| NaNoMango, Elfsar, and Bratz |
[Jun. 28th, 2007|09:02 pm] |
Obviously, NaNoMango is a writeoff for me by now. I got half a dozen strips pencilled, but I just couldn't keep up the momentum. Part of the problem is that I'm a little slow and out of practice, and I think I was aiming for something a whole lot more polished than was really reasonable for me under the time constraints.
However, I did make a great discovery a couple days ago: Elfsar Comics & Toys in Yaletown is starting to carry manga supplies! I spotted some imported Japanese Deleter dip pens on their website and ran down there to pick some up at my earliest convenience. They're really new in stock - they weren't even out on the shop floor yet, but apparently they're planning to make space and do a whole section of art supplies. Finally, an alternative to my horrible old paper-shredding Hunt and Speedball dip pens! They've got markers and ink and whatnot too, but I'm trying to save up for some pricey new eyeglass frames.
Oh, and you know what else I saw at Elfsar? The original Bratz Twiins set, Phoebe and Roxxi, going for $60 I think. That was not something I expected to se amongst all the Hulk action figures and whatnot! Geez, those guys have everything. |
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| So... uh, how 'bout that NaNoMango? |
[Jun. 18th, 2007|09:42 pm] |
The NaNoMango thing is not going well, I'm afraid. The month is more than half over, and I've got five whole strips pencilled. I haven't scanned or posted anything to the group at all, either.
On the upside, they look vastly better than my previous efforts. (I once got about ten strips completed and ready to display, but then I realized I'd picked a bad starting point, and the workflow I'd locked myself into was wildly inefficient to boot. Plus, my inking sucked.)
And it's five strips that otherwise would still not be done. Still, here I am, doll blogging instead of drawing. |
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| BearBearQ Bratz? Nah. |
[Jun. 10th, 2007|10:29 pm] |
So. I bought a Baby Qee to customize today. I've got a few ideas, although I'm not about to start in on it until NaNoMango is done. I attempted to dress it in Baby Bratz clothes, but I was foiled by the Qee's utter lack of articulation. Also, the wings.
Also, there's a huge new Sakura Media store in Richmond Centre. My wallet is aching already.
Speaking of NaNoMango, I've only got 4 strips done so far. So, yeah, I've got a little catching up to do. On the upside, the pencils are far superior to my previous attempts. |
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| Those odd lil' Beauty Cuties on Amazon |
[Jun. 8th, 2007|11:24 pm] |
The Beauty Cuties have shown up on Amazon. These are those new Blythe/Pullip-like
Mattel dolls, first
seen at Toy Fair.
They look a bit less creepy with flattering lighting. I love the logos and
graphic elements, regardless.
I'm mostly intrigued by the clothing and accessories, because they might be
Blythe-compatible. Well, judging by these pics, the bodies are so small compared
to the heads that I doubt that everything will fit. Still, I might
pick one of those packs for experimental purposes, unless someone else tests
them out first.
In other news, I'm going to try to catch up on NaNoMango this weekend, because I started falling behind on Day 3. |
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| A new local Blythe supplier, and a tempting artistic distraction |
[Jun. 2nd, 2007|06:45 pm] |
Today I finally got to check out the "designer toy" shop, Voltage over on Main st. When I first discovered it a few weeks ago, it was closed for an impromptu visit to Japan.
Anyways, I was delighted to discover they had some Blythes! I saw Feel the Sky, French Trench, Primadolly Ebony and Merry Skier. I think.
They also had blank Qees and Munnys. I considered getting one of the smaller blank Qees to paint up as a custom, and then I realized it would only distract me from NaNoMango. Maybe in a few weeks, then? I did get a blind-packed Kidrobot keychain based on My Paper Crane's happy plushie doughnuts, and a Threadless zombie tee for my sweetie. |
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| Be-Bratz: The plot thickens |
[Jun. 2nd, 2007|09:50 am] |
Someone mentioned a Be-Bratz webcam? I just found the Walmart listing for it:
E BRATZ WEBCAM
Hm, a webcam... for video chat, I presume? Oooh, shiny! That would totally beat Barbie Girls' text-only chat, I think. Although webcams have their own hazards, not the least of which is that it may make the Bratz site a much more desirable target for predators. I hope MGA has implemented some rock solid security measures. And even then, that might not be foolproof, because you can't automatically filter a video feed for pictures of naughty things the way you can filter text for off-colour language.
I've pencilled Strip #1 of CGSP for NaNoMango. Yay me! Hopefully I can get a little ahead this weekend so I don't fall behind over the month. |
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| Random stuff, plus Scott Freakin' McCloud |
[May. 31st, 2007|11:48 pm] |
Met Scott McCloud today! He looks like he needs a haircut. I told him that his definition of art was what got me through a Philosophy of Art class with my sanity intact. It sounded like the folks at Sophia Books paid his appearance fee in cold bottles of Coca-Cola. And when one guy asked him about what he was excited about in comics, he totally started squeeing about Scott Pilgrim. Seriously, he even started hopping up and down a little. I totally have to start buying that series, but I've had no luck in finding Book 1 as yet... and while Sophia Books may well have had a copy today, if I had made a grab for it after Scott's ringing endorsement, it probably would have resulted in a Battle Royale. And Dr. Antonia Levi was there! And a lady dressed entirely in purple with an awesomely flamboyant hat. Peacock feathers, flowers, ribbons, the works. (I'm vaguely wondering if she has any connection to Rufus, the "Purple Library Guy" from SFU.)
After a cagey audience question about terrifyingly one-sided "pitching agreements," Scott also told the tale behind the hilariously lame disclaimer on the DC edition of Reinventing Comics. Which I happen to have! Maybe I shoulda brought it too, but two books to sign was probably pushing it already.
Also, I saw the brand spanking new Holt Renfrew store, which is Vancouver's most upmarket department store. Basement is menswear, top floor is women's, and street level is... the purse floor. Seriously, even the cosmetics section seems to be squeezed into the periphery off of the big central purse-shopping racetrack. I think the constant flow of handbag-crazed Japanese tourists to Vancouver might be skewing the balance of merchandise in there just a tad.
NaNoMango begins tomorrow. GAH! |
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| Biting off more than I can chew? |
[May. 29th, 2007|08:53 pm] |
Heaven help me, I've signed up for NaNoMango. During the month of June, I'm going to attempt to pencil 30 strips for my webcomic project in 30 days. Or burn out trying! Woo!
I have no idea how I'll manage, I really don't. Could be really do-able, could be really impossible. But at least I'll be drawing it and not just planning and sketching and overthinking it, like I've been doing for the past (mumble) years.
I do have a little bit of a doll angle on the project, since I want to customize a Winx doll as the main character at some point in the future. Not any time in the next four weeks, though!
I will try to keep up here with the regular doll blogging as well... |
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