Artagem Studios

Changes….big changes…

I am working on some shifts here at Artagem. SO expect that some things might start to go missing here and there. I’m beginning a general overhaul of the site, and this will most likely remain in effect for the next few weeks as I tie all the bows up.

Making Comics Article Live!

My new article is out on Makingcomics.com. It’s the second part of a six-part series designed to help the neophyte create better compositions. Check it out, I’ve got some illustrative examples on there and I’d love to see your comments!

Creator Highlight, # 3: Stupid Snake by Aviv Itzcovitz

Bulletin: Whew! We’re back. The server Artagem is housed on was subject to a DDOS attack earlier in the day. All is well now, so we’re back to chugging along in the necessary way. On to the regularly scheduled post:

Welcome friends to a somewhat weekly feature on Artagem: The Creator Highlight. I’ll take a moment from time to time to point you to the home sites of creators I appreciate, whether they’re other web comics, fine artists or just general troublemakers.

So just last week you may remember that I was talking about how much I appreciate so-called ‘silent comics.’ Well, Stupid Snake, is amongst the very best. It’s silent, inventive, well-drawn, creepy, any superlative can be applied. As can many interpretations. It’s the work of illustrator Aviv Itzcovitz, and the premise is summed up thusly on his website:

Strange, lonely characters keep bumping into one another under various, bizarre circumstances: A troll under a bridge; a peculiar, desperate man; a mutated pterodactyl; the one-eyed hunter that killed his lover; an old fisherman and his lovely daughter; the drunken bum who falls for her; one mysterious dwarf and his riding-duck. Unbeknownst to any of these lost souls they’re all connected by the same common denominator – the Stupid Snake: an odd, reclusive creature in possession of godlike powers… but also ordinary stupidity.

He updates regularly three times a week, so there’s plenty to wrap your eyeballs around. Check it OUT!

The Sword Of The Artist

What’s your chosen weapon? Tablet stylus, pencil, brush, pen? So, I know I haven’t created a ‘how I make my work’ page yet, but the simple answer is that I do a variety of things, and I’m still honing my work style. BUT, the tool I use more than any other is a #102 crow quill nib stuck into a cheap, plastic holder like this one:

It’s terrible. It’s hard on the hand and it just looks awful. If I’m going to spend so much time with something, it should at least look nice. Yesterday found me questing for a new quill holder and I hit upon Steve and Pippa Engen’s wonderful website Dippens.net. The handcrafted pens these two make are GORGEOUS, and affordable. Take a moment to check out the variety they have. You can select from a number of fine woods to have a pen custom made as well. Anyway, I contacted Steve to see if they make crow quill holder pens and they do. Even better he had one that hadn’t been uploaded to the site yet made of Cocobolo Wood and bone. Well friends, I snapped that one up in a heartbeat, now I can call it my very own. Here’s a pic of the beauty that I can’t wait to get my hands on.

Seriously, do yourselves a favor and get on over to Dippens.net and support handmade, American goods. Engarde!

Creator Highlight, # 2: Just Mad Books by Justin Madson

Just Mad Books is the online site of Artist/Writer Justin Madson. He’s got a good amount of work up, a few shorties (like ‘Last Breath’) that are really fun, and a larger 400+ page project called ‘Breathers.’ From the website:

The air is no longer safe to breathe.

A virus has been unleashed into the air, rendering it deadly to humans. People have adapted to this world, wearing respiratory masks, or “breathers,” when they go outside. They have adapted and life goes on much as it did before, although, with a very real fear of death looming over their every breath.

Madson’s art style might not be for everyone but I really like the way he cartoons. The colorization is muted and restrained, the writing is top notch, and everything weaves together to create a really sweet, heartfelt package. As a fan of short graphic stories, I think the one titled ‘Laundry Day’ is a real gem. Check his site out!

Creator Highlight # 1: What Nonsense by Caitlin Crowley

Taken from Crowley’s site: What Nonsense is a humorous horror/suspense comic featuring anthropomorphic animal characters. The story follows the lives of the slightly deranged residents of “Nawncentz Inn,” a remote vacation home, and the confused man who has been forced to live with them. I’d say there’s nothing too adult about this story, save for some violence and cursing. It’s recommended for ages 14 and up.

More after the break. Continue reading Creator Highlight # 1: What Nonsense by Caitlin Crowley

Hey, It’s Time To Talk About: Swamp Thing, Book 1

That which you absorb with your eyes is just as important as that which is spun from the fingers. Therefore, take a moment to pause for a little review:

Saga Of The Swamp Thing, Book 1 by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette and John Totleben

Much has been written about Alan Moore and I probably won’t bring anything new to the table here but I did want to offer my perspective on this singular book (series). Like many, my first introduction to the work of Alan Moore was The Watchmen. He’s of course a legend to many, a god to fanboys, and the mad devotee of Glycon, and his influence in the field is immeasurable. I could write whole posts just about Moore but this is a review of Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing, the loneliest hero

‘Moore’ after the break. Continue reading Hey, It’s Time To Talk About: Swamp Thing, Book 1