jBlog: Art by John Cullen

Superb Man

2012-01-23T22:10:00.002Z

'lo all.

I thought I'd spend a day or two working on a full colour Superman piece and it only ended up eating a week out of my life.

Anyways, here's a step-by-step process:

The original, hand-drawn lines...

I then took said lines and digitally traced over

them in Flash (that 'S' shield had to be completely

redone as the original version was a mess)...

Next up, I add the basic, flat colours. This can take a while,

as I want the colours to look just right...

In order to make the piece 'pop' a bit more, I decided to add

a nice and vibrant sky background; nothing too fancy, but it

does the trick. During this stage, I also add the shades and

delete many of the outlines. The few outlines that are left

have some colour added so they blend in more. As you can

see, I also changed the shade of red on Supe's costume in

order to make it contrast more against the blue...

This is how the image looks after I've exported it from Flash

to Photoshop. Most of what you see here will get cropped out

in the final stage...

Before I go on to do the final crop, I add a simple gradient overlay

on a separate layer on top of the image. I find this gives the image that

extra bit of 'oomph' and really gives the colours an extra bit of

vibrancy. I also do some minor alterations to the image levels...

Et voilà! The final piece, post crop.

I'MMA BACK

2012-01-03T16:22:00.002Z

I've started drawing in my new Moleskine book and thought that it would be a fitting way to get this blog kick-started again. I'm hoping for this to be the first of many such updates throughout the year 2012!

Happy New Year, all!

Moving on

2011-11-10T22:09:00.001Z

Well…now that the daily comic is finished, it’s time for me to —

…

GODDAMNIT

Daily Comic 365: Fin

2011-11-09T23:00:00.000Z

Here we go, the final page.

Apologies for the crappy photo, I couldn't scan this as I don't have access to an A3 scanner at the moment (I did this page on A3 rather than the usual A4).

My wrist hurts.

Daily Comic 364: Penultimate

2011-11-08T18:35:00.001Z

Yep.

So, one day to go before I reach 365 days of doing this daily strip and I'm sure it's fairly obvious that I have been running out of creative juice. I've been 'humming and ha-ing' over whether or not to continue the strip after day 365 and have come to the conclusion that to do so would be doing both me and you lot a disservice. I don't want to be drawing comics just for the sake of doing so and I owe it to all of you who have been following my progress to start afresh.

So, after day 365, I'm going to start focusing on doodles, sketches and pinups; which I will post here on a mostly daily basis. Doing a daily comic has been fun but I need to start doing something else, at least for a while. I hope you'll stick around : )

Daily Comic 363: Cyclic

2011-11-07T16:13:00.000Z

It’s hard to tell which is square one when they all look the same.

Daily Comic 362: Curiosity

2011-11-06T18:04:00.003Z

Watching one's back is always important.

Daily Comic 361: Cactus

2011-11-05T17:42:00.002Z

To celebrate my acquisition of a cactus (JOYOUS DAY), I decided to do an homage to one of my favourite web-comics, 'Garfield minus Garfield!'

Daily Comic 360: Superior

2011-11-04T16:37:00.002Z

I try to separate age from skill when looking at another artist's work but I can't help but feel how I do in the above comic when a person who is nearly half my age beats the seven shades of shite out of me (artistically speaking).

Here's a link to said artist's deviantART page. Go marvel at his god-like skills.

Daily Comic 359: Yum

2011-11-03T17:33:00.001Z

I LIEK TURTLES AND MY FAVRIT COLUR IS CURRY

Daily Comic 358: ADHD

2011-11-02T17:56:00.001Z

Let's play something else.

Daily Comic 357: Mega

2011-11-01T16:15:00.001Z

Mega Man and Rad Spencer should get together some time and swap notes.

Daily Comic 356: ToT

2011-10-31T19:53:00.001Z

Every child fears this scenario.

Daily Comic 355: Tin

2011-10-30T16:30:00.000Z

NOW A HIT MOTION PICTURE

Daily Comic 354: Suit

2011-10-29T18:05:00.002+01:00

According to lots of movies, TV shows and fashion magazines, this is what happens the instant you put on a suit.

