewood universe and I have a LOT of respect for someone that can keep up with a place as crazy as Achewood.
Watch for a sketch tomorrow.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Just wanted to drop in and include a link to Tim's blog. I know it's already on the sidebar, but I thought it needed a link anyway. Here it is.
Tim will be doing the comics this week, but I will still have a sketch up for your perusal on Tuesday and Thursday.
In the meantime I'm working on a special project for next week. I did the first page of it already and the others are coming along nicely. It's the first full color comic book style comic that I've ever done and so far I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. It's a Ben and Robert (the rabbit and the robot characters) comic and in it they fight a big, green alien guy with an appetite for medium sized apartment buildings. The Writer and I have scheduled it to run all five days next week. It's a pretty big deal.
On the subject of other webcomics, I really love what QC is doing. The Writer turned me on to the comic in the first place but I really haven't been able to get into it. The main character just pissed me off with his wussie-ness and abandon of reason for a girl so completely off her rocker as to make a cucumber go limp. I've wanted him to hook up with Dora for a long time and now that it's happened, I am in full support of Jeph's comic. (It probly won't last, but it's definately worth reading now!)
As for Achewood, I've loved this comic from day one. It has a zany, minimalistic feel to it that reminds me of an Edward Gorey comic (one of my favorite artists of all time). Onstad's story lines are zaney and could only exist in the Achewood universe and I have a LOT of respect for someone that can keep up with a place as crazy as Achewood.
Watch for a sketch tomorrow.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Friday, February 24, 2006
052: Well, perhaps not 'entirely' original.
You may have seen similar scenes in other webcomics, but they're entirely coincidental, I assure you. I mean, I've never seen any of these three strips from PvP before, honest!
Usually, when confronted with these situations, I'll point, shout "Oh my goodness, I can see the Virgin Mary in that cloud!", take a potshot, and then run. Sometimes I even get away before they sick their dogs on me.
Next week will be our very first week of guest strips, drawn by the inimitable Tim Bard from a script by yours truly. An original script, I promise. It'll be good times.
'Til next time, happy weekend!
Usually, when confronted with these situations, I'll point, shout "Oh my goodness, I can see the Virgin Mary in that cloud!", take a potshot, and then run. Sometimes I even get away before they sick their dogs on me.
Next week will be our very first week of guest strips, drawn by the inimitable Tim Bard from a script by yours truly. An original script, I promise. It'll be good times.
'Til next time, happy weekend!
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Sketch019: European at Heart
The Artist here,
We have this friend, see. His name is Adam and he's a brewer. Actually he's a massage therapist, but in his spare time he makes alcohol that would tempt even the truest tea-totaler. His beers are divine and worthy of much more praise than my humble words can profer.
Last year there was a party and Adam made a new kind of alcohol. He calls it a meade, I call it "liquid awesome." Anyway, he (or one of our friends) nicknamed this stuff, "Purple Panty Remover", for its overpowering effect on the drawers of young women.
He asked me to specifically poster design for the stuff to hang during this weekend's birthday festivities. This is the poster. I hope you appreciate it as much as I do!
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
We have this friend, see. His name is Adam and he's a brewer. Actually he's a massage therapist, but in his spare time he makes alcohol that would tempt even the truest tea-totaler. His beers are divine and worthy of much more praise than my humble words can profer.
Last year there was a party and Adam made a new kind of alcohol. He calls it a meade, I call it "liquid awesome." Anyway, he (or one of our friends) nicknamed this stuff, "Purple Panty Remover", for its overpowering effect on the drawers of young women.
He asked me to specifically poster design for the stuff to hang during this weekend's birthday festivities. This is the poster. I hope you appreciate it as much as I do!
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
051: Working my way into everyone's top 8.
Post? Huh? Oh right, post! Ooops. I put the comic up last night, and at some point this morning I thought that I should write a post to go along with it, but honestly, this is the first time all day I remembered to do so. I've been working. Hard.
Social networking is really an interesting and pervasive phenomenon, and one I think that is evolving into something that in five years we'll wonder how we ever lived without it. Like email and wireless internet. Of all the social networking tools out there, MySpace has become by far the most pervasive and popular.
I mean, it was featured on the Daily Show. You can buy this nifty t-shirt, and there is, of all things, a hilarious short MySpace movie. Me, I'm an addict. I thought of a funny (funnier in retrospect, probably) scenario in which MySpace addicts would get support in a group such as MySpacers Anonymous. But the group would be online, and hosted on MySpace. Ahh, the irony kills me. I told you it was funnier in retrospect.
If you'd like to add me, feel free, or you can add the comic, or the artist. Of the three of us, I'm the only real addict, which means I'll stay up late at night with you and we can spam each others comments back and forth, having an odd sort of jilted conversation available for anyone to read. But I won't fill out your dull, inane bulletins, no matter their subject matter. Sometimes you just go too far, and honestly, if there are really fifty things about you I may not have known ...
... chances are that I didn't want to know them.
Other than that, though. We could totally cyber.
Social networking is really an interesting and pervasive phenomenon, and one I think that is evolving into something that in five years we'll wonder how we ever lived without it. Like email and wireless internet. Of all the social networking tools out there, MySpace has become by far the most pervasive and popular.
