reMIND - graphic novel sketches

[brubaker]

Hi, I'm new to this forum so here goes. I have been working on a graphic novel for about three years now in my free time. I'd like to share some of the images and sketches from it. I'll try to keep adding images every week. To start it off, here is the cover that is most likely going to change. Below the cover are a few pencil drawings of panels. There's more at my blog:

http://reMINDblog.com

[nurraymjo]

Very nice Brubaker, the line work looks great. I'd definitely like to see some more... keep posting.

[Onnophris]

Looking cool brubaker. Diggin the style.

[brubaker]

Hey thanks Nurraymjo and Onnophris! I'm glad to see you're enjoy this style. I'll definitely post more very soon.

[Sekino]

Wow, I love the style so far! I'm also intrigued by the characters... Can't wait to see more.

[brubaker]

Thanks for the comment Sekino, I love the little rabbit characters on your thread.

[teapo]

awesome lines brubaker, yes i would love to see more from this. *visits brubaker's blog*

[Puck]

Very nice use of perspective, and I like the colours on the cover. Good work!

[brubaker]

Puck - I'm glad you like the colors. I've been experimenting with this style for a while and really enjoy it. Below is a colored version of one of the sketches too. Perspective is very fun when it's bent and distorted I think.

Teapo - Thanks for the compliments! I'm glad you like this stuff.

[Jamie Romoser]

awsome start for your sketch book you have a cool style

[TheGnoll]

very, very cool, definately a great start for a thread.Can't wait to see some more

ciao!

[brubaker]

Omerta and TheGnoll - Thanks for the compliments! I'm so happy that you guys are liking this style. I've always worried about how people might respond to my personal art. Thanks again and I'll post more soon.

[Schnuedli]

As a lot of other people have already said - nice line work! And I think you have a fantastic eye for shape as well!

[Dibujio:Guru]

Hey what up man loving your style a lot...

Fellow LA Resident

Like the why you use your color's and the style remembers me of a combination of Afro samurai and flcl vibe going on.I hope i can pick this novel up when it's done look's interesting.

[brubaker]

schnuedli - Thanks for the props!

Dibujio:Guru - I am flattered that you saw the FLCL inspiration. That is one of my favorite anime series yet. Yeah, LA is a great place to be for an artist, except for the cost of living. If you want to get an email when I finally finish and release the book, I have a mailing list on my blog. Glad you dig it!

[Dubu]

Hey I really like your art style!! Your lines are pretty impressive especially the cover art, I love it!! I'm also working on a manga too in my thread maybe we could help each other out!?

[FightingSeraph]

I like what I have seen here and your web log. I wonder if you're good at mechanical design...

[brubaker]

Dubu - I checked out your manga and I love what I am seeing. I can't wait to see how it will turn out. We should definitely keep in touch and I'd love to help out in any way I can. I didn't take the time to read all your posts so forgive me if you already answered this question on your thread but how are you planning on publishing this? Can't wait to see how some of the final lines will turn out on your stuff.

FightingSeraph - I don't know if my mechanical design would be that good. I do love to draw machines but when it comes to drawing the same machine from multiple angles I get all slow and confused. I have been toying with the idea of building Maya models for all my locations, machines, complex buildings and so forth so that I can easily figure it out from all angles. As far as this graphic novel goes, I just made it up out of my head and so it's taking time to keep adding new panels of the same stuff. I also don't like using rulers much in my personal work. Mainly because my style gets to stiff looking. Thanks for your comment!

[Krato]

i love the first piece the colors are both controlled but interesting

[brubaker]

Thanks Krato!

[Dubu]

I don't really have any plans for publishing :/ The comic simply started out as a side project for portfolio material...heh

How are you planning on getting your's published?

[brubaker]

Thanks everyone for your comments! It's been a pleasant surprise.

Dubu - I am planning on self-publishing at the moment. Since this is my first GN I figured it would be hard to get a publisher on board.

Here are some more panels.

