“Here She Comes…”
Is Aedre afraid she’ll be followed? Why does she keep looking back instead of watching where she’s running? Look out!
Aedre’s Firefly Graphic Novel updates every Wednesday.
New Readers: click here to start closer to the beginning of the story… You also might like this well-written precis of the story by Todd McElmurry at the WebComic Alliance’s pick-of-the-week: Aedre’s Firefly.
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#LFWC this week
is The Vanguard, a British-based superhero comic, writing and art by Dan Butcher whom I met through the Sketchy Crowd, (a community I’m sorry to say I’ve had no time to visit/contribute to lately). The first number of updates were each a representation of a separate character, of which there are quite a few. But if you want to skip introductions and get to the actual story, it starts HERE.
A downed private jet involves our British Vanguard superheroes in political intrigue starting with a tricky rescue mission and escalating out from there. Check it out. The art improves as the story unfolds, and will continue to do so I have no doubt. Dan is a dedicated author and gives his all to the work. The Vanguard is a story worth following, especially if you have a soft spot for superheroes. :`D
Creative Process
This has been a frustrating week as far as getting work done on Aedre’s Firefly. An unscheduled summer vacation was a lot of fun, playing Magic the Gathering, kayaking, and playing with my new camera. But I’ve been champing at the bit to get back to my regular work schedule. I also haven’t been able to listen to my favourite podcasts, as our computers are in the main room of the house (We call it the Uncommon Room). An Mal has begun to work on his delightful novel again, getting it polished up ready for publication. This makes me blissfully happy, and the podcasts will always be there when I can get to them. Like today for instance. I listened to four podcasts while I cleaned up some line work on background image for this website. :`)
That image I penciled in red, then inked over it and scanned it, then I opened it in photoshop, duplicated the layer and turned off the green and blue channels. Then I made the remaining channel the selection and deleted the contents of that, leaving me with lovely black line work. So easy! Nothing left to do but clean up some of the lines. I think I learned that trick, or something like it from Jules Rivera ( see last week’s #lfwc pick), though I never used it before. Jules has some very handy tutorials on her site that can make an artist’s life much easier.
I also took a last couple of passes on my portfolio fantasy environment piece :“Forest Walker”. My heartfelt thanks to Mal and Melzor for their sharper eyesight and willingness to vet the final painting for me. <3
I’m still looking into how to create a portfolio page here but not sure how to do it with Comic Press. Here is a small version of it:
~ Forest Walker ~
The original is over 8000 pixels in width, but if you click the above image it should take you to a 1200px version. Enjoy!
Other News
The closer I get to the end of this chapter the more sure I am that I really need a break. So that’s the way it looks right now. Two further updates to the end of Chapter VI, then a short break during which regular updates will be process pics and teasers, and of course blog entries, then back to regular updating, I’m thinking September 12th. I hope by then to also have my PDF ready. It’s in Black and White with occasional touches of colour and coloured Chapter splash pages.It will save people a lot of clicking to get caught up with the story. I’m thinking of selling it for $1.99 – $2.99. I’d love to get your feedback on this.
I really have to say it’s going to be weird. This will be my first break in over two and a half years. But I already have a lot of Chapt. VII thumbnailed, and some of it inked. And the scripting is going pretty good, too, though I’m still scared I won’t be able to pull it off. I guess we creators are never really sure of what we’re doing. We just keep doing it. Like breathing. Rest assured that I’ll be continuing to work on Chapt VII and on Vol. 2 and 3 of Aedre’s story during my time off from updating it.
Though working on game development has been suspended for the summer, eccentric Orbits entertainment (eOe) is still meeting Tuesday evenings to discuss the game we’re working on. This is keeping our excitement levels about the game pretty high. Work will resume on that also at the beginning of September.
And Bearman, I’m putting together a small set of custom brushes for you, since you asked so nicely. ;`D
One more thing ( really should update this blog more often. Or put an extra one somewhere else –lol)… I’d like to draw your attention to the share buttons just below this blog, and to tell you how much I’d appreciate it if you could click one or two of them to share this and future updates
So that’s the news that’s fit to print this week. Thanks again for reading Aedre’s Firefly and for all your encouraging comments! <3
Can I tell you a secret? One of my childhood fears is stepping on (and killing) a frog.
