100 PAGES OF ART ON THE FLOOR, 100 PAGES OF ART!
Posted by terrance | Filed under Art, Happenings, The Molting Comic
In June, when I began drawing my new comic book series, The Molting, I purchased a packet of blank comics pages: 11” x 17” sheets of Bristol board with preformatted blueline borders. The packet included 100 sheets. At the time, I wasn’t sure how quickly I’d make my way through the stack. If ever.
The pile was intimidating. Due to the paper’s heavy stock, 100 stacked sheets rose to a thickness well over four inches. Further: having never worked on a comic book, I wasn’t even certain I’d take to the paper. I wondered if I’d foolishly committed myself to drawing on a surface I may not like, or if I’d wasted money on supplies I’d never use.
Thankfully, my worries were in vain. Once I began the process of sketching and inking the individual panels, pages, and spreads of The Molting, I quickly forgot all about the paper I was using. Instead, my focus went to the page layouts, settings, and characters.
I never realized how much work went into creating a comic book (even a bad one!). As a former storyboard artist, I was aware of the volume of artwork one regularly made while storytelling with drawings, but storyboards rarely need to be rendered to the finished state of most comics. Also: storyboards are almost never in color.
With storyboards, it’s more about the overall pace and action conveyed by the totality of panels than the prettiness of any singular image. Depending on the deadline, sometimes my boards were reduced to nothing more than crude shapes and arrows.
Like storyboards, comics are more about a culmination of images than any singular picture: the art of sequential storytelling. So, in the case of The Molting, circles and arrows didn’t seem appropriate for a volume of drawings that would eventually dare to be labeled a novel, a graphic novel.
With that in mind, I’ve been tirelessly drawing. Sometimes I finish a page a day. Other pages require days of tinkering. Like the purchase of the comics’ paper, the act of drawing always includes a series of choices and consequences: visual decisions are made, second-guessed, and then eventually met with satisfaction. It’s hard work, but each completed page feels like a victory. That victory is always short-lived, however, as I immediately jump onto the next page, and the entire procedure starts over again.
I predict the entire 12-part story of The Molting to be somewhere in the 450-pagerange. As such, getting hung up on any particular page or image would be a mistake, so once I began this massive undertaking, the paper being used became an afterthought. That is, until last week, when I made it to the bottom of that stack of 100 sheets.
Yessiree, I’ve completed the first 100 pages of The Molting: another minor victory in a series of goals that need to be set and met on the journey towards completing any large project. To celebrate the occasion, I pulled all 100 pages from the shelf and spread them across a corner in my apartment: an awesome site that needed to be photographed and shared.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to drawing the remaining 350 pages of The Molting. A big thanks to all who have supported my endeavors on The Molting thus far. I hope that you stay with me as I continue with the series. For those of you wanting to see the first 100 pages firsthand, check out www.TheMoltingComic.com on February 15, when chapter 3, “Ootheca”, will be available.
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January 26th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Allow me to report how impressed and proud I am, as always! I can hardly wait to see what it’ll look like when you have all four hundred and fifty pages spread all over the floor. I suspect you’ll be ankle deep, at least, in them, by then…
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January 26th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Congrats on your first 100 =D (Off topic, but I love that 50’s-ish table and stool..at least I think that’s what those are). I can’t wait for Ootheca! As always, I admire your talent and drive, you go w/ your bad self.
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January 26th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
…….wow. Just, wow.
I love how proud you look xD
That is immense and such an achievement, congratuations
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January 26th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Way to go!
It’s really inspiring that you tackled such a daunting project. I think this blog is a real lesson in not playing it safe when it comes to art. Looking forward to the third issue of “The Molting.”
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January 26th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Amazing job. Can’t wait for the next issue. I never thought I’d say this to someone I didn’t know personally, but I am exceedingly proud of your accomplishment. Wow, I feel like a stalker now.
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January 26th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Congrats Terrance!
I know how daunting it must be to know how much work you have ahead of you. (I am having a panic attack for you).
But do take the time to look on your accomplishments. Sit back. Have a beer. Take it all in. Heave a sigh and then throw your self back in.
I look forward to seeing the 3rd installment when it comes out.
Alexie Star
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January 26th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I have loved the first 2 issues and am anxiously waiting for the 3rd. Thank you sir for sharing your talent with us.
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January 26th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Proof, again, that we are not all created equal. It is a visual splendor to behold. “I am Jack’s complete lack of surprise”….Congratulations!
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January 26th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I’m pretty sure all of your fans, myself included are proud of you and how you haven’t chewed your nails down to the bone to work on your wonderful comic(s). As evidence from your artwork layout at your apartment you’ve endured quite a bit to get that finished and us as fans loved every panel of it.
Looking forward to the finishing of the next 100!
~Nil
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January 26th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
You took my picture. Put it up. I want it. Iwaaaaaaantiiiiittt…. I didn’t get any of myself that night.. boo. You are the only person who has one. Ahhaa…
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January 26th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Congrats with your first 100 pages. [I only got about 15 when I tried making my own comic.:'( ] I love “The Molting” and can’t wait to read the next chapter. Wishing you the best of luck. I also just want to add that I’m so glad that I was able to meet you while you were in Chicago.
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January 26th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Woohoo! As everyone’s been saying, congrats on a hundred pages, hun. I’m thinking you probably won’t have any east coast appearances around the time Ootheca comes out, but I will definitely order it (and pay those extra seventeen cents shipping
) with pride!
