Chapter Two! Rough Front Cover Ideas

Hey guys! Welcome back!

So, I've started working on things for the next chapter of Dreamwalkers.

So far, I've bullet pointed all the main plot points that will be occurring in chapter two - looks like it will probably be longer than chapter one, but that shouldn't be too much of an issue. I'll be working on the basic script (that is just who is saying what and any positions/actions the characters will take, rather than the full comic script, which would also include panel layouts - I do that one after) and thumbnails in the coming week or two.

What I have been doing is a rough digital version of some of the art for front covers for chapter two. Admittedly these are very unrefined and more concepts working on the basic sketches I did a few weeks ago, to see if any have potential once coloured. Only one of them is a little more refined (as I worked in eye glows and such, as well as a rough but not set title placement), but is still rough.

I'm hoping to get some feedback on these, see if any have any promise. So, here's what I have currently:

So yeah, what do you think? Do any of these have any potential, or do you think I should go back to the drawing board where the front cover ideas are concerned. I personally like the first, though the last one does mirror chapter one's cover. As it completes a story arc, that might be a good idea, but I'm not entirely certain. Not to say I don't like the second idea, of course. lol. But I suppose you can see my dilemma?

Feedback and constructive criticism is welcome!

Here's hoping to hear from you guys soon on that.

Until next time!

Tara

Sneak Preview!

Hey guys, welcome back!

Not a large amount to report today other than mainly to update on Dreamwalkers. Other than two pages, which are a page with contact details and the back cover, and a couple of sound effects I'm still not entirely happy with yet, Dreamwalkers Part One is pretty much completed. However, I wont be releasing it until around May, as we, that is Tanra Studios, are hoping to have the first chapters of Dreamwalkers and Pandora to go on sale around the same time. Pandora's first chapter is a bit longer, you see.

However, this means that I'll be well on my way in creating the start of chapter two of Dreamwalkers (so it wont be as long a wait to get the second part, which is good). I will also be starting to create more merch for Dreamwalkers as well, since so far there is only the design for a phone charm/key-chain and a poster done at the moment. I'm hoping to make another print, and maybe stickers or badges as well. I'll keep you posted.

Still, for all of you who have been following me at the moment, as a thank you, I want to show a preview of Dreamwalkers #1. I know it's only a page with no context, but I hope it's interesting for you!

One the last little bits are done, my next Dreamwalkers updates will be my progress on chapter two, as well as any new merchandise that'll be for sale that I'll be working on. I'll also be showing a little of my progress on the caricatures for Stoke Con as well.

Oh, yeah, don't forget to check out Nadia and My shared blog for Tanra Studios on tanrastudios.blogspot.co.uk where we are talking about the lore of the Tanra 'verse as well as updates on our upcoming website, news of comic trailers and our Youtube plans. We tend to take a relaxed, informal approach to things there (with a smidgen of insanity and character cameos), but it'll still be pretty interesting for you, especially if you're interested in the folklore and mythologies that are going to be especially prevalent in Pandora or may even crop up within Dreamwalkers, and if you really want to know what the two of us are up to when we get together. It's updated fairly regularly too, so check us out there.

That's all from me today, but I'll be back next week with more Dreamwalkers (and other projects)

Until next time!

Tara

Progress and New External Project!

Hi guys! Welcome back!

Before I get to he main part of today's post, I'll first give you an update on how things are going where Dreamwalkers is concerned. Pretty much all I need to do if finishing off the shadows and lighting in about three pages, then I just need to ad the last of the speech and sound effects and I'll be done! Awesome, right?

I have been bullet pointing the events for chapter two as well. One I'm done on chapter one, I'll be doing script work and thumbnails for chapter two, as well as do a bit more in way of merch, like stickers and stuff.

I mentioned last time that I'd been working on a new icon for myself, too. So far it's in flat colours, so I still need to do the shadows. It does depend on if I end up just using my Luphin mascots too. lol. But either way, this is what it's looking like so far:

What do you think of it? Do you prefer that kind of style, or the slightly more chibi type that I used on my old icon/business card? Obviously its not quite finished yet, but still good to see how its progressing, right?

