Thread "The 2009 Rant, Vent, and Share thread" in forum "Comic Talk and General Discussion *"

Posted at 12:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

What in the heck are my coworkers doing?!?

They're obviously going missing for their own reasons… Perhaps you should consider it too? at lest for a shift or two. You don't always have to say yes to extra work you know. :)

Someone should cover for YOU from time to time.

Posted at 2:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

@Eirikr

I'm playing p3, couldn't find p4 but i plan to get it eventually, even if it doesn't have hottie redhead Mitsuru in it :x

———–

*sigh* I've been reading webcomics/becoming accustomed to the webcomic standards or art and thinking i was starting to become good, when in reality i'm well below average compared to the comic artists being hired for work and DA.

I'm going to colorado on saturday, i can't believe how fast time just flew what the fuck did i do all month? eugh i just remembered same crap i do everyday >_o

Posted at 3:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

This conference thing is stupid. I can't figure out why they told us we should come. At least it's a web conference so I can safely ignore it and do my own work until something interesting comes along.

As it's a web conference there's a lot of audio cutouts (and subsequent 'can you hear me?') and one speaker has already been disconnected…. maybe I can duck out early and claim technical problems… I certainly don't want to sit here doing this til 4:30 (not least because leaving at 4:30 means I'm travelling in traffic).

I think I dehydrated myself the last 2 days walking around. I didn't drink much water because it was cool weather, but last night I had a huge headache and today I am tired and achy and wimpy :[

Posted at 3:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

*sigh* I've been reading webcomics/becoming accustomed to the webcomic standards or art and thinking i was starting to become good, when in reality i'm well below average compared to the comic artists being hired for work and DA.

It depends on the comic.
The difference you're talking about isn't quality, it's style. The current popular style in the dying mainstream western comics is very photographic. And in fact you'll often find that's because many scenes are copied from photos.
Not very difficult Skull. ;)
Even traded poser models.

Not all the time, and I'm no sort of reliable source on the making of any sort of comic, let alone American ones, but I've seen examples of what I'm talking about.
In any case, you can draw from imagination well enough. You understand the human figure and perspective, so if you can draw from still life and photos you can probably adapt your style to whatever you need to do.

This conference thing is stupid.

Duck out early! :)

Posted at 4:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

For style, I'd love to have one seen in the cutscenes of that flash game, Gangsta Bean.
I don't know why I like it so much, It just seems so awesome to me.

There's a few others I could mention (as I'm sure we all could), I'll just say, Afro Samurai Manga would be the coolest style for me to have, IMO.

————————————

This is the earliest I've woken up since…school. Every morning so far, I've woken up at like, 11 o clock, 10 o clock, and any time past that. I went to bed at 10:30 PM last night, after texting my best friend. And wow. Just something about waking up, and knowing you have the whole day ahead of you, really makes you happier. I woke up at 7:00 AM on the spot, no alarms, nothing.

As for my plans for today, I hope to plot the outline to the first Chapter of my comic. And then do some more anatomy study, since I didn't really get to yesterday (tons of working out, etc, etc).

I just hope that I don't end up re-starting my comic in another few months :\

Posted at 5:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

Duck out early! :)

I'm going to :] Actually my miserable headache came back. I'll try and hang in til the end of the current thing at 1:30 though although the front of my face is all arrrrgh.

Posted at 6:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

What in the heck are my coworkers doing?!?
They're obviously going missing for their own reasons… Perhaps you should consider it too? at lest for a shift or two. You don't always have to say yes to extra work you know. :)

Someone should cover for YOU from time to time.

With all the guys who keep doing the "no call/show" bit, there aren't enough people to cover for me. We've even had staff covering shifts. In any case we should be getting some fresh new hires soon; the "disappearing" employees are going to disappear from work for good if they keep this up.

In the meantime I'm going to go soak my feet in some freezing cold water. Standing for 4 hours straight in one place isn't fun.

Posted at 6:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

I forgot how much lookin' for jobs sucked. Just sayin'.

Internettin' in coffee shops still sucks, too.

