Logo Growth - Part 1, Inspirations

I realize that, with its current, small audience, giving Heterochromia a logo, a "brand," probably isn't of the utmost importance. However, since the intention of doing Heterochromia is to give me a chance to practice doing a comic, I may as well practice the peripherals: branding, web design (which is still pretty weak...), pre-press, design, etc.. These aspects are of interest to me as different design tasks. Designing a logo for Heterochromia has been a particular desire since I took an art class in the spring, during which I created a hand-drawn logotype (among other things) for the state of Indiana (check out my work on my flickr, if you're interested)

Latest Journal, Logo Thoughts

I'll start off this entry with the latest journal I've decorated. This one is for a friend, who is a fan of Liverpool--that bird's their logo, and the back says "Liverpool Football Club." Can't wait to give it to her!

As before, if you're interested in one, they're available in both my etsy and DaWanda shops.

With that plug completed, I'll get onto the topic I really wanted to cover in this entry: the Heterochromia logo. These posts may actually be a bit self-serving: much of my motivation for putting this together is to remember my influences, explain to myself as much as to others the direction I want to take with it. My current thought is that there will be an "influences" / "inspirations" journal, the next will probably be sketches, then some more finished versions until I've decided on one I will use (at least for some length of time). Of course, this is just a plan for a set of entries in the future--for now, I just wanted to share my new journal and my thoughts about it.

(Arf, I hope this entry doesn't seem pointless...)

Difference in Coloration, Changes of Plans

It was a busy school year, being my last in high school, so that's all I have to excuse the lack of postings since the end of March, and the gaps that existed before that. Lots of things have changed for me, but I am still continuing Heterochromia. In fact, I'm making an effort to take it more places now.

For a start, I've finished the first chapter. All the pages are drawn, inked, lettered and toned. Which brings me to the next part, that all the pages which have been posted so far have been redone. The illustrations are the same, I have just found a better style for toning them so that the online pages are more similar to how they will appear in print.

For the early ones, I had been toning each page twice (or more): once for future printing purposes, and once for display on-screen. Screentones which appear fine printed often look hideous onscreen, so it was too tricky a process to try to balance the two in one image. However, I still wanted that "manga" look with screentones instead of grayscale, especially since it was often more visually interesting that way.

Retroactive Insertion and a Little Extra

I've fallen behind on posting the pages on here, so I'm just going to catch up with that. As always, should be doing schoolwork instead...I'll blame that for why I've forgotten to post here. Never mind that I keep my dA account updated...

I added a couple pages between current pages 2 and 3, that set things up a little better. The page numbers from now on will have these pages included (so apparently there are no 8 and 9 pages)

Renewing and Reflecting

Yeah, yeah, long time no entry. School is to blame, not going to rant about it now that it's out. More importantly, I'm back on working on Heterochromia, and decided to make a few revisions.

I realize that it may seem a bit early for such things; after all, only 7 pages have been posted. However, there is a bit of information that I intended to share in that initial conversation (which just ended, essentially) that was not included. It makes more sense to me to go back and add some pages now, when I have a context that easily allows for it, than to try and force it later. It is also more reasonable to slip them in as soon as possible rather than continuing on with the story and backtracking even more.

With the original set up of the story, I was having trouble moving one scene into the next but staying within the chapter--there are lots of events that I know I want to take place, but it wouldn't make sense for them to take place so early. I am somewhat struggling to fill out the first chapter; I know I need things to happen to establish characters, settings, situations, before I can commence telling my favorite parts, I simply cannot seem to figure out how to do that. Extending the conversation is one way for me to do that. After all, Tamino is obviously new to the place where Pan lives (if that isn't as obvious as it is supposed to be, then an extension really is needed, badly) so it is reasonable for him to have more questions than just about her name. I also didn't get a chance to show the interior of the structure seen in the beginning (the rocks)... does it even come across that they've moved inside it? ;; That is partially because I didn't really have a good idea of what the inside looked like (and still don't, in reality).

