Though I Walk Through The Shadow of Uncanny Valley . . .

Mark Campos at Bistro Montage in Portland,
featured here with Moxie, My Sweet.

Living with a fellow cartoonist has its benefits, particularly when they are a long-standing feature in the minicomics world.  My housie Mark Campos wrote the anthology Moxie, My Sweet - illustrated by some of the finest cartoonists Seattle has to offer - and has drawn stories for anthologies like Not My Small Diary and Fantagraphics Treasury of Mini Comix.  Mark is not only experienced in the practical aspects of making comics, his head is full of cartooning history and theory.

I'm not like that.  My comics tool kit contains little more than combining a disparate background in fine arts and poetry as an approach to telling stories.  I have limited knowledge of the medium and it's context and having seasoned cartoonists to turn to while I attempt creating a graphic memoir is invaluable.

Uncanny, Isn't It?

Panel with self-portrait on a Chicago train platform.
What is wrong with this picture?

Creating Girl On The Road hasn't been precisely "Write script. Grab pen. GO!"  I've had to make decisions as simple as page size and as difficult as fictionalizing elements of an autobiographical story.  Somewhere in between, how to stylistically approach drawing people is one of the hardest things I've wrestled with.

The book is partially travelogue, so I want backgrounds that deliver a specific location in the story. But the core story is relational, so I want characters that are expressive.

My attempts at marrying photo-realism and expressiveness have not gotten me where I'm going yet.

Back to Mark Campos.  As I sit cursing at the kitchen table over the fact that an image I drew straight from photo reference looks like a mutant, he factually chimes in "It's 'Uncanny Valley'."  And DAMMIT if he's not right.  It is.

Things That Look Almost Human Creep Us Out

Screen grab from Manly Guys Doing Manly Things
by comics blogger Coelasquid.

Uncanny Valley is a term developed by people in robotics.  As certain corporations race to invent the humanoid robot that everyone will love, they keep running into the problem that robots that look like humans freak real humans out. 

There's a dry Wikipedia article about it, but I found an absolutely AWESOME blog about the Uncanny Valley effect as it relates to comics here.  Funny as hell.  References Soundgarden.  You should check out "Close But No Cigar" on Manly Guys Doing Manly Things and get a hard laugh out of it as well as some good information.

What I got out of it was reinforcement that I need to put my hands up and step away from the light table.  My just-slightly-off photo-realistic drawings of people are just-slightly-off-putting.  Even if I had an exact photo reference for every panel of the book, it wouldn't be enough to carry the characters.  But at least I have something of a measure to judge against when assessing my next crop of drawings.  It might keep my book from falling into the Uncanny Valley.

Thanks, Mark.

 Girl On The Road posts about comics, publication and community on Tuesdays.

Hey! Ho! Let's Go!

Draft title page for my sample
chapter "Girl On The Road,
I-90 1994"

As part of my grant proposals in support of the graphic novel, I outlined that I would use my blog to document my process as I go.  Well, I've officially dived into the drawing portion of things, and here's where I'm at.

Discipline 

I've been told more than one time that I need to write every day to be a writer, told to draw every day to be a cartoonist, and famously informed by the poet Eileen Myles "You wanna write a book?  Write a book. That's the only way you're gonna write one."  So OK.  There are things I'll finally be applying to accomplish my first graphic novel. 

 

Here's my short list:

Draw A Page A Day

At least draw every day, with the goal of a page a day, six days out of the week.  I'm only on page #4, so my due date for raw art on my sample chapter is going to be the end of May.  Since my first and second days were dedicated to an elaborate front cover image set in a sunflower field and an equally elaborate draft title page (above), I'm hoping I can complete two or more pages of art on some days to make up for the truly challenging visuals.

Schedule Business Hours

On the seventh day, I blog.  I build and update my website.  I finally scan work to my ETSY shop (Check check).  I research outside work and draw commissions.  I'm going to concentrate on scheduling as much of the work as I can for completion on Tuesdays.

Just Say No

Panel detail from page #4. 
The Chicago Picasso!

I said yes to a lot of really interesting projects over the past year - most of which somehow culminated over the span of only a few recent weeks.  I love anthologies.  I love art galleries.  I've thoroughly enjoyed creating work for themed art shows.  AND I'm not going to get any further towards my aims as an artist until I complete a graphic novel.