The competition on which of the 7 bars in walking distance from my apartment will become my new "neighborhood bar" continues. I can't think of a contest more fun to judge, except maybe… well, use yer imagination on that one. But I'm leaning towards the one with the $2 Jameson. No, really. It's not a trick. And it's open 24 hours.

Also- I've been doing so much walkin' and so little eatin' that I've lost 5 pounds in a week. Sweet. 10 more to go and I'll be back in business. Wait. That sounded perverse. I meant "back in shape".

Posted at 9:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

So uh….hyena….i heard you were…uhhhhh…."getting into shape" lololol
——————————————-

speaking of getting into shape…i did me a 6:41 mile this morning, which is a personal best, better than the one on tuesday. and then i did 10:33 for my 500m swim. (in this stupid american pool it turns into 502, but whatever)

i'm hoping that by the end of next week, i turn this into a 1330 2 mile.how awesome would that be?

Posted at 10:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

many scenes are copied from photos.
Not very difficult Skull.

That implies some kind of cheat or cop out, whereas there's a long tradition of using photoreference to bring added depth and realism to comic art. Frank Hampson had a whole team of people building models, making costumes and posing photos when he did his classic Dan Dare strips for the Eagle.

Putting all that together and producing superb pages on a tight deadline is far from being a cop out and Hampson was not the only one to drive himself to an early grave in this way, which is why I am now stabbing myself in the eyeball with a toasting fork to hear it's not very difficult.

Ouch.

And before you say todays photocopyists fall short,http://www.seanphillips.co.uk/

Posted at 11:07AM, Jul. 9, 2009

Also- I've been doing so much walkin' and so little eatin' that I've lost 5 pounds in a week. Sweet. 10 more to go and I'll be back in business. Wait. That sounded perverse. I meant "back in shape".

Hahaha! sounds like a different sort of work lol!

That implies some kind of cheat or cop out

No it doesn't.

Skulbie was thinking the more realistic style was a big step up from the comic style she's doing now. What I'm saying is that it's not at all- rather it's exactly the same thing but using photo, life model, or poser model reference to get that look.

It's not very difficult to do if she already has the skills to do the drawing in the first place.

There's no cop-out implied, lot's of things are not that difficult to do if you've already got the skill-set and all you're doing is changing or modifying technique.

ARE you saying that a more photographic style IS some sort of a big step up and requires more refined skills?

As far as I'm concerned the skills are the same (as long as you can draw from life and understand perspective), the only thing that changes is perpetration: having to collect the referance material, model drawing etc.

Posted at 12:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

My family came home a day early. Hmph.

Posted at 1:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

As of today, I've lost about 63 pounds since February. I've watched every calorie and have been working out like a fiend.

Although still a fat-ass, my ass ain't as fat anymore! I can look down and see my feet when I am standing up now. I've lost 6 belt holes, about 8 inches around my waist. I'm getting there. About 40 pounds to go, then I'll be satisfied. ;)

Posted at 1:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

Hmm, I got this message at Youtube to submit an animation of mine to something called "Aniboom", particularly for this challenge -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvIxjDjyZoE&feature
It looks kind of interesting, but I don't know about submitting my animation there (or at least the particular "Ask Jack" one they want me to submit). It's only lineart, the sound is behind, and the first jokes in it would only make sense to people who have read my comic.

Though I am considering doing it anyway for exposure. XD I don't know though….Fox? >_>

Posted at 2:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

As of today, I've lost about 63 pounds since February. I've watched every calorie and have been working out like a fiend.

Although still a fat-ass, my ass ain't as fat anymore! I can look down and see my feet when I am standing up now. I've lost 6 belt holes, about 8 inches around my waist. I'm getting there. About 40 pounds to go, then I'll be satisfied. ;)

that's bad ass, man!
it pays to be consistent

Posted at 2:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

I can't get THIS SONG out of my head… well, short of having my brains extracted anyway. I guess it's time
for me to head out to the store and buy some instant Ramen then…

Posted at 2:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

ARE you saying that a more photographic style IS some sort of a big step up and requires more refined skills?