-Sheri/”Chick Graves”
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January 26th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
We better get to see pictures of your entire place covered once this project is complete.
I look forward to that day.
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January 27th, 2010 at 6:32 am
T… You were serious when you said you\’re knuckle-deep in you weren’t kidding when you said you were knuckle-deep in the Molting! Soon you’ll be unable to make that convenient little space to pose in… We’ll have to send for help if you go missing in a sea of pages in your apartment (which I have to say is a lovely colour ;p) you look very proud ( so do your socks) we’re all so proud of this project and I can’t wait for the next instalment!!!!
P.S have you seen the neighbours cat? It’s gone missing…
Rebekah
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January 27th, 2010 at 6:34 am
Oh blah! damn phone can’t even submit proper comment! Sorry for the groundhog day-esque comment. It’s like Mexican food keeps repeating on you! Tee hee
um adios?
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January 27th, 2010 at 7:31 am
You are one incredible man! I love the fact you found and are doing the things you love most… Me, I am trying to get motivated out here in my new land to do the same with photography!
I admire and love how you just are able to do it… I would love an opportunity to bounce ideas or show you my new way of making my own art…
Have a great day Terrance and keep up the incredible art you do – a true talent!
Michele (Now just Hengeveld)
MHA Photography
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January 27th, 2010 at 8:32 am
I just wanted to say thank you for this. I thank you because my 16 year old has always wanted to create his own comic book and you have given me something to show him a little about the process. I also found a youtube clip where you explain the process of what it takes to make a comic book. I thank you because I myself have no artistic talent and it is very hard for me to see him frustrated with his drawing when to me they are perfect. I am glad he showed me the Repo trailer (many months ago), I am glad I had a chance to meet you in person (back in October) and have my copy of The Molting so I can share with him not only the finished product but also the time and effort that went into making it. He has my house as littered as the first picture in this blog.
Much love from a single mom who appreciates the help.
Kimy
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January 27th, 2010 at 8:52 am
wow, uve been busy hahaha how cool is that. uve finished a goal and u should be very proud with your work as im so proud of you. with your work u keep me going ty for that
good luck and success in your work. kisses and hugs.
att
sanyi
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January 27th, 2010 at 10:19 am
…T; I use this same paper; where do scan yours? I can’t seem to find a big enough scanner! D:
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January 27th, 2010 at 10:42 am
happy noises and gleeful clapping accompanied the end of your blog. The roommates are becoming increasingly fearful for my sanity. I’m looking forward, as ever, to the next installment.
Congratulations on your first hundred pages!!
Now go clean your apartment. It looks a dreadful mess. (j/k)
~’Peaches
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January 27th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Congratulations Terrance! Can’t wait to read volume three. :]
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January 27th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Woohoo! If I were you I’d take this oppertunity to have some well deserved “First 100 Pages” cake:) For someone with no artistic talent whatsoever (ie ME!) the fact that you could draw so much and to such a consistantly high standard is amazing.
P.s. You do realise that you’ll have to clean that mess up right?
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January 27th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
omg so many arts on the floor!!
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January 27th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Let me just say that I LOVE hearing about and seeing images of the creative process. It’s fabulous that you share these things with fans. It makes me feel like I’m a small part of it! I am very interested to continue reading The Molting and you should totally feel victorious.
Just don’t forget to give yourself a break once in a while! It kills me when I fall in love with someones work and they burn themselves out so bad that I don’t get to see anything of theirs for years. I don’t mind waiting for the comic books as long as it means you are stress free!
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January 28th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Bravi, Bravi, Bravissime!
I can’t wait to see the next installment of The Molting! It must be exciting getting through the first 100 pages of your comic!
Lets just hope you have the same amount of success with the rest of the comic!
The Little One
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January 28th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Truly congratus on reaching 100 pages, but even more so on the work-ethic it takes to get there!
We can’t wait to get our grubby little paws on Ootheca!
Then you gotta get yer arse back to Chicago to sign it too ;D
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January 29th, 2010 at 11:22 am
My my my, what a fervor you have. 100 pages is indeed something to show. I will have to eye each one properly, and from the start. I enjoy your style.
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January 29th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
All you need now is a flood.
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January 30th, 2010 at 2:59 am
Wow, in panel #4 you look like you invented a new kind of yoga. “Sketchbook Zen position”
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January 30th, 2010 at 4:42 am
First thought on that image of proud ‘daddy’ and 100 pages:
“precccioussssses….”
I know what you mean: felt the same about the typewriter I bought to help with writing. In the end, questions over details of the tool disappears in the enthusiasm for the production; the only thought being thankfulness it’s there! When the lathe becomes the extension of the master’s arm and hand…
Like I’ve said before (and will again) I am interigued by The Moulting, but I have to wait for the all-in-one graphic novel version. Now, there *will* be a novel version, won’t there…?
Keep going
x
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January 31st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
gawd i love your blogs. LOVE
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February 1st, 2010 at 5:57 am
I just checked back to the message board- and found, oh, it’s just too precious, that the anti-spam word to post *now* is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO7W2Tytfvk
I had, naturally, to shout this out and about!
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February 1st, 2010 at 6:00 am
Bugger, blast and damnnation. This is by far a better version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2JHgw7RlKE
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February 1st, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Congratulations, Terrance! I cannot wait for the next issue (I left Guilty Susie and The Happiest Place On Earth at school by mistake over winter break, and pined for them the whole time).
Oh and, can I just say you’re awesome?
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March 2nd, 2010 at 9:50 pm
I finally have your art in my hands!!!!
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