When I get on Facebook, I see posts from other cartoonists exclaiming how busy they are, and how tired they are. And if you also work in tech or in a startup, you know that being tired is a badge of honor. It was for me too. I’ve been working in web for 20 years now....
I make my own comic art template, complete with a lettering guide. It’s easy to do. You can buy bristol board that have panel guidelines built into them, but they are usually on inferior bristol. I like to use 300 Strathmore smooth. And I have a printer that will take...
This is going to be a different type of post. I’m “in the weeds” right now. One of my favorite sayings. I’m too focused on some big projects, so I’m going to write about what I’m thinking about, especially in regards to storytelling. It all connects. But this...
The two biggest issues facing a cartoonist today are finding an audience and making a living. It’s hard to find either in today’s marketplace. In every other industry, the way to seperate your business from your competitors 1 is through marketing. And cartoonists are...
Designers use a lot of different tools in their day-to-day life. But the one that I don’t see many using is the simple and unassuming highlighter. Yes, you read that right. Not the latest prototyping software du jour, or the Macbook Pro. The highlighter. It’s the tool...
I tried my hand at creating a diary comic with Procreate on the iPad Pro this morning. It was a good way to start the day. I’ve started doing roughs within the Procreate environment. I found I enjoyed working that way. So today, I thought I’d try to make a comic about...
Wrestling comics have always been sort of a mixed bag. Historically, they have been terrible. My theory is that “kayfabe” kept wrestling comics from being great stories. I know what you’re thinking (unless you are already a wrestling fan). What on earth is “kayfabe?”...
I’m never going to buy another laptop again. The iPad Pro is the mobile computer I’ve been looking for my whole life. It’s changed my mobile creation kit in a big way. Back in August 2015, I wrote about the tools I use on the go. Since the iPad Pro replaces a good...
Something that sticks in my craw is the idea that I hate mainstream comics. Let me back up. I have an indy comic pedigree. I have an MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies. I won the Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini Comics. Fantagraphics has released my work. I...
I like setting creative goals instead of making New Year’s resolutions. I feel I’m less likely to accomplish “resolutions.” But I do think it is a good time to take stock of the previous year. And rather than set resolutions, I like creating goals. Lots of goals....
A funny thing happened last week. It’s been quiet here on the blog. I’m slogging my way through drawing The Walk. And I have been slogging my way through a new post about how I’m producing the art for the book (you can read part 1 and part 2 of that...
Speed. It seems like that’s all I’ve been thinking about lately. In the early days of the web, the Internet was slow. If you’re old enough to remember, the web moved through the phone lines. They were never designed to send much data. Just the electronic...