SOMA

SOMA, originally uploaded by seian.

And I think she's done. SOMA, from opi8.com. I really like how she turned out.

24 hr Comics Day Final Comic

Well, I survived. Not without some challenges even after the comic was done. My ride's car broke down! It was either stay at the studio for another few hours, get a cab (which would mean getting cash) or taking the bus here and risk passing out somewhere... so I decided to walk. 3 miles. Uphill most of the way. I was mentally impared.

Not bad THAT bad when you're rested, but boy, it took me a while. I'm more amused than anything about it, though. And I got some nice photos walking home. Slept about 4 hours when I got there, stayed up till my usual sleeping time and went to bed. No insomia or anything. Though I am a bit sore.

But anyway, this morning I've gotten the comic scanned and sized for the web, the page coded and you can see it all by clicking on the picture below. I hope you enjoy it. I enjoyed making that goofy mess of nonsense.

24hr comic pgs 23-24

24hr comic pgs 23-24, originally uploaded by seian.

Boy, am I tired. But very pleased. This year I was able not only to do the full 24 pages, but also under 24 hours. 9am the 23rd to 3:55am the 24th. 5 hours to spare. For a good while there I wasn't sure I was going to do it. It's not fine art, and the story could do with some editing, but for being under pressure and entirely unscripted in advance... I feel I did really well.

And now I go to have a real nap. I'll do good scans monday and post a link here. Thanks to everyone who commented, and any other comments are most welcome.

Readable Image Here

24hr comic pgs 23-24

24hr comic pgs 23-24, originally uploaded by seian.

Boy, am I tired. But very pleased. This year I was able not only to do the full 24 pages, but also under 24 hours. 9am the 23rd to 3:55am the 24th. 5 hours to spare. For a good while there I wasn't sure I was going to do it. It's not fine art, and the story could do with some editing, but for being under pressure and entirely unscripted in advance... I feel I did really well.

And now I go to have a real nap. I'll do good scans monday and post a link here. Thanks to everyone who commented, and any other comments are most welcome.

Readable Image Here

24hr comic pgs 21-22

24hr comic pgs 21-22, originally uploaded by seian.

So much for sleeping! But I did close my eyes for a bit, and that helped the eye strain.

Just two more to go! And I've got 6 hours left in my timetable. I'm going to make it.

Readable Image Here

24hr comic pgs19-20

24hr comic pgs19-20, originally uploaded by seian.

As I'm nearly 4 hours ahead of schedule, I think I'm going to go have a short snooze on the couch.

After that, only four pages to go!

24hrcomic-pgs17-18

24hrcomic-pgs17-18, originally uploaded by seian.

Now I just can't decide if I take my nap now and risk loosing momentum, or just keep going on, damn the consequences....

Well, one more page can't hurt.

Readable Size Here

24hr comic pgs15-16

24hr comic pgs15-16, originally uploaded by seian.

The trick of drawing up all my ruler lines for the last 12 pages paid off. I've really increased my speed, and now I'm over 2 hours ahead of schedule.
Readable Size Here

24hr comic pgs13-14

24hr comic pgs13-14, originally uploaded by seian.

*fzzt* *pop*

Readable Photo Here.

24hr comic 9:30pm

24hr comic 9:30pm, originally uploaded by seian.

Well I found a way to cut out some time each hour. I've gone and penciled and inked the lines on the remaining pages, so I just have to fill them in. Retire the ruler and one more step for each page.

Of course, I didn't thumbnail this out, so I could find it interesting how I'm going to fit the story into these various pages I've created. ;)

24hr comic pgs11-12

24hr comic pgs11-12, originally uploaded by seian.

Well I'm hitting the point where I can't tell if it's funny for anyone else, but I'm still enjoying it. Starting to feel just a little bit of a headache from eye strain, but not too bad otherwise. And I'm a half hour ahead of schedule.

Readable photo here

24hr comic pgs 9-10

24hr comic pgs 9-10, originally uploaded by seian.

10 pages! I'm on target, but I'd like to get faster. At the rate I'm going of a page an hour, I won't have time to take a nap somewhere in the middle. Yow.
Readable image here

24hr comic pgs7-8

24hr comic pgs7-8, originally uploaded by seian.