Aww, Michael, did that panel trigger that for you? If so, I’m sorry. Childhood fears never really let go, do they? But your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell a soul! ;`)
Oh no…NOT the frog again!!!
That forest picture is BEAUUUUUUUUUUUTIFUL. Love the colors
Well… It is A frog. Not sure if it’s THE frog. All frogs look alike to me. ;`)
Thank you for your unequivocal admiration of my painting, Bearman! I think it is one of the rare few that I really feel satisfied with and have no desire to *fuss* with further. <3
That is a lovely, lovely forest painting. The coloring makes me smile, and the picture makes me want to explore.
Thank you, Micah! It’s wonderful to be able to share creative stuff with people who really appreciate it and are willing to let you know. <3
Glad you posted early today. I’m leavin’ my internet connection early and I might have had to wait until Monday.
That frog does look kinda familiar but since I have portraits of frogs by the well known Artist Jande Rowe I tend to pay more attention to frogs than most people do.
Actually the forest scene is one of the most beautiful that I have ever seen. It really reminds me of the river bottom near my house in late fall.
Keep up the good work.
I see I forgot to mention that I’m back to the midnight postings. So yeah, you can get the update any time after midnight on Wednesdays. Sorry.
Frog always look familiar to me too. ;`) Thanks for the compliment, Bo!
Forest Walker is the best I’ve done to date. I’m sure that artistically there’s a lot wrong with it (but I can’t see anything right now), but for me it was a huge step forward. I wonder if I will still think so a yer from now.
Thanks for sharing that it reminds you of the river bottom in fall. That makes me happy. <3
I think I’d be looking back as well. Aedre doesn’t know the guy in the cabin from Adam, and given her past history with folks it only seems fit that she’d be worried about running away since he asked her to come back. I’m sure with the abuse she’d experienced in her past she’s gotten used to looking over her shoulder as she runs away.
I guess it would only be fitting that she runs into a frog on her way out, since she ran into one on her way in. I have a feeling that poor fellow is about to croak and not the good croak. :)
I’m with @Bearman, that forest picture you did is wonderful. I definitely would not fuss with it further either, it’s perfect. You captured the light flow through the canopy to the ground below wonderfully. Absolutely beautiful Jande.
Astute as usual Todd, but don’t count the frog out yet. They’re pretty agile creatures as I know from experience (unless they’re cold, of course).
Thanks, Todd for your encouraging words regarding Forest Walker. I really appreciate it! <3
It’s phenomenal how you have the sunlight coming thru the trees (and can render this in black and white, no less). You are an artist extraordinaire.
Hmm…I’m wondering if that strange, alien voice didn’t come from….
Light beams through the tree canopy as well as piercing clouds has always been a favourite of mine. Were you referring to both images, George? The painting and the strip?
Keeping possible spoilers to yourself? <3
Look out! Frog crossing! There oughta be a sign… :P
But… I surmise this is no accidental amphibious encounter. I believe that a frog underfoot means there is a plan afoot. Has no else noticed the telltale signs in the middle panel? Zoom in gentle readers and have a look for lurkers. Do my eyes deceive me, or have I spied an ambush in the making? Unless I am much mistaken the frog is being warned of Aedre’s imminent arrival by his cohort. What is that cohort? Could it be the legendary firefly?!
Great job Jande! I love the way the suspense of the previous strips is now suddenly transforming into excitement.
Your Forest Walker painting is gorgeous. I really, really like it. Of course, I’ve mentioned that to you before, but in cases like this it’s a real pleasure to repeat myself. 8^) I’m quite pleased that my feedback was helpful.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention… love the worn out shoe!
Mal, I love the way you pick up on the smallest details. Thank you! <3
I told you he had sharp eyes! Ferreted out all my little secrets in Panel 2 and 3! :`D
Thanks, Mal! I sometimes find it difficult to deal with the slow pace, especially when I have strips in the queue. I often want to just shove them all out there at once. But consistency is the name of the game, and consistent updates is better than a big dump then nothing for a while. Pacing in a story is so important and I’m still feeling my way along in the dark.
You, Sir, are a true Patron of the Arts! (well, of my art, anyway!) Thank you, Mal, for everything!
