NORDGUARD

Inked Page from Book Two

2011-12-08T17:42:00.001-08:00

Here’s an inked page from the second Nordguard book–of which the title hasn’t been announced just yet. :]

(I actually did these inks ages ago, but considering things are moving forward again, I figured now was a good a time as any to post ‘em.)

Also, here’s a few Maguruq wolverine studies I did, since you’ve not seen the last of ‘em!

Lastly--you can still order a copy of Across Thin Ice and have it arrive before Dec. 25th! The official cut-off date for domestic orders from Sofawolf Press is Dec. 19th!

Order your copy here! | More info on shipping cut-offs from Sofawolf

Nordguard Cast - Nickel & Geri

2011-09-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

Nickel & Geri

In bits of my spare time, I've been working to compile a bit of a Nordguard "cast list" for the website. As soon as I have the majority of the main characters finished, I'll put it up!

EDIT:

Sold Out For Now!
Wow, those went a bit quicker than I thought they would! If you missed your chance to get a Nordguard patch or sticker, don't worry! I'll have some with me at RainFurrest later this month, as well as MidwestFurfest in November.

Thank you to everyone who picked one up!
===

And in other news-- Nordguard Patches and indoor/outdoor vinyl stickers are now for sale! Check 'em out over here! I'll only have them up for a week or until supplies run out, since after than I'm out of town again!

For Coloradans, Canadians, and Everybody

2011-08-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

For the Coloradans:
In the few days I've been at home this month, I've been rampaging around to comic-book shops in the surrounding area, with Across Thin Ice copies in hand. I'm happy to say, everyone who saw it was very enthusiastic about the book! Several comic book places will be ordering from Diamond (and have books hopefully in October,) but a some places picked up some copies on the spot. So if you're in Colorado, want to get yourself a copy of ATI, and would like to support some super friendly local businesses, check out:

- Kilgore Books, Located 624 E 13th Avenue, Denver CO 80203
- Calico Books, Located at 300 Nickel Street, Broomfield, CO 8002
- I Want More Comics! Located at 1020 W 104th Ave, Northglenn, CO 80234
- Time Warp, at 3105 28th Street, Boulder CO!

I plan on hitting a few more places along the road south tomorrow, namely the 'Springs, and I may stop in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. If you know of any good places to hit up, let me know! I'll try to post an updated list if any more places want to pick up copies on the spot. :]

For the Canadians:
Half of me has the utmost pleasure of being a GoH of Camp Feral next week! I'll be running a couple of workshops there during the day, and drinking by night (maybe by day, too.) With me, I will have a small assortment of prints, Nordguard patches, stickers, about a bajllion original sketches (been spending most of my time sketching, as it were,) and some Across Thin Ice copies in tow. There are good times ahead!

(In the Feral raffle, I'll be donating a copy of Across Thin Ice that I have lovingly defiled with a Nickel. ;] )

For Everybody:
If you want to see Nordguard: Across Thin Ice in your local stores, it's not too late!

If you haven't already, you've got between now and September 1st to ask your local comic purveyor to order it through Diamond. Let 'em know it's a Diamond Staff Pick, it's #318, and it's full of awesome! There's more information over here about what to do if you want to help!

Once again, thanks for everyone's enthusiasm and support!

(Also, I am over on LiveStream painting for a little bit on some Nordguard related things. I'm putting together a cast page of sorts and a few other things for the site, so if you're interested in seeing a growly Geri, come check it out!)

Cheers,
-Blotch

Nordguard in Stores/Diamond Staff Pick

2011-08-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

I’m very happy to say Nordguard: Across Thin Ice has been chosen as an August Staff Pick by Diamond Distributors! Take a look! Diamond is the largest comic book distributor in North America—essentially, Diamond puts out a giant catalog which comic book stores/retailers order the lion’s share of their product from.
So what does that mean?

It mean’s I’ve got a small favor to ask! If you’re interested in seeing Across Thin Ice carried in stores around the country, you’ve got until the end of this month to ask your local comic shop to stock it!

Ask for "Across Thin Ice," mention that it’s a staff pick on page #318 in Diamond’s August Previews Catalog, and that you’d love to order one or a dozen copies. ;]

If you have a copy already, bring it in to show them!

So, if you read the book and liked it, or just want to get a copy for yourself without shopping online, or just want to get the word out there--I’d be really appreciative if you ask for Across Thin Ice at your local comic store, anytime between now and September 1st!

Also, if you’re over seas and want to spare yourself shipping from the US - Across Thin Ice has already started to pop up in many comic book stores online—for you UK folks, Forbidden Planet has listed it as a pre-order! Same with Archonia in Belgium! (If you don't order it, they may not stock it--so if you've had your eye on a copy but want cheaper shipping, this is the time to buy!)

Alopex from Sofawolf Press wrote a longer explanation about Diamond’s role and what you can do to help! Check it out! :]

Thank you for the moment of your time, and once again, a big thanks to everyone who’s already gotten a copy of Across Thin Ice!

Nordguard Reviews & ComicCon

2011-08-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

Nordguard Reviews:

First things first! Have a couple Nordguard: Across The Ice reviews!