Whew. Lot of talking in that one. ;)

Thank goodness for chai and tapioca. It's keeping me going right now.

Readable image here

24hr comic hr5 pgs 5and6

24hr comic hr5 pgs 5and6, originally uploaded by seian.

Oops, forgot to ink in the trees. Still moving along. By the way, this is all being done on some Type A manga paper that was given to me a while back. It's not bad, and I like the blue ruling on the edges. Much easier than last year's bristol. Readable size photo here

24hrcomic hr4 3rd and 4thpgs

24hrcomic hr4 3rd and 4thpgs, originally uploaded by seian.

Slightly ahead of schedule, so I'm going to grab some lunch. Though I really want to get this all down to 40 minutes a page or so, so get it all in time with allowance for a nap. Readable size: here

24hrcomic hr4 first 2pgs

24hrcomic hr4 first 2pgs, originally uploaded by seian.

You've seen these two aready, but if you go here, you can see a size large enough to read it.

24 hr comic hour 3

24 hr comic hour 3, originally uploaded by seian.

Two hours, into the third, two pages. Got to get faster!

I do have an idea now though, and it's titled. "The Consequences of Dueling".

24hrcomic hour 1

24hrcomic hour 1, originally uploaded by seian.

Well I'm here! Food's in the fridge, chai is chilling and the table is set up. Do I have any idea what I'm going to do? Not really, but I'm sure I'll think of something. I won't be doing something like I did last year, is all I know.

It'll be a few hours before I go linking to scanned pages, but in the mean time, I'll post what photos I can of the work in progress.

Oh and it's nice and rainy outside so I don't have to feel bad about being stuck inside. ;)

SOMA wip2

SOMA wip2, originally uploaded by seian.

A little further along. I rather like how the scan turned the background like some of those old russian icon paintings with gold-leaf.

Colors are pretty hot on the skin right now, underpainting for the softer colors that will even it out. Blue is a surprisingly important part of the colors of skin. I probably won't be able to post an update until monday on this, but in the mean time, there's the 24 Hour comic thing going on tomorrow, so plenty to do!

SOMA wip

This is a work in progress for SOMA, the mascot of Opi8.com: New Dark Culture. May not be a work safe site for some, so be warned.

Illustration Friday "Reinvent"

Illustration Friday "Reinvent", originally uploaded by seian.

Building a moustrap doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be a better mousetrap.

About two hours on this one, trying to stick close as possible to "quick study" as I can. I like the girl and the poor mouse best out of it. See larger: here.

Afterhell CD2tray proof

Afterhell CD2tray proof, originally uploaded by seian.

Here's the latest on the cd art for Afterhell's second CD of audio dark fantasy stories that's in production. This will be on the inside tray, the ring holding the CD in place falling between them. You can see the in progress art for the cover mirroring this: here. A little over the top? Yes, but that's the goal. ;-)

Illustration Friday "Alone"

Illustration Friday "Alone", originally uploaded by seian.

Whew, squeaked in just in time. This is what popped up when I thought of the theme "alone". To see what Illustration Friday is all about, go: here.

WaterLily

WaterLily, originally uploaded by seian.

This piece I did in about 2 1/2 hours this morning. I used Amanda's beautiful lily photo as reference (with permission).

A Key for Inari

A Key for Inari
18"x14" w/1 inch border
Colored pencil on sienna brown paper

This piece draws inspiration from the kitsune and god Inari of the harvest - especially of rice and grain. In Japan at Inari shrines you can see fox statues holding granary keys in their mouths. An added amusment to me was that I'd unknowingly finished this piece April 8, which is Sangyo-sai, "Industry Day" when the prosperty of the nation is the goal of the festivities. I found this out when googling for background info to add to the piece. You can read more: here.

I've also got prints. And if you'd like to see a large version click: here. It was an interesting piece to do, and I think I've finally captured this particular theme and mood so I can let it rest.

illofriday "Travel"

illofriday "Travel", originally uploaded by seian.

Here's this week's illustration for Illustration Friday "Travel". This took longer than my usual, since I really got into doing the clouds. 2 1/2 hours about... and I was so focused I forgot to save until near the end. Thank goodness no computer errors to smack me for the lapse.