Page 33
Kristen Gudsnuk on Aug. 14, 2009
Holy cow.
1.) OK, first of all I forgot to set this to update while I was away in Hawaii, so.. er, sorry. But that means I've got some pages done already so I don't have to completely freak out that my computer is dead!
2.) The Optimist is up for review in the Comic Review forum!!! If anyone wants to write me a review, I'd be forever grateful (the comic review forum has been a little ignored lately…). Also, if you write three reviews, you can get reviewed yourself!! (that's what I did!) So anyone who wants to, please give me an honest review. (be as harsh and loquacious as you want- the truth can be harsh, and I like loquacity.)
3.) OMG I was nominated for three DD Awards!! Thanks to all of you for voting for me. It was the most lovely surprise, getting back and finding out (via a text from max..) that I was nominated! I sure hope to win one, but just being nominated is an honor in itself.
4.) I GOT MY DRIVER'S LICENSE TODAY!!!! Now I just need a car… but… oh man, as of today I am a free woman!
5.) Well, erm, has anyone been working on their entries to my contest?? Remember, September 15th is the completely arbitrary due date. Please, give me fanart!! :D :D
6.) so, as aforementioned, my computer is really dead, but hopefully it can be fixed, otherwise I am in trouble. my immediate solution is that I'd (first find my camera and then) send the pictures to Max and have him put in gutters and format and fix the colors up and add the dialogue… but I'd rather do it myself. The only one who can get credit for my comic is ME! Also, I can trust no one to crop the pages just right, center the dialogue, choose the font size and spacing… etc hehe. But Max at least knows how I like it, so he'd be the best man for the job.
7.) I'm getting scarily close to the end of this comic… urghgh what shall I do???? *cries*
8.) So, about Hawaii: it was lots and lots of fun. I read a bunch of books, like “Sapphira and the Slave Girl” by Willa Cather, “Gentlemen of the Road” by Michael Chabon, and the first three books in Jack Vance's “Demon Princes” series, which were incredible– I discovered him from this incredible article in the NY Times Magazine a few weeks ago. And oh man, am I a converted fan. I read the Michael Chabon book after I read the Vance ones and I was like, “urgh what foppish language, give me some Jack Vance style, hard-hitting prose!!” I just got the last two “Demon Princes” books (it was a 2-part omnibus) at the library today and will have to temper reading them with doing my comic…
OH and I got “Prince Valiant: Volume 1” from Amazon. It's really wonderful. The drawings are beautiful, and the writing is.. well the lovely thing about it is that it's so terse (a quality I… definitely don't have, as you can see.) But the reason I bought it was mostly on a whim, because I'm designing a new story and I've got it into my mind that the main character loves Prince Valiant. Understandable- Val was hot (for a drawing) at least in what I've read so far.
Uh, haha, I realize I haven't said anything about hawaii!! it's hard, though, to sum up two whole weeks of excitement. So I won't bother.
Anyway, thanks for reading!!!
oh, PS, about this page: I worked really hard on panel 1. I was really happy with it too. The father was a cute kid.
tref_h at 8:54AM, Aug. 16, 2009
Jad just doesn't get it, does she? He's basically just told them that he's only doing it for them because he knows what it's like to have absolutely nothing. Ah, the fire of youth. I'll join everyone else in congratulating you on such a beautiful page. And yes, the story does read particularly well page to page. It's one of the many reasons that you thoroughly deserve your nominations. Good luck! ^_^
darkwaterfrey at 8:00PM, Aug. 15, 2009
yes, I've been working on yer' fanart.
Twilight_of_the_gods at 5:31PM, Aug. 15, 2009
wow, it's a beautiful page, you can really feel the emotions displayed here ^.^
that kid yellow at 4:30PM, Aug. 15, 2009
deep first panel. the water colors draw u in with the mood of the panel
usedbooks at 2:26PM, Aug. 15, 2009
The first panel makes me think of all the books I've been reading about the American Civil War. Soldiers (both sides actually) would steal wood from fences and kill livestock for food. They took everything.
Air Raid Robertson at 12:08PM, Aug. 15, 2009
Great watercolors. Every page of this book is a treat.
Emily Elizabeth at 8:05AM, Aug. 15, 2009
Poor Jadwiga. And their dad reminds me of my mum (though different situations) Grats on the nom and your license, you deserve both!
HyenaHell at 6:27AM, Aug. 15, 2009
p.s.: didya a quick review. :)
Gillespie at 5:26AM, Aug. 15, 2009
If I find myself with more free time after the awards, I might make some fan art. The thing is, the majority of users make webcomics as well, meaning they're busy, meaning they're not able to get involved with activities as much as they would like to. Comic's doin' great though!
HyenaHell at 5:00AM, Aug. 15, 2009
I'm finally caught up! I never noticed how well the story reads from page to page- definitely graphic novel style. :) Congrats on the nominations, too!
Hunchdebunch at 2:01AM, Aug. 15, 2009
Great page, I really like the first panel :D
Lemniskate at 11:59PM, Aug. 14, 2009
7.) Why does the prospect of the end scare you? An end is a good thing. A story comes full circle, and it shows that the writer had the discipline to know when to end. No keep-on-going for the sake of it. When you end a story, you can lean back satisfied that you told what you wanted and concentrate your attention on something new. The characters and the setting served their purpose, and don't you let anyone force you into further occupation with them if you don't want to.
Bocaj at 11:03PM, Aug. 14, 2009
Congrats about your license! :D You deserved your nominations! Also, maybe when you finish you can make a Optimist sequel? ;)
Lilac at 10:31PM, Aug. 14, 2009
This page came out really well. :D I like it. Ugh, I'm terrible at writing reviews when I'm not in the right mood. D: I end up writing a ton of dribble. And congrats on getting your drivers liscense!! I still need to get mine. DX
theprettiestpony at 10:13PM, Aug. 14, 2009
aw, little mr. vilkas looks just like kazi. it almost makes him.. sympathetic? the crying mother is very well-done. i think that she kind of looks like something out of a fairytale book, and the whole first panel does as well. also, congrats on your emancipation from having to ask for rides. :p
dontworrybehappy at 10:12PM, Aug. 14, 2009
First!!!! love the first panel