Buttoned Up? No. Scaredy Cat? No. Felix the Cat? Felix Felis?

I've been working on a form of Buttoned Up for the past two years since 2010. All of it as a comic strip off and on. I've done about 200 dailies. Then about two month's worth of Sunday comics. Always working with the hopes to make a daily comic strip that is syndicated.

In the couple years, however, I admit that I have grown very pessimistic about the state of the comic strip medium. Maybe it's because that I've been told too many that this doesn't work, that doesn't work, or "your work is great, but..." It may also be because of the failing newspaper industry in general and those that do get syndicated will never have a true shot at making money. Or maybe it's because too that there is so much mediocre work that is being produced anymore and those that still produce amazing work seem old and tired after seeing it for plus 10, 20, 30 years.

It pains me to think the industry that has made such great comics such as Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, Cul De Sac, Mutts, Pearls Before Swine, Bloom County, and countless others have come up with such crap these past ten years. The only comic strips worth mentioning that got syndicated since 2000 is Pearls and Cul De Sac. Two comic strip features and the rest introduced mere slosh.

I think that because the industry is so dead in the water is the reason why any hopes of becoming a comic strip artist now make no sense. But I love the comic medium still. I've looked my favorite comics and am now thinking where do I fit into this comic world? I think that the past couple years, I've been finding my footing my the children's book industry. I'm finding the same things that I have loved in comics I am finding in children's books as well. The same fantastical adventures, colorful characters, and great artwork.

It's because of my working on picture books I think is now I think that I have a great idea for a middle grade graphic novel. One thing I don't see in the comics industry is the lack of comic work for younger audiences (besides the newspaper funnies). Too much adult work in Marvel and DC comics anymore. I think that my story would therefore make a great fit for middle grade.

So below are two sketches of Buttons and other characters. Right now, I am only working on an outline and character sheets so nothing is solidified. However, Buttons I think should be renamed to Felix. For a couple reasons, Felix means happy and is a reference to Felix the Cat, one of the early pioneers in animation. Then maybe Felix Felis (felis means cat in Latin). Felix Felis sounds great, but I fear may sound too similar to an elixir from Harry Potter (felix felicius I think). Who knows? I need to run it by people first.

Basketball

So I am told that Jeremy Lin and "Linmania" has saved the NBA. Apparently, it didn't save him from me drawing him! I think the drawing is great until it comes to his head. Oy! The ref looks cool though.

Local Political Cartoon

It's been a while since I posted a political cartoon. This one is of Smithtown from www.smithtownmatters.com.

I Like Pink!

I just got around to scanning these guys all in! I only have the one finished watercolor so far, but I do like the sketches as well. In my ever continuing battle of keeping loose, I think that I found the right balance in these sketches and watercolors. Not overworked. Not too sketchy. Enjoy!

Getting the right look

There is a cartoon contest coming up this weekend. Specifically the one The Cartoonist Studio is doing. Which is exciting. As I have been preparing the cartoons, I've been tackling many many obstacles. One is the idea for the comic strip. Second is the artwork. I feel like I am at a crossroads in my artwork right now with comics.

In the Sunday comics that I've done recently, I've been forced to draw much smaller due to the constraints of the paper. In other ways though, I think that I've been looking to draw more comfortably, or smaller. In previous Buttoned Up comics, A Glass of Merlo comics that I have drawn, I usually drew it at 16.25" X 5". Which is a nice space for drawings. In hindsight, I think this caused me to overwork my drawings.

The main aim in these latest drawings is to find the correct line weight, the fluidity and spontaneity of the drawing, and to be honest, make it look good as possible. I haven't had that feeling yet of knowing that I made a good drawing in the beginning. The one with "Again?!" I think caught what I am going for best!

Random Sketch

I know last week that I was going to elaborate on line weights and choosing the right one, but that one will have to wait. It's been kinda going bananas over here. So not only do I make amazing puns, but I am also a liar. I'll work on that!

A sketch and a finished watercolor

First is the awesome wizard that I suppose looks like Gandalf. He would never brag about the size of his wizard's staff though. He's above that petty stuff. Saruman probably would brag about his wizard's staff. Once in a while, and I think every artist can say this too, I enjoy drawing differently. I felt like doing some brush work again inspired by classic superhero comics or adventures comics. It's a ton of fun to draw. I think too that I am getting better at defining my blacks! The only fault that I find fault with it is the feathering because the paper did bleed a lot. Grrrr.

Below that is a watercolor from Stay! I love this scene because of the spontaneity of the drawing and the loose watercolor. One thing that I am always working on is to refrain from being too tight. I can elaborate on that next week, but generally, my lines are too tight and the ink work can look dead or stiff. The sketch and final drawing for this particular scene seemed to fall right into place when I laid my pen down onto paper.

Revising Stay!

It's interesting to revisit the same thing six months later. This was me six-eight months ago. This new illustration is now. I'm glad where it's going.

Ze Birds Ze Birds!

The first illustration started with me thinking about my girlfriend's grandfather who was a very neat person. He traveled the world extensively and has shown my girlfriend lots of wonders while she was growing up. This is a homage to the man that made my girlfriend who she is today. From that, I drew more birds.

Spaghetti

This looked neat I thought