Concerning Inkwash Vs. Color

Color adds so much to a piece. I was reviewing pages from Deep Circuitry and noted that a lot of the lower illustration skill can be forgiven because of the color.

And then I saw the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie and started thinking “how can I add color to my next project”?

Cons: Color theory is challenging and hard to get right. Fixing analouge color is challenging to fix in digital post. Color (done well) will be time consuming. Painting analouge color will be challenging to keep consistent for 100 pages. B&W is fast. B&W is classic.

Pros: Color (done well) looks fuckin’ great.

Well. Okay. Lots of cons, but the one pro outweighs them all. Great…

I think what I’ll consider is borrowing from Hayao Miyazaki’s method of minimally watercoloring his storyboards. From the Studio Ghibli movie, Ponyo:

Or, perhaps even keeping the process analouge up until color is required, and maybe doing color digitally. This would be faster and quicker to recover from mistakes. I’d probably even consider doing focus areas with cell, and everything else in watercolor style. This is the same method I used for Deep Circuitry. For example:

At this point, it’s a matter of exploring how it will fit within my current work schedule.

If script and thumbnail exist, then-
– Thursday: sketch
– Friday: ink
– Monday: ink wash
– Tuesday: digital touch up and lettering
– Wednesday: post and publish

There’s quite a bit of room within these 2 hour sessions, especially since I’ve been slacking (not waking up on time, not spending the full time actually working).

Concerning my friend Phil

My friend Phil died last week. He was 37. He was amongst my best friends. He was a brother. He loved and supported my ambitions. He helped me bring my ideas to fruition.

Phil was an early supporter of Deep Circuitry; reading early scripts and pitches.

Phil helped me make the Algorithm Interviews; showing up on set to hump gear and provide unsolicited safety advice.

Phil told me that The Antique Dealer was terrible; which was appreciated.

Phil worked and supported a number of other ambitions when we had our Wasted Talent Films, LLC. He was an assistant director and gaffer for our feature film, Rivertown. He was most proud of his unofficial position, “Pizza Producer”. Phil was an electrician at the time and when I couldn’t afford to feed actors and crew, he would buy pizza for everyone.

I still don’t know how to feel. I missed last week’s posting for Enter Cedar when I heard the news. My partner and I are trying to carry on our life, because as she put, we’re living for Phil now.

But it’s hard.