Daily Comic 353: Rotato

2011-10-28T16:38:00.000+01:00

What happens when I've seen Dylan Moran live, am tired and am suffering from drawing block?

This.

Daily Comic 352: Closure

2011-10-27T00:36:00.000+01:00

Because you didn't ask for it, here's the epic ending to the Fluff & Down saga.

Daily Comic 351: Planning

2011-10-26T19:16:00.002+01:00

Sometimes, you'd like to have access to a time machine so that you could go back to an hour ago and say "NO. NO." to your past-self.

Daily Comic 350: War

2011-10-25T19:42:00.000+01:00

Let the rallying cry go out! Someone is pissing someone else off on the Internet!

Daily Comic 349: Hero

2011-10-24T16:55:00.001+01:00

Walk in someone else’s shoes for a change. Not the great hero you thought you were, huh?

Daily Comic 348: Companion

2011-10-23T18:24:00.001+01:00

The Universe is out to get you. Alleviate the horror or everyday existence with your very own POUT CUBE!

Daily Comic 347: Reaper

2011-10-22T18:00:00.003+01:00

Don't Fear the Reaper.

Daily Comic 346: Rousing

2011-10-21T18:00:00.002+01:00

Many an army has known victory due to inspirational, pre-battle puppet shows.

Daily Comic 345: Heart

2011-10-20T18:45:00.001+01:00

It's FAB. YOU. LUS.

Daily Comics 342, 343 & 344: Triple

2011-10-19T17:29:00.001+01:00

Unforeseen circumstances lead to my previous ISP shutting off my Internet, meaning I could only bring you the previous two day's strips (as well as today's strip) now. Enjoy!

Daily Comic 341: Blank

2011-10-16T19:10:00.001+01:00

Screw you page! Stop being so intimidating!

Daily Comic 340: Deconstruct

2011-10-15T20:08:00.003+01:00

Pretty much how my head feels right now.

Daily Comic 339: Cake

2011-10-14T17:34:00.000+01:00

I would tear the very heavens themselves apart just for another slice of delicious cake.

Daily Comic 338: Plug

2011-10-13T20:49:00.000+01:00

If you wish to vote for a person you likely don't know, click here; it could save my life.

Daily Comic 337: Blocks

2011-10-12T21:19:00.002+01:00

Punch block, grab, punch block, grab, punch block, grab...

Daily Comic 336: Nod

2011-10-11T19:02:00.002+01:00

This comic is full of hidden meaning and isn't just something I slapped together because I couldn't think of anything better to do. Yessir.

Daily Comic 335: Discovery

2011-10-10T20:48:00.003+01:00

Discovering the Americas took a lot of damned good detective work.

Daily Comic 334: Mix

2011-10-09T19:22:00.000+01:00

Note to self: mixing beer and imitation champagne is officially 'A Bad Thing™'

Daily Comic 333: Bucket

2011-10-08T20:25:00.001+01:00

I had my first Family Bucket today. It was delicious.

Daily Comic 332: Caution

2011-10-07T17:15:00.001+01:00

I often find myself reimagining these type of signs in my head whenever I walk by them.

Daily Comic 331: Pun

2011-10-06T17:35:00.005+01:00

GEDDIT!?

Daily Comic 330: Cycle

2011-10-05T17:56:00.000+01:00

Ever feel like you're going in circles?

Daily Comic 329: Stick

2011-10-04T21:37:00.000+01:00

Some things are not meant to be meddled with...

Daily Comic 328: Soup

2011-10-03T22:49:00.000+01:00

DC can send me a cheque to the usual address.

Daily Comic 327: Smoke

2011-10-02T21:53:00.000+01:00

Don't smoke, kids, otherwise Mr. Ruddy Pouty will get you.

Daily Comic 326: Solution

2011-10-01T19:43:00.000+01:00

That'll show Mother Nature!

Daily Comic 325: ok

2011-09-30T22:53:00.000+01:00

Daily Comic 324: War

2011-09-29T21:41:00.000+01:00

Did you know that every five seconds an impromptu Flame War claims billions of lives? Please, stop the hate; save lives.

Daily Comic 323: Whoa

2011-09-28T22:25:00.000+01:00

And, like, in a way, like, aren't we all?

Like.

Daily Comic 322: Ow

2011-09-27T22:04:00.000+01:00

In 2012, some cranky fool will doom us all to a toasty death.

Daily Comic 321: Haste

2011-09-26T22:56:00.000+01:00

Screw you, time! I've come this far and I'm not about to let you beat me.

Daily Comic 320: One-upmanship

2011-09-25T19:22:00.000+01:00

Yeah? Well...well...I bet the food wasn't even that nice!

Oh, also, I've been incredibly geeky today and started playing Minecraft in earnest again. Only now I'm doing an accompanying journal/story. In-character.

You can check it out here.

Daily Comic 319: War

2011-09-24T18:25:00.000+01:00

1, 2, 3, 4...

Daily Comic 318: Poot

2011-09-23T21:34:00.000+01:00

The lowest form of humour.

Daily Comic 317: Cinos

2011-09-22T22:35:00.000+01:00

Up, over and gone.

Daily Comic 316: Kingdom

2011-09-21T21:45:00.000+01:00

A tender moment.

Daily Comic 315: Vidbros

2011-09-20T23:10:00.000+01:00

Happy End. Over Game.

Daily Comic 314: OMGWTF

2011-09-19T20:36:00.000+01:00

You know who you are ; )

Daily Comic 313: Intermission

2011-09-18T19:28:00.002+01:00

Delicious lung death.

Daily Comic 312: Law

2011-09-17T19:33:00.000+01:00

S'true.

Cú Chulainn

2011-09-16T20:46:00.000+01:00

A pinup I did based on the main character from Will Sliney’s just-announced comic project; ‘Celtic Warrior: Cú Chulainn’ (based upon the exploits of one of the most famous of Ireland’s mythological figures).

Daily Comic 311: Loss

2011-09-16T16:55:00.000+01:00

DRAMA! EMOTION!

midge

2011-09-15T20:30:00.000+01:00

Why do birds...suddenly disappear-only-to-never-be-seen-again?

Just a quick CG I slapped together for fun. I based the drawing on this reference image: http://i.imgur.com/QXo7q.jpg

Daily Comic 310: Arrival

2011-09-15T17:15:00.000+01:00

Time for a change of scenery.

Daily Comic 309: Echoes

2011-09-14T14:10:00.000+01:00

Y'know what they say, kids: DON'T DO TIME.

Daily Comic 308: Trip

2011-09-13T16:13:00.000+01:00

He be trippin'...THROUGH TIME.

Daily Comic 307: Emit

2011-09-12T16:59:00.000+01:00

When Time speaks, you listen.

Daily Comic 306: Respite

2011-09-11T16:57:00.000+01:00

"If you go down to the woods today..."

Daily Comic 305: ARGH

2011-09-10T18:19:00.000+01:00

Nothing like a good roar while running.

Daily Comic 304: Hatch

2011-09-09T15:24:00.000+01:00

Do you like hatching? I don't care, this comic has hatching.

Daily Comic 303: Reveal

2011-09-08T16:56:00.002+01:00

What a jovial looking fellow he is.

Daily Comic 302: Creep

2011-09-07T17:19:00.000+01:00

BETCHA DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING

Daily Comic 301: BOO

2011-09-06T14:25:00.000+01:00

That isn't a tired trope at all.

Daily Comic 300: Suspense?

2011-09-05T17:20:00.002+01:00

Oooooooh, the suspense! (mainly because I'm making this up as I go along)

Daily Comic 299: House

2011-09-04T17:15:00.000+01:00

Oh look, a house.

Daily Comic 298: Entry

2011-09-03T18:05:00.000+01:00

And away we go. Oh, and this is the obligatory backing music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yaf5luaO_c

Daily Comic 297: Door

2011-09-02T17:28:00.000+01:00

I'm pretty much pulling this story out of my backside as each day goes by. It'll be interesting to see how this ends up.

Daily Comic 296: Shoe

2011-09-01T16:29:00.001+01:00

RIP, Grey Marker.

Daily Comic 295: Reality

2011-08-31T18:37:00.002+01:00

If you believe in yourself, you can be whatever you want to be.

