Mouse Guard Page Process

I wanted to share a bit about my process. I am usually bad about saving artwork in-process, but recently I made sure I grabbed a few pieces every few steps. The page I'm going over is page 19 from Winter 1152 #3 (if you haven't read it yet, you may want to wait to read this blog entry!)

--------------------------------

Step1: The

Outline

/Script.

For Fall 1152, I worked almost exclusively from an outline. I would finish the art then script the dialogue in-place having a good idea of what I wanted the characters to be saying. Sometimes it worked out great, other times, it proved to be daunting and frustrating.

So for Winter 1152, I still start with an outline, but now I also do some scripting before I draw. For Winter I sometimes write out a complete script for certain scenes, or jot quick ideas. Too often had I thought of the structure of the dialogue for the page, and later when the time came to add the words, I'd have forgotten them, so any ideas I have about dialogue I write them as soon as they hit me. For this page the dialogue was quick and idea-oriented. I marked the lines with 'A' and 'B' to note where on the page I thought those would be used. The 'lantern breaking' I originally planned for the next page, but for the final version, it occurs on this page.

Step 2: The Sketches & Layout

This is the step that feels the most like 'work' for me. It's a balancing act 'of which panel arrangements work best with the secession of actions I need to show on this page?' I tend to divide Mouse Guard pages on the 1/3 lines of the page, so I have a standard 'set' of layouts I can choose from and play with. The trick is to use the right shape panel to match the motion or viewpoint, or grouping of the characters, or at least to not have the two be in conflict. I try and imagine the panel I think is most important on that page (in this case Saxon riding the bat in the first panel was the one I focused on) and then work around that.

I sketch everything for a page in a sketchbook or on scrap paper. I try and focus on one panel at a time, sometimes even drawing separate elements from that panel and then composting them together on the computer later. Once I have sketches done for each panel, I scan them in and resize, rotate, and paste them into a page layout that matches the finished page size (12" x 12")

Step 3: Pencils.
I print out the sketches in the layout and use a light-box to transfer the page onto my Bristol. I clean up the image as I go, being more careful about contours & tangent lines. I like working this way because when I work on a drawing over and over on the same sheet of paper, I tend to get it very smudgy and dirty (which can work well when I'm rendering something in pencil, but not for inked work) This way, I have the minimum of pencil on the final bristol page and was able to work out all my erasing and re-drawing and fixing on the sketch paper or on the computer.

Step 4: Inks

I ink with Uni-ball Vision pens. They are waterproof and lightfast. For larger fill-in areas or textures like the bats wings, I use a '0' brush and Speedball Superblack ink. This is where the page starts really taking shape. I add the textures at this point, play with line weights, and fill-in the black areas. This part is one of the most enjoyable for me (sometimes overtaken by coloring). It's something I can work on most anywhere, so I can sit with my wife while she watches TV, or I can take it with me to coffee shops, or conventions.

Step 5: Colors

I color using Photoshop 7. Once I have the colors 'flatted' (establish what areas are what colors using just flat color) I only use the 'drybrush' brush for the dodge, burn, and paintbrush tools. I also found that adding 'color holds' (areas where the linework takes on a color) helped add depth to my work on Mouse Guard and now it's something that I think about as I'm inking the page "What gets 'held' on this page?". Originally I was worried about coloring Mouse Guard, not because I couldn't imagine the world in color, but because I was having trouble meshing my inks from Issue 1 of Fall with the colors. Ever since I found the right 'blend' I have really enjoyed coloring and pushing my work in ways I hadn't seen it going before I started Mouse Guard.

Step 6: Dialogue & Sound Effects.

Lastly, The dialogue is added. For this page, I went back to the method of writing and tweaking it after the artwork was done. I know Saxon's line in panel 1 was one that I came up with in the shower (where a great many of my better ideas come from). The idea to have the bats 'echo' one another was one that I had from the beginning, but hadn't noted it on the script. I am frugal with sound effects. I think there are a lot of them in comics that are either unnecessary or draw you out of the story because it looks like some clean type slapped on in photoshop. Here I had to have a crashy-hissy-burney-sizzly sound...bat flambe anyone?

