I've returned home from work for the Festive holidays. Looking through Johns fantastic art and my various attempts at trying to find some sort of 'voice' using Austinanian language has been much fun. Some attempts had not been shared. I share them now as I prep my folders for the oncoming new year.

Best,

-D

[edit 'the' for 'my']

 

Wallace, my problem is the zoom function!

In the real world, I spent a few decades learning what a brush/nib/pen stroke looks like at actual size and how that translates in reduction. In this way, some lines that look messy, frayed or disjointed can come together for the final effect. Keeping in mind the final product is smaller than the size it is produced. Like if Mercedes made their cars 45% bigger through the factory only to shrink-ray them before they go out the factory door;)

I haven't yet found that balance when 'inking' on someone else digitally. So no small amount of -over-inking- you are seeing is me not yet aware of where my parameters lie.

I'm learning with each attempt. 

Lines lost are lines that weren't planned correctly. As you can see here. I lost a lot of lines. Doh!

The one I am inking just now will hopefully have a slightly better handle on this.

(edit: reattach the image correctly)

I agree with Darren and Rick- that panel of Cyclops touching his visor screams Austin!

Thanks, Mark. It was precisely the question of "What might that look like?" that motivated my study.

But it is also a question that is rooted in nostalgia, so inherently has two problems. It could not only look out of date* but could also now be an ill fit.

[The fabulous Matt Lucas]

All I am doing is an 'impression'. A poor ham-fisted attempt but done with love and respect, I hope that comes across. The more I voice what I see in JB's pencils, the poorer that impression becomes. Still, it continues to be very rewarding as I learn a lot from the process and the study.

*Given how brilliant the story and the art is, shoe-horning a nostalgic gimmick in there would be nothing but a disservice. What is that saying about 'Curiosity---?'

Scott - I had previously inked the page of Kitty falling through the ground and know how tedious the rubble was to ink!