I mean, it was featured on the Daily Show. You can buy this nifty t-shirt, and there is, of all things, a hilarious short MySpace movie. Me, I'm an addict. I thought of a funny (funnier in retrospect, probably) scenario in which MySpace addicts would get support in a group such as MySpacers Anonymous. But the group would be online, and hosted on MySpace. Ahh, the irony kills me. I told you it was funnier in retrospect.
If you'd like to add me, feel free, or you can add the comic, or the artist. Of the three of us, I'm the only real addict, which means I'll stay up late at night with you and we can spam each others comments back and forth, having an odd sort of jilted conversation available for anyone to read. But I won't fill out your dull, inane bulletins, no matter their subject matter. Sometimes you just go too far, and honestly, if there are really fifty things about you I may not have known ...
... chances are that I didn't want to know them.
Other than that, though. We could totally cyber.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Sketch018: Bran Muffins and Coffee
The Artist here,
There is something about drawing a comic that I didn't expect. As an artist, you get to know the tools of the trade. The feel of different pens and pencils; the effects of an eraser on different types of paper; how much a certain pen bleeds when you push too hard.
These are things that you get used to and finally even expect. What I wasn't expecting was that as the comic strip went on, the characters would change according to their traits. If you look back at the first strip, Tim is virtually the same (I must have nailed his personality right on), but Ahniwa has changed and my character has changed.
This new sketch of Gary is only the latest in a short line of re-works. Beth was the first one to get a face-lift, but since she was new I just figured that I was developing her. But then I thought, "Why couldn't I develop the others?" Well, 50 strips in and they are still developing. Great to see the strip can still surprise me.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
There is something about drawing a comic that I didn't expect. As an artist, you get to know the tools of the trade. The feel of different pens and pencils; the effects of an eraser on different types of paper; how much a certain pen bleeds when you push too hard.
These are things that you get used to and finally even expect. What I wasn't expecting was that as the comic strip went on, the characters would change according to their traits. If you look back at the first strip, Tim is virtually the same (I must have nailed his personality right on), but Ahniwa has changed and my character has changed.
This new sketch of Gary is only the latest in a short line of re-works. Beth was the first one to get a face-lift, but since she was new I just figured that I was developing her. But then I thought, "Why couldn't I develop the others?" Well, 50 strips in and they are still developing. Great to see the strip can still surprise me.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Monday, February 20, 2006
050: Set me up another round.
We've done a lot of postulating on the way of what getting to strip #50 meant to us. I won't regurgitate, and it was all mostly nonsense anyway. All I'll say is: We made it!
Raise your glasses, here's to fifty more.
Raise your glasses, here's to fifty more.
Friday, February 17, 2006
049: He always was a bright lad.
So evidently this comic took Theo about 24x as long as a comic usually takes to complete. On the other hand, it took me about 1/24th the time it usually takes me to write the script, being an easy extension of strip #47. I guess the universe wants to maintain a balance, and therefore Theo must be made to pay in countless, hand-cramping parcels of time.
I don't have much else to say today, except that it's Friday, I've been trying really hard not to get sick (and I can feel it lurking in the back of my throat but so far so good), and our next strip will be #50. Fifty strips in about four months isn't too shabby. That's one hundred and fifty strips per year. And that equals a lot of hand-cramping time units, and brain-cramping ones as well (the scripts don't always come so easy). But it's all worthwhile.
La Casa Comics is a journey. Come ride with us for awhile.
I don't have much else to say today, except that it's Friday, I've been trying really hard not to get sick (and I can feel it lurking in the back of my throat but so far so good), and our next strip will be #50. Fifty strips in about four months isn't too shabby. That's one hundred and fifty strips per year. And that equals a lot of hand-cramping time units, and brain-cramping ones as well (the scripts don't always come so easy). But it's all worthwhile.
La Casa Comics is a journey. Come ride with us for awhile.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Sketch017: Lord of the Dancing
The Artist here,
Something you may or may not know about the Writer and I is that we dance. Not together and not that pansy ballroom shizzle. Swing dance. Swing dancing was described to me as:
"The only time you get to touch a girl you don't really know and she wants you to."
I like dancing for its own sake, but I also enjoy watching people dance because it provides insight into the crazy ways the human body moves. I've taken my sketchpad to dances a few times and I must say that there's no practice like dance practice.
In other news, I like doing the color strips a LOT. They take more time, but I feel that I have a stronger grasp over the characters, their features and perspective. We'll see if it continues. Strip #50 on Monday! Then my birthday on Wednesday!! WHOO!!!
Wanna get me something?
Enjoy the sketch!
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
P.S. DDR=Dance Dance Revolution.
Something you may or may not know about the Writer and I is that we dance. Not together and not that pansy ballroom shizzle. Swing dance. Swing dancing was described to me as:
"The only time you get to touch a girl you don't really know and she wants you to."
I like dancing for its own sake, but I also enjoy watching people dance because it provides insight into the crazy ways the human body moves. I've taken my sketchpad to dances a few times and I must say that there's no practice like dance practice.
