So, I failed at making a 24 hour comic. Instead, I made 7 inked comic strips. I was pretty bummed early on because the comic shop I was going to do it at cancelled the event. I ended up just working in my studio alone, which is NO FUN AT ALL :(
But I'm pretty happy with what I made off with. Writing 24 punch lines would have been pretty much impossible anyway. I had a hard enough time with these seven. I knew it was time to quit when I drew Alex's hand backwards in the last strip. Better to cut my losses and take what I could get.
Eventually I will finish these up properly and post them on my website. I miss doing this comic!
it's this Saturday! I'm actually going to be doing my 24 hour comic in Lowell this year @ Larry's Comics "the 5th Largest, 11th Nicest Comic Shop in New England". I've actually never been there, because the last time I was in Lowell was like, 5th grade to visit the mills on a school field trip. My first year not participating up in Maine :( I will miss you crazy Portland comicers!
I think I'm going to do a similar thing that I tried a few years back but left early and never actually made any progress on. Instead of trying to create a whole new 24 page short comic, I'm just going to do 24 comic strips. I'm not sure if I'll be making 24 Apt C-3 strips, 24 2:15 strips, or 12&12 of each. We'll see... It'll be a good chance for me to take a break from my Ravenstar project and get a good chunk of my webcomic strips under my belt. Maybe it'll be the push I need to really get back in the groove with those.
In addition to being 24 Hour Comics Day, October 2nd also marks the 1 year anniversary of the opening of Jay Shay Gallery! We made it without going bankrupt! I still can't believe it's been a whole year since I opened up! How the time flies...
In other news- I'm moving to Ipswich in November with two of my friends from high school... who both now happen to be teachers. I am looking forward to apartment living again! Just hope I can afford it- AH!
Which reminds me, I still have my art up for sale: HERE and am still always taking commissions: HERE
I've decided to sell over 15 of my fan-art pieces that have been just sitting around in my studio. I would love to see them go to homes where they will be displayed somewhere other than my ugly portfolio file folder thing. If you're interested in any of these pieces, just send me an email!
js@jayshay.com
I accept paypal, personal check & money orders! Shipping is included in all prices.
also, sorry for all the deviantart links- I didn't feel like reuploading all the images to blogger, because I'm lazy! Click on any image to see a larger version.
Penelo is 9x12 and created with Watercolor, Ink, and Colored Pencil. She as a little ink scribble in the top left hand corner (not shown) And yes, I know her colors are wrong.
Ed & WInry (with kitty) from Fullmetal Alchemist, Steampunked. They are also 9x12, though the actual "live area" of the painting is 9x10. Watercolor & Ink
After what was most likely an epic battle, Makoto repair's Chibiusa's damaged Sailor Scout uniform. 9x12, live area of painting is 8.5x9.5 Watercolor & Ink
I have mixed feelings about selling this one, because Pride & Prejudice and Final Fantasy VIII are 2 of my brother's favorite things! If you want this one, you best love them both as much as he does, lol! 9x12, live area is 9x9.5 Watercolor & Ink
The only reason this one is so much more than the others is because I LOVE IT SO MUCH and the only way I'm letting it go is for a good price. Seriously, I might change my mind in a minute and not sell her! WAH SHE IS BEAUTIFUL! 12x9, live area 11x8.25 Watercolor & Ink
Zutara $40
Zuko & Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender, 9x12 Watercolor & Ink
So these last few weeks have been very strange for me. We had a death in the family that put most of my work on hold for the most part, but I'm starting to get back on track now.
Previously, I signed up to be part of Ohayocon's Artist Alley, which is a non-fanart alley (which seems weird to me, being an anime convention and all) So I've taken the opportunity to design my characters as adorable little chibis :) Not sure what I'll do with them yet... magnets? Stickers? keychains? any ideas? who knows... but look how cute!
I've also thumbnailed through Chapter Five! How accomplished! Right now I'm finishing up the watercolor panels that I had to re-do for chapter one, and it will be complete! That will feel good to have it finally fully finished.
On another note, I recently had a little breakdown (as all artists do) on the direction (or lack there of) that I am going as an artist- and a person in general really. But I've taken this as an opportunity to change things in my life. I'm currently looking into a new waitressing job at a more upscale establishment which will provide me with more money in less hours, opening up more time to dedicate to my art. Right now I feel like all I do is work at the restaurant, come home, and sleep. I also got offered to room with a few friends of mine, but considering my financial and home situations, I've decided now is not the best time. Perhaps next spring I'll finally get out on my own again. That will be nice.
