Marvel: Girl Comics #3

Recently I was lucky enough to do my first gig for the mighty, mighty Marvel...and it seems the solicitations are out!

I don't think it's humanly possible to tell you how excited I am to be in there alongside such amazing creators. (COLLEEN COOVER, KELLY SUE DECONNICK, ABBY DENSON, LEA HERNANDEZ, MARJORIE LIU, ANN NOCENTI, CARLA SPEED MCNEIL, MOLLY CRABAPPLE), and to see a Jo Chen cover on there made me need to lie down. I LOVE Jo Chen's work, so to know that she's done a cover for a comic I'm a small part of made me melt! I drew a small and highly amusing story written by Abby Denson and will have Emily Warren joining me on colours - both are stupidly talented and I'm honoured to have had the chance to work with them. ^_^ I hope you get a chance to pick it up!

Comments: Dragon Heir - Chapter #19

Here we go, chaps. And I have some news for you! I have just ONE page left to complete of Dragon Heir: Reborn (ie the remake of the first five issues) and then I'll be done! I always said I'd leave issues 6 and onwards as they were...sure, I could make improvements, but it runs the risk of becoming an endless cycle of reworking, and so I need to draw a line somewhere *gulp*.

What this means is that I will be looking to publish issues 1-9 in an all-new collected volume of Dragon Heir soon! I sincerely hope you'll be interested in reading this story as it was intended to be read: in the printed form.

For now though - chapter 19 - enjoy and let me know your thoughts! ^_^

Comments: Dragon Heir - Chapter #18

I'm so sorry for posting this up late, guys! I'm actually on a holiday this week and it totally slipped my poor old mind! Anyways, here we go: Chapter 18 for you!  ^_^

Comments: Dragon Heir - Chapters #16 + 17/SD turns eight!

This week marks an important turning point in the story, so I've allowed a bumper, double issue - since splitting this would be too hard. So, ten whole pages of Dragon Heir for you today! I hope you enjoy and head back to here to let me know your thoughts. ^_^

In other news, Sweatdrop Studios turns eight years old this month! It's been an incredible journey and we couldn't have made it without our fantastic readers, supporters and forumners. As a thank you, we've launched a Sweatdrop Tombola to run throughout February. Click the banner for more info!

Comments: Dragon Heir - Chapter #15

Things are not looking good for our Spirit Binder. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Things are crumbling before our eyes...looks like this prophecy is in for some choppy waters, but you knew that, right? ;)

Do let me know your thoughts and feedback by posting comments in this entry. I get lonely!

Newark & Southwell Library visits

What an amazing couple of days I had in Nottinghamshire. I wanted to drop a quick line here to say thank you to all! Especially to Clare Tobin for organising the shebang. If you're in the area and are interested in comics/manga, consider yourself blessed and head to your local library to connect with other local fans and creators. Southwell sported a HUGE and very enthusiastic group of readers and artists with some massive potential - you guys were amazing! And Newark has among its residents some very dedicated and skilled enthusiasts. The two events couldn't have been more opposite: One was loud, hectic and massively fun; the other was quiet, studious and really productive...but both were superb sessions and I want to thank all of you for making me feel so welcome. ^_^

Comments: Dragon Heir - Chapter #14

Ah, the joy of being able to update from my own computer using my fully functional internet connection ^_~
Thanks for your patience the last few weeks, guys. Your reward is something of a turning point in the story - enjoy chapter 14 and head back here to let me know your thoughts!

The decade that I learned to draw XD

Last night I took some time doing a DeviantArt meme that's been doing the rounds. The results scared and amused me! I started drawing late by today's standards. In fact, I was in my 20's by the time I started wanting to make comics at all, despite having had stories leaping around my mind since much earlier. As a result I was a late bloomer, and boy does it show! '^_^
What amazed me especially was not even how awful my drawings were back in 2003, but just how much younger artists are now. I can honestly say that I've seen 14 year old kids drawing more competently than I was when I was 23! Now, I may be a late starter, but I also think that we perhaps have a much more supportive arts culture these days. A world of DeviantArt, Sweatdrop, SheezyArt and the rest has really given opportunities to artists to improve, learn and display. We have a small but growing graphic novel and comics industry that's more accessable than ever before and that offers promise of work to those that earn it. It all adds up to a world where the young and talented are encouraged to work hard and be rewarded;  And huzzah for it!

Okay, okay, I'll share the pain:
~ 2003 - 2009 in illustration. The painful yet amusing meme in question.
~ A comparison of the first ever page of Dragon Heir with a page from issue #9.

Quick, Quick, let's post something NEW!!! Forget all that you just saw!