Graphic Novel

Here it is!  At last...

Here it is!

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"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel."

Ahh, it arrived!

Better get reading...

Creating a Graphic Novel

OK, so it's the second week of the 3 week Easter holidays... about time I did some work.

Had a quick look about online for graphic novel info.

http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Graphic-Novel  <-- relatively useful-ish.

http://www.austinkleon.com/2007/07/03/how-to-write-a-graphic-novel/  <-- good advice.  Thumbnails all the way, baby.

I've ordered The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel.  Should be here by next week... I also sifted through all the graphic novels at the library and was pleasantly surprised and inspired.  My preconceived idea that all graphic novels are Manga/Japanese art and RUBBISH and uninteresting was completely wrong.  There are some mint ones out there.

The ones I picked up:-

• Owly, by Andy Runton
• Anne - Freaks [4], by Yua Kotegawa
• Fluffy, by Simone Lia
• Completely Pip and Norton (volume one) by davegraphics.com
• Top Shelf Under the Big Top, by Christine Shields
• Pentti & Death-girl, by Emma Rendel
• Bye Bye Birdie, by Shirley Hughes.

I also found this image that I love the colours of... I want to have this kind of effect with the different boxes/scenes in my GN.

Mmmmm pleasing.

I've started sketching out a plot for my novel... it's written on a long roll of receipt paper from work.  Recycling!

Sunderland-inspired Pattern

houses in Sunderland, in the football strip's colours... 

little boxes, little boxes :)

Pattern Pattern Pattern

Ok, so after boring myself silly taking photos of objects that look vaguely patterned I'm glad it's over with so I can actually look at interesting things and do some sketchbook work.

I had a quick look around the internet for pattern-related stuff.

Here's a man with a DNA-pattern knitted scarf, haha.  

more sciency dna patterns

...and again

aerial photo of Sunderland

The pattern of how human beings settle and build houses fascinates me.  It's a bit like seeing ants make little tunnels in sand boxes.  I have a friend at uni who studies town planning and he has to learn all about why people live where they do, what makes a successful town layout etc.  I like that it all goes back to medieval times and basic things like whether there's water nearby and how sheltered from the elements it is.

this one shows where the stadium of light is, and of course "Where Alan Grew Up"  haha.  I wonder who Alan is?

Houses.... little boxes, little boxes.

I have been thinking about doing a pattern of house outlines, done in red and white (the Sunderland football club colours) Hmmm.  Sketchbook work to be done, methinks.

Patterns (part 2)