And it just so happens we just concluded the recent Toycon…
I’d like to see that in a diorama…. with Superman & Batman!!! hahahaha!
And it just so happens we just concluded the recent Toycon…
I’d like to see that in a diorama…. with Superman & Batman!!! hahahaha!
John Shelley conducted a workshop on developing story through pictures. First off was getting a bead on the character’s Whos Hows Wheres and Whats:
WHO
HOW
WHERE
WHAT
Ha! Like we could seriously think about all those in a matter of minutes! I don’t even think an hour would have been enough. So I guess we all took it one step at a time. (Some however had pretty amazing stories at the end of the exercise.) Children: you may try this at home. Supervise yourselves. Mr. Shelley recommends Uri Shulevitz’s Writing with Pictures book to get you going.
Keywords on pieces of paper were passed around in a bag.
1. First was the character. (I got “cow”.) We proceeded to come up with drawings for them. (I did shaman cow. Too much D&D & RPG in my head, I guess.) Frankly I don’t know how to draw a decent cow from memory. And I call myself an illustrator.
2. Then after that simple exercise… we got a location keyword. (I got “inner city”.) I threw “shaman cow” out the window and instead went for “mob cow” (who takes down milkmen for some bovine reason.) I don’t know if I’ll ever write for children….
3. Then we get some prop keyword that pretty much curdles your milk, so to speak. (I got “bucket”) Guess where I stuck the bucket?
4. Last keyword was for the setting. We really had to pump our udders for this last one. (I got 1940s - so I figure Post World War II …. what the hay, right?) No longer a “mob cow” but “hero cow”! He uses the bucket to put out fires. Not very creative on my part, really. Note to self: must read more children’s books.
5. In the end we had to create thumbnails for a little over 14 spreads of story. My story is about a loyal cow saving a war-torn Japanese community by offering to fill their buckets with milk (irradiated milk). A kid befriends the cow, thugs steal it, the community saves it. Mooooral of the lesson: value your cows. I wonder if kids will get it at all.
So after that, we showed John our portfolios. (I basically have to rearrange mine.) It’s the second SCBWI illustrator’s event now that it was brought up that a clear singular style is favored over multiple styles. It’ll help pitch illustrators into the pigeon holes publishers put us in. Yes, sad as that may sound. Here are some photos of that, more can be found at the SCBWI Philippines blog.
Big thanks to JOHN SHELLEY. Please visit his studio site and his blog.
John Shelley was born in Birmingham, UK. But soon after he graduated university, he went to work and subsequently live in Japan. He’s been there ever since. Thanks to SCBWI Philippines and the British Council, he was able to come over to British Council Philippines and talk about his work and the long tradition of British pen&ink illustration that has inspired and influenced him.
John’s talk began with who he is and how he grew up (full of fantasy, adventure and inspiration,) and then quickly followed by a slideshow art tour of 18th century to 20th century British picture book illustrators and their works. The tour was a mix of history, art appreciation, and pen&ink technique & reproduction - a visual feast. It came with a handout naming prominent British illustrators across the two centuries.
For those who weren’t able to catch Mr. Shelley’s British Children’s Book Illustration History 101… you missed 3 hours worth of great inspiration & influence. It sounds long - especially if you’re not an illustrator.
During that tour, I thought of pen & ink illustrators here in the Philippines. I don’t know the names of any significant Filipino pen & ink illustrators until already after Britain’s Golden Age of British Children’s Book Illustration (1875-1920). Those Filipino illustrators I know worked primarily in komiks. Is there a tradition of Filipino children’s book illustrators or even komik book illustration during the Spanish colonial times (1800s) that I am not aware of?
After the history, John talked about his work in Japan. He got accustomed to Nihonggo 日本語 within 6 months. (He had a LOT of time to learn it at his sponsor’s office, where he “worked” intially.) John was penniless after his stint at that office, and after having found his own place it was eventually personal networking and his portfolio that got him a few years worth of commercial work. He became aware and and gradually accustomed to the Japanese aesthetic. He mentions a few instances wherein his highly detailed illustrations were essentially minimalized and toned down by Japanese designers. Nothing too “loud” or too “scary”, they would say. After a couple of years doing commercial work, he knocked on Kodansha’s door for a chance to illustrate for children’s books them - and soon he was working on Japanese picture books as well. So now he balances his work at 20% for commercial work and 80% for children’s books - the 20% paying off a greater deal financially.
