JGT: Behind the Page ~ COLOR~ Background

Hey, everyone! Well, while taking a quick 30-minute homework break, I managed to finish up some of the coloring for page 14! So, allow me to show you the next phase and sub-phase of the comic-page process!
And that...is COLORING. Dun Dun Duuuuuun...

So, the coloring phase is a BIG and LONG one, like the drawing phase. Coloring takes various steps, as I'm sure you guys are aware of ^^.

The first thing I turn to when it comes to coloring is the backgrounds.

.....And...as you can see, my backgrounds aren't that complicated XD

Coloring the background doesn't take too much time, for I don't have to worry about 'staying in the lines' and whatnot. Since this is the first thing I color, the tidying up of the lines will be corrected when I start coloring in everything else, including the characters.

For most of this eppie, the only background is the sky. And from the very beginning, I didn't just want to use the same shades of blue and white. So I defied the laws of nature and made the sky randomly change color between panels! Hey, it's my comic so I can do what I want X3
And I tend to pull off a lot of 'Charlie Brown' backgrounds. You know, those backgrounds where it's just one color? Yeah, I grew up with CB, so now I do that. But I do put thought into which color I use (I choose based on the mood of the scene or character).

For coloring in general, I use paint/air brushes...and I blend...a LOT. What, blending colors is fun! And pretty. Well, to me, anyway.

The next part of Coloring is...the CHARACTERS O__O And boy oh boy, does that take a long time. But once I get a good start on it, I'll be sure to show you guys!

Until then,

Genie

JGT - Behind the Page ~ LAYOUT

Hey, guys! Tis Genie ^^

I'm ready to show you the next phase in Behind-the-Page, and that phase is 'Layout'!

Once I finish and scan the panel drawings, I then have to cut and crop each one. That way, each panel is separated and straight.
This particular page has a looot of panels, so I've ended up having about 16 panel squares floating around my desktop.
Then I open up Gimp, which again is the free/kind of nih-y version of Photoshop (One day, Photoshop...one day you will be mine.) I first prepare the background for the page, which is usually the same shade of gray (I use a light gray so it still showcases the white of the raw panels).
Using different lairs (so, 16 layers in total), I cut and paste each panel onto the gray background. Because each panel has its own layer, I can easily move and adjust it without tampering with the other panels. Once all are on the page, I organize them based on the model rough draft from the early phases of BtP ^^
After finishing up details in organizing and separating, all I have to do is merge all layers into one cramped layer, and then I can start the next phase....COLORING.

Tune in next time for that mess ;D

Until then,

Genie

JGT: Behind the Page ~ Final Drawn Panels

Hey, everyone! Genie here!

Guess what? Another phase of the comic page-making process has been completed!

After the rough sketches comes the final line-art for the panels! Since I'm not fancy, I just use a lead pencil. But it works for me so I regret nothing. So huzzah! The panels for page 14 have been fully drawn!
As you can see, the panels take about 1.3 pages of printer paper. That's cuz the actual comic page sizes are bigger than US Letter, so I need more room, ergo more paper ^^
Also, it shows that I may be a little lazy when it comes to the boxes of the panels. They look a bit uneven, right? That's cuz in the Layout phase, I crop them and set them...you know what, you'll find out soon enough, hehe.
This page came pretty close to the rough draft I drew earlier. Some changes have been made though...can you spot where they are? ^^

Next up is the Layout of the page! Hopefully I'll be able to show you this weekend ;D

Until then,

Genie

Something Random This Way Comes...?

Coming SoooOOOoooOOOooon!!

A Favorite Past-time of Mine: Doodling

Hey, everyone! Sorry about being inactive this week. It's really hitting me how much I miss having all the time in the world to draw and write.

So, what's my temporary solution to this dilemma?

DOODLING.

Yes, I know. Doodling is bad if you're in class. But I honestly think doodling helps me concentrate more. Cuz I tend to have a 'day-dreaming problem' sometimes, and doodling helps anchor my thoughts...but that's just me ^^

Doodling also makes way for some good practice!
Since I'm still in the middle of Big Magic, the eppies that show JHR as humans, and since drawing humans isn't my forte, I've managed to draw a couple of practice sketches whenever I could.

I guess this can be considered Concept Art...maybe...or just doodles.
Yeah, they're doodles X3

"Keep Calm and Doodle On."

Until then (and hopefully that's soon cuz I feel a Behind the Page update coming along),

Genie

Blast from the Past: JGT Issue #1 Cover

Hey, everyone! Genie here. Trying to catch my breath after all of this reading and college and whatnot. Because of school, it's getting harder for me to find time to work on pages...huh, maybe I have some time tonight...hmm...I'll keep you posted ;)

But until then, here is a little something from the very random past of JGT:

(Why is it gray?!?!)
So, I believe some time before this website launched, Jocey and I wanted to try and 'self publish' JGT into an actual comic-book-thing. So, coupled with that idea was a design for issue 1, which from what I remember consisted eppies 1-5, ending with Switching Stone.
The idea was later retired, along with this page (partially because of the stain underneath the JGT cloud...See it? I wish you couldn't, but it's there...)
And instead of self-publishing, we decided to just open up a website and redraw the entire series! Yay for taking the road less traveled, right? XD

That's a little bit of JGT history for you :3

(PSSST Also, take a look under the 'Playlist' Tab...another song might've popped up for Big Magic ;p you should check it out!)

And yes, once I get more progress done on page 14, I shall continue the Behind the Page posts! As soon as I can, it'll get done!

Thank you for your patience and awesomeness, and be sure to check back for more Behind the Scenes and JGT Randomness!

Genie

I'm finally free!!

Yo-o entire world who loves squirrels! Tis Jocey-squirrel here!! And I am here to tell you that I AM FINALLY FREEE!! Woot woot!! I've been swamped with my biology class (anatomy!) and I had this evil exam recently o.O...soo finally I've had this exam! (Too much information about bones, the integument and the nervous system) SO! This is gonna be the lovely Jocey-freaking out!

Soo this is the lovely image (and look two squirrels discussing the freaking outness of Jocey)