So I need to apply some pretty strict criteria to what I say "yes" to moving forward.  Basically, unless it's a paid illustration gig or something I have a truly deep personal connection to and can complete in a reasonable amount of time, I'm going to be turning projects down.

I am going to contribute to My Small Diary Issue #19 and, of course, Prince did just pass away, so yes to the Prince-themed art show, dammit.

 Girl On The Road posts about comics, publication and community on Tuesdays.

Killing Gone Girl

 Gone Girl Comics is Dead

I wrote last August about the origins of Gone Girl Comics (here).  The long and short of it is that I created a manuscript under the title of Gone Girl and failed to copyright it.

Now that there is a famous mystery novel and movie by that name, I don't want any confusion with the book's author or her intellectual property, so I'm killing the title Gone Girl in my images, books and web presence moving forward.

For the curious:  I did NOT receive a cease and desist letter, or encounter any other legal issues.  I'm just doing what makes sense to me for the long run.

 

New URLs All Around

I'm unifying everything webby under NoelFranklinArt and changing the blog and book title to Girl On The Road.  If you are reading this blog now, you've already found me - I've archived all the previous blogs here under noelfranklinart.blogspot.com and created a rudimentary redirect page at the old URL.

As much of a pain as this is, I'm happy to be doing it now and not later down the road.  A full list of my current social media links is building on the sidebar.  ==>

I will still be selling previously created copies of Gone Girl Comics #1 and #2 but will likely not self-publish more short stories collections anytime soon, as I'm focussing on a full-length graphic novel.

 Girl On The Road posts about comics, publication and community on Tuesdays.

Girl On The Road

Myself and Roberta Gregory
enjoying the awesome vibe at Hometown Heroes.

Starting this week, I'm going to be focusing a LOT MORE on the process for the creation of my graphic novel, Girl On The Road.  I did want to note a quick few things before I do.

What A Week

It started, for me, on Friday night with the first ever Hometown Heroes, a new Seattle event featuring independent Seattle comics creators.  I posted a ton of photos on the Hometown Heroes Facebook page, but here is one of me with pioneering female cartoonist Roberta Gregory.  The event was packed and really, really fun. 

Two handsome cartoonists,
Sarah Romano Diehl with Marc Palm at Comicon.

Sunday I tabled the I Heart Comics art table at Emerald City Comicon.  I waded through oceans of super fans in cosplay to share a space with fellow Seattle cartoonists Sarah Romano Diehl and Marc Palm.

Monday I dropped off two large illustrations I produced for the Science +/- Art show at Twilight Gallery.  The show officially opens this coming Thursday, and I'm excited - what a great last commitment to have before delving back into relative solitude to work on a book-length comics story.

My portraits of Jay Defeo and Eva Hess, depicted with their iconic
art works and the chemical symbol for one of the toxic mediums
they worked with that may have lead to their deaths.
They will be on display until the first week in May at Twilight Gallery.

Back Into The Fray 

Misfire!  My first stab at a first page for a
sample chapter of Girl On The Road.
I decided against it before completing it.

The work I've been doing for anthologies and gallery shows sometimes feels like a distraction from the real work I've cut out for myself.  I've been wondering if signing on for so many projects hasn't been a form of self-sabotage.  I'm not going to get any farther as a cartoonist, period, without completing a graphic novel.

However, I feel like I have been upgrading my drawing skills, and have been able to experiment with some stylistic choices that I wouldn't have if I were already working on a book-length narrative.  There's going to be a lot of visual choices to make moving forward, and I think (hope) that all of the projects I've put my shoulder into this past year will be informing those decisions.

I'm going to be spending the rest of these weeks reviewing the work I've already done - going back over the maps and timelines, the sample chapter scripts, and trying to set up a framework to move forward with.  The plan is to wake up Monday morning and treat the book like a full time job.  I'll keep you posted.

C-log posts on comics, publication and community that publishes on Tuesdays.

Grinding Up The Gears

Jezinkas!  My 18-page adaptation
of a Bohemian folk tale.
Now available on NoelFranklinArt Etsy.

Hello, Etsy!

So I've launched an Etsy shop.  Right now it only has a few mini comics on it, but I will be bulking it up with additional stories and lots of original arts in the coming two weeks.