…And of course, you can still pick up a copy online from Sofawolf Press! Click here! ;]

ComicCon:
In a nutshell, ComicCon was fantastic! I haven’t been in a few years, so it was great to get a chance to run around, buy art and books, find cool comics, canoodle, break out some dice for a spot of gaming, be spoiled by San Diego’s weather and delicious sundries, and generally be entirely overwhelmed by the 150k+ people. I’m also pleased to say Nordguard: Across Thin Ice was very well received! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to pick up a copy and have it signed!

Also, Pi was roaming around a bit every day at SDCC!

Headed To ComicCon, and ATI Page 4

2011-07-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

I have a few things to update today.

Firstly, tomorrow afternoon I'm headed west for San Diego and ComicCon 2011!

I'll be running around most of the time, but you can catch me at the Sofawolf Press booth various times during the weekend. I'm more than happy to sign anything, as always! I'll be using my @screwbald Twitter for the convention, and to alert folks to when I'll be at the Sofawolf Booth in case you wanted to swing by!

So stop by Booth #1236 (in the webcomic section, that orange one, on your map!)
You can grab a copy of Nordguard: Across Thin Ice, or Dog's Days of Summer, or any other fine Sofawolf books!

Sofawolf Press' will also have the last hardcover Across Thin Ice copies, so if you wanted one and missed out at either AnthroCon or the online pre-sales, now may be your last chance to get the first print/first edition hardcover!

Also, you might catch sight of Pi running around ComicCon!

Next, here's page 4 from Across Thin Ice.

You can order the comic right now from Sofawolf Press!
Once again, for any new-comers--softcover copies of the book are $19.95, 75 full color pages, and rated for audiences 14+ for language and violence.

(You can find more information on ordering the book online right here!)

Anyhow, in other news, it's been a perfectly lazy summer. I am enjoying the brief respite to loaf about and concentrate on important things somewhere between "nothing," and "very little." Time starts to speed up again in August, however, between a bit of travel, RMFC and Feral, concluded by returning to full time work on the next Nordguard book. Not bad, I say. :]

(And, for any one interested--I'm resuming a painting from last night over on LiveStream. Stop in, if you want!)

Home Again, & Across Thin Ice Available Now!

2011-07-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

Just rolled in from the last (very long) leg of my journey home from AnthroCon! The way home was meandering to say the least, with family visits in Chicago, followed by a swing up north to stop by Sofawolf Headquarters to eat good food, relax, and sign a bajillion of the Nordguard pre-ordered hardcovers.

(Surprise Nordguard cake/wine glasses from the publishers Thursday before the book's release, & Signing ATI hardcovers at Sofawolf Press HQ after the convention, with the author of Sixes Wild: Manifest Destiny, Tempe O'Kun)

First things first!
Starting today, Across Thin Ice is available to order from Sofawolf Press' website!
(They've also rolled out their fancy new website, so you should check it out!)

Click Here to get your own copy of Across Thin Ice!
Softcovers are $19.95, 75 full color pages of arctic adventure, suitable for ages 13 and up! (There's some violence and language!)

Pre-orders of the signed hardcover ATI books also hit the post office today!
I also have some Nordguard patches and vinyl stickers left over, and soon as I'm settled back in, I'll see about making them available for sale online.

===

AnthroCon--to be brief for now, since I have a fair bit of unpacking ahead of me-- was awesome! Dare I say... magical? ;]
As always, it was great to chat with folks, put some real faces to e-names, hang out with old friends, and become acquainted with new ones. A huge thanks to everyone who stopped by the table, and for those who picked up a copy of Across Thin Ice! And thanks for those who attended my Graphic Novel/Comic panel on Sunday--it was a pleasure to run, and hopefully informative! :]

The rest of the summer promises to be a pretty busy one:
-I'll be at ComicCon in San Diego at the end of this month, mostly just running around in a daze from all the awesome, but you will be able to catch me at the Sofawolf Press booth to sign stuff, if you so desire! They'll have Across Thin Ice, of course, and Dog's Days of Summer and the other things I may have had a hand in, plus all their other fine and furry publications! :]

-I'll be at Rocky Mountain FurCon in the middle of August, and I may or may not wear a cape.

-Half of me will be at Camp Feral August 31st-Sept 4th, generally up to no good, and teaching a workshop or two, and absconding with all your nice Canadian things (like Coffee Crisps.) Feral's theme is a wonderful theme: B-Movies! You can find the trailer for the "It Came From Camp Feral!" here!

-As August wraps up, I'll begin my serious work on the next Nordguard book, and resume posting development of the comic on the Nordguard blog, streaming stuff, and so on. In the meanwhile, I foresee barbeque's, concerts, beerfests, random art and other fun summer-related things!

Have a great weekend!

Nordguard Patches and Stickers

2011-06-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

With AnthroCon and the release of Across Thin Ice now less than a week away, I figured it's time to post these! :]

I'll have Nordguard patches and stickers for sale at my dealer's table (G15) at AnthroCon-- I'll have a few of the regular Nordguard 3.5" patches (ones on the left there,) and in the middle, some of the "special release" patches (3" in size) to coincide with the comic's debut, and last, there's some vinyl indoor/outdoor Nordguard stickers!