Anyway, to the main point of the post - I'm going to be doing caricatures of some of the guests that will be turning up for Stoke Con in April. As you may recall, I said that me and Nadia will be there under our joint name 'Tanra Studios', But we were also asked if we could draw some of the guests. At the moment, I'm trying to decide on who to pick, or if I should do a few, but it's highly likely that my next post will at least show the sketches of the people I decide on.

Speaking of Tanra Studios, if you haven't been following us there, Nadia and I have been doing a lot of talks about the Tanra universe lore. It's pretty interesting, though do to technical issues we've not really been putting too many images up. But that should change now, as we finally managed to get those technical issues dealt with, so we should be able to provide you guys with images again in our Tanra blog! Yay!

Oh, one last thing, in my spare time (which means this is going to be veeeeeeeery slow, as its not top priority and just something I'm doing for fun) I've also been working on a colour Fanart pic from Undertale. Obviously, Undertale and its characters belong to Toby Fox. Still, I thought if nothing else it lets me play with a different art style, using a similar method I used to make my Hex Doll Image.

Please note its no where near finished and still has a long way to go, but I thought I'd let you guys see it.

As you can see, there's still loads to do on it, but since Dreamwalkers, projects for clients and related stuff is most important, it may take a while before I'm finished and happy with it. But it's still a fun pic to play around with.

That's all for now. But hopefully if there's no hiccups, I may have all the images for my comic done next week and ready for the text. I'll keep you guys posted!

Until next time!

Tara

Never Underestimate Art!

Hey Everyone! Welcome back!

I've been thinking of changing up my avatar a little. You know the one I tend to use - you can see it on the author page for this blog :) - well, that was one I admittedly created a couple of years before I really started to get the hang of digital art (it was just before I started working on Susanoo). I was thinking that, since I was getting better digitally, that I should also create a new little avatar to use on my blog, twitter etc and in the 'here's how to find me' pages in my comics etc.

Well, I made a sketch that I'm quite pleased with that I'll start to make into a digital version soon. Here's what I have so far!

Obviously, its currently only a rough sketch, but I think it could have some potential? I'm sure I can have a bit more of a play with it once I get started on digital versions. Though Dreamwalkers will come first, of course.

And on that note:

Soooo....remember how last week I said it would only take me five pages before I finished the first chapter of Dreamwalkers? Yeeeeeeeah.....that didn't quite go as planned. lol. Seriously, five pages really wouldn't have given me enough space to work with where the pacing was concerned, In fact, it ended up being 13 extra pages to finish the story, bumping up my page total to 40 pages for chapter one.

I, of course, can't show all of my thumbnails, but I can show some of them, along with some minor calculations I was making as to if all the pages would fit together and wouldn't leave tons of blank, unused space - The poor trees would hate me if I did that! lol.

Anyway, here are the thumbnails for you guys to look at at your leisure. Though warning, they are veeeeeeeery rough.

Sorry if they're a bit faint - just think of it as me not wanting to spoil anything, if that's the case, rather than my shoddy photography work. lol. (I'm afraid that I'm not near a scanner at the moment). Still, good news is that I've pretty much done all my line-work for these extra pages digitally now, and am currently in the process of adding all the flat colour to them. 

Touch wood *knocks on desk* but if all goes well I think I'll make good time. Uh....hopefully.

I'd show you some of the final line work but once more its a bit spoilerish. Sorry about that. Hopefully my sketch work will suffice for today. 

Oh, something I did do as getting me into drawing feeling before I started working on the avatar idea was a quick fanart sketch from the game Undertale by Toby Fox (obviously the character belongs to him). I just happened to be listening to the soundtrack at the time and ended up sketching Papyrus from the game (have a guess which song I was listening to at the time, Undertale fans! lol)

Anyway, this is what I ended up with. I thought it came out well. Maybe when I have time I'll do a colour version of it. After all, only the best for the Great Papyrus, right? lol

Aaaaaaanyways, that's all from me for now. Hopefully next week I'll be able to show you a panel or two from Dreamwalkers and will be close to finishing it as I hope I am, or even with a new Avatar in toe. Either way, I'll keep you guys informed!

