I really
neglected this place. Mostly because I stopped the Illo Friday routine,
when I DID receive the topics every other week, they were usually
something that I had already illustrated the past years, in a group in
which I never fit anyway.
Also because I
had a tremendous amount of work and stopped being obsess with the wacom
and digital painting in my daily activity. I took on old school pen and
ink, after years of using only brushes and industrial roll point
markers (Mitsubishi's uni-ball). It gave me greater accuracy, and the
possibility to sculpt details easier than with a thick brush stroke that
requires almost a single gesture, and yet gives a more living line than
a metal roll pen.
Currently working on another automotive comic book for french publisher Glenat.
Our
Chapman Biography in english has received excellent reviews, even if
this kind of product is very far from the english habits and runs the
risk to stay confined to petrol heads.
And
our next book in french will be out next month, it will be my 6th full
comic book since I got fired 3 years ago, not counting the commercial
jobs and translations. There are a lot of wonderful people that I am
thankful to, and some of that old days that can go ... well, revise
their judgement to put it that way.
There
are still plenty of digital work done on those traditional pen on paper
graphic books, but mostly, I try to use the wacom with Manga Studio for
inking and Photoshop for coloring only for commercial work, where a
very sleek and soft design is needed.
Here is my latest attempt, for our good friends at tailgatecafe , Canada, maker of leather bags, musics ... and crêpes !
The first Draft is made on paper with pencil and roll-pen
See you in a
couple of weeks for the annual Season greetings cards, those will also
be made in digital painting, for the challenge.