When I create new a comic, I develop the story and art together using rough thumbnails. I’m using my new comic short – Moon Hunt – as an example. Here are pages two and three in the thumbnails.
I scan the thumbnails and size them correctly for the final page layout. Once done, I’ll draw the final pencils using actual pencil or digitally in Photoshop. In Moon Hunt, I also tried out drawing the “pencils” on an iPad.
After the pencils are finalized, I print out the page to the size of my watercolor paper and transfer it by using a graphic rub. You see that I’ve typed in the dialogue, but I don’t transfer that to the watercolor paper.
Unlike my usual watercolor comics, I painted all the light and darks on the watercolor paper, keeping in mind I wanted to use flat colors and/or gradients in Photoshop.
I scan the page back into Photoshop and then color all the flats and gradients. I duplicate the gray tones and tint them blue to enhance the night time feel.
Finally, I add in the speech balloons and sound effects to finish the page. If you want to read the whole story, stop by the Couscous Collective at APE 2012 on October 13th to 14th, tables 307 and 308. We’re debuting our latest comic collection – Kitties – and my story Moon Hunt is included. Hope to see you there!
Keep drawing!
-Karen