In other news, I have also been wasting my time drawing fanart. So it goes...
Recently I've come to the realization that I am in no way nearly as productive as I could be. I don't want to say I've been in a rut, because I have been creating art... It's just that I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. I've been at a standstill with one project in particular, my graphic novel "Ravenstar". It's weird, because I'm really excited about this, but I feel like I've been dragging my feet with it.
Over the last week I've talked with some people about this problem (face to face and via the internet) and one of the conclusions I've come to to keep me going is to start posting everything somewhere where I can be held accountable to keep showing more work and also to receive feedback. Therefore, I'm going to start using this blog in that fashion.
What'dya say guys? Will you keep me motivated and on task?
This is an illustration I literally JUST finished. Hot off the presses! I'm using it as a cover image for the first chapter of "Ravenstar" (text to be added later) I cannot tell you how long it took me to get from start to finish with this piece. I never ever want another work to take as long as this one did. It's time to start MOVING and getting stuff done. The wheels of progress are in motion!
Chapter One is pretty much complete, for the most part. I do have to go back and re-do the first four pages, because I altered the story after I had already finished those pages, and now they don't really make any sense with the story line. So that is my project for the week! I will check in next week and let you all know how it's going. Hopefully everything will be done by then and I'll have some awesome stuff to show you all!
Until then, please continue to kick my ass into staying on top of things!
It's been a while since I blogged here! Anyway- last month I attended Anime Boston- my first real convention selling my stuff. It was SO much fun. I did a ton of fanart for it, which was both fun and distracting. I've had a hard time getting back into the swing of my original art as a result, but I'm getting there. One thing all this fanart has done is helped my practice with my watercolors. It's also gotten me a few commissions, which helps out with the purchasing of more art supplies :D
Now I'm gearing up for the Maine Comics Arts Festival May 23rd. I wanted to have the first chapter of Ravenstar ready, but I don't want to rush it and be disappointed with the result. I'm still pushing to have it done in time, but the print turn around window is closing rapidly! I may just have a little preview book available instead. It's looking good so far, so I want to keep that quality!
I've also been working on some new pieces to put in my gallery. That's kind of on the back burner right now until I get all this comic business out of the way! But I have been cranking out a few good pieces.
So yea, That's what I've been up to lately. If you're in or around Portland on the 23rd definitely come stop by MECAF and say hi!
So, for Valentines Day, my friend Anita commissioned me to make a short comic about how she and her boyfriend met. She came up with the concept, so I take no credit there! It was really a lot of fun to do and I'm glad she liked it! I make my cameo appearance on page 5 ;)
Now that that's done, I get to draw Zombies - with perfect hair!
Digital Color! I'm learning! Those of you more skilled in the digital realm, what do you think? I'm pretty impressed with how it came out, so I'm happy :)
I know I've been doing a lot of fan art as opposed to original work lately, but it's fun and keeps me entertained so I'm not going to stop. I just need to work faster to have more time to do everything!
On that note, I did finally get my airship for my comic more or less figured out. I showed it to my Dad who went to school as Mass Maritime Academy and thus knows way more about ships than I do. He had some good input that helped out a lot, such as:
"What is that?" "The Kitchen." "The what?" "The Kitchen." "The WHAT?" "....the galley?" "There you go."
Still needs some tweaking, but this is the basic final version... I think, haha
These are the thumbnails for the first chapter of the new comic story I'm working on- "Ravenstar". It's a fantasy comic about sky pirates and witches. I really just wanted an excuse to draw goggles on a bunch of characters, and viola! I've started sketching and inking the first few pages (page 10 still doesn't exist, I have no idea how to lay it out... details, details...)
I want to have this first chapter done and printed and ready for the Maine Comics Arts Festival in May. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to have it done, just have to stick to my schedule. I also have all of chapter two thumbnailed, and half of chapter three. Thumbnailing is probably my favorite part of the comic making process. I need to stop doing that and actually get into the process of making the finished product.
I also commissioned a deviantArt artist, deathofrats to do a small watercolor of one of my characters- Princess. She made her look so much prettier than when I draw her, lol! I am very happy with it! You should all check out her work, amazing stuff!
Sadie's birthday was yesterday. I made this for her! If you haven't seen "My Neighbor Totoro" or "Avatar: The Last Airbender".... WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
