itsudemo darekaga kitto soba ni iru

I inked this piece tonight and broadcast part of it live on UStream. I'm sorry there wasn't any warning; it was a last-minute decision and a test to see what broadcasting was like. When I try it again I will give you some warning in case you want to catch it live! :)

Of course, you can follow me on Twitter for the most up-to-the-second updates about things like this. :P

Dancing with myself

Red Fence by Adam Turman

Iiiiiiii really like this print, and a lot of the other stuff on this guy's site. It came up after a search for people walking on fences, which is what I want Ava to be doing on the cover of the Over the Surface minicomic. Better than reference, a new artist to follow! <3

You know the way it is in life, it's so hard to live up to

New drawring:

Second Witch of Wilheim Illo by ~Tallychyck on deviantART

And all this time's for us I love you just because

New gift from Emi Lenox in my 'Art from others' Flickr pool!!!

New sketches from Sketch Group and Periscope Times in Portland this weekend!:


I tore out this picture from Marie Claire--I don't understand what is going on with that lip! It's still kind of a mystery...I should try tracing it.

Forever is a long long time when you lost your way

I am really happy with the art of Over the Surface (my thesis comic) so far. Each page starts out with a panic and ends with me proud of how it turned out. However, I'm concerned that I scripted the whole thing completely wrong for the time/content parameters given by the thesis.

I wanted something that could be a stand-alone short story and also set up elements for a much longer one, but I made the classic mistake of going too epic and needing chapters and chapters just to establish things. I just feel like, at this point, I should have written a good 40-page story instead. I have other long projects I want to work on next year, so why did I feel the need to write 3 graphic novels' worth...? Just in case? It came at the cost of what might have been a good short story.

Maybe this isn't the sort of thing I should put on display, but I prefer being open with you guys, and writing it out helps me to learn.

/SELF-DEPRECATING RANT

I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye

Alrighty, so the minicomics I'm getting ready for conventions this spring are taking shape, and I thought I'd give you a preview of what you can expect to see:

1) Between Gears
Color cover and back cover, 16 of my favorite pages from the comic, 7 pages of bonus material including how to tone, the process of BG, a numbered linoleum print, and new art (none of which will be available online!)

2) Over the Surface
Color cover and back cover, the 16-page first chapter of my thesis comic, plus a numbered linoleum print and 2 pages of behind-the-scenes art.

3) 2009-2010 Sketchbook
20 pages of my favorite sketches and loose inks from spring'09 - winter '10, black and white cover and back cover. Some of the sketches have been posted on this blog, but many are new.

Life is love in a neon rainbow

Get excited! I've been working on bonus material for the Between Gears minis, including toning tips, my process, a limited edition linoleum print, and pin-ups that will only be available in the minis.


Between Gears minicomic cover by ~Tallychyck on deviantART

I'm almost there

One down, fifteen to go! I think I can! >__<


Guess who saw The Princess and the Frog again today xD;

I'd like to make myself believe that planet earth turns slowly

Begun, the thesis final art has. I penciled the first page today, tackling two establishing shots of Ava's village. I'm happy with the pencils but nervous for the inks.

Have some sketcheray:

Did you ever think it'd be okay for me to step into this world?

I'm trying to color that line art from last night digitally, using tips from the website of Lois van Baarle, or Loish. Like most art styles, the way that she describes coloring seems simple at first, and then drops off into "you'll get it with practice" territory. If it's possible to get anywhere near this lady's skill, then the effort and aimless wandering in Photoshop necessary is well worth it. I'm just going to fumble around and try some new things, but I'm already at the point where I'm asking, "Okay, so how exactly do I turn this:

(WTF IS THIS)...into this again...?"

(GODDAMN, right? I know. She's amazing) I'll just keep trying!

How hard must I try for you?

It's the first Wednesday of the term, and I am going to try to fulfill one of my goals: to leave Wednesdays as completely sacred, free days for working on my thesis. I did all of my homework for Thursday last night before bed, so today is wide open for the thesis (with breaks throughout the day for a work-out and meals). As a reward, I'm going to have a second cup of coffee at Starbucks and work there until I need to come home. Let's see how it goes!

Here are some things I did this morning:

Urban landscapes kill me, but this comic is a challenge on purpose! I can't draw planes well yet, either, but this script will force me to learn.


Here's a set of thumbnails. I stay very loose at this stage, just trying to figure out the page layout, the size and shape of the panels, and basic blocking of characters and setting. I usually write notes in the margins instead of correcting things at this size (2.5"x3.5" makes for tedious drawing).

Dreams do come true in New Orleans!

Here's a test page for my thesis comic. It's that time! I plan to finish thumbnails for the first 2 chapters by Wednesday, and it'll be a pretty busy schedule to get the final art done by May. The first chapter will be done and printed in minis by ECCC, so if you're going, you can read it there!



I think it's time to ink with a brush, even if it's still messy. I plan to work at bigger dimensions to minimize problems with things like the face in panel 2. Flat grayscale because I've grown to like that this year, and it prints oh so much more nicely than dithered dots. P.S., I have no idea what's going on in this page. I just wanted to draw a variety of character placements and backgrounds!

Love is our resistance

Emily Rose's The Girl Who Lost Her Voice
Originally uploaded by tallychyck

AAAAH check out this comic from my cousin Emily!! LOVE IT. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Man, it's shocking good to me that she knows to use an establishing shot at her age!!

It's one of the presents I mentioned in this Between Gears.

I'm alive! I'm alive!

Last Unicorn and Molly Grue by ~Tallychyck on deviantART

We got much further than I thought we'd get tonight

For my friend Emily:

Twilight fanart for Emily by ~Tallychyck on deviantART

Now as the summer fades I let you slip away, you say I'm not your type but I can make you sway

TLDR; Happy New Year!

Things I did in 2009 that I am happy about or proud of:

-Was published (for the first time!) in Image's This Is A Souvenir
-Grew the ovaries to drop the business major to a minor and explain why to my dad
-Moved out of my sorority and into a wonderful living space with 2 friends
-Went to my first convention as an exhibitor and LOVED IT
-Went to my first Comic-Con and LOVED IT
-Saw and listened to Miyazaki not only in person, but from 20 feet away
-Made awesome new friends that light up my life
-Learned how to ink with a brush pen and with a brush
-Gave watercolor a second chance and grew to love it
-House-searched for the first time
-Started Between Gears

Things I want to do in 2010:

-Have a great time at my first ECCC and second Stumptown Comics Fest
-Finish my thesis (WELL)
-Graduate
-Finish Between Gears in style
-Get a Job
-Move out of my parents' house
-Move into a super awesome bachelorette pad
-Get my next big comic started and show it to publishers
-Maintain my friendships
-Boyfriend???

Walk, walk, fashion baby

Damn! How did I get such awesome friends?! I have gotten so much amazing art as gifts this year, I set up a new Flickr set just for it. Here is the newest stuff:

From Joelle Jones:

SO AMAZING. I love how Joelle can make such expressive characters even with rigid, sharp lines. I feel so special having original Joelle Jones art!!!

From Terry Blas:

I can't stop looking at this!!! XD Possibly my favorite take on Delilah yet. It makes me want to go back to her story and draw it RIGHT NOW. Doesn't this make you want to know more about the characters??!

And from Matt Grigsby:

FANTASTIC. Besides being an Avatar nerd, Appa and Aang's friendship was one of my favorite elements of the show. Matt colors so well, too!! Look at how right that blue shading looks on Appa! I would never try that, but it's so right.