Her Happiness

Launched over at Facebook was the small meme Handmade 2013 in the first week of the new year. Essentially, it's just what it is; the promise to make five handmade projects for the first five people to comment on that status update.

It took exactly three minutes for me to have too many. But, first come, first serve. And, lucky for me, first on the list was a very special person to my heart. And so, a couple days ago, I delivered to her the first of my Handmade 2103 projects.

"Her Happiness" by Charlie Irons

This piece - well, the original, anyway - is completely hand drawn and inked by myself. And was it a challenge. It's been quite some time since I had to consider this much planning; as I wouldn't be able to use any of the post production editing and flash I have come to depend on from software - a fear I've already expressed in my comic.

The subject was easy enough; hummingbirds always appear to her when life gets its darkest; bringing her joy and hope. I wanted this image to do the same whenever she saw it, so I drew off of a variety of hummingbird images (You would not believe how many kinds of hummingbirds there are in the world!) and some images she had been showing me. The art nouveau style was a common theme in a lot of those images, not to mention a style we both like.

For me this was both a labor of love, as well as a reconnection to my old ash can comic roots back in the hey day of the indie comic scene from the mid 1980's. That combination really brought a lot of joy to me, in doing this piece, and the urge to maybe do more; expanding my work back into a more art realm.

Gourd in the Head...

I know things have been nearly dead silent, here, as of late. Between getting things swinging over at Neverland Transit Authority with the new Galactic Gun story - “The Twisted case of Station 77” - and the quick break... all four days of it... before Summer quarter kicked off this week, with its usual delays, issues, and trouble, there's not been a lot of time and energy to get anything posted here in quite a while.

But, I've just completed the silly but fun first exercise for my Photoshop class.

I was given this...

And on a single layer,using the selection tools, I created this...

Mister Potato who?



What makes this so much cooler is that it was also the first spin of my very first drawing tablet, ever*. And I did it without cussing and shot putting it through an open window.

So, there; little victories, I suppose.

*Technically this is my second Wacom tablet. The first I had in 2002, a gift from a friend, at the time. It had a three inch drawing square and was pretty much useless, at the time.

Building character...

Just a couple of bad asses out for a stroll...

Despite the rather tongue and cheek approach I take with Galactic Gun, there are a lot of aspects - some rather serious - I'd like to take the comic and its stories. To that end, I've often wondered how effective the cartooning style I'm often to use is. Times like those produce imagines like these; where I take the pivotal characters of the Galactic Gun universe, and give them a more “realistic” look.

This gives me the more legitimate look, for sure; something needed to be taken more seriously as a Graphic Novelist. But, I wonder... and, maybe worry... if, in getting more to a standard look, I might be sacrificing some of the more expressive tools of the characters and their stories.

Whether I'm trying to use cartoons to express seriousness, or illustrations to be funny, I fear something's going to be a little lost in the translation. All the more reason to keep hunting for that just right look; blending the spectrum of design.

I don't know; what do you think...?

Meanwhile... in art class...

Mask, Mug, and The Bottle makes Three by Charlie Irons
Charcoal and pencil on paper

Just in case you thought I'd stop being all artist like in my non-design class. We just started perspective, so expect something wacky and fun, soon.

A post from the Nowhere...

So, as you can see - or not see, since there's been nothing new to see, for a while - I've been a bit busy, here at Neverland Transit Authority's Grand Central, to keep up with postings at My Office. Something I seek to rectify in the coming days.

But, what, you may ask, have I been busy with? School...

This little marvel is my first full outing using Adobe Illustrator; the dreadful craptastic program that's the standard in Graphic Design, these days. (Care to ask how I feel about it?)

The assignment was to create a self portrait illustration based off a photo of yourself. So, tell me; how'd I do?

Eh... it's my first Illustrator piece, and that's an old picture, anyway. Meanwhile, in my typography class, we're playing around with letters as design. A lot of my fellow classmates went for regal stuff. Me? I ended up a little off the beaten path...

Taking an upper case "C" in the font "Micro Stencil", I spun a set of four at 90 degree breaks, grouped them, then repeated the grouping down a diagonal path. Then, I repeated the path across the page.

The result, here, is a chain like pattern. Initially I was playing off the stencil breaks to create a path like design. Of course, that's before I noticed that the "C" isn't, exactly, symmetrical.

Oh well, at least I'm happy with the result; which looks a little 1970's style decor texture. (Seriously, I think my mom had a purse with this design in a gold pattern relief.)

In the next couple of days I'll have a slew of posts, including a review of the latest comic news, music reviews, and some other random art. Hopefully, by next quarter, things will have settled down enough where I can get back to doing these things more regularly.