[Dibujio:Guru]

Love the last two drawing's you did and yea FLCL was a bad ass show.I wish they kept it going it had that free will vibe going for it and the art was out of this world and yea living here is pretty hard bet there's a lot to do and a lot of artist out here(But i need to get out and travel lol)....


Also since i have a lot of crazy idea's and i can write for day's. I was planning on making a novel/manga type book in the next few year's and i want to ask if you have any tip's on were to start off.

[brubaker]

Dibujio:Guru - Tip for starting a novel/manga. Man, I'm honored that you ask me such a massive question but I'm not sure if I'm knowledgeable enough to answer very well. For now I'd say to start with an idea that you really believe in and want to share with others. This is important because if you don't really care about your idea then you'll never finish it. It takes dedication to make a novel or graphic novel so you really need to love what you are trying to say.

Let me know if you have a specific question and I'll try to give you a decent answer. You can always email me to. Glad you liked the new frames!

[Dibujio:Guru]

I mean there's million's of others that do novel's and book's but . I like your style and your into your work and i see it in the way you do your piece's and those are the type of novel/manga/graphic novel artist that i myself is interesting in.


Thank's for the tip man any advice you can give me is great and even tho your not as knowledgeable as some other's you have a lot to say and i think you know a lot more then me anyways.

Keep getting better man by the way!!

[Mischeviouslittleelf]

Really nice inks! Absolutely prestine lines

-E

[brubaker]

Dibujio:Guru - I feel the same way about GN's. There are very few that I really want to pick up because most of them are just thrown together for a studio or something. The one's that really stand out are when the artist really puts himself into his work. That's really what I am trying to achieve. Something that will stand out on the shelves but also be unattached to the unspoken rules of the comic world. (especially American comics) If that makes any sense.

Okay, so I thought about it a bit and here is my little list of things I've learned so far:


1) Make your files in CYMK mode. All printers print in CYMK. And if you end up needing it in RGB for some odd reason then you can still convert it after the fact.

2) Work in at least 300 dpi. That's what all the printers I've talked to print at. Most Marvel and DC guys create their pages at 450 to 600dpi but it all gets reduced in the end to go to print.

3) Make rules for yourself to follow for your book or it will look like a different book at the beginning and end because you got inspired along the way with some new technique. My rules are pretty simple. a)I only use the paint textures that I made. b)Above ground the pages are more or less white and below ground they are more black. c)I can only do 4 panels per page unless it's a sequence of frames where the camera doesn't move. d)I draw everything on paper and scan it. No digital lines except for subtle changes. e)all my pages are planned out as double page spreads so I can control the mood and story better. Those are my rules for this book. My next book will change as I figure out what is important to me then.

4) Develop a style that is doable and wont take you a gazillion years. I learned that I didn't need to ink my pages because I can just boost the contrast on pencil lines in Photoshop. That alone saves me hours every page.

5) Read "Making Comics" by Scott McCloud if you haven't already.

6) Focus on your strengths. Draw what you love to draw. Don't make a story about the army if you suck at drawing tanks. Unless it's your mission to learn how to draw tanks while making a GN. But I'd suggest not using this medium to learn how to draw something. It will just look different from start to finish and you'll constantly want to go back and fix old ugly tanks.


I'll add some more later if I can think of anything else important. Hopefully this helps. I can't wait to see what you start working on.

[TheHut]

Beautiful lines and weight. I would love to see more with color as well. Thanks for the tips as well.

[brubaker]

@Mischeviouslittleelf - Thanks man. I don't use ink though. I'm just cheating and scanning my pencils into Photoshop and boosting the contrast. My inks are horrible.

@TheHut - Thanks you. Here are some more color things. Thanks for asking!

[Mex]

I felt very intresting mood in here. Something mystical. And that cat... he is like cartoon in the real life )) Mb he is not real ?
Main character is good enough to be interested in her destiny. Good luck to you man ! hope you finish this story soon ! Thanks for showing !