--------------------------------

So, that's a walkthough page 19 of Winter Issue 3. Hope everyone enjoyed this and it wasn't too boring. At some point I'll try and record more steps in the coloring.

The Flu...

After having the nieces over for a long weekend, Julia and I have both come down with the flu (from what I hear it's a bad flu season this year). I am trying to use the times when I'm not having the chills, shakes, or sweats, to get some inking done.

While being sick, it's always nice to have the companionship of a dog. Autumn, or Anatolian Shepherd, has been very good about cuddling with us when we take naps and wrap up in blankets on the couch. She also seems to be more patient if it takes us longer to get to the door to let her out or back in..I think she can tell we are under the weather. She has taken to jumping up on our table on the deck where she can get a full bird's eye view of our neighbour's yards. I caught her with the camera today. Silly dog. The trick now is going to be getting her to not do that in summer when we have outdoor parties and picnics!

Podcast and Video:

ComiXology was kind enough to do a podcast interview with me. You can listen to that here.

And last summer The Comic Collective came by and did a video piece on me here in the studio. They have posted the 2 part video on their site found here

Calgary Comics Expo:

The fine folks who organize the Calgary Comics Expo in Alberta, Canada put together a great book for the show. They ask guests to do a western themed piece (Calgary is in the Canadian Rockies) and sell the hardcover book in full color. The original pieces are then auctioned off for charity. I did a western themed guard mouse riding an Eastern Horned Lizard (supposedly the only lizard native to Alberta)

Mouse Guard game:

While I can't share much about the official Board Game or the RPG yet, I have been toying with the idea of also doing a release of the game Saxon and Kenzie are playing in the epilogue of Fall 1152. I had to reverse engineer the game rules and play to match (or at least coincide) the images from the story. I have handcrafted this initial set that I hoped to playtest with pals this weekend. Unfortunately due to the flu, looks like it will have to wait.

Fan Art:

I was directed to the photobucket page of an artist that goes by SillyNate. It's a great take on the trio and if SillyNate is reading, thanks for the fan art, and I'd be happy to plug your website in this post.

Various Work

Snowy Valentines Day:

Been busy this last week and weekend with artwork. Unfortunately, I can't share most of it yet (covers for upcoming Mouse Guard issues, the hardcover and the RPG) But I can start to share some sketches I'm doing for an upcoming Children's book with Harper Collins called Snowy Valentines Day. It's based on the story I drew for Julia as a gift on our first married Valentines Day.  The story is being tweaked and added to so that it can be a full length picture book. The editors over at Harper Collins are fan of my Wind in the Willows illustrations and we decided to try and capture that style for the look of this book.

The new version include several friends the main character (now a rabbit) asks for help in finding the perfect gift for his bride. I have been having fun coming up with looks for the different critters homes and furnishings in fact the Rabbit's home has a few details of items that can be found in our real home.

Mouse Guard:

I have been working on some of the art for the Winter 1152 Hardcover (the little things like the tall nature panels that seperate the sections, the title page illustration etc...) Here is the dedication page illustration of Kenzie:

Cursed Pirate Girl:

A good friend of mine Jeremy Bastain has a book coming out through ASP this month called Cursed Pirate Girl. I have been very lucky for several years to sit by Jeremy and watch him work every Thursday night. He asked if I would contribute a pin-up for the first issue and I was pleased to. Jeremy's work is incredible. He can draw like an old master, he can conjure ideas more silly and twisted than Lewis Carrol & Arthur Rackham combined, and it's fun to read. You can take a look at Jeremy's artwork at his website

Fan Art:

I am also lucky that in the last few years, Nate Pride has attended those Thursday night sessions. His work is fun to watch apear on his paper as well. Back when I first started doodling Winter cloak designs for the Winter 1152 series, Nate slid this accross the table for me to peek at. I really liked the design and incorperated it into the mouse that represents Nate. (who has not yet appeared, but has been mentioned). Nate's website can be found here

------------------------

see ya next time

-David

First off, sorry about the blog silence. I am learning the dont's of working on many things at once. As a result, Mouse Guard 3 has been late, and I am very sorry. It is scheduled to be out in your LCS in February. It is at the printer currently. I have posted a preview of Issue #3 at the Mouse Guard Website: Issue 3 Preview


I also would love to share the cover to issue #4. So far, it is my favorite cover and one that I am keeping (Julia twisted my arm to keep the cover of Fall #4 when it came out, funny that Fall's #4 is her favorite and Winter #4 is mine). I have had it set as my desktop for a long time now, but wanted to wait to show it until issue 3 was soon-to-hit.



In preparing for the Mouse Guard Role Playing game, I started drawing pages of small mice in different cloaks and with different weapons or representing different trades. Some of the excersice was for me to quickly nail down some design ideas of mice that have been mentioned, but never seen. The other goal was to push the idea of how many lifestyles, roles, etc make up the Guard and support the Guard's work. Role Playing isn't about who has better stats or just snicker-snacking hundreds of foes...it's about character.



Fan Art:
Again I wanted to share a piece of fan art, this time done by my friend Mike Davis. Mike and I have known each other since we took art class in middle school together. He was in my wedding and is the basis for one of the mice in Mouse Guard. He sent over this little doodle and I slapped some color on it. Thanks Mike!!


And one last misc. piece. Last spring Julia's cousin Ian was having a birthday and we covertly had her uncle ask him who his favorite Star Wars character was. Answer: Boba Fett
Watercolor on Reives printmaking paper.







I'll try to post again soon.

Merry Christmas!

Julia and I have had a wonderful Christmas. We spent time with family, and did our annual ornament exchange with one another. We both hope that readers of the blog had a great holiday and will continue to over the course of the week leading up to 2008.

For Julia, I continued my tradition of making something as her gift. We needed a hall bench that had to fit some odd requirements (it had to have a narrow projection so that both the front and closet doors could open, it needed storage for gloves and scarves etc, and it needed to be up off the floor enough to not block the heat vent along that wall. Using my Dad's woodshop, I did the construction and assembly, but after a bad polyurithane&stain combo-mix in the 11th hour, my Dad came to the rescue and put in some extra hours after I left to make sure I was giving Julia a gift and not a mess. Thanks for the help Dad!!

Christmas Eve I got a call from Mike Glover at our local ABC affiliate station WXYZ. They had done an interview with me about Mouse Guard a few months ago, and was letting me know that the piece was going to run on the 5pm news (it also was re-run on the 11pm) Today they posted the video on their site, take a look. Thanks to Mike and WXYZ!!

I'm thinking about a new 'feature' for the blog: Mouse Guard fan art. I have recieved a few pieces over this last year, and I think I'll try and make it a point to share one or two per post for a while. To get it started, here is a piece e-mailed to me by Darren C. Ball http://www.cowtato.com/

Thaks Darren!!

*also note, Ramayan 3392 Reloaded #3 (with my backup story) will be out in stores Jan 2nd...or 3rd depending on how the holiday effects the shipping schedule)

Hanuman Backup Story for Ramayan 3392:
I was asked by Ron Marz a while back if I would be interested in joining Brandon Peterson, Mike Oeming, Jim Sarlin, and Bart Sears in doing a 3 page backup story to appear in Virgin Comics' Ramyann 3392. Each story is designed to tell a bit of background info on one of the main characters and Ron thought I'd be a good match for the monkey-god Hanuman. It was an interesting project because the 3rd page also acts as a variant cover, so the 3rd page had to be drawn first to make it in for previews. Ron said he would draft a script for pages 1 & 2 to lead up to whatever I drew as the splashpage/cover for page 3. I had a fun time working on it and Ron was good to work with. It seems like there is a delay with this issue coming out, but when I get some on-shelf-date info, I'll let you know. Until then, here are my 3 pages sans-text:

  

2008 Appearances:

The year is winding down, which means it's time to nail down where I'm going next year. So far, this is a tentative list, but here is what I have planned:

Flint Public Library Reading Jan 5th
Mott Community College signing March 4
Flint Institute of the Arts signing/gallery opening March 29
New York Comic con April 18-20
Calgary Comics Expo April 26-27
Motor City Comic Con May
Wizard World Philly May 30-June 1
Wizard World Chicago June 26-29
San Diego Comic Con July 24-27
Gen Con Aug 14-17
Comic Geek Speak Sept 6-7
Baltimore Comic Con: Sept 27-28

Speaking of Cons, Here is a colored con-sketch I never got around to posting with the earlier batch. It's always fun when I get to draw something non-mousey (not that I don't love drawing them)

I think this was done at the Baltimore show (?)

for a fan on the hellboy.com message board.

And Lastly Issue 3 of Mouse Guard is taking longer than I expected, so it will be late (looking at Jan '08). I am very sorry about that, trust me. Here is a preview of what's to come for Celanawe & Lieam in color

-The Mouse Guard PVC figures have arrived!!!

I ran out to my local comic shop (Detroit Comics in Ferndale, MI) and snapped a photo of the trio all boxed up and sitting on the display table. Yay!!! It's very cool to have these guys out in time for Christmas. Word from Diamond is that the Lieam plush will follow 'in a few weeks'. I hope that can be out for Christmas as well. I can't explain how cool/surreal it is to walk into a shop and see figures of your creation...

-2008 Appearances:

I have not posted my full 2008 convention schedule yet, but I plan on nailing it down before the new year arrives. For now thought I wanted to highlight two that are coming up sooner than later and I wanted to get the info out.

-Mouse Guard Reading at the Flint Public Library.

The reading date has been moved again. I'm sorry

about any confusion this may cause, but the reading

is now set to take place Saturday January 5th at 2pm

Two of my close friends (of whom Lieam and Kenzie

are based) will be helping me read a selection of Fall

1152 aloud while the images of the book are projected.

directions to the Flint Public Library

-Mouse Guard Gallery Show

The Flint Institue of the Arts (FIA) has offered to display

original Mouse Guard artwork and asked me to do a slide-

show presentation/Q&A and signing. The gallery opening

and presentation will be Saturday March 29th.

FIA website

-Death Ray Magazine

A UK Sci-Fi magazine called Death Ray did an interview with me and is now out on newsstands (Issue #8). Big thanks to Clair who did the interview and to Death Ray for the oppertunity to reach a UK audience!!

Death Ray website

-Robotika Pin-up

It's time to share some artwork...

I am a fan of Alex Sheikman's Robotika book and was very pleased that he and ASP decided to do a 2nd series of the title. Alex's work on the first book was really cool and well designed, but it has been outdone by the artwok for series 2 (He has sent me page scans and given me an inside view of what's to come). We agreed to do a pin-up exchange. So to help promote that issue 1 of Robotika: For a few Rubles More will be in stores later this month, here is the pin-up I did for Alex. Check out the book and Alex's site and blog!!

Thanksgiving

It's the time of year where we are supposed to reflect on what we are thankful for. And while I am very thankful for the success of Mouse Guard and all that it has allowed me to do, I am most thankful for the people in my life that I get to share that with.

I am also very thankful for the fans who made that all possible.

Comics Now Magazine:

The folks over at Comic Geek Speak are launching a new comics magazine. I enjoy their podcast and they have been very supportive of Mouse Guard and asked me to contribute a poster for the 1st issue!! The first issue is due out in local comic shops next week (Nov. 28th)

Wish I had more to share. I'll have a few announcements next post.

The first sketchbook....

