How to Ollie in 8 Simple Steps

Here's two more finished pages of my ongoing (currently online-published) graphic novel, VILLAGE PARK. This is the first of a handful of "trick tips" sections/pages that will serve as major breaks throughout the book. And this one kicks off chapter one. Once I get the full first chapter finished, I'll publish it to the official VP webpage. Til then, there's just the prologue for readin'.

(click to zoom)

P.S., R.I.P.

Today, my old Boston electric pencil sharpener died. I got it when I was in the eleventh grade (1991).


Therefore, it gave a good, solid 17 years of service. I felt it going for the last month or so. The motor was wheezing and wouldn't start sometimes when I put a pencil in. Today, I got more of that, then the motor stalled for good. They don't make this old model anymore, but I got the next best thing.


Guess X-acto's teamed up with Boston to make the new ones. A lot sure has changed in the last 17 years. I went with the hideous tan, or "putty", version (bypassing the sleek, all-black one) for old time's sake.

Funny thing. It died with me sharpening charcoal pencils I'm using to draw a graphic novel that's loosely based on my eleventh grade year of high school. Wicked.

Village Park Prologue

Well, here's the beginning of my ongoing graphic novel, VILLAGE PARK. I've set up a new page from my website where you can click-thru and read what's done, when it's done. So far, the very first section, the prologue, is complete. This means, I'm about 1/40th done! Holy mother. Baby steps. Check it out here:

http://www.matthewcordell.com/VP_index.html

To any of my picture book aged readers, there's some PG-13-ish language. Written for teens and up.

Cartoonists=Crazy

So, while I was waiting on some notes for my next picture book, I tooled around and finally wrapped the first section (the prologue) of a graphic novel I'm writing/drawing. Like I said in my last post, my plan is to just work on this as time allows, not going super crazy yet about trying to get it published. And, for now, I'll set up a page on my website and just start publishing it there. Soon.

Here's four sample panels from some of the pages I just finished. (click it to zoom.)


I have to say, this work is frickin insane. It's obsessive and it's tedious. It's terribly difficult. And it's no end in sight. I think full-time cartoonists must have a bit of crazy in their brains. OR, they are completely relaxed. I have a LOT left to go on this, and that's where most of the crazy comes in. I've been trying to lean on what I know about zen and meditation. The whole "mindfulness" and living in the present (not the future or past) idea. It's hard.

But, I think, it's worth it. It's kinda fun.

Check with me in a year or two.

Now... back to picture bookin'.

Anatomy of a Nose

I've been tooling around with this graphic novel idea of mine for a while now. Several months or so. I've shopped it around to a few of my pubs, but haven't had much luck. I think it's good (I'm biased), so I think it'll find a home someday. In the meantime, I've decided to soldier on with it. Drawing it still, and just begin publishing it to my website somewhere (more on this later). Right now, I've got a click-thru of some finished pages here, in the "WORK" section of my website. And character sketches here, also in "WORK".

As I'm digging back in, I found this sketch I did for the main character's nose. It took a while to get the formula just right.

Loosey Goosey

Here's another one of my scratch pieces of paper I scanned. Sort of, doodles in the margin. But I love the way this looks. Someday I want to be able to make a whole book that embodies the looseness and spontaneity of this here drawing. Somehow, it's hard to get to that point, for me.

(click and zoom)

Pigs in Dogtown

Here's a few new drawings that combine two of my favorite things--pigs and old skateboarding. Always wanted to skate an abandoned pool in southern California. {sigh}

(click and view bigger.)

1980

Trying to stay in shape with the pen while in between final art. Also, occasionally, trying to draw without sketching in pencil first. Mixed results.

In 1980, I was in the first grade.

Slight Change of Plans

What I'm talkin bout.

Simon James makes good books.

In a recent visit to the local library, combing through the picture books section, I plucked a handful of books by UK-based author/illustrator Simon James. Julie and I already own a copy of his wildly popular BABY BRAINS, but it's some of his older stuff that I really respond to. Not that the BABY BRAINS books ain't great, they're just a little wackier than a few of the cooler, quieter titles from several years back.

I really dig these two: LEON AND BOB and THE BIRDWATCHERS. In general, though, SJ's got a real, real sweet style. Loose pen and ink lines accompanied by very painterly and classically loose watercolors. He's got a great sense of color and his design and composition skills are top notch too.

I found this UK gallery website that, looks like, represents his original art sales. At first glance I thought the prices were extremely reasonable. Then, I remembered how the dollar's in the toilet and it'd take almost two bucks to make a Brit's pound. Still, tho, some good prices. Someday, maybe.