Leonieblog

Course work:
I've used the colour tests I conducted last week to inform my new paintings. I've started using a process of layering washes of colour to make the images more integrated. Above is the start of a painting next to it is a pile of colour swatches I made.

The grouper is holding some kind of summit, the other fish seem very interested, but the dolphins weren't invited. Some people (i.e. Andrew Smith) think I have toy fish on my desk just to play with them, but they don't understand the intricate politics that go on...

Freelance work:
I am working on two projects at the moment, both of which I thought would be finished by Christmas, but both are still on the go and I'm looking forward to moving on. I'm also applying for a job at Newcastle Uni. I don't have exactly the right qualifications, but I have experience so they said they'll consider me. There is also some crazy mayhem surrounding a tv show pitch I helped work on, which is causing some stress!

General comics stuff:
James Harvey (some of you may remember him from 'Super cookie mix') has a new website, check it out:
http://www.maudevintage.com/jamesharvey/index.html
Also, 2000AD are looking for new artists and writers to contribute to their magazine, and it's currently dividing the small press community. On one hand, people are saying the offer should be rejected by everyone because there is no money being offered and 2000AD are just looking for free stuff to fill their pages. On the other hand, people are saying it's too good an opportunity to miss out on.
Both are valid points, and it seems to be artists who are used to getting paid for work who taking the first view and small pressers who are used to paying to produce work who are taking the second view.
This is a common situation for freelance illustrators. In illustration there isn't really a set fee and it's very difficult for established artist to maintain rates when new artists (particularly students) are willing to do the job for little or no money. It seems to be a very similar situation with this 2000AD thing. Boycotting it won't work, there will always be someone willing to contribute to it.
Oh, and I've just found this great link on Drawn!, Kazu Kibuishi shows us how he makes his comic 'copper'. It's very interesting. He holds his pencil really weird.