SS5 153 An odd conversation
skyangel on June 25, 2016
I've had two really strange events occur since introducing the crow which I think are worth mentioning. The first happened when I was inking that large crow pic and I was home alone, half daydreaming, and it was beautifully peaceful and quiet until a bird suddenly smacked into the window just three feet from my face. It has happened twice before so I know it's not that unusual but the timing was perfect on this occasion as my thoughts were quite naturally on the bird I was working on.
Then this week while taking a break from the comic I decided to put some stuff up in the loft to clear a space in my study and I'd only been up there a couple of minutes when a large black bird of some kind suddenly emerged from nowhere and began frantically flying back and forth trying to find a way out. Apart from the initial shock I wasn't too scared but my main panic was the thought that it's claws might get caught up in my hair or that it might just crap all over me in it's panic to find a way out! So I hastily came back down again and I haven't been back up since, but a couple of times I've heard scraping sounds and odd noises which suggest it may still be up there. I haven't told my other half yet as I know she wont sleep at night worrying it's up there still!
I'm not suggesting for one second btw that the storyline is in any way linked to these incidents but it's thrilling when writing future pages to be inspired by such events and have a real life event to relate to as well!
Have a nice week :)
skyangel at 3:24PM, June 28, 2016
Bear: I always admire the enthusiasm you put into your comic and you've definitely improved a lot over the pages as we all have. You're a master at doing camper vans and surfing pics!
skyangel at 3:21PM, June 28, 2016
DV: Hehe ;)
skyangel at 3:18PM, June 28, 2016
In the early pages I spent most of my time just trying to get the anatomy right from memory. I'd draw a pose, flesh it out and then feel something wasn't right and kept working it over and over. I can remember spending a good hour or more on just sketching a single panel. I'd also often try to find a suitable ref to show me where I was going wrong and then finally dcided I might just as well use the ref to start with and save time. And so the habit grew but even so, the majority of poses are not perfect so I still have to make body or clothing adjustments. I sent you a private message by the way, in case you haven't yet noticed! :)
BearinOz at 3:13AM, June 28, 2016
Fred.. I certainly wouldn't put myself in the "pretty good artists" camp, but I use photos all the time, for characters and backgrounds. I couldn't live without them !
DarkVisor at 6:25AM, June 27, 2016
Hah! Knew he had something to do with what happened to (or with) Laura :(
fredhedges at 1:03PM, June 26, 2016
I like the reply to Bear about doing backgrounds. Some comics are indeed quite abstract, relying solely on the imagination of the artist. This strip isn't like that, and its realism is one of its charming aspects. The Comments section testifies over and over to the readers' appreciation for this style. Besides, what's the difference between how these backgrounds are developed and the use of models in creating art? I do believe that models have been used by some pretty good artists.
skyangel at 5:06AM, June 26, 2016
Bear: You anticipated the page well. I didn't imagine he would mean to scare Sarah away from Lucy as Sarah really is the anitidote that's helping Lucy get over Laura, he's really trying to control her but doing it in a very clumsy way! As for the houses, I dropped one of those floppy little men onto a Google Map and found a street opposite a park which suited my tastes. I don't copy anything that accurately but tend to cherry pick the details I like most. It just feels nice to have some sort of guide rather than nothing.
skyangel at 4:56AM, June 26, 2016
Kim: As I just replied to Tupapayon, I feel Lucy's dad is a guy who got where he is by being street smart rather than highly educated and that makes him very linear in his thinking, especially if he thinks acting hard earns more respect. But you're right about Sarah, she HAS to go in because if she doesn't we'll never know what he's holding back! :)
skyangel at 4:50AM, June 26, 2016
Tupapayon and Phantom: I see Lucy's dad as being a guy who is not very good with words. As I wrote his lines I half cringed at the lack of originality in them but felt he would be trying to act hard to 'impress' Sarah. He's probably watched too many crime shows on TV!
skyangel at 4:37AM, June 26, 2016
Fred: That's very true. Sarah's grown up with domestic violence and is used to being insulted and threatened so she's probably more curious to know what he's afraid of her finding out. The only real difference is that she would have a good idea of her own father's limits but has yet to find out what Lucy's dad's are!
skyangel at 3:36AM, June 26, 2016
Banes: I love the way you think! lol I might just try the same thing!
skyangel at 3:35AM, June 26, 2016
Tommym: Becky had the idea that the bird was up there trapped and dying too but I'm pretty sure this one knows the way in and out as I'm sure I'd have heard a lot more noise. I peeked in this morning and turned the light on and there was no sign of it.
skyangel at 3:28AM, June 26, 2016
Jerrie: haha perhaps a little too soon for that.
raytoons at 11:01PM, June 25, 2016
Its a threat.
bexlicious at 8:26PM, June 25, 2016
Is it me or is there someone creepy standing in the upstairs window
BearinOz at 7:41PM, June 25, 2016
You too eh ? I get birds attacking the windows all the time.And the wings mirrors on the car . Being in a warm climate, the house is open a lot and I even get our resident pigeons wandering into the living room, when I'm on here . ....I didn't really expect much drama here and the page went pretty much as I thought. You always put so much more detail in your background houses than I do ! B-)
KimLuster at 6:14PM, June 25, 2016
That is wild about that bird...!! Jung would call that Synchronicity! Well, the ride wasn't as bad as I feared for Sarah, but it does certainly have an threatening ominous feel...! Most 'friendly' advice feels that way to me, to be honest!! I've the feeling Sarah isn't gonna heed it, regardless! :D
Phantomduck at 5:30PM, June 25, 2016
Friendly threat?
tupapayon at 2:48PM, June 25, 2016
It's not a threat... but if you don't listen there's going to be consequences...
fredhedges at 12:40PM, June 25, 2016
You know, Sarah really does have cojones, so to speak. She doesn't take any nonsense even from this this big rich bully who might wind up being her father-in-law. I guess she got lots of practice standing her ground with her father. She consistently models good values for us
Banes at 11:33AM, June 25, 2016
Another beauty of a page, and a subtle threat. Very interesting bird-oriented coincidences. I'm going to start incorporating bags of money into my scripts more often...maybe one will show up in the attic!
tommym at 8:57AM, June 25, 2016
Dear Sky, Its interesting how a bird flew into your attic. Good I suppose you made a fast escape. Have you thought of feeding it? It must be hungry by now. maybe you can adopt it as a pet? Dont really know if thats a good idea. Good luck whatever you do and great page. Seems Lucys father does not believe in ghosts:) tommym
jerrie at 8:18AM, June 25, 2016
the art is fantastic
jerrie at 8:18AM, June 25, 2016
Hit him in his package! He's threatening you!