With a little help from my friends

Sometimes I just get stuck, can't think outside the box. Running around in circles. I've already bitched about this page, but now that the problem is solved, let me share it with you.
One of the opening scenes of the book required the following; main character is talking to a young boy while doing signing at the convention, on his right are two of his mates, a queue of fans in front of him, monitor beside him and two men watching over behind him.
On first sketches/doodles I did on the script while reading it, I went for a straight shot looking from the crowd, but ditched it rightaway because it's obvious I want be able to show everything needed. Shot from the above comes natural.

So, this is how I did the layout.

But it didn't look right. It was dull and hanged onto the right side. I tried some variations, but none of them were good. So I started penciling the page, still unhappy.

Couldn't force myself to finish it and decided to ask for help. I've sent an e-mail to Darko and Tonci and here's what they came up with.

Tonci did basically what my first idea was, except he lifted up the camera a bit.

Darko moved two men in forefront, to the left.
Later that day I met with Bob and Talaja and asked for their opinions. They didn't do their own versions, but we analyzed what was done before. We agreed that my version was correct but boring, Darko's had a problem because two men were on the left and their dialogue comes last, Tonci's was spot on! Our main character was in the center of the panel, the whole composition and perspective leads the eye to him and with little adjustment we'll be able to see everything we need, and subjective POV (we're in the crowd, waiting for signature) was more then welcome.
Drawing time, finaly! I didn't bother drawing perspective grid, just had fun finally drawing the damn piece.

And ... oops!
After completely finishing the page and sending it to the crew, I've realized two men in the background are huge! Ten years ago, I'd have to redraw them, but now, thank God, there's Photoshop! : )

I don't know, some of you might find all this big fuss about nothing. And I would even agree, especially since the solution was so simple, but sometimes you just can't see the woods from the tree. Funny thing is, these situations never happen when deadlines are breathing down your neck! : )

Skeletons in the closet

I've planned to write an extensive post about the tour in Germany, because I had such a great time there, but gave up. Partly because I'm too lazy to type, partly because my camera suck and batteries kept running out. So, here's a short version ...
We were doing the signings in comic-shops where they would have everything prepared and previously announced. The fans would buy some of our books and, by doing so, qualify to get a sketch (in the books, on separate papers or sketchbooks). Signings are for free and there were some people with literally a dozen of my different books.

The whole thing was lots of fun and our hosts were great, but the best thing was to meet two great guys and talented artists.

Riccardo Burchielli of the DMZ fame ...

... and Davide Gianfelice, the co-creator of Northlanders and The Greek Street.

I did my part of promoting Mafest quite vigorously! : )

This is the rest of the crew: Mike Rote from Planet Bongo Studios, Alex Bubenheimer and Steffen Volkmer fro Panini Comics, and Danielle, Davide's better half.
We were traveling around in the van and it really did felt like being a band! : )
For the last three days we were in Munich, attending the festival there. By then my camera completely died on me, so no pictures from there, but here's the interview I did during the panel held by Joerg Krissman. I wasn't quite aware it's gonna be aired later on the web, so I might've said something awkward. It's almost an hour long and I can't stand to listen to myself (speaking in English!!!), but if you have the nerve, stomach and spare time, give it a try - there surely are some skeletons in the closet! : )
Introduction is in Germany, but after that Q&As are in English.

Ditched

Keep changing my mind. Not good.

Trying, inking, crying ...

My apologies to all of you who are visiting to see my drawings and not my shameless self-promotion. I'm not too comfortable yet with showing recent work, but here's a piece of unrelated drawings loosely based on pics from various newspapers. Done just for trying out inking tools.
Upper row is mostly classic Winsor & Newton Series 7, size 3 and a little bit of quill that served me well through the whole Chas mini series. Now the quill became quite flexible and suitable for the different approach (middle row, except the girl with the glasses). Bottom row (and girl with the glasses) are inked by some no-name and cheap brush I got from Tonci. And it works great! Thanks, Tonci! : )

Remembering Eddy

Today, Eddy would celebrate his 40th birthday. He would have at least six Eisner Awards on his shelves, Alan Moore would beg him to work on his new book and his editor would try to reach him, unsuccessfully, because he would be missing his deadline. Today, he would be occupied calling friends to show up at his place, buying booze and snacks, putting together playlist of his favourite songs to last until the dawn and would clean up his den at least a little bit. He would celebrate his birthday and I'd celebrate along with him.
But life is a bitch.
So, there won't be any party today. Just memories.
And for those of you who weren't lucky enough to know him in person, here are few picks from his vast legacy ...

