The Trickle Down Effect

(The Zoners Layout Test #3 / Originally uploaded by iruinclassics)

Finally hit the halfway point of the layout process and I learned a couple things along the way.

1. Although I'm already an extremely slow artist to begin with, I can't just do these page layouts with quick, partially rendered gestures sketches. I have to actually take the time to get them as close to final draft quality as possible for me to take them seriously. This doesn't necessarily mean that the final page will look exactly the same, mind you. It just means that I'm crazy and that I don't have any sense of time management. That said, I'm particularly proud of the page that these panels came from.

2. I am a crappy letterer. Lettering and word balloon placement is such an important element of graphic storytelling and all this time I have never really given it much thought. Proper word balloon placement will not only make the reader follow the narration in the rhythm that you want but it will also set the cadence of dialogue and emphasize dramatic pauses. At some point, I'm either going to have to learn how to do this myself or I'll have to bite the bullet and outsource this to a true professional. Time will tell, but here's hoping that I somehow figure this shit out.

3. Once I get through this whole mess and finally send off my submission package, I will probably have a beard like this guy.

4. In about five days, the wife is leaving town and moving up north for school. I'll still be here with my fingers crossed hoping that this materializes into something that would help me follow her as soon as humanly possible. Either way, by hook or by crook, I'm heading up there. I just want it to be this that gets me there. Also, if you thought that I played up the angry artist thing before wait until you see me next week when she's gone.

5. Closed fists and ink-stained hands, here I come.