Chapter Three Inks - Almost Finished!

This week we pick up where we left off two weeks ago, inking the last few pages of Chapter Three then looping around to ink the first pages last! (I get better at drawing and inking as I go, and I want the first pages to be the best.)

As ever, I've duplicated the images above in the body below.
If you want to avoid spoilers, go no further!
Seriously! This post is very spoilery.
But if you're a maniac like me and you want to really dive into the spoilers and rub those pixels on the back of your eyeballs, click through to the Patreon page to see those images as big as the viewer will let you.

Enjoy!

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^ Here's the completed version of the page I was half-way through when last we were talking about inks. I am especially proud of crab-claw grappling hook. It'll look cast-iron on the finished page. The "WHUNK" sound effect is lettered on a separate sheet.

Side note: I can not think the words "grappling hook" without hearing it this way:

^ From that same sequence. People are starting to notice something happening in the harbour. Please do not look at the ceiling of the portico in the last panel (of course look at it, if I didn't want you to look at it I wouldn't have mentioned it). That's the second time I drew it, trying to fix the perspective. I'll get it right in Photoshop. That's why there's a "Fix Persp" note in the margin.

And what is everyone noticing?

…

…

Why, of course, it's…

… something very bad.

^ (Here's the pencils for that page.)

And on that note (with a few other pages in there), we arrive at the end of Chapter Three!

I looped back around to the start of my pile of pencilled pages to find a two-page spread that will be an addition to Chapter Two.

I've mentioned needing to enhance the contrast between "dismal" Archipoli and the one Alexandra's mother remembers. This spread is a brief flashback to see a young Dad and a young Mom and an even younger Alexandra, all taking part in the fun of the Sea Festival.

The Sea Festival will be bright and loud and colourful, ideally like the "Salmon Festival" that we had every summer in my hometown.

Contestants in the annual Sea Festival race must swim their way around the harbour, hitting checkpoints along the way. At the first checkpoint, Uncle Nikos is dressed as a mermaid, and no one may finish the race without first kissing the mermaid. Dad balks, and another contestant takes advantage of that hesitation. Baby Alexandra finds it hilarious.

I didn't like how that one panel was looking, so I re-drew it on a separate sheet.

After that brief detour into Revision Town, we're back at the start of Chapter Three!

^ The English officers living in the fancy part of town are playing football! The young midshipman is relegated to timekeeping.

I drew a sport! I never draw a sport.

Meanwhile…

… in a secluded grove…

… Alexandra is making Katerina teach her the formalities of a ball.

^ I wanted to give them a secret little practice space in the woods, which I designed to feel like the set of a stage play. The crossing trees in the background are intended to feel like they're "dancing."

^ And Alexandra fantasizes about her mother's reaction when she reveals her unexpected dancing skills.

There's only one small problem with Alexandra's ridiculous revenge plot, which will become clear in next week's update. :)

(Because I haven't inked those pages yet.)

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I have video of the inking process for both the Sea Festival page and the big ol' boat which I'll be posting to Instagram soon. I'll mirror all of those IG videos to YouTube when I can, too; I just need a spare minute.

Everyone continue being extremely lovely,

TC