Josh Sager Media: Creative Technologies Blog

(Bold Old Skool Mac Hall Styel)
vs

(Thick & thin lines)

I went back to a style more me. The big and bold was bothering me. Although I really like it, I felt it just wasn’t fitting what I’m trying to do with Somewhat Related. Plus I’ve been experimenting with some new nibs. I really like the Hunt 107 and the Hunt 102 right now. They seem to give me the range that I’m going for. As a confirmation of my new tools I decided to re-ink, re-scan, and re-post.

The new comics are on their way! I’m doing a little research right now to help me get better as a comic artist and story teller. So I’m started reading Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. It was a slow start, but now I understand why he is so reveared in the web comic inudustry. He’s a friggn’ genius. I’ve got more comments on it coming up in another blog, but for now let me just say this. It is a must read and I promise that it will blow your mind!

This weekend I took some steps back from the Somewhat Related comic strip and looked a little deeper at what I’m trying to do. I really want to improve it and take it to the next level. So I looked at the overall quality, the story, and the characters.

First and foremost I re-inked the last comic. The old school Mac Hall thing was cool, but it doesn’t really fit me. It’s too thick and I really miss the dynamics of the line quality. The latest inked version should be posted by Tuesday at the latest. It’s all done, I just have to scan it and do some clean up. But getting that taken care made me feel worlds better.

The next thing I tackled, which was completely out of order, was the writing and development of the next story line. Although I was able to come up some decent material, it all seemed superficial. I couldn’t really put my finger on what made it surface level, but I knew something wasn’t to my liking. I know this comic is an evolving project, but I really want to take that next step and go beyond a yuk-yuk-yuk. I reviewed comics like For Better or Worse and Calvin and Hobbes for inspiration and guidance. What I found was that I didn’t really know my characters, which meant that my audience didn’t really know them either. How could I write stories without establishing the ground rules?

After some stewing I fired up the pilot episode of The Office to get an idea on how to introduce characters when they have never really been seen before. To my surprise I was overlooking the answer I was looking for. I really needed to simplify my characters in a few words and then place them into the situations. The stories should write themselves. After a few attempts it really seemed to be working, but this is really my first attempt so I’m sort of stumbling along the way.

As of right now I don’t have anything concrete, but you should expect some character building strips to follow the re-inked #17. From there I can better tell their story. I was forcing my characters to do things that they weren’t really meant to do. A rookie mistake, but I’m still learning and that’s part of what make this so awesome.

Last week I started consulting project very close and dear to my heart. It will hopefully be one of the coolest websites I have every created for reasons far beyond technology and design. This website is to support the 4th book,entitled The Sum of David, authored by my lovely and talented fiance. I’m only a quarter of the way though the story, but so far it’s one of the most imaginative things I have ever read! Although it’s very easy for me to be biased, she truly is an undiscovered talent. I will keep you posted on the progress and launch date for this collaborative project.

Do you podcast, blog, or do any online video? Well then you need to get to the podcampPittsburgh in November. The details and guest list are still being developed through the wiki (I love technology), but this is shaping up to be a monumental event for the burgh. There are all sorts of great things going on and this will be a chance to meet the people responsible and pick their brains. Besides, it’s going to be a free event. How can you go wrong? So check it out and register today!!!

I’d also like to give a shout out to Rachel for an excellent logo design for the event!

This is the final comic of this story arc. I actually thought I had lost the pencils for it during the shuffle of a crazy summer, but luckily I found them when I was cleaning my studio out this weekend. Once again I’m trying out something new. It seems like I can’t really settle on a specific way to do anything. Unfortuneatly until looking at the strip compared to last night I don’t like the dark outlines as much as I did when I was inking them. So, I’m going to make some adjustments.

Anyhow I went a little Mac Hall old school on this, but I dig the thick lined style right now and I’m thinking about going with it for a while. I just need to tweak it out a little so it fits a little better.

This past week I went to a Portfolio show for the college I worked at for the last 5 years. Which means that I’ve had the new job for a full quarter now. Kind of crazy actually. It almost seems like being a teacher happened in a previous life. So going back was like a homecoming in a way.

As I approached the main entrance and touched the cold metal door handle, I flashed back to the another era. An era that existed a only short time ago filled with endless hours of preparation and surprises around every corner. In a place I once considered my home away from home, I was now a visitor. Each step closer to the main event felt just as familiar as it was surreal.

As I approached the Multimedia section of the Portfolio Show my former students started to light up. With every hand I shook, each graduate beamed full of pride eager to show me how they have progressed since last we spoke. I couldn’t have been more proud of them. This was there night and I wanted to be there for them. I am proud to have had them as students.

So if any of you MM OCT 06 grads are reading this. I’m very proud of you and wish you the best of luck. Please do me two favors. Pass on the love and passion for what you do and never stop learning. I know gradation is a huge milestone but this is only the beginning. Furthermore, If there’s one thing I hope I taught you, I hope it would be the skill to learn how to learn. Learn from your friends, colleagues, co-workers, and family as well as books and publications. They are the most valuable resources you could ever have. So go out there and set the world on fire!

I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. The up and coming months are going to be jam packed with all sorts of events, comics, projects, and podcasting. I’ve been chopping at the bit to blog, but the opportunities have been few and far between. Nonetheless, this uncharacteristically busy summer has really gotten my creative juices flowing again. I’m totally excited to be creative again! So much has changed, there are so many cool things to talk about. If I put it off any longer my head would have exploded!

Even though I took this summer off more by cicumstance than by choice, the time away from it has reenergized my passion for the blog, the comic, and technology. Time to reflect is much more important than I usually give it credit for. So I’m pleased to report that production of the comic continued shortly after I cleaned up my studio this weekend. I’ve started to place all of the new books I’ve acquired in strategic places in an effort to keep the creative drive alive . But I guess that’s the life of an artist. So Cheers to revived creativity. My goal this year was to hit the 30 comic mark and I want to make sure that I hit it well before Christmas.

Armed with a refocus, tons of things to talk about, and a determination to hit my 30 comic goal I can’t wait to get started.