Also, just a reminder--to either pick up your pre-ordered hardcover copies, or just buy a hardcover or softcover copy of Across Thin Ice, you'll want to go to Sofawolf Press' island for that! I won't have any copies for sale. Afterwards, you're welcome to come by my table if you'd like them vandalized by a signature. ;]

If you're not making it to AnthroCon or ComicCon, Across Thin Ice softcovers will go for sale online ($19.95) right here: click!

And, I suppose, if I have any left over patches and such, I'll offer them for sale when I make my way home after the convention!

The Books!

2011-06-05T10:34:00.001-07:00

It's a pretty great feeling to finish a large project, in a kind of abstract and liberating way. It's an entirely different and equally wonderful feeling to finally be holding the physical final product in your hands. :]

The fellows at Sofawolf Press were kind enough to overnight us a soft and hardcover copy of Across Thin Ice, soon as they received them from the printer. They turned out great! The paper is high quality, the colors are nice, they are heavy, and smell like new stickers. The hardcover is especially meaty and I think I could fend off a hungry bear by using it as a club. Not that I intend to, but, you never know.

(Front and back covers)

The "world map" I made for the interior of the hardcovers turned out really cool. :]

Across Thin Ice - Cover

2011-05-22T14:31:00.001-07:00

Here is the cover for Across Thin Ice, Book One of the Nordguard graphic novel trilogy.

I can't believe I'm typing this, but...As of posting this, there's only 7 signed copies of the hardcover edition still available for pre-order! :]
(More info on the pre-order here!)

==Scratch that, looks like all the hardcover preorders have been sold!==

There will also be 200 or so hardcover copies, which are not part of the pre-orders, that will be available at Anthrocon, and ComicCon, while supplies last. Those will be sold first come, first serve, so if you miss out on the hardcover pre-orders and are attending AC, you still stand a good chance of getting one! (There will be plenty of softcover copies, this is just if you're interested in getting one of the first-edition hardcovers.)

And, last reminder, the softcover copies for $19.95 will first debut at AnthroCon, and go for sale online July 1st 2011, from Sofawolf Press's site, here!

Pre-Order Info for Nordguard Hardcovers

2011-05-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning the pre-orders for the hardcover editions of Across Thin Ice begins!
(Not to mention the hardcovers of Kyell Gold's Out of Position and Isolation Play books!)

Sofawolf Press has posted information on ordering, how to get your copy and how to be kind to their servers. Give it a read, over here on the Sofawolf Press Livejournal!
In short, there's no need to slam their servers at 8am, since there should be plenty of books to go around--and if you want to slam their servers anyway, you can save yourself the time and make an account on their website before hand. ;]

Also in the Sofawolf post, there's a bit of information on international shipping options, and links to Sofawolf's German and Brazilian distributors, which may provide you a cheaper shipping option.

As a reminder, this is just pre-orders for the signed hardcover edition, which you can either opt to pick up at AnthroCon (with a valid ID), or have it mailed to you July 1st. The hardcover edition is $39, and the softcover edition will be $19.95. Both editions are full color, the softcover is 9x11.5 and the hardcover is a bit larger. The hardcover also has a snazzy map on the inside covers, which the softcover does not. ;]

There will be no pre-orders for the softcover edition and those will go for sale first at AnthroCon June 23rd, and be available online July 1st from the Sofawolf Press website. Later this year, you can also pick up a softcover copy at many major comic and fandom conventions that Sofawolf Press attends or distributes to, such as ComicCon and EuroFurence.

That's all, back to painting I go! :]

Across Thin Ice, Release Date Announced

2011-05-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to write this journal, and to have finally come to this day...

Across Thin Ice, first of the Nordguard books, is finished.

That small statement represents the culmination of two years of work: close to 3,000 hours of layout, sketching and painting comic pages, snow and sleddogs. I am excited, not to mention relieved, for it feels like the weight of the world has come off my shoulders. The last four months I was working on it were especially monotonous: rolling out of bed, pouring coffee, and painting for fifteen or eighteen hour stretches.

Some days (alright, a lot of days toward the end,) I'd catch myself wondering why I'd ever done something so stupid as pick up a pencil in the first place. I'd rather be a fish monger, or a cowboy, or wear a gorilla suite outside a car dealership than have to draw another comic panel. But, the desire to tell a good story won through and kept me motivated. Most days, the work came easily enough, and I loved the challenge of it. Here, at the end, I'm proud of the work. I feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do. I did it to the best of my abilities, and learned a whole lot along the way.

It's done. I can't say that enough. It's done. Well, I won't kid myself--the first book is done, but it's that first step that is usually the hardest.

Across Thin Ice will be released first at AnthroCon this summer, followed by ComicCon in San Diego. You'll be able to pick it up both places from Sofawolf Press, or, starting July 1st, you can buy a copy online.
With fingers crossed, ATI should end up in Diamond Distributor's magazine, and be available at a wider selection of comic book retailers either later this year or next.

And, to the information you really care about! ;]
the softcover edition of Across Thin Ice will be $19.95, and be 75 full color pages and 9x11.5 in size.

