Spot Illustration

Here is a spot illustration for my upcoming graphic novel. In a later post I shall describe the process I took in creating this and most of my pieces along with pictures. 

Promotional Art

Promotional art of an all text poster for my graphic novel, Nine Gates. Created, written and illustrated by yours truly.

NINE GATES: My journey to making a graphic novel

Greetings! Never mind that last post, I was ranting like a mad man! Recently I promised you in depth interviews and videos about my newest book Short Stories of a Man Named Frankie Dingle: Adventures of Absurdity. Well you're still going to have to wait for that! Ha! It seems I've sold but one copy so far (pathetic) seemingly because a lot of people don't understand that its only available in digital format. So I will have to adjust my marketing strategies and get that rolling.

I wanted to talk a little bit about my other current project, Nine Gates  my graphic novel! I'm in the prelims right now with it and am unavailable to scan in and post any progress pictures unfortunately but I am coming along. The script for the first chapter was finished quite sometime ago and now I have finished most of the character designs, and page 1 pencils and the cover pencils as well. Currently starting on page 2, of which I have the prelim pencils done so far. Everything with time and effort.

I'm looking to hopefully get this published through an actual big name publisher (IDW; DARK HORSE, IMAGE or SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS) so as not to have so much pressure on myself to sell it. All of their submission guidelines are luckily all the same pretty much: Cover Letter, Whole Story Synopsis, Character Breakdowns, and 5 penciled, inked and lettered pages. Five is the minimum but its pretty much what I'm shooting for right now.

The cover letter, synopsis, character breakdowns and pencils part is easy for me and somewhat the inking. I run into a huge problem with the lettering part however. Like what do I do for that part? So that is really going to be quite a doosy for me. I'll figure something out I'm hoping.

I picture this series in black and white (basically like a manga graphic novel) interiors with of course full color covers and wraps and what not. It's sort of a cross between; Avatar/Korra; Ral Grad, and Lord of the Rings. Sort of. The rest of it is something different that I've never come across myself out there in the comic world. I'll post the synopsis and stuff soon and hopefully some pictures. Thanks.

Learning things and what not

So yeah, I'm still learning and will continue to do so for the rest of my natural life for the most part. I've been studying hard now all the different pencillers and thier techniques to better myself and really paying attention to what it is I've been seeing you know? Really taking it all in and using that knowledge in my own sketches and drawings. I've been doing one big sketch a day for two days so far and will continue to do so I believe. I've been studying the Marvel Encyclopedia and all the different drawings in it and been picking one character that really strikes me as interesting and usually doing my sketch on them. I'm doing a real focus on line weight becasue that's mostly what I was told to practice on when I went to this passed months Big Apple Comic Con which was this May 2011. They told me that my storytelling was excellent (which they said is the most important part of being a comic book artist) and also that I'm very consistent with my characters from panel to panel (which is also a hard thing to keep up, two points ahead for me) but just to focus on line weight, and then the basics (i.e., proportions, perspective).

So yes that is what I'm doing! They also said to focus on whatever company I want to work for or a company that wouldn't be bad to work for just to get myself in the door. So I'm going to focus on the big two; Marvel and DC of course. I've been going through my more current comics that I've recently purchased to keep myself on the scene and picked out characters that are either popular or always popular and have written a three page story around them for each company. I also included my own original character "Ananami" copyright Mike D. Burke 2011. I'm making it so that he can fit into either universe depending on which one hires me. Here are the characters I've chosen: For Marvel; Dr. Strange, Dormammu, Wolverine and Spider-Woman. For DC; Red Robin, Batgirl and Batman. I've made it so that these stories need no dialogue as I am to focus mainly on the ability to draw a story panel to panel. One thing they also told me to focus on was the way I lead the eyes of the reader on the page, to make sure that the characters are facing the proper ways so as the story has good flow to it. Hopefully this all goes well, I've finished the story for both companies, I'm also going to put in their three pinups/covers also because from all the books I've read they say those are essential for a good portfolio as well. I'm so happy I have this new found focus now!! I'm pumped up and ready to take action, this is what it's all about!!

Sometimes ya just....yeah?

I tell ya what folks, being self-employed is tough, tought when you have zero customers which means zero profit. Thus is what I am suffering from, I still work diligently at my comic "Masters of Fiction!" everyday now but ya know, it doesn't pay the bills yet. I'm looking for Illustration work or Writing work and it's really tough to find here in Utica, "The city, trying to be a city.." that's my quote, yup.

But you know what I mean if you live here, there's no real market for creative people here that I can find (if there is and I'm missing it, please someone give me a call) except for stuff that I just really don't have much interest in. Teaching art is great and noble and everything but I'm just not into it, I want to create things for clients and myself and make my dues that way.

I'm going to dabble in advertising and marketing for places maybe a little bit, I'm trying to anyways. Oh and I've found some great books for you guys to read most def for Illustrators and Writers; there's Everything you need to know to be a Freelance Illustrator and Guerrilla Marketing both available at Barnes and Noble, the first is in the Art section and the second is in Writing Reference.Also a really great series I just got into is Victorian Undead it basically is a Sherlock Holomes versus book the series is Sherlock Holmes continued adventures with Dr. Watson and pits them against all sorts of supernatural threats!! It's awesome and amazing writing, the art is amazing to the twentieth level man, check it out!! And a really great graphic novel I just read is I Kill Giants it's funny and sad and has great heart to it! It's an amazing read!!

Well until next time amigos, I'm off to draw more and create and what not, and figure out how to get paid for it all....

News and Such

So I've got some good news about stuff and updates and everything as well. The good news as of now is that on Dec. 13th I have a meeting with the Utica Players about my play 'The Quest for Dairy'. I have to go there and let them know what it's all about and hopefully get that on the road; according to Dan Fusillo, since I want to direct it as well I will have to work under a seasoned director first to learn the ropes and then I will be able to direct my play.

I'm having some conflict in my mind though, I'm not sure if I want to direct this play, I think I would rather have just written it and possibly act in it. I've never directed anything before in my life so I'm a little nervous about it, but I guess that's why I have to work under a seasoned director first. I also have to ask how the pay works, because although I really really want to see my play performed, I would like to make some money off of it as I am a commercial artist not a fine artist. You know what I'm saying? I'm not dissing any fine artists out there, I love you guys, I mean I dabble in the fine arts occasionally. Anyway that is pretty much the good news.

The news I have right now is that I have finished a poetry book which I plan on publishing through Lulu.com if I can ever figure that out. It's suppose to be really simple but I'm having some trouble (maybe I'm just an idiot). If anyone has dealt with Lulu before and can give me some tips n such let me know. I would greatly appreciate it.

Also I have just about completed the fifth pencilled page for 'Masters of Fiction!' my graphic novel. I know, it seems like it is taking me forever. But since this is my first graphic novel ever I am taking my time and making it as perfect as possible. I'm going to be so nervous when it comes time to ink all the pages, I have only a little confidence in my inking abilities. Although the illustrations I have inked haven't turned out that bad actually so yeah.

Oh yes and I have been watching over and over the rough edited clip of "Where the Truth Lies" the move Rachel and I were in by director/writer/actor Rich Talarico. It looks really good and has the feel of a good film, we did really well and were very funny according to other people who have seen it and we've actually witnessed people laughing at our parts so I'm happy with it!! I can't wait till you guys can see it for sure. Rich will be entering it into some film festivals and what not, so hopefully it wins some attention and stuff. Well there ya go, until next time.

Mike D. Burke