Absolutely not. It does require slightly different skills (many who are skilled realists are not so hot at more exagerated or 'cartoony' styles) but these can be learned and one approach is the equal of the other.

Apologies as I took you to mean that using extensive photo reference was an easy road and it already irks me that so many want to ignore our great comic innovators so they can pretend to be Japanese - hell, we took Benny Hill off the tv over here for just that kind of behaviour!

Posted at 5:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

As of today, I've lost about 63 pounds since February. I've watched every calorie and have been working out like a fiend.

Although still a fat-ass, my ass ain't as fat anymore! I can look down and see my feet when I am standing up now. I've lost 6 belt holes, about 8 inches around my waist. I'm getting there. About 40 pounds to go, then I'll be satisfied. ;)

Rock on, man!
good for you!
I hope you keep it up!

*sigh* I've been reading webcomics/becoming accustomed to the webcomic standards or art and thinking i was starting to become good, when in reality i'm well below average compared to the comic artists being hired for work and DA.
It depends on the comic.
The difference you're talking about isn't quality, it's style. The current popular style in the dying mainstream western comics is very photographic. And in fact you'll often find that's because many scenes are copied from photos.
Not very difficult Skull. ;)
Even traded poser models.

Not all the time, and I'm no sort of reliable source on the making of any sort of comic, let alone American ones, but I've seen examples of what I'm talking about.
In any case, you can draw from imagination well enough. You understand the human figure and perspective, so if you can draw from still life and photos you can probably adapt your style to whatever you need to do.

To add to Ozone's comments, the style of art in comics will always change.
Focus on finding your own voice instead of mirroring or comparing yourself to others in the industry. As Ozone said, you have the skills which is the most important thing. Now its time to find how you will use those skills to make your mark. Many of artists;… comic, web-comic, or fine art, lack the skills and try pass off crap and say, "It's my style.". But you have the skills. You're going to do fantastic. :)

Posted at 5:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

and one approach is the equal of the other.

Or, as I like to say…

Geof Darrow = James Kochalka

Any style is a good style as long as it lets you tell the story.

- - - - - - -

Speaking of art… I noticed that I tend to get obsessed with artists who are obsessed with architecture. Philippe Druillet, Tsutomu Nihei… and my latest discovery, Francoise Shuiten

http://zolora.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/gladius_0894_francois_schuiten_untitled.jpg
http://www.papier.jp/Book/SCHUITEN/Schuiten-CARAPACES%20sample%20page.jpg
http://www.papier.jp/Book/SCHUITEN/Schuiten-ZARA%20sample%20pagejpg.jpg
http://www.papier.jp/Book/SCHUITEN/Schuiten-Le%20Rail%20Sample%20page.jpg
http://www.nonsolomanga.it/imm_fumetti1/inclinata/bambina_02.jpg
http://www.nonsolomanga.it/imm_fumetti1/inclinata/bambina_10.jpg

Posted at 6:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

I gotta say- near starvation aside- it's f*ckin' great to be back in New Orleans. My neighbors actually talk to me and holler 'cross the street when they see me. People look you in the eye and say hello when you walk down the street. Men tell me I'm "lookin' good" without bein' sleazy or rude. I'm within walkin' distance of 4 corner stores, 7 bars, resturaunts, stores, a supermarket and a 24 hour drug store.

Like I said- it's great to be home. :)

Posted at 8:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

If i could be granted one wish (that wasn't infinite wishes) it would be to have my life be as easy as persona 3 ;-; That guy always has friends chasing after him for stuff to do and so many hot girls around ;–;

Yes…yes this would be my life as p3:
http://nipasa.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/ab11.png

Posted at 10:07PM, Jul. 9, 2009

THIS IS CTHULHU'S HUGE RANT ABOUT STUPID SHIT

deviantART
Just recently, I was banned from ol' dA. The reason? For trolling chatrooms about nine months ago. Granted, it's still one of the damn funniest things I've ever done, it still annoys me that I get the banhammer for hurting some poor li'l kids feelings, when the some of the most popular people on there are pedophiles. That post kiddy porn. And then don't get banned because the pushover of a mod staff is afraid of their fanbases going feral. "OH LAWDS AN OOGLE OF PEDOS BE MENSTRUATIN' ALLL OVER THE GOOD E-CARPET - WHAT IS WE GOINSTA DO???"