There will be a run of signed hard cover books at $39 and preorders for those will begin this Saturday and run through the week (or until all of them are sold)--check out the Sofawolf website for more information. Pre-ordered copies of the hardcover edition can either be picked up at AnthroCon from Sofawolf Press with a valid ID, or shipped to you starting July 1st. There are no pre-orders for the softcover editions, since there should be plenty to go around at AnthroCon, and online afterwards.

I’ll also be posting the cover for Across Thin Ice this weekend.

Thank you everyone for your patience and interest in the comic, and for the moral support, buying Nordguard patches, tuning into the LiveStreams, and for the kind comments and encouragements.

For now, I'm off to do some more non-comic-related things, like have a social life. I'll just leave with a skip, one more "It's done!" and a short excerpt from Nansen of the North.

Cheers!
-Blotch

11 July 1885

A monotonous life this on the whole, as monotonous as one can well imagine it - to turn out day after day, week after week, month after month, to the same toil over ice which is sometimes a little better, sometimes a little worse - it now seems to be steadily getting worse - always hoping to see an end to it, but always hoping in vein, ever the same monotonous range of vision over ice, and ice again...We do not know where we are, and we do not know when this will end. Meanwhile our provisions are dwindling day by day, and the number of our dogs is growing seriously less. Shall we reach land awhile we yet have food, or shall we, when all is said and done, ever reach it?

...It is hard to go on hoping in such circumstances, but still we do; though sometimes, perhaps, our hearts fail us when we see the ice lying before us like an impenetrable maze of ridges, lanes, brash, and huge blocks thrown together pell-mell, and one might imagine one's self looking at suddenly congealed breakers. There are moments when it seems impossible that any creature not possessed of wings can get farther, and one longingly follows the flight of a passing gull, and thinks how far away one would soon be could one borrow it's wings. But then, in spite of everything, one finds a way, and hope springs eternal. Let the sun peep out a moment from the bank of clouds, and the ice-plains glitter in all their whiteness; let the sunbeams play on the water, and life seems beautiful in spite of it all, and a worthy struggle.

~ Fridtjof Nansen

Painting the Last Page

2011-04-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I am very happy to begin work on the 'last' page of the first Nordguard book, Across Thin Ice. It marks the culmination of a lot of time and effort, and I'm excited and proud to have finally arrived here at the "end."

I'll be painting on it through the night until it's either finished, (or I fall asleep with the paint brush in my hand, again.) I’ll be streaming the painting on LiveStream for a while, so stop by if you want!

In a couple of weeks when everything has made its way to the publisher, I'll get back with a longer post about the official releases and other pertinent information!

And until then, back to painting, one more time...!

Odds and Ends, before the End

2011-04-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

Despite the radio-silence, the last few weeks have been a flurry of one thing or another—the “one thing” being comic pages, and the other being caffeine. However, the end might just be in sight. I will have more exciting news on that front, very soon. In the meantime, a few photos of painting progressions, dog sketches and stray cougars!

More Patches, and Lee the Pine Marten

2011-02-26T13:50:00.000-08:00

First thing: Yesterday, the second batch of the Nordguard Patches came in! If you missed out on the first ones, now is your chance! :]

They are 3.5 inches in diameter, 50% embroidery with a merrowed edge. Patches are $6.50 per, plus shipping!
More information, photos and how to order are up on: www.nordguard.com/patches

Second, here are a few of my initial character studies for Lee, the pine marten. He's a character in Across Thin Ice, though he's only in this first book for a few pages.

And finally, this is a quick sanity painting I did late last night. Working on the comic day in and day out can get a little tedious after a while, so now and then I need to paint something else. It's based off a photo I took at last years Iditarod.

Across Thin Ice: Pg 30

2011-02-10T14:07:00.001-08:00

Here is page 30 from Across Thin Ice. In the wake of adding and shifting a couple of pages, all of the older pages and their corresponding page numbers are a little askew, and essentially meaningless! ;]

You can check out the recorded sessions of painting this (and several other) pages from Across Thin Ice over on my LiveStream channel. (And speaking of LiveStream, I'm painting on there right now!)

Some progress photos of page 30:

And something from Page 31:

On another note, I put in an order for more of the Nordguard patches. So if you missed out on the first batch, no worries! I suspect I'll have them up for sale again later this month. :]

Nordguard on Livestream

2011-01-29T13:44:00.000-08:00

A few people have asked me over the last couple years, so I figured I'd give this whole Livestream thing a go!
Check it out, here: http://www.livestream.com/blotch

For the next few months, I'll be working pretty steadily on Across Thin Ice.
I'll be streaming off and on when I'm not working on pages rife with spoilers.

To minimize spam, I'll brush the dust off of my ol' screwbald Twitter account (here,) and finally put the thing to use. It'll update when I plan to be streaming for a fair period of time. (However, most of my waking hours are spent on art--a good portion of that painting--so you can always tune in to check if I'm up to something.)
From time to time, I will also announce when I'm streaming on the Nordguard Twitter, depending what I'm working on.

Since I'm painting and not really watching the chat, I probably won't be very responsive to questions.

