Inky Dink

Been making good progress on Xrox 3. Drew in some faces yesterday. That was challenging, using only a charcoal pencil. I think the drawing looks really good, but it's missing something. Maybe a dynamic quality, the characters are too stiff, or a quality of the marks, or the value needs to be pushed further. Angela thinks it's the value. I'm pretty sure it's the figures. You know how stiff my spines are. I wish I had a good way of capturing the image. I could try scanning it in parts and putting it together. I've never actually tired that so I don't know how hard it is.
It will be a large shift going from this drawing, which is a splash so it's one drawing to the next page with multiple images on it. I've spent hours on this one drawing. Will I spend as much time on each panel, treating them as individual drawings, or will I work on the page as a whole drawing? Time will tell. I don't expect to have Xrox 3 done by the time Xrox 2 is finished. I'll probably start publishing it as I finish. That would be sporadic but better than having a long dead air time.
I think I've come to an understanding of inking. For the most part comics were ink because of the printing process. The ink showed up and it was fairly cheap and the labor was easy enough. I think that inking has continued to be used because it's easier to create fluid and dynamic line work with ink than with charcoal or pencil (though it can be done, ink is just easier). And of course, ink does show up better. The blacks on the page will be as black as black if you use ink.
I'm still also dancing with expectation. I still think the blacks on the page should look like a classic comic, that this line should be defined by a heavy black rather than a soft fuzzy charcoal mark. Thus, it's difficult to treat the art for what it is, if you follow me.
I'd still like to try collage on the page but I'm not sure how to work that. Most of the elements of collage are cultural detritus. I have plenty of old postage stamps and discarded letters but not much by way of griffin feathers and ugl parchment.

A little is a lot

Worked about half an hour on the splash for Xrox 3. It's heading in the he direction I wanted it to, I think. It's a neat effect. I'm not sure if I'm going to do the whole thing in charcoal or use ink or scan it and do finishing touches in PhotoShop. It's a good start, I think. Flawed to be sure, but still resonant with life and discernable as a comic page, I think. I think I'll try to scan it just so I can experiment a bit. I don't want to attempt anything that's nonreversible at this point.

Self sufficient self starter

Did draw. Don't know how long. How long is PJ Harvey's "To Bring You my Love"? I listened to it one and a half times while I drew. I like how it's coming together, but it isn't exactly working the way I planned. The charcoal isn't staying down like I thought it would. Don't know if that's the paper or the Gesso or both. I'm going to go over it a bit with sandpaper. I sandpapered last time so that might make a difference. Plus I like the effect. The composition may not be the most dynamic but it's early still. I plan on using the page no matter how it turns out. Finish it and all that. (plus, it's my first attempt, I'm not trying to impress anybody (well not much))I am wondering about using ink after all. I can get tighter lines and draw smaller details than I can with anything else. We'll see. I'm trying not to rush. There's really no need to rush and the process itself requires a building up over time. I'd be nice to scan the page and print it, then I could try different effects, like ink, with a little more forgiveness. Or at least a light table. Scanning and printing seemed a good idea, especially since I already have the means to make it happen, but looking at the work so far I'm concerned how much detail will scan. Shows I'm learning something, I guess.
I think the anatomy of the figures is alright. I'm pleased that I seem to know where certain lines go without reference to a model or a book. I just hope they don't turn out looking too stiff. I have a tendency to make things stiff.
I can see in my head where'd I like to go, but I'm not sure how to get there, if I can get there or if I should try to get there. It comes down to how much of the process do I want to try to control and how much should come naturally.
But at the very least, I actually started something today!