In other news, I like doing the color strips a LOT. They take more time, but I feel that I have a stronger grasp over the characters, their features and perspective. We'll see if it continues. Strip #50 on Monday! Then my birthday on Wednesday!! WHOO!!!
Wanna get me something?
Enjoy the sketch!
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
P.S. DDR=Dance Dance Revolution.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
048: Ninjas and pirates: mortal enemies?
According to Dr. Mcninja, the two seem to be inconsolable, though being a doctor and a ninja simultaneously isn't contradictory at all. Perhaps the purpose of Dr. Mcninja is to flip out and ... help people? Anyway, that strip is totally awesome, and you should check it out if you haven't already.
Theo and I had a (very) brief conversation the other night about webcomic forums. He was referring specifically to Penny Arcade's artist's corner on their forum, and how a lot of people post schoolwork which is, in the end, attractive art, but that few of these "artists" have really cultivated or expressed any sense of individual style. Many of them imitate other styles, and as far as webcomics go, probably none are as imitated as Penny Arcade. One thing we're (and by we, I mean Theo, since it's his work) proud of is that we have a style. It's not an imitation of PA, of QC or CAD or MH or AG or any other acronymous webcomics. This right here, this is pure LC style, baby.
I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Webcomics, Dude, at least it's an ethos.
Right. In any case, my focus during this discussion was on the lack of forums concerning the art of webcomic writing. We discuss art all the time. There are millions of words centered around shading grayscale images, the proper use of layers in photoshop, anti-aliasing and when to do it, creating realistic light sources, proper coloring, inking, programs, hardware, software, firmware, and wetware. Sorry, got a little kinky there near the end. The point is, where are the forums talking about comedic timing as concerns webcomic setup? How about writing punchline comics vs slow-paced dark humor, or the anti-gag? Using silence to tell a joke? Pacing techniques? Panel layout? Proper and improper use of the ellipses in multi-bubble dialogue? These are things that keep me up at night, shivering in the dark.
Many webcomic creators will say that the story is more important than the art. But as far as discussion goes, the art gets all the focus. Even Jeph Jacques, who makes one of the most visually stunning webcomics around, has admitted that the art is really secondary to the story and the characters, for him. I know I can get off my pulpit, go out there, and start a forum. And believe me, I'm thinking about it. But I can't help but think that with all the forums out there already, if there isn't a place centered on discussion of the process of webcomic writing, then that means that really, no one is interested in talking about it. I guess that in the end, we're secretive when it comes to our work. We want to maintain some allure, certainly, but mostly we don't want to give away what makes our comic work. Comics on the web are a fragile industry at best, and only a few people are currently able to make a full-on living from their webcomic work, and most of those supplement with merchandise sales. It's never a line of work that's going to boom, though perhaps as newspapers go more and more digital, some different and good comics will get online news syndication.
Until then, as long as the industry remains so fragile, writers will keep their secrets. And this all relates back to the comic, because we'll all sneak around, trying to get tips without giving too much away. Sure, there's less espionage, fewer explosions, but in the end we're all ninjas of the webcomic world, sneaky when it matters, and doing our best to roundhouse kick our way to fame and the right to subvert a global audience.
Theo and I had a (very) brief conversation the other night about webcomic forums. He was referring specifically to Penny Arcade's artist's corner on their forum, and how a lot of people post schoolwork which is, in the end, attractive art, but that few of these "artists" have really cultivated or expressed any sense of individual style. Many of them imitate other styles, and as far as webcomics go, probably none are as imitated as Penny Arcade. One thing we're (and by we, I mean Theo, since it's his work) proud of is that we have a style. It's not an imitation of PA, of QC or CAD or MH or AG or any other acronymous webcomics. This right here, this is pure LC style, baby.
I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Webcomics, Dude, at least it's an ethos.
Right. In any case, my focus during this discussion was on the lack of forums concerning the art of webcomic writing. We discuss art all the time. There are millions of words centered around shading grayscale images, the proper use of layers in photoshop, anti-aliasing and when to do it, creating realistic light sources, proper coloring, inking, programs, hardware, software, firmware, and wetware. Sorry, got a little kinky there near the end. The point is, where are the forums talking about comedic timing as concerns webcomic setup? How about writing punchline comics vs slow-paced dark humor, or the anti-gag? Using silence to tell a joke? Pacing techniques? Panel layout? Proper and improper use of the ellipses in multi-bubble dialogue? These are things that keep me up at night, shivering in the dark.
Many webcomic creators will say that the story is more important than the art. But as far as discussion goes, the art gets all the focus. Even Jeph Jacques, who makes one of the most visually stunning webcomics around, has admitted that the art is really secondary to the story and the characters, for him. I know I can get off my pulpit, go out there, and start a forum. And believe me, I'm thinking about it. But I can't help but think that with all the forums out there already, if there isn't a place centered on discussion of the process of webcomic writing, then that means that really, no one is interested in talking about it. I guess that in the end, we're secretive when it comes to our work. We want to maintain some allure, certainly, but mostly we don't want to give away what makes our comic work. Comics on the web are a fragile industry at best, and only a few people are currently able to make a full-on living from their webcomic work, and most of those supplement with merchandise sales. It's never a line of work that's going to boom, though perhaps as newspapers go more and more digital, some different and good comics will get online news syndication.
