Work in Progress – Zoe Alone: Part 2

(Originally posted on LiveJournal)

“It was a dark and stormy night….”

So, I wanted to take a break from writing and doing thumbnail sketches for Zoe Alone. I figured that since I am planning to do the coloring by hand on paper, I might as well do some trial runs on the stormy sky for the first page. So this is the first run at it. I don’t know yet if this is the route I will end up going, but you don’t know if you don’t try it.

I build things from the lighter colors first. I was working from a photo reference for this, although the reference didn’t have this much orange “hot” color to it.

Next came trying to build the lighter cloud areas, lit up by the lightning strike. Not so easy to know where to put things, though. Because you are darkening the page in order to have it lighter later. Which sounds confusing, but you’ll see….

Then I went for the really dark stuff. After all, it’s a thunderstorm at night.

I had originally thought that would be enough, but when I looked at it, it was still to light. So I added another bit of color.

I’m not quite happy with this – at least not for the comic page. It’s an interesting look, but … I’m not sure. I think I may have to try some other options. It’s all so experimental. My brain starts considering other possibilities — but some of them seem too elaborate for panel art.

Still, practice is a good thing.

Comments 

sartorias – Nov. 8th, 2010

I want those pencils!

scribblerworks – Nov. 9th, 2010

Heh. They’re not actually pencils. They are Pentel Arts color pens (felt tip pens). I like them because the inks are rather saturated, compared to others. I also have a set of Faber India ink pens, but those colors are a bit more “wash” looking. I’ve used the Pentels off and on, since, oh, high school.

Work in Progress – Zoe Alone: Part 1
Work in Progress – Zoe Alone: Part 3

Related Images: