Why I Don't Do Comics On My Computer

...Yeah.

That's why I don't draw comics on a computer. I have seen people do some crazy stuff on the computer with Photoshop and Paint, but I've always felt that drawing should always be done by hand. I don't know. That's just me. I just like to use the computer to be Facebook Junkie, look up cool blogs/pics/stuff, oh, and post on this blog whenever I get the chance.

No doubt you've noticed that my art has a somewhat "anime" or "manga" look to it.

That's because I love anime-manga art. Ever since I read my first manga, Hikaru No Go, I got sucked into the world of Japanese comics. Over the years, I have/watch read bad and good (mostly bad) manga/anime and have become quite the expert. Otaku, if you may. So, to declare my love and respect for these comics of mine, I just wanted to show you my favorites. None of the bad, unless you really want to.

First off, Bleach. Yes, yes, I know its the most popular shonen manga/anime out there, but damned if I don't love it all. Tite Kubo's style pays both respect to the long-held anime look but has some realism dashed in.

Can't say the same for his buildings that sometimes appear TOO STRAIGHT at times. Oh well. The plot, at first, was like a quirky little gem that was different but if anyone knows, it has descended into shonen battle hell, which you may or may not like.





For me, I loved Bleach for the interactions between characters, whether they were friend or foe, in conversations and actions rather than the gigantic surreal battles with gigantic whatchamacallits (fanboys rejoice!). And the fashion. OH MY BUBER. :D

Not to mention the great characters (I'm torn between long-time favorite Orihime or new arrival Riruka. They're both so funny--I like them because they're A a lot like me or B it would be awesome to be their friend.

Great humor too, not too foreign, not too stale.

However, this really is a LOVE or HATE manga/anime--truthfully the manga is far better as it was the first to come out and makes more sense than the anime, that tries too hard by adding filler seasons (bleh), new characters (double bleh), and rather needless expositions (triple bleh).

So, if you're interested, please check it out! Sells in almost every bookstore, and if your a dirty hobo that appreciates entertainment, go to YouTube or online manga readers.

Bleach by Tite Kubo

And so ends my first favorite! I'll post more! Thanks!

P.S Have you heard of "animefication"? I don't know if Webster would approve of that word but any comic/film/character/show/advertisment has been turned into Anime at one point or another. For example, take the popular Portal games...

....and then POOF!

Animefication.

Whether or not it's good is up to the person.

Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder...

Back To School

Lately I've been bored in school. So what better way to beat the blues than to draw some stuff???

Lately I've been playing with different ideas for rad ninja costume for one of the characters, but most of it is based on Noh Kistune Masks, AND playing catch-up with character design. As you can tell I have a hard time drawing men.

>.>

 

Like these ones -->

 So, besides doing scholary things and drawing random, discombagulated imgaes that have no connection whatsoever with what I've been doing, I've been working steadidly on applying for college. I just really want this year to end but BACK TO WORK!!!

*whip crack*

AHH!!!

Chapter Three is coming along swimmingly, although I've realized that I put a lot of cliffhangers in my stories....this one is no different. : D

 I HAVE HORRIBLE EDITING SKILLS!!!!! EEEEEEEEEE!!!!

 I've got a new sketchbook but these ones were done in a crappy little notebook from my middle school days, if you were wondering what the lines were.

So, more on the character design--mostly I like to have each of the characters have different, individual faces, eyes, chins, blah blah blah whatever, and as pratice I've been drawing people from photos taken in New York City.

None of them know how to smile No one can appreciate the diversity of NYC's residents!!!

Other than that, here's a little "postcard" I did for the most amazing group of female cartoonists in a rather crazy fan-laden package.

Here's to the school year!!!

THE PERSON WITH THE FACE IN THE RIGHTHAND CORNER IS NOT ME.

HOLY COW

check IT out!!!

I'm on Matt Dembicki's blog!!!

If you don't know, he's a cartoonist who did a couple of stuff, and he's not pretty bad at drawing.