I received an e-mail the other day from a Mouse Guard fan who mentioned the first sketchbook I released*. He thought it would be good to share the images with the fans who may have not ever seen them due to the limited printing. I don't want to share the whole sketchbook, mainly because of the flaws I see in many of the images. This sketchbook was done after Issue 1 was out in black-and-white, but before the color version had been released. (I had promised when the b&w #1 came out, that I would have the next issue at the following Motor City show, however, Archaia became my publisher and Issue 2 wasn't going to be out until after issue 1 was colored and released through them. So as an olive branch to the fans I promised #2 to, I had a sketchbook ready).

There are images in the sketchbook I'd like to re-investigate still. Some were just ideas I thought of as I was drawing them, some were specific attempts to nail down a scene in their history or for an upcoming series. Here are a few of my favorites from that sketchbook:

Spiderwebs:

We were house-sitting for some friends of the family when I was drawing most of this sketchbook. They had a lush backyard with gardens and lots of trees, and a pond & waterfall (in fact the water Lieam ,Saxon, and Kenzie cross at the beginning of issue #3 is based on the waterfall there) I found a nice big web between some gaps in the rocks while exploring the gardens. So this image came about. Later on the ASP forums (which have taken a leave-of-absence) MG fans were debating what materials mice could use for raw-textile materials. Silkworm-silk was mentioned, and so were cottons and other plant fibers, but one that got me thinking about this sketch was spider webs. It also made for an interesting mouse trade of web gathering; a dangerous job, but worth the payoff because of the quality of the material. I have included this textile and web hunting info when e-mailing Luke Crane in the Mouse Guard Role playing Game

Wolves:

Mouse Guard started as a different story with many species of animal, including wolves. So when the mice became the focus of the stories I wanted to tell and the rest of the world became a backdrop that the mice never want to see, the wolves became backdrop as well. However, I included their presence in the end of the Fall series beyond the mysterious 'scent border'. I don't know exactly how Sadie is going to fare against this beasty, but I do like the idea that a skilled Guard could take down a lone wolf. I have more plans for the wolves and the 'scent border' in future MG series.

Barrels of Ale:

Concerning mice....quite content to ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk...a passion for food...the smoking of pipes...and a keen interest in the brewing of ales. When figuring out how mice would live, what pleasures they take, I kept coming back to the life of a Hobbit..because, who doesn't want to live in the Shire really?? It's relateable and I wanted my mice to have that. This drawing of Saxon sitting on an ale barrel was something I looked at later when doing the epilogue with Saxon and Kenzie in the Lockhaven Casks. I worried a bit about having the mice drink alcohol when MG is such a kid-friendly book. But, I don't feel like it's a problem really. With the exception of Conrad, the drink is all depicted as being consumed in moderation. It's an authentic part of medieval life (both real and fantasy) and ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist seemed like the more harmful message than to show a mouse with a tankard or two of some stout brew.

Midnight:

The original character concept was to have a mouse with all black fur and not a hair of any other color. This sketch shows that I intended to ink the fur in, but realized when it was time to include him in the books, that it would be too difficult to make him look interesting and not like an ink spill (especially in his armor). This was the first design for the armor. Many of the elements stayed, but I simplified the design knowing that I'd be drawing LOTS of mice with it eventually. The sword is based on the pin-up artwork provided by Jeremy Bastian in issue 6. It was actually the first pin-up turned in for the series. I liked the sword design so well that I not only toyed with Midnight having it, but I also gave it to Lieam after he cuts his binds. Jeremy also out-did me on Midnight's armor when he did his pin-up for issue 5. I really like how he modified my design...if that armor is ever seen again, I'll be looking to Jeremy's piece again for inspiration.

Sadie's Bell:

As a part of Sadie's background I had her rejoining the Guard's patrol after being stationed at the shore outpost Frostic. Frostic will play a larger role in future MG stories. The bell Sadie is ringing here is a part of Frostic and has be incorporated into the design of that location now. I'm not fond of Sadie's face and ears in this drawing though, but I do like the 'negative space' wave splashing against the rock holding them both up.

