Two weeks ago I was reading artist/author Craig Thompson's blog and he made an interesting statement about the projects we undertake. More or less he said that it's not the projects that we start, but the one's we finish that are truly substantial. When I read that it made me chuckle for two reasons. The first is because my first unpublished and unfinished graphic novel (or more accurately novella) was inspired by his narrative style. One day I hope to go back and re-write the whole damn thing...just not today. The second is because a year and a half ago I had someone make a nasty comment about me - not knowing I was in the room - saying "I don't think he has the professionalism to see this project through to completion."
I say all this because it's all true, every last word and yet despite the unpleasant truth that we as artists will leave our creations unfinished at times, the things we truly value will brought to fruition.
As I would go from script to thumbnail to illustration, there was always only one rule: be true to the story.
There were moments when my original thumbnail sketches and even the initial illustration strayed from that narrative and into vain creative surrealism. While surrealism is a wonderful tool to use in showing emotional depth, I didn't need to straddle it so religiously. In the above picture you see simplistic illustration that was originally much more simple, but the added waves of the night sky give a peaceful movement that wouldn't have existed if I would've stayed true to the original. The illustration bellow is one where I just let loose to show how the memories of Alabaster continue to haunt him even as he tries to salvage what's left of his faded innocence.
1 comment:
I love the top picture, of Alabastor and the blue night sky.
It really made me feel wistful for an experience like that right now.
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