Quite recently he worked on an anthology project, Trickster, complied of graphic-novel versions of Native American stories about Tricksters, like Coyote, Crow, among others. My English teacher was part of the project, and seeing as how I am literally OBSESSED with all things comicbooky, he invited me to a book signing at a Barnes and Noble.

Afterwards he asked if I could do a commentary on said book, and said commentary has been REPOSTED on his blog.

CHECK IT OUT!!!

Back To School Xo

I go back to school in 17 days.

Like any other sarcastic teenager, I make a big deal of NOT wanting to go, but secretly, I want to. And secretly, I start to design my binders and notebooks, check my completed summer homework twice, and practice waking up at the wee hours.

Oh wait that's not like any other sarcastic teenager---that's being nerdy.

NOOOO!

So, to celebrate it, I have put up a sketch of a bobcat, which is our school's mascot, not out of so-called,

SCHOOL SPIRIT!!!

Buuut because I like this sketch, from a picture from a National Geographic Magazine, not because it just HAPPENS TO BE THE SCHOOL MASCOT. Seriously.

Nonetheless, people catch wind but mostly sneak peeks at my sketchbook which often contains things that people don't normally see (i.e, experimentation's with cartoon characters and their, ahem, anatomy. Plus fashion ideas. And the occasional sketch of people.)

So, this wonderful picture was then created to become the cover of the school's register packet for next years classes. And then, a trip to the office.

COUNSELOR JERKFACE: So, I hear you made a bobcat picture.

ME: Yeah.

COUNSELOR JERKFACE: Oh. Ok. Well then I ALSO heard that you wanted to use it for blahblahblah

ME: Yeah. Wait, what?

COUNSELOR JERKFACE: So it's settled. However...

ME: What?

COUNSELOR JERKFACE: ...can't you put some color???

ME: DUDE! It's a sketch! You don't put color in sketches unless you want to! i wanted to do a study in shading techniques but NOOOOOoOOOOOOOoooooooooooOOOOOO!!!!! I CAN'T EXPRESS MYSELF WITHOUT HAVING TO DRAW BOBCAT RELATED THINGS! AND IF I DO, god forbid, I HAVE TO MAKE IT CRAPPY TO SATISFY YOU AND EVERY TEACHER IN THIS SCHOOL AND BLEUGGGGGH!!!

Then, I promptly bit his head off.

:D

(NOTE: It's totally safe for me to write this stuff based on my expeirences because I don't think he would EVAH go to this blog, nor any other BHS adminstrator/teacher/librarian/whatever WOULD GO TO IT.)

(NOTE 2: This really didn't happen. And the last things I said were my thoughts actually)

(NOTE 3: I don't draw bobcats anymore.)

(NOTE 4: Which is a shame really, because they're cute.)

Art 2 Figure Drawing (With Clothes)

So! In August I'll be heading out to Santa Fe to tour IAIA, or, Institute of American Indian Arts, purely because I want to go there but I want to see some stuff first.

Yeah.

I couldn't help but remember something my art teacher said a while back (mebbe last school year) concerning Free-Figure Drawing...

...in high school the models are clothed...

...and in college they're NAKED.

Apparently I was the only one who knew this, besides him and mebbe a few others.

So, to celebrate the oncoming school year (which will be my last) and to get used to seeing these mugs, I have posted the following of what I think is the best of my sketches.

The darker ones are done in charcoal, and the lighter in graphite sticks.

The more detailed were done in 10 minutes max, while sketchy ones were a few minutes instead.

ENJOY!

The girl reportedly admired my drawings. She looked quite surprised when I told her this is my first time doing such things. And this was coming from a girl who was in a higher art class!

I prefer shading over the contour lines--it always looks gross to me.

I really wanted to reach out and touch this guy's hair XD I know, violating the rules of figure drawing conduct. And talking to them isn't good either, haha.

My best friend Sarah.

I've noticed that the body and position of the person are often done in great detail, but I often find myself running out of time before I even do their faces.

