Chapter 153 . New Illustration - The Slug

Good day Folks,
I hope you are all being productive and feeling good about it.
- smile -

I worked on The Night of the Sasquatch again, which, by the way, is a "clin d'oeil" to the old 60's TV show, The Wild Wild West, with Robert Conrad and Ross Martin.

Ross Martin & Robert Conrad in The Wild Wild West

Anyway, I did some writing for the story, and found myself to the point where I had to draw again.
This time, it was a major character in the story.
A young man from Langford, if I was bold enough I would say, the suburb of Victoria, and, not the prettiest, at least when the story was happening.
This young lad is a crook, from a rather modest family to be easy on them, who already has spend a fair amount of time in jail and juvenile institutions before.
The trick with those kind of illustration is to define the character in one image.
And, nowadays, I try to put as less details as possible, unless I want to emphasize a specific spot.

My friend Marcus offered to be my model, a brave move as, The Slug ain't a nice guy, and he ain't too brilliant either!
I drew him in one sitting, the details took more time, but all in all, this piece flew quite easily.
Practice.
I've been drawing a fair bit, there isn't any secret.

So, here is the illustration:

The Slug

To me, he looks pretty scary, a dude you wouldn't want to mess with.
But to my Lovey, it is sad. She says you can feel the pain from the guy.
I thought that was pretty cool too!


Next, this is how it looks in the final product:

Detail of The Night of the Sasquatch

And now, more writing to do, I think that the next illustration I will have to work on will be a map of the Sooke Potholes, which is kinda fun, different at least, and I have already started working a tad on it. It might take a while...
I think I'll work based on that map:

The Sooke Potholes - Map

And also, I have something a bit fun that I might, or might not do.
More to come later.

Voila, that's all for today Peeps,
Have a good one!

Cheers

Serge
26th February 2015

Chapter 152 . The Night of the Sasquatch - Update 2

And so, guess what I am working on?
I like, when I am able to, work on what inspires me.
Sometimes, you set your own deadline for a project, and it needs to be done.
But, some other times, you just allow yourself to create, as you feel so to speak.
In those situation, I must admit that I prefer to have a kind of framework, a project where I give myself a certain amount of freedom.

That is what I am doing with The Night of the Sasquatch.
Let me shortly re-explain how this story will look like.
So far, this is the plan:
The story is told via the notebook of the Private Investigator, AC Hessfog.
He narrates the story the way he experienced it. Therefore, there is a lots of funny situation and details that wouldn't figure in a novel. Or at least, that's my thoughts.
The notebook will be made of about 30 pages, and will be mostly text with few illustrations.
On top of the notebook, there will be few illustration son a more appropriate format, the purpose being to be able to frame them if one would have such a wish.
Last, there will be a poster also included, most probably 24X18 or something to that extend.

In exclusivity, let me show you few pages, just so you have a more precise idea of what I am trying to tell. The images will probably go through a final adjustment, and the text has not been edited, so it is filled with spelling and grammatical mistakes. This, will be dealt with in time.
To simplify as much as possible, and even though I already said it, the story is about multiple Sasquatch sighting in the Sooke Hills. Our Investigator is hired by a Times Colonist Journalist, Joanna Steinfield, to investigate. The story is situated in 2007.
This said, here are few pages as promised.

Page 1

Page 3

Page 7

Every set of double pages will be printed on 8.5X11 in full colour.
The price has not been set yet...

As you can see on the page 7, I had to draw a car to illustrate part of the story, here is a bigger image of that Toyota:

Detail of page 7

As I was telling my sweet heart yesterday, I find cars and machines in general difficult to draw. In fact, quite more challenging than people.
But this one flew like a salmon to the ocean. I have to say that, I have been drawing a fair bit recently, and so, practice is paying.
There's no secrets...

Voila,
I got more writing and drawings to do, and a lots of other things, in this beautiful Tuesday, where the sun shines on you, and us.
Cheers Peeps.

Sincerely,

Serge
24th February 2015

Chapter 151 . The Night of the Sasquatch - Update

Good morning,
The sun shines on you and I, it's that time of the year where mother nature resplendish, and it does this on all of us!
Good!

While I still have few illustrations to do, the finishing touch for the Graphic Novel The Case of the Chinese Cemetery, I have already started on a second publication which is to be named The Night of the Sasquatch.

The Night of the Sasquatch - Poster

This one, as I have already mentioned, will not be a graphic novel, but a short story with illustrations instead. The details are to come, and it will not be published until the graphic novel is released.
But however, as my old Art teacher use to say, it is good, always good, to have more than one project on the go, so here it is.

The story will mainly be happening in the Langford/Sooke area, a strange local folk claims that he saw a Sasquatch, and a journalist, Joanna Steinfield, working for the Times Colonist, hires our private investigator to... Investigate...
The story relates what happened and the ultimate decision Hessfog will have to take.

