BLINDGÄNGER

Last week I finished the artwork for a post-apocalyptic four page short story written by Steff Murschetz. The story is made for the relaunch of the U-Comix Magazine, which will be released at the German free comic book day in May this year.

It was the first time I did the artwork for a story I haven't written by my self. It felt so much easier because the only thing I had to worry about was the art. Usually I still think a lot about the story during the drawing process and do changes here and there or try to bring completely new ideas in. How you can imagine this way to work hast its benefits and I like it, but at the same time it slows you down and sometimes your head feels like it could explode any moment. To much distraction... 

I think I should work with writers more often.

Like I said it's a four pager so I can't show to much without spoiling the whole story.

Here is a coloured version of a panel I have already shown on Twitter. It's the main character.

And here is a new one in some making process steps:

Step 1: Digital "pencils"

I always start digitally. I'm working in photoshop with a wacom intous tablet. I like to do it digitally because it's very easy to make changes, move things around and resize the drawings. That helps a lot and saves time especially in the layout phase. 

Step 2: Traditional inks

After printing out my digital "pencils" I use a light-box and start to ink and define the pencils on a new sheet illustration paper.

I could do this step digitally too but I wouldn't have an original page at the end, and I don't like inking digitally. Not with a tablet at least. Maybe it would work better with a cintiq, but I haven't tried one yet, so I can't tell.

 Step 3: Flats

After scanning the inked page I start to divide the page in flat colours and save them on a separate layer. At the end the single objects on a page are separated and can be easily picked with the "Magic Wand Tool" any time. So I can paint on a separate layer without the need to be careful at the edges of the chosen field. Of course the line art is on a separate layer too.

Step 4: Final colours

I start with the final colours on a new layer. I keep it simple and don't render to much. I want the line art to be dominant.

Maybe you have noticed that I changed the hair of the left guy a little bit. I tried to let it look more like in step 1. It felt more fluid, not so stiff.

At this point the original page and the printed page will look a little bit different.