Until then, as long as the industry remains so fragile, writers will keep their secrets. And this all relates back to the comic, because we'll all sneak around, trying to get tips without giving too much away. Sure, there's less espionage, fewer explosions, but in the end we're all ninjas of the webcomic world, sneaky when it matters, and doing our best to roundhouse kick our way to fame and the right to subvert a global audience.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Bonus: Bugs and Kisses
The Artist here,
I really have nothing to say about Valentine's Day. There is no commentary that would properly encapsulate how I feel. Thusly, I feel it of less importance to talk about stale sentiment than the exuberance I feel about being that much closer to strip #50.
None of my previous comic endeavors have achieved as much success or notoriety as this comic. None of my previous attempts at "breaking out" have provided such access to fame and fortune. None of my previous hobbies have been this addicting ... y'know, besides drinking and smoking.
Without the prospect of doing another La Casa comic, every day would become just a husk or hollow shell of itself, and there would be only a wasteland where once was an artist of some reknown.
ANYWAY, I hope you enjoy my little foray into story-making. I must say that I've gotten very used to relying on the skills of a writer because I, myself, have little time or energy to devote to the intricacies of the written word. I leave that to the professionals.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
I really have nothing to say about Valentine's Day. There is no commentary that would properly encapsulate how I feel. Thusly, I feel it of less importance to talk about stale sentiment than the exuberance I feel about being that much closer to strip #50.
None of my previous comic endeavors have achieved as much success or notoriety as this comic. None of my previous attempts at "breaking out" have provided such access to fame and fortune. None of my previous hobbies have been this addicting ... y'know, besides drinking and smoking.
Without the prospect of doing another La Casa comic, every day would become just a husk or hollow shell of itself, and there would be only a wasteland where once was an artist of some reknown.
ANYWAY, I hope you enjoy my little foray into story-making. I must say that I've gotten very used to relying on the skills of a writer because I, myself, have little time or energy to devote to the intricacies of the written word. I leave that to the professionals.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Bonus: More fun with postings.
Just thought I'd drop in and test some post functionality. I was sent a "VD" card by email, which was essentially an anti-valentine's day card, but the site appears to be so swamped with the disillusioned that I couldn't actually load the card. I could, however, go to the main page and survey the entire range of anti-valentine sentiment, pick my favorite, and assume that was the one that had been sent to me. What can I say, I'm an optimist.
If I did have an e-sweetie, and I was "feeling the love", I would probably send her one of these cards to express my sentiment. You can't go wrong when you mix love with vintage crime.
The snuggliest, pinkest, tooth-achiest day to all of you.
And if you're loveless and annoyed, just tell everyone that Dick Cheney shot your valentine.
If I did have an e-sweetie, and I was "feeling the love", I would probably send her one of these cards to express my sentiment. You can't go wrong when you mix love with vintage crime.
The snuggliest, pinkest, tooth-achiest day to all of you.
And if you're loveless and annoyed, just tell everyone that Dick Cheney shot your valentine.
Monday, February 13, 2006
047: Has there ever been a Monday since the world began?
Oh Monday, what a strange and wacky day you tend to be. As soon as I get up you've offered me a cup of tea, which I can spend the rest of the day sitting around and drinking, if I like. What other day allows such indolence? Sunday, you say? True, but Sunday is everybody's day of rest. Monday, you belong to me.
This particular Monday, however, will be spent doing laundry, cleaning my apartment, and putting together music so that I can DJ at the swing dance on Tuesday night. Oh yeah, and then I have to teach a class later on. Man, no rest for the wicked, I guess.
We'd love to hear your comments on the new colors of La Casa. So you should leave some. Comments. Down there. May you all have wonderful and indolent Mondays. Ciao!
This particular Monday, however, will be spent doing laundry, cleaning my apartment, and putting together music so that I can DJ at the swing dance on Tuesday night. Oh yeah, and then I have to teach a class later on. Man, no rest for the wicked, I guess.
We'd love to hear your comments on the new colors of La Casa. So you should leave some. Comments. Down there. May you all have wonderful and indolent Mondays. Ciao!
Friday, February 10, 2006
046: It's like we dipped our comic in a pool of rainbow!
That makes me think of this. Why? I really don't know. It's one of those mysteries that will likely never be solved (it's the rainbows). Webcomic artists have a long and humorous history of the ironic use of rainbows. You'll either have to take my word for that, or research it yourself, because I ain't gonna do it for ya, slacker. Bunnies, too. Not so many unicorns, though, so this PBF strip has that going for it. A quick image search for unicorns reveals a lot of really, really horrible art, and two comics, both of which involve Noah's Ark, and the reason we don't see unicorns anymore. Personally, I prefer the humor of a unicorn running someone through. I guess I'm just that kind of guy.