From past experience, ones that come up often are:
What paint/paper do you use?
Winsor & Newton watercolors, and Arches 140lbs watercolor paper.
What ink do you use?
Speedball ink, and a small paintbrush
What is this comic thing?
Check out the rest of this blog, or www.nordguard.com

Thanks, and if you decide to tune in, I hope you enjoy! :]

Nordguard Patches! -- All Gone!

2011-01-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

Wow, those went quicker than I thought!
I will still have some at FurtherConfusion in a couple of weeks if you missed out! :]
If there's any left over from the convention, I'll put them for sale online. I may make more down the line, but the earliest would be sometime this summer.

Thank you all very much! :]

=====

I'd been wanting to get a Nordguard patch for myself all of last year, so I finally broke down and made it happen. I figured some other people might like one too, so now's your chance!
I don't have very many, and I'm not sure if I'll make more anytime soon. I'm putting about half of what I have online, and taking the rest with me to FurtherConfusion in a few weeks--so if you're headed to the convention, you can spare yourself the shipping and get one there! :]

Thanks for looking!

Across Thin Ice: Pg 26

2011-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

My year is promising to be a busy one, and the one resolution to note would be to finish this first Nordguard book. ;]
Here's a page I completed earlier in December plus a few progress photos of it and page 28!

Across Thin Ice: Page 26

Page 28 Progress Photos:

Updates and Page 47

2010-12-12T11:58:00.000-08:00

This month marked the return of my full-time work on Across Thin Ice, and here's a page to celebrate!

Across Thin Ice, pg 47

A few in-progress photos:

The end of October and most November saw me pretty busy with a few other projects, namely eleven interior illustrations and a cover for a novel and a little bit of art for the up-coming FurtherConfusion in January. I also took a little time to travel and wrap up a few loose artistic ends.

And on a side note--I mentioned it in a couple other places, but I'm proud to be a guest of honor at FurtherConfusion. As such, I'll be running a couple panels. One will be on my approach to graphic novels, taking a page from the script, through layout, sketching, inking and eventually painting. The second panel will be on watercolor techniques and a few things like stretching watercolor paper. I put a call out for any specific topics or questions folks wanted me to address in the panels a couple weeks ago, so I figured I'd mention it here, as well!
If you're going to be attending and want me to ramble about something, let me know! You can either comment here, or drop me an email!

The comic should keep me busy and out of trouble through the winter (and probably spring), and be done this summer, barring anything unforeseen.
So, December, onward into winter, knee deep in huskies we go!

Across Thin Ice: Page 11

2010-10-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

Another busy week (aren't they all,) and here's a page I finished the other day.

Across Thin Ice, pg 11 (see the sketch over here)

Here's a detail of the second to last panel:

Also, here is the flag design for the Northern Territory, one of the areas which make up the United Territories. The United Territories is made up of the "real world" Canada and the Northeastern United States. The NT flag is based off the same principles of territory flags at the time--colors of the sovereign nation, with a crest signifying resources found within it's boundaries. In the Northern Territories case, that would be rivers, timber, gold and fish.

Lastly, have some Geri rage.

More Pages and Progress

2010-09-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

Things are progressing as they do...

Unsurprisingly, most of my waking hours are spent working on Across Thin Ice. I'm just over a third done painting the 100 some pages of the first book, and when I'm not painting, my sights are turned onto layouts for the next one. It's a ton of work--probably 15-20 hours per page to layout, sketch and clean up, then another 20-25 to ink and paint. I've hit my working stride and things are progressing as they do--slow, but steady. I haven't had much time to do anything else, but it's actually been quite zen.

Looking at the time line now, the release date might get pushed back a few more months. I'm deep enough in now I think I'd be annoyed at myself if I rushed or trimmed a bunch of pages just to meet an early deadline. But such is life--somethings you can't rush and it's better to just enjoy the ride. The plus side is, if I keep on working as I am, with a summer release I can have a preview out for the second book when the first debuts, and there will be significantly less time between their releases.

Here's few more pages I finished earlier in the month!
Page 29 and 60

Some progress photos of Page 29:

Lastly, here's the original concept sketches I did ages ago for this page and page 28.

Pages in Progress 3

2010-09-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Steadily onward, page by page, panel by panel...bottle by bottle of wine.

Here's a couple pages in progress (which again, demonstrate the awesome power of masking fluid,) plus a few other odds and ends.

Here's a couple crops from page... urh, 50 something.
(I realized the other day my page numbering was all cattywampus due changing around a few pages. Numbers, what good are they anyway?)

Here's one of my set-ups from earlier this summer. It's nice to be fairly mobile, so I can move around the house for a little change of scenery while I work.

Lastly, I realized I never posted the reference sheet I made for the sled many, many months ago. It's been an invaluable piece of paper. Also, Freki's design is now sporting some new eye dots, since in some lighting schemes, she was difficult to tell apart from Nickel at a distance.

Behold the Power of Masking Fluid!

2010-08-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

The last few days saw me engaged in the most frightening thing I've ever done to a comic page--dousing it with black. (Yes--It even trumps the page I sloshed with beer.)

However, I say unto thee, behold! The power of masking fluid!

(Characters are under there...somewhere.)

And the masking fluid is removed!

Behold! (And auroras in progress.)

Pages 39 & 45

2010-08-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a few more pages from Across Thin Ice! Bit by bit, the comic is coming together. I'm happy to do be done with a couple of scenes which were getting (more than) a little tedious to paint. It gets remarkably boring to mix the same colors day in and day out. :P

I'm also almost finished with the "Bar Scene," which will also be a nice weight off my shoulders.

Pages 39 & 45:

Ambient Blue

I use a piece of blue matte board below the maquette heads to emulate the ambient blue reflection coming off the ice.

Lastly, a little bit of inking...

We escaped up into the mountains for a respite from the late summer's heat, but work still follows wherever we go.
I brought a bunch of sketched pages, already soaked, stretched and stapled to boards, ready to be inked. That seemed to be the most portable of all the comics many "in between" steps.

You really couldn't ask for a better studio. :]

Pages in Progress 2

2010-08-01T10:54:00.001-07:00

It's been another busy week, painting, painting, painting.

The Masking Process:

After I've stretched and inked a page, I apply masking fluid (sometimes called 'frisket') to the speech bubbles and lines between panels (where tape won't do.)

I use Winsor&Newton Colorless Masking Fluid. I paint it on with an old junky brush, since it's guaranteed to destroy a nice one.

It's very important that your paper be dry before you apply the masking fluid, and also, that the fluid be completely dry before you begin painting. When you're done with your painting, you just peel off the mask to reveal the clean white paper below.

Like I said, it's been a busy week. I think I'm juggling eight pages currently stretched, inked and in various stages of completion. The task for today is to finish all the little details I've been putting off, calling it the super-human feat of eight pages finished in a single day, then drinking a nice bottle of wine to celebrate (rather than drinking cheap wine to survive.)

Here's a couple I'm working on from this last week, in no particular order:

Across Thin Ice: Page 28 & 80

2010-07-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

ComicCon in San Diego is this weekend! Check out Sofawolf Press at booth #1236 (in the Webcomic's area) to pick up a short sneak-peek of Across Thin Ice!

And, for anyone unable to attend ComicCon, you can click here for the preview's .pdf! :]

Art-wise, here's a couple of the pages that I finished earlier this week:

Page 28:

Page 80:

Lastly, here's a couple quick color studies I did for page 80, trying a out few different color/lighting schemes.

Across Thin Ice: Page 37

2010-07-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

Here's the finished page 37 from Across Thin Ice, text and all!

Here's a bunch of progress photos from this one.

Above, a couple small studies I painted before starting the scene, and a photo of the page, stretched, inked and with one panel finished.

I used some salt in between washes on the ice overview, which adds a nice bit of random crystallization.

Pages in Progress 1

2010-07-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

This last month has been pretty busy. A whole lot of things happening at once--but mainly, trudging along Thin Ice.

I like to work on several pages at once. On one hand, it keeps me from getting burned out painting the same thing over and over. On the other, it allows me time to step back from the work and return to it later with a fresh eye. Here's a couple of the pages I'm currently working on, all in various stages of completion:

Page 15

Page 37

Page 80

Also, here are some dog studies from the last few weeks. They are a nice way to warm-up in the mornings (along with copious amounts of coffee, of course.)

Nordguard Pages 12 & 16

2010-06-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

A few more painted pages, specifically 12 & 16.

Page 12:

Sometimes, as far as reference is concerned, the best thing you can do is keep a well stocked liquor cabinet. ;]

Page 16:

Here's a couple progress photos of page 16:

The Northern Territory

2010-06-07T16:19:00.000-07:00

A map, as promised! I love making maps.

Specifically, it is a map of the Northern Territory, part of the Nordguard universe and where most of the fun in the books will take place. For a "real world" point of reference, Kuuvik (down at the bottom) is in relation to Churchill, Manitoba. The map is based on period maps (late 1800s/early 1900s) and the charted arctic region of the era. Some of the topographical features of the map are different in the Nordguard universe (namely there's a few additional mountain ranges, which slightly effect climate and the treeline) but the coastline is roughly the same.

It was a nice, brain dead break from painting pages--and now I can stop using the scribbled bar-napkin map I was referencing before. ;]

Photo details:

Painting the Map:

The map has been soaked and stretched on a board to prevent wrinkling. All the text and coastlines are done in pencil, but when the paper is soaked, it will "seal" them so then won't smudge or bleed while I paint.
I put down a very wet wash with a large brush, then while the paper was wet, started applying watercolor to build up color.

After the brown base had dried, I started painting the waterline and the then coast.

There's a few more "in-progress" photos of the map on www.nordguard.com, in the development art section, for anyone curious!

Now, back to painting pages!

Pages 13 & 19

2010-06-06T14:33:00.001-07:00

Paint has been poured!
Here a couple finished (well, that is until I see another hundred little things to tweak) pages, Page 13 and Page 19, respectively. I actually painted Page 19 a few months ago but figured I might as well put it online since the sketched page was up. (See the sketch here)

I took some progress photos of page 13. There are a ton more on www.nordguard.com, since I re-tooled the development section of the site. I've been updating it on the sly every few days with progress photos of various pages, pretty much as I go.