Hopefully...

Penciled in...

Letter ART by Charlie Irons
pencil and charcoal on paper

So, in my art class, we've been working with charcoal and graphite pencils to create line, volume, and values. It's been so long since I've used this particular medium...

Some, twenty years, now, to be honest...

... that I've had an interesting time getting the hang of it, again. However, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it, again; evidenced at the left.

These are actual objects that were set up to draw in class, this week; large letters and balls light by spots to create tone value and highlight perspective. We then did a pass to give a neutral gray over the page, and used layering and erasing.

Some of my sclaes are off, but my teacher was impressed when I was finished. Me? I was rather pleasantly surprised this didn't go down like a flaming bag of poo...

Justin Bailey by Charlie Irons
art pencils on paper

Has all this playing around with pencils affected me, any? Well, take a look to the right, here, and tell me. Usually, when I draw my comics - or almost anything, these days, to be honest, I throw down with a loose blue pencil, first. Then I go back and fill in with ink. But, this afternoon, I thought I'd give Justin Bailey, from Neverland Transit Authroity's Galactic Gun a go in pencil; something I haven't done in damn near three years.

Sure, it's rough. But then, as I finished it, that I kind of miss the old rough look. Not that I'm gonna kick down to this look on any regular basis. Just that it's neat to see, every now and then.

Who knows; maybe it'll show up in a sotry, somewhere...?

Character Building

With the next story getting ready to get under way at Neverland Transit Authority, in June, I'm already working to build up characters, settings, and script on the next story after that; tentatively titled Galactic Gun: The Advetures of Justin Bailey in Wedding Bell Blues.

While I can't really share the particulars of the story - the who, what, why, where, and when, I can show off a little something I'm very proud of...

This is a high ranking priest of  a religious school of thought that the crew of the No.7 will be encountering, down the road. In constructing him, I had a lot of fun coming up with the various reasons why he dresses the way he does, where the religious philosophy started, and all that.

These kind of considerations may seem a little over involved, especially since the reader may never get to learn of every nuance behind what they see. But, giving these characters a substantial history adds weight to their believability; even if they are a member of a fictitious space clergy.

Wedding Bell Blues will follow The Twisted Case of Station 77 and the Galactic Gun short that follows it. Hopefully it'll start Spring of 2013.

Abstracted

Abstract thumbnails by Charlie Irons
charcoal on paper

Just a little something I did for art class. Got me a B+; could have been an A, but it's a little too loose for the teacher. Need to tighten up the shapes and add a little more value change for the next project...

Chuck is a happy art student, again!!!

This is It

This is It by Charlie Irons
Photoshop collage

Well, as I've previously mentioned, I'm back in school for the first time in... a very long time. I've started the long road to an art degree in Graphic Design; hopefully earning me a better paycheck down the road. Well, one can hope.

This is one of the lesson's I just completed for a class. Using different photo elements - representing some important things to [me], the assignment was to create a collage inside a masked outline of yourself (head, or full figure) or your hand.

Now, I'm not too terribly fond of these things, but, well, this one didn't suck as bad as I thought. So, I thought I'd share.

Sketch Daily: March 30th - Free Draw



Off Her Chest by Charlie Irons
pen & ink w.Photoshop

It's Free Draw Friday over at Sketch Daily! And, in honor of National Cleavage Day, I give you... BEWBS!

I have to say, not one of my better pieces, for sure. Of course, I did whip this out in about thirty minutes with no real plan.

But, hey... I got to draw bewbs!

And, since I've had zero time this past week, to participate, you can bet I wasn't going to pass this up.

Man, I need to get out more often...

Sketch Daily for Marth 19th: Power Up!

Power Up! by Charlie Irons
Photoshop

Today's Sketch Daily assignment: concepts of any of the pretty abstract power-ups from old video games.

As abstract old video games go, this, I think, sure fits the bill!

Sketch Daily for March 16th: Free Draw Friday!

Kiss by Charlie Irons
pen & ink with Photoshop

I love Free Draw Friday on Sketch Daily.

I love boobies.

So, today, Free Sketch Friday has... BOOBIES!

Okay, okay; the honest truth?

I have been dying, lately, to stretch out my old art skills; do something much less cartoony, and much more, legitimately, artistic. And having this photo floating around, I thought, I'd give it a try.

Looks like my inner artist is still alive. He's a little undernourished, but still alive, none the less. I'm looking forward to more of this sensual style art deco pin-ups.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be in my bunk...