In any case, it appears as though we're moving to color. This marks a giant change for the comic, and more work for Theo (though he says he managed this strip in 2.5 hours from sketch to completion, so that's not bad). It's not more work for me, except that now I have to monitor and make sure that Theo's color-deranged eyesight doesn't turn my hair purple, or my skin green, or what-have-you.
On one final and unrelated note, I'm mildly ashamed to admit that I somehow got sucked into watching a few episodes of American Idol last night. I would be more embarassed about it, except that this girl is completely fucking awesome. She belts out a pretty nice version of Take Five, too.
'Til next time: smoke 'em if you got 'em.
In any case, it appears as though we're moving to color. This marks a giant change for the comic, and more work for Theo (though he says he managed this strip in 2.5 hours from sketch to completion, so that's not bad). It's not more work for me, except that now I have to monitor and make sure that Theo's color-deranged eyesight doesn't turn my hair purple, or my skin green, or what-have-you.
On one final and unrelated note, I'm mildly ashamed to admit that I somehow got sucked into watching a few episodes of American Idol last night. I would be more embarassed about it, except that this girl is completely fucking awesome. She belts out a pretty nice version of Take Five, too.
'Til next time: smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Sketch016: In Which I Elaborate Extemporaneously
The Artist here,
Sketchbook Pro is officially the best program I've ever used for drawing and the Intuos 3 is officially the best tool I've ever used for drawing. I just wanted to make that official.
I need to get something off my chest. I have no formal training in art. The closest thing I have to an art background is the fact that I've been drawing since I was 5.
In elementary school I took an extracurricular art class. It started with clay pot making, and then moved to watercolor, then drawing. The problem with this class (I was 8 or 9) was that there were older kids (read: 14-15) who had been taking the class previously. They were drawing cartoons and comic strips with their own characters. They got to draw cool monsters and cars and work with really cool pencils. I begged and pleaded with the teacher to let me work with the older kids, to at least show me the basics, something, anything. But the answer was no. She thought it might be detrimental to my development if I skipped the ever-crucial skill of using watercolors effectively.
I quit that stupid art class. I hated pottery and I hated watercolors. Of course, NOW I wish I'd stayed in the class. I could have learned a lot about light and the way it reacts to surfaces, but I couldn't handle watching the kids above me have that much fun, knowing in my heart that I could do it and then not be allowed to.
So some time passed and I continued to draw outside of the class. I taught myself a lot of shading and light and how they work on my characters. But one problem still remained:
I'm red-green color blind.
If you read that wiki article you'll understand my frustration. It isn't that I can't see colors; it's that certain colors look different to me. I can't tell when I'm sunburned, I think light pink houses are white and that that dark maroon car over there is black.
What makes art so difficult with this condition is that I have an almost impossible time with the color selector tool in Photoshop. Having all of those colors in front of me with no real way to distinguish one from the other ... there's no appropriate way to describe the frustration. That is a huge part of why I haven't been making color comics.
I'm working on building a catalog of colors though. When I find someone else's comics where I think the colors are some that I could definitely use, I sample the color and save it for later use. With Sketchbook Pro, I've been doing sketches like this and using the airbrush tool to color them in. I love working with colors and I really hope that these studies will pay off for the comic.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Sketchbook Pro is officially the best program I've ever used for drawing and the Intuos 3 is officially the best tool I've ever used for drawing. I just wanted to make that official.
I need to get something off my chest. I have no formal training in art. The closest thing I have to an art background is the fact that I've been drawing since I was 5.
In elementary school I took an extracurricular art class. It started with clay pot making, and then moved to watercolor, then drawing. The problem with this class (I was 8 or 9) was that there were older kids (read: 14-15) who had been taking the class previously. They were drawing cartoons and comic strips with their own characters. They got to draw cool monsters and cars and work with really cool pencils. I begged and pleaded with the teacher to let me work with the older kids, to at least show me the basics, something, anything. But the answer was no. She thought it might be detrimental to my development if I skipped the ever-crucial skill of using watercolors effectively.
I quit that stupid art class. I hated pottery and I hated watercolors. Of course, NOW I wish I'd stayed in the class. I could have learned a lot about light and the way it reacts to surfaces, but I couldn't handle watching the kids above me have that much fun, knowing in my heart that I could do it and then not be allowed to.
So some time passed and I continued to draw outside of the class. I taught myself a lot of shading and light and how they work on my characters. But one problem still remained:
I'm red-green color blind.
If you read that wiki article you'll understand my frustration. It isn't that I can't see colors; it's that certain colors look different to me. I can't tell when I'm sunburned, I think light pink houses are white and that that dark maroon car over there is black.
What makes art so difficult with this condition is that I have an almost impossible time with the color selector tool in Photoshop. Having all of those colors in front of me with no real way to distinguish one from the other ... there's no appropriate way to describe the frustration. That is a huge part of why I haven't been making color comics.
I'm working on building a catalog of colors though. When I find someone else's comics where I think the colors are some that I could definitely use, I sample the color and save it for later use. With Sketchbook Pro, I've been doing sketches like this and using the airbrush tool to color them in. I love working with colors and I really hope that these studies will pay off for the comic.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
045: Chuck Norris headbutted this comic into existence.
