Looks like my plate is rather full well until spring 2022 maybe, hence the radio silence for almost two weeks now. “Ganzeer.Today” my ass, amiright?
Had quite a bit of calendering to do to make sure everything is accurately scheduled and planned so I can hit all the necessary milestones for the various projects exactly when they need to. I do like to plan for a little leeway, and there's some of that but not as much as I typically like.
THE SOLAR GRID is moving along, currently inking Ch.6 (issue #7 in the print editions) at a rate of about 1 page every 2-3 days, which isn't too too bad considering the other projects I'm juggling (all of which are awesome and I'm terribly excited about, announcements for which will be forthcoming).
Issue #4 drop July 21 and it features what may just be my favorite cover art to date:
There are a couple TSG events in the works; a real live in-person one when I'm in New York in a few weeks, and a pretty awesome virtual one slated for August, fingers cross on both. More deets later pending confirmations.
(Pictured top is a scene from THE SOLAR GRID #7)
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Don't know why I thought I could ink this double-page opener in a single day. Here I am 3 days later. The lighting is a bit tricky, because I have three sources in an otherwise very dark location, and I'm just figuring it out in inks as I go. Here's hoping I finally nail it today.
In other THE SOLAR GRID related news, I did a Twitter video-thread on TSG #2 which came out in print last month.
Also also, I'm doing a live video thing today on Booklyn's Youtube Channel called “My Favorite Book”. 5:50pm CST.
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Not sure when I'll even get a chance to properly go through them, but here are some of the wonderous finds I made in London's bookshops, [absolutely essential!] research material for Chapter 7 (issue #8) of THE SOLAR GRID.
Those in addition to REBELS AGAINS THE FUTURE by Kirkpatrick Sale make up the research for that single chapter! (and a bit of Ch.8/Iss.#9). Probably not entirely necessary. Could've cheated my way through the thing, but I do believe all this research material will add much authenticity to the installment.
Sale's book is in fact wholly essential to THE SOLAR GRID's development in a weird very indirect way. You wouldn't know it if you've read both, but I know it and I like to wear my influences on my sleeve. I hadn't heard of Sale prior to picking up the book some 3 years ago, but I was interested in his subject matter. Interestingly enough, Sale's name came up a few months ago in a pretty fascinating story in Wired. Truth be told, he comes off as a bit of a dick, but I will nevertheless owe him a great deal for writing that book.
In related news, today sees the print release of THE SOLAR GRID #3!
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The short comic I mentioned having to script a few days ago? Well, as a visual person, I had to lay it all out first in thumbnails, and now I'm finally getting around to scripting based on those. I wish I could just go right in and draw the thing, but it's for a publication that involves editors and publishers other than myself and so approval is first required.
I actually wasn't required to script, they just need an idea of what it's about, but it's a weird essay comic that isn't quite synopsable (is that even a word?). Maybe it would be in a more skilled writer's hands, but it seems to me the best way to communicate the thing is by full script. Will probably include the thumbnails in the script as well, since the people looking at this are more typically involved in fine and contemporary art than comix.
Hope I nail this script today. Already a bit behind and have much other work to catch up on (and I really would love to write that damn newsletter).
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Pencils down on the last page of THE SOLAR GRID, CH. 6 (issue #7) with just one day to spare for travel prep.
Couldda swore I wrote and posted this already but I may have just forgotten to hit the “publish” button. Anyway, chapter has clocked in at 34 pages, not including backmatter. Further work on the thing (inking, lettering, etc.) will have to be put on hold until I return (downside of doing everything yourself), with my time abroad better put towards things that can better be done on the move. Namely:
- Thumbnailing next chapter.
- Scripting a short comix thing (let's codename this one PROJECT ELLISON).
- Sketching out ideas for a poster project (codenamed PROJECT MORROW).
- Accounting, eugh.
As per the UK's requirements, had to get tested today and booked London-based tests for day 2 and 8 from arrival. I think I'm supposed to do another one before my return flight to the states. It feels like the entire trip will revolve around a bunch of lab tests.
Not complaining though! It's not like I've been anywhere in, oh I dunno, 12,000 years.
Question is: Do I bring my camera? Do I bring a book? Too ambitious? Clearly very rusty when it comes to this whole travel thing. First time with child too.
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Pencils down on the last page of THE SOLAR GRID, CH. 6 (issue #7), which leaves me exactly one day to prep for travel. There was a time when I was a kind of superuser at this sort of thing, but after over a year of the plague I need to remember efficient packing again. And there's the addition of child into the equation and I have zero experience traveling with children.
Rest of work on this chapter will be put on hiatus for the next few weeks, during which I'll focus on a handful of tasks that lend themselves more easily to being done on the move. Namely:
- Thumbnailing next chapter.
- Scripting a short comix thing (Let's codename this one: PROJECT ELLISON)
- Brainstorming/sketching for a poster project (Codename: PROJECT TOMORROW)
- Accounting, eugh.
Webshop is closed in the meantime. One more thing I have to do tomorrow is give a virtual talk for a design class in Berlin.
Is it too ambitious to bring a book along?
Probably.
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Cover reveal!! Issue #2 of my epic science fiction exploration, THE SOLAR GRID, drops in just a week!
First person to tell me what classic sci-fi cover inspired this one wins a free copy delivered right to their doorstep (U.S. only though, international postal fees don't come cheap). Feel free to hit me up on either Twitter or Instagram.
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The more time I spend in the world of THE SOLAR GRID, the more I want to explore it even further!
Constantly haunted by ill-advised notions of doing graphic novellas all set within the world of THE SOLAR GRID after the central graphic novel is complete. A fully formed “history” seems to have developed over the course of its creation, so layered and textured that I can imagine zooming in on any character or point in time and doing a complete stand alone story not at all connected to THE SOLAR GRID proper. Not only graphic novellas, but even short comix and one-shots.
Like, if I ever wanna do music-themed comix? Well, it can be about the band Sharia Slaw cum The Uurthlings (featured briefly in chapters 1 and 2). A detective story? It can center around the Saftey First duo featured in chapter 2. Corporate espionage? Sqyquench, SLR BLK, and Aegaeon. A journalistic thriller? Either Buster Bethlehem circa 474 AF will do, or Holly Badchapel in 949 AF. If I ever want to do my own unique take on WATERWORLD, I can set it in the early years after the Flood. And I haven't even gotten into all the possibilities for Mars or Moon-based stories. The possibilities are endless!
Three pages left to pencil on the current chapter. Four days till travel. Not bad.
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Managed to pencil 2 pages today (rough-like as pictured), and spend time with wife and kid, including indulging in a little picnic concert thing (well, a small small part of it, had to get back home and put kid to bed).
Rough pencils are fine, I'm getting quite proficient at doing a lot of drawing in the inks phase. Part of why it's a bit difficult for me to imagine being inked by someone else. But I guess that's a scenario where I would intentionally want to pencil tighter in more detail.
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Sketching out a page today while looking over notes for the next chapter of THE SOLAR GRID and realizing I've got my England circa 1818 scene coming up. A period of which I in fact know very little and will require ample visual reference to pull off, which I have no idea where to begin sourcing from.
Is it a cosmic coincidence that I'm off to the UK next week?
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