Posts Tagged ‘bean’
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Hey guys it’s Tuesday and that means a new color page is up. Just click for all the color goodness.
As you can see Ben is tackling it like a madman. I just love how our styles mesh so well.
Also – this is the week Bean 6 goes to the printer. It will prob go on Friday. It was supposed to go last week, but I had a few family matters that came up and so I was forced to make a few changes on the schedule. That is ok, family always comes first.
I will also be posting maybe tomorrow- 3 brand new prints. Just the inks though. So keep an eye out:)
Also a huge thanks for those sites that link to us and spread the love. I sure appreciate it. It drives me even harder to make sure the updates are always on time. Your commitment to my story strengthens my commitment to it. Thank you.
More to come, but that’s all the news right now – Especially since I need to do some catch up.
trav-
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The Bean in Color….. Every Tuesday
August 31st, 2010 |Posted In: Creating webcomics and comics, Travis Hanson News
I want everyone to take a moment and say hi to Ben Hunter. He is taking the task of coloring “the Bean”. A fantastic colorist and illustrator, Ben and I have worked together before and our styles compliment each other quite well. I was elated to find out that he wanted to work together again and so as I continue updating the story twice a week. Ben will start from the beginning and update the comic from page 1 every tuesday.
Ben has the ability to take the comic to the next level. He and I see and think the same and he is able to pull out extra details that b/w does not offer. I hope you take a moment and continue to encourage him and his talent. I really love seeing “the Bean” in full color. I hope you do as well.
So what happens to the books and the story? Actually nothing. The books will continue to be b/w. They are actually funding a full color graphic novel in the future. The comic will also update still twice a week on mondays and thursdays. Now with Ben dedicated to adding color to the tale I can still focus on telling the story. So I am moving on and have finished over half of the pencils to issue 7. Plus issue 6 goes to press really soon.
Ben’s main goal is to start from the beginning. We talked about just jumping in, yet we both felt that the beginning was a much better way to approach the comic. That way we could still work stress free. Work smarter not harder is idea. So enjoy the tale as it continues and then go back and start it again in color.
Thanks again Ben- you are making this dream an incredible reality.
Also take a moment and go visit Ben’s incredible work
Ben’s website www.ironhenry.com
Well back to the drawing board… oh and remember to vote for us:)
trav
UPDATE
Issue 6 cover is now finished- Just click on the pic for a bigger look see. Also I am starting issue 7 tonight. I am really excited about that. Plus I finished the script on issue 8. It was an emotional ride for me. Anyways more to come later.
Trav-
Issue 6 Cover Update and book updates.
Well it seems that inspiration has returned. Especially in the direction of the coloring for Issue 6’s cover. You can click the pick for a larger view. The book is moving really smoothly right now and is in edits. That means it should go to press in about a week or so depending on how many corrections I need to do.
Thank goodness for editors. Especially since I struggle with spelling anyhoo:)
I have added shadows now to the cover and still have some more work on it to do. My goal is to finish it this evening and add highlights and hopefully have a finished piece for tomorrow.
There are some spoilers in the cover, yet that is how it is. If you want to find out ahead of time what is going on in the storyline I would encourage you to buy the books at the store.
Anyways happy speculating
trav
I am a huge believer that music can and should be a vital part of the creative process.
When I write and draw I will usually slip on a pair of headsets and fall deep into the world of the brokenmoon or any other project I am involved in.
When I am working on scenes or specific moments, I usually focus on soundtracks. Instrumental only. I look at bean as a movie in my head. The characters and the action that goes on is very much alive and so a soundtrack in my opinion is needed.
Many times the sound tracks are to movies I have not seen. This is done on purpose so I can keep a scene pure. Yet sometimes a sound track is so good I cannot pass it up. These soundtracks I usually keep to myself.
Yet I also enjoy a wide variety of music and over the years, I have found myself returning to these songs to help define the characters. Especially their moods and emotions. It makes it easier for me to write, when I identify a song or several songs to make the character a little more emotionally realistic.
I guess there are some minor spoilers, or not as you see personalities from certain songs…so read at your own risk:) Also some songs fit multiple characters as well.
Bean- There are a wide variety of songs that helped make up the bean and some of them I wont post yet, since he is pretty simple as a character. He does get a little more complex as the story matures.
Little Wonders- Rob Thomas
I’m going to go back there some day – Paul Williams & Great Gonzo
I’m with you -Avril Lavigne
I’m still here – GooGooDolls lead singer
- Ravna is as complex as the bean. She has a wide variety of songs that also fit her personality. Yet for now, I will post a few that have added a depth to her character that I really appreciate.
Iris- Goo Goo Dolls
Drive- the Cars
Woman in Chains- Tears for Fears
Don’t Get me Wrong – the Pretenders
Round here – Counting Crows
Siv These songs also just don’t represent the character, but also feelings they might have for another. I use these songs not always for the message they bring, but the emotion they might stir to make a characters action believable. Some songs have even changed the course of certain character interaction and have even made other character relationships stronger. Siv hits both of these categories as does Ravna.
Angel – Sarah Mclaughlin
I’m moving on – Rascal Flats
Walkaway Joe- Trisha Yearwood
Wandering Star- Paint your wagon, Lee Marvin
Alive and Kicking- Simple Minds
Gort is pretty simple- In fact certain songs just fight his mood perfect.
