Felaxx's Gallery

 

Hello everyone!  Long time no blog.  Recently, Kazu and I got back from a trip to NYC.  It was great to see old friends and say hello to colleagues.  I only wish we had more time to stay and see more people!

Check out my flickr stream if you're interested in how it all went down... 

I'm still trudging my way through the book, but I'm very excited about it.  I lost track of how many drafts I've done, but with each one I get closer to something I can be proud of.  That's the thing about writing, there really isn't much to show until the whole thing is done.  Aw, heck.  Here's a paragraph I just wrote a couple hours ago:

"Tabby faced the quivering blackness in front of her, her heart pounding in her ears.  Terrible fear gripped her, and she tried to focus on what lay on the other side.  Her home, her friends, her school, her mother.  She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves.  She closed her eyes, then extended her fingertips, and reached through the darkness." 

Looks kind of silly out of context.  Quivering blackness, what?  Will it be in the final draft?  Probably not.  It's funny, because it isn't the craft of writing that's been so hard for me, it's the storytelling.  The storytelling is the hard part.  Rema has become such a huge world in my imagination with so many parts of it I want to tell, it continually pushes in unexpected directions.  It's been difficult choosing one direction to stick to and go all the way to the finish line with.

Well, needless to say, writing has been and still is an adventure.  I also recently quit my retail job, and I've learned (or re-learned) several things from it.

1) The value of money.  Seriously, I don't know how anyone can get by on minimum wage.  I don't want to waste my money on things I won't use.

2) The value of time.  Time is precious, more precious than money.  It shouldn't be wasted.

3) The value of kindness.  If you give people a little love, you can change their day.

4) the value of my own talent.  I am so incredibly lucky to be able to do what I do, and to be able to do it well enough to get published.  Most people cannot do what I do, and being surrounded by nothing but artists, I completely forgot that.  I need to be grateful for my talents, and not let them go to waste.  If you're someone out there who is talented, show your gratitude for your ability and make something with it!

5) A reconnection with my love for books.  I love books.  I love all kinds of books.  I love how in the book world, variety is embraced and encouraged.  I love how in the book world, there's room for everyone.  I love how books make you feel included, encourage opinion no matter how controversial or marginalized, and foster the imagination.  I love how anyone who can read is welcome to a good book, that the imagery within the pages is at the whim of the imagination that reads it.  I love books.

I learned a lot working at the bookstore, but it's time to wrap up this novel.  It's been almost a year now... 

 

The Twilight teaser trailer.




It looks cheesy, romantic, embarrassing, compelling.  Just like the book.  ;)
By the way, borders has a good video interview with the author, Stephanie Meyer, in four parts.  I think she's awesome...

Did the above watercolor here and there over the past week (click image for full version). It's a character from the book who's new, and not in the webcomic version.

I got a job working retail part time, and having a blast. It really makes me value my time more, plus meeting all the customers and co-workers has been a great exercise in character study. I've also been really obsessed with the democratic nomination race, which has been just fascinating.

My dearest Kazu gave me an awesome 4' tall Orion Skyquest xt8 telescope for my birthday. Boy, does he know me, or what?! I've been looking through it on almost every clear night. It's been a big source of inspiration for me these days. I just love looking at the stars and daydreaming about them! Of the objects I've managed to locate (Saturn, Venus, the Pleiades...) the Orion Nebula is without a doubt my favorite. You can actually make out the features of the nebula, which just takes my breath away. Seeing the rings and moons of Saturn is also pretty inspiring, and a crowd-pleaser (when strangers walk by asking what I'm doing, I like letting them look through and share the wonder!). And of course, seeing the moons craters is always a trip. I can't wait to use the telescope in a really dark sky though, because the skies of Alhambra have a lot of light pollution.

Also, for those interested, I updated my flickr page with some photos of Kazu's Amulet signing at Nucleus, the Warner Bros. Studio tour with my family, and more.

Speaking of Kazu, he just wrapped up the lineup for Flight 5 last night.  Man... all I can say is that you're all in for a real treat! 

Working on chapter 16 of Rema now, and everything's going well.  I love writing, and with each page written, I love it even more. It's really freed my imagination in unexpected ways. Life has been awesome these days. Hope everyone else is doing just as well, if not better!

evolution of a song:

At Seventeen by Janis Ian:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypn9oKaO-3E

Nothing Lasts Forever by Maroon5:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni5Sd5NsDps

Heard 'Em Say by Kanye West (animation by Bill Plympton!):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6rUOO-MwRI


I love all three songs.  I always find it fascinating when I see this happen, especially when each incarnation is so incredibly different than the last.