You can find it here:  

https://www.etsy.com/shop/NoelFranklinArt

Once upon a time I had a shop associated with my website.  And then I foolishly allowed my URL to lapse and it was purchased by some URL brokerage and is being held ransom.  

DO NOT DO AS I HAVE DONE.  I totally need to relaunch a website.  

Until then, come on over and check my Etsy out!

Also know that I am available for commissions, including portraits, album and poster art or....try me.   You can contact me with requests at m.noel.franklin@gmail.com

 

Hometown Heroes and ECCC

The location of Hometown Heroes.
Emerald City Comicon is happening literally right up the
street, where Pine Street runs into Interstate 5.

Quick reminder come check out Hometown Heroes, an awesome sounding new comics event where you can sample the art and minicomics of 30 local Seattle independent creators.

The event happens on Friday, April 8th from 6:30 to 11:00.  The location is 1927 Events, just down the street from Emerald City Comicon.

You can check out the details on the Hometown Heroes Facebook Page. 

If you are going to be in attendance at Comicon, you can find me at the I Heart Comic Art Table, Booth L13 in the Artist Alley.

You can find full details here.

A work by Aaron Morgan from

Push/Pull Book Club Presents: The Master & Margarita

But What About Saturday?
Two Art Shows of Note.

Push/Pull Book Club Presents: The Master & Margarita

You already know I'm a big fan of Push/Pull Gallery in the Ballard district of Seattle.

Well, they are having a fantastic art show of works inspired by Mikhail Bulgakov's brilliant book The Master and Margarita.  

The show will feature work by Seattle artists Corianna Garrels, Maxx Follis, Melissa McClintock, Aaron Morgan and Mark Campos.
 

The event runs from 6 -10 PM on Saturday April 9th.  Full details here.

But wait, there's more!

A Tribute to CREPAX: Art Show + Book Launch

I would be remiss to not mention Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery's tribute to late Italian cartoonist Guido Crepax. The event features an exhibition of original art by contemporary American cartoonists including David Lasky, Peter Kuper, Benjamin Marra, Roberta Gregory, George Pratt, and Mark Wheatley, as well as reproductions from the Complete Crepax Volume 1. 

The opening on Saturday, April 9 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM includes film shorts by Brazilian artist Alex Korolkovas, a sound installation by Sérgio Rocha of Portugal, a limited edition Crepax companion publication, and other exclusive merchandise.

NEXT WEEK. . . Twilight Gallery!

Defeo's Deadly Rose.
One of two works I'll be exhibiting at
Science +/- Art show at Twilight Gallery.

I will have two works in the Science +/- Art show at Twilight Gallery.

Science+/-Art examines the interplay of art (empathy, creativity, subjectivity) and science (categorization, rules, objectivity).

The show opens April 14th from 6-9pm during the West Seattle Art Walk and runs through May 28th.

Featuring artists include myself, Marie Hausauer, Jody Joldersma, Satpreet Kahlon and Jess Rees.

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! And it may be my last gallery show for a while.  So stop on by!

Until next week!

C-log posts on comics, publication and community that publishes on Tuesdays.

 

Rock Is Not Dead! Hometown Heroes Comes to Life!!

Rock Is Not Dead. 
The Anthology.  The Album!
Now available on pre-sale from 11th Dimension
Press at:  http://ow.ly/Z8nC5http://ow.ly/Z8nC5

Rock Is Not Dead

In a year where we have lost countless awesome musicians to the Grim Reaper, I am happy to be part of the anthology Rock is Not Dead.

The project is ambitious.  The anthology collects stories and comics inspired by Rock and Roll songs.  Simple enough, right?  But the publisher decided to pay for the rights to the music and are putting out a companion CD of cover versions for each song the stories are inspired by.

I collaborated with fellow cartoonist Mark Campos to create a story inspired by the Throwing Muses song, Not Too Soon.  The lovely and talented artist Cait Willis agreed to model for the story, which is entirely set in Seattle's historic Egyptian Theatre, and international recording artist Amy Denio recorded a spooky cover version of the song.

The comic is full color and features a full range of styles.  If you are a lover of music or comics, you want this!  It is available on presale through indiegogo here.

There's a new kid in Seatown!
Check out Hometown Heroes on Facebook or the World Wide Web.

