Monthly Blog: "Work in Progress"

As I've gotten older, I've been trying to focus on compromise. When it comes to drawing, I have always been my biggest critic and I spent my formative creative years chasing perfection - if I didn't think the work was as good as that artist who's been doing it professionally for 20 years that I looked up to, then it was garbage and so was I (I was always very dramatic). But I've learned a lot about my creative self since then, I've learned that shooting for a spot that's halfway between what you're actually making and what you want to make is always better than only accepting "perfection." Because producing is really all that matters.

In terms of panel count and frequency, I had a certain set of goals with Abel Boddy and a different set with the original 12-inch - but both influenced each other positively. As I try to continue both of these comics, I know my goals for them are different but I haven't quite figured them out. 

I've done over 640 Abel Boddy strips in the last 10+ years, but my plan was always to do around 1200. Currently, I'm only producing 1 a month with any regularity because that's required for my syndication in a LGBT magazine. I know I want the stories to continue, but - when I unpack it - I think what's slowing down my progress is that Abel has always been about personal observations from experience in gay culture - and I just don't have the same experiences any more.

The reason I'm into the idea of the 12-Inch reboot is purely personal. There are certain stories in the original that I really like and others that are real duds - and I just want to challenge myself to create a better product that actually has something to say... while still being a dumb sitcom about a roommate with a really big dick.

My new process for drawing strips by hand is to 1) thumbnail out a page, 2) increase the size for the rough draft, 3) increase the size again while laying in the word bubble composition and then 4) Increase the size again for the final linework and then scan it for cleanup and composition. This sounds more involved than it is - and honestly, I'm happier with the work, because I really have to make a lot of choices in the beginning.

But recently, I had to force myself to shit or get off the pot with 12-Inch - as I started doing steps 1-3 for several pages out as opposed to producing each page one at a time. Part of this is me trying to figure out the character designs - which is fair - but like I said before: Producing is all that matters. 

So this (above) will be my first new 12-Inch Roommate strip. I need to pop it up in size one more time to do the final line - I was going to skip that step, but started drawing Matt's toes in the second panel and couldn't really get in there with the detail I wanted - ALSO: they discontinued the charcoal pencil I've been using for 12 years and nothing I've tried is as hard and sharp, so I'm also adjusting around new tools (woe, is me). 

For the time being, the new 12-Inch strips will only be available here on Patreon, either posted as individual strips or multiple strips in their full page composition. The intention is to eventually have a book collection with 12 chapters. The SFW & NSFW posts will be in their respective feeds. 

I'll eventually do the same for Abel, but post those strips a week or two in advance of them going to the Abel website.

Best.

-c.