VALENTINE'S DAY VOTING INCENTIVE IS HERE!
I take no responsibility for this one. This is a concept hatched by one of my fine patrons on Patreon and then promptly seconded by a few other fine patrons, so I felt compelled to draw it. I totally did not actively choose to draw this image due to its inherent fun factor. And the fact that I wanted to draw it. Totally nothing to do with me.
VOTE TO TRY THE CATNIP!
As for this comic...
Guys, this one almost killed me. I don't know why, but the added stress of generating an establishing shot, combined with cars (my least favorite thing to draw) just pushed me over the edge. To give you an idea, a detailed background like the one in the first panel takes about eight to ten hours of work to generate. And that's if everything goes well. And that's just the first panel. That's just the background of the first panel. I started working on the comic on Wednesday night, so ... it's been a grind.
I could have skipped an establishing shot, of course. I could have framed the entire comic from inside the car and just omitted all exterior shots. But that's bad film-making. Okay, I'm not really making a film, but the same logic holds. Changes of location an establishing shot to clarify the shift for the viewer. Just having a character say, "Well, here we are at 'x' location," from a medium shot is sloppy.
I try to be competent. But sometimes trying to be competent kills me.
Puck 535
VALENTINE'S DAY VOTING INCENTIVE IS HERE!
I take no responsibility for this one. This is a concept hatched by one of my fine patrons on Patreon and then promptly seconded by a few other fine patrons, so I felt compelled to draw it. I totally did not actively choose to draw this image due to its inherent fun factor. And the fact that I wanted to draw it. Totally nothing to do with me.
VOTE TO TRY THE CATNIP!
As for this comic...
Guys, this one almost killed me. I don't know why, but the added stress of generating an establishing shot, combined with cars (my least favorite thing to draw) just pushed me over the edge. To give you an idea, a detailed background like the one in the first panel takes about eight to ten hours of work to generate. And that's if everything goes well. And that's just the first panel. That's just the background of the first panel. I started working on the comic on Wednesday night, so ... it's been a grind.
I could have skipped an establishing shot, of course. I could have framed the entire comic from inside the car and just omitted all exterior shots. But that's bad film-making. Okay, I'm not really making a film, but the same logic holds. Changes of location an establishing shot to clarify the shift for the viewer. Just having a character say, "Well, here we are at 'x' location," from a medium shot is sloppy.
I try to be competent. But sometimes trying to be competent kills me.
hey i understand completely. I can barely draw on paper, let alone on computer. for this comic page, I give it a 9.9 out of 10.
True fact: all this is actually drawn on paper. I only color on computer. I am one of the last comics on the planet to still use paper. There are others. But we’re a dwindling number.
@EG
Awww, come’on.
Many popular modern comics are drawn on paper.
Prince Valiant – The Katzenjammer Kids – The Phantom – Beetle Bailey – Bringing Back Father
Among others…..
Well, I just read your response Gecko, and having had previously architecture as part of my Bachelor’s of Science degree. I was wondering why not find a picture to use of the home, and trace it in pencil to rough it in, work it from there, ink, scan and color. And by adding the foliage later in the same manner of roughing, inking, scanning, coloring and layering.
I imagine that by using a similar technique on the cars may also be a time saver as well.
It’s only a little bit of cheating, isn’t it? I’ll admit that I’m blanking a bit on the house style. I’d have to refer to one of my textbooks.
Dirty secret: that’s what I’m already doing, with some modifications and the like. Even with those time-saving steps taken, it’s still a long, long process to the finished image.
As for the house, it’s a real house in the neighborhood where Tyler lives in my city. Even though it’s pretty stately here, I actually downplayed the size of it by removing a whole extension.
Nice work on the Tudor style Gecko. My professor would have given you an A on that.
Although, I think that the gimp cat, I can’t remember, yeah Salem, would give you a C-.
I hate it when my neighbors smoke pot.
@Pat
I’m giving EG AAAAA+++++ just to spite you.
Though I must admit to be jealous of your Degree in Archie-tecture.
Myself, I never did understand “ARCHIE – TECTURE” comics so much.
Though Betty sure was hot.
And Jug-Head’s Hat was freakin’ awesome.
And just to spite you my feline friend who over looked the lead in. You would have given the Gecko a C- because the house Gecko claims to be Tudor did not have TWO DOORS on the front.
NARF.
It DOES have two doors. There’s a door right next to the garage!
@Pat
It DOES have two doors. There’s a door right next to the garage!
So So So there !
MISTER ARCHIE-TECK !
(I think EG went back and added the second door, tho. He does things like that.)
You damn cat. You know how to skew things in favor of a guy who is dating two girls and claims to have problems.
Aw Jeepers.
My cutting response to my friend Pat was banned by the Bot.