Sketch Daily for March 14th: "Pi Day"

Pi Pie by Charlie Irons
pen and ink on paper

So, someone birthed the most ridiculous Internet meme; March 14th and "pi day". I kid you not...

So, today's Sketch Daily assignment was; "Today is Pi Day! Draw us a circular object, or a pie if you're feeling hungry." Being a lover of numbers, and pie, I decided on the only logical solution; a pie made of pi.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I am really, really hungry...

Sketch Daily: March 13th - "Do the Dali"



Breaching Surreal City by Charlie Irons
pen and ink on paper

Today's assignment was to do something in the style of surrealism.

Okay, so I'm no fan of melting clocks...

Sketch daily for March 12th: "Nope"

Nope, Don't Wanna by Charlie Irons
pen and ink on paper

Today's assignment: sketch something absolutely frightening or disgusting that you don’t ever want to deal with or experience.

With my 38th birthday in seven days this is the big fear on my mind, right now. Like the song says; "Hope I die before I get old..."

Sketch Daily March 9th: Bunnies!

BUN-ney! by Charlie Irons
pen and ink with Photoshop

Topical?

Today's assignment was a free draw Friday; showing off anything you're working on. Since I'm working on remastering the old pages from the last Galactic Gun story, over at Neverland Transit Authority, I opted for the alternative challenge; bunnies.

I know, I know; Easter is still a ways off. Doesn't quite feel like it, though; with stores already gearing up for it.

Kind of a break from the idea of "sketching", I know; using Photoshop, and all. I'm not the only one who, from time to time, does this as a "sketch". Just this one kind of felt like it called for it...

Sketch Daily March 7th: Happy Sprites... or Spirits?

Today's assignment came with the heading "Happy Sprites", but inside the write up said "spirits". So, why not a sprite made happy on spirits?

Spirited Sprite by Charlie Irons
pen and ink on paper

Sketch Daily March 6th: "Scary Monster"

So, the biggest disappointment for me, artistically speaking, has been that, since getting going on Neverland Transit Authority's Galactic Gun: The Adventures of Justin Bailey, I do very little, if any, free doddle time. Basically, when sitting in front of a blank page, I can't come up with a single thing to draw that isn't something to do with my comics. I hate that.

Reddit to the rescue!

More specifically, Reddit's Sketch Daily sub Reddit; where a moderator dolls out a different sketch assignment each day.

Today, March 6th, was my first day. The assignment was a scary monster. How'd I do?

Scary Monster by Charlie Irons
pen and ink on paper

 I'm going to try and keep up with the daily assignments, to keep my creative juices flowing, and, hopefully, get my mind going into directions it usually doesn't, or has stopped going to, all together.

Then, I'll post them up here at The Conductor's Office for everyone to check out; along with any little blurbs that might come to mind about said picture.

Who knows; this may be the birthplace of new characters, or even whole stories.

A banner idea!

What you're squinting at, above, is my very first banner! It's impossible to believe, but, getting on two years for Neverland Transit Authority, and I have yet to drop the comic into more than just one web ring.

I know, really; "how has that even been possible," you're asking. (Well, okay, I would hope you'd care enough to ask.)

Well, I won't bore you with the psychological ramblings behind the why; just that I've finally gotten off my duff and am doing something more about it than a weekly, random dump on Reddit.

I have to admit, though; this was a fun little exercise. As soon as I can make me some fancier ones - animated, linked, etc., I'll be showing them off and offering them up for the linking and posting.

At any rate, here it is; my first banner...

UPDATE!

And now it's official! NTA Comics has joined Top Web Comics! Click the banner, below, to vote for yours truly over at TWC, right now!!!!!!!

Well, it's a look...

Kali by Charlie Irons 2/8/12

You know, although I'm very happy with the expressiveness and readability of the current render style of the characters of Galactic Gun - as much dictated by economy of time, as by intent, I'm never satisfied with it.

I know I can do "better". Or, at the least, I know it can look better.

So, I'm constantly playing with my art style, exploring possible other looks for the world of Justin Bailey and his crew of misfits. The idea is to increase the visual aesthetics of the story to draw the reader deeper in.

In short, to create the best possible comic experience I can.

"Cutie Kali", here, is one such recent attempt during one of my latest character jams. She's about as close to manga, I suppose, than I will ever feel comfortable with. (Saying a lot when you learn that, in my early teens, manga was the only style I wanted to draw in. Hey, I was young.)

I'm still hammering out what the "new look" will be for the comic, after the conclusion of The Twisted Case of Station 77; or even the order of the stories, for that matter. No matter what, though, you can rest assured I'm always playing around with how to make my comics better for your reading pleasure.