Social Networking Sites
"HEY, BRANDON, YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GET A MYBOOK OR A FACESPACE" Jeeeesus. Every time I go to one of these things, it makes me feel like an old person. While I'd rather meet someone face-to-face, the fact that today's youth is crawling into their homes thanks to today's technology making this all the more possible, makes this all the less possible. Speaking of this kind of crap, after making a Facebook finally, I got an unholy amount of friend requests, and I can't even see the messages I actually give a damn about without seeing twenty or so "HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ME?" "YOUR COLOR IS…" and other kinds of self absorbed jargon.

Brain Farts
Recently, I started writing a story. I was extremely proud of what I did; the entire intro and first paragraph or so in about two or three hours. Of course, after that, I stopped. And I haven't been able to continue onwards since. Yippee. And I haven't even been able to do the "write a random short story to jump start your brain" trick, either. It's the video games, I tells ya.

Hipsters
Ohhhh, Goddamn. Ohhhhhhh, Goddamn. These elitist pricks have annoyed me more times than I can count. As an example of their douchebaggery: I was talking to my brother about a band he liked. A band called Disturbed. For those of you that don't know, Disturbed is a metal/hard rock band. Anyway, this thick rimmed glasses wearing, ironic mustache having, veggie pizza eating hipster comes up to us and says "Frank Zappa had a better frontman than Disturbed." Jesus, what are you doing? Are you trying to impress us by name-dropping Frank Zappa? A progressive rock artist, being compared to a metal singer? Where in the hell is the correlation? It'd be like me saying "Well, pizza is fine, but I like glass because it's shiny." Personally, I think the tight jeans are just cutting off the circulation to their brains. I'm not sure how that quite works out, but it's the best explanation I can come up with.

Perez Hilton
Why didn't the Black Eyed Peas' manager hit you harder? And you're going to call will.i.am a faggot? Now, I'm not exactly going to defend Will here, but this is simply the biggest case of "pot calling the kettle black" I've ever seen. It's like Perez is trying to be the exact stereotype of what homophobes think of homosexuals. Honestly, I believe the Gay Rights movement would be better off without him. I mean (And I'm not saying I am) if I were a protester against Gay Rights, I'd be using Perez as an example of why all gays should be locked in a cage. Because, let's face it, if all gays were like Perez, they'd be an awful lot less heterosexual sympathizers.

I'm done. I think. Probably not.

Posted at 12:07AM, Jul. 10, 2009

Too busy getting down on myself for stupid stuff than doing anything else. This whole photography thing is really frustrating.

I dreamed the other night I started drawing my comic rather than using the photography. Downright scary.

Posted at 12:07AM, Jul. 10, 2009

Too busy getting down on myself for stupid stuff than doing anything else. This whole photography thing is really frustrating.

I dreamed the other night I started drawing my comic rather than using the photography. Downright scary.

Wow… I was using photography for a visual novel game I'm making. I'm not great at drawing
backgrounds, so I've been travelling around (fuel permitting) shooting places with my Canon
Powershot. Great camera for the price… (paid $140 for it). It's the one with that settings
knob on the top…

Posted at 1:07AM, Jul. 10, 2009

so i was biking downtown wearing some pants that i haven't worn in a while.
i forgot that the leg doesn't like to be rolled up, so when i was gunning it downtown, the pants got caught on the front cog and i pulled some things and dislocated my knee.

i managed to get my knee fixed, and check with a doctor and everything was fine. :V

stupid pants could have killed me.

and then last night, i had a dream where i nearly shiat my pants.
it was in a CoD4 search and destroy setting, but i was actually in it with real firearms. i was suppose to defend an objective which i failed at, and was trying to survive.

woke up thankful that i didn't have to serve at war.