Ack! Great catch, Mal! I had seen the firefly but didn’t spot the frog until you mentioned it. I’m very interested now to see how this plays out.
Excellent job on the Forest Walker (too much MtG lately, I want to call it forestwalk) painting. I’m still so jealous of the lighting on the tree and the brushes you used for the the grasses and underbrush and the colors and… well, y’know, the whole thing.
Thanks Melzor! Spotting frogs is fun. Especially if you can get them to hold still long enough for the paint to dry. :P
You rub their noses to mesmerize them, much like putting a chicken’s beak on a line. ;`_)
(this is how urban myths get started)
Is there anything in particular one should rub their noses in? Regarding the chickens, I suppose one could get a fishing line threaded through their beaks, but I doubt this would mesmerize them. Most other creatures might be stunned into inactivity by the sheer ludicrousness of such and act, but not chickens. *wark*
Perhaps I should have said ‘gently stroke’ their noses with the tip of your finger? LOL, Mal!
As for chickens: I think you’d have to paint a line (abt 4″ wide) on the ground and placing the chicken facing in the same direction as the line is running, push their head down so their beak touches the line and supposedly the chicken will be paralyzed. I’m afraid fishing line might be too thin. Not to mention, rather macabre. :`D
I saw it happen on TV when I was kid. But you never know what technological breakthroughs in the TV industry may have come up with. They may have doctored the film (it was before the digital age of electronics), like Photoshopping or Manga-studioing. But it was apparently a real chicken.
I think the title for this was MtG inspired anyway, Melzor, so you weren’t far off. :`D
And I think I love making you jealous more than anyone I know. It’s so gratifying. <3
I’m going to make the brushes available to my commenters soon. I think there is a way to get them into Gimp2.
I’m just glad she’s not bare-footed — stepping on a frog is bad enough with shoes! Just love the dappled sunlight and foilage, Jande, and I reserve a special commendation for you for your gorgeous painting. The color is just a smorgasbord of delight.
I think the frog took a calculated risk. Did you look carefully at the bottom of Panel 2? ;`) I’m sure that if I was going to step on a frog I’d rather do it with shoes on. Well, except for the extra damage it would do to the poor frog!
The dapples sunlight and foliage effects were created with some of my custom brushes. Thanks for noticing!<3
Thank you very much for your praise of Forest Walker! I’m hoping it will bring in some commissions, and will sell well as prints.
Hi Jande, yes I’m still alive. :)
Can you remind me what is the frog’s name? Well, I am assuming he is the dream-frog, so a better question would be: what was the dream frog’s name?
I see the animals/spirits are not going to let Aedre go so easily, or at least they’re going to make her stop and think rather than blindly rush away.
Yeah, thanks. Sorry, Andy. I’m a bit of a worry wart, and I thought I saw something about your A/C being out. lol
The frog in Aedre’s dream was named Nerbert, by @BoLumpkin in a frog-naming contest I ran, (That was fun!)
I think you may be right, Andy. But I think Aedre may not take too well to being thwarted.
Nerbert! Okay, I kept thinking Zerbert for some reason. Well, I guess we’ll find out if Aedre considers their pleas thoughtfully or just goes on a stomping spree.
Zerbert is one of his cousins. Easy to get them confused. #allfrogslookaliketome
Heheh, “stomping spree” :`D
Little Froggy, watch out, watch out!! LOL
Indeed. It was a tricky manoeuvre, but as you’ll see in the bottom right of Panel 2, a deliberated one. In fact, a conspiratorial ambush of sorts. :`D
Thanks for reading, NYParrot, and for commenting.
Whether its a frog or a frenchman, they seem to always trip people up! [wink] ..I think Aedre is about to land her baguette!
Maybe I should be using your fantastic art behind my website, rather than my own! Beautiful forestry art there Jande!
Don’t worry. It’s a mere bagatelle! ;`D
Thanks for the kind comment about the Forest Walker fantasy landscape, Scott! I hope you’re having a relaxing vacation. :`)
The leaping frog of panel 3, is so beautiful, one of my favorite pieces of art so far!
Thank you, Nick! Before I started Aedre’s Firefly, I had almost no experience with drawing frogs. It really helps to have some 3D models on hand (can be created in Blender 3D) to use as references. :`)