German tour

Next week I'll be in Germany, thanks to Panini Comics. First, I'll be doing signings at these places:
Monday, 8th of June - Sammlerecke, Hindenburgstrasse 169, 73730 Esslingen
Tuesday, 9th of June - T3-Terminal Entertainment, Grosse Eschenheimer Strasse 41A, 60313, Frankfurt
Wednesday, 10th of June - Comix, Goseriede 10, 30159 Hannover
Then I'll be at Comicfestival in Munich (Munchen) from Friday, 12th of June to Sunday, 14th of June.
I'll be signing my books and selling original art, so come and visit if you're in the neighbourhood.

About girls and guns

Well, that's what I call blast from the past!!!
Miki Horvatić, an old friend and a writer started his blog and, among other things, posted couple of pages we did together a dozen years ago. This should've been my American debut (Miki already worked for Antarctic Press with Esad Ribić), but the fate had other plans.






By the way, Mafest was great! Somehow, the guys manage to make it better every year. And even the first year was fantastic! Getting sketches from the guest artists became one of the more popular sports. Some of it you can see here.
I still don't have pics from the festival. Mrva was in charge for that, so go bug him ... : )

Mafest 2009

It's that time of the year again - Mafest- time! : )
Mafest is the festival that became my favorite from the very start, four years ago. Wonderful city, food and weather, lots of people that love comics; authors, fans, publishers ... and last but not least, incredible hosts Dado and Dado. This year the special guests are Roberto De Angelis, Roberto Diso, Gallieno Ferri, Darko Macan, Peter Milligan, Boro Pavlovic, Antonio Serra and Gigi Simeoni.


I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll be back on Monday. Maybe there'll be a chance to update the blog directly from "the face of the place" so stay tuned, all of you unfortunate ones. : )
Those of you living close enough, you can still pack up your toothbrushes, grab your swimsuits and join us! Here's the detailed program and informations (in Croatian, of course) ...

CETVRTAK, 21.05.2009.

09.00 – 11.30
Radionice s najmladjima: Djecji vrtic «Ciciban» + OS «Oca Petra Perice»

12.00
Polaganje vijenaca na grob Andjelka Ercega - Gradsko groblje Makarska

21.00 - 04.00
MaFest Thursday Night Party - Cafe bar «Bety»

23.00
Promocija lokalnih strip autora i njihovih gostiju (razgovor ugodni + potpisivanje) – Cafe bar «Bety»

PETAK, 22.05.2009.

09.00 - 12.00
Strip radionica za sve one koji bi zeljeli postati strip autori:
Od ideje do kolora (predavaci: Darko Macan, Bob Solanovic, Tico Tikulin) - Hotel Meteor

12.30 – 14.30
Roberto Diso (razgovor ugodni + potpisivanje) – Book Cafe

15.30 – 17.30
Boro Pavlovic (razgovor ugodni + potpisivanje) – Book Cafe

18.00 - 18.55
Tribina: Antonio Serra, Roberto De Angelis, Gigi Simeoni – Hotel Meteor, kongresna dvorana

19.00 - 19.55
Tribina: Darko Macan – Hotel Meteor, kongresna dvorana

20.00 - 20.55
Tribina: Gallieno Ferri – Hotel Meteor, kongresna dvorana

22.00 - 04.00
MaFest Friday Night Party – Cafe bar «Bety»

SUBOTA, 23.05.2009.

09.00 – 11.00
Gallieno Ferri (razgovor ugodni + potpisivanje) – Book Cafe

11.00 – 13.00
Darko Macan (razgovor ugodni + potpisivanje) – Book Cafe

13.00 – 15.00
Antonio Serra, Roberto De Angelis, Gigi Simeoni (razgovor ugodni + potpisivanje) – Book Cafe

15.30 - 16.25
Tribina: Peter Milligan, Esad Ribic, Goran Sudzuka – Hotel Meteor, kongresna dvorana

16.30 - 17.25
Tribina: Roberto Diso – Hotel Meteor, kongresna dvorana

17.30 - 18.25
Tribina: Boro Pavlovic – Hotel Meteor, kongresna dvorana

18.45 – 20.45
Centralna tribina: De Angelis, Diso, Ferri, Macan, Milligan, Pavlovic, Serra, Simeoni + humanitarna aukcija originalnih crteza svih gostiju festivala – Hotel Meteor, kongresna dvorana

22.00 - 04.00
MaFest koncerti: «Natural» + «Zbunjeni» + MaFest Saturday Night Party – Cafe bar «Bety»

NEDJELJA, 24.05.2009.