Just out, this anthology features a number of popular YA authors spilling the beans about their first kiss. It ranges from sweet, to romantic, to downright disgusting (and judging by author Justine Larbalestier's blog, she'd know I'm talking about her story!). It's a fun read to share with friends, a great gift for Valentine's Day, and for a good cause as a portion of the proceeds go to NPR's Youth Radio.

As for my contribution to the book, I made a comic documenting my precarious path to true love. If you ever wondered what went on in my brain when Kazu and I first met/decided to get married, this comic is for you. OR... if you've lost faith in the idea that true love can exist, this comic is for you too. OR... who am I kidding? I made this comic for anyone willing to listen. I hope you like it!

So check it out, First Kiss, Then Tell edited by Cylin Busby. Be prepared for warm fuzzies!

Things on Rema are progressing slowly. I was stuck on chapter 7 for a good two months. That's right. Two months on one chapter. When I save versions of my chapters, I label them version A, version B, etc. The version that worked is chapter 7, version Vb. Don't laugh... I'm just happy to be off that merry-go-round!

Since then, things have been running smoothly (knock knock), and I approach each page with an eager heart. I'm up to chapter 11, and realizing this book is taking me way longer than Kazu or I could've predicted. Remember back when I was hoping to finish by December? Ha ha ~

I think it might be time to go hunting for a part time job. Ironically, the prospect of getting away from the studio and working on set, non-creative tasks sounds like a vacation. Writing sure requires a lot of mental gymnastics...

Just the first scene. Sometimes I hear his voice saying those lines when I'm stuck in writing... Was reminded of this while discussing storytelling with a friend. :P

Did everyone have a good Christmas?  I got a big ol' pink scarf from my Mom.  I'd never where pink on my own, but now that I have it I think it's pretty awesome.  :)

While in Japan, I started a new sketchbook. These are all done straight with the hi-tec C 03mm pen. I love that pen. There's more, but these are the best ones. I need to draw more! It clarifies my writing and helps me visualize things more easily. I noticed that there's an economy of storytelling in comics that I love, and want to carry over into my writing too, if I can. We'll see how it goes.

Anyway, click the thumbnails to see the full image:

 

 

Most of you probably already know this, but here it is!

One month before the official release in Jan. '08, Kazu's all-ages graphic novel Amulet is out in bookstores and on amazon.com. Two years of writing, drawing, and painting bound together in beautiful full color, it makes a wonderful and affordable gift.

Hardcover
Paperback

Someone started a thread over at the Flight Forums about the book. It's a good place to go if you want to discuss it and see some reader reviews.

I helped paint some of the pages, and was Kazu's sounding board for story ideas etc. I'm so so sooooo proud of him and the book! It turned out beautifully, and best of all -- the story is awesome! There's magic, monsters, robots, strong characters, and a touching story of the heart for the whole family.

Miskit's my favorite character in Amulet, but they're all awesome. I love the villain too, he looks so cool. I want to do a fan art...

Wow. What an awesome, life-changing trip! I can't even begin to express how awesome a trip it was. I miss the place already, but it's good to be back.  All I have are my photos, and little commentaries contained within:

tons of photos from our trip to Japan

If you don't know how to use flickr, here are more direct links to the "detail view":

week one
week two part 1
week two part 2

It's a beautiful country, the peak of modern living, and full of some of the kindest, least cynical, hard-working people I've ever met. It was a breath of fresh air. There was so much visual stimulus, I ended up drawing again. I'll scan in my sketch book soon, it's actually pretty small. But it's the most I've drawn in a while, and it felt great! Comics are deeply ingrained in their culture, and they're everywhere. I urge every cartoonist to visit Japan at least once in their lives, just to see what it's like.

Countless thanks to Ray Goto and Savannah College of Art and Design for inviting my husband to go there to teach, and for allowing me to tag along. It was the best trip ever!

Kazu and I are off to Japan with a bunch of studio mates for two weeks.  Will be back in December with pictures!

Writing continues on Rema.

I've finished a complete draft of the whole manuscript (about 300pp), each chapter having gone through several drafts already.  Now I'm trudging my way carefully through the second draft, and have just started chapter 8. 

The second draft is COMPLETELY different than the first.  Characters get dropped, scenes get cut, some characters even have a gender change (don't worry -- all the main ones are the same).  It feels awesome!

I was stuck, sitting on the rough draft, since I was 15.  I didn't have the guts to cut and mangle the story until I was able to wade through it completely, first.  Only then could I step back and see what it was that I was really trying to talk about all these years.  And in the end, the story is much simpler than I ever thought.

I've been sharing the first five chapters with select friends that are around, and people seem to like it, which is a huge relief.  Now that I'm confident, I'm going to hold off on showing it to anyone else until it's completed.  I can't wait to share it with everyone, though!  But it will definitely be a while.