Page 13, In Progress:

Before starting the scene, I did a little thumbnail watercolor study of the room, and a floor diagram with the windows/characters/stuff's location.

The first photo is the virgin sketched page, which has been soaked, stretched and stapled on a board, which prevents it from wrinkling when I paint. The second photo is my ink set-up. I use a small paintbrush and Sennelier ink. Empty screw-tops off cheap wine bottles make for excellent ink holders (the wine isn't bad for artistic moral, either.)

Stretched and Started Inking:

Inking:

Painting:

I resisted the common sense idea of making maquette heads for the longest time. I convinced myself they would take too long and wouldn't be that useful--but, one day I needed a break from drawing and sculpted a few. They've proved to be easy and fast to make and almost indispensable when it comes to tricky lighting.

For tomorrow: another page or two and maps.

April Snows

2010-04-19T19:47:00.001-07:00

It's been a productive month! I have nearly 70 pages down on paper and I'm in the home stretch--as far as pencil lines go, at least. After that, I embark on the whole new daunting task of painting it all...but all in due time.

I've been jumping around working on various scenes, touching up things, reworking them as needed, etc. None of these pages are what I'd call 100% done--some have one or two tweaks, others more (lacking a background, for instance). It's nice to have the luxury of letting them sit around for a few days so I can return to it with a critical eye.

The sketched page 11:

Here's a couple disjointed pages from a later scene:

Page 58, 60 & 63:

Page 65 & 66:

These are a few warm-up raven studies I did before working on the birds from the scene above.

On a related note--Does anyone have a photo of a raven flying from above/an overview? Not surprisingly, it's proven a tough subject and angle to get good reference shots of. If you do or know of one, I'd love to see it! My email's screwbald@gmail.com :]

Last but not least, here's a partially painted page.
It still has a way to go towards being finished, lots of little things to fix up.

Pages and Dog Heads

2010-03-15T21:30:00.001-07:00

Here's a couple sketched pages, pending a couple small revisions--for instance, the other day I realized I drafted the door frame differently in a couple panels. Goes to show it's best to work one scene completely through without jumping around. ;]

Pages 12 &14:

Also, in an effort to get back into the art-groove after travel, I spent some time warming up sketching dogs and various other things. Most of the dogs are referenced from photos I took at this year's Iditarod Start last week in Alaska.

The Last Great Race

2010-03-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

Here I am, just returned from a somewhat impromptu trip to Alaska for the Iditarod dog sled race. The Iditarod is a 1,100 mile dogsled race that begins just north of Anchorage, AK, and ends in Nome. The race route is modeled after the famous "serum run," run by the equally famous lead dog, Balto.

Just to give an idea of scale, the Iditarod route is equal the distance of Tijuana to Portland or Minneapolis to New York. It's no easy task for the serious competitors and their teams. The average time to run it is 9-10 days--we're just now into the 7th day of the race, so it's getting down to the wire!

And now, fresh from real snow, ice and bitter cold and onto the blues and splattered white paint of the page.
I'm back to work on the comic this morning, fresh pot of coffee in one hand and a pencil in the other.
I've got a few things to post over the next couple days, so keep an eye out!

Stay warm!

Mac, Stubbs, Clancy and Markus

2010-02-20T17:25:00.000-08:00

Aah, there really is nothing like going out to a bar to gather "reference."

Here's a panel from Page 15.

Anyway, the last few days have seen me working on a scene which takes place in Frontier's one and only bar, the Dogyard. (I have been sure to work while in various stages of intoxication to make sure I get the right atmosphere for the scene. Thorough research was called for.)

Mac, the Nordguard dispatcher for the town of Frontier is in this scene, so I had to sketch a quick turnaround for him and settle on his looks. There's also some bear studies I did as a warm up before cleaning up the panels, plus some designs for pemmican and various things on the bar shelves.

While Mac is briefing Pi and London, there's a couple reoccurring characters in the background playing darts as well as the bar tender. So I named them--Clancy, Stubbs and Markus respectively-- and did a few quick sketches of them and their clothes to keep 'em consistent.

Is Beef What's For Dinner?

2010-02-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

A few pages from Nordguard/Across Thin Ice, 48 and 49 in specific.

A scrumptious reference photo I took for the canned pemmican! ;]
(This has been our dogs' favorite page so far, since they got to eat the left over reference.)

Oleg says "Hi" from page 51.

Environment Studies 1

2010-02-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Here's some landscape/environment studies for Across Thin Ice. They're from a couple scenes I've been working on this week.

Wasn't Enough Underwear

2010-01-28T17:58:00.001-08:00

Firstly, thanks to everyone who came to the Nordguard Sneak Peek Panel last Saturday at FC! Hope you enjoyed it!

And now, with FurtherConfusion behind me, it's time to hit the drawing board in earnest--literally, I suppose. I have a long stretch between now and those far distant deadlines and old obligations. This is the time (6 months or so) I've set aside to devote 100% of my waking life into the comic's completion. I'm still expecting an official release date announced this year and I believe (barring blizzards, meteor showers and spontaneous combustion) we're right on track.