It’s back.
@Pat
Ooooh….
TWO – DOORS … heh heh heh
In my defense, it only took me several hours to get the pun – and then only because it was ‘splained to me.
😛
But don’t ever say NARF.
Just because it reminds me of that hideous Alf-Wanna-Be SNARF
And that reminds me of Alf: TheCat-Eater.
Which then reminds me of…..
The 80’s: a decade of peak ‘annoying furry talking animal(?) character’. As much as it pains me to do this, I blame Jim Henson. The meteoric success of the Muppets made everyone else think they could pull off something similar. They couldn’t.
@EG
The 80’s: a decade of peak ‘annoying furry talking animal(?) character’. As much as it pains me to do this, I blame Jim Henson. The meteoric success of the Muppets made everyone else think they could pull off something similar. They couldn’t.
You said it, pal.
Those things are just the worst.
Don’t blame “The Muppet Show.” Blame the people who convinced a TV studio to green light that thing in thinking, “Hey, How about a TV show with a suburban family and an alien. It’s just a re hash of “My Favorite Marian.” We add in a family to bond with the alien. Get some rising stars.
The studios are thinking, we’re going to have to pay some will known name big bucks to be the alien. The pitch guy says, “That’s the great thing. We don’t have to pay anyone more than scale. And the TV guys love it.
I’m not so sure that Hannah isn’t laying a trap for Daphne. This is all too easy and Daphne may be all too gullible or naive.
Nah, I wouldn’t do that. That would be just too awful.
That has to be the most insincere line of text I have seen in years.
You don’t trust me.
I trust you. I’m sitting in an area with a tornado warning.
Daphne traps herself in her projected image too much. She doesn’t need another one when she already does a stellar job with self sabotage.
Agreed.
We thank you for your efforts EG; and, ooh, suburbian tudor, excellent.
Only the classiest for us!
“Well, here we are at Tyler’s house!”
“What an odd thing to say!”
Okay, here’s the deal: sometimes I need to make concessions to the format with dialogue. I’d like to completely pretend that this wasn’t a strip comic that ran weekly where people sometimes completely blank on story elements from the last comic, but … it is a weekly webcomic where people sometimes completely blank on story elements. And seeing as the comic doesn’t have a narrator, it falls to the dialogue.
“Girl, I don’t know what nefarious scheme you’ve hatched, but whatever it is, I wish you luck. May you succeed beyond your wildest dreams.” Unsaid: But if you come home pregnant, forget it!
That, I think, is covered in the fine print.
… although I wonder what ELSE could be covered by “succeed beyond your wildest dreams” than pregnancy. I mean, it’s definitely the right direction and sufficiently far away to consider success getting there so fast …
People have such filthy minds.
For what its worth, the first panel looks really good.
Agreed. The lighting and coloring are gorgeous.
Thanks. That makes it worth it!
Actually, Puck’s parting words are eminently reasonable.
She’s been there before, I think. Not in this exact context, but … similar.
I think I rode my bike past that house on my way to school.
It’s on Mayfair. Right across from the university.
I wonder how much faster would the first frame be if the house had something else on roof.
It definitely looks good.
The roof took zero effort. The shingles are a vector I generated and repeated with cut and paste, then warped to add perspective. I am nothing if not efficient.
Well, I think the result is great! I appreciate the effort.
And Daph, Puck can’t you out of trouble if she’s also in jail. The fine print is so that she’s free to help you out.
Also, you’ve made it very clear your affection is conditions based. At least when you were little it was. Maybe things have changed.
I was thinking tha perhaps Hannah had suggested that Daphne sneakinto Tyler’s bedroom. Which could mean that she will end up in the wrong room, or be asllep when tyler finally gets there.
Yikes!
Take II
The results of your effort are wonderful. I appreciate it.
Puck’s fine print allows her to stay out of trouble so that when Daph is in it, Puck can help.
Daph’s own affection was conditional. At least at first. Maybe things have changed.
I don’t think things have changed. Much.
I don’t know. She may not have even noticed it. And she was awfully nice to Colin.
Or it hasn’t. What do I know? I wrote this thing twice.
They left the porchlight on for him.
(Would’a mentioned the Mock Tudor house, but others beat me to it.)
Of course! Good parents leave the light on.
If that were true, why does Tyler / Taylor spend so much time with Daphne and her family?
It might be the fact that Daphne isn’t really welcome in Tyler’s house. Just a theory.
Nice car! Even nicer house! But best of all, is Daphne’s smile. 🙂
I am glad you liked the smile. It happens so rarely.
id believe she might write up a contract with her as a just in case.
Yep. This contract might be more than metaphorical.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!!! (Some conditions apply)
Why am I reminded of those drug commercials that end with a five minute readout of side effects?
