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Sigune — First test strip
Published: 2011-05-21 16:11:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 1408; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 19
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Description
First test strip for my Gawain comic.I tried to keep the painting process itself as simple as possible because I have to be able to keep it up for hundreds of pages.
Line art was done entirely with a Faber-Castell PITT brush pen. I pencilled directly on the watercolour paper, with a watersoluble colour pencil, which I think was one of the better ideas I've had for this test.
Winsor & Newton watercolours in a Moleskine watercolour sketchbook.
Speech bubbles and lettering: done in Illustrator CS4. The font is Blambot's Red State, Blue State.
Constructive criticism would be very much appreciated
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Comments: 18
Looking really good - the only crit I would mention is, I found the sort of transparent word bubbles in the top panel a little distracting because my eye followed the tree trunks. But by the 2nd panel I was used to it, and perhaps it's an ideal answer to the bubbles blocking parts of your images entirely
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I made two versions, one with opaque and one with transparent bubbles. In the end I preferred the transparent ones because they look 'softer'... Maybe I should try it out with an entire page and see what it looks like. I didn't realise it might be distracting.
Thanks!
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Thank you!
I'm still working on it, but it's good to know I'm not going off in a completly wrong direction
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I liked it and understand why you did that type of coloring, but are you going to eventually detail it. I just see warmer colors for that type of story.
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Colour is something I really struggle with, so - well, I confess that I'm going for 'acceptable', because I know I'll never manage 'brilliant'.
If you say you expect 'warmer colours for that type of story', can you elaborate a bit? I know the colours of their clothes are very bright, but they are two Celtic princes and would have brightly coloured clothes. Personally I really have a problem with all those films and comics that pretend that the 'Dark Ages' were drab. Because they weren't.
As for detail, I'm afraid that's really it (apart from a pattern on their clothing here and there). There will be more detailed backgrounds where necessary. The thing is that I'm rather slow and my project is huge (180 pages right now and I have only just started). If I want to keep this feasible, I need to keep the process simple. I have to get used to it myself and I'm still searching.
I hope that after a hundred pages I'll get better and quicker and maybe manage some more elaborate art...
I'd welcome your opinion, so if you'd tell me a bit more, that would be great
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I LOVE That time period. My house is done in renaissance. I have a full suit of armor by my fireplace, and whole wall of that type of art. John William Waterhouse is my all time fav. and yes I agree they did use bright colors. I guess I was just wondering if you would go back and add detail to their costumes since they are both princes maybe a little bit of that could come across in their clothing. I'm excited to know more about the story. I read everything I can about Arthur, and his knights. my fav is Marion Zimmer Bradley, and Bernard Cornwell. I feel in love with with this right after I saw Excalibur in 81. I hope this helped. look forward to more of your stuff.
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The colors look great. Really lovely work. Personally I would prefer the talk bubbles to be opaque; right now you can faintly see the artwork behind them.
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I made two versions of the speech bubbles, one opaque and one slightly transparent. I chose the transparent ones because I think they look a bit softer with my pale watercolours.
Hm. I'll think it over
Thank you!
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commented chez toi. I'll just add that I much appreciate the choice of colouring a page with Owain 
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I thought you might
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ahah, but this looks totally innocent, even more so that it's coloured
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LOL! "Colour killed the slash"?
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I'm not an artist (yet) but I know what I like and I am liking this strip a lot. Love the shadings, colors and poses. More please!
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I'll do my best! I'm having trouble figuring out a way to do this that is quick enough *and* looks nice.
Thanks very much! That's encouraging
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This is amazing.
I am not an art expert, I am just an arthurian fangirl but- this is wonderful. I loved how you made Ywain/Owain so much different from Gawain. And the colors...
No, seriously, I think you should sell your comics. Or maybe you do it already? (if you do I NEED to BUY)
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I wish!
No, I'm writing/sketching the story (it's a very long one, I'm afraid; I'm at 180 pages at the moment and I have barely started my tale 
I'm really glad to hear you like my test strip! This comic is my pet project and I 
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