Out There (Page Test)
Added 2023-12-18 14:29:17 +0000 UTCHELLO GUYS!
I'm so so so sorry for not posting a new page last Friday.
I got very sick with Covid after Comic Con (yup..) and while I was burning up with fever I decided to schedule page posts for you. A few days later I drove off into the sunset somewhere with absolutely no internet. You can only imagine the mess I've made out of if, because I certainly wasn't thinking straight. But now I'm back into civilization and ready to try and fix it!
While we wait for the ACTUAL next page this Friday, I thought it would be interesting to share a different kind of comic page with you! And I'll also share some thoughts I've been having for quite some time about the future of No North.
I did not plan to share this because it is spoilerish. It's part of Book 2, but I'm not too sure I'll be keeping this scene in the story.
So I decided to turn it into a test page. I wanted to challenge myself to make a full comic page as fast as I possibly could. I love working on No North with its classic style, but I'm starting to realize it'll take me forever to finish this story if I keep it.
Of course this is way too sketchy and sloppy, but I was happy I could finish this in about 1/4 of the time a usual comic pages take me.
Also, I really like how this might also potentially feel more expressive and intense... It might open up new visual possibilities and give me stylistic flexibility and more creative freedom than the original style.
When I finish Book 1 (we're somewhat getting close to the end), you'll start seeing a a few more test pages like this one, because I really want to find that sweet spot between visual beauty and production speed!
I would absolutely LOOOOVE to hear your thoughts on the style and the scene itself! (Serious Steban is an unusual sight, and exploring his relationship with Billy is always interesting!)
Thank you guys SO MUCH for your wonderful support and love! You are the BEST!!!
Comments
Definitely glad to hear that you're doing well, and got past the dreaded Covid! It's tough to work on things when your sick, and I hope you got plenty of rest in between. I'm all for the new direction when you choose to go with this style. There's also a certain element to it that reminds me of how some manga and other comic books tend to follow, especially when going for a more gritty atmosphere. I admit, I will miss seeing this style throughout the comic, but I understand that drawing such a phenomenally detailed comic can be very time consuming. A remedy I'd probably suggest could be relegating the classic style to cover pages, or maybe for scenes that may have a grand scope that requires the detail. The choice is completely up to you, and I'm all in favor to what you choose. Love this test page, just the same as I've loved seeing your styles progress and change over the years. I look forward to seeing where these wild adventures in No North will take us, and the many character's we'll meet along the way. We love you Skailla, and have a very happy holidays!
BurningWolfPromise
2023-12-20 04:23:50 +0000 UTCAtmosphere is incredible! Those falling drops and that yellow-orange background with gray toning, I absolutely love it! I agree with others. This style is more dramatic and serious. It would be fine, if you will use it in sadder scenes to ponder. I wish you to find that right combination. 😊
Jackal J.
2023-12-19 13:26:02 +0000 UTC