Until next time!

Tara

Updates! And a Question

Hi Everyone! Welcome back!

Today, I'll mainly be giving a few updates on things that have been happening this past week that I have referred to in previous posts. There is also a bit of a question that I'd love to hear peoples opinions on, as I'm a little bit stuck.

The first thing is n update on Dreamwalkers.

So, where the first chapter is concerned, its almost done! I have about five pages to sketch and the back cover left to do now, along with adding the speech to the nine pages that I've colour finished since term started. Though I might revisit some of my older ones where sound effects are concerned - I had a few ideas for an alarm sound that I hadn't thought about last term that might improve it a bit more.

Now, my big question comes in the form of front covers for chapter two of dreamwalkers (I know, a bit early to think on considering chapter one isn't fully finished yet, but I think it would help to know sooner rather than later, right?)

I had sketched out four ideas for front covers - they are very rough sketches, so I apologize in advance - and I'm a little stick as to which of them I should continue into digital forms or to fully finalise, so I was hoping for an opinion on it.

Well, these are the ideas!

As said, they are extremely rough. Either way, if there are any that could be potentially interesting, please let me know! The ones that have most interest I'll end up creating digital versions of! But I really would love the thoughts from you guys too - it really helps!

My second big update is in reference to the competition that I had entered on DA. For those who might have only recently started following my rambles, basically I joined a competition ran by FoxHat on Deviant Art, where those who joined were asked to draw their versions of the characters Bubblegum and Marzipan from FoxHat's newest comic. The winner would get a copy of the comic, stickers, prints and points that could be used on DA.

My entry was this:

Well, the results came in last weekend and I found out I was in first place, along with an artist on DA called Trailing Feathers - Foxhat couldn't really decide between the two of us. Admittedly, Trailing Feather's picture was adorable, so I don't blame her in the slightest! (I'd check it out, it really is cute ^_^)  I hadn't really expected to win, but I was really happy! It was also cool that there were two winners as well. There were plenty of other cool drawings too, so check them out if you can!

Oh, one last update for today - Nadia and I are intending to be at another con - this time in April called Stoke-Con-Trent. We should be selling there. If all goes well, hopefully I'll have chapter one of Dreamwalkers done as well! I certainly hope so either way. I'm going to be aiming to make it my goal anyway! Though if its not done by then, it's definitely going to be done for our Degree Show in May.

Either way, wish me luck!

Until next time!

Tara

Back Into the Swing of Things!

Hi everyone! Welcome back!

With True Believers done for this year, I've been getting back into doing all things Dreamwalkers. Line art wise I have everything done up to the first of two thought out endings of the comic, though it is likely I'll be trying for my second ending, as it seems to be far more fitting. In the talks with other people as well, its the preferred ending too. As such, I will be sketching out the additional pages soon.

I've got most of the colour done on the pages I have done too. Most just need a few extra shadows in there to be done. I'm sort of bouncing around at the moment between pages, so that it would let me work on a different scene for a verity of differing colours etc so I don't get bored. lol

Well, less bored and more so I don't give myself repetitive strain injuries. lol. My wrist is far more better than it was a couple of weeks ago, but it twinges if I am working on the small details for too long. I need my writ to behave itself after all. I'd show you bits of those, but unfortunately, its during a very spoilerish part of the story, soooooo....Yeah. Unfortunately, can't show any of that just yet. Though once I've got a page entirely finished, I will show maybe a panel image, so you can see a bit of what I've been up to without me spoiling important plot points.

In addition to the pages I was doing, I've also been doing some other, little things as well. I finished a chibi version of Rem, which is likely going to end up becoming a keychain or phone charm - I thought he came out quite cute, if I do say so myself. lol.

I did two versions of them. One of him reading a random book, the other with him reading Susanoo. One is probably better for advertising purposes though. like on price lists. The other likely works better for being a keychain etc.