Becoming a Guard:

I knew becoming a guard was going to be a special occasion, and wanted to try sketching out what that ceremony may look like. Since then Luke Crane (who is writing the MG RPG) asked me "how does one become a Guard? What is the training? what is the time-frame?" It got me thinking about this image again. I may show the ceremony down the road, and if I do, I'll start with this image, throw in equal parts Hogwarts sorting ceremony and A New Hope's medal scene and dust with a touch more of Edmund Leighton.

So there ya have it, 6 of the pages from the first sketchbook. Next post I'll try not to blather on as much.

*This was the 2nd sketchbook I released, but the first one had a print run of under a dozen, so at the time of this post, I was acknowledging this as the 1st

Ludington trip:
My Dad and his wife Rki invited Julia and I up to their new summer house in Ludington this last weekend. Ludington was our summer camping spot when I was a kid, and I still love the West Coast of Michigan. It was on the beach just north of our campsite that I proposed to Julia about five years ago. Anyhow, Dad & Rki's house is great and it was nice to spend the weekend with them in the lovely fall weather. We made a few trips out to the beach and was able to let Autumn run free one of the days. Got some lovely photos for future Mouse Guard stories and some nice shots of the lighthouse. Check out some of the photos from the weekend at my Flickr page

Update on the Mouse Guard site:
I updated the Mouse Guard site with a preview to issue #2 of Winter 1152 (in stores Oct. 31st), a gallery of pages available for sale, and I opened the character section. All that and more news over at mouseguard.net

German Limited Edition Hardcover:

I was asked by Cross Cult, the German publisher of Mouse Guard, to do a new print to be inserted in their upcoming limited hardcover of Fall 1152 (or Herbst 1152 as they say.) I left the text out of the banner so that I could digitally add it to be either in English 'Harvest' or German 'Ernte'. Here is the image in English.

I was inspired by the peasant paintings of Pieter Bruegel the elder, a few scenes from Disney's Alice, and the scenes of Bilbo's birthday from both the Bakshi & Jackson versions of LotR.

Kendal College of Art & Design:

I recently spoke at Kendall in Grand Rapids, MI as a guest of the digital illustration department. The turnout was good and the students seemed to enjoy what I had to say. I talked about artistic process, things to do to promote yourself, the business side of making artwork for a living, and technique. It was a pleasure to talk to students who are really invested in making their artwork a career focus. So, a big Thank you to the Digital Art Department for having me out and the students who attended for a good round of Q&A.

Conrad's History:

This story came up at the Kendall talk, and I figured I would share how Conrad came to be. Guy Davis had seen the Mouse Guard figurines even before Mouse Guard was a book. He asked me at every Motor City show I brought them to "Will you sell them"? I always said "No". My thinking was that if I sold my Saxon or Lieam, I'd never be able to sculpt another that I would like as well as the first one. Then it hit me, I'd sculpt a mouse just for Guy (who was very supportive Mouse Guard getting off the ground). This mouse would be a nobody. Not a character from my book, just a generic mouse that I wouldn't have the attachment issue with. The night I started sculpting it, I wasn't having much luck. I had started using Super Sculpy instead of the regular stuff I was used to. Among other problems, I couldn't shape two feet that matched. Frustrated, I picked up a watercolor brush with all the paint chipped off the handle and snapped it. I took the short end of the handle and crammed it up in the mouse's leg socket thinking "now I only have to sculpt one leg"! Then I ripped his ear, and added an earring (really a loop for stained glass suncatchers) By the time I was handing the mouse off to Guy, I knew it had to be a character in Mouse Guard. So I asked Guy "What's his name"? Guy said "We will let Rosie (his fiancée) pick, I'd just come up with something dumb like Conrad" Rosie did come up with a name, but I was already attached to Conrad, so I used her suggestion "Calogero" as the outpost home he lived in.