Chris Howard's Blog, page 79

Just getting back into things…

This has been a really rough month for me. Haven’t done any writing or drawing in over two weeks–probably longer than I’ve gone without writing or drawing for a decade. Anyway, I’m getting back into the things, and started with the last few pages of Saltwater Witch 15, just sketching and storyboarding at the moment:

Saltwater Witch 15 New Pages!

Got up early this morning to finish and post the finals for another two pages for chapter 15 of the Saltwater Witch Comic.  This set has the first look at Kassandra’s mother, Ampharete (pronounced Am-FAIR-eh-tay) holding Kassandra as a baby, along with the first appearance of Ampharete’s bodyguard, Zypheria. I did most of the line work for these in AR4, the rest in CS6.

I’ve also spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out a way to convey the power of the Wreath–this power that’s inside Kassandra–in a visual way. In the books it’s really an internal feeling, sort of an awful power welling up and taking over, but with a comic I have to solve this with something the reader can see. The result: Kassandra gets hideous for a few moments.

The comic and everything else is here: http://www.SaltwaterWitch.com

 

Saltwater Witch Comic 15 page 7 preview

Working on page 7 from Saltwater Witch Comic 15. Here’s the second panel in the layout, Kassandra has Menophon at the point of a sword.  http://www.SaltwaterWitch.com

SaltwaterWitch Comic 15 pages 5 and 6 are live!

I just finished and posted two more pages for Saltwater Witch Comic 15, the first panels of Kassandra’s clash with her father’s house.

http://www.SaltwaterWitch.com

 

Saltwater Witch 15 Page 5 Preview

I’m not sure about the layout, and it’s missing a panel showing Michael Henderson–asleep, but here’s a set of panels with Kassandra, possessed by Andromache, doing a flip in the water and drawing her sword at the same time.  About seven hours total in ArtRage4 and CS6.

http://www.SaltwaterWitch.com

Saltwater Witch 15 Character / Motion Study

I’m drawing several dynamic panels for some of the upcoming Saltwater Witch Comic pages, leaving most of them unfinished. Here’s one I went pretty far with–Kassandra with sword, spinning around. About four hours in Art Rage 4.   http://www.SaltwaterWitch.com

First 4 Pages of Saltwater Witch Comic 15

Finished up the first four pages of Saltwater Witch Comic 15 around 2 in the morning and posted them. Check them out here:http://www.saltwaterwitch.com/

Kallixene’s Courtyard

I was up at a reasonable time this morning, talking to Chloe about politics and other fun stuff–she’s home this weekend from college. While talking I’ve been doing some more concept drawing for the next chapter of the Saltwater Witch Comic.http://www.SaltwaterWitch.com

For those who know the story, here’s what Kallixene’s courtyard looks like–big elliptical window into her sitting room, lots of stone and undersea growth, fancy seaborn lighting, with Michael Henderson sound asleep on the ground and Menophon standing guard over him. Not sure that this is going to be “the look” for this chapter, and for all the underwater chapters going forward, but I know I’m close.

About three hours in Art Rage and CS6.

More character painting for chapter 15

Here’s another Kassandra and Ephoros character study for chapter 15 of the Saltwater Witch comic.  About four hours in Art Rage and CS6.  http://www.saltwaterwitch.com

Fifty-percent Friday: Teller

I have posted 50% of my novel Teller as a free download.

Get it here in ePUB format:

Teller-ChrisHoward-FIFTY.epub

Andin Teller can change the world with a pencil and paint brush. Teller isn’t just his name. It’s what he is—someone who can change memories, reality and even shift time with the right story. But it doesn’t come without a cost. When he discovers his mother is part of an otherworldly organized crime family in the middle of a secret war—and has been kidnapped by a rival family, Andin sets out to rescue her with his only two friends, Taryn, a crazy mathematics genius, and deep-thinking, motorcycle-driving Itoshi. With their help, Andin navigates a world he doesn’t understand, taking on family betrayers, killers, and others like himself who have powers greater than his own.

 Amazon.com Amazon.uk

 Barnes & Noble

 Apple iBooks

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