Going along with something I did over Christmas, I once more made a seasonal Luphin! This time for Valentine's day tomorrow. I'm hoping to make one for ch major holiday - so the next one will me an Easter Luphin. For this one, though, I decided to have two Luphin's looking all cuddly together. I thought it would look adorable.

Most Luphin's I've drawn so far are pink, but yes, I plan to have them in all kinds of colours. lol but aren't they cute? :3

They are going up on DA tomorrow, for Valentines day - you guys just got a sneak preview of them!

As well as that, I've been helping out a bit at the uni with some new students who might be joining the course I'm on. It's been pretty cool - I just explain to them about how the course works or about the uni and answer any questions they or their parents might want to know. They all seem like great people, so I hope they did well on their interviews!

We've also started looking into how things are going for the Degree Show - true its a while away yet (like, in May) but there is a lot of prep work we have to do. I've been helping out a bit with layouts for a brochure. Not sure if any of them will work well or not, as Graphics is not my strong point, but hey, if it helps, then I'm glad to try! At the moment, they're all rough sketches, but we'll eventually have mock up pages for those, too. We'll all eventually vote on those next week to see which layout we'll be using.

Honestly, the whole class is really throwing in their all on this, its really cool! Our Degree Show is gonna be awesome!

....I so hope I didn't jinx that...

Aaaaanyway, next time I can hopefully give you some picture based updates on Dreamwalkers. I have a plan for the back cover, for example, which, if it comes out right, should be pretty cool. And It has been a while since I last showed a picture update on the comic itself. But with so many pages real close to being finished, I should be able to show clips of it soon! :)

Until then!

Tara

Convention Conclusion

Hi guys! Welcome back!

I was meaning to post this yesterday, but I had work pretty much all day, so this ended up slightly belated. But I will be posting again this week as well to make up for it! And the posts should then go back to my usual schedule. :)

So, last time I mentioned that I went to True Believers with Nadia, where we shared a table, so today I'm going to let you know how all that went!

Before I went, I had to be sure I had a business card to take with me. Last time I went to a convention I made my business card into a bookmark, thinking it might give it a duel purpose. As it was, no one picked those up unless I outright told them what it's purpose was, so this time I made a more traditional kind of business card, which looked like this:

They actually went quite well, the blue seemed to stand out very well against the dark tablecloth, and being a more traditional business card, people picked them up more or less straight away, even if they didn't buy something or came back later. We also put some in the bags that we gave to people with the purchases in, so that they had any contact details.

While Dreamwalkers isn't finished yet, Nadia and I sold some of our old comics, with previews of both Pandora and Dreamwalkers in the back, so people will hopefully get to see what the new things will be like and keep an eye out. 

The old comic that I sold was this one: 

It went really well, actually! we sold them at £3.50 each, but we made a bundle deal of two for £5 as well, and people seemed to like that. It was nice to see people really like Susanoo though, so I was really happy about that. We actually sold out of all of the comics we brought with us! I was so happy!

Hopefully, next time, I'll sell both Susanoo and Dreamwalkers. I'll let you all know when and where I'll be next time I'm at a con. Of course, if anyone is interested in buying Susanoo, feel free to contact me!

I also did some commissions at the con as well! Those were fun. I unfortunately didn't think to photograph all of them, but I did a few. The quality of the photo's isn't top notch (I'm afraid my affinity with a camera isn't the best), but everyone seemed pleased with the drawings! Here are a few of what I did:

I enjoyed doing them. I also took part in a comic strip where each panel was done by a different artist. Since I'm unsure if any of the other artists would want me to display there stuff on here, I wont post the pic here. But if you're interested in looking, then Todd Marsh on Twitter @OldManRupee has posted some pics on it, and I also retweeted it on my own twitter @chosha_kurenai, so you can have a looksy at those there too see what interesting story can happen when you have no set plot and give the artists the go ahead to lead the little story anywhere. It's fun!

All in all, we had a great time in Cheltenham at True Believers. I hope everyone else that went had fun as well,and if they had a table did well also! It's highly likely we will apply to this con again next year. :)

Until next time!

Tara