Everybody want to rule the world- Tears for Fears
Funny little Things- Hobbit- Glen Yarbrough
Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash
A boy named sue- Johnny Cash (and its sue either:))
A good place to stop-
In light of making this a really long post I think this is a good place to stop. It is important some songs I didn’t post because it would ruin the story and so I might do this again with other characters:). I just thought it would be fun to show you a little of where some of the inspiration came for certain characters. There are many other factors that go into character creation well chat about that at another time.
For now…. just sit back and enjoy the music. As you read the comic though you might want to shuffle through some of these songs and you might catch something about these characters that you might or would not have caught before.
Until then- keep creating
trav
the art of creating epics… or mine anyways.
July 30th, 2010 |Posted In: Creating webcomics and comics, Travis Hanson News
If you have not notice, I am not a one-strip gag writer. That is for far more talented individuals. I think big, epic like and so as I put “Bean” together, I find myself doing a few things that go against the grain a little of traditional one-a-day webcomics. I’m not knocking them at all, it is a skill and art in itself with it’s own trials and hardships.
What I want to chat about today is more about how I go about constructing my epic and why I make some of the layout choices that you see.
To put things into perspective, I am build my story with the mindset that it is also being printed. Issue 6 is all but done. I realize that waiting for updates can be a frustrating thing, especially when the update is a transition page, we’ll talk more about that in a minute. Yet if you read the entire comic from the beginning you will see why I use transition pages. Also the comic looks so much better in print. Trust me:) it just does.
So let’s talk about how I approach this.
Endings: The main thing is an ending. I have talked about this before, but the ending is the most important thing for me. It is my anchor, it gives me something to work towards. I know how the Bean ends, the fun part, which evolves all the time is just getting there. Sorry no spoilers here though.
Transitions and Environments: 
When I started creating my tale I realized that I was building a world that people were unfamiliar with. There was flora, animals, and it is very big. I needed a way, as someone put it to me, to give my world a voice. So I did. Transitions are scene changes. The epic I created is a visual movie in my head and so when I change scenes I usually change locations and that is a fantastic opportunity to show the world and give it’s voice. Some of my favorite pieces are transition pages. Plus Environments make the world believable. It allows the reader to feel that they are there as well, that they can experience the sights, and if they really use their imagination, sounds and scents. I also make sure my environments are strong when I have to move the story along with text. I want to keep the reader interested without pages & pages of headshots explaining key points. By putting the characters in believable locations with something else to do (hence eating, etc) it allows people to soak up the moment as well.
Details: This could go along with environments, but I think it works better on it’s own. When putting the characters in a location in helps to make the place real. I have not been in a inn or pub, where it was perfectly clean box, all the bottles where the same and everyone looked like everyone else. I try to hide things, like clues, in my pages. In fact I even tell stories to a degree, without making it a part of the tale. They are glimpses, which are very subtle, of other people’s lives. Other details include clothing that talks of people’s occupation, bottles that are unique, and places that feel lived in. Regardless of your style of art, small details can add a whole new level to your work. I even make it a point to add animals to pages. They have nothing to do with the characters of the story, yet isn’t that how life is. Sit in a field or a forest or even your own backyard and just watch and you will realize how alive the world really can be.
Camera Angles and layout: 
Epics are movies on paper. If your epic is nothing more than headshots or character shots, it can get boring fast. Do not be afraid to move the camera around. You are the director, so direct. Let the camera pan across your world and let your layouts fit your camera angles. I am not saying to go extreme with this. Just remember you can get your point across sometimes better without words on page, if the layout is strong and interesting. Do not underestimate the power creative layouts and camera angles.
The Reserve: Ok this is important, have a reserve built up and ready to go. Life has a way of making things hard, things happen, tragedy’s occur so be prepared. I have prob 12 weeks worth ready to go. It might be a little excessive but it allows breathing room. I also have an automatic update system in place so if I am preoccupied the comic still updates.
Patience and keep pushing forward: Epics take time to tell and you have to be patient. If you are consistent in your storytelling and updates, people will follow and your story grows. I would suggest finding some nice free tracking software. Just because your comic does not receive comments does not mean people are reading. I know silence can be frustrating, yet if you are patience people will come. Yes it is a little rough at times having to market your work but it does pay off and there are plenty of Free ways to market and promote your stuff. (see reMindblog.com for some great tips and advice here) The key is not to give up on your story.
Ok that’s prob enough out of me, but if you have questions on the creation process, the story, or anything else feel free to ask. I will always try to respond and be honest in my answers.
Keep dreaming, keep creating and enjoy the tale
trav….
Here is some concept art to a few places that might be visited in the world of the broken moon.
These sketches were all done with a ball point pen in my sketchbook. I do not usually show them.
These sketches were also done as I waited in the juror room for jury duty. I will post the second one prob friday.
Concept art is important to me, more for location than anything else. It helps me get a feel for placement and direction and at times a inn or two to stop at in my travels through the comics.
I feel to me it is important to have a very organic feel to my world. Even if their are areas based on mechanics, they still need to feel like they naturally belong to environment.
I personally adore the house on the bottom. Yes it is a little hobbit like but that is ok. I like it’s feel and I am a sucker for round doors. You can thank Rankin/Bass for that.
While character design is important and all, I feel the world you characters live in are even more important and if you can create a believable world that your characters live in your comics and stories become a lot stronger.
Well back to the grind. I will have actual book release dates for issue 6 later in the week. Until then the Ogres have a new batch of ale, brewed just the other day. Enjoy
trav