I like this mostly for the spheres, ovals, and shapes that can be seen through the clothing.

My absolute favorite ^.^ You can tell when you did good when almost everyone in your school knows who this is just by the picture. EVEN YOUR GRANDMOTHER NOTICES!!!

The same girl from the first picture. I messed up on the little piggies. Interesting pose, however.

And that's it! This is mostly from my class Art 2 however, so I'll post more up when I have them.

As a side note, I went from Art 2 to Art 3 in a single year, even though the two respective classes are two semesters long. My teacher thought I was ready. and for my final, senior year, Art 4. I want to beef up my portfolio for IAIA.

LET"S DO THIS!!! 

Thirty Day Project!!!

I AM DONE.

I finally copied/scanned/took pictures of all the things I've done, and here I show you my hard work -- the completion of the Thirty Day Project. I know it's already the middle of July, but I haven't had access in a while, so here it is, not in order.

Thanks to the people who have waited so far, who've helped, and who provided inspiration.

:D

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. (Not pictured are 10 pages for 10 days for Chapter Three of Come&Sleep for obvious reasons.)

11. The Mother Hubbard story, illustrated by me for my mother's class--there's so many of them but one day I'll put them all up and make a proper blog, and even include the lyrics to the actual song, which is very long.

12. A friend of mine, who is also an avid drawer of all things comic-booky, asked for my help in character design; I made some based on the traits she gave me, which were an evil femme fatale, main antagonist, a cross dressing ninja who works for said antagonist, and a really tall but really nice guy. Not pictured is the cross dressing ninja. :( Sorry

13. Some monsters/yokai I came up with--I was mostly thinking something that would lurk in a forest, a sort of amalgamation of animals from the forest, although I like the idea of tree branches being antlers or horns.

14. This is more of a info sketch rather than a joy one--in the comic there's a character much older than she seems and I wanted to show how old rather than tell--as the story takes place in New York City, I thought of the Flatiron building. So I tried to research it and it was one of the first skyscrapers in the city, and once was the tallest building during the early 1900's. In the story, said character sees this building and says so to other character. Thus, you find out she really is an old lady.

15. Storyboard for Chapter Four--I know, I know, finish Chapter Three, but the idea came so I scribbled it down in an itty-bitty Steno Book I love to draw in.

16. During June I woke up to the sound of one of our cats crying; I crawled over to her and tried to coax her out. Upon this, she lifted her head and underneath chin was blood. Freaking out like any cat lover would, I rushed downstairs and told my mom. I had a cat before that disappeared for weeks and came back bloody, and as a result she had her leg and tail amputated. So, of course, I didn't want the same for "Baby Kitty" (she's a girl and her real name is Oscar). Turns out it was an abscess and she is now fully recovered. I made this joke cartoon for the Vets to put on their "Happy Stories" board.

Seriously.

They have one.

17. During June I was working on a mini comic for my friend that was more of a doujinshi (Japanese fan comic as it contained characters from CLAMP series such as xxxHolic, Tsubasa, and others. She's a big fan. :D) of course, it has some of my characters as well. A cute little gag with plenty of Yuri insinuations and excuses for more sake.

18. Another cover for the mini comic series, which is four books in all with about an average of 20-30 pages for each, titled, "The Houseguests". The last book ends with them going to a beach house and going to the ocean. High-jinks, fan service, and more galore for the gang. Done in ink, watercolor, and colored pencil on Bristol paper.

(If any one's interested in buying and wanting copies, please email me.)

19. A father's day present for my dad--he had three Chevy's actually, but the two pictured are my maternal grandfather's and his own. Painted from my little clubhouse while it was pouring buckets.

20. (NO WORDS NEEDED)

21. The "p" is missing but who cares :P I have to read the Metamorphosis for my English class as Summer Homework, and as I tried with difficulty to delve into Franz Kafka's messed up melancholy head, I made a cover instead.