Daily Comic 294: Swap

2011-08-30T18:09:00.000+01:00

As well as puppet shows, he also enjoys flower arranging. Oh, and consuming universes.

Daily Comic 293: Box

2011-08-29T19:15:00.002+01:00

"What's in the box?!"

Daily Comic 292: Lazy

2011-08-28T19:16:00.000+01:00

I just want to lay in bed all day and watch bad movies.

Daily Comic 291: Nase

2011-08-27T18:18:00.000+01:00

Now you’re living the bachelor life in style!

Daily Comic 290: Caw

2011-08-26T15:59:00.000+01:00

My drawing will pick up soon, promise.

As for this strip, this actually did happen. While I was hanging up some rope as a makeshift clothes line, a young looking crow perched on top of the garden shed and stared at what I was doing like it was the most fascinating thing it had ever seen. It was also very docile and didn't seem to be at all afraid of me (more so than usual for a crow). In fact, I'm almost certain that if I had some food on me at the time, it would have gladly eaten some from the palm of my hand.

Daily Comic 289: Desperation

2011-08-25T17:50:00.000+01:00

Because you didn't demand their return, here's more Fluff & Down! The finest talking heads comic on the Internets!

Daily Comic 288: Punchline

2011-08-24T17:45:00.001+01:00

THIS JOKE’LL BE THE DEATH OF ME

Daily Comic 287: Shock

2011-08-23T15:54:00.000+01:00

I didn't know what to draw so this happened instead.

Daily Comic 286: Cookie

2011-08-22T16:22:00.000+01:00

They were my housemate’s cookies. I felt immediately guilty for even dreaming that I ate them.

Daily Comic 285: Shadow

2011-08-21T15:58:00.002+01:00

We can never perceive his true form. Only his shadow.

Daily Comic 284: CTRL+ALT+CATS

2011-08-20T17:16:00.000+01:00

Want to create a successful videogame-based webcomic? Then just do as I did above, you'll be raking in the fanboy millions soon enough.

Daily Comic 283: Dimensions

2011-08-19T12:52:00.002+01:00

I decided to use one of the scraps of paper from yesterday's exercise for today's comic.

Daily Comic 282: Wut

2011-08-18T19:44:00.000+01:00

First: Sorry for the bad quality photo, the page isn't fully dry yet.

Second: No, I haven't any idea what's going on either.

Daily Comic 281: Experiment

2011-08-17T15:33:00.000+01:00

More of an experiment than an actual comic but...it's got panels, that counts, right?

Daily Comic 280: Amalgamation

2011-08-16T17:39:00.001+01:00

Why choose just one when you can have them all!

Daily Comic 279: Paradox

2011-08-15T15:46:00.002+01:00

I was going to say something about this being a 'paraBOX' but Futurama beat me to it.

EDIT: And here's a colour version.

Daily Comic 278: Throat

2011-08-14T17:55:00.000+01:00

Maybe it'll get better if I try feeding it pizza...

Daily Comic 277: Philosophy

2011-08-13T16:54:00.000+01:00

Dour birds, they don’t like anything.

Daily Comic 276: Symbollix

2011-08-12T19:54:00.000+01:00

Symbolic gestures.

Daily Comic 275: Will

2011-08-11T13:38:00.000+01:00

Oh, Will...

Daily Comic 274: Geometricks

2011-08-10T13:47:00.000+01:00

Shapes 'n' shite.

Daily Comic 273: Move

2011-08-09T18:10:00.000+01:00

I always get weirdly nostalgic when I'm leaving an old place for a new one. Well, except for that one time.

Daily Comic 272: Bike

2011-08-08T17:48:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately, my surroundings weren't anywhere close to being this picturesque but we can keep that our little secret, 'kay?

Daily Comic 271: Jelly

2011-08-07T20:49:00.000+01:00

DELICIOUS JELLY, BRAH

Daily Comic 270: Fruit

2011-08-06T17:53:00.001+01:00

WHAT MADNESS WILL HE SPOUT NEXT

Daily Comic 269: Technique

2011-08-05T20:18:00.000+01:00

ULTRA TECHNIQUE SUPER TIME GO