Hometown Heroes, Launching 4/8/2016

Speaking of things that rock...there is a new comics event coming to Seattle this year.  It's called Hometown Heroes, happening Friday, April 8 at 6:30 to 11 PM.

That's right, those of you who just double-checked your Emerald City Comicon schedules.  Hometown Heroes is happening on the same weekend as the industry juggernaut known as Comicon.  But it's an event of an entirely different stripe.  It's free of charge, features only local independent comics creators and is low-pressure.  Founder Casey Silver describes it as a one-night local comics pop-up shop/art show.  Creators will be present, but free to roam as you pay for your awesome local finds at a check out station.

I'll be at Hometown Heroes, and I'm hoping A LOT of people come down to check it out and make the event a success.  NEVER FEAR Comicon attendees, Hometown Heroes is also just down the street from the Convention Center - at 1927 events near the corner of 3rd and Olive Way - so you can have your big comics cake and fulfill your minicomics cravings too.

I'll have free postcards for the Rock Is Not Dead
anthology at both Hometown Heroes, Fri 4/8
and Emerald City Comicon, Sun 4/10

Emerald City Comicon, 4/10

I will also be attending and tabling Emerald City Comicon on Sunday, April 10th as the winner of last year's I Heart Comic Art competition hosted by Ladykiller Promotions. 

You can find me there for sales and signings at the I Heart Comic Art table, located in the Artist Alley, Booth L:13.  I'll only be there on Sunday of the event, from 12:30 to 2:15 PM.

If you've already got passes, come by and say hello!  I don't have a lot of new work to sell - I've been drawing like crazy, but it's been for anthologies, art shows or on the graphic novel.  

HOWEVER, I will have a free postcard for the Rock Is Not Dead anthology to hand you, and a special edition of my Czech horror/folk tale, Jezinkas as well as Gone Girl Comics #1 and 2 will be for sale.

See ya there!

C-log posts on comics, publication and community that publishes on Tuesdays.

The Hurt That Heals

Update #1:  

Thinking about my 2015/2016 in terms of John Porcellino's "The Hospital Suite" gives me hope I can turn this thing around, yet.

Update #2:

In a long late night conversation with Mark Campos, we came up with the idea mining the wound hard enough for the art might just retrieve the bullet and allow you to heal.  And maybe the bullet is diamond pointe and maybe the wound shines like glass on a ruby lake.  

At least it only took 'em 1 try
(as apposed to 8, yes 8!) to set the IV this time

This week's blog is going to be short and....sweet?  Not so much, as I've been spending more time in hospitals that outside of them over the last couple of months and last week was no exception.

Lets start out with some of the good parts.

OK! OK! OK HOTEL!

Artist Jeff Milhalyo and Royal Room
co-owner Tia Matthies.

I wrote last week about my much-anticipated enjoyment of the OK Hotel Family Reunion.

Seattle's Royal Room, whose owners also ran the OK Hotel from 1987 - 2001, is a great venue.  The shows were perfectly booked, well attended and I sold a lot of my little illustrated histories of the venue.

I also got to acquire some art as well, in the form of a limited edition vintage calendar from back in the day, produced by the lovely and talented and full-hearted Jeff Milhalyo.

I attended 3 out of 4 of the nights before I fell ill again and was back in the hospital on Monday, just getting discharged this morning.

The Hurt that Heals.  If it doesn't kill 'ya.

Debbe Penne, whose death on the crash of Alaska Flight 261
is part inspiration for "Girl On The Road"

Don't get me wrong.  Art can be this amazing, joyful, fun activity that is a celebration of all good things.  But a lot of what I work with is dark material--things that have hurt me physically and/or emotionally in the past.  The graphic novel that I've working on is created from several of these incidents, and digging far enough into them to make a comprehensive, cathartic yet funny and page-turning story means feeling a lot of that hurt again.  

I'm starting to realize that the work going into the art is bigger than the art itself, and I'm going to need a lot of support around it.  It means building up this concept of self-care, which was completely foreign to me until I nearly killed myself from lack there-of.  And, of course, enjoying my friends who are still here.  I have this lovely creative community.  I may possibly be misguided by the notion that if you use art to cut deep enough into the wound, it might just heal you--and done well enough, heal others as well.  I have no proof of this hypothesis, but I'm working on it.