09.00 – 11.00
De Angelis, Diso, Ferri, Macan, Milligan, Pavlovic, Serra, Simeoni (razgovor ugodni + potpisivanje) – Hotel Meteor

11.15 – 13.15
Prijatelji festivala (Bob, Kerac, Parlov, Perovic, Ribic, Sudzuka, Tico itd.) (tribina + potpisivanje) – Hotel Meteor

13.30 - 16.30
Strip radionica za odrasle: Od ideje do kolora (predavaci: Goran Sudzuka, Esad Ribic, Matt Hollingsworth) - Hotel Meteor

17.00 - 20.00
Popodnevni razgovor ugodni naroda stripovnoga (autori, posjetitelji i organizatori) – Book Cafe

21.00 - 04.00
MaFest Sunday Night Party – Cafe bar «Bety»

Naravno, i ove godine bit će upriličena i BURZA STRIPOVA (22.-24.05.2009.), a mjesto i vrijeme događanja je sljedece:

=> Petak, 22.05. Hotel Meteor (10.00 – 21.00)
=> Subota, 23.05. Hotel Meteor (10.00 – 21.00)
=> Nedjelja, 24.05. Hotel Meteor (10.00 – 16.00)

Uz MaFestov stand na kojemu ce se moci kupiti majice, plakati, katalozi itd., svoj dolazak potvrdile su sljedece izdavacke kuce (abecednim redom):

- BELI PUT
- BOOKGLOBE
- DANI
- FIBRA
- LAVIRINT
- LIBELLUS
- LUDENS
- MENTOR
- STRIP AGENT
- VAN GOGH

Uz njih, tu ce biti i Komikaze te nekoliko sjajnih standova na kojima ce se moci kupiti "sve i svasta", a to znaci da ce ponuda stripova na festivalu biti uistinu impresivna!

Evo i nekoliko dodatnih sitnica:

Uz tradicionalni Book Cafe (za koji svi znate da se nalazi na Kacicevu trgu, je l' tako), ovogodisnji MaFest odrzat ce se u hotelu Meteor, a svakodnevni after partyji odrzavat ce se u cafe baru Bety.

Ove godine po prvi put imat cemo i specijaliziranu radionicu za sve one koji se zele ozbljnije baviti stripom i koja ce vam pojasniti prakticki sve vezano za strip, od same ideje do koloriranja. Termin odrzavanja je:

Petak, 22.05. od 9 do 12h.
Nedjelja, 24.05. od 13.30 do 16.30h.

Broj polaznika je ogranicen tako da se svi vi koji imate zelju sudjelovati na njoj sto prije trebate javiti na: darijo@mastripfest.com

Za sve vas koji planirate dolazak u Makarsku, a jos ne znate gdje cete odsjesti, moja sugestija je da kontaktirate nasega Vicu Rudana, koji je specijaliziran za privatni smjestaj, na: tempet@tempet.hr

Svi ostali koji bi radije odsjeli u hotelu, Hoteli Makarska potrudili su se dati doista sjajne ponude smjestaja s polupansionom (dorucak-vecera).

Tako u hotelu Dalmacija ( http://www.hoteli-makarska.hr/18265/dalmacija/ ) boravak s doruckom i vecerom po danu i osobi kosta 253 kn (34,00 E), a u hotelu Meteor ( http://www.hoteli-makarska.hr/18264/meteor/ ) ista ta stvar kosta 344 kn po osobi i danu (46,80 E) (u to je ukljuceno i besplatno koristenje bazena, whirlpoola i fitnessa).

No da ne duljim, za sve dodatne informacije oko hotelskog smjestaja mozete se obratiti na: marketing@hoteli-makarska.hr (naglasite da dolazite na MaFest), a za privatni smjestaj, opet ponavljam, na: tempet@tempet.hr

PechaKucha Night Zagreb Vol.2 filmed

Here's a video clip of PechaKucha Night Zagreb Vol.2 , so you can get a taste of what it was like. Besides other celebrities, you can briefly see Darko Macan's silhouette around 1.00 min. My 15 seconds are at 3.47.
Enjoy! : )

Just a ...

... warm up sketch. Loosely based on a photo. Unrelated to anything.

Selling Chas

Original pages from my Chas mini are up for grabs. They're not too pricey. So, go - take a look here, here and here. This one is the most expensive, $225.

Long overdue ...

... but finally done! : )

The fun starts here!

Gikovanje i gikovsko prigovaranje

Eto i plakata. Koji kaže:
U sklopu izložbe bit će još predavanja, te radionice, projekcije dokumentaraca i 'ko zna što sve ne ...

The Magnificent Seven

Krajem devedesetih redovito smo se okupljali kod Talaje i crtali do zore. Deset godina kasnije u Knjižnici Vrapče je postavljena izložba originalnih tabli nas sedmorice. Otvorenje je u četvrtak 7. svibnja u 19 sati. Čak ako i ne možete doći na otvorenje, pronađite vremena i svratite tamo slijedećih dana.

Edvin Biuković,


Sebastijan Čamagajevac,


Esad Ribić,


Robert Solanović,


Goran Sudžuka,


Dalibor Talajić,


Tihomir Tikulin


LUDILO !!!