Summer is here, and SoCal got its first heat wave. Over the weekend, I took a day off and drove down to Orange County with a group of talented kidlit creators to check out the Bower’s Museum special exhibit: Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form. What an amazing collection of artwork! As many of my colleagues would attest to, I could barely contain my excitement over checking out the original artwork of so many comic creators I admire.
These days it is hard to question the choice of working digitally — as you said, speed, convenience and efficiency are key these days and comics, well, have always been a mass medium — not something to frame and hang on a wall. There's a reason why comic strip makers of yore were liberal in their use of Wite-Out or similar — the work's main purpose was reproduction, not art galleries.
This said I'm jealous of those who can just disconnect from digital and abandon themselves to an all-analog workflow. Technology has broken me. 🥲
It's tough to beat the ease and time saved by making comics digitally. When I work traditionally, it's refreshing to feel the pull of the paper and see the bold black ink I colored in with actual pens.
So happy we can choose to use both when and where needed.
I agree. That feeling when the pen goes against the paper is super satisfying. I hope to find time to make a short comic (comic zine, maybe) at some point. :-)
AHHH! Original Doraemon pages!!! Loved catching this vicariously through you!
I was SO EXCITED seeing the Doraemon originals!
Seeing work you love in person is such a great way to get inspired! Just reading your post, without being there or knowing the work, is inspiring. :)
Come visit us in LA! We miss you! :)
These days it is hard to question the choice of working digitally — as you said, speed, convenience and efficiency are key these days and comics, well, have always been a mass medium — not something to frame and hang on a wall. There's a reason why comic strip makers of yore were liberal in their use of Wite-Out or similar — the work's main purpose was reproduction, not art galleries.
This said I'm jealous of those who can just disconnect from digital and abandon themselves to an all-analog workflow. Technology has broken me. 🥲
I agree. It's hard to do an analog one in a demanding schedule. Maybe for a 16-pages zine comic in 100% analog at some point, for the fun of it. :-)
Lovely recap, Maple. And your knowledge and excitement made the exhibition even more interesting. Thanks for being our docent!
It was such a fun excursion!!! <3
It's tough to beat the ease and time saved by making comics digitally. When I work traditionally, it's refreshing to feel the pull of the paper and see the bold black ink I colored in with actual pens.
So happy we can choose to use both when and where needed.
Lovely artwork and history in this post.
Thanks for sharing!
I agree. That feeling when the pen goes against the paper is super satisfying. I hope to find time to make a short comic (comic zine, maybe) at some point. :-)