While the writing is well underway, there is still a massive amount of illustrations to do.
Every character has it's own portrait, which will appear has a separate piece as well as part of the short story.
I will explain all of this at a later date.

While I had done the portrait of The Shaman a while ago, a character that appears at the end of the story, it was now time to draw the character that appears at the beginning of the story, Miss Joanna Steinfield, journalist for the local newspaper.
A good friend of mine, Marie-Anik, became the model, and here is the final piece:

Joanna Steinfield - The Night of the Sasquatch

Ladies are challenging to draw.
- smile -

The novel itself will come as the note book of our main character, the notes he took during the case.
Through his vision of the story, the reader will have to make his own.
I like the ambiguity of what I tell, there is no good or bad guys per say, but there is a lots of grey lines.

In exclusivity, here is the very first page of the comic, text still needs to be edited, of course, and this is far from being done, but it gives a very precise idea of what to expect:

The Night of the Sasquatch - Page One

Et voila,
now there is, obviously, more drawing to do, but I might write instead, I don't need to mention that there is a shit load of writing to do, and that, is not my field of predilection, so, better get to it as fast as possible.

Have a gorgeous Sunday, under which ever sun you are, I am under the very same.

Cheers

Serge
22nd February 2015

Chapter 150 . Harling Point - To There and Back...

This is Chapter Number 150 folks...
We'll talk about it again when we get to Chapter 300.
Cheers

Today, the weather had announced magnificently clear sky, and, they were not kidding!
A warm Winter/Springy sun, a blue sky to die for, and the magnificent city of Victoria, the Flower city as I already called her few years ago.
This was, indeed, the perfect day for a walk.
Lovey and I got ready, and, on this early Saturday afternoon, we decided to walk to Harling Point.
It is located right by the infamous Chinese Cemetery, at the end of Crescent St.
It's right where the red dot is...

Harling Point - Victoria BC

Go there, it's fun.

Anyway, so here we went, down here, and up there, and up there again, with street name like Rockland and Gonzales...
The sun was warming us and except for the endless uphills, the walk was quite pleasant.

And suddenly, on Richmond, the first of the Great appeared.
A street with confetti made of love as my wife said.
Check for yourself.

Richmond St and the Great Pink - Victoria BC

It was like snow with a different kind of smell.
The softness was in the air.

Petals - Victoria BC

Richmond St - Victoria BC

We stayed for a while.
Looking, and exposing our senses to the surrounding.
Truly, it's a lot like being on a set of some kind of movies from the 50's...


But the road was still ahead of us, and we kept on going, slowly but, surely.
We passed the land of the Great Pinks, and, almost immediately after, we came upon the Great White, probably the king of the area.
He was rich, and was showing off with splendour.
From his tiniest details to his whole, he inspired respect and a great deal of joy as well!

Richmond St - White Cherry Tree - Victoria BC

The Great White

Richmond St - White Cherry Tree - Victoria BC

The Explosion - Richmond St - Victoria BC

Again, we paused and enjoyed...

And again, on our way we went...


We kept on going. It's amazing how up and down one has to go to get where he has to get. Houses after houses, manors after manors, streets after streets, we kept on going.
Finally, we arrived on Crescent Dr.
On the side of the road, a small cherry tree was tanning in the sun.
This one was a small one, with skinny branches, but his flowers were like pom pom, fluffy and rich.
He shared his colours with us for a while.

Cherry Tree - Crescent Drive - Victoria BC

Reaching for the Sky

Spring on Crescent Drive - Victoria BC

All those colours, all those flavours, one feels like drunk...
And we were almost there.

Right before the Chinese Cemetery, we finally got to see a Monkey Tree. We have seen few, but never from close.
Intriguing tree, like a mix of vegetal and machines, the Monkey Tree stands proud and unafraid.

Monkey Tree - Victoria BC

Monkey Tree on Crescent Drive - Victoria BC

Tentacles

And then, here we were, Harling Point.

Harling Point

I am not going to mention the Chinese Cemetery, I have done that multiple time via the graphic novel and other means, so, we're just going to sit down and relax, and enjoy Harling Point this time.
- wink -

Harling Point

There, they have lovely chairs where, obviously you can sit and enjoy the sun and the view.
We rated there for quite a while.

Stephanie & the Canadian Winter

Looking at the Ocean

Stephanie & the Canadian Winter - Part 2

Winter at Harling Point

And of course, eventually, one has to move to get back home.
I will, for the sake of all, avoid mentioning the ups and downs through the Victorian Hills, but we, at last, arrived to Oak Bay Avenue, had a coffee at Discovery, and discovered a wicked second hand clothing store where my wife got a wicked (obviously) coat.
Check it out:

Steph & The Purple Fur

Purple fur, absolutely wicked!!!!!
And, that's us, just before arriving home.

