Thought Bubble

I attended Thought Bubble to show my recently completed pages and character bio's for constructive criticism amongst industry professionals. These were the pages we completed for the Image Comics Portfolio submission but were declined without feedback, These are my notes from what each person said when looking as our work.

Richard Starkings. (on Character bio’s)

- Too much lines. Too much detail.  Its clearly taking too much time to produce these and comic work has to be done fast. You’re using lines to disguise colour.

- Pick up speed. Line work must be done quickly.

- Light source? Think more about it when drawing and inking.

- Weight (like Bob Cook does on Elephantmen.) Weight on the feet in proportions and stance. Men go for women with hips (with room to produce a healthy fetus) and big breasts for a good source of nutrients for an infant. Its natural. This effects stance and anatomy.

- The whole images look flat. Add more shading and colour shading. Panda character is better, he has on foot in front of the other.

Richard Starkings (on our pages.)

- All pages look the same. Same angle.

- Drawings good but need to save more time.

- Think about close ups and long shot.

- Always look for the eyes. Dynamic shots? Zoom in and out. Can never see the whole character.

Eric Stephenson (Editor of Image Comics).

- Things that need to change: Lettering. Print. Less overbearing colour.  Slash panels unnecessary.

- Character design is fresh. 

- Dark colours make drawings had to see. 

- Rough but not bad.

- Less cross hatching.  Too much not relating or describing texture.

Paul Bolger – The Hound

- Angles could be more dynamic. Not overly so like marvel but subtly, (his style is very different.) Tilt camera down and up to make people feel powerful/weak. 

Cameron Stewart

Before opening the portfolio he said: “Before I open this, how honest do you want to be? I don’t want to be brutally honest and upset you.”

I replied: “As honest as possible. We want you to tell us what’s wrong and how to improve it. Whatever you think needs changing or work please tell us.”

- Like Platypus a lot. 

- I like it all its very cool. 

- Great designs, lots of research gone into them.

- Clothing – Sawyers sleeves and trousers. Look at the anatomy of clothing, how it actually falls.

- Look at Blacksad French comic that isn’t too different to this, an anthropomorphic world set in the 1920’s about a detective. That anthropomorphic look is done really well.
- Pay attention to authenticity and rendering.

- BAD FONT – Go to BLAMBOT.com, (What they used for Fight club 2, totally free even for commercial use.) ComicCraft.

- Buildings don’t feel real. Feel flat parallel lines. Looks like a stage and backdrop rather than real. A picture of the whole house would get a feel for the environment. One awesome establishing shot would solve this.

- Reference photos. – Trees, your trees aren’t bad but if there were twigs and branches it would look better than these cylinders.

- Look at Once Upon A Time In The West opening scene will teach you a lot. (When the three gunslingers are waiting for the train.) Sergio Leone’s  mythic quality in comparison to the conventional western. Extreme close ups. Immerse yourselves in movies, and use that knowledge.

- Story telling is fine but could be stronger. Steven Soderbergh took Raiders of The Lost Arc and muted it and but it in black and white to show its strong storytelling.

- REFERENCE EVERYTHING!

Babs Tarr.

- Drawings would benefit from being less dark.

- Blue that is the background. Fading mist. Colour that tints in temperature to set the scene. 

- Drawings are weird but I like it.  Jenny’s (rabbit) profiles are a bit weird.

- Drop being able to see Jenny’s nipples – also there’s too much cleavage. One line is fine. Don’t scare the audience with the cover.

- Sawyer’s shirt maybe too blue. Colour tint!