22. Some notes for the Kistune Sisters, of which the middle should be kept a secret right now, as she is literally, The Black Sheep.

Its blurry on purpose.

23. Another favor done for my mom as she needed a big dog and doghouse for her class since they were studying animals that week. I absolutely LOVE!!! German Shepard's so that's why Bingo is a German Shepard.

24. I made a little poetry book for myself from magazine clippings and reprintings from books by my favorite poets, such as Walt Whitman, Daryl Hine, and much more. As a bonus I put one I made myself at the end. The whole theme was, "Nature". It was originally supposed to be done as a school assignment, but summer vacation started before I finished, so I mostly did it for myself. I think it's safe to say i won't turn it in.

Calm before the Storm

Still

Quiet

Far too much

Death seems to linger in the details

Trees are but bare skeletons

The earth is bitter and rigid

Even the golden-haired grass has given up

I welcome the storm

the clouds

the thunder

the lighting

the big sha-bang

just to rid

this cloying emptiness that refuses to leave

As if at my suggestion

the wind starts to howl

Lovely

Now things are getting interesting

I want to scream at the sun

to stop shining

so

it can finally rain

25. A picture I forgot to do a long time ago and finally finished a while ago :D Momo (or Mamori) looks very much a mischievous kitsune as she flees from an angry dragon mother who wants her egg back (now). Momo can only smile and say that she hears they're delicious. XD Check out her shoes. Oh, and my younger sister, upon seeing this, thinks I should do album or cover art.

If so, please contact: I'd be more than happy to.

26. Another one of Momo (that's her in her fox form) and Lily from Chapter Two. Maybe someday this can be the cover for the issue, or the Title page.

I wanted to experiment with ink rather than rely on color all the time, and liked the result.

27. Lily and her twin. This is far in the future of Come&Sleep (or should I say past???) so it was mostly done as something to refer to when I do DO IT. I usually use symbols in pictures to remember things, so, try to see if you can find them. :P

28. Lily and her twin AGAIN! Her hair is black because I needed contrast between the two. The sad thing is I have short shorts that are almost the same as Lily's. I don't usually draw these sort of things, as I like to concentrate on more story-driven illustrations than "pin-ups" (such as certain anime omakes. I used this as inspiration). So, to try to make it more interesting I put in different patterns and symbolism as well, and I ended up having trouble with their clothes.

Did you know there are SOOOOOO many types of lingerie in this world?!

(does this remind you of anything???)

29. Some characters from Come&Sleep that aren't introduced yet--a Japanese family living in NYC with the head father as the corporate leader in a micro-processor company, with three sons and one daughter that eeriely resembles her deceased mother.

30. I was trying to find an approiate outfit for a character introduced in Chapter Three,  and came up with this. It's a dress that has Country-Lolita influence with some extra stuff I put in.

And whoo!!! that is it!!! thanks for everything!!! this was a great thing to do!!!

My next big project will be....

(dun dun dunn!!!)

.....

THE TWENTY FOUR HOUR COMIC!

(details) 

Come&Sleep PREVIEW!!!

So, here's a preview for Come&Sleep, a graphic novel written and drawn (yes, that includes lettering, coloring, inking, etc., ect.) by me, Kayla V. Shaggy.

The novel takes place in modern times (the year 2009), in the grand city of New York City, and asks the question:

DO MONSTERS EXIST?

The monsters being vampires, werewolves, aliens, monstrosities, zombies, the Devil himself with his Legion of demons, and one important "monster"--

the kitsune, or fox.

(not to be confused with the band or online reviewer)
(here's a helpful page if you don't know what THAT is)
(otherwise, keep reading...)

Our story begins with a certain, very young, and VERY naive kitsune named Lily.

Her seemingly innocent interactions with both humans and monsters soon gives way to an unraveling story, that she, unknowingly, is in the center of.

Come&Sleep.

But, first, a prologue....

.....that's it for now.

:D

(Comments are welcome.)

(Reviews are too.)