The next page of Xrox part 2, "Wisdom", is up at Webcomics Nation. Of course, those of you who have taken the time to subscribe to the comic already know this, but a few of you are tardy so you get a gentle reminder to go read the newest page. And while your poking around the web, drop James West a note thanking him for his loyalty to the Empire and all the hard work he's put into Xrox 1 & 2. Complement him on his excellent craftsmanship of this current installment, and don't forget to remind him that you page 3 & 4 have yet to be penciled and there's only a week till the next installment.
Of course, James won't be getting much work done this weekend as he's going to the Small Press And Comics Expo in Columbus, OH. (SPACE). Alas, I cannot leave my Empire and must stoke the coffers with cash to keep the machines running and the buses on time (so to speak). Yes, I can hear your collective sigh of disappointment as The Millenials #1 is such a pretty book and it's all ready for public consumption (well, nearly ready).
Thank your Mother's this Sunday for teaching you how to read so you can enjoy the wonders of the Fandom Empire.
You will also be excited to hear that I started production on Xrox 3 (as yet untitled) this week! Yes! I have one sheet of paper Gessoed and ready to be drawn on! It hangs, pristine and blank, in the studio, just waiting for me to do something with it! Isn't that thrilling!!
Now, as soon as I catch up on this season of Lost, I'll draw something on it....

As usual, keep those emails coming! My greatest reward in this endeavor is your generous outpourings of support. Without it, I'd just be sending strange emails out into the ether with no sign of ever reaching anyone. Rather like throwing fish into space. What a sad and forlorn thought, isn't it?
Well, fortunately, I have you.

It's Hard out here for an Emperor

(originally written Friday, April 21st 2006)
I got a administrative and domestic duties to tend to in addition to being Patter Familias and Sovereign of a vast multimedia empire that spans not just cyber space but the breadth of the human imagination as well. Thus on some days, like today, I am very tardy in posting the latest installments of Xrox or Battle Royal MX. I'm sure by this late hour many of you are feeling quite uncertain about my ability to rule. I'm sure none of you would ever say so, but I don't doubt you think it. My most important duty is to you, my loyal fans, my legion of legions, for without you this would all truly be vanity of vanities. No matter how much paperwork is on my desk or how many domestic duties are clamoring for attention, I should never leave you hanging so long for that which sustains us all, the story.
Today's installment is the last installment of "Monsters". James has already submitted several pages of the next chapter of Xrox called "Wisdom" I think. ( I think I change the title every week.) I have some frantic lettering to do between now and next Friday but I am certain I can have the first installment up in time.
Don't forget to keep those cards and letters coming! It is your feedback and input that makes this truly worthwhile. I love hearing what you think and I do truly consider everything bit of feedback I receive.

A Glorious and Somber Day for the Empire

(written St. Patrick's Day, 2006)
Today's installment of Battle Royal MX is the last installment of Battle Royal MX for a good while. Yes, through many glorious and much camaraderie we have come to the end of our rambling preamble. Twenty glorious pages of pop culture chaos, witty postmodern criticism, and ravishing sequential design and yet we're just getting started. I was fairly certain when I started posting BRMX that it was more or less a last hurrah for the story, but due to the flood of emails I receive every week from all of you, I am compelled...nay! FORCED to continue the tale!
I just don't know when the next chapter will be ready. If I can find someone as deft and dedicated and skilled and generous as Peter Bergeron to handle the art chores for chapter 2, things will progress very quickly. If I step up to the plate and put my mad art skills to the challenge and draw the second chapter myself...we could all be waiting awhile.
But fret not! You will still receive your weekly dose of Fandom Mayhem every Friday!! There's still plenty of pages left on Xrox "Monsters" and I've already received several pages on the second part of that story "Tales".
Wow! I can actually hear your collective sigh of relief!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

C. Clark-Praxis

News of the Empire

Japan and Israel have been added to the list of country's where our presence has been felt. That brings the total number of countries up to 17! 17 countries under the sway of the Fandom Empire!!
BWAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

The Empire Commands You!

Go to Web Comics Nation and read the latest installments of Xrox and Battle Royal MX! For added viewing pleasure, I've included some "Fan Art". It's a little tricky to find. You have to select Battle Royal MX from the drop down menu (even though Battle Royal MX is already showing). The page won't change much except the background color will be different. Right about this weeks page there will be the option to view fan art.
Enjoy!
And as soon as I get the corrections made to issue 1 and get said corrections back to the printer the book will be available to purchase. Maybe I can get some help with that this weekend. Eh, James?