Code Name: Hunter

Ruby lives!

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:43:00 EST

Hey guys! It's been an odd week. I've one more semi-private commission to do - Matt and I keep debating whether this one should be kept private or not - before I go back to our regular sharing program. At the same time, we've a friend coming down to visit next weekend, so I'm torn between commission work and starting spring cleaning early. Really want to clean and organize. Really need to get commissions done. Eeeek!

But, that's not what this post is about. I've something to share. Last Anthrocon I commissioned the awesome Gel of OMG Pineapples for a Ruby partial suit. Guess what arrived this week... Yep, she's here!

(I apologize for the backdrop. Our house is small and the best place for lighting was in the entrance by the back door. Which, is the cat's domain.)

Gel did an excellent job! The fur is so soft and Ruby's hair is actually rooted in. That must have taken a lot of work. My favorite part... the tail and the feet. I love the feet!

And yes, I still need to lose some weight. I'm working on it.

I have discovered, though, that I can't wear my glasses with it. Wish I'd kept trying different contacts now. I still have my prescription. I could probably get contacts made if I want. While I can see without the glasses, everything is very blurry. Breathing is a little tricky as well, though after a few minutes you get used to it. Kind of like wearing a bodice for the first time.

Which reminds me, I'll need to find some outfits for her. Specifically clothing that is loose and flowing for the top. Maybe I can hit up the local Taste of India downtown. I used to wear that style of clothing constantly in college. I'll need to shorten my hair length as well. I've a little too much to tuck into the head comfortably. All things to do before this year's Anthrocon.

But yes, she turned out wonderfully! This is so cute! Thanks Gel!

Ruby lives!

And she will eat your soul!

"Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure."
-- Irving Wallace

Issue 12 - Page 09

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Issue 12 - Page 09 :
http://www.codenamehunter.com/archive/comic/2012/02/24

Commission slot reorders

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:28:00 EST

Hey guys, Just a quick note to say things are going to be quiet on here for the next week. I'll be working on two private commissions so, I won't have much to share. I really appreciate Sonia and Seth letting me move their commissions back a bit so I can move another one up. Thank you!

Also, I will no longer be re-posting the blog links to Twitter. Nor will I be posting the various commission stages to FA. Only the finished versions of non-private commissions will be posted to FA from now on. I've been running about trying to post each stage everywhere. While this is good for exposure, it takes time away from working. Which, as you can guess, isn't good. So, the goal is to keep the downtime as short as possible from now on.

And yes, I still have sketch cards to do. I haven't forgotten, really. I've just been a little nutty these last few days. I apologize for the delay.

"You don't get ulcers from what you eat. You get them from what's eating you."
-- Vicki Baum

Issue 12 - Page 08

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Issue 12 - Page 08 :
http://www.codenamehunter.com/archive/comic/2012/02/20

Composition sketches

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:08:00 EST

Hey guys. My back and shoulders feel like they're on fire today. Probably from moving things around yesterday. All of which is making leaning over to draw an uncomfortable experience. It's a sad day.

Still, I've two composition sketches for commissions finished. If the basic ideas pass muster, I'll begin the clean sketches tomorrow.

Sonia wanted Max dressed as Link belly dancing for Ruby dressed as Princess Zelda. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the game, so I've still some research to do on the clothing.

edit: The second commission has been switched to private.

Okay, I've still some emailing to do so, I should probably get to it. Later guys!

"Life is pain, highness. Anyone who tells you differently is selling something."
-- William Goldman

'Undercover'

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:40:00 EST

Wrist is a little sore, but the colors for 'Undercover' are finished. Yay!

Due to the delay from the marker running out yesterday - Matt and myself ran up to Boston yesterday evening to pick up some refills - everything has been shifted back a day. So, I'll be starting Sonia and Alan's first commissions tomorrow. I apologize for the delay.

Thanks guys!

"The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music. Bodies never lie."
-- Agnes de Mille

Changing formats and Volume II - CN:H

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:53:00 EST

Hey guys. I've been thinking about the future of CN:H since we closed the Supporters area a few months ago. Mainly I've been trying to decide how to keep the comic running while juggling commissions and other obligations. While I have a solution, I'm afraid it probably won't be a popular one with many people.

In order to keep CN:H running and still be able to bring in an income from commissions, the comic will be switching to a clean sketch format starting with Issue 15.

Inking takes a lot of time and is still a painful process for me. Thanks to Dr. Brian my wrist is functioning much better. Unfortunately, the damage is still there and it's never going to go away. The comic pages involve a much heavier inking style than the commissions do. Inking a large project still leaves me stiff and fumbling with the aspirin bottle, my wrist locked in a claw-like position.

Add to that the fact that CN:H no longer pays me. Yes, we do still have books for sale, but the money from those goes right back into keeping the comic and RCSI Publishing itself, running.

CN:H is my hobby now, a hobby that I'm looking forward to enjoying again. As such, I really don't want my hobby to cause me pain. The pain is one of the reasons I've been unwilling to work on CN:H over the last few months. I want the series to continue on to its completion. I really do! I just don't want to suffer for it. Maybe that's a little selfish of me... but I'm human. Selfishness is going to happen sometimes.

Why don't I just hire an inker or ask for a volunteer? Because I don't have the money to hire and I don't want volunteers to lose interest and wander off, leaving me flat. Also, Matt and I do plan to continue creating print copies of the comic. Bringing in volunteers may cause some trouble once money gets involved. So while I appreciate the idea, I'm afraid I'm not interested.

What are we looking at when I say clean sketch? Do I mean something like the clean sketches I do for the commissions? Not quite. I'm talking about something a little more polished, more on the lines of this...

Shaded and fairly smooth pencil work. Just not inked. Pencil and marker are my preferred mediums. They cause me little discomfort, are ones I feel confident in, and I really enjoy working with them.

This also means that the covers will no longer be digitally colored. They'll be done in marker and resemble the recent commission work. Which means I'll be redoing the cover to Issue 15 soon.

There is a benefit here. It means I'll be able to increase the updates to three a week starting January of 2013. Why wait that long? Because I want to be sure we have a nice, large buffer in case of emergencies. Still, despite the wait that's something we can do and something I'm looking forward to.

This does mean Matt and I had to decide what to do about the Volume II trade paperback. The original plan was to end Volume II with Issue 16. But, we don't want the format change to happen in the trade. I'm also realizing that there is a lot more story that I'd like to add to the current storyline. So, we're going to end Volume II with Issue 14 - it has a nice little cliffhanger - and start Volume III with Issue 15. This will give me some extra room to do a little more with Max and the fey as well as bring the current story to a full conclusion without it seeming rushed.

We're still hammering out all the details. This weekend is for editing the issues and getting Volume II ready for print as well as working on commissions.

I apologize if the format change is unwelcome to anyone. The story will remain, the art is just changing to make the process a little quicker and less painful.

Matt and I really appreciate everyone sticking with us for so long. Thanks guys!

"You can avoid having ulcers by adapting to the situation. If you fall in the mud puddle, check your pockets for fish."
-- Author Unknown

Issue 12 - Page 07

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Issue 12 - Page 07 :
http://www.codenamehunter.com/archive/comic/2012/02/17

Doing refill inventory

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:15:00 EST

Hey guys! The base colors of 'Undercover' are almost finished. Unfortunately, I've run out of a color again. This time it's the one I need for the veil. I've one pass down, but need at least another to make the veil look smooth. Not to mention I'll need the color for the shading stage.

Here's a photo of the image so far.

As to why I keep running across markers that are getting low, most of my markers - all the large, square ones below - are around four years old or so.

Most of them have never been refilled so, it's to be expected. Still, running out of a color slows things down. I can't buy refills here in town, so I'm left with either Dick Blick in Boston or ordering them online.

I decided that maybe testing all the colors and making a list of the ones that are running low might be a plan. That way I have a better idea of which makers to keep an eye on as well as what to pick up. I have a few refills already, but there's still a number of colors on the 'to pick up' list.

I guess I'll be putting in an order later today. I'm not sure how long it will take the refills to arrive, though. Maybe I can substitute the dry marker with another color. *coughs* I can't wait for the warmer weather to get here. All the marker fumes are making the studio a little whiffy today.

"Color possesses me. I don't have to pursue it. It will pursue me always, I know it."
-- Paul Klee

Inks - 'Undercover'

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST

Hey, look what I just finished! The inks for 'Undercover' are setting and awaiting color.

Depending on how things go with Dr. Brian today, I may start the marker work later this evening or, wait until tomorrow. For now, I need to get ready for the appointment. Later!

"Everything starts from a dot."
-- Wassily Kandinsky