S'n'S

Voila, we got home and relaxed, ate, and now, I am dead and I am going to rest appropriately.
Also, in short, I have finished a new illustration, I'll talk about it later, and here is a great pic of me from my lovely wife, that I am going to use for my signatures for sure!!!!

Rock' N' Roll

Cheers Peeps,

Sincerely,

Serge
21st February 2015

Chapter 149 . A day at Ella Beach, Sooke BC

Good day folks,
The Spring is most definitely here!
Isn't that the absolute awesome feeling??!!!?!

Sun feeds.
Period.

Yesterday, my Love and I went to spend the day at the Beach, in Sooke, BC.
We were hoping for a sunny day, and our wish were met.
We took the bus in the morning, went all the way to the the very last stop in Sooke, I had plenty of time to complain about the public transit on the Island, including blasting a freezing cold air conditioning, and, finally, we arrived.
We walked down Ella Rd, wonderful path to freedom, a path I took so many time, a path that makes me feel like if I was going home.
Because, I am...

Trees & Sky on Ella Rd - Sooke BC

Blue & Gold - Ella Rd - Sooke BC

Reaching for the Sky - Ella Rd - Sooke BC

And then, the Beach...
Magnificent, grandiose, the Queen.

Ella Beach - Sooke BC

It is an extremely challenging feeling to describe for the little Europeans Stephanie and I are, to see such immensity.
It makes one feels humble... And at the same time, in perfect harmony with the surrounding...
It is such a wonderful feeling...

We could see the USA perfectly, treble mountains on the other side of the straight, with their blues, their infinite shades of blue.
And the sky, the clouds, and the heat...
Ah, it was indeed absolutely lovely!

Steph & the Beach - Sooke BC

Wood & Sky - Sooke BC

My Love on Ella Beach - Sooke BC

And eventually, it was time to head home.
The long way back by bus, in the traffic and all that fun jazz, always starts by waiting for the bus, which, allows me to complain again, he he he, about the transit system!
Ok, I admit it, I take pleasure doing so...
- smile -

Waiting for the Bus - Sooke BC

I love how the shades are long, which proves it is still winter, and still, a gold light, telling us all that the day is on his way out...
Simple.

Today, I should draw.
I have a lot to do, but it is sunny again outside... And... I like the Sun.
- smile again -

Be nice Peeps, and behave yourself.

Sincerely,

Serge
18th February 2015

Chapter 148 . What is the interest of being an artist...

... For the artist himself?

What a question!?!
I don't intent to answer it, nor develop it, nor question it, in fact, I just would like you to think about it.

But, one thing is for sure, it allows the artist to explore, to try new approach, to try "new things".
That, has to be one of the most exciting thing for an artist, as well as one of the scariest, the unknown always is, and, on the side, one of the most frustrating thing!
Just think of when things don't work.
And that you have no answers, no solution to fix it.
That's when it is really fun, ah ah ah...

All that rant to say that, I have seen the work of a dude long time ago, and got inspired by his way of illustrate.
It is a, production wise, fantastic way to draw.
I am not sure what I am going to do with that yet, but I am inclined by doing a comic strip with this style, something about families and everyday life, but in a funny way...
We'll see.
For now, here is the first attempt, a portrait of my two boys, Meriadoc (21) and Ethan (almost 13):

Ethan & Meriadoc

We also have a very nice weather, and from our home, a nice weather means amazing sunrise.
Like this morning:

Sunrise - Monday 16th Feb 2015 - Victoria BC

Ok, that's all for now folks,
have a great day and all that jazz...

Sincerely,

Serge
16th February 2015

Chapter 147 . Silence in the Court...

... The Court is in session...

Here comes the Judge.
That old song from The Wailers,  summarize it well...
Once in a while, it is healthy to ask ourselves the proper question.
Yesterday, I did a little illustration, for myself, no other intent, just for the pleasure.
I forgot how fulfilling this is.
It's like having something to say, but choosing to say it with a question, with a ponder...
It works only if the work is done both ways.
Enjoy, and, thanks to The Cap and The Falcon!

The Fascist

Meanwhile, the Spring has arrived!
We have had the chance to enjoy some wonderful sun rays, and today, it feels like Spring is here, period!
The sun rise have been exceptional, but that is no news for this part of the world!

Sun rise in Victoria BC - Canada

Another sun rise in Victoria BC - Canada

Also, I have the extremely chance, pleasure, amazing experience to share my life with an artist!
Her vision is constant refreshment of the mind, the soul...
It is a privilege to have someone you respect artistically who's able to share their vision and opinion with you.
In fact, it's the million dollar tip!
The eyes of the other, the one one's love!
Here are some of her vision of our life, hers, our home, and myself.

My Lovely Wife

Our Home

Myself working

And to end this Sunday post, without wearing any Sunday Shoes, here is an outfit to die for!

Emma Stone for Vogue

Voila, have yourself a wonderful Sunday and a bientot...
Sincerely,

Serge
15th february 2015