Delays

It's been a while since I last updated, I realize. All for good reason, I assure you: school-end rush. Time for the English teacher to decide that it was time to make us pay for having a relatively easy year because she doesn't believe in the importance of grades. Time for me to get sick and miss almost two weeks' worth of school (over the course of three weeks, with days of relative health interspersed). Time for a midterm, worth the same amount as the final, on the subject of the unit I missed during those days. Time to have two weeks to work a paper from a no-grade to the highest I can possibly manage. Thus, sadly, time to shirk art.

I'm guessing that if I do upload something soon, it will probably be concept art rather than a comic page... I dunno if I've even started penciling much of page... eight?

Aaaand that reminds me that I haven't put six or seven up here yet, though they've been on Deviantart for a while. I guess I do have an update for here, then.

Page 5

Sorry, too tired today to post anything aside from the page. Enjoy. Right to left as always.

Heterochromia: Page 5
The last of the first batch of pages done in December/January... Although I drew it then, I didn't end up printing it for the preview because it wouldn't fit into the print layout. I mostly worked on it then because I was avoiding working on page 4 >_> Haven't really much to say about drawing the thing because of that, but I did try some new toning techniques... particularly panels two and three, I didn't really have ideas about the tones going into it.
I'd been kind of putting off doing this page since Windows crashed, because it meant getting used to the Gimp. So I get bonus points for that, I suppose--doing it with unfamiliar tools. So it goes, a learning experience, etc etc.

An Unintended Snub

I haven't got time to write much of an entry at the moment, but I realized I had forgotten to post page 4 here (though it was posted in my deviantart gallery)

Remember, reads from right to left (not that it matters much on this page... the higher text is still read first)


Heterochromia: Page 4
Well. That took longer than I'd hoped. Turns out, it's difficult to express romance and shock in the same panel in tones. I dunno if there's enough contrast between the background and the main figures... I'll come and look back later, I guess (though, I might as well just move on and do better in the future instead of going back and fixing little things like that...) I'm sort of surprised the lines turned out as well as they did, because this page got really rushed back in January. You'll notice the lines are a bit thick. Also, my style, at least for drawing hair, changed a little bit. We'll see if that sticks around. Kind of wish I could fix Tamino's face. (Oh, and no--he's not communicating telepathically, I just thought I'd try balloon-less text) Not much (relatively) to say this time -- guess it's just been too long since I drew it, and I'm starting to get my toning routine down.

--

Pages 5, 6, and 7 have also been completely drawn and inked, but I haven't toned any of those yet (or added the lettering and things...) Look for those soon, although they may be delayed in coming due to certain research papers I haven't started writing yet. >_> I hope to post again between then and now.

A Return, with Gifts (of a sort)

As predicted, things were not as manageable at they appeared to be. I had hoped it wouldn't take me this long, even being realistic about the amount of free time I would have to finish these pages, but obviously my hopes were not fulfilled. Better that I take a break and renew my interest than to do the pages dispassionately, I think.

That said, here they are finally are: the first pages of Heterochromia. Each of these pages, by the way, are under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works license: you can share, just remember to link ^_^

Also: Pages are read right-to-left, in the style of "unflopped" manga.

A Difference in Colouration Between Two Structures Normally Alike in Colour

That is, heterochromia (usually referring to the eye or iris).

Which, as it happens (by no coincidence at all), is the name of the comic for which I may now present some concept art. But first, an explanation of the story:
Some time ago (between ten and eighteen years prior to the story), an alien race called the Satekae came to Earth seeking its natural resources. The resident humans of the time, however, naturally objected to Satekae taking control of their resources. The conflict elevated to an all-out war. The great majority of humans were killed, but a limited number were taken as workers by the Satekae. For some time after, the humans were to severely oppressed that much of their knowledge and culture were lost. Now, however, the shock of enslavement is wearing off, and with it, the instinct to become free grows. Panima heads plans for rebellion against the Satekae, her methods favoring violence and vengeance over preservation of what is left of mankind. When Tamino, a man from the "superpower" government (in a similar way as the United States of America are considered a "superpower") of the galaxy shows up, however, Pan finds herself switching tactics, instead trying to gain his favor so that he will convince others from his government to order humans' freedom. What a long-winded explanation. But, I haven't written anything in a while... Give me a break.