He has his studio located in the suburbs of Yokohama. During our lunch break, he mentioned to me that the suburbs could be a pretty dull place compared to the countryside or city, so he must draw his inspirations largely from childhood. His studio is really an apartment because, quite frankly, there are no made to order studios. No Japanese anime/manga icons were immediately seen at his studio and this is because these never caught on with John. Nevertheless he still has his childhood trove of miniature soldiers in a tall glass case and probably a model boat or two in the bathroom, I suspect.
More to follow on John Shelley’s workshop on developing story visually as well as some details on the portfolio review.
Apart from the regular color work I’m doing for Archaia Studio Press, I’ve been fairly occupied teaching the Pixel Pintura workshops. I will post photos some of the graduates as soon as summer draws to a close.
I am vexed that I have less & less time to draw.
Another more pressing vexation is that our March water bill ballooned to more than Php3000!! Typically our water bill ranges from 600Php to 1200Php. It’s got me on edge. There is no easy way to solve it apart from shutting off valves that would otherwise give us a strong flow of water. I want to just dig up everything and look for whatever’s causing the water meter to spin like crazy, but I’m too busy doing my work. If you know of a competent serviceman that can help us, please let me know.
I am frustrated because no one is taking sufficient steps to find the source of the problem and no one has the money to spend for it - but me. AND the fact that I’m laying the largest eggs in a nest full of holes just eggs me to find a place of my own to live in.
On that note, I take it upon myself to learn more about taxation. Upon the invitation of my friend, Doc Lawrence… I met with his accountant Mr. Julius Zafra and other friends at Shangri-La Mall Figaro around 7:00pm tonight. And who should be there but the Philippine’s one and only Gary Valenciano!
He rendered a few songs and promoted a very heartwarming book showcasing photographs of Filipino children. (Being the Inkie that I am, I considered purchasing it as useful visual reference.)
I however chose not to buy it… I have to tighten my belt, (even when I am trying to gain weight!) I will mull my business and my expenses for the coming months.
Election fever? Or just plain heat stroke? The team at IAS Philippines pokes fun at the U.S. Presidential Candidates and other political personalities. This link is courtesy of Jonas Diego.
Fortunately they didn’t do one for Philippine Senatorial Candidates - Jonas would probably be sued for doing so… hrm hrm.
Anyway this reminded of Rex Navarrete’s Maritess and the Super Friends.
Itsura Manga is now open!
It will be featuring interviews and artworks of exceptional Pinoy artists who illustrate in the manga / anime style. We hope to feature a new artist on a weekly to monthly basis.
The name Itsura Manga popped into my head one night Read the rest of this entry »
I haven’t watched Azumanga-Daioh yet… but using it to spoof the Lord of the Rings was still very funny!!
Thanks to Mar (she’s in Japan right now) for posting this funny video.
Since accomplishing the Dalawang Bayani ng Bansa project. It’s straight into a tryout for some American manga! 漫画！！ Unfortunately, it’s not to be disclosed! But all you wannabe comic artists, stay tuned, because I may be needing a team to churn out pencilled, inked, and toned pages every week! (This apart from Primordia and Robotika colors I have to do - !!!!)
And speaking of wannabes…. Wannatalk??
Wannatalk is a fairly new community online that just opened! It’s the reason I have now started typing odd Japanese words here and there. I happened to come across the site when it was still open to the public. What’s so special about it? It’s a social network designed primarily for second language learners!! There is an international group of subscribers - largely from Japan (next would be America… then the PHILIPPINES wooohoo!!) You make friends. Upload blog posts. And SKYPE!! you get to call people who would like to practice their second language on you! すごいね？ （Now you need an invite to get in. You have to be a nice person who isn’t just prowling for a spouse!)
The most pleasant surprise I got just recently is that I’ve gained weight! 5 pounds of it! Thanks to exercise, eating more in a day, and info I got from Anthony Ellis!! Still it’s a long way to go! I haven’t gone through all the material from Mr. Ellis… but I am in faith this time… and I’ve watched enough 成人（NARUTO!!) to keep me going!
Features artwork, production notes, daily events, and other musings from the artist Joel Chua from Metro Manila, Philippines. He works for the publishing,animation, and gaming industries.