That said, expect more updates. For instance, between today and yesterday, there's another 4 pages on paper and the night's still young! 40 some pages down, only another 60 some to go. I think I'll need more coffee.

The scene I'm currently working on takes place in a way station somewhere between point A and point B. The team's dressed down for camp and their last hot meal for a while...I realized midway I didn't have any "under garments" designed for Freki and Pi to be hanging out in when they aren't decked out for subzero temperatures, so I had to work those out before cleaning up the page for it's eventual painting. And, as it happens, sketching those typical warm-up scribbles derailed into drawing Nordguard chicks in their sexy turn-of-the-century military-esque undies.

Also, have some sleezy Oleg underwear while we're at it.

2am Pages; -2°F Outside

2009-12-10T01:25:00.000-08:00

I slowly plough through page by page, panel by panel, pencil by broken pencil. So far, there's been 342 snowy footprints, 221 pots of coffee, 84 tedious sleds, 11 dead people, 2 geese (and a partridge in a pear tree.)

Have a few pages!

Page 33

Page 34

Page 35

Page 36

All work and no play...Late-night fun with rough drafts and a sudden desire to add alternative dialogue and silly faces.

Meanwhile, the team pause for a break with their new backgammon buddy, Dr. Caribou. Unfortunately, he's got better things to do, like--eat grass and baby chicks. And yes, I suspect in that last panel he's being transported back to the Enterprise.

Nordguard In Your Local Stores

2009-09-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Would you like to get your hands on a copy of Nordguard: Across Thin Ice? It's easier than you think!

You can always order a copy online and direct from Sofawolf Press--just click here!

Alternatively, between August 2011 and Sept. 2011, you can go to your local comic book store and ask them to order a copy through Diamond Distributors! Let them know Nordguard: Across Thin Ice was listed as a Diamond Staff Pick for the August Previews, but it's still available in their September database. (Here's a bit more of an explanation about Diamond and how that works.)

Tess and I (Teagan) have also made the rounds to our local book stores, as well as a few we've encountered on our recent travels. Everyone we've spoken to has been really enthusiastic about the book, and most plan to order through Diamond, and so will have Nordguard: Across Thin Ice on their shelves in October 2011. However, a few places have opted to pick up some signed copies on the spot. Here's the list as it stands, though I can't say whether or not the copies we've left will still be in stock:

COLORADO

Denver Metro Area
- Kilgore Books, Located 624 E 13th Avenue, Denver CO 80203
- Calico Books, Located at 300 Nickel Street, Broomfield, CO 8002
- I Want More Comics! Located at 1020 W 104th Ave, Northglenn, CO 80234

Boulder
- Time Warp, at 3105 28th Street, Boulder CO!

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque
-Lobo Comics at 1016 Juan Tabo Blvd, Albuquerque NM 87112

Check 'em out if you're local!
For a good chunk of September 2011, we'll be back on the road traveling between a couple conventions. We plan on stopping in a few more comic book shops along the way, and I'll update this list should any of them pick up some Nordguard comics from us!

And remember--if you want to get your own copies but don't see your region or city listed as one of the places we've stopped and left comics, you can ask your own local shop to stock the book through Diamond!

For updates about Nordguard, follow us on Twitter @nordguard!

[Also note, this is a back-dated entry for easy link-back and editing!]

Several Sketched Pages

2009-08-14T22:49:00.000-07:00

(page 19)

Here's a couple of the final sketched pages I figure I can upload (which don't have any spoiler-type stuff, unless you were un-aware there might be a train and/or a sled.)

(page 21)

(page 22)

(page 23)

(page 25)

(page 9&10 double page)

I have a bunch of pages in various stages of completion, still stretched on boards. This photo shows the double page 9&10, then Page 22 and 23.

Tonight, page 19 is on the slab being painted and a fresh pot of coffee waits in the kitchen.

What's for Dinner?

2009-08-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is a "fake" panel I did a couple weeks ago to test a few things before starting in on the actual pages from the Nordguard comic.
Pi is unimpressed.

But, It does serve to say that the Sofawolf fellows gave me a handful of the free 18x24 Nordguard promo posters to give away at Rocky Mountain FurCon next weekend. So, if you missed out at AnthroCon and you're in the Colorado vicinity, now's your chance! :]
I'll also have a couple pages from the comic at RMFC (in the Dealer's Room) for anyone interested in being the first to see some completed pages (and some in-progress pages).

Here's a photo of the posters with a Diego for scale! :]

Character Sheets/Concept Art

2009-07-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

In between various other Nordguard-things, I've finished all of the main character's sheets (namely Freki and Pi.) A few small snippets of character information for each is up on www.nordgard.com for anyone interested!

Pi:

London:

Nickel:

Nickel was my guinea-pig for various things (such as clothing and watercolor/panel tests), so there's a bit more decent art of him that I can post. Though, the last picture was just an excuse to draw him in underwear.

Geri:

Freki:

McKay:

Oleg:

It Starts With Trees

2009-07-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

(click 'em for larger photos)

I've settled into the routine of work on the Nordguard comic. Here's a pair of photographs showing the nearly finished sketch for a double page spread (pages 9 and 10 to be precise). I'll be stretching it tonight and painting it tomorrow. :]