Everyone who is alive, right now, has by now read one of the various Chuck Norris lists that are out there on the internets. My goal in this comic strip was going to be to squeeze as many of these "facts" into a comic strip as I could. However, for purposes of making the comic strip not completely suck, I think that in the end it only came down to two.
The first one is: It was once believed that Chuck Norris actually lost a fight to a pirate, but that is a lie, created by Chuck Norris himself to lure more pirates to him. Pirates never were very smart.
And the second: Chuck Norris sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled martial arts ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Chuck roundhouse kicked the devil in the face and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn't stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play poker every second Wednesday of the month.
And the final point is, of course, that Grannie Justice can kick Chuck Norris's ass.
Threadless just released a new shirt, which has a somewhat freakishly close resemblance to this week's comics, to the point where I think that someone might be spying on us. Seriously, I didn't know about this shirt until today, and I wrote the scripts for these comics last week. It's very strange. It's a totally badass shirt though. Someone could buy it for me, if they wanted to. I'm a size medium ...
The first one is: It was once believed that Chuck Norris actually lost a fight to a pirate, but that is a lie, created by Chuck Norris himself to lure more pirates to him. Pirates never were very smart.
And the second: Chuck Norris sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled martial arts ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Chuck roundhouse kicked the devil in the face and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn't stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play poker every second Wednesday of the month.
And the final point is, of course, that Grannie Justice can kick Chuck Norris's ass.
Threadless just released a new shirt, which has a somewhat freakishly close resemblance to this week's comics, to the point where I think that someone might be spying on us. Seriously, I didn't know about this shirt until today, and I wrote the scripts for these comics last week. It's very strange. It's a totally badass shirt though. Someone could buy it for me, if they wanted to. I'm a size medium ...
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Sketch015: This Ensures a Consistent Clean
The Artist here,
A while ago Penny Arcade mocked Kevin Smith when he said that his movie "Jersey Girl" wasn't made for critics. I would mock him too ... but my art is made explicitly for the critics. Critics who enjoy looking at bizarre scenes of ... I don't even know what.
The more complex the Writer's scripts become, the more complex my drawings necessarily become, and the more time they take. The trade-off here is that I get better, faster. I spent nearly 5 hours last night working on tomorrow's comic and then spent 15 minutes on this sketch. And I love how it turned out. I wish I'd had a chance to color the rest of the Edunatrix, but I still like it. The Devil is a concept sketch for tomorrow's comic. I would have included Chuck Norris, but he's just too big for the space I had left.
Thanks to Applegeeks, here's a post of famous people photoshopped as manga. And here is a link to the process Kazu Kibuishi uses to create his graphic novels.
I hope to start linking to more pages dealing with the art processes other people use to create their digital art. The things I've learned from Applegeeks and Bolt City are invaluable and I'm happy for the opportunity to share.
Oh, and I'm working on some t-shirt designs. We'll see where they go.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
A while ago Penny Arcade mocked Kevin Smith when he said that his movie "Jersey Girl" wasn't made for critics. I would mock him too ... but my art is made explicitly for the critics. Critics who enjoy looking at bizarre scenes of ... I don't even know what.
The more complex the Writer's scripts become, the more complex my drawings necessarily become, and the more time they take. The trade-off here is that I get better, faster. I spent nearly 5 hours last night working on tomorrow's comic and then spent 15 minutes on this sketch. And I love how it turned out. I wish I'd had a chance to color the rest of the Edunatrix, but I still like it. The Devil is a concept sketch for tomorrow's comic. I would have included Chuck Norris, but he's just too big for the space I had left.
Thanks to Applegeeks, here's a post of famous people photoshopped as manga. And here is a link to the process Kazu Kibuishi uses to create his graphic novels.
I hope to start linking to more pages dealing with the art processes other people use to create their digital art. The things I've learned from Applegeeks and Bolt City are invaluable and I'm happy for the opportunity to share.
Oh, and I'm working on some t-shirt designs. We'll see where they go.
--The Artist Formally Known as Theo
Monday, February 06, 2006
044: Pinching cheeks is for sissie grandmas.
Justice may be a bit of a misnomer. But Grannie Badass doesn't roll off the tongue as well, so there you are. GJ first appeared here, in a very nice sketch, looking totally badass. She was Theo's idea, and I've no idea where she came from (or where she's going, really), but with the feminists and the geriatrics picketing outside our studio, I figured throwing her in would kill two birds with one stone. So stay tuned this week for the continued adventures of GJ as she moves up the food chain from boy scouts to ninjas, to who knows what else. As Rachel might say, there will be much asskickery.
We're rapidly approaching strip #50, and we're really really really excited about it. By Friday of next week we'll have hit #49. So yeah, we're that close. #50 is always a landmark event for a webcomic, especially one with the ridiculous notions of fame that we here at La Casa entertain on a daily basis. (These notions involve getting frequently high-fived by the guys at Penny Arcade for our outstanding work, among other things.) It's like a six-month anniversary in your first ever relationship. It's not really an anniversary, but you're going to get your older brother to buy you some booze anyway, which you'll sneak into the drive-in after you've pretended to cook a meal you got at Safeway and then heated up, hoping to get lucky.