Kazu and I will be in Japan for two weeks in December, then the holidays are here.  Things will be hectic, but I'm hoping to finish a readable draft by the end of December.  If I can't make it, though, so be it.  I'm taking my time on this one and perfecting it to the best of my ability.  I don't mind it, though.  I've discovered that I love everything about writing, and it is definitely "my medium", so the process of rewriting is fun, if not something of an emotional roller coaster (a good one).

Anyway, just thought I'd leave an update and say hello.  My website is getting dusty.  All I can think about these days is Rema...

Thanks to the kind and generous folks at Renoir Comics, especially to Michele, my Sorcerers & Secretaries dream has come true.  For the Italian edition, it's being published with both books in one volume with a cover illustration that I felt embraced the atmosphere of the books better than any other.  I seriously feel like I haven't seen the final product of the last two years of my working life until now.  I just hope it can get published like this in English someday!

 

The book debuts at the Lucca Comics Fair in Tuscany, Italy, November 1st, then released November 10th.  

I never thought I'd have anything published in another language, let alone Italian.  It's pretty neat!  Can't thank Renoir Comics enough~ They're a fairly young company, but they seriously care about their books and their authors!  I wish them a long and happy life.  A huge thanks has to go to Kazu, too.  I believe it's because the Renoir guys read our wishes for a one volume edition on his blog that they went ahead to do the book this way, and it was Kazu's great editorial eye that helped me make the cover look as good as it does.  I love you, sweetie!  :D

I'm planning a site redesign soon.  With all my writing work going on, I feel that this current site doesn't quite make the cut.

Heh. I found this via my friend Bonnie's blog (elara_bonnie )
A javascript/php widget called radioblog. A little complicated, but it reminds me that I need to redo my website too. Here's a bunch of music I've been listening to lately:

I was tagged by my friend alisa5179, so here goes nothin'!

Ten things that make me happy...

1: Kazu in the morning

2: galaxies

3: my Mom's childhood stories

4: my brother's drumming

5: writing on my laptop

6: dinner with friends

7: Dusty

8: tunics

9: The Largo

10: Settlers of Catan

11: Muse.  I had to include Muse!


Hmm... who should I tag....
rufftoon, tihii_omut, tesseracting, dik_pose, conga_chili, mao, bannman, boltcity, deedupuy, and ivy_rat!! 

What are ten things that make you happy, eh?

A nameless background character from the book that I just felt like drawing:

The first thing I've drawn in about 1.5 months:

A new character. He's borrowing Ellon's jacket until I can give him one of his own...

Reman's about 2/3 done. I'm about to write a *kissing* scene, so feelin' a little nervous!!!

Hello everyone, it's been a while. I've been spending my days writing and reading, still, and spending quality time with friends. Most recently I read "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones. It is now *officially* one of my all-time favorite books. Romantic without being sensual, quirky without being pretentious, and charming without being coy, it's heartwarming and delightful. Highly recommended book.

If you haven't noticed, I had to turn off the comment box on my site because I was getting too much spam. I'm planning a site redesign anyway, but if anyone really needs to contact me there's always email.

There is a new interview up over at comicbookresources.com as a kind of year-in-review for my work in 2007, as if you didn't get enough of me already! I had a great time answering these questions, thanks to Alex. I got to talk a bit about writing in the end too!

Here is the interview.

Also, if you haven't picked up your copy of the all-Avatar edition of Nickelodeon magazine yet (I illustrated the above "Going Home Again" story), please do at your nearest bookstore. Magazine sales are definitely looked at, so showing your support with the $5 purchase actually makes a difference. The editor, Dave Roman, made an excellent case against scanning images from the magazine by discussing a little bit on the state of the magazine industry in his journal, so go give it a read.

I found my copy of the mag in the family section of Barnes & Nobles, myself.  Just look for this spiffy cover drawn by Lauren Montgomery:

 

As far as things go on the Reman front, I'm still writing every day, and I'm about two-thirds done with the book's second draft. A lot of changes have been made, and as I write I discover new things about the story. Kazu and I go through these plot points together, and it's been helping me shape and reshape the story arch. My goal at this point is to finish a readable draft to present to publishers by December. We'll see how it goes.

And finally to any head hunters out there, I'm interested in doing some short freelance comics/illustration work. If there are any companies out there who think I'd be appropriate for their projects, please feel free to email me: whibbage at gmail.com.

Okay. Back to writing I go...

I thought it was about time for a bit of blogging...

In short: I'm back from San Diego which was awesome, and I'm announcing my decision that Reman will be a prose novel which makes me so so so happy.

Live Free or Die Hard was AWESOME.  I feel dirty about saying this, but I liked it better than Ratatouille.  What kind of artist am I?!