@rewinn
I shoulda’ been listening when the ad mentioned “may cause your tail to fall off”.
Ah American drug ads. In Canada, pharmaceutical companies aren’t allowed to run those ads. Though I do enjoy seeing them in my wife’s American magazines.
I’ve seen non-Americans go, “OMG, why does your country allow those ads?!” as if there’s something crazy about them. I don’t get it. Plus they serve a purpose. Years ago I saw a drug ad that said, “if you have three of these five symptoms…” I thought, “uh… I’ve got them ALL.” So I went to my doctor. Long story short, that ad may have saved my life.
Fair enough. In most other first world countries, the trust in the medical system is higher and the idea is, “Well, doctors will tell me what drugs I need.” The very idea of a drug company directly marketing prescription medicine seems odd and shady, because, well … it’s outright illegal in their countries.
I don’t really think they’re awful, and I suppose in some circumstances like yours they can do good. I just personally love the legal requirement to list ALL potential side effects. My fave was a toe fungus med that listed one potential side effect of ‘death’. I …uh … I’ll keep the fungus, thanks.
The one that really caught my attention was, “muscle twitching which may be permanent”. Wait, what?
I just noticed- there’s a full moon! No wonder it was such a wild and crazy prom. (Especially for Phoebe I guess.) 😉
Interesting fact: it’s ALWAYS a full moon in Puckland. Mainly because I’m too lazy to alter my full moon asset.
“Well, here we are at ‘X Location’.”
*cut to outside establishing shot showing a store front with the name ‘X Location’ above the door*
That’s doing it with style!
That should be a store name. Ok yea great Role-playing npc place there. Pirates will probably be constantly confused at the lack of daboons buried nearby.
The house looks stunning…I must make it on The Sims 😀
post a pic when you do!!!
Well, go ahead! It’s not my design, though. It’s a real house.
@EG, I should have guessed that there’s always a full moon in Auckland, because craziness is normal there. 🙂
Oops, I meant ‘Puckland” not “Auckland.” My apologies to all, but especially New Zealanders. 😉
It’s always crazy in Auckland too. From what I’ve heard.
Hey! Salemcat, what are you going to do tonight?
NARF!
@Pat
Baldie cooked up weird, bright red “Chinese Sausage” with White Rice. Yummy. (and prolly illegal in Canada).
I’m now stuffed, so tonite I’ll be watching the “THRILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA”, of course !
And tomorrow morning: the new THUNDERCATS ! With Robot-Snarf – who is cute.
so there
BTW, I can even sleep in the same room as Baldie now. He’s been on a CPAP for a week, and his Buzz-Saw SNORING is gone.
Better yet, he looks so silly with the mask and hose, I laff myself to sleep !
@Pat
Once again my brilliant comeback was “Banned By the Bot”.
Grrrrr….
I brought it back.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Phoebe and Papa Schnorf are whipping up quite a story arc yet to come.
Well, we shall see…
Turns out she just convinced him to surprise her dad and it got awkard quick. MAYOR ENDS UP WITH RESTRAINING ORDER.
NEW. CAR. ARC! NEW! CAR! ARC!
Believe it or not, I’ve had a ‘new car’ arc planned for … for a long time. Just never really got around to it.
@EG
The neighbors leave in the middle of the night, and Robin “inherits” their Nash-Rambler which was mouldering in the garage.
And it turns out IT TALKS !
Turns out, it’s the reincarnated spirit of the mother in law*!!
*which explains why they moved so hastily
@Mahnarch
Hopefully the Monkey-Bears will not be attracted to this fine re-incarnated vehicle.
Surely you’re referring to a 1928 Porter??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_3jcDKUBtQ
The talking ‘74 AMC Hornet is the talking ‘28 Porter of the new millennium.
Honest to God truth? the plan, which has existed in my head for at least ten years, calls for Puck to obtain an AMC Hornet. That talks. No word of a lie.
@EG
AMC HORNET ?
NARF !
Voting Incentive: OMG Blondie o’d on Mammagrow !?!?!!!
Yeah, the chest doesn’t look crazy in relation to the head in Blondie’s style, but that’s because the head is enormous. Just cover the head up, though, and in comparison with the hips, the chest area is … disturbing.
Blondie-style Puck looks more busty. Then again, they’ve been growing for literally centuries. 😉
Everyone is a bit bustier in the Blondie style. And by ‘a bit bustier’, I mean ‘horribly misshapen’.
I know it’s the style but since you mention shape, Puck especially looks like she must be wearing undergarments that could be described as “structural”.
Well, yeah. Blondie seriously predates the 1950’s, but I feel the style really got ‘locked’ around 1955 and never changed past that point. They liked their undergarments structural in nature back then. To heck with natural body shapes!