Ahh, memories...
Okay, made-up memories. The point is, #50 is a cause for celebration, so if you think of something fitting for us to ring in the occasion, do tell. 'Til then, we'll catch ya Wednesday.
We're rapidly approaching strip #50, and we're really really really excited about it. By Friday of next week we'll have hit #49. So yeah, we're that close. #50 is always a landmark event for a webcomic, especially one with the ridiculous notions of fame that we here at La Casa entertain on a daily basis. (These notions involve getting frequently high-fived by the guys at Penny Arcade for our outstanding work, among other things.) It's like a six-month anniversary in your first ever relationship. It's not really an anniversary, but you're going to get your older brother to buy you some booze anyway, which you'll sneak into the drive-in after you've pretended to cook a meal you got at Safeway and then heated up, hoping to get lucky.
Ahh, memories...
Okay, made-up memories. The point is, #50 is a cause for celebration, so if you think of something fitting for us to ring in the occasion, do tell. 'Til then, we'll catch ya Wednesday.
Friday, February 03, 2006
043: If Chuck Norris fought Ohio, Ohio would win.
I'm sad to see yesterday's sketch shuffled away into the archives, as it was so beautiful, but that is the way with such things. In case you didn't know, the navigation buttons under the comic strips skip sketch pages, so if you ever want to see them, go to the archives proper from the top menu up there. We have a wallpaper and stuff in there too, if you like.
If you enjoyed the Ben and Robert (Robert and Ben?) sketch, then know that they'll be appearing in some strips before too long, maybe even this month. Next week we will have the return of Grannie Justice (you saw her in a sketch recently), and her showdown with a certain martial arts champion guy. Should be fun times.
In webcomic news, R Stevens (aka the Poopmonster), has started a side project called i heart pixels, which showcases pixel art not related to his webcomic, Diesel Sweeties.
Gunnerkrigg Court recently made my reading list after Eric snarked it. I'll use his explanation because frankly, he does it better than I would:
Sinfest hasn't updated since January 26th. Anyone who knows Sinfest shouldn't be surprised. Tatsuya usually takes unexplained absences, and when he finally comes back the futility watch has gone up an increment. I don't know why he's trying to get syndicated, though I suppose it could be the simple fact that he's a revolutionary, not trying to break into mainstream comics, but trying to force meanstream comics to recognize that they suck and there are so many better comics on the web. Except Get Fuzzy. Get Fuzzy is good. The Sinfest break is more annoying than normal at this juncture, because I was really enjoying the Slick/Monique/Squig story arc. It's the most I've enjoyed Sinfest in awhile.
Achewood is running the best story of any of the comics I read right now. I used to hate Achewood, but I kept reading it. Then I just disliked it. Eventually I was fairly indifferent to it. Finally I started to like it, and now it's one of my favorite comics. The style is distinct, the stories are absurd and intelligent (most of the time), and the fact that he creates strips on a day by day basis with no prior planning just blows me away. The dude seriously has to be crazy, and I endorse crazy wholeheartedly. Also, it's the first comic I know of that went multi-disciplinary and created blogs for most of its characters. Ok, so I don't read them, but I still think it's a cool idea.
None of which is to say that Jeph Jacques is not still my webcomic idol. QC itself is back to its old ways, which is to say, horrible unrequited romantic agony. The wiki article on QC is enlightening, catching character references 200 strips before the character even appears, and listing running gags such as the coffee specials at Coffee of Doom (Fried Egg Mocha, anyone?). I don't know how Jeph ever finds time to run side projects, and they aren't always long-lived. Indie Tits is fun, though it hasn't been updated since November of 2005. Now he's doing Jephdraw, which is purportedly a daily sketch blog, though it updates far from daily. And if you want to see genius in progress, you can torrent this video of Jeph drawing, which is mad crazy. If you want to be an obsessed fan, as many are, you can read Jeph's livejournal, which has fun real-life pictures.
On a side note, many jokes have been in other strips of Jeph's height. Turns out, he's only 6'2", which leads me to think that J. Rowland is fairly short. Theo is 6'6", but I don't know if he could beat Jeph in a fight. Dude looks pretty scrappy.
That's all for webcomic news for today. Have weekends of greatness, and I'll see you once more when the humble weekdays roll back around.
If you enjoyed the Ben and Robert (Robert and Ben?) sketch, then know that they'll be appearing in some strips before too long, maybe even this month. Next week we will have the return of Grannie Justice (you saw her in a sketch recently), and her showdown with a certain martial arts champion guy. Should be fun times.
In webcomic news, R Stevens (aka the Poopmonster), has started a side project called i heart pixels, which showcases pixel art not related to his webcomic, Diesel Sweeties.
Gunnerkrigg Court recently made my reading list after Eric snarked it. I'll use his explanation because frankly, he does it better than I would:
For those who haven't had a look at the strip before, it's about a boarding school set in a melange of fantasy and steampunk aesthetics. Each strip is a standalone chapter, and each chapter tells another chunk of the story, and the story itself is slightly odd and beautiful, all at once, and the strip is in general pretty worthy.PvP has really lost me lately. The medieval storyline was trite, and the jokes felt half-hearted. Today's strip is an improvement from the previous ones, so hopefully he'll bring the quality back up to what I expect from PvP.
Sinfest hasn't updated since January 26th. Anyone who knows Sinfest shouldn't be surprised. Tatsuya usually takes unexplained absences, and when he finally comes back the futility watch has gone up an increment. I don't know why he's trying to get syndicated, though I suppose it could be the simple fact that he's a revolutionary, not trying to break into mainstream comics, but trying to force meanstream comics to recognize that they suck and there are so many better comics on the web. Except Get Fuzzy. Get Fuzzy is good. The Sinfest break is more annoying than normal at this juncture, because I was really enjoying the Slick/Monique/Squig story arc. It's the most I've enjoyed Sinfest in awhile.
Achewood is running the best story of any of the comics I read right now. I used to hate Achewood, but I kept reading it. Then I just disliked it. Eventually I was fairly indifferent to it. Finally I started to like it, and now it's one of my favorite comics. The style is distinct, the stories are absurd and intelligent (most of the time), and the fact that he creates strips on a day by day basis with no prior planning just blows me away. The dude seriously has to be crazy, and I endorse crazy wholeheartedly. Also, it's the first comic I know of that went multi-disciplinary and created blogs for most of its characters. Ok, so I don't read them, but I still think it's a cool idea.
None of which is to say that Jeph Jacques is not still my webcomic idol. QC itself is back to its old ways, which is to say, horrible unrequited romantic agony. The wiki article on QC is enlightening, catching character references 200 strips before the character even appears, and listing running gags such as the coffee specials at Coffee of Doom (Fried Egg Mocha, anyone?). I don't know how Jeph ever finds time to run side projects, and they aren't always long-lived. Indie Tits is fun, though it hasn't been updated since November of 2005. Now he's doing Jephdraw, which is purportedly a daily sketch blog, though it updates far from daily. And if you want to see genius in progress, you can torrent this video of Jeph drawing, which is mad crazy. If you want to be an obsessed fan, as many are, you can read Jeph's livejournal, which has fun real-life pictures.
On a side note, many jokes have been in other strips of Jeph's height. Turns out, he's only 6'2", which leads me to think that J. Rowland is fairly short. Theo is 6'6", but I don't know if he could beat Jeph in a fight. Dude looks pretty scrappy.
That's all for webcomic news for today. Have weekends of greatness, and I'll see you once more when the humble weekdays roll back around.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Sketch014: Taking Care of Business
The Artist here,
I was commissioned (i.e. someone asked me) to do a sketch of my character belly dancing. It didn't happen. Not for any reason except that I couldn't draw it last night. I was having issues.
Then I drew this.
I have gotta say, the new tablet is amazing. I know that some of you object to cute little creatures in situations of implied violence or using guns. For you, I have some advice:
First of all, if you don't like violence on tv, or on the computer, print out a copy of this sketch and post it on the fridge. Whoever heard of "violence on the frigidaire"?
Next, if you don't like guns, I'll let you in on a secret. Robert and Ben aren't holding guns. Those are actually crullers. You know the donut? They got 'em at Winchell's. On special. They're day-olds.
On that note, it's nice to see ads for coffee on the sidebar. If there's one thing about my addictions, it's that I love to share! Other than that there's nothing really happening around La Casa right now. We're working on next week's stories and trying to get things organized for our 50th strip "celebration". And by celebration I mean the two of us making more strips.
I'm really happy to have made it this far. I have been drawing this strip for almost 4 months now and it has been extremely rewarding. I'm definitely looking forward to the next fifty.
--The (Sappy) Artist Formally Known as Theo
--INFORMAL POLL--
Would you like to see a La Casa t-shirt? Give some ideas what it would have on it in either of the comments sections!
--The Management
I was commissioned (i.e. someone asked me) to do a sketch of my character belly dancing. It didn't happen. Not for any reason except that I couldn't draw it last night. I was having issues.
Then I drew this.
I have gotta say, the new tablet is amazing. I know that some of you object to cute little creatures in situations of implied violence or using guns. For you, I have some advice:
First of all, if you don't like violence on tv, or on the computer, print out a copy of this sketch and post it on the fridge. Whoever heard of "violence on the frigidaire"?
Next, if you don't like guns, I'll let you in on a secret. Robert and Ben aren't holding guns. Those are actually crullers. You know the donut? They got 'em at Winchell's. On special. They're day-olds.
On that note, it's nice to see ads for coffee on the sidebar. If there's one thing about my addictions, it's that I love to share! Other than that there's nothing really happening around La Casa right now. We're working on next week's stories and trying to get things organized for our 50th strip "celebration". And by celebration I mean the two of us making more strips.
I'm really happy to have made it this far. I have been drawing this strip for almost 4 months now and it has been extremely rewarding. I'm definitely looking forward to the next fifty.
--The (Sappy) Artist Formally Known as Theo
--INFORMAL POLL--
Would you like to see a La Casa t-shirt? Give some ideas what it would have on it in either of the comments sections!
--The Management
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
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